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Ella Fitzgerald, The Harold Arlen Songbook, (originally) 1961 on Verve
I miss this trend from the 50s and 60s where great singers like Ella (as well as folks like Oscar Peterson) did “song books” of great composers. My copy of this one, with Ella doing the songs of Harold Arlen, is an 80s reissue of what originally came out in 1961, with 2 additional tracks…
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Superchunk, Wild Loneliness, 2022 on Merge
Twelfth studio album from Superchunk on Merge, the label founded by McCaughan and Ballance back in 1989. Superchunk came out of Chapel Hill in the late 80s and were one of my favorite bands through the 90s. They’ve mellowed a bit but love this album. Guests include Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, Andy Stack, Mike Mills,…
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Howard Jones, One to One, 1986 on Elektra
Howard Jones was one of my first concerts I saved up for and bought tickets to myself. I don’t think he was the first, but he was certainly an early one. I especially loved his early-80s output: Human’s Lib and Dream Into Action. One to One was his third studio album – for some folks…
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David Bowie, Young Americans, 1975 on RCA Victor
Mid-Seventies Bowie, with guests like Earl Slick, John Lennon, David Sanborn, abd Luther Vandross (who also did the vocal arrangements). Bowie called this “Plastic Soul” and he recorded in Philadelphia and New York. My copy via Todd’s Farm Flea Market in Rowley MA – as I gradually complete the full Bowie catalog up to 2016.
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Bill Evans, Spring Leaves, 1976 on Milestone
2xLP release from 1976 which collects two previous Riverside releases: Portrait In Jazz (1960) and Explorations (1961). This one includes two takes on “Autumn Leaves” – one which appeared in Mono (Riverside 315) and one in Stereo (Riverside 1152). This also includes “The Boy Next Door” which was left off of Explorations originally. Milestone records…
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Chet Baker, Big Band, 1957 on Pacific Jazz
A ton of great musicians here, including Chet Baker but also: Norman Faye, Conte Candoli, Frank Rosolino, Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Bill Perkins, Phil Urso, Bobby Timmons, James Bond, Lawrence Marable, Bob Burgess, Bob Graf, Fred Waters, Bill Hood, Bobby Timmons, Peter Littman, Jame McKean. Produced by Richard Bock, the “chieff panjandrum” of Pacific Jazz…
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Shovels & Rope, Busted Jukebox Volume 3, 2021 on Dualtone
The third in a series of cover albums by Shovels & Rope, this one focuses on kids songs or songs in lullaby style, thus the “Juicebox” joke in the cover. But these are great versions with contemporary artists, including Sharon Van Etten, John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars), Felice Brothers, Deertick, M. Ward,…
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David Bowie, Blackstar, 2016 on ISO Records / Columbia
Wow, what a final album. So much to say about Blackstar, recorded more or less in secret in New York with Tony Visconti and some local jazz musicians, and released two days before his death. My copy, like many I’ve seen in the used market, has a tear in the die cut cover which is…
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Killers, Hot Fuss, 2004 on Island / UMe
Originally released on Lizard King Records / The Control Group in 2004 – my copy is a more recent (2023) reissue on Island / UMe, but the music remains the same. Hot Fuss was Killers’ debut album and included the massive hits “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” as well as the bonus track “Glamorous…
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Tim Finn, Escapade, 1983 on A&M
Tim Finn’s better known as one of the co-founders of Split Enz, and later member of Crowded House. This was his debut album as a solo artist, originally on Mushroom records, a large indie label in Australia, but distributed in the US by A&M. It was a #1 record in New Zealand, top ten in…
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Squeeze, Cool for Cats, 1979 on A&M
Second album from the late 70s power-pop version of Squeeze (aka UK Squeeze) with Jools Holland joining Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. The “UK Squeeze” name was ropped for later releases in the US, but was still used in Australia up through Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti. This album includes the title track as well as…
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Valerie June, Under Cover, 2022 on Fantasy
Valerie June’s a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Memphis and part of the Broken Strings Collective. She’s known broadly for her unique voice and range across Americana / Blues / Folk and put out this EP of cover songs in 2022. All the versions are wonderful, but I especially love her takes on “Pink Moon” and…
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The Communards, Red, 1987 on London / MCA
The Communards were a duo of Jimmy Somerville (formerly of Bronski Beat) and Richard Coles, a classically trained musician. They put out only two albums: a self-titled debut and this followup. I’ve actually got both a Canadian pressing (white cover with red letters) and a US pressing (red cover with white letters) of this LP.…
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The South Side Movement, The South Side Movement, 1973 on Wand.
Debut album from The South Side Movement (sometimes written as The Southside Movement) from Chicago. They put out only three albums, one on Wand records and two on 20th Century. My copy is the Vinyl Me Please exclusive pressing for the 50th anniversary in 2023, on brown vinyl, mastered at Sonic Vision by Mike Milchner…
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She & Him, Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson, 2022 on Fantasy
I love tribute albums and cover albums, and also both Brian Wilson and She & Him (the duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), so this was right in my wheelhouse. It’s their seventh studio album. Nothing very unexpected or out of left field here – pretty straightforward what you’d expect from She & Him…
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Talking Heads, Slippery People / Making Flippy Floppy (Remixes), 1983 on Sire
Great 12″ single with remixes by David Byrne and John “Jellybean” Benetiz of two songs from the Speaking in Tongues album. May be technically a double-A-sided single (labeled “This Side” and “That Side”) but the side with “Slippery People” on it has an A in its runout etchings so calling that the A side. My…
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Otis Redding / The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Festival, 1970 on Reprise
Perhaps the most unusual split record in my collection, pairing Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding. Both are live performances captured at Monterey Pop in 1967, and both have since been expanded in more comprehensive releases dedicated to each performer. The Jimi Hendrix Experience (with Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, and Noel Redding) had not yet performed in…
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Various Artists, Tommy Boy’s Baddest Beats, 2022 on Tommy Boy
I don’t normally chase special releases put out for Record Store Day, but this was an “RSD First” release in 2022, limited to 3500 copies. Great collection of songs from Tommy Boy: Two tracks each from Naughty By Nature and Coolio, otherwise a variety of artists. Some mixed opinions (on Discogs) about the pressing, which…