Charles Munch's 1955 recording of Daphnis et Chlöe set new standards of virtuosity and sonic splendor (to say nothing of interpretive insight) in this music…

This two-CD set gives one a good example of how Duke Ellington's Orchestra sounded in 1959. Greatly expanded from the original single LP, the release essentially brings back a full night by the Ellington band. The music ranges from old favorites to some newer material and highlights include Billy Strayhorn sitting in on his "Take the 'A' Train," several selections from the recent Anatomy of a Murder soundtrack, versions of "Drawing Room Blues" and "Tonk" that have both Ellington and Strayhorn on piano, an 11-minute rendition of "Mood Indigo" and quite a few features for altoist Johnny Hodges.

Recorded with his quintet and originally released in the late '80s, La Camorra features some of tango master Astor Piazzolla's finest moments. The album was recorded after Piazzolla's last major U.S. tour, and La Camorra highlights the intensity of his composition as well as his playing. ~ Heather Phares

Formed in late 2007, SOUTHERN FRONT was "molded from the spirit and attitude of metal's old-school and combined with a fresh new energy and brutality"

Although his first four solo albums were commercial disappointments, 1984's Bochum turned Herbert Grönemeyer into the biggest musician in Germany. Featuring a blue-collar, stadium rock sound and highly literate lyrics including double entendres, puns, and other creative word play Bochum became the best-selling German album of all time, a record it held until Grönemeyer's Mensch beat it two decades later.

There is no record of how Purcell's unprecedented youthful genius was received by his contemporaries, (…) suffice it to say that a lifelong friendship developed with John Blow, who relinquished his post as organist at Westminster Abbey to the 20-year old Purcell in 1679.