-
Queen Latifah, Nature of a Sista’, 1991 on Tommy Boy
This was Latifah’s second album, following All Hail The Queen, and would be her last on Tommy Boy (Black Reign came out on Motown). Latifah split executive producer credit with Shakim Compere (Sha-Kim). Guest producers include Naughty By Nature, Luis Vega, K-Cut, and Neville Hodge. I love these two first albums – later work is…
-
Izzy Escobar, Sunny in London, 2026 on Artist House
Izzy Escobar is from Longmeadow MA, out in the pioneer valley. This is her debut EP, out on Artist House (a label, studio, and management company out of NY). She also had a track on the soundtrack to The Devil Wears Prada 2. For songwriting credits she uses Isabella Nolfi-Escobar – she wrote or cowrote…
-
Depeche Mode, Music For The Masses, 1987 on Mute / Sire
Depeche Mode’s sixth full length album and the follow up to Black Celebration, Music For The Masses was the first album where Alan Wilder took ownership of a lot of the production, though David Bascombe and Daniel Miller (of Mute) also get producer credit. It would be their last studio album of the 1980s, with…
-
Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’, Room On The Porch, 2025 on Concord
Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ put out an album together called TajMo in 2017. This was the follow up to that collaboration. Great version of “Nobody Know s You When You’re Down and Out.” Nothing terribly surprising here but a right down the middle easy blues LP. My copy—via Barnes & Noble at the North…
-
Julian Lennon, Valotte, 1984 on Atlantic
This was Julian Lennon’s debut album, produced by Phil Ramone and released late in 1984. Valotte takes it’s name from a French chateau – Le Manoir de la Valotte – where Lennon stayed and wrote some of the songs. I love “It’s Much Too Late For Goodbyes” and the title track, both of which reflect…
-
Justin Townes Earle, Yuma, 2007 on Bloodshot Records
Technically this release—Justin Townes Earle’s debut EP—came out on vinyl first in 2013, having been self-released on CD in 2007 and then issued by Bloodshot Records. It’s an amazing record to come back to nearly 20 years later: raw, powerful, his songwriting already very successful. My copy—via Vinyl Index in Somerville MA—is the Record Store…
-
Dave Stewart and the Spiritual Cowboys, Self-Titled, 1990 on RCA / MMC
While best known as the other half of Eurythmics, Dave Stewart has also been an award winning producer and had many side projects, including the Spiritual Cowboys, work with Terry Hall, and more recently being part of SuperHeavy with Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, and Damien Marley. This album came out in 1990 when Eurythmics first…
-
Deee-Lite, The Very Best of Deee-Lite, 2001 on Rhino / Elektra
If you only know Deee-Lite (yes, that’s four e’s total) from “Groove Is In The Heart” you should check out this collection. It includes 20 songs across all three of their studio albums in a 2xLP gatefold. It came out on CD in 2001, but the vinyl was a 2025 Record Store Day exclusive. My…
-
Juluka, Stand Your Ground, 1984 on Warner Bros.
This release, on Warner Bros in 1984 in the US, includes six songs by Johnny Clegg, Sipho Mchunu and Juluka that were originally released on their fifth album,1983’s Work For All (which was never released in the US or UK), plus four new songs. Work For All was the follow up to Scatterlings. I love…
-
Pet Shop Boys, Behaviour, 1990 on Parlophone
Fourth Pet Shop Boys studio album, spelled here in the UK version (it gets relabelled as Behavior on US editions). It was produced by Harold Faltermeyer and Pet Shop Boys, and recorded in Germany and London. Johnny Marr, uncredited, joins on “This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave” and “My October Symphony.” …
-
Various Artists, Fame: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture, 1980 on RSO
Whether you were around in 1980 or not, you know the title track from this soundtrack: “I’m gonna live forever / I’m gonna learn how to fly.” You may not remember the movie (I barely do) but you can’t avoid the song. It’s mostly Irene Cara, with one track each from Linda Clifford and Michael…
-
Sarah McLachlan, Better Broken, 2025 on Concord
This was McLachlan’s 10th studio album, nearly a decade after 2016’s Wonderland. It came out just as Lilith Fair was having a bit of a moment, including the Building a Mystery documentary (well worth watching). Produced by Tony Berg and Will MacLellan, it was recorded in LA. McLachlan wrote or cowrote all the songs, which…
-
Yazoo, You and Me Both, 1983 on Mute
I’d seen this cover for years and never realized what it is until a recent documentary I saw on YouTube – it’s two Dalmations fighting with each other. Way to signal the impending end of Yaz / Yazoo. Such a critical and influential band to have only two full length albums (this one and Upstairs…
-
Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz, 2010 on Asthmatic Kitty
With artwork by (and apparently inspired by) outside artist Royal Robertson, this was the first song-based full length album of new material from Stevens after Illinois. Lots of electronics and instrumentation here, making it rather a departure from Illinois. Shara Nova from My Brightest Diamond sings “Impossible Soul” and provides backing vocals. My copy—via Vinyl…
-
Paul Simon, The Rhythm of the Saints, 1990 on Warner Bros.
Simon’s 8th solo studio album, Rhythm of the Saints is one of my favorite Simon albums since Graceland. If the former drew on South African music, this was Simon’s collaboration with Brazillian musical traditions. Apparently the Rhythm of the Saints is a polyrhythm. My copy—via Lemezkuckó in Budapest Hungary—is a Hungarian pressing on Gong with…
-
The Zombies, Oddities & Extras, 2021 on Varèse Vintage
Yes, there really is a Zombie Parade in Salem in October, but it isn’t this kind of Zombies. One of my favorite 1st British invasion bands with a truly unique sound. This collection assembles singles and UK-only album tracks. It was released (as part of a 5 LP Complete Studio Recordsings box set) in 2019…
-
Neil Young, Landing on Water, 1986 on Geffen
This is the album that led Geffen records to sue Young for making something not representative of his sound, in favor of 80s synthesizers and synclavier, working with Danny Kortchmar (who shared producer credit) and Steve Jordan. It’s been pretty harshly reviewed over the years—including by Young himself—but I actually kind of dig it. It’s…
-
George Winston, Ballads and Blues 1972, 1973 on Lost Lake Arts
These recordings were originally released as just Piano Solos on Takoma in 1973, but widely reissued as Ballads and Blues on Lost Lake Arts, Windham Hill, and Dancing Cat Records. Whatever the title, it’s Winston’s debut album, produced by John Fahey and Doug Decker, with seven Winston originals, a traditional song, a Fahey tune, and…