Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group at the Shalin Liu in Rockport MA, 5/4/2025

Lyle Lovett is a phenomenal talent and great performer – you should see him any time you get a chance. He was in Rockport at the Shalin Liu…

M. Ward, Supernatural Thing, 2023 on Anti-

M. Ward‘s 12th solo album and followup to his Billy Holiday covers album Think of Spring. He’s joined by First Aid Kit on “Too Young To Die” and…

Various Artists, All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman, 2014 on Rounder

A tribute concert to Gregg Allman with a star-studded set of guests, recorded January 10th, 2014 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, and put out on Blu-Ray, DVD,…

Run D.M.C., Run D.M.C., 1984 on Profile

Run D.M.C.‘s debut album on Profile, a NY area hip-hop label that was distributed by Arista, who would later reissue it. It was produced by Russell SImmons and…

ZZ Top, ZZ Top’s First Album, 1971 on London / Warner Bros

Originally issued in the US on London Records (the American imprint of Decca) in 1971, ZZ Top‘s First Album was reissued by Warner Bros in 1978, likely based…

Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969 on Fantasy

This was the fourth LP from CCR, and the third released in 1969 (one in January, one in August, and this one in November) – talk about striking…

Maggie Rogers, Surrender, 2022 on Capitol / Debay

Rogers’ second studio album on a major label, Surrender was a component of her thesis at Harvard Divinity School. Kid Harpoon (aka Thomas Edward Percy Hull) produced along…

Wilco, A.M., 1995 on Sire / Reprise

Wilco emerged out of the breakup of Uncle Tupelo (some of the band remaining with Jeff Tweedy as Wilco, some with Jay Farrar as Son Volt). This was…

Icicle Works, Icicle Works, 1984 on Arista / Beggars Banquet

In the UK (and elsewhere) this was credited to The Icicle Works and was on Beggars Banquet, but in the US it was titled just Icicle Works (no…

Billy Joe Shaver, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, 1973 on Monument

This was Shaver’s debut album, produced by Kris Kristofferson. I know Shaver more through tributes (2022’s Live Forever) and other famous artists recording his songs more than I…

Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings & Plays, 1967 on Joker

Recorded in 1959 in Milan, this was first issued in Italy as Angel Eyes on Celson, and in the US as Chet Baker With Fifty Italian Strings on…

Brandy Clark, Brandy Clark, 2023 on Slate Creek / Warner

Clark’s fourth studio album, self-titled, and produced by Brandi Carlile, who provides backing vocals, piano and guitar on a number of tracks and is featured on “Dear Insecurity,”…

A Tribe Called Quest, The Love Movement, 1998 on Jive

Fifth studio album from Tribe, and the last released before Phife Dawg died in 2016 from complications related to diabetes. Tribe announced they were disbanding a month before…

Fleshtones, Roman Gods, 1981 on IRS Records

Debut album from Queens New York’s own The Fleshtones (credited as just Fleshtones here). This included the song – “Shadow-line (to J. Conrad)” – that was included in…

David Bromberg, My Own House, 1978 on Fantasy

Bromberg’s 9th album as a solo artist, from 1978 – his first on Fantasy after three great Columbia records in the seventies. Bromberg is one of my favorite…

Jim Sullivan, U.F.O., 1969 on Monnie Records

im Sullivan’s U.F.O. originally came out on Monnie back in 1969 (basically a self-funded pressing), and then was reissued with the title Jim Sullivan (with a different mix)…

Sonny Clark Trio, Sonny Clark Trio, 1958 on Blue Note

Sonny Clark with Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in 1957 in Hackensack. Liner notes by Leonard Feather,…

Tinsley Ellis, Devil May Care, 2022 on Alligator Records

Blues traditionalist Tinsley Ellis continues to put out great records, this time (once again) on Alligator Records. This one is all originals, recorded at the Rock House in…

The Rave-Ups, Chance, 1990 on Epic

The Rave-Ups are likely best known as the band in Pretty in Pink. (Molly Ringwald’s sister Beth was in a relationship with Jimmer Podrasky, and Ringwald brought John…

Squeeze, East Side Story, 1981 on A&M

Squeeze’s fourth studio LP, between 1980’s Argybargy and 1982’s Sweets from a Stranger. This was the first album after Jools Holland departed, replaced by Paul Carrack, who provided…