popularity, but the maestro Sly Stone had already moved his head to a completely different space. The first evidence of Sly’s musical about-turn was revealed by the small catalog of his new label, Stone Flower: a pioneering, peculiar, minimal electro-funk sound that unfolded over just four seven-inch singles. Stone Flower’s releases were credited to their individual artists, but each had Sly’s design and musicianship stamped into the grooves–and the words “Written by Sylvester Stewart/Produced and arranged by Sly Stone” on the sticker. Set up by Stone’s manager David Kapralik with distribution by Atlantic Records, Stone Flower was, predictably, a family affair: the first release was by Little Sister, fronted by Stone’s little sister Vaetta Stewart. It was short lived too–the imprint folded in 1971–but its influence was longer lasting. The sound Stone formulated while working on Stone Flower’s output would shape the next phase in his own career as a recording artist: it was here he began experimenting with the brand new Maestro Rhythm King drum machine. In conjunction with languid, effected organ and guitar sounds and a distinctly lo-fi soundscape, Sly’s productions for Stone Flower would inform the basis of his masterwork There’s A Riot Goin’ On. The first 45 came in February 1970: Little Sister’s dancefloor-ready “You’re The One” hit Number 22 in the charts–the label’s highest showing. The follow-up, “Stanga," also by Little Sister, made the wah pedal the star. The third release came from 6IX, a six-piece multi-racial rock group whose sole release, a super-slow version of The Family Stone’s “Dynamite," featured only the lead singer and harmonica player from the group. Joe Hicks was the final Stone Flower stablemate; his pulsing, electronic "Life And Death In G&A” is one of the bleakest moments Sly Stone ever created on disc (Hicks’ prior single for Scepter, “Home Sweet Home,” the first released Stone Flower production, is also included). This long overdue compilation of Sly’s Stone Flower era gathers each side of the five 45s plus ten previously unissued cuts from the label archives, all newly remastered from the original tapes. In these grooves you’ll find the missing link between the rocky, soulful Sly Stone of Stand! and the dark, drum machine-punctuated, overdubbed sound of There’s A Riot Going On. I’m Just Like You: Sly’s Stone Flower 1969-70 opens up the mysteries of an obscure but monumental phase in Stone’s career. Tracklist: You're The One (Parts 1 & 2) - Little Sister, Just Like A Baby - Sly , Home Sweet Home (Part 2) - Joe Hicks, I'm Just Like You - 6IX, Somebody's Watching You (full band version) - Little Sister, Life & Death In G & A (Parts 1 & 2) - Joe Hicks, Trying To Make You Feel Good - 6IX, Stanga - Little Sister, Dynamite - 6IX, You're The One (early version) - Little Sister, Africa - Sly, I'm Goin' Home (Part 1) - Joe Hicks, Somebody's Watching You - Little Sister, You Can, We Can - 6IX, Spirit - Sly, I'm Just Like You (full band version) - 6IX, Scared - Sly, Dynamite (alternate version) - 6IX

deluxe gatefold packaging.

“What A Fire”, “Feel The Spirit”, “Hong Kong Flu” and “Woman Capture Man”, which are all included on their 1969 debut album Reggae Power. The album cover features a photo of future Carry On Girls-actress Pauline Peart.

Dale and His Del Tones - Miserlou B2. The Ventures - Walk, Don't Run B3. The Lively Ones - Crying Guitar B4. The Frantics - Werewolf B5. The Mar-Kets - Surfin' B6. The Sentinals - Latin'la B7. The Gamblers - Moon Dawg! B8. The Challengers - Bulldog B9. Link Wray & The Wraymen - Rumble B10. Don and the Galaxies - Avalanche

- Rapaz De Bem A9. Elizete Cardoso & Moacyr Silva - Palhaçada B1. Paulo Alencar & His Brazilian All-Stars - Ideas B2. Laura Villa - Corcovado B3. Walter Santos - Samba Só B4. Agostinho Dos Santos - A Felicidade B5. Shorty Rogers & His Giants - Chega De Saudade (No More Sadness) B6. Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd - O Pato B7. Sérgio Ricardo - Pernas B8. Lalo Schifrin - Bossa Em Nova York

Cat-O'-Nine B3 Mighty Dougla - Ancient And Modern B4 Mighty Terror - That Woman Could Lie B5 Mighty Panther - The Bedbug Song B6 Henri Debs Sextet & Paul Blamar - Moune A Toupé

began finding his own way to play it. Soon, he was hauling the finicky instrument around to perform improvised concerts at colleges and psychedelic ballrooms, as well as an ill-fated appearance on the bill at Altamont. Some of the performances were recorded, and the surviving tapes—never before released—capture a free-flowing, transportive sound that fills in the gap between the austere mid-century academic avant garde and the expansive cosmic suites of Tangerine Dream and the rest of the Berlin School in the ’70s. Vol. 2 captures a wider range of sounds and moods, encompassing austere sonic experiments, early sequenced pulses, and melodic etudes. “These pieces represent amazingly fully formed early approaches to the very idea of musical synthesis...arresting even to modern ears.” —Goldmine “Presages both Tangerine Dream’s soundtracks and, in its most grimy moments, Acid Tracks.” —The Wire Tracks 1. Search For An Honest Man 2. Meditation Moog 2 3. Glide 4. Live At The Family Dog 5. Gyre & Gimble 6. Moving 7. Mr. Toad?s Wild Ride 8. Rumble, Ramp, Explosion

*** Having been part of the fabled ‘Canterbury scene’ along with luminaries such as Robert Wyatt and Pip Pyle the irrepressible Australian guitarist-vocalist-songwriter Daevid Allen formed Gong with Welsh vocalist Gilli Smyth in Paris at the end of the ‘60s as France was in state of ferment. Magick Brother introduced Gong as one of the great oddities of the psychedelic and space rock age. The nucleus of Allen, Smyth and Malherbe was able to create a musical vocabulary very much of its own all the while searching for essential metaphysical truths. “The band made strong political statements that comes through loud and clear on this re-mastered version of Gong’s debut album...” Kevin Le Gendre, 2022 Tracklisting 1. Mystic Sister - Magick Brother 2. Change The World 3. Glad To Sad To Say 4. Chainstore Chant - Pretty Miss Titty 5. Fredfish - Hope You Feel Ok 6. Ego 7. Gong Song 8. Princess Dreaming 9. 5 And 20 Schoolgirls 10. Cos You Got Green Hair 11. Est-Ce Que Je Suis ? 12. Hip Hypnotise You

playwright Archie Shepp was one of the most articulate exponents of politicized black culture in the late ‘60s, a time of enormous upheaval and radical thought. Relocating to Paris he made a number of highly influential albums, such as Blasé, that broached the essential themes of freedom and racial equality, and tapped into the bedrock of African-American music. Gospel and blues were a major part of the work, which also had a strong avant-garde sensibility. The band featured stellar vocalist Jeanne Lee and members of Art Ensemble Of Chicago. These trailblazing artists who combined jazz, poetry and radical politics made a definitive musical statement. “This re-mastered version of a seminal album still has great musical and emotional power... “ Kevin Le Gendre, 2022 Tracklisting 1. MY ANGEL 2. BLASÉ 3. THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD 4. SOPHISTICATED LADY 5. TOUAREG