This is the first in a series of 'Digs' compilations raiding the record racks of some of the most outrageous music collections. Over the years Gilles Peterson has delighted dance floors and listeners to his radio show by joining the dots between musical styles and eras. His record collection is so serious he keeps it in a separate house known as Brownswood. Regular listeners to Peterson's radio show (Worldwide airs on BBC Radio 1 weekly in the UK and is syndicated around the world) are occasionally treated to a Brownswood Basement selection where all the records are oldies, all on vinyl, and none have been re-issued. By popular demand this compilation features some of the Brownswood Basement rarities from the USA.

A typical Brownswood Basement mix effortlessly ebbs and flows between moods and grooves. Opening with a string laden low-rider-style soul cut from Dorando the tempo may be low but the quality level and rarity factors are immediately set to high. The identity of Dorando (real name Darondo, but a spelling mistake on this 45 switched the "o" with the "a") was a long time mystery. In the early 1970s three 45s were released on San Francisco Bay Area labels but little else was known about the man until local musicologist Justin Torres recently tracked him down (watch out for a full Darondo album release on Luv NíHaight). Despite Darondos underground status this soulful tearjerker would not sound out of place next to peers like Al Green or Shuggie Otis.

Listening to each of the tunes on this compilation it is hard to imagine why these artists are not all household names. Such is the ability of Mr Peterson to spot a tune. Asked if he ever walks into Brownswood and thinks he has nothing to play, the simple answer is "No."