2/15/2026

Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams- Third Plane (1978)- **1/2
Billy Preston- That's The Way God Planned It (1969)- ****
Tomeka Reid Quartet- Dance! Skip! Hop! (2026)- **1/2
Clive Matthews- Jah Live (2018)- ***1/2
Third World- Rock The World (1981)- ***
The Wild Magnolias- Outtakes + Live 1973-1974 (2026)- ***1/2

The Who- Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy: Alternative White Trash Soul Version (1971/2025)- ****
(The creator ditched "Boris The Spider," and added "Circles" and "Call Me Lightning," which I am really okay with. But he tacked on a live "Going Down" from 1971 at the end. As nasty as that live version is, it doesn't belong on the GOAT studio singles collection.)

The Throb- Meet The Throb (2025)- ***1/2
(Another White Trash Soul creation, featuring all 7 known singles by Australian R&B/garage band The Throb, recorded in 1965-1966. Pretty good stuff, if somewhat predictable. Like The Animals meets The Cramps.)

Rod Stewart- Atlantic Crossing (1975)- ***1/2
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen- Highlights From The Maple Leaf, 1/17/2026-****

Bash & Pop- Friday Night Is Killing Me (1993)- ****
(Was this Tommy Stinson's "All Things Must Pass?" Had he been stockpiling brilliant songs that Paul Westerberg was rejecting? A perfect record.)

 

Aerosmith- Rocks (1976)-****

2/14/2026

Abdullah Ibrahim- Water From An Ancient Well (1986)- ****
(The first time I heard the title track was at Preservation Hall, played by the Stanton Moore Trio just six months after Katrina. It was an incredibly emotional evening. This is a beautiful record, by the way.)

(Stanton Lagniappe)

Krasno/Moore Project- Book Of Queens (2023)-****
Queen- Greatest Hits II (1991)- ****
The Dukes Of Stratosphear- Psonic Psunspot (1987)- ****

Paul McCartney- Off The Ground (1993)- ***
Paul McCartney- Off The Ground: Sal Edit (2026)- ***1/2
(This is one of two Macca records that I have never come around on. The other is "Press To Play." Both have a few winners because it's McCartney. But both fail to keep me interested. I guess you could throw "Broad Street" in there, too. I just don't count it as a proper record. I think an "Off The Ground" edit is in order, since a number of the bonus tracks from the complete works of "Off The Ground" are better than what made the album.

Off The Ground
Hope Of Deliverance
Mistress And Maid
Keep Coming Back To Love
Golden Earth Girl
The Lovers That Never Were
Long Leather Coat
Sweet Sweet Memories
C'mon People

Sal's "Off The Ground" Edit)

Lydia Loveless-Nothing's Gonna Stand In My Way Again (2023)- ***
The Beatles The River Rhine Tapes (2010)- ***1/2
Judas Priest- Screaming For Vengeance (1982)- ****

2/13/2026

Curtis Mayfield- There's No Place Like America Today (1975)- ***1/2
David Bowie- 'hours...'- (1999)- ****
The Beach Boys- Smiley Smile: Stereo (1967)- ***1/2
Desmond Dekker & the Aces- Intensified (1968)- ****
David Bowie- Diamond Dogs (1974)- ****
Rainbow- Down To Earth (1979)- ****
Mink DeVille- Where Angels Fear To Tread (1983)- ***1/2
Todd Rundgren- The Hermit Of Mink Hollow (1978)- ****
Sparks- Mad! (2025)- ***
NRBQ- Grooves In Orbit: Remastered & Expanded (1983/2026)- ****
Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children (1978)- ****
Eurythmics- Savage (1987)- ***1/2
T. Rex- Electric Warrior (1971)- ****

(Today's Playlist)

 

2/12/2026

John Coltrane- Giant Steps: MONO (1960)- ****

The Beach Boys- We Gotta Groove: Disc Two, "Adult/Child" Sessions and Outtakes '74-'76 (2026)- **
(This was a tough listen. I guess I wasn't familiar with the "Adult/Child" bootlegs because this not what I was expecting. It plays like an off-Broadway musical and it isn't very good. I am looking forward to the other two discs, but I'll never listen to this again.)

Opeth- Damnation (2003)- ***1/2
(After being blown away by the hard, heavy and epic "Ghost Reveries," the relatively tame sounds on this record are a bit of a disappointment. I don't miss the death metal growling. There's none of that here. But there's not much change from song to song either. It's a solid mid-tempo affair throughout, more along the lines of The Moody Blues or early Genesis, but without the latter's knack for melody.)

Bill Wyman- S/T (1982)- ***
(I always liked the singles off this record. I still do, though there are some real bad clams on the album.)

 

The Beach Boys- We Gotta Groove: Disc Two, "15 Big Ones" & "Love You" Outtakes and Alternates (2026)- ***
(Stick with the original albums. The new mixes are not better. The outtakes are mediocre.)

Charli XCX- Wuthering Heights (2026)- **
(Snapped out of my coma just in time to type this up.)

Esther Phillips- Release Me: Reflections Of Country & Western Greats (1962)- ****
(Thanks to a tip from a pal, I got to hear what one writer said was "the greatest country record you've never heard." He was right. I never heard it. It's pretty damn great. It's streaming under "The Country Side of Esther Phillips," and might I suggest pairing this with Charlie Rich's "That Rich," my favorite C&W record. That one is streaming, too.)

