This 45-song, two-disc collection is subtitled "two decades of killer fretwork", and never was a set so aptly described. Chess Records was the home to seemingly every hot guitar player in the Chicago area, and many of them make their appearance here. Besides the usual label guitar hotshots (Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Lowell Fulson, Earl Hooker, Otis Rush, Robert Nighthawk, Little Milton), space is given to sideman work from legends like Hubert Sumlin and Robert Jr. Lockwood and great one-offs by lesser-known artists like Jody Williams, Danny Overbea, Eddie Burns, Joe Hill Louis, Morris Pejoe, Lafayette Thomas and others. It seems as if everyone recorded for Chess at one time or another, also explaining the inclusion of tracks by John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Lonnie Brooks, Hound Dog Taylor and Elmore James. If electric blues guitar's your thing, then look no further than this fine two-disc compilation.

Bruce Springsteen's debut album found him squarely in the tradition of Bob Dylan: folk-based tunes arranged for an electric band featuring piano and organ (plus, in Springsteen's case, 1950s-style rock & roll tenor saxophone breaks), topped by acoustic guitar and a husky voice singing lyrics full of elaborate, even exaggerated imagery. But where Dylan had taken a world-weary, cynical tone, Springsteen was exuberant. His street scenes could be haunted and tragic, as they were in "Lost in the Flood," but they were still imbued with romanticism and a youthful energy. Asbury Park painted a portrait of teenagers cocksure of themselves, yet bowled over by their discovery of the world. It was saved from pretentiousness (if not preciousness) by its sense of humor and by the careful eye for detail that kept even the most high-flown language rooted. Like the lyrics, the arrangements were busy, but the melodies were well developed and the rhythms, pushed by drummer Vincent Lopez, were breakneck.

Film Hits is an extraordinary compilation album released by BMG in 1995, celebrating the iconic cinematic scores of legendary Italian composer, conductor, and orchestrator Ennio Morricone. Recognized worldwide as one of the most prolific and influential film composers of all time, Morricone revolutionized the world of film scoring by blending traditional orchestral arrangements with distinctive folk elements, electric guitars, expressive whistling, and innovative rhythmic percussion. This carefully curated collection features some of his most memorable theme compositions, including groundbreaking themes from classic Spaghetti Westerns such as A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, A Pistol for Ringo, and Death Rides a Horse. Beyond his iconic Western output, the compilation highlights his emotional depth and dramatic versatility through haunting cinematic pieces like The Ballad of Sacco and Vanzetti and the lushly orchestrated Secret of the Sahara. A definitive journey through the golden era of film scoring, this release captures the dramatic brilliance, suspense, and timeless beauty of Morricone’s legacy.

Tomorrow Is My Turn is the triumphant 2015 solo debut album from Grammy-winning singer, banjoist, and former Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founder Rhiannon Giddens, released via Nonesuch Records. Produced by legendary producer T Bone Burnett, the album pays powerful tribute to the groundbreaking women who shaped American roots music, reinterpreting classics made famous by Nina Simone, Dolly Parton, Odetta, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Patsy Cline, and Geeshie Wiley. Giddens' virtuosic vocal range and instrumental brilliance seamlessly bridge genres, moving from the haunting Delta blues of "Last Kind Word" and gospel-fueled energy of "Up Above My Head" to the soaring orchestral title track and her soulful original composition "Angel City". Critically acclaimed as a masterwork of Americana and folk, Tomorrow Is My Turn stands as a vibrant celebration of American musical history.

Ronnie Lane is one of the finest songwriters the UK has produced. This is the first time that comprehensive look at Ronnie's post Faces career has been undertaken. In many ways, Ronnie Lane remains an enigma in the story of rock 'n' roll. An artist who was determined to chart his own destiny and break free from the demands of the music "business". His sense of disillusion with the rock 'n' roll lifestyle led him to leave his hugely successful band for a ramshackle country farm and a life on the road. He would create The Passing Show - a now legendary circus tent tour of the country with assorted clowns, acrobats and comedians.

This is the most important Tim Buckley release since Dream Letter, featuring a singular performance with a jazz-rock lineup that calls to mind Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks. Buckley, father of Jeff Buckley, made his mark with his Southern California folk-rock sound and four-octave vocal range. But this rich weave of accessible, warm, improvisational music reveals Buckley in a light never before captured on tape, including two newly discovered songs (“Blues, Love” and “The Lonely Life”), early drafts of Buckley classics, and a stunning cover of Fred Neil’s “Merry-Go-Round.” Recorded by the Grateful Dead’s legendary soundman Owsley “Bear” Stanley, the infamous LSD chemist, this is one of the treasures of his Sonic Journal archive. Buckley’s performance is incredible and Bear’s thumbprint on the sonics is part of the magic!

Folk legend Melanie shines beneath the brightest lights on Broadway in this vintage set of unreleased live recordings showcasing the full bloom of her songwriting and performance talents! Includes stellar, intimate performances of all her most beloved songs from "Beautiful People" to "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)," "Babe Rainbow," "Ring The Living Bell" and many more! Comes with comprehensive and informative liner notes from Melanie manager and music journalist Dave Thompson!