Tag: Private Sale
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Natalie Cole, Inseparable, 1975 on Capitol
Debut album from Natalie Cole, with “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love” and “Inseparable,” her two big breakout hits. Songs written mostly by Chuck jackson and Marvin Yancy who also produced. (Cole married Yancy in 1976). She was the first African American woman (and first R&B act) to win a Grammy for Best New Artist,…
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Carly Simon, Boys in the Trees, 1978 on Elektra
Simon’s seventh studio album, with “You Belong To Me” (co-written by Simon with Michael McDonald) and a duet with then-hubbie James Taylor (who also wrote “One Woman Man”) on “Devoted to You” (an Everly Brothers cover). Steve Gadd on drums, Tony Levin / Gordon Edwards / Will Lee on bass, various guitarists plus a horn…
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The Trammps, The Best Of The Trammps, 1978 on Atlantic
Disco at its height: the Trammps, with two ems. There are actually two different “Best of The Trammps” albums – an earlier one on Philadelphia International Records and this one on Atlantic. Opener “Disco Inferno” is worth the price of admission (and you likely know it from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack) but they are…
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Chaka Khan, I Feel For You, 1984 on Warner Bros.
I suspect this is where I first heard Chaka Khan and knew I was hearing Chaka Khan. The title track was a massive hit, with Grandmaster Melle Mel (of the Furious Five) rapping “Ch-ch-ch-chaka-chaka-chaka Khan” on the intro. Of course Khan also had made many albums with Rufus (some styled as Rufus featuring Chaka Khan)…
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James Taylor, JT, 1977 on Columbia
This was Taylor’s eighth studio LP and his first on Columbia after years on Warner Bros. It was produced by Peter Asher and recorded in Los Angeles. Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, and Russ Kunkel appear, with guest backing vocals from Linda Rondstadt and his then wife Carly Simon on specific tracks. One of his best…
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Scritti Politti, Cupid & Pysche 85, 1985 on Warner Bros
Second album from UK band Scritti Politti, with their breakout single “Perfect Way.” Originally a lefty punk band (the name being a reference to the writings of Gramsci) they’d gone quite pop by 1985. (The LP came out on Virgin in the UK). One of the other major singles / hits was “Wood Beez (Pray…
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David Gray, Mutineers, 2014 on IHT Records
Not sure when I first discovered David Gray—it sort of feels like he’s always been there, but I know there must have been a moment I first heard him. Might have been “Babylon” of off 1998’s “White Ladder.” This was his tenth full-length album, produced by Andy Barlow who also handled programming. Wonderful collection representing…
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Aretha Franklin, Who’s Zoomin’ Who?, 1985 on Arista
From the 90s (Mazzy Star) back to the 80s: Aretha Franklin’s very eighties Who’s Zoomin’ Who?. She actually put out a number of albums in the 80s, but this is the only one I remember. Look at the glorious 80s neon fashion on that cover. The man on the inner sleeve is Franklin’s father, The…
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Bonnie Raitt, Nick of Time, 1989 on Capitol
Although this was Bonnie Raitt’s big commercial breakthrough—and maybe where I first heard her?—it was actually her tenth studio album. (Later I’d find her back catalogue which has much to recommend in it). It was also her first on Capitol, having been dropped by Warner Bros. It was produced by Don Was (future Blue Note…
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Steve Winwood, Back In The High Life, 1986 on Island
This was Winwood’s fourth solo LP and the most commercially successful. Guests include Chaka Khan (on “Higher Love”), James Ingram (on “Finer Things”) and James Taylor (on “Back In The High Life Again”). That’s quite a set of backing vocalists. Nile Rodgers also adds guitar on “Wake Me Up On Judgement Day.” You couldn’t avoid…
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Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Sporting Life Blues, 1987 on JSP Records
These recordings were made at a private party in Glasgow Scotland in 1958, and released on JSP records in 1987 (a year after Sonny Terry passed). It can be hard to find, though it seems to now be on spotify: Sporting Life Blues. (John Stedman is listed as producer on the 2025 digital release, and…
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Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago, 2008 on Jagjaguwar
This was self-released in 2007, but came out on Jagjaguwar in 2008. It would have been hard to imagine back then just how much impact Justin Vernon (as Bon Iver and under his own name) would have as a producer and collaborator. But it is just an excellent album all around: famously recorded by himself…
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Arcade Fire, Reflektor, 2013 on Merge
Fourth studio LP from Montreal Quebec’s Arcade Fire: a double album put out in 2013 by Sonovox and Merge in the US. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem produced along with the band and Markus Dravs. I’ve also got the 12″ single claiming to be by The Reflektors, which has a full fake track list and…
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Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic, 1974 on ABC Records
Third Steely Dan studio LP out in 1974 on ABC Records and the last to include the full quintet: Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, Denny Dias, Jim Hodder, and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – plus studio musicians. “Ricky Don’t Lose That Number” may have become their most well known song over time, though I love “Any Major…
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Squeeze, Singles: 45’s And Under, 1982 on A&M
This compilation collected Squeeze singles put out on A&M between 1978 and 1982, and become their best selling LP. The UK and US versions differ – with the US version including “If I Didn’t Love You” and the UK version “Labelled With Love.” The lyrics on “Goodbye Girl” also exist in two versions, with some…
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El Rego et Ses Commandos, El Rego, 2011 on Daptone
Classic Daptone reissue. Theophile De Rego started the band under the name The Jets, in what was then Dahomey (now Benin). They become El Rego et Ses Commandos in 1966. This compilation was put out by Daptone in 2011 – I don’t believe it was previously issued in this form. (The hype sticker claims these…
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Shuggie Otis, Inspiration Information, 1974 on Epic
This was the third and last Shuggie Otis studio LP on Epic, released in 1974 after three years in the making. Otis is credited with guitar, bass, organ, piano, vibes, and percussion – basically most of the instruments, with some guests on harp and horns. It became something of a cult classic – not a…
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Eagles, On the Border, 1974 on Asylum
Yes, it really is just “Eagles” not “The Eagles.” This was their third studio album produced mostly by Bill Szymczyk and includes “Already Gone” and “Best of My Love” and I was surprised to find a cover of Tom Waits’ “Ol’ 55.” There’s really some great music hand songwriting here. My copy—via private sale—is a…