2/24/2026

Tommy McCook- Lovers Rock (1978)- ***1/2
Charlie Rich- That's Rich (1965)- ****
Gram Parsons- GP (1973)- ****
Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra- Angels And Demons At Play (1967)- ****
Nirvana- Local Anaesthetic (1971)- **
Lucifer's Friend- ....Where The Groupies Killed The Blues (1972)- **

Sun Ra- The Antique Blacks (1974)- ****
(Off the rails live radio broadcast recorded in 1974 and released in 1978. This hit the spot, though I can't imagine too many having the patience. Some of it is not much different than what you'd hear on early Mothers records, including rock guitar, which was apparently rare for Sun Ra at this time. The song below is probably the easiest to swallow.)

Brand X-Morrocan Roll (1977)- **1/2
Phil Collins- Hello! I Must Be Going (1982)- ***1/2
Roxy Music- Stranded (1973)- ****
MC5- Kick Out The Jams (1969)- ***1/2
Blondie- Eat To The Beat (1979)- ****
Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026)-****

2/23/2026

Sun Ra- The Sound Of Joy (1968)- ****
(Recorded in 1957 and released in 1968. Truly fab!)

Amaika Rude- The Ska & The Abstract Truth (2025)-***
(Fun take on the Oliver Nelson classic, but don't think I need to hear it again.)

Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra- Fate In A Pleasant Mood (1965)- ***1/2
Jimmy Campbell- Half Baked (1970)- ****

Legend-S/T "Red Boot" (1971)- ****
(Mickey Jupp about 5 or 6 years before Stiff Conquered America. Great stuff. If you don't know Legend, you should.)

Tudor Lodge- S/T (1971)- **1/2
(British folk with Danny Thompson that at times, unfortunately, sounds more like The Seekers than Fairport Convention.)

Colosseum- Valentyne Suite (1969)- **
Dio- Holy Diver: Joe Barresi RMX (1983/2022)- ****
Sun Ra- The Heliocentric Worlds Of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 (1965)- ***
Opeth- Blackwater Park (2001)- ***
10cc- S/T (1973)- ***1/2
Legend- Moonshine (1971)- ***1/2

2/22/2026

Visionaires- To Have A Home (1982)- ****
(First time spin. Solid.)

Ray Barretto- Barretto-Power (1970)- ****
(Badass!)

(Barretto Paquete De Seis)

Fairfield Parlour- From Home To Home (1970)- ***1/2

Mike Keneally- Wing Beat Fantastic (2012)- ***1/2
(I should love this more. Probably would if it was XTC. Good Andy songs, but it's missing something.)

Hokus Poke-Earth Harmony (1972)- ***1/2
Squeeze- Play: Expanded Remaster (1991/2026)- ****
Jimmy Campbell- Jimmy Campbell's Album (1972)- ***
Agitation Free- Malesch (1972)- ****
 
The Replacements- Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash: Disc 3, Studio Outtakes, Alternates & Home Demos (1981/2021)- ****
("When I say I'm in debt, you best believe I'm in debt, D-E-T!")

 

 

The Stooges- Fun House (1970)- ****
("LOOOORRRRRRDDDDDDDD!)

 

2/21/2026

Assagai- S/T (1971)- ***1/2
Jimmy Campbell- Son Of Anastasia (1969)- **1/2
Linda Hoyle- Pieces Of Me (1971)- ****
Catapilla- S/T (1971)- **
The Psychedelic Furs- S/T (1980)- ***
Jackson Heights- The Fifth Avenue Bus (1972)- ***1/2
Still Life- S/T (1971)- ***
Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy (1978)- ****
Boz Scaggs- Silk Degrees (1977)- ****
Rod Stewart- Gasoline Alley (1970)- ***1/2
Foo Fighters- Medium Rare (2011)- ****
Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026)-****

2/20/2026

Rockin' Horse- Yes it Is (1971)- ****
Gordon Waller- Gordon (1972)- **
Phil Thornalley- Stacked (2026)- ***1/2 

2/19/2026

Jimmy Campbell- Half Baked (1970)-  ****
Beggar's Opera- Act One (1970)- **
James Booker- Such A Wonderful Feeling: Original Instrumentals (2026)- ***1/2
Joe Higgs- Life Of Contradiction (1975)- ****
May Blitz-S/T (1970)- **1/2
Thomas F. Browne- Wednesday's Child (1971)- ****
Gracious- Gracious! (1970)- ****
Cressida- S/T (1970)- ***1/2
Led Zeppelin- Coda (1982)- ****
The Yardbirds- Live At The Anderson Theater, 3/30/68: Remix (2017)- ***1/2

2/18/2026

Curtis Fuller- The Opener (1957)- ****

Curtis Fuller Two Bones (1980)- ***1/2
(Nice 1958 session for Blue Note with Sonny Clark, released in 1980. Good stuff, but after "The Opener," it makes sense that this session remained unreleased. "The Opener" really cooks.)

Willie Colon Canta Hector Lavoe- Crime Pays (1972)- ****

Galactic And Irma Thomas- Audience With The Queen (2025)-****
(Happy Birthday to the Queen.)

It's A Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul Of Fania Records: The Singles (2021)- ***1/2
The James Gang- Yer Album (1969)- ****

Motorhead- Overkill (1979)- ****
(This is where I came in and never left.)

Earl King- 1963 Motown Sessions (1996)- ***1/2
v/a- Where The Girls Are- Girl Group Deep Cuts: Personal Playlist (2026)- ****
Martin Newell- The Greatest Living Englishman (1993) - ****
Irma Thomas- Love Is The Foundation (2020)- ****

Wilson Pickett- The Best Of ...(1967)-****
(In MONO!)