7/1/2026

Elvis Costello- This Year's Model (1978) ****

v/a- All Stars Jamaican Blues (1961) ****

Nicky Hopkins- The Revolutionary Piano Of...(1966) **

Billy Ward & His Dominoes- Sixty Minute Men: The Best Of...(1993) ***1/2

The Holmes Brothers- Simple Truths (2004) ****

Living Colour- Vivid (1988) ****

Fela & The Africa-70- Shakara (1973) ***

The Rolling Stones- Emotional Rescue (1980) ****

Dwight Twilley Band- Sincerely (1976) ****

The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters (1977/2021)- ****

 

I saw a clip of my old friend Spike, who now resides upstate and owns Spike's Record Rack in Catskill, answering the question, "What is your perfect record?" I already knew his answer- Dwight Twilley's "Sincerely." I had to listen, of course. And I do love it. Though, I think I like "Scuba Divers" more. It depends on the day.

And that Nicky Hopkins record! I had no idea it existed before this week, thinking "The Tin Man Was A Dreamer" was his first solo record in 1973. "Revolutionary Piano..." is a strange mix of Liberace, classical, and 60's easy listening with a chorus of singers ruining things further.

We all knew Bill Wyman was a great bass player, but after last night's visit with "Undercover" and tonight's visit with "Emotional Rescue," I think more props need to be given for his ability to funk it up.

And as the Holmes Brothers mini binge continues, today's spin "Simple Truths" really hit the spot. This in particular, killed me.
 

6/30/2026

Todd Rundgren's Utopia- S/T (1974) ***1/2

Bruford- Feels Good To Me (1978)  ****

Pink Floyd- The Early Years, 1965-1967 Cambridge St/ation: Single Disc Edit (2017/2026) ****

Paul McCartney- The Boys Of Dungeon Lane (2026) ****

Peter Gabriel- Geneva, 9/21/80 (1980) ****
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9UyPYpVYIc)

Muse- The Wow! Signal (2026) **12

King Stitt- Reggae Fire Beat (1996) ***

The Rolling Stones- Undercover (1983) ****

Leon Russell- S/T: Kevin Gray Master (1970/2017) ****

NRBQ-Tiddlywinks (1980) **** 

It was a few songs into the live Peter Gabriel set where I felt inspired to jot down a few notes. 

First, finding this was a real surprise. I saw Gabriel on his first, second and fourth album tours, the fourth being a surprise, last minute announcement on Thanksgiving night at The Ritz, in NYC, serving as an intimate kickoff to the 1982 tour. Somehow, I missed the tour for his third "Peter Gabriel," the one referred to as "Melt," which at that point was my favorite solo Peter so far. And after years and years of collecting live music, owning hundreds of tapes and CDs of live recordings by everyone, I don't recall ever seeing a set list of the 1980 "Melt" tour. It's a good one!

The other interesting thing about this record and tour is, it is widely known that the "Melt" album features NO cymbals, as per Gabriel's request. Not one cymbal or hi-hat can be heard on the entire album. It was so unique, that a few years later at a Pep In The Cat rehearsal, I was instructed by our leader to stop hitting my cymbals for this one song we had just started to learn; an exercise that after 15 years of playing drums, was not as easy as it sounded.

All that said, this Geneva recording is a really solid audience capture, made all the more special because drummer Jerry Marotta is hitting cymbals on a few of the "Melt" songs, changing the sound and dynamic of songs I have only heard one way for 46 years. This live set was great fun. 

And then on Facebook...

I posited that the Stones' "Undercover" is a lot better now than it was then. I think this record gets better with each spin. "Too Much Blood" is amazing record-making. I don't care if it doesn't sound like "Mona."
"Pretty Beat Up" is a killer groove, too. Good record, and a whole lot more interesting and fun than "Voodoo Lounge."

When you listen to both "Leon Russell" and NRBQ on the same day, it's a good day.  

