Author: John EckmanPage 2 of 93

Gang Starr, No More Mr. Nice Guy, 1989 on Wild Pitch Records

Houton’s DJ Premier and Boston’s Guru as a Brooklyn based hip hop duo, sometimes credited as the originators of jazz rap / jazz hip hop. “Words I Manifest”…

David Bowie, Diamond Dogs, 1974 on RCA Victor

Bowie’s eighth studio album, recorded following the disbanding of the Spiders from Mars, working (again) with producer Tony Visconti. The recording band includes Tony Newman and Aynsley Dunbar…

Donovan, Catch the Wind, 1965 on Hickory

Donovan’s debut, this LP was titled “What’s Bin Did And What’s Bin Hid” in the UK (and it seems like everywhere outside the US), but “Catch The Wind”…

Shame, Food for Worms, 2023 on Dead Oceans

My membership in Secretly Society actually introduced me to shame, a post-punk band from the UK (who style their name in lower case). This was their third LP…

Conor Oberst, Ruminations, 2016 on Nonesuch

Oberst was hospitalized in 2015 in the middle of a tour for the punk band Desaparecidos, and this album was written and recorded in the recovery from that…

R.E.M., Dead Letter Office, 1987 on IRS Records

Divded into a “Post” side and a “Script” side, this was one of my favorite R.E.M. releases of the 80s, with the unofficial subtitle from the rear cover:…

Leon Russell, Leon Russell and the Shelter People, 1971 on Shelter Records

There’s been a resurgence of interest in Leon Russell lately, with a tribute album (A Song For Leon) and a biography (Leon Russell: The Master of Space and…

Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1967 on Verve

This album originally came out in ’67 as Nico’s solo debut, in the same year as the release of The Velvet Underground and Nico on which she sang…

Sylvan Esso, No Rules Sandy, 2022 on Loma Vista / Psychic Hotline

My copy is the VMP limited, numbered edition on orange vinyl, pressed at Memphis Record Pressing. There’s a partially opaque slipcover through which you can see the tracklist…

The Alarm, Equals, 2018 on The Twenty First Century Recording Company

The Alarm joined here by Billy Duffy from the Cult. The Twenty First Century Recording Company was set up by Mike Peters back in the 90s. The Alarm…

Various Artists, 89.3 The Current, 2005 on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR 116)

Great compilation of recordings made in the studios of Minnesota Public Radio. The Current is the branded name for KCMP, 89.3, and was created when MPR bought WCAL-FM,…

Modern English, After the Snow, 1982 on Sire

This was Modern English’s second album, following Mesh & Lace, and had the massive hit “I Melt With You” which I think was so iconic in the early…

Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, So Far, 1974 on Atlantic

I didn’t realize until many years later this was a compilation album – basically [Greatest Hits] So Far because I was coming to their music so many years…

Desmond Dekker, The Israelites, 1969 on Pyramid

The title track was top 10 both in the UK and in the US in 1969, making Dekker one of the most visible early stars of reggae outside…

Bonny Light Horseman, Rolling Golden Holy, 2022 on 37d03d

The sophomore album from Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman, joined here by Mike Lewis, and JT Bates. (Does this make BLH technically a supergroup, given…

Bonnie Bishop, Ain’t Who I Was, 2016 on Plan BB

I first heard the title track of this album on a Paste Sampler from 2017 so was happy to find the LP (produced by Dave Cobb) at Dyno…

Andrew Bird, The Mysterious Production of Eggs, 2005 on Righteous Babe / Grimsey

The original came out in the US on Ani Di Franco’s Righteous Babe Records, but my copy is a later reissue on Stillwater Minnesota’s Grimsey Records. Andrew Bird…

Various Artists, Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture, 1984 on Columbia

So in 1984 I’d have thought myself too cool for the Footloose soundtrack: Kenny Logins and Deniece Williams? But I also would have secretly loved it (as I…

Ry Cooder, Boomer’s Story, 1972 on Reprise

I love Ry Cooder’s career – so many different threads, all of which are wonderful. This was his third studio album in a roots/Americana/blues tradition. Randy Newman guests…

The Zombies, Begin Here, 1965 on Decca

My copy is a later reissue (2013) on Repertoire Records, half-speed mastered at Abbey Road Studios from HD 24 bit audio – the original was on Decca in…