Tag: vinylfinds
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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…
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Laurie Anderson, Home of the Brave, 1986 on Warner Bros
If I planned these posting further in advance (i’m just working through records as I add them to my collection), I would have planned this one for the 4th of July. The film Home of the Brave is a concert movie (see below) but the album is studio versions of songs from the film. There…
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David Bowie, Tonight, 1984 on EMI America
Bowie’s follow up to Let’s Dance, produced by Bowie with Derek Bramble and Hugh Padgham, with many of the same musicians, but also with contributions by Iggy Pop and a guest appearance from Tina Turner. A couple of covers on the album: The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” and “I Keep Forgettin’” which is a…
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Stephane Grappelli, Uptown Dance, 1978 on Columbia
Only available on vinyl, cassette, and 8-track, Grappelli is joined here by two different bands – one with Jimmy Rowles, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, and Jay Berliner and the other with Richard Tee, Anthony Jackson, Steve Gadd, Hugh McCracken, and Rubens Bassini. For my ears, this album veers at times into easy listening / fusion,…
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Various Artists; The Sam Phillips Years: Sun Records Curated By Record Store Day Volume 9; 2022 on Org Music
Great collection timed to coincide with Sun Records’ 70th anniversary, Record Store Day’s 15th anniversary, and Tito’s Vodka’s 25th anniversary – which is why the inner sleeve is basically a Tito’s ad. Selections: Compilation produced by Michael Kurtz & Carrie Colliton and put out by Org Music My copy via Vinyl Destination (RIP) in Lowell…
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Midnight Oil, Diesel and Dust, 1987 on CBS / Columbia
Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, and Martin Rotsey are the core of Midnight Oil, the politically earnest band from down under. This was their sixth full length (the band started all the way back in the 70s and released their self-titled debut in 1978), but it was their breakout album in the US, with…