At the heart of (2006) are the four out-of-print LPs that multi-instrumentalist (bagpipes/flute/sax) cut for the label during the mid- to late 1960s. Also featured are a previously unissued cover of as well as a / duet from 's (1967) platter. Although criminally dismissed by many as a novelty, successfully integrated the seemingly limited B flat and F drone of the bagpipes into the realm of (concurrently) modern . 's early life was a struggle with poverty, during which his alcoholic mother would often pawn his treasured C-melody sax for liquor money. Proving his sincerity to the music, without fail would retrieve his instrument via odd jobs. However, his focus changed on November 25, 1963 as -- along with the rest of the free world -- tuned in to the memorial of President John F. Kennedy. When heard the pipers from the during the funeral procession, the sound struck him as producing the same tonality that he had been unsuccessfully trying to coax out of his sax. It was then a matter of hooking up with , a fellow Philly resident and local disc jockey. was also carving himself out a niche as a record producer of some renown, having worked with , , and , among others. obviously appreciated 's remarkable talents, eventually going on to produce his entire output. The first two LPs, (1966) and (1966), are stylistically akin, blending originals with the occasional and /Great American Songbook entry. vacillates between the bagpipes, flute and saxes. He even turns the tables on himself by playing some fiery soprano sax on the traditional Irish -- the one tune that, by most accounts, should have been executed on the bagpipes. On the -friendly 's lyricism as a flautist gets its due, while the emotive take of is nothing short of tear-inducing. (1967) followed with a half-dozen works, four of which were dedicated to 's respective heroes. The fallen American leader is parenthetically praised on while is a sonic salute to the sports demigod who had been stripped of his title for refusing to fight in Vietnam. was a nod to slain civil rights activist was 's heartfelt homage to his friend, the very recently departed which, suitably, performs on tenor sax. (1969) is the final album included on this anthology, although would go on to record again after a brief sabbatical to raise his family. The effort is markedly different from the others as the selections are considerably more oriented and 's small combo has been replaced by studio session stalwarts. The readings of are stunning keepers, while the extended centerpieces are mini-masterworks whose social importance may well rival its musical magnitude. ~ Lindsay Planer