Tag: Lowell MA
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Wall of Voodoo, The Ugly Americans in Australia, 1988 on I.R.S. Records
Live Wall of Voodoo recorded on their 1987 tour in Australia, primarily at The Palace in Melbourne. The cover painting is by Robert Williams (aka Robt. Wms.). This was their last output on I.R.S. and basically the end of their label support – after this things were self-released or reissues. My copy—via Vinyl Destination in…
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The Romantics, Strictly Personal, 1981 on Nemporer
Third album from The Romantics, who originally came out of Detroit MI. Look at the new wave style here – matching pink leather suits and bolo ties. Did not reach the same heights as their self-titled debut and “What I Like About You” but continues in that same sound. Nemperor was a label founded by…
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Flesh for Lulu, Long Live The New Flesh, 1987 on Beggars Banquet / Capitol
Third full-length album from Brixton London post-punks Nick Marsh, James Mitchell, Rocco Barker, Derek “Del Boy” Greening, and Kevin Mills—and their first on Beggars Banquet/Capitol. (Capitol in the US, Beggars Banquet in the UK). The lead single “I Go Crazy” was featured in the film Some Kind of Wonderful and became a minor hit. This…
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Cactus World News, Urban Beaches, 1986 on MCA
This was the debut album for Cactus World News, with a different cover in US and UK editions- this one is the US cover. They were an early 80s band in Dublin, and had the good fortune to have Bono produce their first single “The Bridge” (a re-recording of which is on this album). What…
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T-Bone Burnett, Trap Door, 1982 on Warner Bros.
Most people think of T-Bone Burnett these days as a Grammy-winning producer associated with Americana and roots music, but has also long been a solo artist releasing music since the 80s. This EP was Burnett’s first release on Warner Bros, after leaving Takoma. Rhino released a compilation including this EP and the companion EP Behind…
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Flesh for Lulu, Plastic Fantastic, 1989 on Capitol / Beggar’s Banquet
This was the fourth studio LP from Flesh for Lulu, and the second on Beggar’s Banquet (in the UK) and Capitol (in the US). “Decline and Fall” from this LP was a hit on the “modern rock tracks” charts. It would also be their last studio LP. (Gigantic was later released under the Flesh for…
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Bob Marley & The Wailers, Babylon By Bus, 1978 on Island
Wonderful live album recorded (despite the maps on the inner sleeves showing the US leg of the tour) in Paris, Copenhagen, London, and Amsterdam. It’s 2xLP but not a gatefold. It’s die-cut in the front windows of the bus, so depending on the order you put the printed inner sleeves you determine what shows through.…
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The Alarm, Change, 1989 on I.R.S. Records
We recently lost Mike Peters of The Alarm, after a 30 year battle with cancer. He also had a lengthy solo career following the band’s breakup in the early 90s, and founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation. This album was their penultimate with the original lineup, and has NID YN CYMRU AR WERTH carved into…
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Flesh For Lulu, Big Fun City, 1985 on Statik Records
This was the sophomore studio album by Brixton’s Flesh For Lulu, released by London-based Statik Records in 1985. Nick Marsh (vocals, guitar), James Mitchell (drums), Kevin Mills (bass), Rocco Baker (guitar), with Cassell Webb (percussion). Great mid-eighties post-punk / gothic sound. They later signed to Beggars Banquet and then Capitol Records. My copy—via the now-defunct…
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Johnny Winter, Johnny Winter, 1969 on Columbia
Johnny Winter’s self-titled official debut album (The Progressive Blues Experiment came out the year before as a kind of unauthorized debut on Sonobeat, then sold to Imperial). Mix of blues standard covers (“Good Morning Little School Girl,” “I’ll Drown in My Own Tears,” and “Mean Mistreater”) along with Johnny Winter originals. Winter produced, and is…
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Nick Lowe, Labour of Lust, 1979 on Columbia
Second album released under the Nick Lowe name, recorded with the same personnel from Rockpile and in the same year as Dave Edmunds’ Repeat When Necessary. The US and UK versions have different track list – this is the US version, including “American Squirm” as track A4. This has “Cruel To Be Kind” which became…
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Sturgill Simpson, Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 (The Butcher Shoppe Sessions), 2020 on High Top Mountain Records
Sturgill Simpson is one of my favorite contemporary artists, who generally gets classified as a Country artist but here breaks out into bluegrass. The Butcher Shoppe is actually a studio in Nashville set up by David Ferguson and John Prine. (There’s also a Nashville studio called The Butcher Shop, operated by Butch Walker). The band…
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Nick Lowe, Pure Pop for Now People, 1978 on Columbia
Issued as Jesus of Cool in the UK and elsewhere, but as Pure Pop for Now People in the US and Canada. this was NIck Lowe’s solo debut. The track list also differs between the North American and European releases. Yep Rock put out an expanded reissue in the US in 2008 under the name…
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Silk Sonic, An Evening with Silk Sonic, 2021 on Aftermath / Atlantic
Super duo with Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, with special guest “host” Bootsy Collins. So far this is their only full length LP, but “Leave the Door Open” won a ton of awards. It’s a wonderful album and I hope the first of many more to come. My copy via a record fair at Mill…
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The Police, Outlandos D’Amour, 1978 on A&M
Outlandos D’Amour was the debut album by The Police, released on A&M in 1978. You’ll find cover variations with red, yellow, and green lettering – I don’t think there’s any logic to that, just variety. Love this whole album from the jump: “Next To You” / “So Lonely” / Roxanne” And “Hole in My Life”…
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Junior Walker and the All-Stars, Anthology, 1974 on Motown
While many folks only know Walker and the All-Stars via their first and biggest hit, “Shotgun,” this 2xLP release collects recordings from 1965-1973 – good way to get to know more of their catalog. Motown issued a whole series of Anthology releases in the mid-seventies – mostly 2xLP releases of collections from their best selling…
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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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Various Artists, Heavy Soul, 1972 on Atlantic
Great compilation of early seventies soul on Atlantic, including luminaries like Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, and King Curtis but also some lesser known folks (at least for me), including Dionne Warwick’s sister Dee Dee Warwick (as Dede) and The Beginning of the End – something of a one-hit wonder with “Funky Nassau. “ Love…