England's Beat Goes On Label does two-fers better than almost anyone else. They remaster the music, pop the CDs into durable, slim-line jewel cases, and offer authoritative liner notes as well as a tidy, if not overly attractive, paper slipcase. This double-disc includes the two middle period Return to Forever releases, Where Have I Known You Before, originally issued in 1974, and No Mystery, released in 1975, which was also the band's final album for Polydor -- they moved to Columbia for 1976's classic Romantic Warrior. The first of these two discs introduced the band's legendary -- though not original -- lineup: with Chick Corea on keyboards, bassist Stanley Clarke, drummer Lenny White, and new guitarist Al DiMeola, who replaced Bill Connors. The now corny sci-fi imagery was perfect for the mid-'70s, and the stellar blend of knotty compositions and intense solo improvisation made for one of RTF's most compelling albums. No Mystery, featuring the same personnel, generally got shorter shrift, but hindsight being 20/20, that's unwarranted. Time has proven it to be a very consistent -- though admittedly less groundbreaking -- offering; it's worthy of real reconsideration in the 21st century. These records were, along with Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy and Romantic Warrior, Billy Cobham's Spectrum, Tony Williams' Lifetime, the Mahavishnu Orchestra's Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire, the epitome of jazz-rock fusion; Miles Davis' music of the era was always something more mysterious, more speculative, and far funkier than this muscular -- and masculine -- blurred out blend of instrumental pyrotechnics. The BGO versions of these albums sound a whole level or two better than the domestic budget reissues. ~ Thom Jurek

Track list
Olomouc
Twenty Tonnes of Tension
Flight 19
Roamin'
Suspended Memory
Addis
Igor
The Water is Wide
Afro Cello
Ajoyo
I Am Analogue

Feels Like Home,is the anticipated follow-up to Norah Jones's Grammy-sweeping debut! The disc finds the sweet-voiced singer once again working with producer Arif Mardin. Also appearing on the album are Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of the Band, jazz drummer Brian Blade, Jesse Harris (who wrote Jones's hit "Don't Know Why"), and Dolly Parton. Jones recently paid homage to Parton on Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Partonby singing "The Grass Is Blue." Jones also appears on two tracks on the latest from Big Apple trip-hop outfit Wax Poetic, entitled Nublu Sessions. With five Grammys already on her shelf, Ms. Jones was also nominated for the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals Grammy for her duet with Willie Nelson on "Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)," which appeared on Willie Nelson and Friends: Live and Kickin'.