Budget Like a Legend

Allen Toussaint - The Complete Warner Recordings (2003) {2CD Set, Rhino Handmade ‎RHM2 7831 rec 1971-1975}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 984 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 377 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 70 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1971-75, 2003 Rhino Handmade / Warner Music | ‎RHM2 7831
R&B / Soul / New Orleans R&B / Smooth Soul / Southern Soul

Allen Toussaint is a legend who wrote and produced some of the greatest songs in New Orleans R&B history, but his career as a recording artist is hardly legendary. He didn't record all that much and what he did wax is overshadowed by his compositions and productions – which, admittedly, is understandable given the work he did with the Meters, Lee Dorsey, Aaron Neville, Ernie K-Doe, the Band, LaBelle, Irma Thomas, and many others. But not being legendary is hardly the same thing as not having merit, and Rhino Handmade's 2003 double-disc set The Complete Warner Recordings makes a convincing case that Toussaint's three albums for Warner and Reprise are among the best hidden treasures in soul music.

Frank Zappa - Lather (1996) {3CD Set Rykodisc RCD10574-76 rec 1973-1977}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.08 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 410 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 656 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1973-77, 1996 Rykodisc / The Zappa Family Trust | RCD 10574/75/76
Rock / Jazz Rock / Experimental Rock / Art Rock

Official Release #65. The full saga of Läther (pronounced leather) is tangled enough to give a migraine to all but committed Zappaphiles. Basically, what you need to know is that this project was originally conceived of as a four-record box set. When record company politics prevented its release in that format, much of the material was spread over the albums Live in New York, Sleep Dirt, Studio Tan, and Orchestral Favorites. This three-CD set presents the album as it was originally conceived, with the addition of four bonus tracks at the end. It mixes previously available material, alternate mixes, and edits, and previously unissued stuff, though only the most serious Zappa fans will have a good grip on exactly what has appeared where (the liner notes are surprisingly unexact in this regard).

2012's Original Album Series offers five Sugar Ray albums from the peak of their career – 1995 to 2003 – for a budget price. Packaging is basic to save costs, with each album in a paper sleeve that replicates the artwork. Obviously, this is a singles band, but true Sugar Ray fans will be interested to in watching the evolution from the funk-metal of Lemonade and Brownies to the band's first big hit, "Fly," off of Floored. McGrath hit his stride as pop singer with 14:59 and Sugar Ray, which boasted most of the group's biggest songs, and In the Pursuit of Leisure is also worth having.

Probably best known as a member of the Notting Hillbillies, Brendan Croker was also a well-respected singer/songwriter and session guitarist both before and after his involvement with that band. Drawing on strong folk, blues, and country roots, Yorkshireman Croker brought a strong, Woody Guthrie-ish lyrical outlook to his musical palette, and was equally at home with Van Morrison-style blues or American country music of any era. In fact, his deep knowledge of and affection for American roots music, coupled with his fine singing and guitar playing, at one point gave rise to Croker being hailed as "the British Ry Cooder".