Tag: vinyl
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Freddie King, My Feeling for the Blues, 1970 on Cotillion
One of the “three kings” of the blues, this is King’s second album after signing with Atlantic (Cotillion is a subsidiary) before moving to Shelter records (Leon Russell’s label). My copy is a 2021 pressing from Vinyl Me, Please, with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer and new lacquers cut from the original types by Ryan…
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced? 1967 on Reprise
Released in the UK on Track Record but in the US on Reprise. My copy is the 2018 reissue by Music On Vinyl (who do a great job with reissues). All analog mastering from the original mono tapes. This is a must-have, with Purple Haze, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, and Manic Depression.
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Son of the Velvet Rat, Solitary Company, 2021 on Fluff & Gravy.
11th album from Georg Altziebler and Heike Binder – their third on Portland label Fluff & Gravy. My copy via VNYL curation. I was concerned at first, not knowing the band and just reacting to the name, but I really came to appreciate the record.
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Steve Earle, I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive, 2011 on New West
Earle’s 14 album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, and featuring folks like Dennis Crouch, Sara Watkins, Allison Moorer (to whom he was married a the time). Backing vocals on “This City” from Tim Robbins and horns arranged by Allen Toussaint. Album art, as on so many Earle albums, by Tony Fitzpatrick
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Living Colour, Time’s Up, 1990 on Epic
The sophomore album from Vernon Reid, Corey Glover, Muzz Skllings, and Will Calhoun, following up 1988’s Vivid with its smash hit Cult of Personality. This is really just as strong a record, though it didn’t get as much hype: Love Rears Its Ugly Head, Solace of You, and Elvis is Dead (coming just after Public…
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Leon Redbone, Mystery Man, 1982 on Accord
Redbones’s fifth LP, and his first (and only) on Accord. There’s not much detail on the source of the material – likely recorded in the early 70s, maybe as a bootleg direct from the PA or for radio broadcast? My copy is the 1982 pressing, but this was reissued in 2021 on white vinyl by…
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Gram Parsons, Grievous Angel, 1974 on Reprise
My copy is a 2021 Vinyl Me, Please reissue, on what they call Turquoise Galaxy vinyl, with listening notes by Jonathan Bernstein. Released posthumously in 1974, with vocals by Emmylou Harris (with whom he’d been touring in 1973) and the TCB Band (Ronnie Tutt, James Burton, Emory Gordy, and Glen Hardin, plus pedal steel from…
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John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Bare Wires, 1968 on Decca
French pressing from 1968. This was the fourth Bluesbreaker’s LP, and the last of the peak 60s era (the name was used again for other releases in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s) with a lineup including Mick Taylor, Mayall, Tony Reeves, and Jon Hiseman – a bit more jazz influenced than some of the earlier…
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Katie Schecter, Bad for Business, Soul Step Records, 2021
Sophomore album from Schecter, a Nashville via New York City songwriter, singer and guitarist in a kind of R&B/Soul tradition but modern rock edge. Recorded with her partner Nick Bockrath (of Cage the Elephant), Homer “Funky-Foot” Steinweiss (who played with Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Lee Fields and others), and Nick Movshon…
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Lowe Country: The Songs Of Nick Lowe, 2012 on Fiesta Red Records
I’m a huge fan of cover albums, and especially tribute/compilations of covers devoted to specific artists. While they can be uneven, I like hearing an artists work reinterpreted in different ways. This compilation brings country, roots, Americana artists together to cover the songs of English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe. Like Elvis Costello (whom he produced, and…
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She & Him, Volume One, 2008 on Merge
Debut album for the duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Covers of “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and “I Should Have Known Better” plus a number of Deschanel originals. Produced by Ward, with performance and mixing by Mike Coykendall and Mike Mogis. My copy via Pitchfork Records in Concord NH
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Go Go’s, Vacation, 1982 on I.R.S. Records
This was the sophomore release, following Beauty and the Beat. Lead off single “Vacation” was an unavoidable hit that summer. Cowriting credit on “He’s So Strange” to Leonard Phillips from The Dickies and Catie Curtis – otherwise Carlisle, Caffey, Schock, Wiedlin, Valentine. Found my copy at Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA.
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Boston area record stores
Last week Boston.com shared The ultimate guide to independent record stores in greater Boston, including many of my favorites: Ones they missed, from my POV:
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John Mayall / Jerry McGee / Larry Taylor, Memories, 1971 on Polydor
More blues without drums from Mayall accompanied by Jerry McGee on dobro & guitar and Larry Taylor (from Canned Heat) on bass. Recorded in 1971 in LA. Via a Thread & Groove record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA.
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David Bowie, Space Oddity, (originally) 1969 on Mercury
An album so great they named it three times. 😉 Originally released with the album title “David Bowie” by Philips in the UK, but by Mercury in the US/Canada with the subtitle “Man of Words / Man of Music” added, in 1969; reissued in 1972 as “Space Oddity” to capitalize on the popularity of the…
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Twain, Adventure, 2020 on Keeled Scales
Twain‘s third LP, and second on Keeled Scales – came out digitally in 2019, then as an all analogue (AAA) vinyl release in 2020. Mt Davidson is the core of twain with Ken Woodward and Pete Pezzimenti. My copy via VNYL curation
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Justin Townes Earle, Kids In the Street, 2017 on New West Records
Originally released in 2017, my copy is a 2021 reissue as part of Record Store Day (Black Friday). This was Earle’s penultimate album (the last was The Saint of Lost Causes) and his first on New West. Some great songwriting on Champagne Corolla, Faded Valentine, and really across the album.
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Missy Elliott, Under Construction, 2002 on Elektra / The Goldmind, Inc.
Originally released in 2002 – my copy is a Vinyl Me, Please 20th anniversary reissue from 2023 on “orange crush” vinyl. What a fantastic release – working with Timbaland and Nisan as producers, guests from Ludacris, Method Man, Jay-Z, Ms. Jade, Beyonce, TLC, and, on the remix of Work It, 50-Cent.