Sparks- Terminal Jive (1980)- ***1/2
(Not as Moroder-ish as "No. 1 In Heaven," but a solid record nonetheless.)

Bad Brains- Rock For Light (1983)- ****
("WE WILL NOT DO WHAT THEY WANT OR DO WHAT THEY SAY NO NO!")

Van Halen- Fair Warning (1981)- ****

Badfinger- Wish You Were Here (1974)- ****
(Arguably, their best. Inarguably, their most consistent.)

(Badfinger Lagniappe)

Dion & The Belmonts- Together Again (1967)- ****
(I don't know which came out first, this record or "The Velvet Underground & Nico." But man, this is one helluva double feature. Trust me.)

Tim Hardin- 1 (1966)- ****
(See above. Make it a three-fer.)

2/11/2026

Ellis Marsalis- For All We Know (2020)- ****
(His final recording with his son Jason on vibes. A gorgeous record. Here's a nice vinyl rip, since it is unavailable to stream.)

Pink Floyd- Animals: 2018 Remix (2020)- ****
Gang Of Four- Entertainment! (1979)- ****

The Harvey Averne Dozen - S/T (1969)- ****
(A quintessential Latin boogaloo record! Put this on your list to listen to.)

The Electric Prunes- Release of An Oath (1968)- ***1/2
(The Prunes meet David Axelrod, though no actual Prunes are on this record. It's basically The Wrecking Crew--and you can tell that the rhythm section is Carol Kaye and Earl Palmer from the second they start playing---performing Axelrod's music. Really compelling work, especially if you are a fan of Axelrod's "Song Of Innocence" and "Songs Of Experience" records.) 

 

R.E.M.- Green (1988)- ***1/2
Pete Townshend- Who Came First (1972)- ****
Nico- Desertshore (1970)- ***
Little Feat- Feats Don't Fail Me Now (1974)- ***1/2
NRBQ- Dummy (2004)- ***1/2


The Bees- Free The Bees (2004)- ****
(NYCD's entire staff's favorite record of 2004.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/10/2026

The Byrds- The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)- ***1/2
(A friend casually mentioned this being his favorite Byrds album. I'd put it at #5 or #6 at best, but thought I should listen again first. I stand by my initial thoughts.)

Crosby, Stills & Nash- S/T (1969)- ****

The Beatles- More River Rhine (2010)- ***1/2
(I realize this stuff has been out there for ages, but there is so much I haven't heard. This 2010 boot on the legendary Swingin' Pig label is a blast. Great sound and selection. Love hearing Paul harmonizing with George on "Let It Down," even if it's only a minute. Paul and John singing "Across The Universe" is another gem.)

Opeth- Ghost Reveries (2005)- ****
(More on Burning Wood.)

Joe Bataan- Singin' Some Soul (1969)-****
Stanton Moore Trio- Crawfish Fest, N.J.: 6/2/12 (2012)- ***
Cheap Trick- All Washed Up (2025)- ****
v/a- Downtown Soulville! (1998)- ****
Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children (1978)- ****

 

 

2/9/2026

Ken Peplowski- Unheard Bird (2024)- ***1/2
Al Di Meola- Elegant Gypsy (1977)- ***
Sharks- First Water (1973)- ***1/2

Boxer- Below The Belt (1975)- ***
(I love Timebox. I love Patto. But Boxer just didn't do it for me. There are a handful of solid tunes on this debut, including the one below. But overall, it falls flat compared to their earlier works.)

Billy Preston- Encouraging Words (1970)- ****
(Billy's first record for Apple had him backed by Eric Clapton & George Harrison on guitar, Keith Richards on bass (!) and Ginger Baker on drums. This album is basically Billy with Derek & The Dominoes, as well as Klaus Voorman and Ringo Starr. Both records are getting reissued in a few weeks and both are really solid spins.)

The Toms- Sound Bytes (2025)- **1/2
(Stick with the debut. It's legendary. This did not work for me at all. It tries too hard and the songs lack the hooks and melodies of the debut.)

The Plugz- Electrify Me (1979)- ****
(One of the greatest punk records of all time! The follow-up, "Better Luck," is excellent too, just not as aggressive. Both are essential.)

(Plugz Lagniappe)

Clifton Chenier- King Of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco: Disc Two (2026)- ***1/2

James Taylor- New Moon Shine (1991)- ***1/2
(I hadn't listened to James Taylor in ages. No reason, really. I am a fan, saw him live a number of times in the late 70's and 80's, but I just stopped paying attention in the 90's and beyond.  I really enjoyed seeing him on the Colbert show and it put me in the mood. Listened to this record for the very first time and it's quite good. It's got Bob Dylan's favorite James Taylor song on it, according to J.T..)

  

Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink... (1971)- ****

Pixies- Trompe Le Monde (1991)- ****
(I've always loved this album because this tour was the only time I saw the band live other than opening for U2. I had V.I.P. treatment. Reserved seats in the front row of the balcony at The Ritz, pre-show meet and greet where I had drinks with Frank Black, Joey Santiago and David Lovering. No Kim. Just a great night. The record still holds up. Really solid, even without the memories.)

Bryan Ferry- In Your Mind (1977)- ****
(My favorite Ferry. This record sounds like the perfect follow-up to "Siren" and a perfect lead-in to "Manifesto.")