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Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel (aka Peter Gabriel III, or Melt), 1980 on Mercury
The third in the series of self-titled releases Gabriel put out between 1977 and 1982, Melt features lots of complex synthesizer and percussion work, with guests like Robert Fripp and Genesis bandmate Phil Collins. Kate Bush adds backing vocals on No Self Control and Games Without Frontiers. No, he’s not singing “she’s so popular” –…
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Al Kooper, Naked Songs, 1973 on Columbia
I’m a big fan of Al Kooper‘s work throughout his long career: from the Blues Project and the first Blood, Sweat and Tears album to Super Session and his production work. He’s also a Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2023. This album includes a cover of John Prine‘s Sam Stone as well…
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Billy Bragg, Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy, 30th Anniversary Edition, 2022 on Cooking Vinyl
Record Store Day 2022 release on Cooking Vinyl, combining the original Spy Vs. Spy EP from 1983 with a live set at Union Chapel London June 5th 2013. One of those releases where I know every word in sequence – Man in the Iron Mask, A New England, Milkman of Human Kindness, The Busy Girl…
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Mary Gauthier at Fruitlands
Mary Gauthier singing Drag Queens in Limousines, at Fruitlands in Harvard MA My wife first saw Mary Gauthier in the off season at the Mews in Provincetown at open mics in the late 1990s – and we’ve been great fans ever since. Have seen her a half-dozen times at various venues across New England. If…
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Various Artists, Inside Llewyn Davis (Original Soundtrack Recording), 2013 on Nonesuch
My copy is the 2023 Vinyl Me Please reissue on “Seaglass Wave” vinyl. Wonderful soundtrack from the Coen brothers movie, with lots of star Oscar Isaac but also Marcus Mumford, Punch Brothers, Chris Thile, and even Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver, and Carey Mulligan. “Please Mr. Kennedy,” a novelty song in the film that Davis misses…
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The Blasters, Non Fiction, 1983 on Slash
I had (and wore out) a cassette copy of one of the Slash records compilations that had Red Rose and Long White Cadillac on it, so hard to hear those songs without expecting the compilation track order, but this is a great LP. This was their second studio album on Slash and third overall –…
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David Bromberg, David Bromberg, 1971 on Columbia
To me, David Bromberg is a hidden gem – he’s not exactly unkown, but people don’t realize just how great so much of what he’s recorded is. This was his self-titled debut, including “The Holdup” (cowritten with George Harrison) and (apparently) uncredited Harmonica by Bob Dylan on “Sammy’s Song.” There’s also great versions of “Dehlia,”…
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Clark Terry, It’s What’s Happenin’: The Varitone Sound of Clark Terry, 1967 on Impulse
Clark Terry with George Duvivier, Dave Bailey, and Don Friedman. Liner notes by Nat Hentoff, produced by Bob Thiele. Impulse was an imprint of ABC Records: “The New Wave in Jazz . . . Feel It On Impulse!” Love this: What’s happening with Clark Terry is what some have called the life force. He digs…
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The Replacements, Unsuitable for Airplay: The Lost KFAI Concert, 2022 on Twin/Tone.
Recorded live at the 7th St Entry on January 23rd, 1981 and released on vinyl as part of Record Store Day in April of 2022, this was also included (on CD) as part of the Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash box set. Paul Westerberg, Chris Mars, Bob Stinson and Tommy Stinson in…
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Nikki Lane, Highway Queen, 2017 on New West
This was Nikki Lane‘s third studio album and her second on New West. Not sure where she first got called the “First Lady of Outlaw Country” (or whether she calls herself that), but love this album. Seven hundred thousand rednecks / That’s what it takes to get to the top / Seven hundred thousand rednecks…
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Archie James Cavanaugh, Black and White Raven, 1980 on Black and White Raven, Inc.
Self-released in 1980 but reissued by the Numero Group, Black and White Raven mixes Yacht Rock, Disco, and Gospel with some flavor of Cavanaugh’s native Tlingit heritage. Lots of the musicians here were part of Redbone, an LA band made up of Mexican American and Native American members. This was a Secretly Society issue on…
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Neil Young, Harvest, 1972 on Reprise
Definitely one of my desert island discs (unless I can cheat and count Decade as one release), Harvest came out in 1972. This would be an absolute classic even if you took out two or three songs: Out on the Weekend, Harvest, A Man Needs a Maid, Heart of Gold, Old Man – then closing…
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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 atmosphere. Blonde on Blonde came out in 1966, which feels impossibly early, even given Dylan started releasing albums in 1962. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (aka…
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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 Folds Five). It was recorded and co-produced by Jeff Crawford. My copy via VNYL curation, on translucent blue vinyl. Not likely something I’d have picked up myself…
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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 session and touring musician, working with the Down from the Mountain tour, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, Linda Rondstat, Shawn Colvin, Jim Lauderdale…
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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 “O.P.P” but there are a lot of great songs, including “Ghetto Bastard” (aka “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”). “Uptown Anthem,” and “1, 2, 3.” Featured vocalists/rappers include Queen…
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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 in this case. Taco Ockerse put out three or four more albums, but most folks know him for that one hit, which maybe verges on a kind…