Tag: Reissue
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Various Artists, The Harder They Come, 1972 on Mango
This was the soundtrack to a film of the same name, released in the UK in 1972 and in the US in 1973. Although Jimmy Cliff’s name is above the title, and he has six of the twelve tracks (though 2 have double versions on the LP_, there’s also two Maytals tracks and one Desmond…
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Aretha Franklin, Aretha Now, 1968 on Atlantic
The third of Aretha’s Atlantic albums from the 60s, including “Think,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and a cover of Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me.” Produced by Jerry Wexler and with on sax, Spooner Oldham on keys, Roger Hawkins on drums, and Jerry Jemott on bass. Fantastic album from the height of Franklin’s Atlantic run.…
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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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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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Otis Redding, Otis Blue (Otis Redding Sings Soul), 1965 on Volt
This was Redding’s third studio album out in 1965 and became something of a crossover hit. Lots of covers here, including a number of songs Sam Cooke (who had just been killed in late 1964) made popular, but also the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.” It also had the original of “Respect,” later taken over by Aretha…
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Mia Doi Todd, Gea, 2008 on Zen City
Gea was Todd’s sixth full length studio album, released in 2008 by her own Zen City Records. It’s very atmospheric art-folk strongly featuring her voice – she’s really a unique talent. My copy—via Vinyl Index in Somerville MA—is the 2020 Org Music reissue, on transparent green vinyl, which was put out as part of Record…
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INXS, Shabooh Shoobah Rarities, 2023 on Petrol / ATCO / Atlantic
Shabooh Shoobah was the third full-length from INXS, and I believe the first with real international distribution (WEA). The big single was “Don’t Change” which was a top 20 hit in the US. This rarities release includes 4 songs live from the US Festival and a couple of extended mixes. Fan reception was mixed as…
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Nina Simone, Let It All Out, 1966 on Philips
Yes, back in the day Philips (who you likely know more now as the maker of Sonicare toothbrushes) was also a reputable jazz and classical label. Though the copyright was 1965 they put out this album in 1966. Simone switched to Philips in 1964 and was there (putting out seven LPs) until switching to RCA…
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Talking Heads, A Bar Called Heaven, 2024 on Dear Boss.
Another in a series of Dear Boss. releases (the period is part of their name) which claim to be FM broadcasts and therefore out of copyright in the EU. This one is Talking Heads from December 7th, 1979, at the Electric Ballroom in London (Camden Town). Excellent recording either way – I’ve become a big…
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The Civil Wars, Barton Hollow, 2011 on Sensibility Music
Debut album from John Paul White and Joy Williams, which originally came out in 2011. It’s a fantastic debut – I expected to hear so much more great music from them together but unfortunately they only put out one more album (2013’s self-titled The Civil Wars) before going their own ways. The title track “Barton…
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David Bowie, Hunky Dory, 1971 on RCA Victor
Bowie’s fourth full-length studio LP and one of my all-time favorites. This followed The Man Who Sold the World but all these early Bowie albums are so great they sound to me like they have just always existed. It can be hard to find decent early pressings of these but there have been many great…
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Depeche Mode, Construction Time Again, 1983 on Sire / Mute / Reprise
This was the third full length from Depeche Mode, originally released in 1983 on Mute, distributed in the US by Sire. Alan Wilder had joined and wrote two of the songs on the album. (Vince Clarke had departed after the debut album). One of my favorites, including “Love, In Itself,” “More Than a Party” and…
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John Lennon, Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1981 on MFP/Parlophone
Originally released in the US and UK on Apple Records in 1975, these recordings were made at A&M studios (LA) in late 1973 and the Power Plant in New York in late 1974, during Lennon’s so called “lost weekend” where he was separated from Yoko Ono and doing a fair amount of drinking and drugs.…
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Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins On Impulse!, 1965 on Impulse
Classic album, featuring Rollins with Walter Booker (bass), Mickey Roker (drums), and Ray Bryant (piano). Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in the summer of 1965. Sadly Rollins passed this May (2026) in Woodstock NY. My copy—via Mystery Train Records in Gloucester MA—is the 2021 Acoustic Sounds Series reissue, supervised by Chad Kassem, cut by Ryan…
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Mose Allison, Mose Allison Sings, 1963 on Prestige
Compilation of tracks from Allison’s first albums which had been released on Prestige between 1957 and 1959. Though he was first known as a pianist, he gradually sang more and more. This was the first compilation in which he sang on every track. All were recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, and Ira Gitler wrote the…
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Mose Allison, Back Country Suite, 1957 on Prestige
Mose Allison’s debut album, recorded at Van Gelder’s studio in Hackensack in March 1957, with Taylor La Fargue (bass) and Frank Isola (drums). Largely instrumental. The song titled here just “Blues” was later recorded on Live at Leeds by the Who as “Young Man Blues”: Well a young man ain’t got nothing in the world…
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Grant Green, Green is Beautiful, 1970 on Blue Note
Green joined here by Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Claude Bartee (tenor sax), Emmanuel Riggens (organ), Jimmy Lewis (bass), and Idris Muhammad (drums) plus Richard Lendrum (bongos) and Candido Camero (congas). Recorded in 1970 by Rudy Van Gelder in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. My copy—via Salem Flea Marketplace—is the 2023 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series reissue, mastered by…
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Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman, 1988 on Elektra
Its popularity has recently resurged, due in no small part to Luke Combs’ cover version and their duet at the Grammy’s but this record never went out of rotation for me. Technically I know it’s not true, but I like to imagine Tracy Chapman’s voice was still echoing around Boston from her busking days when…