Real Gone Music's vinyl reissue series continues August 2 with three titles: two from the astral travelers themselves, fusion heavyweights Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes; and a compilation of late-era recordings by rock's original madman, Screamin' Jay Hawkins.  All three will be presented in limited-edition color vinyl editions.

As an alum of Miles Davis' fusion era and Roland Kirk's ensemble, pianist Lonnie Liston Smith had already made a name for himself prior to releasing his groundbreaking string of solo albums on Bob Thiele's Flying Dutchman imprint.  Delivering five albums in four years, Smith and The Cosmic Echoes explored post-bop modal jazz, spiritual jazz, funk, rock, and even quiet storm influences to create a unique strain of jazz all his own.  His 1973 debut, Astral Traveling, saw Smith team up with a versatile ensemble of Cecil McBee on bass, George Barron on sax, James Mtume and Sonny Morgan on percussion, David Lee, Jr. on drums, Badal Roy on tabla, Geeta Vashi on tamboura, and Joe Beck on guitar.  Together, they explored the stratosphere on a classic of the astral jazz genre.  Real Gone's new vinyl reissue will be pressed on "blue eternity" vinyl and pressed up in a quantity of 1,000.

Smith returned in 1974 with his sophomore effort,  Cosmic Funk.  True to its name, the album blends the astral jazz leanings of the debut record with funk and soul-tinged textures featuring Donald Smith (vocals, piano, flute), Art Gore (drums), Al Anderson (bass), George Barron (sax), and Lawrence Killian (percussion and conga).  Even as a transitional album, its not without its gems.  Highlights include a rendering of Coltrane's "Naima" featuring Smith's brother Donald on vocals.  Real Gone will reissue the album on August 2 on gold vinyl in an edition limited to 1,000 copies.

Finally, Real Gone will present some of the wackiest rock from Screamin' Jay Hawkins.  Hawkins is probably best-known for his single "I Put A Spell On You," which introduced audiences to his wild-man persona and other theatrics.  The Bizarre Years is a 10-song collection that captures the cream of the crop of Hawkins' tenure at Bizarre Records. Originally owned by Frank Zappa, Bizzare promised to be a haven for the offbeat and oddball.  With such strange and lurid tunes as "Shut Your Mouth When You Sneeze" and "Sherilyn Fenn" to a pair of unexpected Tom Waits covers, the music is bound to please any fan that hasn't already found this collection.  For their vinyl release, Real Gone has pressed The Bizarre Years on purple vinyl and will include liner notes by Chris Morris.  The set is limited to just 1,000 copies!

Quantities of these titles are extremely limited, so place those pre-orders soon!

Lonnie Liston Smith and The Cosmic Echoes, Astral Traveling (Flying Dutchman FD 10163, 1973 - reissued Real Gone Music, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Side One

1. Astral Traveling
2. Let Us Go into the House of the Lord
3. Rejuvenation

Side Two

1. I Mani (Faith)
2. In Search of Truth
3. Aspirations

Lonnie Liston Smith and The Cosmic Echoes, Cosmic Funk (Flying Dutchman BDL1-0591, 1974 - reissued Real Gone Music, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Side One

1. Cosmic Funk
2. Footprints
3. Beautiful Woman

Side Two

1. Sais (Egypt)
2. Peaceful Ones
3. Naima

Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Bizarre Years (Real Gone Music, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Side One

1. Swamp Gas
2. Voodoo Priestess
3. I Am the Cool
4. Whistling Past the Graveyard
5. Heart Attack and Vine

Side Two

1. Late Night Hawkins
2. Shut Your Mouth When You Sneeze
3. Ignant and Shit
4. Strokin'
5. Sherilyn Fenn