Author: John EckmanPage 1 of 109

M. Ward, Migration Stories, 2020 on Anti-.

Tenth studio LP from Portland OR’s M. Ward, released on 2020 as his first on Anti-. (Think of Spring came out at the end of 2020; Migration Stories…

Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear, 2014 on Monkey Puzzle / RCA

I first heard (at least consciously) Sia on the beautiful “I Go To Sleep” from her appearance on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic in 2006, which then appeared on…

Talking Heads, Naked, 1988 on Fly/Sire

Eighth and final studio LP from Talking Heads – talk about going out with a bang! What a great record. They apologized in the liner notes to Minneapolis…

Randy Newman, Sail Away, 1972 on Reprise

Randy Newman’s third studio LP, including the title track and “You Can Leave Your Hat On” which became a big hit for Joe Cocker in the 80s. Quality…

Gus Cannon, Walk Right In, 1963 on Stax

Jug Band leader Gus Cannon started recording in the late 20s as “Banjo Joe” and reappeared as part of the folk revival in the 50s on Folkways. This…

Herbie Nichols, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Volumes 1 & 2, 1955 on Blue Note

This 2021 vinyl release in the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series was previously issued only in Japan in 1983 in this form. It combines two 1955 10″ releases…

Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group at the Shalin Liu in Rockport MA, 5/4/2025

Lyle Lovett is a phenomenal talent and great performer – you should see him any time you get a chance. He was in Rockport at the Shalin Liu…

M. Ward, Supernatural Thing, 2023 on Anti-

M. Ward‘s 12th solo album and followup to his Billy Holiday covers album Think of Spring. He’s joined by First Aid Kit on “Too Young To Die” and…

Various Artists, All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman, 2014 on Rounder

A tribute concert to Gregg Allman with a star-studded set of guests, recorded January 10th, 2014 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, and put out on Blu-Ray, DVD,…

Run D.M.C., Run D.M.C., 1984 on Profile

Run D.M.C.‘s debut album on Profile, a NY area hip-hop label that was distributed by Arista, who would later reissue it. It was produced by Russell SImmons and…

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…

Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969 on Fantasy

This was the fourth LP from CCR, and the third released in 1969 (one in January, one in August, and this one in November) – talk about striking…

Maggie Rogers, Surrender, 2022 on Capitol / Debay

Rogers’ second studio album on a major label, Surrender was a component of her thesis at Harvard Divinity School. Kid Harpoon (aka Thomas Edward Percy Hull) produced along…

Wilco, A.M., 1995 on Sire / Reprise

Wilco emerged out of the breakup of Uncle Tupelo (some of the band remaining with Jeff Tweedy as Wilco, some with Jay Farrar as Son Volt). This was…

Icicle Works, Icicle Works, 1984 on Arista / Beggars Banquet

In the UK (and elsewhere) this was credited to The Icicle Works and was on Beggars Banquet, but in the US it was titled just Icicle Works (no…

Billy Joe Shaver, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, 1973 on Monument

This was Shaver’s debut album, produced by Kris Kristofferson. I know Shaver more through tributes (2022’s Live Forever) and other famous artists recording his songs more than I…

Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings & Plays, 1967 on Joker

Recorded in 1959 in Milan, this was first issued in Italy as Angel Eyes on Celson, and in the US as Chet Baker With Fifty Italian Strings on…

Brandy Clark, Brandy Clark, 2023 on Slate Creek / Warner

Clark’s fourth studio album, self-titled, and produced by Brandi Carlile, who provides backing vocals, piano and guitar on a number of tracks and is featured on “Dear Insecurity,”…

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…