Top 30 Reissues for 2007

Jay Dee/J Dilla "Rough Draft" Stones Throw
2003 - Essential Pre-Donuts, Post-Welcome to Detroit reaction to MCA dragging their feet with his solo MC record, Dilla deconstructs his aesthetic again for this his rawest and most psychedelic work ever. Previously only available in Germany.

Jean-Claude Vannier "L 'Enfant Assasin Des Mouches" B-Music
1972 - Vanity record from France's answer to David Axelrod, producer of the acclaimed "Histoire De Melody Nelson" by Serge Gainsbourg, my dream collaboration would have been hooking this guy up with Alejandro Jodorowsky for a real mind enema.

Boscoe "Boscoe" Asterisk
1973 - Chicago holy-grail, afro-funk, spiritual-private press gets a proper reissue by Numero group off shoot Asterisk. Indescribably good, worth a grand for the original! Darkness!

Circle "Sunrise"
2002 - saw the 10th release from Finnish free/progressive/metal pioneers Circle, scorching new neuron paths in the brains of the few that heard this masterpiece the first time around.

Kon & Amir "Off Track Vol.1" BBE
For 10 years these Brooklyn cats have been serving up the records and beats you wish you knew and dream of owning. Now BBE gives them a proper forum for their respective passions, Kon throwing down the finest obscure and rare disco mix I've ever heard, Amir delving deep into his jazz library for a latin/spiritual/progressive mix. This double CD is musicologist and DJ art at its highest.

Various "Home Schooled: The ABC's Of Kid's Soul" Numero
Unheard and obscure music by teens and pre-teens, rare soul 45's during and post Jacksons. "Now That School Is Through" by Cindy & The Playmates on the Jay Pee label has always been one of my favorite funk bangers!

Various "Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation" Numero
Chicago's Twinight label was home to Syl Johnson whose "Is It Because I'm Black" 45 is fairly common, everything else on the label wasn't. Chicago was such a hotbed for deep Soul and Jazz in the late 60's, this is the document that proves it.

Various "Florida Funk" Now Again/Jazzman
I moved to Florida in 1999 with naive hope of finding some of these 45's. After 8 years of digging, I own one 45 on this comp. Essential for diggers, soul lovers, and anyone who wants to understand "Florida" Music.

Tony Allen "Afro Disco Beat" Vampi-Soul
I hope in the future, more collections come out like this, completists like me dream of entire band/label discographies issued in miniature LP sleeve box sets. Not at all much needs to be said about this set, he's Fela Kuti's right hand man, and contained are his first 4, and most important, LP's. Lament, Dream, Rejoice, Lament…

Various "Eccentric Soul: Outskirts Of Deep City" Numero
Numero's second installment of essential and lost Florida music, just as good as the Now Again comp, just deeper… The Betty Wright 45 is ridiculous.

Led Zeppelin "Mothership" Atlantic
Wow, Zep like you've never heard Zep before. More definition and separation, clarity and punch to the drums… shit!

ESG "Come Away With" Souljazz
1983 - Full length from the Queens' sisterhood that IS the blueprint for hipster quasi-punk-disco-rap. Put down the CSS record, get off your fixed gear and genuflect to this record…

Charles Mingus "Tijuana Moods" RCA
1959 - Recording (that was shelved until '62) gets a proper remaster. I'm not a mingus-phile and don't know what was going on in his life at the time, but when I listen to this record (as with "Black Saint and the Sinner Lady") it's almost as if we get a glimpse of the solitary genius of Chuck, filtered through corroding schizophrenia, feeding the homey outsider-ness of a black American in Tijuana.

Masta Ace "Take A Look Around" Traffic
1990 - Overlooked debut, the production on this record is perfect, front to back. There weren't very many good rap records to come out this year, even the critically acclaimed ones sucked (yes, you, American Gangster). You're better off buying a classic.

Ultimate Force "I'm Not Playin'" Traffic
1990 - Unreleased Diamond D group/album see's Fat Joe's debut (on the dopest track I've ever heard from him). The sad fact that this album was never released is a tragedy on par with Tribe Called Quest or Pete Rock's first albums getting canned. Seriously dope. Seriously.

DJ Africa Bambaataa "Death Mix Plus" Traffic
Quasi-legit Paul Winley mixes are just another brick in the foundation of Rap Music.

