Ohn Brown

After leaving Duke Ellington's Orchestra, cornetist Rex Stewart went to Europe for a few years, recording extensively. This entry in Classics' "complete" series has a four-song studio session and a jam cut shortly before Stewart went overseas plus sessions in Paris (including six tunes from a concert) and Stockholm. The music is fairly erratic overall. There are some fireworks on a quartet date with pianist Billy Kyle, bassist John Levy, and drummer Cozy Cole, and the two-part, privately recorded "I May Be Wrong" has its moments.

For the first time - the definitive Mamas and Papas career anthology, presented in a 4CD digibook set. The anthology features all the Mamas and Papas complete studio albums - "If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears", " The Mamas and the Papas", "The Mamas and The Papas Deliver", "International Monterey Pop Festival" (live), "People Like Us", alongside the corresponding single releases, rare tracks and studio /rehearsal takes. Disc four is a disc of rarities & previously unissued ecordings, including live performances from US television, solo tracks from each of the band and tracks from the 'Barry McGuire with The Mamas & Papas' album, which features many early versions of tracks that would later be hits for the group in their own right. Compiled by US expert Jim Pierson and with detailed liner notes by journalist Paul Grein, this set features lavish 72 page full colour booklet with over 100 photos, previously unseen material, a full discography, track annotations and foreword from 'Mama' Michelle Phillips. The Anthology provides not only a must-have set for existing fans but a superb exploration of the bands music for those more recently drawn to their timeless blend of honeyed west-coast harmonies, fusing pop rock and folk matched by few in their wake.