Ace Records

07/10/2025

Apologies for the current clunkiness with the Ace website. We're migrating to a new server this week which will hopefully keep us going until the new site is built. Thanks for your patience. 🙏

03/10/2025

Folamour presents a stunning rework of Fatback Band’s timeless 1983 classic ’I Found Lovin’. This rework pays homage to the original’s soulful warmth while bringing it to the dance floor of today.

Listen here: https://lnk.to/IFoundLovin-FolamourRemix

30/09/2025

New Colony Six - 'Prairie Grey' from "Safe In My Garden - American Pop In the Shadows 1967-1972" (Release date: 31.10.2025)🤌

NEW COLONY SIX were one of the biggest bands in mid-60s Chicago, and seemed happy to stay local for the first two garage-punk leaning albums “Breakthrough” (1966) and “Colonization” (1967), which contained two huge regional hits in ‘I Confess and Love You So Much’ (both #2 in Chicago). They signed to Mercury in 1967 and management put them on a national stage. This coincided with their move to a softer, more harmonic sound. ‘I Will Always Think About You’, ‘Can’t You See Me Cry’ and ‘Things I’d Like To Say’ – their only Billboard Top 20 hit – followed in 1968. The small-scale drama of ‘Prairie Grey’, and what it meant to be “a man” in America in 1969, was singer Ray Graffia Jr’s last word for the group. They soldiered on without him until the late 70s, before reforming in 1988.

29/09/2025

Fabulous Ace piece in the new which just dropped through the letterbox. It includes 40 essential releases from our back catalogue to kickstart your collection (hand picked by Ace compilers and the Ace founders). 🔥

26/09/2025

Wow, thanks for all the entries folks! This month's winners were:

Mary Mccuish
Gordon Waring
Tim Trapnell

As ever tag their names below if you know them so they don't miss this post. 🙏

26/09/2025

It's Ace new release day folks! Like, share or comment to win one of three sets of new releases. The winners will be drawn out of the hat at 5pm today. 🙏

25/09/2025

"Safe In My Garden - American Pop In the Shadows 1967-1972". Release date: 31.10.2025

Peace and love in late 60s America did not come without parallel feelings of fear and confusion about the social situation – specifically about Vietnam. “Safe In My Garden” is the latest Ace compilation in an acclaimed series compiled by Bob Stanley – it’s a companion piece to the much-praised “State Of The Union (The American Dream In Crisis 1967 – 1973” Ace CDCHD 1533/XXQLP2 057 2018).

The music on “Safe In My Garden” is harmony-laden, beautifully produced soft rock. Sunshine pop, even - a melodic, innovative style of American music that grew in the mid-60s out of the folk and surf scenes, exemplified the Beach Boys and the Mamas and Papas. You will hear orchestral arrangements, and soft boy-girl vocals. But it wasn’t made in isolation from what was going on in the outside world. There are clouds and minor chords, plenty of melancholy in those harmonies.

“Safe In My Garden” includes songs of escape (Mark Eric’s ‘Move With The Dawn’, the Groop’s ‘A Famous Myth’), loss (the Eighth Day’s ‘How Can I Stop Loving You’, the New Colony Six’s ‘Prairie Grey’), dreamscapes (Tommy James and the Shondells’ ‘She’, Nancy Priddy’s ‘You’ve Come This Way Before’), rebirth (Smokey and his Sister’s ‘Creators Of Rain’), a simpler world (the Free Design’s ‘My Brother Woody’) and a philosophically sounder future (Chad & Jeremy’s ‘The Ark’, Best of Friends’ ‘Summer Sound’).

It contains some surprisingly dark messages paired with beautiful melodies, as well as songs of hope. Thousands of young musicians in cities, suburbs and small towns across the States from the mid to late 60s spent their mornings hiding from the mailman, dreading the draft. This is the Sound of Young America in the late 60s, keeping its fingers crossed.

