Tag: craft recordings
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R.E.M., The Best of R.E.M. at the B.B.C., 2018 on Craft Recordings
Craft Recordings put out an 8 CD / 104 file digital download R.E.M. at the B.B.C. in 2018 – this was the condensed “best of” version, narrowing down to 20 tracks across 2 LPs. The first disc is all BBC sessions (Nicky Campbell, John Peel, Mark and Lard, Drivetime, Radio 1 Lounge) and the second…
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Art Pepper, Gettin’ Together, 1960 on Contemporary Records
Pepper joined here by Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums), Wynton Kelly (piano) and Conte Candoli (trumpet, on three tracks). That makes this another LP with Miles Davis’ rhythm section, as the earlier Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section was. Rounding out for now my recent Art Pepper pickups (say Art Pepper Pickups five times…
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Art Pepper, Intensity, 1963 on Contemporary Records
Recorded in 1960 but released in 1963, this has Pepper joined by Dolo Coker (piano), Jimmy Bond (bass), and Frank Butler (drums). A critical part of any west coast jazz library. That cover photo makes me think of the moment in Lost in Translation where the translator turns a series of long directions in Japanese…
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Sonny Rollins, Way Out West, 1957 on Contemporary
This was the first Rollins album with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne, and the first time he recorded with only bass and drums. I love this cover photo emphasizing the New York native was out west. My copy—direct from Craft Recordings—is the 2009 Original Jazz Classics reissue which was remastered back in 1988 and repressed…
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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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Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, Modern Lovers ’88, 1987 on Rounder
Although the Modern Lovers formed in Natick MA, this incarnation formed in California and recorded this album in Grass Valley CA. This became the final album for Richman with the Modern Lovers, as a trio, with Brennan Totten and Johnny Avila. My copy—via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN—is the Craft Recordings’ 2022 Record Store Day…
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Gus Cannon, Walk Right In, 1963 on Stax
Jug Band leader Gus Cannon started recording in the late 20s as “Banjo Joe” and reappeared as part of the folk revival in the 50s on Folkways. This was his first and only Stax LP released in 1963. “Walk Right In” the song became a hit for the Rooftop Singers – who were credited with…
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Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969 on Fantasy
This was the fourth LP from CCR, and the third released in 1969 (one in January, one in August, and this one in November) – talk about striking while the iron is hot / saturating the market. John Fogerty, older bother Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford are in fine form, including “Down On…
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Townes Van Zandt, At My Window, 1987 on Sugar Hill
Van Zandt’s eighth studio album and only one recorded in the 1980s, originally released on the bluegrass label Sugar Hill. I never miss a chance to pick up a Townes Van Zandt record in good shape. Recorded at Jack Clement’s studio in Nashville (“Cowboy Arms Hotel and Recording Spa”) and produced by Clement and Jim…
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Various Artists, Rip It Up: The Best of Specialty Records, 2021 on Craft
Craft Recordings release from 2021 – but all the original recordings are from the 1950s (and a few from the 40s). Wonderful collection – the Little Richard tracks are likely the most well known, but I love the early Sam Cooke, Percy Mayfield, Lloyd Price, and Jesse & Marvin. Tracklist: Released on yellow vinyl via…
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David Porter, . . . Into A Real Thing, 1971 on Enterprise
Porter was the staff songwriter for Stax – this was his second full length LP issued under his name, following up Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin’ It. Enterprise was a sub-label of Stax, which also released the early Isaac Hayes solo albums. (Apparently label president Al Bell was a Star Trek fan). Wonderful early 70s Stax/Volt…
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Teo Macero with the Prestige Jazz Quartet, Teo, 1957 on Prestige
Macero is likely best known as the producer of both Bitches Brew and Time Out but he was also a great saxophone player and composer. He made multiple albums with Mingus and cofounded the Jazz Composers Workshop. Here he is joined by Addison Farmer (bass), Jerry Segal (drums), Mal Waldron (piano), and Teddy Charles (vibes).…
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McCoy Tyner, Trident, 1975 on Milestone
Tyner (who plays harpsichord and celeste as well as piano) is joined here by Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums), and the album was produced by Orrin Keepnews. It was his eighth LP for Milestone after recording on Blue Note and Impulse! throughought the 60s. (Elvin Jones worked with Tyner in the John Coltrane…
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Chet Baker, Chet Baker in New York, 1958 on Riverside
In something of the same vein as the West Coast / East Coast rap rivalry of 90s hip hop, the jazz scene in the 50s had a bit of a California vs New York thing happening. As the sleeve notes by Orrin Keepnews puts it: . . . during much of the 1950s considerable conversation…
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Chet Baker, Chet, 1959 on Riverside
The labels carry a subtitle of “Ballads by Chet Baker,” and the rear cover suggests “The lyrical trumpet of Chet Baker” but most people just call it Chet. Riverside RLP 12-299 (mono) and RLP 1135 (stereo). He’s joined here by Pepper Adams, Paul Chambers, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, and Philly Joe Jones / Connie Kay…
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Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes (box set), 2024 on Craft Recordings
This was one of my favorite albums of the 1980s (it came out on Slash Records in 1983), and I’ve been looking forever for a decent copy on vinyl. This box set, as you’d expect from Craft, is amazing. It includes a newly remastered version of the self-titled album itself, plus additional LPs of demos…
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Art Farmer, Portrait of Art Farmer, 1958 on Stereo Records
“Stereo Records” was a jazz label made by Contemporary Records in 1958 to push records made with the new-fangled stereo technology: Stereophonic two-channel disc recording utilizing Westrex 45-45 “StereoDisc” cutting system. To be reproduced only with stereophonic cartridge. Warning: use of conventional monaural cartridge without sufficient vertical compliance may well result in damage to this…
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Marty Stuart, Busy Bee Cafe, 1982 on Sugar Hill Records
No, that’s not the same Sugar Hill that put out Rapper’s Delight – it’s a folk/bluegrass label out of North Carolina, later merged in Concord and now Rounder. Although Stuart’s recorded output starts in the 80s, he spent years touring with Lester Flatt and in Johnny Cash’s road band. This was his second album, the…