Tag: Worcester MA
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U2, Camouflage Heart, 1985 on Skeleton Songs
Another bootleg, this time a 2xLP version of the gig in Mannheim West Germany, February 1st, 1985. Bootlegged a number of times under different cover, this was part of the Unforgettable Fire tour. Includes a cover of “Southern Man” by Neil Young. My copy—via Worcester Record Riot—has plain white record labels with nothing on them,…
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R.E.M., We Are Having a Heavenly Time!, 1985 on P.F.M.
Bootleg recording from R.E.M.’s September 26th, 1984 gig at Durham North Carolina’s Page Auditorium (on Duke’s campus). Also available in the Internet Archive – R.E.M. Live – 1984-09-26 Page Auditorium. It was recorded by the mobile unit of Reflection Sound Studios and then bootlegged, with this notation on the rear cover: “This Fan Club album…
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UB40, Labour of Love, 1983 on A&M
Fourth studio LP from UB40 – a collection of covers including their giant hit “Red Red Wine” – but don’t hold that against them. It’s really a fantastic album start to finish. “All of these songs were recorded by reggae artists between 1969 and 1972” – they came to “Red, Red, Wine” not via Neil…
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The Pursuit of Happiness, Love Junk, 1988 on Chrysalis
Debut full length from Canada’s The Pursuit of Happiness, with their big hit “I’m an Adult Now.” Produced by Todd Rundgren and recorded at Utopia in the Hudson Valley. I love their lyrics in particular – “Consciousness Raising as a Social Tool” and “I’m an Adult Now” resonated even when I was 18 but resonate…
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Willie Nelson & Leon Russell, One for the Road, 1979 on Columbia
The first in a series of duet albums from Willie Nelson, released in 1979. Nelson went on to release duet albums with Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Webb Pierce, and Roger Miller all in the early 80s. (There were also many more later of course). Double LP from two of my musical heroes – joined by…
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Japan, Japan, 1982 on Epic
Compilation album released (in the US) on Epic in 1982, bringing together most of Tin Drum plus some from Gentlemen Take Polaroids. (Neither of those was formally released in the US until 1994). I’ve got a UK Tin Drum but still looking for a good vinyl copy of Gentlemen. One the best underrated bands of…
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Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Zuma, 1975 on Reprise
Seventh studio album from Neil Young, and the first credited with Crazy Horse after Danny Whitten died in 1972. The individual song credits have two songs not attributed to Crazy Horse: “Pardon My Heart” (credited just to Neil Young) and “Through My Sails” (credited “with Crosby, Stills & Nash”). “Cortez the Killer” is a 7…
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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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Cowboy Junkies, Songs of the Recollection, 2022 on Proper Records
Margo, Michael, and Peter Timmins plus Alan Anton make up Toronto Canada’s Cowboy Junkies. This 2022 album is a collection of covers reflecting their formative influences: Bowie, Gram Parsons, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Vic Chesnutt, and The Cure. Some of these songs are previously released on b-sides or other compilations but it…
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Maggie Rogers, Surrender, 2022 on Capitol / Debay
Rogers’ second studio album on a major label, Surrender was a component of her thesis at Harvard Divinity School. Kid Harpoon (aka Thomas Edward Percy Hull) produced along with Rogers and gets cowroting credit on most of the tracks, sometimes with others (Del Water Gap aka S. Holden Jaffe). My copy via the Worcester Record…
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Chet Baker, Albert’s House, 1969 on Beverly Hills
One of Baker’s releases following getting his teeth (allegedly) knocked out (see Born to Be Blue) – eleven songs composed by Steve Allen. Gets some pretty negative reviews – I’d agree it isn’t Baker at his prime, but I’m closer to the Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide which gives is three out of five stars…
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Lou Donaldson, Blues Walk, 1958 on Blue Note
Great late 50s Blue Note album, with Donaldson joined by Peck Morrison on bass, Ray Barretto on congas, Dave Bailey on drums, and Herman Foster on piano. Sleeve notes by Ira Gitler. (Donaldson died last month – November 2024). I wasn’t as familiar with Donaldson as some of his better known contemporaries, but he started…
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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…