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Nina Simone, Let It All Out, 1966 on Philips
Yes, back in the day Philips (who you likely know more now as the maker of Sonicare toothbrushes) was also a reputable jazz and classical label. Though the copyright was 1965 they put out this album in 1966. Simone switched to Philips in 1964 and was there (putting out seven LPs) until switching to RCA…
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The Smiths, How Soon is Now? (Maxi-Single), 1984 on Sire
This is a US pressing of the 12″ single, with a “Long Version” on the A-side and an edited shorter version on the B-Side, both of which are different than (or “different to” as they say in the UK) the UK 7″ single version. One of my favorite Smiths songs of all time – that…
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Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi, They’re Calling Me Home, 2021 on Nonesuch
Giddens was a founding member of Carolina Chocolate Drops, now with several great solo albums under her wings. This is her second with her partner, Italian multi-instrumentalist and composer Francesco Turrisi. It’s a collection of traditional songs, all arranged by Giddens and Turrisi and primarily performed by them, with an occasional guest instrument. My copy—via…
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Talking Heads, A Bar Called Heaven, 2024 on Dear Boss.
Another in a series of Dear Boss. releases (the period is part of their name) which claim to be FM broadcasts and therefore out of copyright in the EU. This one is Talking Heads from December 7th, 1979, at the Electric Ballroom in London (Camden Town). Excellent recording either way – I’ve become a big…
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Steely Dan, The Royal Scam, 1976 on ABC
Fifth studio album from Donald Fagen, Walter Becker et. al., produced by Gary Katz. Steely Dan can be a bit divisive, and gets dismissed sometimes as “Dad rock” but I really appreciate the songwriting and musicianship of all these records. The Royal Scam includes “Kid Charlemagne” and “Haitian Divorce.” My copy —via Mystery Train Records…
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Iggy Pop, The Idiot, 1977 on RCA Victor
Iggy Pop is one of those threads that lives in the lineage of Bowie, Bauhaus, and Love and Rockets – lots of records i’ve posted lately. David Bowie produced The Idiot just before producing his own Low, though Low came out just before The Idiot. Bowie and Pop get cowriting credits, plus Carlos Alomar on…
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The Civil Wars, Barton Hollow, 2011 on Sensibility Music
Debut album from John Paul White and Joy Williams, which originally came out in 2011. It’s a fantastic debut – I expected to hear so much more great music from them together but unfortunately they only put out one more album (2013’s self-titled The Civil Wars) before going their own ways. The title track “Barton…
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Bauhaus, Press the Eject and Give Me The Tape, 1982 on Beggars Banquet
Live album from Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, David Haskins, and David J, recorded in London and Liverpool in 1981 and 1982. I always loved this cover – a photo by Eugene Merinov – and the labels with the Bauhaus style faces in black and white. Great set of live versions, including a nine-and-a-half minute “Bela…
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David Bowie, Hunky Dory, 1971 on RCA Victor
Bowie’s fourth full-length studio LP and one of my all-time favorites. This followed The Man Who Sold the World but all these early Bowie albums are so great they sound to me like they have just always existed. It can be hard to find decent early pressings of these but there have been many great…
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Love and Rockets, Love and Rockets, 1989 on Beggars Banquet.
Although self-titled, this was actually the fourth LP from Love and Rockets, following after Earth Sun Moon. It was also their last for 5 years as they pursued various solo projects. “So Alive” became their biggest hit in the US and made the album their best-selling here. It’s not my absolute favorite—that would be Seventh…
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Wet Leg, Moisturizer, 2025 on Domino
Eagerly awaited follow-up to the 2022 self-titled debut album from Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, here joined by Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes, and Joshua Mobarki. Produced by Dan Carey aka Mr. Dan. Great energy, catchy songs, and funny lyrics – no sophomore slump here. Love it from the drop. My copy—via the Record Exchange in…
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Depeche Mode, Construction Time Again, 1983 on Sire / Mute / Reprise
This was the third full length from Depeche Mode, originally released in 1983 on Mute, distributed in the US by Sire. Alan Wilder had joined and wrote two of the songs on the album. (Vince Clarke had departed after the debut album). One of my favorites, including “Love, In Itself,” “More Than a Party” and…
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Mary Gauthier, Mercy Now, 2005 on Lost Highway
I’ve been a fan of Mary Gauthier since my wife heard her play in Provincetown in the winter of 1999 – she’s just a fantastic songwriter and compelling performer. This was her fourth full-length, with the title track as well as “I Drink” (later covered by others including Blake Shelton). My copy—via Mystery Train Records…
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Love and Rockets, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven, 1985 on Beggars Banquet
Debut album for Love and Rockets, though “Ball of Confusion” preceded it as a single under that band name. I always called this “Seventh Dream of a Teenage Heaven” but clearly it isn’t. Daniel Ash, David J, and Kevin Haskins crafting just a fantastic and new sound here after Bauhaus split in 1983 and after…
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John Lennon, Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1981 on MFP/Parlophone
Originally released in the US and UK on Apple Records in 1975, these recordings were made at A&M studios (LA) in late 1973 and the Power Plant in New York in late 1974, during Lennon’s so called “lost weekend” where he was separated from Yoko Ono and doing a fair amount of drinking and drugs.…
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Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins On Impulse!, 1965 on Impulse
Classic album, featuring Rollins with Walter Booker (bass), Mickey Roker (drums), and Ray Bryant (piano). Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in the summer of 1965. Sadly Rollins passed this May (2026) in Woodstock NY. My copy—via Mystery Train Records in Gloucester MA—is the 2021 Acoustic Sounds Series reissue, supervised by Chad Kassem, cut by Ryan…
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The Mission / Mission U.K., Children, 1988 on Mercury
Another band with a different name in the US—apparently there was already an R&B act out of Philadelphia called the Mission. (Note the coin/medal on the cover only has The Mission). The Mission (aka the Mission U.K.) started with two veterans from Sisters of Mercy, joined by Mick Brown from Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and…
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The Blues Project, Archetypes, 1974 on MGM
Reissue of 1969’s The Best of the Blues Project, which was on Verve Forecast. There is a whole series of releases titled Archetypes from the mid-seventies on MGM – not sure if they are all reissues or not. Other artists in the MGM Archetype Series are: Charlie Parker, Tim Hardin, Billy Holiday, Blues Project, Velvet…