Tag: vinylcollection
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Foreigner, Foreigner 4, 1981 on Atlantic
Fourth (as the name suggests) full length studio album from Foreigner, who brought together three Brits and three Americans (making half the band at least foreigners wherever they played). Unavoidable on rock radio in the early 80s – “Juke Box Hero,” “Urgent,” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” My copy—via Dyno Records in Newburyport…
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Re-Flex, The Politics of Dancing, 1983 on Capitol
Debut album from English new-wave band Re-Flex, on EMI in the UK but Capitol in the US. Produced by John Punter who produced Roxy Music and Japan. Re-Flex formed in Birmingham UK in the early 80s and only put out two albums in the 80s. Clearly the title track on this album is the one…
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The Special AKA, Nelson Mandela, 1984 on Two Tone
Extended version 12″ single from The Specials (Special AKA), produced by Elvis Costello. One of my favorite early 80s ska protest songs. Now dated in its reference but hey – never forget: Mandela was in prison for 27 years but would go on to be the president of South Africa. It’s an amazing story in…
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The Robert Cray Band, Who’s Been Talkin’, 1980 on Tomato
Debut album from Robert Cray and band (Curtis Salgado, Richard Cousins, and Dave Olson). Tomato was a NY based indie label started in the late 70s by Kevin Eggers, who also released albums by Albert King, Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and John Cage (among others). My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX—is an original…
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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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Neil Young & The Bluenotes, This Note’s For You, 1988 on Reprise
An unusual entry for Neil Young, to be sure, but one of my favorite Neil Young albums post-1980. Later credited just to Neil Young when Harold Melvin (of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes) threatened legal action. The video for the title track was in heavy rotation on MTV, mocking various kinds of celebrity endorsements. There’s…
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Safety Last, Struck By Love, 1983 on Twin/Tone
This was the first and only full length by Twin/Tone’s Safety Last, following their self-titled EP. On this LP they include Rusty Jones, Gary Louris, Lianne Smith, and Jim Tollefsrud (as “Jimmy T”). Founding members Tim Mauseth and Sprague Hollander left for other projects. Produced by Paul Stark and the band; recorded by Paul Stark…
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U2, Give Me One Last Chance, 2023 on Dear Boss.
Bootleg of U2 live in Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernadino CA, on May 30th 1983. Dear Boss. (apparently the period is part of the label name) is a new label reissuing things that were broadcast, which means under EU law are out of copyright at this point. Not sure if this was technically an…
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The Triffids, Calenture, 1987 on Island Records
This was actually the fourth LP for the Australian alt-rock (post-punk?) band The Triffids, but likely their best known to US audiences (like me). The literary-ness of being named after The Day of the Triffids and using (and defining on the sleeve – this was well before google) a word like Calenture appeared to the…
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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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Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, Modern Lovers ’88, 1987 on Rounder
Although the Modern Lovers formed in Natick MA, this incarnation formed in California and recorded this album in Grass Valley CA. This became the final album for Richman with the Modern Lovers, as a trio, with Brennan Totten and Johnny Avila. My copy—via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN—is the Craft Recordings’ 2022 Record Store Day…
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Figures, In a Chalk Circle, 1985 on Twin/Tone
On this release, Figures was Jeff Waryan, Jay Peck, Steve Brantseg, and Steve Fjelstad. (There’s an earlier LP credited to Jeff Waryan solo that is titled Figures). Waryan was also in Fingerprints and supported many other area bands at the time. An underappreciated Twin/Tone band from the 80s. My copy—via Cheapo Records in Minneapolis MN—includes…
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Steve Earle, Someday, 1987 on MCA
12-inch single with a presskit from 1987 – after the March 1986 release of Guitar Town. This was the second single from the debut album – including a live cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper.” My copy—via the Record Exchange in Salem MA—also included a one page Rolling Stone feature on Earle, but not I’m…
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Maria McKee, Maria McKee, 1989 on Geffen
This was the debut solo album from the lead singer of Lone Justice. She’s joined here by Richard Thompson and Marc Ribot on guitar and Steve Wickham on fiddle. She’d go on to record six more solo records and some live recordings – but I don’t think any of them did very well in the…
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The Replacements, Hootenanny, 1983 on Twin/Tone
Sophomore album from Minneapolis favorite sons The Replacements. A wonderfully messy record that’s sort of all over the place (rockabilly, blues, country and punk) but still works. The transition from the wistful “Within Your Reach” ( “I can’t live without your touch / die within your reach”) to the surf-punk of “Buck Hill” sort of…
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The English Beat, What is Beat?, 1983 on I.R.S. Records
This is the North American version of this release (as evidenced by the “English”) which collected a number of singles, remixes, and live tracks as well as a number of tracks from the first three English Beat albums, serving as a kind of “best of” in the US. There’s a 2xLP version with a different…
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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,”…