ODETTA Schallplatten & CDs

Review: By the time Odetta Holmes recorded Southern Soul classic Odetta Sings in 1970, she'd already released a dizzying array of albums over a 13-year career. Initially a rhythm and blues artist, she played a key role in the American folk revival of the 1960s and became a leading figure in the civil rights movement. While Odetta Sings included some softly spun fusions of folk and soul (see her fabulous covers of Paul McCartney's "Every Night" and James Taylor's bluesy "Lo and Behold") and string-drenched ballads, for the most part it was an impassioned and upbeat affair, containing such classics as "Mama Told Me Not To Come", "Hit and Miss" and "Movin' It On". In hindsight, it's one of the strongest soul albums of all time, making this limited edition reissue a must-have.

Review: Two hugely historic versions from Adidas's high-schooling Originals imprint. Odetta's 1970 original is a beautifully sexy, smouldering piece of smoky blues while Bo Diddley's cover (that came four years later) is much more upbeat and funk focussed with added horns and head-turning bass runs. Both have inspired every generation that's followed and have undergone myriad sample treatments. Return to the source and understand just why they've been so influential.

Review: The Galaxy Sound Co US is now up to number 41 in their buy-on-sight 'Series: 1$ Bin Breaks'. It's another vital 45 rpm that packs a lot in with plenty of epic sound sources that you will recognise and love from some of your favourite hip-hop joints. Artists like Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Puff Daddy, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, J Dilla, Redman and Alicia Keys have called upon the sounds you will hear here from original artists like Odessa, Milt Jackson With The Ray Brown Big Band, Issac Hayes and many more. File this one under essential breaks, library sounds and jazz nuggets.