RSD Essentials

Egyptology is the fourth studio album by World Party, released in 1997 and now remastered in 2021 for a 2022 release. Featuring the Top 40 British single “Beautiful Dream” and the award-winning “She’s The One”, released with a gatefold jacket and a bonus side recorded Live in NYC 1997.  Available in limited edition, Egyptian Blue & Gold colored vinyl.

Odessey and Oracle is a landmark recording that follows Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band as among the most influential British rock records from the 1960’s. Mostly recorded at Abbey Road, (using some of the Beatles’ instruments leftover from the Peppers sessions), the album features “Time of the Season” which went to #1 in both the U.S. and Canada.  The album has been cited as a favorite by Dave Grohl, Paul Weller and Tom Petty, who wrote the foreword to The Odessey: The Zombies in Words and Images, a hardcover coffee table book on the album released in 2017.  Odessey and Oracle is an essential record by any measurement and directly responsible for The Zombies’ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Portamento is the second studio album by Brooklyn band The Drums. The album took on the success of the first album and created another masterpiece with such instant classic songs as  "Money", "Days", and "I Don't Know How To Love". Having recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, Portamento has proved that it is just as vital today as it was when it first was released.

This is where DEATH METAL begins!!! Possessed's legendary 1985 genre-defining album, Seven Churches. Features "The Exorcist", "Pentagram" and "Death Metal"

The now-classic second album by Allen Stone. Originally self-released - then picked up by ATO Records - the album climbed the R&B/Soul charts and vaulted Stone from small clubs to theaters. Features the hit “Unaware” and pressed here on indie-exclusive gold nugget vinyl.

2012 debut album from the Athens, Alabama-based outfit. The band was originally formed when lead singer/guitarist Brittany Howard approached bassist Zac Cockrell during a high school psychology class and began meeting after school to write songs. Howard and Cockrell experimented with many different styles of music including roots rock, progressive rock, soul music, country music and classic rock.

Without exaggeration, Jason Isbell has become one of the most respected and celebrated songwriters of his generation. He possesses an incredible penchant for identifying and articulating some of the deepest, yet simplest, human emotions, and turning them into beautiful poetry through song. Isbell sings of the everyday human condition with thoughtful, heartfelt, and sometimes brutal honesty, and The Nashville Sound is no exception. The Nashville Sound is the critically acclaimed 6th studio album from Jason Isbell, and the 3rd album alongside his band, The 400 Unit. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 on the Rock, Americana / Folk and Country Albums charts, and earned the band 2 Grammys at the 2018 Grammy Awards: Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song for "If We Were Vampires". 

De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest may have been more commercially successful, but the afrocentric, jazz political rap movement and unfadeable Native Tounge Massive started with the Jungle Brothers. Their debut full-length Straight Out the Jungle opened up many doors that are walked through by artists like Mos Def, Common and even Kanye West. Their taste for jazzy horn samples helped kick-start the entire jazz-rap movement, and their James Brown fixation was one of the first. Plus, the group's groundbreaking collaboration with legendary house producer Todd Terry, "I'll House You," paved the way for numerous hip-house hybrids that shot up the dance and pop charts over the next few years and appeared to be a staple on every East Coast Rap Album from '88 until '92.

One of the most popular protest albums ever recorded, it inspired cover versions of its songs by such artists as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Bruce Springsteen, and The Jam, and was sampled by the Beastie Boys, among others.

Includes Edwin Starr's signature song, the smash hit "War" (penned by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong), which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100chart in 1970. The song earned Starr a GRAMMY nomination in 1971 for Best R&B Male Vocal and was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 1999. It also includes the Northern Soul classic "Time," the one-step dancer "Running Back and Forth" and a great cover of The 5th Dimension's "California Soul".

The debut album by The Jackson 5 became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 within weeks of its release and eventually sold millions of copies worldwide. It also contains many other classics such as "Who's Loving You" penned by Smokey Robinson, and a wonderful cover version of The Delfonics' "Can you Remember". This masterpiece spent nine weeks at #1 on the R&B/Black Albums chart between 1969 and 1970. it constituted the first long play appearance by the future "King of Pop," The Jackson 5's lead singer, Michael Jackson.

