Tag: 1971
-
The Grateful Dead, Aoxomoxoa, 1969 on Warner Bros
This was the third studio LP from The Grateful Dead, and was one of the first albums recorded in 16 tracks on an Ampex MM-1000. It was remixed by Garcia and Lesh in 1971. “China Cat Sunflower” and “St. Stephen” remain among my favorite Dead tunes, though I find it hard to get through “What’s…
-
Thelonious Monk, The London Collection Volume 3, 1989 on Black Lion
Recorded at Chappell Studios in London Nov 15th, 1971 but not released until the late 80s on Black Lion, these recordings are from near the end of his recording and performing career. Monk’s joined by Al McKibbon on bass and Art Blakey on drums. There are at least 3 volumes in the London Collection as…
-
Bob Marley and the Wailers, Shakedown, 1979 on ALA
This was originally released in August 1971 with the title The Best of the Wailers on Beverley’s Records – but it is not a greatest hits album. It was recorded in 1970 with Leslie Kong and has been reissued many times with many different labels. Here it is called Shakedown on the cover and Shake…
-
Mose Allison, Western Man, 1971 on Atlantic
Mose Allison from 1971 with Chuck Rainey and Billy Cobham, recorded at Atlantic Studios and Regent, and produced by Joel Dorn. Great versions of “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” and “If You’ve Got The Money (I’ve Got The Time)” plus nine originals by Allison. My copy, via Crossroads Records in Portland OR, is…
-
Jeff Beck Group, Rough and Ready, 1971 on Epic
Third studio album by the Jeff Beck Group, in this case with Clive Chapman (bass), Bob Tench (vocals), Cozy Powell (drums) and Max Middleton (piano). Bob Tench recorded with Peter Green, Beck, Van Morrison, Freddie King, Ginger Baker and others – and was in Humble Pie, The Gass, and others. Sadly he passed in 2024.…
-
David Bowie, A Divine Symmetry, 2022 on Parlophone
Divine Symmetry was first available as a box set in 2022, with 4 CDs and a Blu-Ray disc (or a 72 track digital download). This single LP vinyl edition, with the subtitle An Alternative Journey Through Hunky Dory was released in February 2023. Hunky Dory is one of my all time favorite albums, so getting…
-
Isaac Hayes, Black Moses, 1971 on Enterprise
This double LP was Hayes’ fifth studio album and was the follow-up to Shaft. Wonderful covers of “Never Can Say Goodbye” as well as “Close To You” and “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.” Reportedly the label exec Dino Woodward called Hayes “Black Moses.” The Bar-Kays are here on a few tracks, otherwise the band…
-
Randy Newman, Live, 1971 on Reprise
Randy Newman recorded at The Bitter End, Sept 17-19th, 1970, and released in 1971. Only his self-titled debut (1968) and “12 Songs” (April 1970) had been released at this point. Such a talented songwriter – “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” and “Lonely at the Top” are great versions here. Produced by Larry Waronker…
-
ZZ Top, ZZ Top’s First Album, 1971 on London / Warner Bros
Originally issued in the US on London Records (the American imprint of Decca) in 1971, ZZ Top‘s First Album was reissued by Warner Bros in 1978, likely based on the success of Tres Hombres, Fandango, and Tejas – their 1979 Degüello would be their first new album on Warner Bros. The original LP was not…
-
Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson and Family, 1971 on RCA Victor
Nelson’s 12th studio album, while he was still at RCA Records, before moving to Atlantic. Some covers – “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down,” “Fire and Rain,” and “Today I Started Loving You Again” – as well as some Nelson originals like “I Can Cry Again” and “That’s Why I Love…
-
David Porter, . . . Into A Real Thing, 1971 on Enterprise
Porter was the staff songwriter for Stax – this was his second full length LP issued under his name, following up Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin’ It. Enterprise was a sub-label of Stax, which also released the early Isaac Hayes solo albums. (Apparently label president Al Bell was a Star Trek fan). Wonderful early 70s Stax/Volt…
-
Sly & The Family Stone, There’s A Riot Going On, 1971 on Epic
Fifth studio LP from Sly and the Family Stone, recorded in 1970 and 1971. Includes “Family Affair” and the title track. Generally gets cited as a kind of turning point for the bad into darker and more experimental direction – more drum machines, more overdubbing, with Sly playing most (all?) of the album’s instrumentation. Whatever…
-
Traffic, Welcome to the Canteen, 1971 on United Artists
As a result of some contractual disputes, this is credited on the labels and cover directly to Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason, Chris Wood, Rick Grech, “Reebop” Kwaku Baah, and Jim Gordon, with no mention of “Traffic” though the rear cover and labels include the Traffic logo. Recorded live at Fairfield Hall in Croydon…
-
Waylon Jennings, The Taker / Tulsa, 1971 on RCA/Victor
Love this early 70s Waylon Jennings. It’s only 30 minutes long but has great takes on some Kris Kristofferson tunes like “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” It was recorded at RCA “Nashville Sound’ studio and in LA, and produced by Danny Davis and Ronny Light.…
-
Kris Kristofferson, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, 1971 on Monument
This was Kristofferson’s second album, following what was originally released as Kristofferson but later retitled Me and Bobby McGee to capitalize on the hit version released on Janis Joplin’s Pearl. This was a more commercially successful release, including one of my favorite Kristofferson songs “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” It’s…
-
Leon Russell, Leon Russell and the Shelter People, 1971 on Shelter Records
There’s been a resurgence of interest in Leon Russell lately, with a tribute album (A Song For Leon) and a biography (Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History) both out this spring. I’ve been a fan for a long time – “A Song for You” (especially the Donny…
-
John Coltrane, Sun Ship, 1971 on Impulse!
Recorded in August of 1965 at RCA Victor studios in NYC, and released (posthumously) in 1971. Jimmy Garrison (bass), Elvin Jones (drums), and McCoy Tyner (piano) with Coltrane. All song s written by Coltrane. Produced (“Prepared for release”) by Alice Coltrane and Ed Michel. Engineered by Bob Simpson (not Rudy Gelder like the other quartet…
-
Eddie Harris & Les McCann, Second Movement, 1971 on Atlantic
Follow-up to the massively successful Swiss Movement (“Compared to What”), recorded at Atlantic Studios. Harris and McCann are joined by Cornell Dupree, James Rowser, Donald Dean, and Bernard Purdie. Doesn’t quite live up to Swiss Movement but it’s a great early seventies jazz LP My copy via Beverly Coin & Jewelry in Beverly MA