1. ALWAYS YOU - THE SUNDOWNERS
2. MOVE WITH THE DAWN - MARK ERIC
3. SHE - TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
4. A FAMOUS MYTH - THE GROOP
5. DREAMIN' IN THE SHADE (DOWN IN L.A.) - BREWER & SHIPLEY
6. I DON'T THINK I KNOW HER - TEE & CARA
7. KNOCK ON WOOD - HARPERS BIZARRE
2. THE VISIT (SHE WAS HERE) - THE CYRKLE
8. I SEE IT NOW - FARGO
4. SUMMER SOUND - BEST OF FRIENDS
9. A MOMENT OF BEING WITH YOU - THE CRITTERS
10. BLIGHT - THE MILLENNIUM
11. JILL - GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS
12. I CAN SEE ONLY YOU - ROGER NICHOLS & THE SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
13. LITTLE DREAMS - THE NEW WAVE
14. MY BROTHER WOODY - THE FREE DESIGN
15. CHRISTINA'S WORLD - NANCY PRIDDY
16. THE ARK - CHAD & JEREMY
17. CREATORS OF RAIN - SMOKEY & HIS SISTER
18. HOW CAN I STOP LOVING YOU - THE EIGHTH DAY
19. LOVE IS A RAINY SUNDAY - LOVE GENERATION
20. SPRINGTIME MEADOWS - THE SUNSHINE COMPANY
21. THE WORD IS LOVE - THOMAS & RICHARD FROST
22. PRAIRIE GREY - NEW COLONY SIX

23/09/2025

Heavy metal legends David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel from Spinal Tap reviewing our compilation: "Chiswick Records 1975-1982: Seven Years At 45 RPM" whilst out record shopping at Amoeba. 🙏

Heavy metal legends David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap go record shopping at Amoeba Music in Hollywood. "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" is n...

18/09/2025

"Safe In My Garden - American Pop In the Shadows 1967-1972" will be released 31.10.2025 🙏

Peace and love in late 60s America did not come without parallel feelings of fear and confusion about the social situation – specifically about Vietnam. “Safe In My Garden” is the latest Ace compilation in an acclaimed series compiled by Bob Stanley – it’s a companion piece to the much-praised “State Of The Union (The American Dream In Crisis 1967 – 1973” Ace CDCHD 1533/XXQLP2 057 2018).

The music on “Safe In My Garden” is harmony-laden, beautifully produced soft rock. Sunshine pop, even - a melodic, innovative style of American music that grew in the mid-60s out of the folk and surf scenes, exemplified the Beach Boys and the Mamas and Papas. You will hear orchestral arrangements, and soft boy-girl vocals. But it wasn’t made in isolation from what was going on in the outside world. There are clouds and minor chords, plenty of melancholy in those harmonies.

“Safe In My Garden” includes songs of escape (Mark Eric’s ‘Move With The Dawn’, the Groop’s ‘A Famous Myth’), loss (the Eighth Day’s ‘How Can I Stop Loving You’, the New Colony Six’s ‘Prairie Grey’), dreamscapes (Tommy James and the Shondells’ ‘She’, Nancy Priddy’s ‘You’ve Come This Way Before’), rebirth (Smokey and his Sister’s ‘Creators Of Rain’), a simpler world (the Free Design’s ‘My Brother Woody’) and a philosophically sounder future (Chad & Jeremy’s ‘The Ark’, Best of Friends’ ‘Summer Sound’).

It contains some surprisingly dark messages paired with beautiful melodies, as well as songs of hope. Thousands of young musicians in cities, suburbs and small towns across the States from the mid to late 60s spent their mornings hiding from the mailman, dreading the draft. This is the Sound of Young America in the late 60s, keeping its fingers crossed.

1. ALWAYS YOU - THE SUNDOWNERS LP Decca DL 75036 (1969) 2.58
2. MOVE WITH THE DAWN - MARK ERIC LP R***e RS 7210 (1969) 2.43
3. SHE - TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS Roulette R-7066 (1969) 2.10
4. A FAMOUS MYTH - THE GROOP Bell 800 (1969) 2.24
5. DREAMIN' IN THE SHADE (DOWN IN L.A.) - BREWER & SHIPLEY LP A&M SP 4154 (1968) 2.11
6. I DON'T THINK I KNOW HER - TEE & CARA LP United Artists UAS 6683 (1968) 2.46
7. KNOCK ON WOOD - HARPERS BIZARRE LP Warner Bros., Seven Arts WS 1784 (1969) 2.09
8. THE VISIT (SHE WAS HERE) - THE CYRKLE Columbia 4-43965 (1967) 2.18
9. I SEE IT NOW - FARGO LP RCA LSP-4178 (1969) 2.25
10. SUMMER SOUND - BEST OF FRIENDS LP Quartin LP-RSQ-4 (1971) 2.50
11. A MOMENT OF BEING WITH YOU - THE CRITTERS LP Project 3 Total Sound PR 4001 SD (1968) 2.44
12. BLIGHT - THE MILLENNIUM 3-CD Sundazed Music SC 11102 (2001) 2.52*
13. JILL - GARY LEWIS AND THE PLAYBOYS Liberty 55985 (1967) 2.18
14. I CAN SEE ONLY YOU - ROGER NICHOLS AND THE SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS LP A&M SP 4139 (1968) 2.52
15. LITTLE DREAMS - THE NEW WAVE LP Canterbury CLPS 1501 (1967) 2.24
16. MY BROTHER WOODY - THE FREE DESIGN LP Project 3 Total Sound PR 5019 SD (1967) 2.32
17. CHRISTINA'S WORLD - NANCY PRIDDY LP Dot DLP 25893 (1968) 2.42
18. THE ARK - CHAD & JEREMY LP Columbia CS 9699 (1968) 4.52
19. CREATORS OF RAIN - SMOKEY AND HIS SISTER Columbia 4-43995 (1967) 2.42
20. HOW CAN I STOP LOVING YOU - THE EIGHTH DAY LP Kapp KS 3554 (1968) 2.46
21. LOVE IS A RAINY SUNDAY - LOVE GENERATION LP Imperial LP-12408 (1968) 2.40
22. SPRINGTIME MEADOWS - THE SUNSHINE COMPANY LP Imperial LP-12399 (1968) 4.27
23. THE WORD IS LOVE - THOMAS AND RICHARD FROST Imperial 66405 (1969) 2.42
24. PRAIRIE GREY - NEW COLONY SIX LP Mercury SR 61228 (1969) 2.43

