John Mayall, Lots of People, 1977 on ABC Records

Mayall live from The Roxy in LA, recorded November 24th, 1976. This was Mayall’s eighth live album, with supporting band including a horn section with Red Holloway, Ann…

The Housemartins, Me and the Farmer, 1987 on Go! Discs

Released as a 12″ single from The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death, including the b-side of the 7″ single “I Bit My Lip” but also “He Will…

The Smiths, Meat is Murder, 1985 on Rough Trade / Sire

Released on Rough Trade in the UK and Sire in the US, this was the second studio album from the Smiths. The US version of the LP included…

Everything But The Girl, Night and Day, 1982 on Cherry Red

Another one that originally came out as a single in the early eighties (1982) but was reissued in 2022 on Record Store Day, in this case with the…

Madness, Baggy Trousers, 2022 on BMG

While the original single “Baggy Trousers” came out in 1980 on Stiff Records, this 2022 six song EP is the first 12″ version. It was released for Record…

Bruce Cockburn, The Trouble With Normal, 1983 on True North

Cockburn’s 13th (I think) studio album, as he transitioned from old school folkie into new wave / alternative with more electric guitar and synthesizers but carrying forward the…

Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington: Song Book One, 1980 on Pablo Today

First of two records of Sarah Vaughan doing Duke Ellington songs recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 (there is a Song Book Two, also released in 1980)….

Lou Rawls, The Best From Lou Rawls, 1976 on Capitol

2xLP collection of previously released Lou Rawls tracks I picked up during a trip to Montreal last year. What a fantastic set of songs – I think Lou…

Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, Night Rider, 1980 on Pablo

One of my favorite Pablo records, bringing together two legends: Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, with support from Louis Bellson and John Heard. Produced by Norman Granz and…

Weird Al Yankovic, Dare To Be Stupid, 1985 on Scotti Bros.

This was the third studio LP from Weird Al, produced by Rick Derringer. Mixture of paradoes and “style parodies” which don’t copy specific songs but a generalized look…

Peterson 6, The Oscar Peterson Big 6 at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975, 1975 on Pablo

Titled as The Oscar Peterson Big 6, this is Peterson with Milt Jackson, Joe Pass, Toots Thielemans, Louis Bellson, and Niels Pederson – produced by Norman Granz, and…

Mose Allison, Middle Class White Boy, 1982 on Elektra Musician

First of two Mose Allison LPs out on Elektra Musician (the other was Lessons in Living) and (per the jacket notes) the 19th Mose Allison album. Allison plays…

Rockpile, Seconds of Pleasure, 1980 on Columbia

This is Rockpile’s one and only studio album released under their name in 1980. The band includes Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams – though…

Mose Allison, Lessons in Living, 1983 on Elektra Musician

Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival July 21st, 1982 with Jack Bruce (bass), Billy Cobham (drums), Lou Donaldson (alto sax), and Eric Gale (guitar) joining Allison. Elektra…

SVT, Extended Play, 1980 on 415 Records

San Francisco / Bay Area new wave / rock band including Jack Casady and (my former colleague) Nick Buck (from Hot Tuna) with Brian Marnell and Paul Zahl…

Edith Piaf, Pleins Feux Sur Edith Piaf, 1973(?) on Philips

Not entirely sure on the year of release here, but “Pleins Feux Sur” (which translates as “spotlight on”) is a series of early 70s Canada releases on Philips….

Chet Baker, Sings Again, 1986 on Timeless

Recorded in October 1985 in Monster Holland, this was released on the Timeless label. Baker is joined by Michel Graillier (piano), Ricardo Del Fra (bass), and John Engels…

The Smithereens, 11, 1989 on Enigma/Capitol

Third studio full-length from New Jersey’s own The Smithereens: Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, and Mike Mesaros. Belinda Carlisle guests on “Blue Period” and Maria Vidal adds…

Stan Getz & Bill Evans, Previously Unreleased Recordings, 1974 on Verve

Sometimes just referred to as Stan Getz & Bill Evans, this was recorded in 1964 but not released until 1974. Ron Carter (A side) and Richard Davis (B…

Randy Newman, Trouble in Paradise, 1983 on Warner Bros.

Seventh studio album for satirist/songwriter Randy Newman, including “I Love L.A.” and “The Blues” which was a duet with Paul Simon. Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman…