Tag: NYC
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Peter Gabriel, Ein Deutsches Album, 1980 on Charisma
This is the German language version of the third album Gabriel put out as self-titled (“Peter Gabriel”) but popularly known as Peter Gabriel III or “Melt” – listed in this case as Ein Deutsches Album (a German album). The songs: I love alternate language versions of albums and wish more people did them. My copy—via…
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a-ha, Hunting High and Low, 1985 on Warner Bros.
Debut album from Norway’s a-ha, fronted by Morten Harket, with Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. “Take On Me” with its animated video is the song everyone knows, but there’s a lot of great songs in the record (and their other records!). Definitely more than a one-hit wonder. My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a 1985 pressing…
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Thomas Dolby, Blinded By Science, 1983 on Harvest.
An EP or “Mini LP” by Dolby with the 12″ single versions of songs from The Golden Age of Wireless. The version of “Airwaves” here (5:20) is the full length version as opposed to the 3:35 version that appeared on the US version of album. My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a US pressing on…
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Fine Young Cannibals, The Raw & The Cooked, 1988 on IRS Records / MCA
This was the second Fine Young Cannibals album following their self-titled debut. Roland Gift on vocals with the rhythm section of Andy Cox and David Steele (formerly of The Beat aka The English Beat). Many of the songs on the LP had already appeared on film soundtracks including three from the Barry Levinson film Tin…
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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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The Smiths, Strangeways Here We Come, 1987 on Rough Trade.
Fourth (and final) studio album from The Smiths, produced by Stephen Street, Morrissey, and Johnny Marr and recorded at The Wool Hall in Beckington, Somerset. On constant repeat in my late 80s experience. Strangeways was a prison in Manchester (now Manchester Prison) – The Smiths had previously used the Salford Lad’s Club for the cover…
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Sting, Bring On The Night, 1986 on A&M
Sting’s first solo live album, a 2xLP set recorded over multiple nights of a tour in 1985. Sting was touring here with Branford Marsalis, Darryl Jones, Kenny Kirkland, Omar Hakim and others – basically a killer jazz band. The band is incredibly tight and the energy of the shows is wonderful – even on songs…
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Neil Young & The Bluenotes, This Note’s For You, 1988 on Reprise
An unusual entry for Neil Young, to be sure, but one of my favorite Neil Young albums post-1980. Later credited just to Neil Young when Harold Melvin (of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes) threatened legal action. The video for the title track was in heavy rotation on MTV, mocking various kinds of celebrity endorsements. There’s…
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John Mayall, Down The Line, 1973 on London Records
Compilation of songs previously released: First LP includes songs from Blues Breakers, A Hard Road, Crusade, The Blues Alone, Bare Wires, Blues From Laurel Canyon, and Looking Back, and the second LP is John Mayall Plays John Mayall (1965) which was never released on vinyl in the US (and had not been issued in the…
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The Modern Lovers, The Modern Lovers, 1976 on Beserkley
Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers are part of the indie rock canon, especially here in greater Boston. They formed in Natick MA in 1970, and were active from 1970 to 1974, but most of their records came out later – this one in 1976. Jerry Harrison (of Talking Heads) gets credit for piano, organ,…
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David Bowie, Stage, 1978 on RCA
Bowie’s second live album, following 1974’s David Live. It’s a 2xLP release, drawing on concerts from Boston, Providence, and Philadelphia. Playing with Bowie here are Carlos Alomar, Dennis Davis, George Murray, Adrian Belew, Simon House, Roger Powell, and Sean Mayes. (In essence the group that would be on Lodger). Got criticized at the time for…
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The Decemberists, The Crane Wife, 2006 on Capitol
his was the band’s fourth studio LP, and the first on Capitol Records. Production by Tucker Martine and Chris Walla. This album is one I could just leave on repeat for hours (and sometimes do). Definitely one of my top 20 albums of all time. My copy via Academy Records in NYC is a 2006…
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The Damned, Machine Gun Etiquette, 1979 on Chiswick
This was the third studio album from Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, and (new bassist) Algy Ward, collectively known as The Damned. Includes a cover of “Looking at You” by the MC5, as well as “Love Song” and “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today.” I believe this was only available as an import in…
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Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords, 2008 on Sub Pop
The soundtrack to Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie’s brilliant and hilarious show about two New Zealand musicians trying to make it in the states. They’d previously released an EP – “The Distant Future” – and would go on to issue another album (“I Told You I Was Freaky”) and a double LP live special (“Live…
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Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear, 2014 on Monkey Puzzle / RCA
I first heard (at least consciously) Sia on the beautiful “I Go To Sleep” from her appearance on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic in 2006, which then appeared on Sounds Eclectic – The Covers Project in 2007. (I also now know she was a massive fan of the reality TV show Survivor, appearing on some of…
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Talking Heads, Naked, 1988 on Fly/Sire
Eighth and final studio LP from Talking Heads – talk about going out with a bang! What a great record. They apologized in the liner notes to Minneapolis band The Wallets, who had a popular song called “Totally Nude” that came out in 1986. As a teenager in a Minneapolis that sometimes felt rather provincial…
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Run D.M.C., Run D.M.C., 1984 on Profile
Run D.M.C.‘s debut album on Profile, a NY area hip-hop label that was distributed by Arista, who would later reissue it. It was produced by Russell SImmons and Larry Smith, and recorded at Greene St. Recording in Soho. Note the credit on the rear jacket to “Music by Orange Krush” – that’s Larry Smith and…
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ZZ Top, ZZ Top’s First Album, 1971 on London / Warner Bros
Originally issued in the US on London Records (the American imprint of Decca) in 1971, ZZ Top‘s First Album was reissued by Warner Bros in 1978, likely based on the success of Tres Hombres, Fandango, and Tejas – their 1979 Degüello would be their first new album on Warner Bros. The original LP was not…