Tag: vinylcollection
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Michael Franks, The Art of Tea, 1975 on Reprise
Franks is an interesting figure – from my pov very over looked these days, but quite successful at the time. He was the center of the so-called “Quiet Storm” movement – jazz influenced, sooth vocals – sort of adjacent to Yacht Rock but with a more R&B / smooth jazz base. (There was a “Quiet…
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Mary Gauthier, Dark Enough to See The Stars, 2022 on In The Black Records
I’ve posted a number of Mary Gauthier records before – been following her career from the beginnings as she transitioned from chef/owner of Dixie Kitchen on Mass Ave by Berkeley to singer/songwriter at the Mews in Provincetown in the off-season. The title track is a co-write with Beth Nielsen Chapman: In an ocean black and…
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Syd Straw, Surprise, 1989 on Virgin
Syd Straw’s career started as a backup singer for Pat Benatar, and fronting Golden Palaminos on a couple of their albums. This was her solo debut, with MIchael Stipe (of R.E.M.) joining on “Future 40s” and other guests like Ry Cooder, Van Dyke Parks, Richard Thompson, Anton Fier, Bernie Worrell, Marc Ribot, Peter Holsapple, Dan…
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Duke Ellington, The Intimate Ellington, 1977 on Pablo Records
Recorded in NYC between 1969 and 1971, with a variety of players. Includes “Moon Maiden” with just Ellington singing and accompanying himself on Celeste, and also some great renditions of “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” and “Sophisticated Lady” but also some less well known songs. Pablo Records was Norman Granz’s label created…
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The Beatles, Revolver, 1966 on Parlophone / Capitol
Classic Beatles LP as they started shifting toward innovative studio techniques, took more drugs, and got more experimental – continuing the shift that started on Rubber Soul with tracks like “Tomorrow Never Knows”: Turn off you mind / relax and float downstream / it is not dying / it is not dying Artwork by Klaus…
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The Dropkick Murphys, Turn Up That Dial, 2021 on Born & Bred Records
The Dropkick Murphys formed in Quincy Massachusetts in the mid 90s, with Ken Casey, Rick Barton and Mike McColgan – Casey’s the only one still involved as of this recent LP. They created Born & Bred as an imprint to release their own music through the Independent Label Group / Alternative Distribution Alliance. My copy…
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Toto, Tovo IV, 1982 on Columbia
Toto came together as a group of studio / session musicians, including Jeff, Steve, and Mike Porcaro with Steve Lukather and David Paich. This was their breakout album, with the now unavoidable “Africa” and “Rosanna.” Per wikipedia, although Steve Porcaro was dating Rosanna Arquette at the time, songwriter David Paich insists “Rosanna” was not about…
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Paul Collins’ Beat, The Beat, 1979 on CBS / Columbia
Paul Collins’ Beat was originally just called “The Beat” (as is evident in the artwork) but was renamed Paul Collins’ Beat to avoid confusion with that other “The Beat” (itself renamed to The English Beat in the US). Collins’ legacy includes the Nerves and the Plimsouls, both with Peter Case. Columbia could not use the…
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Various Artists, Newport Broadside: Topical Songs at the Newport Folk Festival, 1963; 1964 on Vanguard
The Newport Folk Festival for 2024 is coming up this week. This record collects performances from 61 years ago, by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Sam Hinton, Bob Davenport, The Freedom Singers, Jim Garland, Ed McCurdy, Phil Ochs, Peter La Farge, and Joan Baez. I love seeing the folks we now recognize as giants…
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Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings, 1956 on World Pacific Records
Chet Baker is on of my all time favorite jazz trumpeters and singers. The tone in both his trumpet and his voice is just amazing – subtle, warm, smooth. This recorded was recorded in LA (the Forum Teater & Capitol Studios) by Allan Emig and Phil Turetsky. Sleeve notes by Gerald Heard, pictured on the…
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Iron and Wine, Lori, 2023 on Black Cricket Recording Co
Tribute EP to Lori McKenna, released as a limited edition sky blue vinyl record in 2023. It’s a double-sided EP, with the same four tracks on each side, though the track order doesn’t actually match what’s printed on the jacket. I’m a huge fan of Sam Beam (Iron and Wine) and of Lori McKenna so…
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Laurie Anderson, Big Science, 1982 on Warner Bros.
I posted another Anderson album last week – Home of the Brave – but this was her major label debut in 1982. The songs here are a subset of United States Live, which was an 8 hour long production, later released as a five record box set in 1984 with accompanying book. John Peel “discovered”…
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Butterfield Blues Band, Live, 1970 on Elektra
Paul Butterfield and band (sometimes labelled as The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, here just last name) live at the Troubador in Los Angeles, produced by Todd Rundgren, engineered by Rundgren and Ray Thompson. Great live blues album – Chicago Blues with a horn section and more jazz foundations mixed in. The lineup here does not…
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Dave Brubeck Quartet, Brubeck On Campus, 1972 on Columbia
This is actually a reissue of two earlier LPs: Jazz Goes To College (1954) and Jazz Goes To Junior College (1957). The former featured Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums), Paul Desmond (sax), and Brubeck (piano); the latter Joe Morello on drums and Norman Bates on bass (Norman and Bob were brothers). Jazz Goes To…
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Wet Leg, Wet Leg, 2022 on Domino
Wet Leg’s “Chaise Longue” was hard to miss back in 2022 – appearing in multiple movies and shows as well as many many best of the year podcasts. The whole self-titled debut album is wonderful and I can’t wait for more. I originally thought this was a malpropism for “chaise lounge” – but then realized…
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Various Artists, Atlantic Blues:Guitar, 1986 on Atlantic
Great two-LP set of blues guitar greats recordings on Atlantic, including: Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi Fred McDowell, John Lee Hooker, Stick McGhee, Texas Johnny Brown, T-Bone Walker, Chuck Norris, Guitar Slim, Cornell Dupree, Big Joe Turner, Al King, Mickey Baker, Ike & Tina Turner, B.B. King, Albert King, John Hammond Jr, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.…
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The Clash, Give ‘Em Enough Rope, 1978 on CBS / Epic
The follow up to the self-titled debut, and the first with Topper Headon on drums. It was actually the first Clash album released in the US – the debut album did not get a US release until 1979. “English Civil War” is a reworking of “Johnny Comes Marching Home” – the rest are all written…
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Son Volt, Day of the Doug: The Songs of Doug Sahm, 2023 on Transmit Sound
Jay Farrar and Son Volt performing the songs of Doug Sahm, over 20 years after he passed in 1999. This was a “Record Store Day First” release back in 2023 on green vinyl. It’s got a vocal intro and outro by Doug Sahm, lifted from voicemails. The back cover is an homage to the cover…