Best UK From 28 April 2015

Tommy Ridgley & Bobby Mitchell - In the Same Old Way: The Complete Ric, Ron and Sho-Biz Recordings (2015) {Ace Records CDCHD 1446 rec 1960-1963}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 187 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 123 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960-63, 2015 Ace Records | CDCHD 1446
Rhythm and Blues / Rock and Roll / Soul / Deep Funk / New Orleans R&B / Boogie-Woogie

Continuing their trawl through the vaults of Joe Ruffino's legendary New Orleans R&B labels Ric and Ron, Ace pairs the complete Ric and Ron recordings of Tommy Ridgley with the complete sides of the singer's friend and follower Bobby Mitchell. The reason they're paired on a single disc instead of showcased on an individual title is simple: by 2015 standards, neither cut enough material to fill out a CD. Ridgley came much closer than Mitchell, though. Between 1960 and 1963, he put out six singles on Ric, which amounts to a total of 16 songs, none of which saw much circulation outside of New Orleans due to Ruffino's preference not to license his singles to larger labels.

Fotheringay - Nothing More: The Collected Fotheringay (2015) {3CD Set Universal-Island Records 471 848-2 rec 1970}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.24 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 514 Mb
Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1970, 2015 Universal-Island Records | 471 848-2
Folk Rock / Folk / British Folk / British Folk Rock

Universal Music is pleased to announce the release of the definitive Fotheringay collection, Nothing More: The Collected Fotheringay. This 3CD set is the most comprehensive compilation yet of the group’s recordings, including hitherto unseen television footage, previously unreleased live recordings from a festival in Rotterdam (both from August 1970) and, for the first time, the official release of the seven existing tracks which Fotheringay recorded in session for BBC radio.

Since the release of their last album, 2014's Four, One Direction went from five members to four with the departure of Zayn Malik, but not much else has changed. Working with their longtime production team of Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, Made in the A.M. is another slice of high-quality modern pop brought to life by the band's charm. They mostly stick to the formula that got them to the top of the charts, but throw in a couple of surprises that keep things interesting. The album's mix of upbeat dance-pop songs, emotional midtempo songs, and big, gut-wrenching ballads is a familiar one, with songs like "Drag Me Down" and "Infinity" sounding genetically engineered for radio play.

The foreboding crawl of the Hammond organ is what made Van Der Graaf Generator one of the darkest and most engrossing of all the early progressive bands. On H to He Who Am the Only One, the brooding tones of synthesizer and oscillator along with Peter Hammil's distinct and overly ominous voice make it one of this British band's best efforts…

Various Artists - Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me, Mama! (2015) {Ace Records CDCHD 1443}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 258 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 153 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 37 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2015 Ace Records | CDCHD 1443
Rock & Roll / Rockabilly / Cajun / North American Traditions / Zydeco

Time to roll up the carpet and put on your dancing shoes – 28 killer-diller Louisiana tracks. The eleventh CD in the “By The Bayou” contains some real skirt-swirlers, with a couple of slower numbers slipped in to break up the tempo. In keeping with the other “Boppin’” discs in this series, we have included some pure rockabilly and Cajun tracks alongside the swamp rockers.

The Syn featuring, some of the music world's best progressive rock musicians. Following a fairly quiet time for The Syn while their legendary vocalist and songwriter Steve Nardelli has been the force behind the first eco town to be built in the UK, the iconic pre-Yes band from the 60's returns with a live CD recorded in 2009 at Rosfest in Philadelphia on their Big Sky tour and a 2 films bonus on a single DVD 'The Syn in the 21st Century' and 'The Making of Big Sky', the latter charting at number one on the Amazon VOD chart in America. Big Sky studio album was voted the best progressive music album of 2009 by USA Progressive Music magazine and much of that music is featured on this remarkable live album, described by Precision Mastering as "the finest live album we have worked on". The bonus DVD features the 23 minute film The Making of Big Sky and 20 minute The Syn in the 21st Century.