Tag: Epic
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Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Live Alive, 1986 on Epic
Recorded across four live performances between July 1985 (Montreux Jass Festivale) and July 1986 (Austin Opera House and Dallas Starfest). Includes his take on “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Superstition,” and “Vodoo Child (Slight Return).” The CD versions leave off “Live Without You.” Brother Jimmie Vaughan guests on four tracks, other personnel are Tommy Shannon…
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Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson, Poncho & Lefty, 1983 on Epic
Another Willie Nelson duet album, this one from 1983 with fellow “outlaw” Merle Haggard with title track from Townes Van Zandt. Great collection of songs, including Nelson’s own “Opportunity to Cry,” the title track, and the pairing of “Reasons to Quit” with “No Reason to Quit.” My copy—via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN—is a Columbia…
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Jeff Beck Group, Rough and Ready, 1971 on Epic
Third studio album by the Jeff Beck Group, in this case with Clive Chapman (bass), Bob Tench (vocals), Cozy Powell (drums) and Max Middleton (piano). Bob Tench recorded with Peter Green, Beck, Van Morrison, Freddie King, Ginger Baker and others – and was in Humble Pie, The Gass, and others. Sadly he passed in 2024.…
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Japan, Japan, 1982 on Epic
Compilation album released (in the US) on Epic in 1982, bringing together most of Tin Drum plus some from Gentlemen Take Polaroids. (Neither of those was formally released in the US until 1994). I’ve got a UK Tin Drum but still looking for a good vinyl copy of Gentlemen. One the best underrated bands of…
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XTC, English Settlement, 1982 on Virgin/Epic
This was the fifth XTC studio album, out on Virgin Records in the UK and Epic in the US. The band stopped touring after this LP and became more of a studio only group. Interesting midpoint between “Making Plans For Nigel” (1979) and “Dear God” (1986). Includes “Senses Working Overtime.” Still looking for a 2xLP…
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Living Colour, Cult of Personality (Official Live Bootleg), 1988 on Epic
Living Colour in their prime, recorded live at T.T. The Bear’s in Cambridge (right outside central square), and including a cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution.” I’m not sure what an “Official Live Bootleg” is – this was put out by Epic apparently – but this is a promo edition with five tracks…
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Indigo Girls, Indigo Girls, 1989 on Epic
Sophomore album from Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, with their massive breakout hit “Closer To Fine.” Michael Stipe guests on “Kid Fears” and Hothouse Flowers guest on multiple tracks including “Closer to Fine” (which recently had a revival as it appeared in the movie Barbie). My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a promo copy labelled…
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Sade, Stronger Than Pride, 1988 on Epic
Third studio LP from the group Sade, named after singer Sade Adu and including (on this LP) Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale, and Paul Denman. What a fantastic run they had in the 80s and early 90s: Diamond LIfe, Promise, Stronger Than Pride, and Love Deluxe are all fantastic. I could just put “Turn My Back…
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Adam Ant, Friend or Foe, 1982 on Epic
This was the debut solo album from Stuart Leslie Goddard, better known as Adam Ant, following on three albums as Adam and the Ants. The single “Goody Two Shoes” reached number 1 in the UK and number 12 in the US. Lately I’ve been hearing “Desparate But Not Serious” all the time on Sirius XM…
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The Jeff Beck Group, Beck-Ola, 1969 on Epic
Beck’s second studio LP, following Truth, and credited to the Jeff Beck Group. The cover is René Magritte’s “The Listening Room.” Ron Wood on bass, Rod Stewart on vocals, Nicky Hopkins piano and Tony Newman on drums. My copy – a 1969 Epic pressing – via a private sale. Amazing record in great shape despite…
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Edgar Winter’s White Trash, Roadwork, 1972 on Epic
Double LP, recorded live at three venues: The Apollo Theater and the Academy of Music in NYC, and the Whiskey a Go Go in LA. The band here includes Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter (a “special appearance”), Rick Derringer, Jon Smith, Randy Hobbs, Jerry Lacroix, Bobby Ramirez, and Mike McClellan. Great 17 minute version of “Tobacco…
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Sly & The Family Stone, There’s A Riot Going On, 1971 on Epic
Fifth studio LP from Sly and the Family Stone, recorded in 1970 and 1971. Includes “Family Affair” and the title track. Generally gets cited as a kind of turning point for the bad into darker and more experimental direction – more drum machines, more overdubbing, with Sly playing most (all?) of the album’s instrumentation. Whatever…
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Jeff Beck, Blow By Blow, 1975 on Epic
Jeff Beck is a guitarists’ guitarist – constantly named by other greats as one of the greatest but not given quite the same public acclaim. This 1975 album – orchestrated, arranged, and produced by George Martin – has two Stevie Wonder songs (“Case We’ve Ended As Lovers” and “Thelonious”), a Beatles cover (“She’s a Woman”)…
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The Romantics, The Romantics, 1980 on Nemperor / Epic
“What I like about you, you hold me tight / tell me I’m the only one / wanna come over tonight” The Romantics were a Detroit power-pop / new wave band formed in the late 70s: Wally Palmer, Rich Cole, Mike Skill, and Jimmy Marinos. “That’s What I Like About You” made a top 50…
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The Clash, Give ‘Em Enough Rope, 1978 on CBS / Epic
The follow up to the self-titled debut, and the first with Topper Headon on drums. It was actually the first Clash album released in the US – the debut album did not get a US release until 1979. “English Civil War” is a reworking of “Johnny Comes Marching Home” – the rest are all written…
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Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel . . . , 2012 on Clean Slate / Epic
The full title is The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do but most people refer to it just as The Idler Wheel. The title comes from a poem Apple wrote. Fiona Apple’s fourth studio album and her most commercially…
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Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, The Sky is Crying, 1991 on Epic
This was the fifth and final studio album from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, compiling tracks cut earlier and released more than a year after Vaughan’s death in August of 1990. (Compiled by Jimmie Vaughan). It includes a wonderful version of Hendrix’s “Little Wing” in addition to the title track and Willie Dixon’s “Close…
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Jeff Beck, Truth, 1968 on Epic
This was Beck’s solo debut, following after time in the Yardbirds, and features Ron Wood, pre-Faces Rod Stewart, Keith Moon (credited as “You Know Who”) and Mick Waller as well as John Paul Jones on Hammond Organ on one track. I came to Jeff Beck late – I knew his work in the Yardbirds but…