-
Art Blakey and His Jazz Messengers, Chippin’ In, 1990 on Timeless.
Art Blakey and His Jazz Messengers, Chippin’ In, 1990 on Timeless. Originally released by Dutch label Timeless, my copy is a 2021 reissue by Vinyl Me, Please Recorded Feb 1st and 2nd 1990 at Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey
-
Ranking Roger, Radical Departure, 1988 on I.R.S. Records
Ranking Roger, Radical Departure, 1988 on I.R.S. Records First solo album from Roger Charley (1963-2019) aka Ranking Roger, who was part of the English Beat (or just The Beat, as they are known in the UK) and General Public. via Light of Day Records in Jamaica Plain
-
Otis Redding, Otis Redding Recorded Live (Previously Unreleased Performances), 1982 on Atlantic.
Otis Redding, Otis Redding Recorded Live (Previously Unreleased Performances), 1982 on Atlantic. As the liner notes explain, Ed Michel uncovered these tapes (from the same performances which made up “Otis Redding – Live at the Whiskey A Go-Go”) in the Fantasy Records archives in Berkely – Otis and band live in 1966
-
Teddy Pendergrass, Life is a Song Worth Singing, 1978 on Philadelphia International Records.
Teddy Pendergrass, Life is a Song Worth Singing, 1978 on Philadelphia International Records. My copy is a 2021 Vinyl Me, Please reissue. His second solo LP after the Blue Notes – soul / disco, with 4 of 7 songs by Gamble & Huff
-
Various Artists, Christmas Dreamers: Yuletide Country 1960-1972, 2021 on Numero Group.
Various Artists, Christmas Dreamers: Yuletide Country 1960-1972, 2021 on Numero Group. Great Secretly Society release – collection of old school country songs for the season Best title is “Santa Claus Ain’t a Hippie”
-
John Mayall, Empty Rooms, 1970 on Polydor.
John Mayall, Empty Rooms, 1970 on Polydor. With Steve Thompson, Johnny Almond, Jon Mark – follow up to Turning Point
-
The Oscar Peterson Trio, The Trio: Live From Chicago, 1961 on Verve.
The Oscar Peterson Trio, The Trio: Live From Chicago, 1961 on Verve. Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen, Oscar Peterson – live at The London House in Chicago – multiple releases came out of these sessions. Verve/MGM pressing
-
Ella Fitzgerald, Ella, 1959 on Verve.
Ella Fitzgerald, Ella, 1959 on Verve. This is a mid-seventies reissue of what was originally released in 1959 as “Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers” in a UK Verve pressing (Did “swingers” have the wrong connotation by the mid seventies, or did they just want a less tongue twisting title?) Part of the “Polydor…
-
Various Artists, I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground, 2021 on Verve.
Various Artists, I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground, 2021 on Verve. Great covers compilation with Michael Stipe, Sharon Van Etten, Courtney Barnett, Fontaines D.C., St. Vincent, Andrew Bird & Lucius, and more Via Spinnaker Records in Hyannis MA
-
Tunde Mabadu, Viva Disco, 2018 on Mr. Bongo.
Tunde Mabadu, Viva Disco, 2018 on Mr. Bongo. Originally released by Afrodisia (which was started by Decca West Africa) in Nigeria in 1980, reissued by Mr. Bongo in 2018. Great recording and pressing – afrofunk Disco
-
Saturday, December 18th, 2021
-
Usher, Confessions, 2004 on Arista.
Usher, Confessions, 2004 on Arista. My copy is a Vinyl Me, Please reissue in 2021 – on “gold nugget” vinyl, fancy. Another quality pressing, filling some gaps in my collection with 90s and 00s releases. Guests here include Lil’ Jon, Ludacris, Alicia Keys. Production by Jermaine Dupree with some tracks by Jimmy Jam and Terry…
-
Various Artists, Stay Awake (Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films), 1988 on A&M.
Various Artists, Stay Awake (Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films), 1988 on A&M. Loved this when it came out in 1988, and I think it’s even cooler now. Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega, Los Lobos, Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe, Aaron Neville, The Replacements, Sinéad O’Connor, Nilsson, James Taylor. via Light of Day Records…
-
Pretenders, Extended Play, 1981 on Sire.
Pretenders, Extended Play, 1981 on Sire. Label’s a bit off center on this one (see photos). Extended Play came out six months before Pretenders II, but had Message of Love and Talk of the Town plus a live version of Precious from their debut album via Residency Records, Salem MA
-
Oscar Peterson & Harry Edison, Oscar Peterson & Harry Edison, 1975 on Pablo Records.
Oscar Peterson & Harry Edison, Oscar Peterson & Harry Edison, 1975 on Pablo Records. Another excellent mid seventies jazz record on the label Norman Granz founded in 1973. I wasn’t as familiar with Harry Edison, but he played with everyone: Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella, Nat King Cole, and many more – he…
-
Nilsson, A Little Touch of Schmilsson In the Night, 1973 on RCA Victor.
Nilsson, A Little Touch of Schmilsson In the Night, 1973 on RCA Victor. A collection of standards from Nilsson – done at a tome when collections of standards weren’t really being done by popular commercial singers. Nilsson certainly was not afraid to carve out his own idiosyncratic path
-
Joe Cocker, With A Little Help From My Friends, 1969 on A&M.
Joe Cocker, With A Little Help From My Friends, 1969 on A&M. Debut album from Joe Cocker, with arguably the definitive renditions of the title track, Feelin’ Alright, and Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood. Lots of great musicians on this: Tony Visconti, Jimmy Page, Albert Lee, Steve Winwood, plus a number of great backup singers
-
Oscar Peterson, Oscar Peterson Plays The Cole Porter Song Book, 1959 on Verve.
Oscar Peterson, Oscar Peterson Plays The Cole Porter Song Book, 1959 on Verve. I love the “song book” albums from the fifties – [artist] plays the [composer] song book. I have some Ella, some Oscar Peterson, and others. My copy is a Japanese pressing from the early 80s – great quality.