6/29/2026

The Holmes Brothers- Speaking In Tongues (2001) ****

Bruford/Borstlap- Every Step A Dance, Every Word A Song (2004) **1/2

Traffic- Far From Home (1994) **

The Holmes Brothers- Where It's At (1991) ****

Elvis Presley- Spinout (1966) ***

Roy Harper- Valentine (1974) **1/2

Rush- Roll The Bones (1991) ***1/2

Yes- Steven Wilson Remixes: A Personal Compilation (2018/2026) ***1/2

Shaun Cassidy- Wasp (1980) ****

 

 

A few records caught my eye as I scrolled through various websites, blogs and social media accounts this weekend, and I included them on my daily playlists.

I was a bit of a Holmes Brothers fanatic for a while, and their records from 1991 through 2007 got tons of play at NYCD and at home. But it's been years since I thought about them, so going to fix that this week.

I had totally forgotten about the Traffic reunion record and four songs in, I realized why. It's a Traffic record in name only. What it sounds like is a mediocre Winwood solo record. Traffic would never have used that awful 80's synthesizer sound and Steve shouldn't have been using well into the 90's. This record is a bore and sounds more dated than Traffic's classics sound now. I shut it off after four songs.

Also still in a Rush phase thanks to this tour. Nothing will beat the run from "Fly By Night" to "Moving Pictures," but the records I've dismissed for years are sounding much better these days, including "Roll The Bones." Those later records aren't bad, they are just different. 

There was a Shaun Cassidy post on Power Pop today, so of course I had to listen to the "Wasp" record. A few of the covers on this record teeter on the unlistenable, though the cover of The Who's "So Sad About Us" is sublime, regardless of what a few Power Pop readers had to say. The Todd originals written for this project are actually terrific, and if you are a Todd diehard, you will recognize riffs and melodies on these songs that became other songs on follow-up Utopia records. This is a fun record...if you're a Todd fan. And I actually love this record now. I didn't for a long time.

6/28/2026

Cimafunk & La Tribu- Te Toca (2026) ****

Fela Ransome-Kuti & His Africa 70- Fela Fela Fela (1970) **1/2

Nigel Hall, Ari Teitel & Terrence Higgins- Maple Leaf Bar, New Orleans: 3/17/2026 (2026) **

Neil Finn- One Nil (2001) ****

Sly & The Family Stone- Woodstock (1969/2019) ***1/2

David Bowie- Lodger (1979) ****

Spirit- Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus (1970) ****

Nick Curran & The Lowlifes- Reform School Girl (2010) ****

AC/DC- High Voltage: U.S. (1976) ***1/2

Cheap Trick- Special One (2003) ***1/2


 

I caught a little bit of Cimafunk live in New Orleans back in 2018 or 2019. There was a lot going on on stage and he was clearly playing to the crowd as bands do in New Orleans. Lots of audience participation. "Let me hear you scream!" That kinda shit. So it didn't leave a good impression. But I keep hearing good things so I went in on the new one and I am sure glad I did. I think this record sounds like what I had hoped Bad Bunny would sound like. It's more musical. It's played well. It's sung beautifully. It's organic, which I don't feel with Bad Bunny. Some of it rocks and some of it is just truly wonderful music.

And speaking of New Orleans, this Nigel Hall & Friends jam from the Maple Leaf didn't translate well to just audio at home. A cocktail and a crowd at the club, and this stuff works wonders.

Between the Fela, the live Maple Leaf jam and Sly at Woodstock, I needed to get back to basics. Both "Lodger" and "Dr. Sardonicus" were as a good as ever. And as much as I enjoyed the Neil Finn, that record could use an edit.

Nick Curran! Gone way too soon. This record kicks ass! And it ends with an AC/DC cover, which took me to "High Voltage."




