Tag: Lowell MA
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David Bowie, Diamond Dogs, 1974 on RCA Victor
Bowie’s eighth studio album, recorded following the disbanding of the Spiders from Mars, working (again) with producer Tony Visconti. The recording band includes Tony Newman and Aynsley Dunbar on Drums, Herbie Flowers on Bass, Mike Garson on Keyboards, and Bowie (credited only by last name) playing guitar, saxes, moog, and mellotron. The cover painting is…
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Leon Russell, Leon Russell and the Shelter People, 1971 on Shelter Records
There’s been a resurgence of interest in Leon Russell lately, with a tribute album (A Song For Leon) and a biography (Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History) both out this spring. I’ve been a fan for a long time – “A Song for You” (especially the Donny…
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Fugees, The Score, 1996 on Columbia / Ruffhouse
Very hard to find original pressings of this – my copy is a 2021 reissue. This is an absolute must have, alongside The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which followed 2 years later. How Many Mics, Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly, No Woman No Cry – so much of this album is just perfect. It’s…
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Bonnie Raitt, Takin My Time, 1973 on Warner Bros
Raitt’s third full length album, produced by John Hall. Great versions of Mose Allison’s “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy” and Jackson Browne’s “I Thought I was a Child.” Guests include Taj Mahal, Bill Payne, Jim Keltner, and Lowell George. My copy via a record fair at Mill No 5 in Lowell MA
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The Chesterfield Kings, The Berlin Wall of Sound, 1990 on Mirror Records
The Chesterfield Kings were a garage-rock band from Rochester NY fronted by Greg Prevost. i randomly found a single of theirs in the mid-eighties (“She Told Me Lies”) but this is the first time I’ve seen a full length LP. By 1990 they were leaning a bit more heavy / hard rock than their earlier…
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Japandroids, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, 2017 on Anti- Records
Third full length from Vancouver BC rock duo Japandroids, and their first on Anti-. Came with a 24 page booklet insert and poster. There was a ~5 year break after Celebration Rock and lots of incessant touring. I think it’s a more mature record than the previous two and look forward to more. My copy…
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Georg Holm, Orri Páll Dýrason, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, and Kjartan Holm, Circe, 2015 on Krúnk
Two members of Sigur Rós (Holm and Dýrason) working with Icelandic composer Hilmarsson and Georg Holm’s brother Kjartan (touring guitarist with the band) on the soundtrack to The Show of Shows – a documentary by Benedikt Erlingsson on vaudeville, circuses, and carnivals that aired on the BBC as part of Storyville (unfortunately listed as “not…
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Johnnie Frierson, Have You Been Good To Yourself, 2016 on Light in the Attic
Took a flyer on this one at a $10 sale at Vinyl Destination in Lowell, based on my appreciation of other Light in the Attic reissues – it’s really a wonderful collection. Call it lo-fi gospel with some almost spoken word production. Frierson originally put these recordings out on home-produced cassettes in the 1990s but…
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Savages, Adore Life, 2016 on Matador
Sophomore LP from English post-punk band fronted by Gemma Thompson (guitar) and Jehnny Beth (vocals), with Ay?e Hassan (bass) and Fay Milton (drums). Love the post-punk revival sound here but they’re no tribute act – this is vibrant compelling and modern. Unfortunately they’ve not released any new music since 2017. Found this copy at Vinyl…
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Benjamin Booker, Self-Titled, 2014 on ATO Records
Wonderful debut full-length on ATO from New Orleans based blues / soul guitarist/singer/songwriter Booker. Recorded (analog) at the Bomb Shelter (Nashville) and produced by Andrija Tokic who worked with Alabama Shakes and Hurray for the Riff Raff. My copy via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA
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Various Artists, Newbury Comics 30th Anniversary, 2008 on Rhino.
Promotional record originally handed out at Newbury Comics on Record Store Day in 2008. I found a copy at Vinyl Destination in Lowell, MA. Not sure what the theme is – reissues, box sets, and new albums coming on Rhino and ATCO that year? I love picking up random compilations with unexpected pairings on them,…
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ZZ Top, Rio Grande Mud, 1972 on London Records
Second album from the Texas blues/rock trio of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. London Records basically represented Decca in the US from 1947 to 1980. I love all of their output up to (and including) Eliminator in 1983 – after that I feel like there is a bit of a fall off into…
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Wall of Voodoo, Ring of Fire (Remix) / The Morricone Themes (Live), 1982 on Index
12″ single from Stan Ridgway and Wall of Voodoo. The live tracks were recorded live at “The Barn” (Barstow CA?) November 22, 1980. Not sure why they chose to label Hang ‘Em High as composed by Morricone as it wasn’t – it was actually composed by Dominic Frontiere. My copy via a record fair at…
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Johnny Cash, I Walk the Line, 1971 on Hilltop / Pickwick.
Labelled as Pickwick/33 on the cover, by arrangement with Share records, but then with Hilltop yellow labels – discount reissue of material previously released on Sun Records. (Share acquired Sun’s catalog in 1969; Pickwick/33 was a subsidiary of Pickwick International which also owned Hilltop – Hilltop focused on country/western.). There are so many reissues of…
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John Mayall, Jazz Blues Fusion, 1972 on Polydor
Mayall is joined here by Larry Taylor, Freddy Robinson, Ron Selico, Clifford Solomon and Blue Mitchell – adding sax and trumpet to his traditional blues approach. Recoded in Boston (venue unstated) November 18th, 1971 and then at Hunter College in New York on December 3rd and 4th. My copy via a record fair at Mill…
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Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Hard Travelin’: songs by Woody Guthrie and others, 1977 on Fantasy
This is really a 2xLP reissue of two Prestige records: Jack Elliott Sings The Songs of Woody Guthrie (1960) and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (1961). Fantasy purchased the catalog of Prestige, Riverside, and Milestone in the early seventies. My copy is a pressing from some time in the 80s with the blue Fantasy labels, which I…
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Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On, 1971 on Tamla.
My copy is a late 90s reissue on 180g vinyl with replicated artwork, which I picked up at a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell. This is a must-have in every collection – find an older pressing if you can or a modern quality reissue. If you don’t know this album, go get…
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Michael Jackson, Thriller, 1982 on Epic
I remember listening to this right when it came out. I was young enough to not yet know I was supposed to reject Michael as too popular or unclear and instead just loved the grooves and the videos. My copy isn’t one I’ve had since then – I don’t think I even had a turntable…