HOME2022-12-20T22:32:28-08:00

Welcome to Highlife Records. Excellent cross-border travel.
Celebrating 40+ years of Vinyl Records, CDs and Tapes in Vancouver!

NEW RELEASES & STAFF PICKS

Makaya McCraven – STRANGERS IN THE CITY

By |July 17th, 2020|NEW RELEASES & STAFF PICKS|

We've loved Makaya McCraven's Universal Beings LP and so we're jazzed to hear about new material! "Sides E & F". More info here on COS and here on Pitchfork. Check out this excerpt from a new film. You'll also catch a glimpse of McCraven's band including the remarkable Nubya Garcia, who recorded at Crew Studios in North Vancouver with Highlifer [...]

Review: We’re New Again – A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven

By |February 18th, 2020|NEW RELEASES & STAFF PICKS|

We’re New Again – A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven​ (International Anthem / XL Recordings) The ghost of the revolutionary American poet/musician/author Gil Scott-Heron must be dancing, and smiling broadly somewhere tonight with the recent release of the “new” record “We’re New Again” by a group led by Chicago drummer Makaya McCraven. Gil Scott-Heron died (age 62) in 2011 and had [...]

Oxford American: South Carolina

By |November 17th, 2019|Bill's Picks, NEW RELEASES & STAFF PICKS|

Well, eclectic music fans, if it is close to winter, it is time again for the next (and this year, the 21st annual) music edition from our friends at the Oxford American magazine, out of Little Rock Arkansas and in alliance with the University of Central Arkansas. This year’s compilation - as is their recent practice - focuses on music, musicians [...]

Soul of A Nation 2 : Jazz is the Teacher, Funk is the Preacher

By |March 21st, 2019|Bill's Picks, NEW RELEASES & STAFF PICKS|

The thoughtful people at SoulJazz Records in London England have done it again. Their latest compilation “Soul of A Nation 2” is one of the deepest and most powerful compilations to come our way in many years, and is even stronger than the first volume from 2018. These compilations were chosen to provide a musical companion piece for an art [...]

Dennis Coffey “One Night at Morey’s: 1968” + Delvon Lamarr Trio “Live at KEXP”

By |October 31st, 2018|Bill's Picks, NEW RELEASES & STAFF PICKS|

If you are at all like me, you might have felt that after hearing artists like Booker T & the Mgs, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith, and Larry Young for years, there wasn't much still to discover from an organ /guitar / drums trio. Well here are two recent releases – recorded close to 50 years (!!!) apart – that have [...]

NEWS & EVENTS

Orkestar Kriminal: Live Monday Night

By |July 13th, 2019|In-store performances|

We're very pleased to present the 8-piece phenomenon from Montreal Orkestar Kriminal for a very special in-store performance. Monday July 15th at 7pm "Along with their Yiddish gangster repertoire, Orkestar Kriminal has absorbed the Rebetika Mortika hash den anthems of the 1930s Greek underground. They can also be found performing in Khmer, Spanish, Danish, Romani, Ladino, Russian, Vietnamese, Hebrew or whatever other tongue might [...]

In-Store: Jim Campilongo & Luca Benedetti SUN FEB 17th 2pm

By |February 10th, 2019|In-store performances, News|

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17th 2pm Pleased to invite you to another in-store in conjunction with @blueshoreatcapu : Sunday Feb 17th @ 2pm @jimcampilongo & @lucabenedetti_gtr guitar duo preview of their show that night @roguefolkclub