Tag: vinyl
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Harold Vick, Steppin’ Out!, 1963 on Blue Note
Debut album from Harold Vick (as a leader), recorded Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with a wonderful supporting cast: Blue Mitchell, Grant Green, John Patton, and Ben Dixon. Vick would also go on to play with folks like King Curtis and Aretha Franklin, and passed in 1987. Great album of early…
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Lucinda Williams, Stories from a Rock N Roll Heart, 2023 on Highway 20 Records
Lucinda Williams just keeps putting out great music, including this 15th studio LP of original material (alongside the jukebox series of cover albums). She’s joined by Bruce Springsteen and Patty Scialfa on two tracks and Tommy Stinson, Angel Olsen and Margo Price on one each (among other guests). My copy—via Academy Records in NYC—is the…
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The Wailers, Burnin’, 1973 on Island
Sixth LP from Marley and the Wailers, recorded at the same time as Catch a Fire. The front cover credits The Wailers, but this modern reissue credits Bob Marley & The Wailers on the labels. This was the last album before Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer all pursued solo careers. What a fantastic album,…
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Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Piano, 1989 on New Day Records
After the split between Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel, Mel took the “Grandmaster” role and continued with the Furious Five splitting. On this record the Furious Five include Cowboy, Scorpio, Rahiem, and Kidd Creole (credited as Kid Creole), but no Flash. The Furious Five with Flash did reunite in 1988 for On the Strength, on…
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Natalie Merchant, Keep Your Courage, 2023 on Nonesuch
Merchant’s first collection of new work since 2014’s self-titled album – in between she did some releases of new versions of existing songs. I love everything Natalie Merchant touches – she’s a great singer, songwriter, performer, and all around human. A model for the independent artist who keeps her ability to do what she wants…
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Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Midnight Special, 1977 on Fantasy
This 2xLP release is a reissue of two earlier albums: 1960’s Blues & Folk (sides 1 and 2) and 1961’s Blues All Around My Head (sides 3 and 4). Fantasy often put out these reissues as double LPs, as the earlier blues artists were being rediscovered again – good way to get the earlier material.…
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Neneh Cherry, Raw Like Sushi, 1989 on Virgin
I don’t think I knew it at the time, but Neneh Cherry is Swedish-born (Neneh Mariann Karlsson), and related to both Don Cherry the jazz trumpeter (step-daughter) and Eagle-Eye Cherry (shared mother, different fathers). This was her debut studio album and “Buffalo Stance” was huge in the late 80s. It’s really a great album well…
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Dave Van Ronk and The Hudson, Dave Van Ronk and The Hudson Dusters, 1967 on Verve Forecast
The Hudson Dusters were Dave Woods, Ed Gregory, and Rick Henderson – Phillip Namanworth also appears here as “Pot” on the rear cover. They took their name from an early 20th century NY gang. Picked this up on a lark because I enjoy Dave Van Ronk – no idea how rare or common it is.…
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Amanda Shires, Take It Like a Man, 2022 on ATO Records
Eighth solo LP from Amanda Shires, recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville. I’m cautious not to read any songwriter too literally or autobiographically, but it is hard not to (now) read this as foreshadowing her divorce from Jason Isbell, making it part of a group of records about the dissolution of their marriage. Guests…
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B.B. King, Live at the Regal, 1965 on ABC Paramount
Recorded live at the Regal Theater in Chicago in 1964, and released by ABC Paramount (in the US) in 1965. Fantastic live blues album and a must have. It was a cold, raw day in traditionally windy Chicago on November 21, 1964, but hundreds of people found a quick way to warm up! There were…
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Bob Marley and The Wailers, Live!, 1975 on Island / Tuff Gong
Recorded at the Lyceum Theatre in London, July 1975, and released by Island Records. Fantastic live album. The only thing wrong with this album is that isn’t a 2xLP or longer. My copy—not sure where I picked this up—is a post 2015 reissue by UMe on Tuff Gong labels, including a fold-out poster.
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Neil Young, Crazy Horse, Barn, 2021 on Reprise
Young’s first post-covid album, recorded in an old (1870s?) barn in Colorado with Nils Lofgren, Billy Talbot, and Ralph Molina. I like the way it is credited and titled – just three nouns: Neil Young, Crazy Horse, Barn. I love Neil Young and really enjoyed new music from him with Crazy Horse, even if this…
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Keb’ Mo’, Good to Be . . . , 2022 on Rounder
Fifteenth studio album from Keb’ Mo’ whose career I’ve followed for a long time, since his self-titled debut (as Keb’ Mo’) in 1994. He’s joined by Darius Rucker, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Kristin Chenoweth (yes, that Kristin Chenoweth) on specific tracks. Nominated for a Grammy for best Americana album in 2023. I was super…
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Dr. John, Things Happen That Way, 2022 on Rounder
Dr. John’s final studio LP, posthumously released by Rounder after he passed in 2019. Guest appearances by Aaron Neville (“End of the Line”), Willie Nelson (“Gimme That Old Time Religion”), and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real (“I Walk on Guilded Splinters”). Great covers here: Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away,” Hank Williams…
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Sarah Jarosz, Polaroid Lovers, 2024 on Rounder Records
Seventh studio album from Jarosz (who is also part of I’m With Her), produced by Daniel Tashian and recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville TN. Tashian, Natalie Hemby, Ruston Kelly and others share co-writing credits on different tracks. My copy—direct from Rounder Records’ Store—is a Memphis Record Pressing issue on “purple translucent marble” vinyl.
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Indigo Girls, Look Long, 2020 on Rounder Records
15th album from Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, with guests including Lucy Wainwright Roche, Lucy Jules, and producer John Reynolds. Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath and Reynolds’ own New Aer Studios in Kilburn. Loved seeing the Lilith Fair documentary Building a Mystery and the role Indigo Girls seemed to play in…
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Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Blood & Chocolate, 1986 on Columbia
Costello’s 11th studio LP and 9th with The Attractions, as a follow up to King of America, and produced by Nick Lowe. Didn’t do so well commercially at the time, but now called one of his best. Costello is credited on the rear sleeve as “Napoleon Dynamite” – which is also the name of the…
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Billy Strings, Me and Dad, 2022 on Rounder
Love this album which features Billy Strings and his dad, Terry Barber. It includes a print of artwork Billy did as a child “When I grow up, I want to be a bluegrass player.” Mission accomplished, I’d say. There’s also a great long concert on YouTube live from Traverse City Michigan: My copy, direct from…