Category: music
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Paul Simon with Urubamba and The Jesse Dixon Singers – Paul Simon In Concert: Live Rhymin’, 1974 on Columbia.
Paul Simon with Urubamba and The Jesse Dixon Singers – Paul Simon In Concert: Live Rhymin’, 1974 on Columbia. An underappreciated gem in the Paul Simon catalogue – these are my favorite live versions of American Tune, Homeward Bound, America – with support from an Andean folk band and a gospel choir
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Gábor Szabó, Dreams, 1968 on Skye Records.
Gabor Szabo, Dreams, 1968 on Skye Records. My copy is a 2020 reissue on Modern Harmonic through Vinyl Me, Please – fabulous pressing by QRP. Szabó was a Hungarian guitarist and attended Berklee College
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River Whyless, We All The Light, 2016 on Roll Call Records.
River Whyless, We All The Light, 2016 on Roll Call Records. Sophomore album from Asheville NC modern folk band River Whyless Produced by Justin Ringle from Horse Feathers Came to me via VNYL
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Fine Young Cannibals, Self-titled, 1985 on IRS Records.
Fine Young Cannibals, Self-titled, 1985 on IRS Records. Beautiful debut album – Roland Gift joining David Steele and Andy Cox from The English Beat Johnny Come Home, Suspicious Minds, Move To Work – quite the debut.
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Carpenters, Self-titled, 1971 on A&M
Carpenters, Self-titled, 1971 on A&M My copy is a 1974 reissue. Don’t you remember you told me you loved me, baby?
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Better Oblivion Community Center, Self-Titled, 2019 on Dead Oceans.
Better Oblivion Community Center, Self-Titled, 2019 on Dead Oceans. Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers with (among others) Griffin Goldsmith and Wylie Gelber from Dawes, and Carla Azar mixed by John Congelton One of my favorites from 2019
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Eurythmics, Touch Dance, 1984 on RCA.
Eurythmics, Touch Dance, 1984 on RCA. Remixes of four tracks from the album Touch, by Jellybean Benitez and Francois Kerkorkian- 4 with vocals on the A side and 3 instrumentals on the B side Paint a Rumour is one of my favorite lesser known Eurythmics tracks and the remix of Regrets is great
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Nina Simone, Here Comes The Sun, 1971 on RCA Victor.
Nina Simone, Here Comes The Sun, 1971 on RCA Victor. My copy is a 1982 reissue with the “modern black” labels Great versions of the title track, Just Like A Woman, Angel of the Morning, and My Way, which she does, well, her way.
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John Prine, Souvenirs, 2020 on Oh Boy Records
John Prine, Souvenirs, 2020 on Oh Boy Records – new recordings of classic songs 2xLP version with one side being a vinyl etching – came out in 2000 but this is the first vinyl pressing One of the greats we lost in 2020 Via Magnolia Record Club
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Curtis Mayfield, Roots, 1971 on Curtom.
Curtis Mayfield, Roots, 1971 on Curtom. Curtom was a label created by Mayfield with Eddie Thomas (Cur + Tom). My copy is a 2010 reissue by Rhino / Scorpio – not the greatest pressing but a nice chance to have this on clean vinyl without breaking the bank.
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U2, Wide Awake in America, 1985 on Island Records.
U2, Wide Awake in America, 1985 on Island Records. My copy is the 2018 remaster & reissue by UMC I always thought of this as sort of a transitional EP between Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree. Repressing sounds fantastic.
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Cooder Browne, self-titled, 1978, on Lone Star Records.
Cooder Browne, self-titled, 1978, on Lone Star Records. I so wanted this to be a collaboration between Ry Cooder and Jackson Browne, but instead it’s just some down home Texas country/rock. “Hanging on a Lie” is the standout, but “Jalapeño Lady” is solid too. Sadly, no followup album was forthcoming, though Jimmy Nails had a…
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Japan, Obscure Alternatives, 1978 on Ariola/ Hansa.
Japan, Obscure Alternatives, 1978 on Ariola/ Hansa. Japan’s second album, concluding with the 7 minute plus piano instrumental This is the US version which had a different track order than the UK and the band name in red on the cover as opposed to blue
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Sonny Rollins, Freedom Suite, 1958 on Riverside.
Sonny Rollins, Freedom Suite, 1958 on Riverside. Another excellent Vinyl Me, Please reissue from September 2020 via Craft Recordings Pressed at QRP from lacquers cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound
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Simply Red, Men and Women, 1987 on Elektra.
Simply Red, Men and Women, 1987 on Elektra. Follow up to Picture Book, with “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” “I Won’t Feel Bad,” and “The Right Thing,.” Didn’t get as much airplay and promotion as their debut but really a solid second album.
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ZZ Top, El Loco. 1981 on Warner Brothers.
ZZ Top, El Loco. 1981 on Warner Brothers. I think this was my first exposure to ZZ Top – love the grooves
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Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield: Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Bruce Palmer, Dewey Martin, 1973 on ATCO
Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield: Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Bruce Palmer, Dewey Martin, 1973 on ATCO Not to be confused with the original debut self-titled from 1966, this is the later compilation, assembled after the group had disbanded. The 9 minute “Bluebird” is killer Out of print now in vinyl and never…
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Gerry Mulligan Quartet, What Is There To Say?, 1959 on Columbia
Gerry Mulligan Quartet, What Is There To Say?, 1959 on Columbia Mulligan is one of my favorites from the cool jazz era – he played with Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Gene Krupa, but also as a sideman to a whos who of 50s and 60s jazz singers, pianists, and trumpeters On this album its Art…