“Lovage” is defined as “an herb that is said to be a benefit for relieving abdominal pains due to gastrointestinal gas…also touted to reduce flatulence when consumed as a tea.” But when placed in the able hands of sonic mastermind Dan “The Automator” Nakamura recording under the guise of musical lothario Nathaniel Merriweather the result is a concept album of “music to make love to your old lady by.” With the help of collaborators such as Mike Patton (vocals) Jennifer Charles (vocals) and Kid Koala (turntables) Merriweather serves as your personal guide to the sensual side of life painting a satirical darkly funny portrait of love and sex with left-field hip-hop and instrumentals as only he can do.

Origin Story: 1994-1999 is a collection of songs, unreleased demos, live tracks, and poems from the early years of The Moldy Peaches, and outline the tale of how the band came to be. Liner notes written by Adam and Kimya detail the stories behind each track and rare photos included in the packaging help to illustrate the life and times of the duo when they were young.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is neither more nor less than the perfect soundtrack to the most wonderful of western movies, the third and final act of the “Dollar Trilogy” directed by Sergio Leone. A film not only rated among the best of the genre but universally considered among the most successful in the history of cinema.

This legendary soundtrack combines elements of music and sound scary effects going far beyond traditional background scoring, becoming an integral part of the film. As critics say nowadays, SUSPIRIA music “is so perfectly integrated into the film, fares less well as a stand-alone item. All that pounding, howling, thumbing, and wheezing is enough to send chills down your spine even without the movie images (it is the perfect imaginary soundtrack), but not all of it could be called a pleasant listening experience (unless your idea of pleasant is having your nerves set on edge)”.

In exchange for Dario Argento’s help on Dawn of the Dead, George Romero allowed Argento to release a different (more explicit) cut of the movie in Europe. This version was called Zombi. Instead of the library music score that Romero had used, Argento enlisted the help of his pals Goblin to record a new soundtrack. The result is a brilliant score; menacing, thrilling and totally suited to the movie. There’s even a sleazy lounge-esque track.

BDP's first album--and the only one to include the late DJ Scott La Rock--sounded harder than hell when it came out in 1987. Though the simple beat-box patterns on a few tracks sound dated, most of La Rock's tracks are bluntly effective, especially the AC/DC riff he appropriates on "Dope Beat." And KRS-One still performs most of his Criminal Minded rhymes, because his audience knows them word for word: the ultraviolent dancehall of "9mm Goes Bang," the battle cry of "South Bronx" (and its counterpart, the anti-Juice Crew screed of "The Bridge Is Over," with its little Billy Joel homage), the catalog of La Rock's condom collection on "Super-Hoe." KRS bloomed later; here, he just rocked.

The debut studio album by US country artist Waylon Jennings. 12 eclectic sides featuring country, rock, folk and blues styles. Original pressings were sold exclusively at JD's nightclub in Phoenix, Arizona, where Waylon Jennings regularly performed with his backing band The Waylors during the early 60's. This title sees its first official vinyl reissue in over five decades. Pressed on limited edition 180g dark grey vinyl with original artwork.

The unforgettable debut studio album by R&B/Soul singer Minnie Riperton. Contains the explosive hit single "Les Fleurs" beautifully orchestrated by the prestigious Charles Stepney. Reissued in original gatefold format for the first time in over five decades. Pressed on limited edition 180g lilac coloured vinyl.

Two Sevens Clash is the debut album by roots reggae band Culture, recorded with producer Joe Gibbs at his own Joe Gibbs Recording Studio in Kingston in 1976, and released on Gibbs' eponymous label in 1977. The album's title is a reference to the date of 7 July 1977. Singer Joseph Hill said Two Sevens Clash was based on a prediction by Marcus Garvey, who said there would be chaos on 7 July 1977, when the "sevens" met. With its apocalyptic message, the song created a stir in his Caribbean homeland and many Jamaican businesses and schools closed for the day. 

Run the Jewels, the super dynamic duo of EI-P and Killer Mike, two of the most distinctive and celebrated names in rap brought you Run the Jewels 2 on mass Appeal records in 2014. The immensely anticipated album includes guests ranging from Zack de la Rocha to Travis Barker amongst others, but the duo maintains that the album is first and foremost about the creative partnership between the MC's themselves. 

