Author: John EckmanPage 18 of 102

Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde, 1966 on Columbia

Dylan’s catalog is so extensive and so amazing it’s hard to keep track. Most of it just feels like it’s always just been there – part of the…

Rachel Kiel, Dream Logic, 2020, Self-Released

Kiel is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from North Carolina. This is her fourth full-length album, and features a bunch of guests, including Mitch Easter and Robert Sledge (Ben…

Buddy & Julie Miller, Breakdown on 20th Ave South, 2019 on New West

Buddy & Julie have been releasing great Americana/Roots music since the 90s (for Julie since the 80s), and as a duo since 2001. Buddy’s also been an active…

Naughty By Nature, Naughty By Nature, 1991 on Tommy Boy

Though self-titled, this is actually their second album together, the first (Independent Leaders) being released under the artist name The New Style. The unavoidable massive hit here was…

Taco, After Eight, 1982 on RCA Victor

Taco is one of those bands/artists which fell into a trap after their first single from their debut album becomes a massive hit – Puttin’ on the Ritz…

ZZ Top, Rio Grande Mud, 1972 on London Records

Second album from the Texas blues/rock trio of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. London Records basically represented Decca in the US from 1947 to 1980. I…

Simon & Garfunkel, Bookends, 1968 on Columbia

I’m not sure there are any missteps anywhere in the Simon & Garfunkel songbook (or even across Paul Simon’s solo work), but if there is it isn’t on…

Jenny Don’t and The Spurs, Fire on the Ridge, 2021 on Fluff and Gravy Records

One of the great finds curated for me by VNYL, to which I used to subscribe. Something of a cowpunk / outlaw country outfit from Portland OR (not…

Shovels & Rope, Busted Jukebox Volume 2, 2018 on Shrimp / New West

I’m a sucker for a good cover/tribute album, perhaps especially with an Americana / Alt-Country / Folk twist. This volume 2 came out digitally in 2017 but on…

Wall of Voodoo, Ring of Fire (Remix) / The Morricone Themes (Live), 1982 on Index

12″ single from Stan Ridgway and Wall of Voodoo. The live tracks were recorded live at “The Barn” (Barstow CA?) November 22, 1980. Not sure why they chose…

Johnny Cash, I Walk the Line, 1971 on Hilltop / Pickwick.

Labelled as Pickwick/33 on the cover, by arrangement with Share records, but then with Hilltop yellow labels – discount reissue of material previously released on Sun Records. (Share…

Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, 1967 on Atlantic

My copy is a 2022 reissue by Vinyl Me, Please as a part of their Essentials track. It was actually Franklin’s tenth studio album but her first release…

Billy F Gibbons, Hardware, 2021 on Concord Records

Billy Gibbons is best known as one third of ZZ Top, but has released a lot of music under other side brands as well. This LP, his third…

Lisa Hannigan, At Swim, 2016 on ATO Records

Like many people, I first got familiar with Lisa Hannigan given her role on Damien Rice’s debut record O, but it is well worth checking out her solo…

Juluka, Scatterlings, 1982 on Warner Bros Records

US version on Warner Bros – globally came out on Safari Records, Lark, and/or MINC. Johnny Clegg – sometimes referred to as Le Zoulou Blanc (“the White Zulu”)…

John Mayall, Jazz Blues Fusion, 1972 on Polydor

Mayall is joined here by Larry Taylor, Freddy Robinson, Ron Selico, Clifford Solomon and Blue Mitchell – adding sax and trumpet to his traditional blues approach. Recoded in…

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Hard Travelin’: songs by Woody Guthrie and others, 1977 on Fantasy

This is really a 2xLP reissue of two Prestige records: Jack Elliott Sings The Songs of Woody Guthrie (1960) and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (1961). Fantasy purchased the catalog…

Laura Veirs, My Echo, 2020 on Raven Marching Band Records

Portland Oregon singer-songwriter who’s been putting out consistently strong records since 1999’s self-titled debut. Produced by Tucker Martine, with a set of musicians including Karl Blau, Justin Chase,…

Bob Dylan, Fallen Angels, 2016 on Columbia

While I realize it’s not for everyone, I really like elder statesman Bob, here working his way through standards like Come Rain or Come Shine, Skylark, and Young…

De La Soul, Stakes Is High, 1996 on Tommy Boy

So happy to see De La Soul’s catalog get reissued with quality new pressings. Three Feet High and Rising was one of my favorite hip hop albums of…