Author: John EckmanPage 2 of 102

David Porter, Chapter 1: Back in the Day, 2022 on MIME Records

David Porter is maybe best well-known as a songwriter and producer – the staff writer at Stax records who penned “Hold On, I’m Coming” and “Soul Man” among…

Michelle Shocked, The Texas Campfire Tapes, 1986 on Mercury / Cooking Vinyl

This was the debut album for Michelle Shocked, purportedly recorded by Cooking Vinyl founder Pete Lawrence on a Sony Walkman at an unplanned performance at the Kerrville Folk…

Joe Jackson, I’m the Man, 1979 on A&M

I knew Joe Jackson’s music from the early 80s – he was pretty hard to avoid on mainstream radio at that point – but I don’t think I…

Joe Henderson, Mode for Joe, 1966 on Blue Note

This was Henderson’s fifth studio album (as a band leader), joined by: Lee Morgan (trumpet), Chris Fuller (trombone), Bobby Hutcherson (vibes), Cedar Walton (piano), Ron Carter (bass), and…

Milt Jackson, Ballads & Blues, 1956 on Atlantic

Jackson’s most well know as the vibraphonist in the Modern Jazz Quartet but he also collaborated and recorded with many other bop musicians. Here he is joined by…

Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra, Hollywood Stampede, 1972 on Capitol

Seventies reissue – volume 5 in the Capitol Jazz Classics series – with songs taken from sessions in February and March of 1945. Players joining Hawkins on these…

Various Artists, The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs of Nick Drake, 2023 on Chrysalis

Tribute album full of covers of Nick Drake songs, by modern artists including: Fontaines D.C., David Gray, John Parish & Aldous Harding, Ben Harper, Joe Henry & Meshell…

Depeche Mode, Some Great Reward, 1984 on Sire

I’ve not shared many Depeche Mode records here, mostly because I’m sharing new additions to my collection and I don’t find many DM records I don’t already have,…

Waylon Jennings, The Taker / Tulsa, 1971 on RCA/Victor

Love this early 70s Waylon Jennings. It’s only 30 minutes long but has great takes on some Kris Kristofferson tunes like “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll…

Commodores, All the Great Hits, 1982 on Motown

Wonderful collection of Commodores songs – their second compilation of hits, with many more to follow. “Lady.” “Sail On,” “Brick House,” “Easy,” and “Three Times a Lady” are…

James Taylor, One Man Dog, 1972 on Warner Bros.

This was Taylor’s fourth studio album, with “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.” 18 tracks means lots of short bits / interludes, some of which can feel a…

Herbie Hancock, Empyrean Isles, 1964 on Blue Note

Early jazz Herbie Hancock – this was his fourth studio LP for Blue Note, backed by Freddie Hubbard on cornet, Ron Carter on bass, and Anthony Williams on…

Django Reinhardt, Nuages, 2017 on Jazz Images

Nuages was first issued under that name in 2002, as a reissue of The Great Artistry of Django Reinhardt, a 1953 10″ record on Norman Granz’s Clef label,…

The Suburbs, Poets Party, 2021 on Suburbs Music (Self-Released)

Before there was The Tortured Poets Department, there was a Poets Party – the most recent release from reliable Minneapolis art-rock stalwarts The Suburbs. I’ve been a fan…

Screaming Blue Messiahs, Bikini Red, 1987 on Elektra

Bill Carter and the Screaming Blue Messiahs put out four major label studio albums in the 80s – this was the third, in 1987. Some great and funny…

Eagles, The Long Run, 1979 on Asylum

Fun fact: even though virtually everyone calls them The Eagles, it’s really just Eagles. (There was already some soul band called The Eagles). This was their sixth (and…

Sonny Boy Williamson, The Real Folk Blues, 1966 on Chess

This album was first released in the UK in 1965 as In Memorium, (Williamson died in May of 1965). In the US it was retitled to The Real…

Jens Lekman, The Cherry Trees Are Still in Blossom, 2022 on Secretly Canadian

“This is a reconstruction / reimagining / excavation of the album ‘Oh You’re So Silent Jens’ that originally came out in 2005″ Jens Lekman is a very intriguing…

Safety Last, Safety Last, 1982 on Twin/Tone

Safety Last only put out two records – this self-titled “mini-album” and Struck By Love, both on Twin/Tone and produced by Paul Stark. On this EP, recorded at…

Steely Dan, Katy Lied, 1975 on ABC Records

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen on the fourth full length studio album from Steely Dan. This was the first album after the departure of Skunk Baxter and Jim…