Heatwave.2022

The story of the 1976 summer drought, when gardens burned, communities depended upon communal standpipes for their water, and Brits were urged to "bath with a friend".

106-track, 6CD Box Set retrospective from singer/songwriter Iain Matthews. Features 2022 remasters of his four albums with legendary record producer Sandy Roberton (‘Stealin' Home’, ‘Siamese Friends’, ‘Spot Of Interference’ and ‘Shook’) Contains 50% previously unreleased material, including early songwriting demos and multiple live performances. Musician and singer-songwriter Iain Matthews should need no introduction. He was an original member of legendary folk rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving to form Matthews Southern Comfort, who scored a UK number one in 1970 with Joni Mitchell's ‘Woodstock’. In the early 1970s, as well as recording solo for Vertigo and Elektra, Iain played in folk rock “supergroup” Plainsong. Collectively, this body of work established Iain as a master-craftsman of both his own songs and those of others – a tradition he has continued to explore down the decades.

106-track, 6CD Box Set retrospective from singer/songwriter Iain Matthews. Features 2022 remasters of his four albums with legendary record producer Sandy Roberton (‘Stealin' Home’, ‘Siamese Friends’, ‘Spot Of Interference’ and ‘Shook’) Contains 50% previously unreleased material, including early songwriting demos and multiple live performances. Musician and singer-songwriter Iain Matthews should need no introduction. He was an original member of legendary folk rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving to form Matthews Southern Comfort, who scored a UK number one in 1970 with Joni Mitchell's ‘Woodstock’. In the early 1970s, as well as recording solo for Vertigo and Elektra, Iain played in folk rock “supergroup” Plainsong. Collectively, this body of work established Iain as a master-craftsman of both his own songs and those of others – a tradition he has continued to explore down the decades.

Elvis Costello arrived as a sneering spitfire, the smartest and meanest singer/songwriter in the first wave of 1970s British punk backed by the Attractions, a band who could match his ferocity. Soon, Costello galloped away from the loud, fast rules of punk, demonstrating his musical and verbal facility with Armed Forces, a 1979 album that contained "Oliver's Army," "Accidents Will Happen," and his cover of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding," a trio of singles that turned into new wave standards. Such rapid musical evolution and switches in style became the rule in Costello's career, as he amassed a catalog that seemed to touch upon every conceivable genre of popular music.

INXS hailed from the pubs of Australia, which is part of the reason the band never comfortably fit in with new wave. Even when they branched out into synth pop on their early recordings, they were underpinned by a hard, Stonesy beat and the Jagger-esque strut of lead singer Michael Hutchence. Ultimately, these were the very things that made INXS into international superstars in the late '80s. By that time, the group had harnessed its hard rock, dance, and new wave influences into a sleek, stylish groove that made their 1987 album Kick a multi-million-selling hit.

Beacon was a British label run by a fascinating character named Milton Samuel. It lasted from 1968 to 1972, and specialized in hard-edged soul music made by Brits and Americans. Let's Copp a Groove: Lost UK Soul 1968-1972 collects 27 of the highlights released by this unsung, but really good, label. The best tracks combine deep soul voices, and a kind of groovy musical backing stationed halfway between soul and rock. Case in point: Jon and Jeannie's "We Got Lovin'," which features Jon and Jeannie trading lines back and forth in a soulful frenzy, while the guitar player doles out whip-smart hard rock solos behind them.

The Hits Album: Floorfillers: Disco Nights brings together some of the most popular and defining dance classics and chart crowd pleasers. We start off this collection with disco megahits such as Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland”, Boney M’s “Daddy Cool”, and Rose Royce’s “Car Wash” and continue the party with more floorfillers from Diana Ross, Heatwave, Odyssey and Baccara… You can sing along in the car or have your very own disco at home. Over 60 timeless anthems to keep the party jumping including Kool & The Gang, Blondie, Billy Ocean, Voyage, The Emotions, Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes and many more

Discs three and four get down and boogie with hits from Earth, Wind & Fire With The Emotions, McFadden & Whitehead, Heatwave, Dan Hartman, Grace Jones and the full ‘Macarthur Park Suite’ from Donna Summer.In total this set contains extended versions across the four CDs and at under £10 in the UK it’s the usual superb value. Now That’s What I Call 12″ 70s is released on 2 September 2022.

Halfway through his fourth year teaching at Wichita State University, guitarist William Flynn found himself on the road through the plains of Kansas to Florida's Gulf Coast for a month-long artist residency in the idyllic panhandle community of Seaside. The isolation of the ocean-front cottage, away from his life and job allowed for a barely imaginable creative focus, diving into a daily composing regimen and added time for reflection. With a band of Kansas City-based musicians - pianist Roger Wilder, bassist Sam Copeland, drummer Brian Steever, and a guest visit from vocalist Emily Merrell - Seaside deals an inspired modern jazz sound, revealing melodies and harmonies captured during a particularly rich creative episode in Flynn's career.

Re-discover more hidden pop gems from the biggest stars of the 70’s. Enjoy massive hits from artists including Blondie, Electric Light Orchestra, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Joan Armatrading. This collection features songs that may be overlooked because the artist had even bigger hits, such as Roxy Music, David Soul, Boney M and Art Garfunkel. Enjoy an era of incredible song writing with 66 fantastic songs, reflecting the diversity of the charts in the 70’s, including Donna Summer, Barry White, Marvin Gaye, and many more.