Uncut

The Blades Of Grass ARE NOT FOR SMOKING REV-OLA West Coast ex-folksters The Sunshine Company just missed stardom when their version of newcomer Jimmy Webb's "Up, Up And Away" was beaten into the charts by the Fifth Dimension's in 1967.

Pick'n'mix four-CD retrospective from original '80s New Popsters, including demos, remixes, rarities and previously unreleased tracks

Strong across-the-board selection of soul classics

Comprehensive collection of Philly pop-soul boys, fronted by Todd Rundgren, who looked to Swinging London for inspiration and then blew up

Typical set by the '80s Bristol sound system that predated Massive Attack, mixed by original DJ Milo

Indie landmark gets elaborate two-CD reissue

The Killer's country comeback years on 28-track twofer

Compilation of hardcore electro and New Beat from Belgium-based label

Three-CD discovery from original Queen of Cool

Don't be misled by the title. This is not Martyn's classic 1973 album Solid Air, but a best-of that isn't even really that. Yes, all his greatest songs from two decades of back catalogue are here. Yet they're not the original recordings but reinterpretations made in 1992-93 with a soft-rock, dinner party backing provided by such mates as Phil Collins and Dave Gilmour. The songs still sound pretty good and his voice is as wonderfully slurred as ever. But nobody could claim any of these 28 retreads are improvements on the originals.