After making tsunami level waves in the industry after his 6 track appearance on Dr. Dre’s latest album, Compton–Los Angeles’s Anderson .Paak returns with his brand new LP, Malibu. After a whirlwind of press, accolades, performances and studio sessions with greats, Anderson .Paak took all those experiences and stirred them into his pot to formulate the silky-smooth Malibu album. The follow-up to 2014’s Venice features appearances from The Game, ScHoolboy Q, Talib Kweli, Rapsody, and BJ The Chicago Kid. The sonic backdrop to the album was provided by some of today’s hottest producers from 9th Wonder, Kaytranada, Madlib, Hi-Tek, RobertGlasper, DJ Khalil and more. With the good Dr.’s co-sign, Anderson’s talent, and his captivating live show, Malibu is sure to make Anderson .Paak a household name very soon.

Rising from the wreckage of a war-torn planet, Czarface joins forces with MF DOOM in the epic Czarface Meets Metal Face! Blending DOOM's trademark abstractions and CZARFACE's in-your-face lyrical attack, this album is ripe with cartoon violence, societal observations, and pop culture musings. Over banging beats provided by The Czar-Keys, the armored team gives you the witty unpredictable treats any hip-hop fan can sink their fangs into.

Released in 1968, this is the debut album by LA psych-rock band, The Zoo. The Zoo was one of the youngest groups ever signed to a major label during the 1960s and featured Howard Leese (later of Heart) on lead guitar. One of the true long-lost psychedelic/garage gems of the late-60s, re-issued here on shiny heavyweight virgin vinyl in Spearmint Green color.

Released in 1968, Federal Duck is the self-titled debut album from this obscure soft-psych band. Federal Duck was a group of college buddies from Haverford, Pennsylvania. Founded by banjo exponent George Stavis, this band only released one album before Stavis went on to record solo for the Vanguard label. The band played together for almost 4 years under aliases including Stomp Jackson Quintet and The Guides. Another underground gem from one of the many obscure college bands to pop up during the late-60s psychedelic era, re-issued here on shiny heavyweight virgin vinyl in Seville Orange color.

The Classic 1959 collection featuring Nina Simone, Carmen McRae and Chris Connors. Features a brand new stereo mastering by Kevin Gray and a new essay by author of Liner Notes For the Revolution, Daphne A. Brooks.

2013 release, the eagerly anticipated third full-length album from the Alt-Rock band reunited the band with producer Jay Joyce who produced the group's prior two releases. The album is the follow up to 2011's acclaimed sophomore album Thank You Happy Birthday, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and has over 250,000 copies to date. Rolling Stone, New York Times, LA Times, USA Today, and Entertainment Weekly praised the release as "one of the best Rock albums of the year."

Produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys & The Arcs. "With this record, we wanted to be more transparent," said lead singer Matt Shultz. "We wanted to capture the sentiment of each song, and whatever emotional response it provoked, to be really honest to that." The results are the band's most forceful and focused songs yet. They recorded most of the songs on the 10-song album on the first take, capturing the band's raw and frenetic onstage energy. Their last album, Melophobia, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative Album.

Natalie Mering, known professionally as Weyes Blood, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Mering was raised in a musical family and began writing songs under the moniker Wise Blood at age 15, later changing the spelling to Weyes Blood. She spent some formative years in the underground noise music scene, playing in bands Jackie-O Motherfucker and Nautical Almanac. Mering released her debut album, The Outside Room, in 2011.  With the release of 2019’s strikingly beautiful and critically-acclaimed Titanic Rising, she received high placements on year-end and decade-end lists from publications such as Pitchfork, Uproxx, Paste, Uncut, Dazed, The Guardian, and NPR. Live performance highlights include sold-out tours in the US and Europe, as well as opening for Kacey Musgraves in the fall and singing with Lana Del Rey at the Hollywood Bowl.

Released in December 1965, Bay Area pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack to Charles Schulz's iconic Peanuts special A Charlie Brown Christmas is among the most beloved holiday albums of all time, now certified Triple Plantinum with sales of over three million copies. The session was voted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2007 and was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry’s list of “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important” American recordings.

Gil Evans to Miles Davis, Holger Czukay to the ensemble known as Can, Jean Claude Vannier to Serge Gainsbourg on Histoire de Melody Nelson. That's the only way to explain the specificity of Four Tet and Madlib's collaboration, in this special album that showcases a two-decade-long friendship that has resulted in what follows Madlib's classics like Quasimoto's The Unseen, Madvillainy and his Pinata and Bandana albums with Freddie Gibbs.