Suzanne Vega at The Cabot, June 5th, 2025

Suzanne Vega is on 13-night tour of the east coast (Maine to DC), and one of the stops was in Beverly at the Cabot. The show is Vega,…

Cowboy Junkies, Songs of the Recollection, 2022 on Proper Records

Margo, Michael, and Peter Timmins plus Alan Anton make up Toronto Canada’s Cowboy Junkies. This 2022 album is a collection of covers reflecting their formative influences: Bowie, Gram…

The Decemberists, The Crane Wife, 2006 on Capitol

his was the band’s fourth studio LP, and the first on Capitol Records. Production by Tucker Martine and Chris Walla. This album is one I could just leave…

Blancmange, Mange Tout, 1984 on London Records

Second studio album from British synth-pop duo Blancmange (Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe), following Happy Families. This was their best selling album, with “Blind Vision” and “Don’t Tell…

The Damned, Machine Gun Etiquette, 1979 on Chiswick

This was the third studio album from Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, and (new bassist) Algy Ward, collectively known as The Damned. Includes a cover of “Looking…

Jimmy Scott, Falling In Love Is Wonderful, 1963 on Tangerine Records

American jazz vocalist sometimes referred to as “Little” Jimmy Scott, who had a very high contralto voice due to Kallmann’s syndrome, a genetic condition.Scott performed in the final…

Strange As Angels, Strange As Angels, 2021 on Kwaidan

Billed as “Strange as Angels” the hype sticker calls this “Marc Collin (Nouvelle Vague) presents Chrystabell Sings The Cure.” Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux were the masterminds behind…

Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords, 2008 on Sub Pop

The soundtrack to Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie’s brilliant and hilarious show about two New Zealand musicians trying to make it in the states. They’d previously released an…

Billy Bragg, Bloke on Bloke, 1997 on Cooking Vinyl

Seven songs from the William Bloke sessions, released as a limited edition “mini-album.” Johnny Marr joins on “The Boy Done Good” and gets co-writing credit. Also included is…

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, 1988 on Geffen

This was an inescapable album in 1988 – not that I was trying to escape it. It was their studio debut and came out of nowhere to go…

Willie Nelson, Phases and Stages, 1974 on Atlantic

This was Nelson’s 17th studio album and second (and last) of the Atlantic era, following Shotgun Willie, produced by Jerry Wexler and recorded at Muscle Shoals in Alabama….

M. Ward, Migration Stories, 2020 on Anti-.

Tenth studio LP from Portland OR’s M. Ward, released on 2020 as his first on Anti-. (Think of Spring came out at the end of 2020; Migration Stories…

Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear, 2014 on Monkey Puzzle / RCA

I first heard (at least consciously) Sia on the beautiful “I Go To Sleep” from her appearance on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic in 2006, which then appeared on…

Talking Heads, Naked, 1988 on Fly/Sire

Eighth and final studio LP from Talking Heads – talk about going out with a bang! What a great record. They apologized in the liner notes to Minneapolis…

Randy Newman, Sail Away, 1972 on Reprise

Randy Newman’s third studio LP, including the title track and “You Can Leave Your Hat On” which became a big hit for Joe Cocker in the 80s. Quality…

Gus Cannon, Walk Right In, 1963 on Stax

Jug Band leader Gus Cannon started recording in the late 20s as “Banjo Joe” and reappeared as part of the folk revival in the 50s on Folkways. This…

Herbie Nichols, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Volumes 1 & 2, 1955 on Blue Note

This 2021 vinyl release in the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series was previously issued only in Japan in 1983 in this form. It combines two 1955 10″ releases…

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,…