16/09/2025

Today, we celebrate a century of blues.

The legendary B.B. King would have turned 100 years today. From his humble beginnings in Mississippi to the world’s biggest stages, B.B. King’s music reshaped the sound of the blues and influenced generations of guitarists.

This year, communities from Jackson, Mississippi to the bright lights of Memphis, Tennessee, and countless stops along the Mississippi Blues Trail, are honoring his remarkable legacy. With 220 historical markers, the trail pays tribute to the artists, places, and stories that gave rise to one of America’s most powerful musical traditions. The latest marker was dedicated on September 5 this year at the B.B. King Museum in Indianola.

At Ace Records, we’re proud to help keep that legacy alive. After Modern Records ceased operations in 1958, the Crown and Kent labels released much of B.B. King’s Modern/RPM material. Today, Ace continues to curate and reissue this historic repertoire, including “The Vintage Years” 4-CD box set, ensuring these definitive recordings remain heard, studied, and loved: https://acerecords.co.uk/the-vintage-years

Join us in celebrating the life, music, and enduring influence of the one and only King of the Blues.

15/09/2025

Ace Records are delighted to reissue Irma Thomas’ classic debut album “Wish Someone Would Care” on 31.10.2025. 🔥

Originally released in 1964, the album title was taken from her big R&B hit single ‘Wish Someone Would Care’ which got to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1964.

Produced by Eddie Ray and arranged by H.B. Barnum it’s a stone cold soul classic featuring tracks like ‘Please Send Me Someone To Love’. ‘Straight From The Heart’, ‘Another Woman’s Man’ and ‘Break-A-Way’ that was the B-side to ‘Wish Someone Would Care’.

As well as pressing the album on 180gm vinyl Ace are delighted to feature an interview with Irma discussing this part of her career with writer Garth Cartwright.

11/09/2025

Nina Simone "Let It All Out - Selected Singles 1961-1978" will be released: 31.10.2025 🔥

‘Icon’ is an overused word when it comes to describing singers and musicians, but when it comes to Nina Simone there are few artists that the word describes more accurately. The ‘High Priestess Of Soul’ is surely one of the most iconic singers of the 20th century, and one whose fame and acclaim stretches far beyond conventional black American music circles.

Nina Simone has featured on Ace and Kent CDs before but this is the first time she’s had one all to herself. “Let It All Out” is the first and only Nina Simone collection to draw repertoire from every label she recorded for between the late 1950s to the late 1970s.

Not a traditional ‘Best Of’ or ‘Greatest Hits’ package (although the performances included here ARE among her very best, and do include most of her Greatest Hits!) it is a singles collection that presents Nina Simone’s soul and R&B-slanted 45s in chronological order. Invariably they are the definitive versions of the songs, whether she recorded the original versions or not.

As well as almost all of her American pop and R&B chart hits from 1960 onwards, “Let It All Out” also contains all of Simone’s UK chart hits from the same period – several of which were more successful here than they were back home, including both versions of her biggest British hit ‘Ain’t Got No-I Got Life’, a UK #2 that did not chart at all in the US as was the case with the belated UK Top 5 hit ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ which also made no chart impression on its home turf…

Carefully curated and concisely annotated, “Let It All Out” lets the listener in to two dozen of Nina Simone’s most celebrated singles. There have been many compilations of her works since she passed away 20+ years ago, but none that gets to the heart – and soul – of her catalogue in quite so direct a manner as this one does.