James Murphy & Pat Mahoney "Fabriclive 36" Fabric
When I heard LCD Soundsystem for the first time, I questioned whether the real disco I heard in those James Murphy coke-induced-floor-stomping drums and bass lines were the hallmarks of a real musicologist, but when I heard the vocals I figured he was recycling for the sake of those a-symmetrical haircut havin' hipster-ites. This mix proves me wrong. The depth of the catalog on this mix is pure post-disco euro-soul, executed and composed. What's old is new.

Danielle Baldelli "Baia Degli Ageli 1977-1978 Mediane
Danielle Baldelli "Baia Degli Ageli 1977-1978 Vol2 Mediane
Danielle Baldelli "Cosmic The Original 1978-1974" Mediane
The crowned god of Euro in the late 70's gets beautiful Book & CD sets that document the sound, and look of these two clubs in Italy. I want that space shuttle DJ booth! Oh Daft Punk's not so Daft after all…

Queen Constance Band "University Dances Of 1978" Traffic
New York label that features 12''s from future-disco legends Patrick Adams and Peter Brown, Deep New York disco at it's finest!

East Of Underground "East Of Underground" Wax Poetics
Well, I don't want to get into it, but this record hurts me. Please, Lord, let me find another original! I'll be good I swear!

Neil Young "Live At Massey Hall 1971" CD/DVD Reprise
Neil's manager, at the time, tried to convince Neil to issue this instead of "Harvest". Neil thought they had a few good takes on "Harvest" so he persisted and in 1972 "Harvest" was released. Neil put a sticker on the front of the CD saying that after hearing these tapes again he should have released the show as well. Right now it is my favorite recorded-material from Neil, quite possibly his greatest record ever. Bone-Chilling. Get the one with the DVD, it's worth it!

Various "Rock Progressivo Italiano" CD&Book Mediane
Wanna know about some of the most innovative and challenging music ever recorded? This primer of Italian rock bands from the late 60's through the 70's is an excellent intro for this hard to crack genre, and it comes with a super detailed, extensive, and complete discography of all the records you'll never see, much less own. Complete with pictures of the records to cry over!

Soft Machine "Third" 2CD Sony UK
1970 - Finally a decent re-master of one of my top 5 records of all time, with a second CD of BBC recordings. I stand in awe of every note of this record, and hear something new every time I listen.

Betty Davis "Betty Davis" Light In The Attic
Betty Davis "They Say I'm Different" Light In The Attic
1973/1974 - Miles Davis' second wife was a real eye opener, she almost single handedly ushered in Miles' psychedelic period, befriended Jimi Hendrix, and put out two of the most un-appreciated femme-funk records of all time. Rollerskates.

Soft Machine "Soft Machine" Water
Soft Machine "Volume Two" Water
1968/1969 - Water does very nice remasters of two of the most important albums to come out of England in those two years. Rock musicians who wanted to play jazz, jazz musicians who knew how to rock! (They opened for Hendrix on his '68 US tours). It's so hard to describe these master-works, they defy all attempts to confine or define.

Enjoy,
Calvin

BRILLIANT!

We just found this on Boing Boing then we searched it out on Ebay. This is, with all seriousness, the funniest thing we've seen in a very long time. If you have an Ebay account, you HAVE to login to read all the questions at the bottom of the auction... They're hilarious!

DRIVE SOMEONE INSANE WITH POSTCARDS!

Tacky, but Funny...

Ok, so this is pretty tacky if you ask us. But there's such a tongue in cheek hilarity
to it we just had to post it. This comes to you directly for the New York Post:

See a larger version by clicking on it...

The Beatnix

This, m'friends, is a very awesome video/mashup tune. Picture the Beatles doing "Stairway To Heaven" - From the early 90's Australian TV show "The Money Or The Gun" by The Beatnix, Australian Beatles Tribute Band.

Vintage Christmas Wax

Here's a blog that hosts a lot of Vintage Christmas tunes from the early 1900's. All tunes are in the public domain, to our understanding. Go check 'em out and get Merry... Vintage style!

Thanks to the Paul's Rambling's Blog for these awesome tunes!

Random Image

Everybody loves Boston Terriers, no?

BEN HARPER "Live at Twist & Shout"

You know, us indie stores sometimes get some pretty big names to perform for us in store. Such is the case with our friends Twist & Shout up in Denver, Colorado. They had the pleasure of hosting BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS on August 30th, 2007. And it was recorded... And it sounds GREAT!

Now that it's been officially released as a CD/DVD set, only select indie stores across the USA get to carry it. So, with that said, we have 'em in stock and are selling them. Also Available: "Lifeline" • • WE WILL SHIP WORLDWIDE • • >> BUY IT NOW <<

Feed The World!

