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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…

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…

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…

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…

Soon (Boston Calling 2023)

Got my wristband, registered, connected to credit card. Now just waiting for May 26th

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…

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:

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Don’t Step Out Of This Area

Shot of the Manhattan skyline from Queens during takeoff from LaGuardia, at Sunset.

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…

Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra, Afro, 1954 on Norgran Records

While this came out in 1954 on Norman Granz’s Norgran Records, my copy is a Vinyl Me, Please reissue from 2022, via UMG Recordings/Verve. When Granz formed Verve…

Raia Was, Angel I’m Frightened, 2021 (Self-Released).

Raia Was is a New York City based songwriter, vocalist, producer, and pianist. The record was produced by Autre Ne Veut and Raia Was, and the A side…