Tag: vinylfinds
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Shovels & Rope, Busted Jukebox Volume 3, 2021 on Dualtone
The third in a series of cover albums by Shovels & Rope, this one focuses on kids songs or songs in lullaby style, thus the “Juicebox” joke in the cover. But these are great versions with contemporary artists, including Sharon Van Etten, John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars), Felice Brothers, Deertick, M. Ward,…
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David Bowie, Blackstar, 2016 on ISO Records / Columbia
Wow, what a final album. So much to say about Blackstar, recorded more or less in secret in New York with Tony Visconti and some local jazz musicians, and released two days before his death. My copy, like many I’ve seen in the used market, has a tear in the die cut cover which is…
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Killers, Hot Fuss, 2004 on Island / UMe
Originally released on Lizard King Records / The Control Group in 2004 – my copy is a more recent (2023) reissue on Island / UMe, but the music remains the same. Hot Fuss was Killers’ debut album and included the massive hits “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” as well as the bonus track “Glamorous…
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Tim Finn, Escapade, 1983 on A&M
Tim Finn’s better known as one of the co-founders of Split Enz, and later member of Crowded House. This was his debut album as a solo artist, originally on Mushroom records, a large indie label in Australia, but distributed in the US by A&M. It was a #1 record in New Zealand, top ten in…
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Squeeze, Cool for Cats, 1979 on A&M
Second album from the late 70s power-pop version of Squeeze (aka UK Squeeze) with Jools Holland joining Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. The “UK Squeeze” name was ropped for later releases in the US, but was still used in Australia up through Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti. This album includes the title track as well as…
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Valerie June, Under Cover, 2022 on Fantasy
Valerie June’s a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Memphis and part of the Broken Strings Collective. She’s known broadly for her unique voice and range across Americana / Blues / Folk and put out this EP of cover songs in 2022. All the versions are wonderful, but I especially love her takes on “Pink Moon” and…
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The Communards, Red, 1987 on London / MCA
The Communards were a duo of Jimmy Somerville (formerly of Bronski Beat) and Richard Coles, a classically trained musician. They put out only two albums: a self-titled debut and this followup. I’ve actually got both a Canadian pressing (white cover with red letters) and a US pressing (red cover with white letters) of this LP.…
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She & Him, Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson, 2022 on Fantasy
I love tribute albums and cover albums, and also both Brian Wilson and She & Him (the duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), so this was right in my wheelhouse. It’s their seventh studio album. Nothing very unexpected or out of left field here – pretty straightforward what you’d expect from She & Him…
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Talking Heads, Slippery People / Making Flippy Floppy (Remixes), 1983 on Sire
Great 12″ single with remixes by David Byrne and John “Jellybean” Benetiz of two songs from the Speaking in Tongues album. May be technically a double-A-sided single (labeled “This Side” and “That Side”) but the side with “Slippery People” on it has an A in its runout etchings so calling that the A side. My…
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Otis Redding / The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Festival, 1970 on Reprise
Perhaps the most unusual split record in my collection, pairing Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding. Both are live performances captured at Monterey Pop in 1967, and both have since been expanded in more comprehensive releases dedicated to each performer. The Jimi Hendrix Experience (with Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, and Noel Redding) had not yet performed in…
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Various Artists, Tommy Boy’s Baddest Beats, 2022 on Tommy Boy
I don’t normally chase special releases put out for Record Store Day, but this was an “RSD First” release in 2022, limited to 3500 copies. Great collection of songs from Tommy Boy: Two tracks each from Naughty By Nature and Coolio, otherwise a variety of artists. Some mixed opinions (on Discogs) about the pressing, which…
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Timbuk 3, Eden Alley, 1988 on I.R.S. Records
Timbuk 3 was the stage name for the duo of Pat MacDonald and Barbara K. MacDonald (nee Barbara Kooyman, aka Barbara K), as it evolved out of Pat MacDonald & The Essentials. They formed in Madison Wisconsin (later relocating to Austin Texas) and put out six albums, of which this was their second. I love…
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David Bromberg, Wanted Dead or Alive, 1974 on Columbia
I’m a huge David Bromberg fan – he’s an under-appreciated player in the universe of bluegrass/blues/folk/jazz. This was his third LP. One side was recorded with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Keith Godchaux and Bill Kreutzmann (of the Grateful Dead) and the other side was recorded live. The opener “The Holdup” was cowritten with George Harrison,…
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Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker, Timeless, 1968 on World Pacific Jazz
Originally released on Pacific Jazz in 1963, and then reissued as part of the Jazz Milestones Series by World Pacific Jazz in 1968, these are all recordings from 1952-1956. The first side includes Gerry Mulligan, whereas side 2 is Chet Baker with later incarnations of Baker’s bands. Recorded at Gold Star Studios, Radio Recorders, The…
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OMD, Universal, 1996 on Virgin / EMI
I always loved Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – the name, with it’s British spelling – and the music. This was their tenth full length album, released in 1996. In many ways this was the end of a dark era for OMD who had fallen out of fashion given grunge, britpop, and other ascendant styles…
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The Clash, Sandanista!, 1980 on CBS Records
The Clash’s fourth album, released in 1980 on CBS Records, distributed by Epic in the US. Sprawling, six-sided 3xLP collection that truly is all over the map, including a cover of Mose Allison’s “Look Here.” The FSLN catalog number on the labels is a nod to Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional, the name of the…
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Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, San Antonio Ballbuster, 1974 on Red Lightnin’
Although it was originally released in 1974 on Red Lightnin’, my copy is a reissue from 1979 on Charly Records. Red Lightnin‘ is a blues label started in 1968; Charly a reissue label started in 1975; both are UK labels. Not sure how this ended up in Mel’s Record Shop in Amesbury MA, but that’s…
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Thelonious Monk, The Complete Genius, 1976 on Blue Note
Though this compilation was released in 1976 – part of The Blue Note Re-Issue Series – it actually collects sides he recorded for Blue Note in 1947, 1948, 1951, and 1952. Note: This album contains the complete Monk on Blue Note with the exception of his appearance as a sideman on two of his compositions…