Tag: vinylfinds
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Michelle Shocked, Captain Swing, 1989 on Mercury
This was Shocked’s third LP and the follow up to the massively successful Short Sharp Shocked which came out in 1988. It’s (deliberately) all over the place in genre but wonderful. The “hidden” track is also present on the vinyl – “Russian Roulette” is not listed on the labels but plays after “Must Be Luff.”…
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Tom Waits, The Heart of Saturday Night, 1974 on Asylum
Second studio album from Tom Waits, following Closing Time, and the first produced by Bones Howe. An absolute must have. Much of Waits’ catalog is now being reissued but I love a chance to find early pressings of these in good shape. It’s amazing to me how timeless he is – this could come out…
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Public Enemy, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, 1987 on Def Jam
Debut studio album from Public Enemy, recorded at Spectrum City Studios and produced by Bill Stephney (of The Bomb Squad, with co-producers Carl Ryder and Hank Shocklee) with Rick Rubin credited as Executive Producer. Still looking for a good vinyl copy of It Takes a Nation of Millions. Def Jam was distributed by CBS/Columbia (thus…
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John Prine, Diamonds in the Rough, 1972 on Atlantic
This was Prine’s sophomore album, following the self-titled John Prine. Prine is joined by Steve Goodman, David Bromberg, Steve Burgh, and Dave Prine. I just love Prine’s songwriting: “Souvenirs,” “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You” and “Late John Garfield Blues” on this LP. He also does “Diamonds in the Rough” by…
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David Byrne, Rei Momo, 1989 on Luaka Bop / Sire / WB
David Byrne’s first “solo” album which “transforms and pays tribute to the music of Latin America.” (Solo in the sense of not with Talking heads, but with a ton of talented musicians). The vinyl releases omit three songs that were on the CD – would be a great candidate for a deluxe vinyl reissue 2xLP…
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Dire Straits, Communiqué, 1979 on Warner Bros
Sophomore album by Dire Straits, released in 1979 by Warner Bros. (in the US). This was the last album before David Knopfler left, and went to number 11 on the US charts. I just love Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing and compositions – these albums are all fantastic. Look how young they all are! My copy—via…
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The League Unlimited Orchestra, Love and Dancing, 1982 on A&M
Remix album by The Human League, released in 1982 on Virgin in the UK, Europe and Canada and on A&M in the US. (Name inspired by Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra). I love the version of “Hard Times” here – mostly instrumental versions, remixed by Martin Rushent. This is another filing oddity – I put…
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John Cougar, John Cougar, 1979 on Riva
Third album album from the guy we now know as John Mellencamp, after two (Chestnut Street Incident and A Biography) as “Johnny Cougar.” It was his second on Riva Records but the first Riva put out in the US. Includes “I Need A Lover” which had been a hit in Australia and was covered by…
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Oscar Peterson featuring Stephane Grappelli, Peterson/Grappelli, 1974 on Prestige
2xLP from Prestige bringing together Canadian jazz pianist Peterson with French jazz violinist Grappelli. The two also appeared together on a live Pablo album (Skol) in 1982 (recorded in 1979). This double LP was recorded in Paris February 22nd and 23rd, 1973. Peterson and Grappelli are joined by Niels Henning Oersted Pederson on bass and…
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The Cure, Faith, 1981 on Fiction
The Cure’s third full length, between Seventeen Seconds and Pornography, released in 1981 on Fiction records in the UK, and later in the US on Elektra in 1988. I had this on some form of import – likely a friend made an illegal cassette copy for me – in the mid 80s, but was happy…
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Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan At Budokan, 1979 on Columbia
Third of three live Dylan albums from the 70s (Before the Flood and Hard Rain are the other two), and the second to be 2xLP in format, At Budokan was recorded at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in February and March of 1978. (The US release was in 1979). Many folks don’t care for the…
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Guy Clark, Old No. 1, 1975 on RCA Victor
Guy Clark’s debut album, out in 1975 on RCA Victor, reissued here by Vinyl Me Please in their Country track in 2024. Cover painting by his wife Susanna Clark. Backing vocalists here include Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, and Steve Earle – among a shortlist of the folks Guy Clark was a tremendous influence on. Liner…
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Echo And The Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here, 1981 on Sire/Korova
Second album from Echo & the Bunnymen, produced by Hugh Jones (and the band) and recorded in Wales. It was put out by Korova in the UK and Sire in the US. While Crocodiles didn’t chart in the US this one did. The photo on the cover – taken on the shore in Wales –…
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Joy Division, Substance, 1988 on Factory
Posthumous collection of Joy Division singles put out in 1988 as a 1xLP and reissued in 2015 as a 2xLP by Rhino (a digital remaster). Substance was also used at the title for the New Order singles collection that came out in 1987 (with “1987” added). Still looking for a good clean copy of Unknown…
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Modern English, Mesh & Lace, 1981 on 4AD
Debut album from Modern English on the 4AD label. This wasn’t released in the US formally until the 2012 CD reissue and then 2016 on vinyl. The debut is a bit darker and more derivative of Joy Division than some of the later work but still a really strong collection of songs. I always loved…
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X, See How We Are, 1987 on Elektra
This was the sixth studio album from Exene Cervenka, John Doe, and D.J. Bonebrake, and the first after the departure of Billy Zoom. He was replaced by Dave Alvin and then Tony Gilkyson, both of whom are credited on the LP. Benmont Tench also contributes on the Hammond organ. The standout for me is “4th…
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Bauhaus, 4AD, 1983 on 4AD
Yes, I did save this one for halloween. This was a compilation EP of the singles versions of “Dark Entries,” “Telegram Sam,” and “Terror Couple Kill Colonel.” Love that back cover photo. I was today years old when I realized that John Cale wrote “Rosegarden Funeral of Sores,” the opening triplet of which is burned…
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Bob Dylan, Street-Legal, 1978 on Columbia
This was Dylan’s 18th studio LP, made with a band that included Jerry Scheff, Ian Wallace, Alan Pasqua, Billy Cross, Steven Soles, Steve Douglas, and David Mansfield – many of whom were in the Rolling Thunder Revue. (David Mansfield also went on to be part of The Range). Not as many absolutely central Dylan songs…