Tag: Worcester MA
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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 Patterson, David Li, Jimmy Roberts, Bill Lamb, and Nolan Smith. That’s lots of people on stage. I’m something of a Mayall completist – this mid-seventies California Jazz…
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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 Find You Out” and “Step Outside.” Norman Cook (who later became Fatboy Slim among many aliases), Dave Hemingway (also later in The Beautiful South), Stan Cullimore, and…
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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 “How Soon is Now?” which did not appear on the UK edition. but was issued as a single. The version I knew growing up was the US…
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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 same three tracks (“Feeling Dizzy” and “On My Mind” on the b-side) but as a 12″ 45rpm record. I’m a massive fan of EBTG so was super…
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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 Store Day 2022 on 180g vinyl by BMG / Union Square Music. Six generously proportioned tracks together for the first time This includes a French cabaret style…
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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 (drums). That means it was recorded after Baker’s “re-emergence” at the Free Jazz Festival in Rio in September 1985. The dedication is “Thanks to Peter Huijts, without…
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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 background vocals on “A Girl Like You.” Apparently the title is inspired by Spinal Tap and Ocean’s 11, but there are only 10 songs. These 10 go…
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The B-52’s, The B-52’s, 1979 on Warner Bros.
Debut album from Athens GA indie band the B-52’s. So amazing how fully-formed they were on this debut LP, with “Rock Lobster” and “Dance This Mess Around.” This is a must have for an 80s music fan. The original line-up here: Katie Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson. Sadly Ricky Wilson…
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David Bowie, David Live, 1974 on RCA Victor
First live album from Bowie, recorded at the Tower Theater outside Philadelphia, on the first leg of the Diamond Dogs tour. Reissued in 2005 (on CD) with a new mix by Tony Visconti (with a 2017 3xLP version). My copy—via the Worcester Record Riot—is an RCA Indianapolis pressing on the orange labels.
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UB40, Rat in the Kitchen, 1986 on A&M
Seventh UB40 full length, on A&M in the US and DEP International / Virgin elsewhere. Love the title track as well as “Sing our Own Song,” with the rallying cry of the African National Congress (“Amandla Awethu”). Got to see them around this time in Minneapolis – what a fantastic live show they put on,…
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Peter Gabriel, So, 1986 on Geffen
One of the foundational albums of my youth – not just the “In Your Eyes” boombox scene from Say Anything, but really every track here. Sounds fantastic on vinyl. Definitely one of my desert island discs, provided I can bring a turntable. In the UK this was issued on Charisma (PG5) and Virgin but in…
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Cyndi Lauper, True Colors, 1986 on Portrait
Second studio LP from Lauper, following the massively successful She’s So Unusual which had already gone four times platinum. Covering “What’s Going On” was, well, a choice. But I love the “Iko Iko” and the originals: the title track still makes me have all the feels, and “Boy Blue” – which was released as a…
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Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Conscious Party, 1988 on Virgin
Third LP from Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, which included Stephen, Sharon and Cedella plus Ziggy, all children of Bob and Rita Marley (who also adds backing vocals). Guests include Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth. Chris Franz and Weymouth also produced. Loved this album when it came out – fairly certain I had a…
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David Bowie, Lodger, 1979 on RCA Victor
Third album in the so-called Berlin trilogy (after Low and “Heroes”) in collaboration with Brian Eno and Tony Visconti. Recorded in Switzerland and New York city, and the first Bowie album to feature Adrian Belew alongside Carlos Alomar. A remastered Lodger came out in 2017 as part of the box set A New Career In…
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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.…
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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…
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Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks, Everybody’s Rockin’, 1983 on Geffen
Credited (as you can see on the cover and the labels) to Neil Young but also to Neil and the Shocking Pinks, this was Neil’s rockabilly album, with a band assembled just for this purpose. I realize I’m something of a Neil Young completist, but I really enjoy this album, short as it is. My…
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Talking Heads, Remain in Light, 1980 on Sire
Fourth studio LP from Talking Heads, and the third produced by Brian Eno. I’d say the whole Talking Heads discography is “must have,” and this is no exception. Sire has been reissuing all the Talking Heads discography recently on vinyl – the reissues sound great, but I also love an original pressing. My copy—via Worcester…