Tag: vinylcollection
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Squeeze, East Side Story, 1981 on A&M
Squeeze’s fourth studio LP, between 1980’s Argybargy and 1982’s Sweets from a Stranger. This was the first album after Jools Holland departed, replaced by Paul Carrack, who provided lead vocals on “Tempted.” Produced by Elvis Costello and Roger Bechirian, except for “In Quintessence” which was produced by Dave Edmunds. My copy, via Academy Records in…
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Supertramp, Breakfast in America, 1979 on A&M.
Though I imagine it’s the one Supertramp album most folks could name, this was their sixth LP. It’s got “The Logical Song” “Goodbye Stranger” and “Take the Long Way Home” – all Billboard Top 100 singles. Love the iconic cover with the twin towers of the World Trade Center and Kate Murtagh in statue-of-liberty-as-waitress pose.…
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The Jeff Beck Group, Beck-Ola, 1969 on Epic
Beck’s second studio LP, following Truth, and credited to the Jeff Beck Group. The cover is René Magritte’s “The Listening Room.” Ron Wood on bass, Rod Stewart on vocals, Nicky Hopkins piano and Tony Newman on drums. My copy – a 1969 Epic pressing – via a private sale. Amazing record in great shape despite…
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Horace Silver, Horace Silver Trio, 1956 on Blue Note
BLP 1520, originally released in 1956. Horace Silver on piano with Art Blakey on drums and three different bass players on different cuts: Gene Ramey, Curly Russell, and Percy Heath. Compiles recordings from two earlier 10″ releases: 1953’s New Faces – New Sounds and 1954’s Vol. 2. Sabu Martinez joins on “Message from Kenya.” Excellent…
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Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On Live, 2019 on Tamla / Motown / UMe
Recorded in 1972 but not released until 2019. More of an album for completists, this is the first time Gaye had performed in a number of years (since the death of Tammi Terrell). It’s a bit uneven – sort of like a live rehearsal bootleg – but worth picking up if you’re a big fan…
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Cat Power, Jukebox, 2008 on Matador
Eighth studio album from Cat Power, mostly covers with two originals mixed in. Pretty eclectic selection of tunes to cover, from Kander & Ebb’s “New York” through Hank Williams and The Highwaymen, to Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Joni Mitchell – plus Billie Holiday’s “Don’t Explain.” Chan Marshall is joined by Erik Paparazzi, Jim White, Judah…
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Tori Amos, Unde the Pink, 1994 on Atlantic
Amos’ sophomore album every bit as compelling and memorable as her debut Little Earthquakes. Very much also on repeat throughout the Eckman household in the 1990s – I can still sing every word of many of these songs: Pretty Good Year, God, Past the Mission, The Waitress, Cornflake Girl. Whenever I find myself in an…
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Fleshtones, Up Front, 1980 on I.R.S. Records
First EP Fleshtones issued, before the release of Roman Gods. Fleshtones were Bill Milhizer, Jan Marek Pakulski, Keith Streng, and Peter Zaremba. Miles Copeland signed them to IRS Records, and got them on Urgh! A Music War. Zaremba may be better known to some as the host of I.R.S. Records Presents the Cutting Edge on…
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Herbie Hancock, Sextant, 1973 on Columbia
1973’s Sextant was the last LP with the so-called Mwandishi-era sextet: Bennie Maupin, Eddie Henderson, Julian Priester, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart. It was also his debut on Columbia after Blue Note and Warner Bros. Columbia would also release Head Hunters later the same year. Great, funky collection – side 2 is one track, the…
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Johnny Winter, Johnny Winter, 1969 on Columbia
Johnny Winter’s self-titled official debut album (The Progressive Blues Experiment came out the year before as a kind of unauthorized debut on Sonobeat, then sold to Imperial). Mix of blues standard covers (“Good Morning Little School Girl,” “I’ll Drown in My Own Tears,” and “Mean Mistreater”) along with Johnny Winter originals. Winter produced, and is…
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Brandy Clark, Your Life is a Record, 2020 on Warner Records / Slate Creek
Clark’s third studio LP, produced by Jay Joyce. Includes “Bigger Boat” (a duet with Randy Newman) and “Who You Thought I Was.” I think Clark is a fantastic modern songwriter rooted in classic country storytelling and worldplay. This is a bit more aimed at mainstream pop audiences, but I think it’s very successful. We’re either…
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Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes, 1992 on Atlantic
Tori Amos’ debut album from 1992. I had this CD (and Under the Pink) on constant repeat through graduate school – happy to finally get a copy on vinyl. What an amazing album – still gives me chills 30+ years later. “Me and a Gun” of course, but also “Silent All These Years,” “China,” “Precious…
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Beat Surrender, Foundation, 1985 on Shake Records
Beat Surrender (this one at least – there are many things by that name including the Jam’s last single) was a Boston band made up of Paul Souza, Jackson White, David Matthews, and Ted Lyon. Check out that 1985 look on the back cover! Paul Souza went on to be in The Velveteen Playboys and…
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Labelle, Nightbirds, 1974 on Epic
Labelle were a trio including Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash, and grew out of Patti Labelle and the Bluebells. They are the original “Lady Marmalade” power trio – and this was their best-selling album. Allen Toussaint produced and The Meters supplement (replace?) Labelle’s usual band. My copy is the January 2024 Vinyl Me…
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The Oscar Peterson Trio, Con Alma: Live in Lugano, 1964 on Mack Avenue / Two Lions
First released in 2023, this set was recorded at Teatro Apollo in Lugano Switzerland by RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera (the Swiss Broadcasting subsidary covering Italian speaking Switzerland) on May 26, 1964. Mack Avenue Records is a Detroit label founded by Gretchen Valade who gets executive producer credit here. Two Lions is a label Peterson’s widow Kelly…
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Bessie Smith, Any Woman’s Blues, 1970 on Columbia
This is was the second in a series of five 2xLP releases on Columbia in 1970-1972 that covered Smith’s recordings for the label. These recordings were made between September 1923 and March 1930, all recorded in New York. Piano by Fletcher Henderson, Clarence Williams, Irving Johns, James Price Johnson, and Jimmy Jones. Other musicians include…
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Tinsley Ellis, Naked Truth, 2024 on Alligator Records
Tinsley Ellis has put out over 20 albums between 1982 and 2024, including more than a dozen on Chicago’s Alligator Records, one of my favorite blues labels (founded in 1971). This, his latest, Includes “Grown Ass Man” (which I think should probably be “grown-ass man” since it’s really a compound adjective, isn’t it?) as well…
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Bill Frisell, Have a Little Faith, 1993 on Elektra Nonesuch
Frisell on guitar, joined by Don Byron (clarinet, bass clarinet), Guy Klucevskek (accordion), Kermit Driscoll (bass), and Joey Baron (drums). Covers a wide variety of sounds here including some Aaron Copeland from his ballet Billy the Kid, two excepts from Charles Ive’s orchestral Three Places in New England, plus Dylan, Muddy Waters, Sonny Rollins, and…