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Sarah Vaughan, Sarah Vaughan, 1955 on EmArcy
Later reissued as Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown, this was Vaughan’s second self-titled LP, and her second studio album. The band also includes Paul Quinichette on tenor sax, Roy Haynes on drums, Herbie Mann on flute, and Jimmy Jones on piano. It was originally recorded December 18th, 1954, and released in 1955. What a masterful…
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Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA, 1984 on Columbia
Having recently seen Deliver Me From Nowhere, which covers the period where Springsteen wrote and recorded Nebraska, it was interesting to come back to this album, which included some of the songs that came out of that era but did not fit that record. It was so unavoidable, and so associated (so much for any…
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Bill Evans, Live at Art D’Lugoff’s Top Of the Gate, 2012 on Resonance
Another Sunday, another Bill Evan’s live LP from Resonance. This one was recorded October 23, 1968 in Greenwich Village. This time Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell join Evans. This was recorded by Geoge Klabin himself, founder of the Rising Jazz Stars foundation and Resonance Records, as a 22 year old college student. My copy—via a…
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Sarah Vaughan, Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin, 1958 on Mercury
Fantastic collection of Sarah Vaughan doing Gershwin standards from the twenties and thirties, supported by Hal Mooney & His Orchestra. My copy—via a private sale—is a 2xLP gatefold reissue in mono by Verve/UMe, which reproduces the old Mercury labels.
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Ry Cooder, Into The Purple Valley, 1972 on Reprise
This was Cooder’s second studio album, with some great legacy American music, including “How Can You Keep On Moving (Unless You Migrate Too)” and Woody Guthrie’s “Vigilante Man.” You can’t go wrong with Ry Cooder. Produced by Lenny Waronker and Jim Dickinson. My copy—via a private sale—is a Pitman pressing on orange Reprise labels with…
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Booker Ervin, The Freedom Book, 1964 on Prestige
Sixth full-length with Ervin as leader, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in 1963, for Prestige. Ervin is joined here by Jaki Byard (piano), Richard Davis (bass), and Alan Dawson (who was a drum instructor at Berklee in Boston) (drums). My copy—via a private sale—is the 2023 Analogue Productions / Craft Recordings reissue, in the Prestige…
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Depeche Mode, People Are People, 1984 on Sire / Mute
Compilation album for North America put out by Sire in 1984, pulling the title track single and a combination of album cuts, and b-sides. This song was such a key to the soundtrack of my life in the early 80s: “People are people so why should it be / you and I should get along…
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Milt Jackson & John Coltrane, Bags & Trane, 1961 on Atlantic
Jackson and Coltrane are joined by Hank Jones (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Connie Kay (drums). Recording supervised by Nesuhi Ertegun, engineered by Tom Dowd. Great LP, bringing together Milt Jackson (Bags) of The Modern Jazz Quartet and John Coltrane (Trane) who had a year earlier put out Giant Steps. I’m not always a fan…
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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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