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John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Bare Wires, 1968 on Decca
French pressing from 1968. This was the fourth Bluesbreaker’s LP, and the last of the peak 60s era (the name was used again for other releases in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s) with a lineup including Mick Taylor, Mayall, Tony Reeves, and Jon Hiseman – a bit more jazz influenced than some of the earlier…
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Katie Schecter, Bad for Business, Soul Step Records, 2021
Sophomore album from Schecter, a Nashville via New York City songwriter, singer and guitarist in a kind of R&B/Soul tradition but modern rock edge. Recorded with her partner Nick Bockrath (of Cage the Elephant), Homer “Funky-Foot” Steinweiss (who played with Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Lee Fields and others), and Nick Movshon…
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Lowe Country: The Songs Of Nick Lowe, 2012 on Fiesta Red Records
I’m a huge fan of cover albums, and especially tribute/compilations of covers devoted to specific artists. While they can be uneven, I like hearing an artists work reinterpreted in different ways. This compilation brings country, roots, Americana artists together to cover the songs of English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe. Like Elvis Costello (whom he produced, and…
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She & Him, Volume One, 2008 on Merge
Debut album for the duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Covers of “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and “I Should Have Known Better” plus a number of Deschanel originals. Produced by Ward, with performance and mixing by Mike Coykendall and Mike Mogis. My copy via Pitchfork Records in Concord NH
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Soon (Boston Calling 2023)
Got my wristband, registered, connected to credit card. Now just waiting for May 26th
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Go Go’s, Vacation, 1982 on I.R.S. Records
This was the sophomore release, following Beauty and the Beat. Lead off single “Vacation” was an unavoidable hit that summer. Cowriting credit on “He’s So Strange” to Leonard Phillips from The Dickies and Catie Curtis – otherwise Carlisle, Caffey, Schock, Wiedlin, Valentine. Found my copy at Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA.
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Boston area record stores
Last week Boston.com shared The ultimate guide to independent record stores in greater Boston, including many of my favorites: Ones they missed, from my POV:
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John Mayall / Jerry McGee / Larry Taylor, Memories, 1971 on Polydor
More blues without drums from Mayall accompanied by Jerry McGee on dobro & guitar and Larry Taylor (from Canned Heat) on bass. Recorded in 1971 in LA. Via a Thread & Groove record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA.
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David Bowie, Space Oddity, (originally) 1969 on Mercury
An album so great they named it three times. 😉 Originally released with the album title “David Bowie” by Philips in the UK, but by Mercury in the US/Canada with the subtitle “Man of Words / Man of Music” added, in 1969; reissued in 1972 as “Space Oddity” to capitalize on the popularity of the…
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Boston Calling 2023 Lineup
Schedule published for Boston Calling 2023, coming up late next month. (These may change, so get their official iOS / Android app for updates). It’ll be great to see Foo Fighters, who were scheduled for Boston Calling 2022, but cancelled after the passing of Taylor Hawkins. Unfortunately to have the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on at…
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Twain, Adventure, 2020 on Keeled Scales
Twain‘s third LP, and second on Keeled Scales – came out digitally in 2019, then as an all analogue (AAA) vinyl release in 2020. Mt Davidson is the core of twain with Ken Woodward and Pete Pezzimenti. My copy via VNYL curation
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Justin Townes Earle, Kids In the Street, 2017 on New West Records
Originally released in 2017, my copy is a 2021 reissue as part of Record Store Day (Black Friday). This was Earle’s penultimate album (the last was The Saint of Lost Causes) and his first on New West. Some great songwriting on Champagne Corolla, Faded Valentine, and really across the album.
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Missy Elliott, Under Construction, 2002 on Elektra / The Goldmind, Inc.
Originally released in 2002 – my copy is a Vinyl Me, Please 20th anniversary reissue from 2023 on “orange crush” vinyl. What a fantastic release – working with Timbaland and Nisan as producers, guests from Ludacris, Method Man, Jay-Z, Ms. Jade, Beyonce, TLC, and, on the remix of Work It, 50-Cent.
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The Beatles, Rare Beatles, 1982 on Phoenix Records
One in a series of releases recorded in the early 60s in Hamburg. These were recorded by Ted Taylor in April 1961 – while Ringo was not yet a full-time member he was sitting in for Pete Best that night. Picked up this copy at Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA
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Veggie Grill, NYC
So I was in NYC last week and happy to see that Veggie Grill‘s east coast presence continues to grow, with two locations: one at 12 W 23 Street (Fifth Ave) and another at 1004 2nd Ave (at East 53rd). Here’s the “Más Veggies” Vegan Taqueria menu – this is the first time I’ve seen…
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Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy, 1973 on Atlantic
As many record collectors know, it’s increasingly rare to find a reasonably priced Led Zeppelin LP in original pressing – I found this one at Thread & Groove record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell – in pretty decent shape. Monster album – the fifth full length, with Over the Hills and Far Away,…
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Don’t Step Out Of This Area
Shot of the Manhattan skyline from Queens during takeoff from LaGuardia, at Sunset.
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Doris Day, Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera), 1968 on Harmony
Harmony was Columbia’s “budget” label, first from 1925-1931, but then revived in 1957 into the mid-seventies. While some of the budget labels from that time created poor quality LPs, Harmony’s were the same quality as equivalent Columbia releases – I love finding these. Worth it for the title track alone, there’s a lot of great…