 

 

6/27/2026

Fela Ransome-Kuti & Africa-70- Fela's London Scene (1971) ****

The Paragons With Roslyn Sweat (1974) ****

Fela Kuti & Africa 70- Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana (1976) ***1/2

My New Band Believe- S/T (2026) ***

The Bluerunners- Honey Slides (2005)- ***1/2

Bob & Marcia- Pied Piper (1971) ***1/2

v/a- Todd/A True Star (1997) ***12

Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Afrika 70- Ikoyi Blindness (1976) ****

Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons- 25th Anniversary Collection: Single Disc Edit (1987/2026) ****

Barry Manilow- 11 Songs: Personal Playlist (2026) ****

The Lords Of The New Church- S/T (1982) ****

Tages- Studio (1967) ****

I acquired the complete works of Fela Kuti this week, a little over 40 records. So, he's been the centerpiece of today's listening. I only knew a few of his records and haven't listened to those in some time, so I decided to randomly pick titles. This stuff is great and worthyof its reputation. 

I was reminded by an old friend/Todd Rundgren fan, of a 1997 CD featuring Japanese artists, almost all unknown to me, covering some really deep cuts a few obvious choices. It's all so weird and different, but some of it is truly inspired. Anyway, that was a lot of fun. And weird. 

My pal hpunch suggested listening to My New Band Believe, the new solo record from Cameron Picton, singer and bass player of Black Midi. When I told him I wasn't really on board with Black Midi, he said he wasn't either and that's why he likes this solo record. A bit uneven, but when it's good, it's like a solid Roy Harper record, at least to my ears.

As for Barry Manilow, a friend of mine went to see him on Friday night and it reminded me of how much I love good ballads that modulate. Solid record making on these hits, and I enjoyed this playlist more than I expected to. "This one's for YOOOOU!"

 

 

6/26/2026

John Coltrane Quartet- Plays (1965) ***1/2
Stranger Cole- "Forward" In The Land Of Sunshine (1976) ***1/2
Book Of Love- S/T (1986) ***
Joe Jackson- Hope & Fury (2026) ****
v/a- CamPark: On The Northern Side, Vol. 1 (2002) ***1/2
Mountain- Climbing! (1970) ****
Van Halen- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991) ****
Tages- Studio (1967) ****1/2
The B-52's- Wild Planet (1980) ****
The Jaded Hearts Club- Live At The 100 Club (2020) ***
Blossom Toes- We Are Ever So Clean (1967) ****

The new Joe Jackson gets better and better. Also, I can't remember the last time I listened to Mountain. "Climbing!" is fantastic. 

That VH album is their best with Sammy. I love the production on that record. 

Back in the early 80's, when my band Pep In The Cat was playing regularly and I was working at the copy shop, Susan Ottaviano would come in and get copies made of flyers for her band Head Cheese. We had a few fun chats. Three years later, Book Of Love came out on Sire. Def a better band name than Head Cheese. Fun record that I haven't heard since 1986.

Steve Simels' Friday question over at Power Pop was "Best Opening Song" on an album. I won't say "Party Out Of Bounds" on "Wild Planet" is the best, but Fred Schneider's "Surr-PRIZE" is pretty damn hilarious. 

That Stranger Cole album is super rare and today was the first time I got to hear it. Really wacky in the best way and it will most likely end up "Reggae Album Of The Week" on Monday.

But the Tages record "Studio" takes the cake today. That one hit the spot. It also put me in the mood for the Blossom Toes, which is a close second to Tages. Thanks, Mr. Maida.

6/25/2026

The Breaks- Live At The Toulouse Theater, New Orleans: 4/22/2026 ***1/2
(Very nice capture and a solid performance which you can listen to HERE.) 

The Stooges- Fun House: Kevin Gray Master (1970/2026) ****

The Beatles- Let It Be...Naked (1970/2003) ****
(It's Global Beatles Day!)

The Lemon Twigs- Live a Fip (2026) ***

Deep Purple- Burn (1974) ****
(An Ian Paice tour de force!)

The Wild Tchoupitoulas- S/T (1976) ****
Traffic- Heaven Is In Your Mind: Rare U.S. MONO, Kevin Gray Cut (1967/2021) ****
Lloyd Price- Specialty Profiles (2006) ***1/2
Ultravox!- S/T (1977) ****
Ultravox- Systems Of Romance (1978) ***1/2
The Slits- Cut (1979) ****
Thin Lizzy- Bad Reputation (1977) ****