Tag: Austin TX
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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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Bob Dylan, Oh Mercy, 1989 on Columbia
Dylan’s 26th studio album, produced by Daniel Lanois and recorded in New Orleans. “Political World,” “Where Teardrops Fall,” and “Everything is Broken” make a great opening trio on side 1 – but really a great album overall. My copy—via Waterloo Records in Austin TX—is a Carrollton GA pressing with original inner sleeve from 1989.
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Dire Straits, Making Movies, 1980 on Warner Brothers
Released on Vertigo in the UK but Warner Bros in the US, this was the third full-length from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits. Produced by Jimmy Iovine and Mark Knopfler. David Knopfler left the band during the recording of the album and reportedly Mark re-recorded all this guitar parts. There was a box set of…
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Tears for Fears, Songs From The Big Chair, 1985 on Mercury
Sophomore album from Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, following The Hurting. Hard to imagine trying to follow up that record, but this went to number one in the US. “Shout” and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” fueled that success. They’ve been touring again in support of The Tipping Point but I’ve not managed to…
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Charlie Sexton, Pictures for Pleasure, 1985 on MCA
Sexton was a guitar wunderkind from Austin who was 16 when this came out. A poster of the album cover is seen in Ferris Bueller’s bedroom, and John Hughes used “Beat’s So Lonely” in Some Kind of Wonderful. Sexton would go on to play in Bob Dylan’s band (including on some recordings) and produce other…
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New Order, Confusion (FAC93), 1983 on Factory
This was the sixth single from New Order, put out by Factory in 1983 as a follow up to “Blue Monday.” Produced by and co-written with DJ Arthur Baker, it charted well in the UK – though clearly nothing could match up to the massive success and influence of “Blue Monday.” My copy—via Waterloo Records…
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John Hiatt, Bring the Family, 1987 on A&M
John Hiatt’s eighth studio album and his first on A&M. What a fantastic songwriter! Actually paid for by Demon Records in the UK, but picked up after being completed by A&M in the US. Guests include Ry Cooder (doing harmony vocals on “Have a Little Faith in Me” as well as electric guitar and sitar…
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Pat MacDonald and The Essentials, Essentialist Propaganda, 1983 on Counter-Pop
Pat MacDonald would go on to be one half of Timbuk 3 with his wife Barbara Kooyman, listed here as Barbara K. MacDonald. “Too Much Sex (Not Enough Affection” from this EP also was later on Eden Alley in 1988. Pat MacDonald and The Essentials put out one full length album and this EP, which…
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DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, He’s the DJ, I’m The Rapper, 1988 on Jive
Second album from the duo of Jeffrey Townes (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff) and Will Smith (aka The Fresh Prince), including “Parents Just Don’t Understand” which won the first Best Rap Performance Grammy in 1989. Not sure I even realized this at the time, but their first two albums came out before The Fresh Prince of…
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Re-Flex, The Politics of Dancing, 1983 on Capitol
Debut album from English new-wave band Re-Flex, on EMI in the UK but Capitol in the US. Produced by John Punter who produced Roxy Music and Japan. Re-Flex formed in Birmingham UK in the early 80s and only put out two albums in the 80s. Clearly the title track on this album is the one…
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The Special AKA, Nelson Mandela, 1984 on Two Tone
Extended version 12″ single from The Specials (Special AKA), produced by Elvis Costello. One of my favorite early 80s ska protest songs. Now dated in its reference but hey – never forget: Mandela was in prison for 27 years but would go on to be the president of South Africa. It’s an amazing story in…
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The Robert Cray Band, Who’s Been Talkin’, 1980 on Tomato
Debut album from Robert Cray and band (Curtis Salgado, Richard Cousins, and Dave Olson). Tomato was a NY based indie label started in the late 70s by Kevin Eggers, who also released albums by Albert King, Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and John Cage (among others). My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX—is an original…
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Oscar Peterson & Dizzy Gillespie, 1975 on Pablo
Pablo records, with a logo and name inspired by Picasso, was started by Norman Granz (who also produced this record) in the early seventies. There’s a ton of great Pablo jazz records—I generally pick them up whenever I see them. Recorded in 1974 in London, this release brings together two greats but it is not…
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Randy Newman, Live, 1971 on Reprise
Randy Newman recorded at The Bitter End, Sept 17-19th, 1970, and released in 1971. Only his self-titled debut (1968) and “12 Songs” (April 1970) had been released at this point. Such a talented songwriter – “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” and “Lonely at the Top” are great versions here. Produced by Larry Waronker…
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John Prine, Sweet Revenge, 1973 on Atlantic
Prine is one of my favorite songwriters of all time. This was his third full-length, and third on Atlantic. Produced by Arif Mardin, it was mostly recorded in Nashville, with one track (“Dear Abby”) recorded live at SUNY New Paltz. Musicians include Steve Goodman and many of the folks who played on Prine’s debut album.…
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David Bowie, The Lost Sessions, Vol 1, 2020 on Parachute Recording Company
Another Parachute Recording Company release, which collects radio broadcasts subject to different copyrights in the EU. In this case, that includes appearances Bowie made on: As is not uncommon with bootlegs, some tracks are misidentified / mislabelled: C14 is not Janine but the 4:42 version of “The Width of a Circle,” and C15 is not…
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Dessa, Bury the Lede, 2023 on Doomtree Records
Dessa is a part of the hip-hop collective Doomtree out of MInneapolis – great collection of artists and she is (for me) one of the standouts. She was also cohost of the Deeply Human podcast in 2021-2022. My copy is a signed red-vinyl “Collector’s Edition” via Waterloo Records in Austin TX. Unfortunately my copy did…
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Neil Young with Crazy Horse, World Record, 2022 on Reprise
Great to have Neil Young put out a new album in 2022, his fifteenth with Crazy Horse (including Nils Lofgren, Ralph Molina, and Billy Talbot). Neil Young Archives Official Release Series (NYA ORS) 52. Recorded at Shangri-La in Malibu (Rick Rubin’s studio), and produced by Rubin and Young. Recorded and mastered all analog, as you…