Tag: Elektra
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The Cars, Panorama, 1980 on Elektra
This was the third studio LP from Boston band The Cars, situated between Candy-O and Shake It Up. Includes “Touch and Go.” An underappreciated album in The Cars’ discography: seen by critics as a let down and not as commercial successful as the one before or after. I like it though – more experimental, more…
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Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman, 1988 on Elektra
Its popularity has recently resurged, due in no small part to Luke Combs’ cover version and their duet at the Grammy’s but this record never went out of rotation for me. Technically I know it’s not true, but I like to imagine Tracy Chapman’s voice was still echoing around Boston from her busking days when…
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Love, Forever Changes, 1967 on Elektra
Iconic later sixties album from Arthur Lee and co. This would be their third and final album in the original lineup. The track “Alone Again Or” (with the refrain “And I will be alone again tonight my dear”) has been used in a number of films and was covered by The Damned on 1986’s Anything.…
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The Cars, The Cars (Self-Titled), 1978 on Elektra
Debut album from Boston’s own The Cars, out in 1978 on Elektra, and produced by Thomas Baker. Killer debut, with “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Good Times Roll,” and “Moving In Stereo.” Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, David Robinson, and Greg Hawkes in the original lineup. My copy, via a private…
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Mose Allison, Lessons in Living, 1983 on Elektra Musician
Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival July 21st, 1982 with Jack Bruce (bass), Billy Cobham (drums), Lou Donaldson (alto sax), and Eric Gale (guitar) joining Allison. Elektra Musician was a jazz oriented subsidiary of Elektra/Asylum, and started in 1982 – it was absorbed into Nonesuch in 1994. My copy—via Aux 33 Tours in Montréal…
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X, See How We Are, 1987 on Elektra
This was the sixth studio album from Exene Cervenka, John Doe, and D.J. Bonebrake, and the first after the departure of Billy Zoom. He was replaced by Dave Alvin and then Tony Gilkyson, both of whom are credited on the LP. Benmont Tench also contributes on the Hammond organ. The standout for me is “4th…
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Billy Bragg, Help Save The Youth of America (Live and Dubious), 1988 on Elektra
Billy Bragg live six song EP released to encourage US youth to vote in the 1988 presidential election. Includes “Chile, Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto” (written by Bernice Johnson Reagon of Sweet Honey in the Rock) and “There is Power In a Union.” Remember, when you elect a President, you are electing President for…
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Bill Frisell, Have a Little Faith, 1993 on Elektra Nonesuch
Frisell on guitar, joined by Don Byron (clarinet, bass clarinet), Guy Klucevskek (accordion), Kermit Driscoll (bass), and Joey Baron (drums). Covers a wide variety of sounds here including some Aaron Copeland from his ballet Billy the Kid, two excepts from Charles Ive’s orchestral Three Places in New England, plus Dylan, Muddy Waters, Sonny Rollins, and…
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Screaming Blue Messiahs, Bikini Red, 1987 on Elektra
Bill Carter and the Screaming Blue Messiahs put out four major label studio albums in the 80s – this was the third, in 1987. Some great and funny songwriting here: “I Wanna Be a Flinstone” and “Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge” as well as “I Can Speak American.” Power rock trio of Carter on guitar…
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Howard Jones, One to One, 1986 on Elektra
Howard Jones was one of my first concerts I saved up for and bought tickets to myself. I don’t think he was the first, but he was certainly an early one. I especially loved his early-80s output: Human’s Lib and Dream Into Action. One to One was his third studio album – for some folks…
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Koerner Ray & Glover, The Return of Koerner Ray & Glover, 1965 on Elektra
“Spider” John Koerner, Dave “Snaker” Ray, and Tony “Little Sun” Glover were a Minneapolis blues/folk trio who met at the University of Minnesota and played frequently in Dinkytown and the West Bank. This was their third release on Elektra and the the last before a seven year gap – capturing their early folk/blues approach. Produced…
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The Housemartins, The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death, 1987 on Elektra
On this record the Housemartins were Norman Cook, Dave Hemingway, Stan Cullimore, Pete Wingfield, and P.D. (Paul) Heaton. Heaton & Hemingway went on to form The Beautiful South, while Norman Cook went on to form Beats International (and also was Fatboy Slim). The Housemartins were Christian Socialists from Hull (in the UK, not Massachusetts), which…
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Peter Schilling, Error in the System, 1983 on Elektra
Most well known for “Major Tom (Coming Home)” which was a top 20 hit in the US. Unfortunately the runaway success of that single relegated Schilling to something of a one-hit wonder – too bad, as it is really an interesting album and suggests he might have had a more interesting career. My copy had…
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The Butterfield Blues Band, Keep on Moving, 1969 on Elektra
Only Butterfield himself remains from the original lineup on this LP, produced by Jerry Ragovoy (who also wrote “Except You” and “Where Did My Baby Go”). Not maybe as successful as some of the earlier outings but still worth the price of admission – more in the R&B/soul vein that would also show up on…
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10,000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair, 1985 on Elektra.
10,000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair, 1985 on Elektra. Will always love Natalie Merchant’s voice and style – this was their third full length and first on a major label ( the first two were on Mark Records). Lineup with Steven Gustafson, Jerry Augustyniak, Robert Buck, John Lombardo, Dennis Drew and Merchant, produced by Joe Boyd.…
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Billy Bragg, Talking With the Taxman About Poetry, 1986 on Elektra.
Billy Bragg, Talking With the Taxman About Poetry, 1986 on Elektra. Title comes from a Mayakovsky poem printed on the inner liner – I appreciate much more now than I did at 16. Subtitled “The difficult third album” I think it may be his most successful and approachable
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The Doors, The Doors, 1967 on Elektra.
The Doors, The Doors, 1967 on Elektra. My copy is the 2021 Vinyl Me, Please reissue on “green & gold galaxy” vinyl with a bonus 7″ single reproducing the French release of Light My Fire. Such a huge and impactful album and a beautiful reissue. Morrison, Manzarek, Krieger, Densmorr. Break on Through, Light My Fire,…
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Howard Jones, Dream Into Action, 1985 on Elektra/WEA.
Howard Jones, Dream Into Action, 1985 on Elektra/WEA. Second studio LP from Jones, with Afrodiziak, the TKO Horns, and brother Martin Jones on bass. Things Can Only Get Better, Bounce Right Back, Like to Get To Know You Well, No One is to Blame – great set of tunes. I saw him in ’85 at…