Tag: Columbia
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Billy Joel, The Nylon Curtain, 1982 on Columbia
It may never have been cool to be a Billy Joel fan. It certainly was not among my friends in 1982. But this is a great album. Joel’s 8th, it was produced by Phil Ramone and includes “Allentown,” “Pressure,” and “Goodnight Saigon.” And that’s just side one. Also I no longer care if it is…
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Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Armed Forces, 1979 on Columbia
Costello’s third LP and second with The Attractions (but the first to credit them on the cover). My favorites here are “Oliver’s Army” and of course “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” (forgiving the lack of an Oxford comma). Produced by Nick Lowe, who famously wrote the latter. My copy—via Vinyl Vault in…
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Colin James Hay, Looking for Jack, 1987 on Columbia
Solo debut from the man more well known (to me at least) as the lead singer of Men At Work, which he fronted from 1978 to 1986. He’s actually had quite a lengthy solo career and done a lot of really interesting work. This album may not be the pinnacle of that work, but it…
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Bob Dylan & The Grateful Dead, Dylan & The Dead, 1989 on Columbia
Recorded live in July 1987 during the six-city tour of that summer. While the shows from that tour typically had a first set of Dead material followed by a set with Dylan, this recording highlights the Dylan songs with the Dead serving as a backup band. Got some harsh critical reviews a the time as…
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Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Drum Suite, 1957 on Columbia
Art Blakey is joined here (at least on the A-side) by Cuban drummers Candido and Sabu, with Ray Bryant, Oscar Pettiford, and Charles Wright. On the B side, Jackie McLean, Spanky DeBrest, Sam Dockery, and Bill Hardman join as the Jazz Messengers. My copy—via private sale—is a 1950s Columbia Hollywood plant pressing with the 6-eye…
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Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Get Happy!!, 1980 on Columbia
Yes, that’s “Get Happy!!” with not one but two exclamation marks. Fourth Costello studio LP and the third with The Attractions, following after Armed Forces. More influence here from R&B, soul, and even Ska. My copy—via the Vinyl Vault in Littleton MA—is a Pitman pressing with (like most releases of this LP) the sides reversed…
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Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA, 1984 on Columbia
Having recently seen Deliver Me From Nowhere, which covers the period where Springsteen wrote and recorded Nebraska, it was interesting to come back to this album, which included some of the songs that came out of that era but did not fit that record. It was so unavoidable, and so associated (so much for any…
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Bob Dylan, Shadow Kingdom, 2023 on Columbia / Legacy
This is Dylan’s 40th (!!) studio album and is also technically a soundtrack to Alma Har’el’s film of the same name: Shadow Kingdom: The Early Songs of Bob Dylan Great album whether you are a Dylan die-hard and life long fan (as I am) or just discovering him. My copy—via Academy Records in NYC—is a…
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Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True, 1977 on Columbia
Costello’s debut album, coming roaring out of the gate with a new mix of punk, rockabilly, new wave, and British pub rock. Produced by Nick Lowe and recorded in Islington, London. Out on Stiff Records originally in the UK, then Columbia in the US. The original US version added “Watching the Detectives” but this version…
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Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Blood & Chocolate, 1986 on Columbia
Costello’s 11th studio LP and 9th with The Attractions, as a follow up to King of America, and produced by Nick Lowe. Didn’t do so well commercially at the time, but now called one of his best. Costello is credited on the rear sleeve as “Napoleon Dynamite” – which is also the name of the…
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Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Imperial Bedroom, 1982 on Columbia
Seventh studio LP from Costello and the sixth with The Attractions, out of F-Beat in the UK and Columbia in the US. A must have for collectors of Costello or indeed the whole new wave / alternative era of the late seventies to mid eighties. My copy – direct from the artist at a show…
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Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks, 1975 on Columbia
One of the must-haves for any Dylan collector, Blood was Dylan’s return to Columbia after a couple albums on Asylum. “Tangled Up in Blue,” “Simple Twist of Fate,” and “Shelter From The Storm” are my favorites but there’s no shortage of great songs here. Dylan’s autobiography claims the songs are inspired by Checkov, but Jakob…
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Bob Dylan, Down in the Groove, 1988 on Columbia
Eighties Dylan – 25th studio LP featuring a mix or originals and covers, with guests including Randy Jackson (yes, from American Idol and Name That Tune, and Journey), Steve Jordan, Danny Kortchmar, Sly & Robbie, Mark Knopfler, Alan Clark, Kip Winger, Ron Wood, Clapton, Bob Weir, Brent Mydland, Jerry Garcia, and many more. Recorded over…
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Bruce Springsteen, Greetings From Asbury Park N.J., 1973 on Columbia
This was Springsteen’s debut album, out in January 1973, produced by Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos. Redportedly “Blinded By The Light” and “Spirit in the Night” were cut after Clive Davis rejected the original album tracklist. Personnel include Clarence Clemons, Vincent Lopez, David Sancious and Garry Tallent – aka the E-Street Band. My copy—via Electric…
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Bruce Cockburn, The Trouble With Normal, 1983 on True North
Cockburn’s 13th (I think) studio album, as he transitioned from old school folkie into new wave / alternative with more electric guitar and synthesizers but carrying forward the same politics and attitude. (“The trouble with normal is that it always gets worse”). True North was an independent Canadian label founded by Bernie Finkelstein (who gets…
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Rockpile, Seconds of Pleasure, 1980 on Columbia
This is Rockpile’s one and only studio album released under their name in 1980. The band includes Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams – though other material from Rockpile’s repertoire would come out under the name of Dave Edmunds or Nick Lowe solo albums. The whole constellation of Nick Lowe / Dave…
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Public Enemy, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, 1987 on Def Jam
Debut studio album from Public Enemy, recorded at Spectrum City Studios and produced by Bill Stephney (of The Bomb Squad, with co-producers Carl Ryder and Hank Shocklee) with Rick Rubin credited as Executive Producer. Still looking for a good vinyl copy of It Takes a Nation of Millions. Def Jam was distributed by CBS/Columbia (thus…
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Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan At Budokan, 1979 on Columbia
Third of three live Dylan albums from the 70s (Before the Flood and Hard Rain are the other two), and the second to be 2xLP in format, At Budokan was recorded at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in February and March of 1978. (The US release was in 1979). Many folks don’t care for the…