Tag: Reissue
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Bauhaus, Mask, 1981 on Beggars Banquet
Second studio album from Bauhaus and their first on Beggars Banquet (In The Flat Field was on 4AD), with a cover drawn by Daniel Ash, across a gatefold and on the labels. The first five Bauhaus records are are perfect – as is the singles collection 1979-1983 and most of the bands that followed in…
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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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Freddie Hubbard and Art Blakey, Feel The Wind, 1989/2023 on Tidal Waves Music
Originally issued in 1989 on Timeless Records out of the Netherlands, this was reissued by Tidal Waves music in 2023. Hubbard and Blakey are joined by Leon Dorsey (bass), Benny Green (piano), and Javon Jackson (tenor sax). The last track swaps Lonnie Plaxico for Dorsey and Mulgrew Miller for Green. Blakey died in 1990 so…
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The Replacements, Let It Be, 1984 on Twin/Tone
Third full length album for The Replacements, following Hootenanny. Recorded at Blackberry Way after using a warehouse in Brooklyn Center for that record. Produced by Steve Fjelstad, Peter Jesperson, and Paul Westerberg. Definitely one of my favorites – with the sublime (“Androgynous,” “Unsatisfied”) and the ridiculous (“Gary’s Got a Boner”) and a cover of Kiss’…
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The Waterboys, This is the Sea, 1985 on Ensign / Chrysalis
This was the third studio album from The Waterboys, produced by Mike Scott and Karl Wallinger with John Brand and Mick Glossop. Includes one of my favorite Waterboys songs “The Whole of the Moon” but the entire album is wonderful. It’s a bit hard to see in the photos but the Waterboys emblem / logo…
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Talking Heads, Speaking in Tongues, 1983 on Sire
This was the fifth Talking Heads LP, produced by Talking Heads themselves rather than Brian Eno. It was the tour for this album which became Stop Making Sense, including their only US top 10 hit “Burning Down The House.” What a killer album. In addition to “Burning Down The House” you’ve got “Making Flippy Floppy,”…
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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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Nilsson, Pussy Cats, 1974 on RCA Victor
I first came to discover Harry Nilsson via The Point!, the fable accompanied by an animated film adaptation that aired on ABC in 1971. (I was too young for it at the time but came upon it later). I then came to realize all the songs he was responsible for and how deep and broad…
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Various Artists, The Best of Chess Blues, 1987 on Chess / MCA
Great 2xLP 80s compilation of the post-war blues that made Chess such a critical label, issued by MCA who acquired the rights to the Chess catalog in the mid-eighties. My copy—via Mel’s Record Shop in Amesbury MA—is a 1987 pressing by MCA Records’ plant in Gloversville, NY.
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Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Texas Flood, 1983 on Epic
Hard to believe given how fully formed the sound is, but this was the debut album for Vaughan and Double Trouble. Said to have been recorded in two days with no overdubs. What a fantastic debut: “Love Struck Baby,” “Pride and Joy,” and the title track lead off side one. The band here is Vaughan…
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Broadcast, Tender Buttons, 2005 on Warp Records
This was the third studio album from Broadcast, at this point largely a proect of Trish Keenan and James Cargill as a duo, credited on the album as James & Trish. Tender Buttons was also a book of poetry by Gertrude Stein that came out in 1914 – I took a flyer on the album…
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Jimmy Scott, Falling In Love Is Wonderful, 1963 on Tangerine Records
American jazz vocalist sometimes referred to as “Little” Jimmy Scott, who had a very high contralto voice due to Kallmann’s syndrome, a genetic condition.Scott performed in the final episode of Twin Peaks which led to a bit of a career resurgence in the 1990s. This album was out of print between the 1963 release and…
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Gus Cannon, Walk Right In, 1963 on Stax
Jug Band leader Gus Cannon started recording in the late 20s as “Banjo Joe” and reappeared as part of the folk revival in the 50s on Folkways. This was his first and only Stax LP released in 1963. “Walk Right In” the song became a hit for the Rooftop Singers – who were credited with…
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Herbie Nichols, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Volumes 1 & 2, 1955 on Blue Note
This 2021 vinyl release in the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series was previously issued only in Japan in 1983 in this form. It combines two 1955 10″ releases onto a single LP with a gatefold cover reproducing the covers of the separate volumes. The band is Herbie Nichols on piano, Al McKibbon on bass, and…
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Various Artists, All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman, 2014 on Rounder
A tribute concert to Gregg Allman with a star-studded set of guests, recorded January 10th, 2014 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, and put out on Blu-Ray, DVD, and CD by Rounder. Allman faced significant health issues in the 2010s, including hepatitis c, liver cancer, and a lung transplant – it’s great they were able…
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Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969 on Fantasy
This was the fourth LP from CCR, and the third released in 1969 (one in January, one in August, and this one in November) – talk about striking while the iron is hot / saturating the market. John Fogerty, older bother Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford are in fine form, including “Down On…
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Wilco, A.M., 1995 on Sire / Reprise
Wilco emerged out of the breakup of Uncle Tupelo (some of the band remaining with Jeff Tweedy as Wilco, some with Jay Farrar as Son Volt). This was their first album under the name Wilco. Wilco is identified as Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Ken Coomer, and Max Johnston – but guest performers include Lloyd Maines,…
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Billy Joe Shaver, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, 1973 on Monument
This was Shaver’s debut album, produced by Kris Kristofferson. I know Shaver more through tributes (2022’s Live Forever) and other famous artists recording his songs more than I knew him. “Live Forever,” the song, was covered by Robert Duvall in the film Crazy Heart but was also done by the Highwaymen. This is the kind…