Tag: Natick MA

  • Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, Modern Lovers ’88, 1987 on Rounder

    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…

  • Various Artists, This Are Two Tone, 1983 on Chrysalis/Two Tone

    Various Artists, This Are Two Tone, 1983 on Chrysalis/Two Tone

    In the UK, this was released on Two Tone, but in the US they were distributed by Chrysalis and issued on the Chrysalis label. Sleeve design credit to Jerry Dammers who founded Two Tone and was a key member Specials. Great compilation of 80s reggae/ska: Specials / The Special A.K.A., Madness, The Selecter, The English…

  • Van Halen, Van Halen, 1978 on Warner Bros

    Van Halen, Van Halen, 1978 on Warner Bros

    The debut, self-titled album. Certainly one of the most recognizable band logos, and one millions sketched on notebooks, jackets, and the like when I was growing up. Hard to overstate the importance of Eddie Van Halen’s playing on Eruption here and the impact it had on guitar players from then on: Also included on their…

  • Oscar Peterson, Return Engagement, 1974 on Verve

    Oscar Peterson, Return Engagement, 1974 on Verve

    Double LP compilation from the mid-seventies, collecting tracks from: The Trio: Live From Chicago, Very Tall, West Side Story, Affinity, Night Train, We Get Requests, Something Warm, Night Train Vol. 2 and The Oscar Peterson Collection. There was a whole series of “Return Engagement” releases, including Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Cal Tjader, and…

  • Echo and the Bunnymen, B-Sides and Live (2001-2005), 2022 on Demon Records

    Echo and the Bunnymen, B-Sides and Live (2001-2005), 2022 on Demon Records

    Released digitally in 2007 by Cooking Vinyl, but reissued on vinyl by Demon Records for Record Store Day 2022, on clear vinyl. A number of songs from Live at Reading Festival 2005, a remix of “Rescue,” and some acoustic versions. Great pressing and package. My copy via the discount rack at Newbury Comics in the…

  • Sharon Van Etten, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, 2022 on Jagjaguwar

    Sharon Van Etten, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, 2022 on Jagjaguwar

    Van Etten’s sixth full length and fourth on Jagjaguwar, this was one of my favorite albums of 2022. Van Etten produced along with Daniel Knowles, with musicians Devin Hoff (bass), Jorge Baibi (drums), and Charley Damski (keys) joining on most tracks (along with a few others). My copy via Newbury Comics in the Natick Mall

  • Various Artists, Bills & Aches & Blues, 2021 on 4AD

    Various Artists, Bills & Aches & Blues, 2021 on 4AD

    Compilation 4AD issued in celebration of their 40th anniversary. It’s a bit hit-and-miss, as such collections often are – for some reason the two Breeder’s tracks (Tune-Yards take on “Cannonball” and Big Thief’s take on “Off You”) stand out to me as does Tkay Maidza’s take on The Pixies’ “Where is My Mind?.” My copy…

  • Cat Power, Covers, 2022 on Domino

    Cat Power, Covers, 2022 on Domino

    Chan Marshall’s third album of covers. Like the previous two, it includes a re-recording of one of her own – the song “Hate” covered here as “Unhate.” Favorites for me include The Replacements’ “Here Comes a Regular,” Nico’s “These Days.” and Kitty Wells’ “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” My copy is the…

  • Golden Gate Groove: The Sound of Philadelphia Live in San Francisco 1973, 2021 on Philadelphia International Records

    Golden Gate Groove: The Sound of Philadelphia Live in San Francisco 1973, 2021 on Philadelphia International Records

    There’s a complicated set of dates here – recorded in 1973 and released originally in 2012 on CD by Philadelphia International Records and Legacy (Sony’s label for reissues), but then released for the first time on vinyl for Record Store Day 2021. The performers are MFSB, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The Three Degrees,…

  • Lucinda Williams, Southern Soul: From Memphis to Muscle Shoals & More, 2021 on Highway 20

    Lucinda Williams, Southern Soul: From Memphis to Muscle Shoals & More, 2021 on Highway 20

    This is volume 2 in Lu’s Jukebox In Studio Concert Series – six episodes recorded at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Florida as a benefit to venues who could sell streaming tickets through their own sites via Mandolin. The second episode of “Lu’s Jukebox” will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2020 with “Southern Soul:…

  • Jelly Roll Morton, Mr. Jelly Lord, RCA Victor, 1967

    Jelly Roll Morton, Mr. Jelly Lord, RCA Victor, 1967

    My copy is a slightly later pressing – 1973 – but this compilation first came out in 1967 as part of the RCA Victor Vintage Series. These tracks were originally recorded between 1927 and 1930. Yes, this is the Jelly Roll of “stoned me just like Jelly Roll” in Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me.”…

  • Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963 on Columbia

    Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963 on Columbia

    Makes sense following Llewyn Davis and Billy Bragg to have an early Dylan album – definitely one of my favorites and an iconic cover. This is from the era where Dylan is making an unbelievable number of what come to be classic albums very quickly. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” is one I perpetually…

  • The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers, 2005 on Heavenly / Capitol

    The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers, 2005 on Heavenly / Capitol

    The debut self-titled album from The Magic Numbers, which came out in 2005 on Capitol in the US, but on Heavenly in the UK and EMI in other parts of the world. My copy is a 2020 reissue by Heavenly / [PIAS] for Record Store Day, on clear vinyl with a bonus 7″ single. The…

  • Jason Isbell, Sirens Of The Ditch, 2007 on New West

    Jason Isbell, Sirens Of The Ditch, 2007 on New West

    Jason Isbell, Sirens Of The Ditch, 2007 on New West This is actually the 2018 2xLP reissue on clear vinyl. it was Isbell’s first solo outing and a great record made even better in the reissue Via Listen Up Music in Natick MA

  • Fleetwood Mac, self-titled, 1975 on Reprise.

    Fleetwood Mac, self-titled, 1975 on Reprise.

    Fleetwood Mac, self-titled, 1975 on Reprise. Mine’s a 1977 pressing – sound is great. This is their second self-titled, and the first with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks (making a strong debut with Rhiannon and Landslide). Via Listen Up Music in Natick, MA.

  • Art Tatum, The Essential Art Tatum, 1962 on Verve

    Art Tatum, The Essential Art Tatum, 1962 on Verve

    Art Tatum, The Essential Art Tatum, 1962 on Verve Tatum died in 1956, these recordings are from sessions in 1953, 1954, and 1956 Via Listen Up Music in Natick MA

  • Marvin Gaye, Anthology, 1973 on Motown Records

    Marvin Gaye, Anthology, 1973 on Motown Records

    Marvin Gaye, Anthology, 1973 on Motown – 3 LP collection Via ListenUp Music in Natick MA