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Leo Kottke, Guitar Music, 1981 on Chrysalis
Eleventh (?) LP from Kottke, a solo outing instrumental style. Recorded at Sound 80 in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. Includes a cover of Ry Cooder’s Available Space” as well as “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” and eight originals. My copy—via Salem Flea Marketplace—is a Santa Maria pressing on blue Chrysalis labels.
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Bill Evans, At The Montreux Jazz Festival, 1968 on Verve
Second 1968 Bill Evans performance I’ve posted this week, this one has the trio (again with Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette) at Casino de Montreux in Switzerland, and was recorded by the technical department of Radio Suisse Romande. My copy (via a private sale) is the 2020 Analogue Productions reissue on two 45rpm 200g records,…
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Blue Mitchell, Down With It, 1966 on Blue Note
Another fantastic Blue Note jazz LP, this came out originally in 1966. It features Mitchell (trumpet) with Junior Cook (tenor sax), Chick Corea (piano), Gene Taylor (bass), and Aloysius Foster (drums), and was recorded at Van Gelder Studios in New Jersey. My copy- via a private sale – is the Blue Note Tone Poet reissue…
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Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Too-Rye-Ay, 1982 on Mercury
Credited on the cover to “Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners,” this was their second LP, the first with Mercury Records and the one with the massive hit “Come on Eileen.” Wonderful album – also includes “Jackie Wilson Said.” There were plans for a 40th anniversary reissue of Too-Rye-Ay “As It Could Have Sounded” (a…
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Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott’s, 2020 on Resonance
Recorded back in July of 1968, this is Evans with Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette at London’s landmark Ronnie Scott’s club. Resonance Records itself is part of the non-profit Rising Jazz Stars Foundation. The trio in this form had a month long residency in 1968 at the club. The recording here was made by DeJohnette…
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The Band, The Last Waltz, 1978 on Warner Bros
Album from the move documenting The Band’s “farewell concert appearance” with a stellar set of guests including Dylan but also Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young (along with many others). There are songs in the soundtrack album here that are not in the film – and the soundtrack reportedly went…
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Thelonious Monk, The London Collection Volume 3, 1989 on Black Lion
Recorded at Chappell Studios in London Nov 15th, 1971 but not released until the late 80s on Black Lion, these recordings are from near the end of his recording and performing career. Monk’s joined by Al McKibbon on bass and Art Blakey on drums. There are at least 3 volumes in the London Collection as…
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José González, Local Valley, 2021 on Imperial
José González’s fourth studio album, released in 2021 on Imperial/Mute (in the US). Recorded and produced in Studio Koltrast in Sweden. Cover art by Hannele Fernström. My copy—from the merch table at a José González gig in Beverly—is the green vinyl “Indie Exclusive” limited edition.
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Leo Kottke, Self-Titled, 1976 on Chrysalis
Kottke’s first album on Chrysalis (after six on Capitol): a fully instrumental album produced by Denny Bruce with arrangements by Jack Nitzsche My copy via the Salem Flea Marketplace is a 1977 pressing on Chrysalis labels.
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Oscar Peterson, “Motions and Emotions,” 1970 on MPS
Oscar Peterson covering “popular” tunes, including “Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Ode to Billy Joe.” I know some folks will find this schmaltzy but as an Oscar Peterson fan I really enjoy it. My copy is the 2018 reissue in the Ambassadors for MPS series, on 180g vinyl pressed at Optimal GmbH and an insert reproducing…
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Sir Douglas Quintet, Live From Austin TX, 2006 on New West
Doug Sahm’s Sir Douglas Quintet recorded in 1981 but released in 2006 (on CD/DVD) / 2018 (vinyl) – live on Austin City Limits. (In 1981 that means the old Studio 6A at UT Austin, not the new Moody Theater). This was part of a reunion tour after the quintet split up in the early 70s…
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José González, Veneer, 2003 on Imperial Records
Hard to believe but this was González’s debut album back in 2003 (2005 in the US). His sound is already so fully formed and just wonderful in “Heartbeats” but also “Deadweight on Velveteen” and “Lovestain” and others. Just an all around brilliant debut. My copy is actually the 20th anniversary edition issued on Mute in…
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Nina Simone, Baltimore, 1978 on CTI
The inimitable Nina Simone recorded in Brussels in January 1978 – her first and only record with CTI (Creed Taylor Inc). Apparently she and Creed Taylor did not find good creative collaboration and she disclaimed any choice of material or creative control. “Baltimore” is the Randy Newman song from Little Criminals. Quincy Jones’ version of…
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Bud Powell, Time Waits (The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 4), 1958 on Blue Note
Powell joined by Sam Jones and Philly Joe Jones, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack NJ, and produced by Alfred Lion. Sleeve notes by Leonard Feather. My copy is the 2022 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series reissue, pressed at Optimal GmbH and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent – wonderful pressing.
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De La Soul, Clear Lake Auditorium, 1994 on Tommy Boy
I love De La Soul, especially the first three albums – 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul is Dead, and Buhloone Mindstate. This EP was a promotional only release in 1994, which was widely bootlegged over the years, and includes 4 tracks from Buloone Mindstate plus two non-album tracks, one of which features…
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Various Artists, Here It Is: A Tribute To Leonard Cohen, 2022 on Blue Note
Wonderful compilation of covers in tribute to Leonard Cohen by a collection of artists, including: It’s challenging, as Cohen songs (“Hallelujah” in particular) have been so heavily covered but I still think people manage to bring something new to these renditions – highly recommended. My copy—direct from Blue Note—is the standard black vinyl 2xLP version,…
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Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Ragged Glory, 1990 on Reprise
Ragged Glory was the 20th Neil Young studio album and the sixth with Crazy Horse. This is the height of Young as garage rocker, perhaps inspired by the grunge movement – Rolling Stone voted it 36th best grunge album of all time! My copy is the “Smell the Horse” 3xLP edition from 2024 pressed by…
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Herbie Hancock, Inventions and Dimensions, 1964 on Blue Note
Hancock is joined by Paul Chambers, Willie Bobo and Chihuahua Martinez—though it’s not really what you’d call a Latin jazz album so much as post-bop or modal. Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his Englewood Cliffs studio. My copy—direct from Blue Note—is the 2019 Blue Note 80 Vinyl Series reissue mastered for vinyl by Kevin…
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Rodney Crowell, The Houston Kid, 2001 on Sugar Hill Records
Released on CD in 2001 but issued on vinyl for the first time in 2024, this was Crowell’s tenth full length album. Johnny Cash (Crowell’s former father-in-law) is featured on “I Walk The Line (Revisited).” It’s a bit of an autobiographical concept album as Tony Scherman lays out in “Great Songwriter Mines His Past” –…
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Destroyer, Labyrinthitis, 2022 on Merge Records
Dan Behar and co’s 13th studio album with John Collins, Joshua Wells, David Carsell, Nicolas Bragg, Ted Bois, and JP Carter. Was number 30 on Pitchfork’s 50 Best of 2022. My copy is the Vinyl Me Please edition on gray vinyl with black spatter.