Tag: vinylcollection
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Hound Dog Taylor and the House Rockers, Natural Boogie, 1974 on Alligator Records
Second record from Hound Dog Taylor and his band, originally issued as AL 4704. The band her includes Ted Harvey on drums and Brewer Phillips on 2nd guitar, with Hound Dog Taylor on lead guitar and vocals. (Their debut LP had been the first release on newly-formed Alligator in 1971). Great electrified Chicago blues. Unfortunately…
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Ike Quebec, Easy Living, 1987 on Blue Note
Though this was first released / issued by Blue Note in 1987, it was actually recorded in 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in New Jersey, and represents that early 60s jazz era. It was originally going to be issued as BST-84103 – but the tracks on side one did ultimately make it on Blue…
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Dexter Gordon, Daddy Plays the Horn, 1956 on Bethlehem Records
Wonderful mid-50s bop jazz record I’d have bought just for the cover illustration by Howard Stabin. Gordon is joined here by Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawreance Marable on drums. Liner notes by Joseph Muranyi. This was recorded just after Gordon got out of prison at Chino and before being incarcerated…
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St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The Alien Coast, 2022 on ATO Records
I’m a big fan of St. Paul and the Broken Bones since their debut album, Half the City, came out in 2014. On this record the 8-piece band is founders Paul Janeway and Jessie Phillips plus Al Gamble, Allen Bransetter, Amari Ansari, Browan Lollar, Chad Fisher, and Kevin Leon. This is their 4th studio full-length…
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David Byrne & St. Vincent, Love This Giant, 2012 on 4AD
Two of the most creative and eclectic artists and musicians collaborate here on a brass-band heavy record. (St. Vincent also contributed to Here Lies Love, Byrne’s collaboration with Fatboy Slim – a concept album / rock musical about Imelda Marcos). The Dap-Kings and the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra join on “The One Who Broke Your Heart”…
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Willie Nelson, Milk Cow Blues, 2000 on Island Records
Originally released in 2000, but issued on vinyl for the first time in 2023, this is Willie singing the blues, with guests including Francine Reed, Keb’ Mo’, Jonny Lang, Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi, B.B. King, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (doing a mean “Texas Flood”). Mix of Wilie’s own songs plus covers (“The Thrill is Gone.”…
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Various Artists, A Very Special Christmas, 1987 on A&M
Long before Maria’s “All I Want For Christmas” came this wonderful compilation to benefit Special Olympics International with a whos-who of mid-late 80s artists covering holiday songs: This is holiday music I can get behind – though Christmas in Hollis does have a certain earworm quality I still love it. Artwork by Keith Haring, of…
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Sly & The Family Stone, There’s A Riot Going On, 1971 on Epic
Fifth studio LP from Sly and the Family Stone, recorded in 1970 and 1971. Includes “Family Affair” and the title track. Generally gets cited as a kind of turning point for the bad into darker and more experimental direction – more drum machines, more overdubbing, with Sly playing most (all?) of the album’s instrumentation. Whatever…
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Otis Redding, The Dock Of The Bay, 1968 on Volt.
This was the first posthumous release after Redding died in 1967, and his seventh studio album. It collected some singles, b-sides, and previously released tracks, including the title track “(Sittin’ On) The Doc of the Bay” which was cowritten by Steve Cropper and Redding. Also has a great version of “Nobody Knows You (When You’re…
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Chet Baker, Chet, 1959 on Riverside
The labels carry a subtitle of “Ballads by Chet Baker,” and the rear cover suggests “The lyrical trumpet of Chet Baker” but most people just call it Chet. Riverside RLP 12-299 (mono) and RLP 1135 (stereo). He’s joined here by Pepper Adams, Paul Chambers, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, and Philly Joe Jones / Connie Kay…
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Aqualung, Dead Letters, 2022 on Okey-Donkey
First studio album from Matt Hales (aka Aqualung) in ~7 years. You may remember Aqualung from “Brighter Than Sunshine” or “Strange and Beautiful.” Illustrations by T.S. Hales “when she was 3 and saw it all.” Beautiful album – a real return to form. My copy via Waterloo Records in Austin TX
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Shawn Colvin, Uncovered, 2015 on Fantasy
This is actually at least Colvin’s second album of covers, ~20 years after she put out Cover Girl (1994). Some well known tunes here – Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street,” and Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan’s “Hold On” – but also some lesser known songs – Robbie Robertson’s “Acadian Driftwood,” Graham Nash’s “I Used…
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Doomtree, False Hopes, 2007 on Doomtree Records
Doomtree are a hip-hop collective (and record label) from Minneapolis, including Dessa, Cecil Otter, P.O.S., Sims, Mike Mictian, Paper Tiger, and Lazerbeak. False Hopes came out (on CD) before their “debut” album, self-titled Doomtree, in 2008. There were many other “False Hopes” CDs of individual artists. The bandcamp for this release claims “This is the…
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Sly & Robbie; The Sixties, Seventies + Eighties = Taxi; 1981 on Mango
Great collection of songs produced by Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare, whose production company and label were both called Taxi, released on Mango which was an Island Records subsidiary focused on Caribbean artists. Great covers of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” and the Lennon-McCartney “I Should Have Known Better” as well as some more traditional ska…
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The Allman Brothers Band, Eat a Peach, 1972 on Capricorn
Third studio album from the Allman Brothers Band, with a mixture of live and studio recordings, including some from the Fillmore East performances in 1971. Released after Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash in Macon Georgia. The extended “Mountain Jam” is spread across two sides, B and D. The song “One Way Out” is…
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Nat King Cole, You’re My Everything, 1967 on Pickwick/33
Somehow this week has turned into posthumous collection week – this compilation was put out by Pickwick/33 in 1967 (Cole died in 1965), drawn from various Capitol Records releases. My copy is a Canadian pressing (see the “Made in Canada” on rim text on the label) via Beatnick Records in Montréal QC
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Big Joe Turner, Rhythm & Blues Years, 1986 on Atlantic
Although this compilation was put out by Atlantic in 1986 (Turner died in late 1985), the recordings come from the 1950s. Turner met the Erteguns at the Apollo Theater in 1951 and made five albums plus many singles and EPs on Atlantic during those years. Great 2xLP with a gatefold and liner notes including contributions…
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Angel Olsen, Whole New Mess, 2020 on Jagjaguwar
Whole New Mess presents new takes on the tracks from Angel Olsen‘s 2019 All Mirrors: though actually the Whole New Mess versions were recorded earlier, in 2018 at The Unknown, a studio in a former church in Anacortes Washington. (It is labeled as “the primer and precursor to All Mirrors“). It was produced by Michael…