Tag: A1 Records
A-1 Record Shop
439 E 6th St
New York, NY 10009
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Kiss, Destroyer, 1976 on Casablanca
This was the fourth full length for Kiss, with the Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley line up, supported by Dick Wagner on three tracks. (Sadly Ace passed this week). This is the first vinyl record I remember holding and listening to – I loved “Beth” and the Casablanca label – but I’ve…
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Bauhaus, Mask, 1981 on Beggars Banquet
Second studio album from Bauhaus and their first on Beggars Banquet (In The Flat Field was on 4AD), with a cover drawn by Daniel Ash, across a gatefold and on the labels. The first five Bauhaus records are are perfect – as is the singles collection 1979-1983 and most of the bands that followed in…
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U2, R.O.K., 1981 on Island Records
Punny title (you too, are ok or U2 are ok) aside, great early EP for the European market from U2. The live tracks on the b-side are from their appearance at the Paradise in Boston in March 1981 – about 8 years later my freshman dorm room would be a block away. This was the…
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XTC, English Settlement, 1982 on Virgin/Epic
This was the fifth XTC studio album, out on Virgin Records in the UK and Epic in the US. The band stopped touring after this LP and became more of a studio only group. Interesting midpoint between “Making Plans For Nigel” (1979) and “Dear God” (1986). Includes “Senses Working Overtime.” Still looking for a 2xLP…
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Tom Waits, Big Time, 1988 on Island Records
Live album from Tom Waits, including performances from the 1987 tour, also available as a concert film on Amazon Prime / MGM+. Waits is joined by Willie Schwarz, Michael Blair, Greg Cohen, Marc Ribot, and Ralph Carney – and Kathleen Brennan and Waits co-produced. Most (all?) of the Tom Waits catalogue is being reissued these…
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John Mayall, The Latest Edition, 1974 on Polydor
I collect lots of John Mayall – this followed the era of Mayall moving to the US in the late 60s, and the band here includes Larry Taylor, Red Holloway, Soko Richardson, Hightide Harris and Randy Resnick. Lots of jazz/fusion influence here with saxophone. Mayall is wearing a cast on the cover. Mayall passed unfortunately…
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Too Much Joy, Son of Sam I Am, 1988 on Alias
This was the second full length from Scarsdale New York’s Too Much Joy. I didn’t actually know them in the 80s so picked this up a bit on a whim (it sounded vaguely familiar but I couldn’t place it). Great LP of late 80s college radio alternative with some humor, as the title suggests. My…
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Billy Joel, An Innocent Man, 1983 on Columbia / Family Productions
Billy Joel’s ninth studio LP, with the title track, “Uptown Girl,” and “The Longest Time” as big hits. Toots Thielemans joins on harmonica on “Leave a Tender Moment Alone.” Some people might put Billy Joel in the “guilty pleasures” column – I probably did in 1983 – but I’ve really come to appreciate him. Guess…
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Cowboy Junkies, Misguided Angel, 1989 on RCA
Margo, Peter, and MIchael Timmons with Alan Anton were Cowboy Junkies. This EP came out alongside the Trinity Session album, with the lead single “Misguided Angel” from that session at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto, plus four live tracks recorded at the ROXY in Hollywood. Both “Sweet Jane” and “Walking After Midnight”…
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Cactus World News, Special Forces Radio Concert, 1986 on Entertainment Radio / MCA
Another promo only release, this was a radio concert – originally sponsored by SPIN (the magazine), which is still featured on the cover, but with an insert noting SPIN has terminated their sponsorship. Includes the cue sheet for radio programming and the original advertisements. This show was recorded at the Whiskey A Go-Go in Los…
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Living Colour, Cult of Personality (Official Live Bootleg), 1988 on Epic
Living Colour in their prime, recorded live at T.T. The Bear’s in Cambridge (right outside central square), and including a cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution.” I’m not sure what an “Official Live Bootleg” is – this was put out by Epic apparently – but this is a promo edition with five tracks…
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Billy Joel, Glass Houses, 1980 on Columbia / Family Productions
Billy Joel’s 7th studio album, produced by Phil Ramone. The house on the cover is was Joel’s own home in Cove Neck, Long Island. A harder rocking Billy Joel here, with “You May Be Right,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me,” and “Don’t Ask Me Why” – lots of big hits – a Billboard…
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The Power Station, Some Like It Hot And The Heat is On (12″), 1985 on Capitol
The Power Station were a kind of supergroup, pairing Andy & John Taylor (Duran Duran) with Tony Thompson (Chic) and Robert Palmer (who was later replaced by Michael Des Barres). Production by Bernie Edwards (also of Chic). Love the extended version on the A-side – the “The Heat Is On” on the B-side isn’t fully…
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Peter Gabriel, Ein Deutsches Album, 1980 on Charisma
This is the German language version of the third album Gabriel put out as self-titled (“Peter Gabriel”) but popularly known as Peter Gabriel III or “Melt” – listed in this case as Ein Deutsches Album (a German album). The songs: I love alternate language versions of albums and wish more people did them. My copy—via…
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a-ha, Hunting High and Low, 1985 on Warner Bros.
Debut album from Norway’s a-ha, fronted by Morten Harket, with Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. “Take On Me” with its animated video is the song everyone knows, but there’s a lot of great songs in the record (and their other records!). Definitely more than a one-hit wonder. My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a 1985 pressing…
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Thomas Dolby, Blinded By Science, 1983 on Harvest.
An EP or “Mini LP” by Dolby with the 12″ single versions of songs from The Golden Age of Wireless. The version of “Airwaves” here (5:20) is the full length version as opposed to the 3:35 version that appeared on the US version of album. My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a US pressing on…
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Fine Young Cannibals, The Raw & The Cooked, 1988 on IRS Records / MCA
This was the second Fine Young Cannibals album following their self-titled debut. Roland Gift on vocals with the rhythm section of Andy Cox and David Steele (formerly of The Beat aka The English Beat). Many of the songs on the LP had already appeared on film soundtracks including three from the Barry Levinson film Tin…
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Indigo Girls, Indigo Girls, 1989 on Epic
Sophomore album from Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, with their massive breakout hit “Closer To Fine.” Michael Stipe guests on “Kid Fears” and Hothouse Flowers guest on multiple tracks including “Closer to Fine” (which recently had a revival as it appeared in the movie Barbie). My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a promo copy labelled…