Author: John EckmanPage 1 of 108

A Tribe Called Quest, The Love Movement, 1998 on Jive

Fifth studio album from Tribe, and the last released before Phife Dawg died in 2016 from complications related to diabetes. Tribe announced they were disbanding a month before…

Fleshtones, Roman Gods, 1981 on IRS Records

Debut album from Queens New York’s own The Fleshtones (credited as just Fleshtones here). This included the song – “Shadow-line (to J. Conrad)” – that was included in…

David Bromberg, My Own House, 1978 on Fantasy

Bromberg’s 9th album as a solo artist, from 1978 – his first on Fantasy after three great Columbia records in the seventies. Bromberg is one of my favorite…

Jim Sullivan, U.F.O., 1969 on Monnie Records

im Sullivan’s U.F.O. originally came out on Monnie back in 1969 (basically a self-funded pressing), and then was reissued with the title Jim Sullivan (with a different mix)…

Sonny Clark Trio, Sonny Clark Trio, 1958 on Blue Note

Sonny Clark with Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in 1957 in Hackensack. Liner notes by Leonard Feather,…

Tinsley Ellis, Devil May Care, 2022 on Alligator Records

Blues traditionalist Tinsley Ellis continues to put out great records, this time (once again) on Alligator Records. This one is all originals, recorded at the Rock House in…

The Rave-Ups, Chance, 1990 on Epic

The Rave-Ups are likely best known as the band in Pretty in Pink. (Molly Ringwald’s sister Beth was in a relationship with Jimmer Podrasky, and Ringwald brought John…

Squeeze, East Side Story, 1981 on A&M

Squeeze’s fourth studio LP, between 1980’s Argybargy and 1982’s Sweets from a Stranger. This was the first album after Jools Holland departed, replaced by Paul Carrack, who provided…

Supertramp, Breakfast in America, 1979 on A&M.

Though I imagine it’s the one Supertramp album most folks could name, this was their sixth LP. It’s got “The Logical Song” “Goodbye Stranger” and “Take the Long…

The Jeff Beck Group, Beck-Ola, 1969 on Epic

Beck’s second studio LP, following Truth, and credited to the Jeff Beck Group. The cover is RenĂ© Magritte’s “The Listening Room.” Ron Wood on bass, Rod Stewart on…

Horace Silver, Horace Silver Trio, 1956 on Blue Note

BLP 1520, originally released in 1956. Horace Silver on piano with Art Blakey on drums and three different bass players on different cuts: Gene Ramey, Curly Russell, and…

Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On Live, 2019 on Tamla / Motown / UMe

Recorded in 1972 but not released until 2019. More of an album for completists, this is the first time Gaye had performed in a number of years (since…

Cat Power, Jukebox, 2008 on Matador

Eighth studio album from Cat Power, mostly covers with two originals mixed in. Pretty eclectic selection of tunes to cover, from Kander & Ebb’s “New York” through Hank…

Tori Amos, Unde the Pink, 1994 on Atlantic

Amos’ sophomore album every bit as compelling and memorable as her debut Little Earthquakes. Very much also on repeat throughout the Eckman household in the 1990s – I…

Fleshtones, Up Front, 1980 on I.R.S. Records

First EP Fleshtones issued, before the release of Roman Gods. Fleshtones were Bill Milhizer, Jan Marek Pakulski, Keith Streng, and Peter Zaremba. Miles Copeland signed them to IRS…

Herbie Hancock, Sextant, 1973 on Columbia

1973’s Sextant was the last LP with the so-called Mwandishi-era sextet: Bennie Maupin, Eddie Henderson, Julian Priester, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart. It was also his debut on…

Johnny Winter, Johnny Winter, 1969 on Columbia

Johnny Winter’s self-titled official debut album (The Progressive Blues Experiment came out the year before as a kind of unauthorized debut on Sonobeat, then sold to Imperial). Mix…

Brandy Clark, Your Life is a Record, 2020 on Warner Records / Slate Creek

Clark’s third studio LP, produced by Jay Joyce. Includes “Bigger Boat” (a duet with Randy Newman) and “Who You Thought I Was.” I think Clark is a fantastic…

Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes, 1992 on Atlantic

Tori Amos’ debut album from 1992. I had this CD (and Under the Pink) on constant repeat through graduate school – happy to finally get a copy on…

Beat Surrender, Foundation, 1985 on Shake Records

Beat Surrender (this one at least – there are many things by that name including the Jam’s last single) was a Boston band made up of Paul Souza,…