So, you think you have what it takes to help feed the world, huh? All it takes is a good vocabulary and a few mouse clicks. Not to mention the addiction that comes along with this type of contribution. Curious?

Visit: www.FreeRice.com and see how fun helping out can be!

INTERPOL "Live in Astoria"

Hey INTERPOL fans! Check out this new, official release... "LIVE IN ASTORIA" E.P. It's only being sold, exclusively, in select Indie Stores across the USA. Feel free to order it and get your jam on! Also Available: "Our Love To Admire" • • WE SHIP WORLDWIDE • •

>> ORDER NOW <<

BRMC - American X

PRE-ORDER the new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club CD "American X: Baby 81 Sessions" (Ships on December 4th, 2007) It's only available to select Indie CD Stores across the USA and we'll have a bunch of 'em in stock! Also Available: "Baby 81" - WE WILL SHIP WORLDWIDE! >> ORDER NOW! <<

We got MOJO

The CD that comes FREE with new issue of MOJO (December 2007) is awesome! If you are already a fan of 69-76 heavy, progressive, and psychedelic music or if you want to know more about off the beaten path music from that period, it has amazing tracks from The Pretty Things, Second Hand, Leaf Hound, Blossom Toes, Pete Brown, and Warhorse... just to name a few...

Anybody that's into Black Sabbath, Mars Volta, Led Zeppelin, The Sword, Witchcraft, and Dungen should pick this up, it's limited and only around for a month!

There are also two great articles about Roy Harper and The Pretty Things, and a great Robert Wyatt interview... don't sleep!

- Calvin

Animal vs Rich

This is pretty wicked... especially if you're a drummer or, well, a fan of Animal!

FREE TORI AMOS TICKETS

We have ONE PAIR of TORI AMOS Tickets to give away! We just received them... The show is TONIGHT, Friday November 16th, 2007 at 8:00pm. It is now 4:30pm. WANT THESE TICKETS? Here's how to get them...

Seriously, THE FIRST PERSON to come into our MAIN STORE on Corrine Drive, with a SIXER of COLD, QUALITY BEER will get the tickets. Yeah, we're thirsty and we have good taste. Naturally this contest is only good for folks 21+

So, to recap, the first person to show up with good beer WINS a PAIR of TICKETS to see TORI AMOS Tonight at Hard Rock Live.

Make sure you buy beer you'd drink - if we deem it non-quality you won't want to waste it!

PS: There's an ABC Across the street from us but we're tied to our registers.

The iPhone

This is a hilarious unaired sketch from Saturday Night Live... Enjoy!

AUCTIONS for ACTION!

Our friends LOONEY TUNES, up in Long Island, NY, recently lost their store to a fire. But all is NOT lost! They still have their spirit in tact and they're ready to rebuild... want to help? We're asking all fans of Indie Retail to help Looney Tunes get back on their feet! Currently, you can contribute by bidding on some great Music Memorabilia on EBAY. Everything's been donated by Artists, Labels and Bands. All 100% Guaranteed authentic! Every single penny that comes in is going directly back into helping Looney Tunes rebuild. HELP OUT! And we thank you all in advance for the support...

New Shirt

Hey, check out the new Park Ave CDs T-shirt design we just had printed up... They're printed on 100% Cotton using an ink called "Discharge" which, basically, bleaches the dye right out of the shirt leaving the natural cotton color in the design... instead of using a heavy ink. These are pretty kickass! and they're ON SALE NOW! - click on the image for more detail

Pumpkin Photos!

Hey, here are some photos from the 2nd ANNUAL PARK AVE CDs PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST! Judged by Juliette & The Licks... following their instore performance on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007. Sorry they're black and white, we have no idea why these colorful pumpkins weren't photo'd in color?! -- Photos by: Eric Sutton - Click on the photos to see a larger version.

BANKSY's Face?

So, the never-seen-his-face British street-artist Banksy seems to have been caught on film. Can it be? Is this him? Oh, we hope the photo isn't clear enough for the folks over the pond to find him and make him stop. His art is truly amazing!

Full Story

Welcome to the BLOG!

So, yeah, it's official. We now have our very own blog. It is here we'll be posting anything and everything. So be sure to bookmark this page! We'll be posting reviews, events, toys, new releases, anything we can think of. We hope you'll enjoy your stay and check back often. Cheers!