7/7/2026

The Beatles- Let It Be...Naked (1970/2003) **** 

The Rolling Stones- Sticky Fingers (1971) ****

Redd Kross- Teen Babes From Monsanto: Version Especial (1984/2018) ****

Quicksilver Messenger Service- S/T (1968) ****

Rush- Permanent Waves (1980) ****

Quicksilver Messenger Service- Happy Trails (1969) ***1/2

Redd Kross- Researching The Blues (2012) ****

Bash & Pop- Anything Could Happen (2017) ****

Killing Joke- S/T (1980) ***1/2

The Stranglers- La Folie (1981) ***

 

 

No, I did not skip "Brown Sugar."

This was the first time I listened to Quicksilver in 34 years. I had to write about it on Burning Wood.

Bash & Pop's debut is too good. It's as if The Beatles' debut was "Revolver." I thought "Anything Could Happen" was a good record, but it just couldn't hold a candle to "Friday Night Is Killing Me," so I've rarely played it since 2017. As per me, it sounded really great tonight. But I stand by what I said. 

 

 

7/6/2026

Fela & Africa-70- Authority Stealing (1980) ***

v/a- Jamaica Jazz From Federal Records: Carib Roots, Jazz, Mento, Latin, Merengue & Rhumba 1960-1968 (2019)- ***

The Heavenly Bodes- Green Hills (2026) **

Prophet Benjamin- S/T (2013) **

Motorhead- Orgasmatron (1986) ***1/2

Prince- The Black Album (1987/1994) ****

Billy Cobham- Spectrum (1973) ***1/2

Roy Harper- HQ (1975) ***1/2

Iggy Pop & James Williamson- Kill City: 2010 Remix (1977/2010) ***1/2

v/a- Lafayette Saturday Night (1992) ***1/2

 

The press release for the Heavenly Bodes said, "The album’s opener, “De Gruene Heuvels” (the album’s title in Dutch), and its closer, “The Heavenly Bode,” both have a jangly late-’60s country-rock vibe reminiscent of The Byrds and Mike Nesmith’s solo output. "WRONG! Not even close. The five songs I made it through sounded like third rate Hawkwind demos.

I don't think I've ever enjoyed Prince's "Black Album" as much as I did today. It really takes off with Track Three, "Dead On It."

 

 

 

7/5/2026

Aretha Franklin- Spirit In The Dark (1970) **** 

Merrill Moore- The Very Best Of... :Disc One (2010) ***

Maria McKee- You Gotta Sin To Be Saved (1993) ****

Marshall Crenshaw- What's In The Bag? (2003) ***1/2

Redd Kross- Phaseshifter (1993) ****

7/4/2026

Ray Barretto- Hard Hands (1968) ****

Ray Barretto- The Message (1971) ***1/2

Eddie Harris- Silver Cycles (1969) ****

Traffic- The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys (1971) ***1/2

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Natty Dread (1974) ****

Ike & Tina Turner- Story: Disc One (2007) ***1/2

Rush- Caress Of Steel (1975) ***1/2

The Clash- Super Black Market Clash (1993) ****

Banda AL9- Hey! Hey! We're Banda AL9 (2026) ***1/2 

Galactic- Ruckus (2003) ****

The Rolling Stones- Their Satanic Majesties Request: Personal Edit (1967/2025)- ****

Donna Summer- Gold: 14 Song Edit (2005/2026) ****

 

 

Somewhere between five and ten years ago, my friend Tim B., a fellow record dealer, was just a table away from mine while we worked a show. I took a walk around the room while he watched my records and I bought a few things, including four Eddie Harris records. When Tim saw my little haul, he said, "Don't sleep on those Eddie Harris records!" I knew exactly what he meant. The worst record dealers won't bother with Eddie Harris records because they don't sell for much. A jazz record to these clowns, needs to be on Blue Note or on some indie boutique label, and has to sell for $100-$500 before it is worthy to sit in one of their boxes. But Tim and I knew just how great these Eddie records were, so we'd snatch them up for $5 or $8 whenever we saw them, and then resell them for $15-$20, with little stickers that showed our reviews. We never failed to sell every one. So, don't sleep on "The In Sound," "Mean Greens," "Electrifying," and "Silver Cycles" if you see them.

"Super Black Market Clash" and The Jam "Extras" are so good, they often play better than either band's regular releases.

Here is that "Satanic Majesties" edit, if you're interested.
https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/510bf61e7f0643f9a10f071506025f77sune?ref=dm_sh_reJ7d1aWH0tHKOTcuO5ljNRdF

 

 

 

 

7/3/2026

The Grateful Dead- Fillmore, July 3rd, 1966 (2026) **1/2

Marie Queenie Lyons- Soul Fever (1970) ***1/2

Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen- S/T (2002) ****

The Rolling Stones- Hackney Diamonds (2023) ****

Lester Winchester McKendree- They Got It All (2026) **1/2

Banda AL9- Hey! Hey! We're Banda AL9 (2026) ***1/2

The Pursuit of Happiness- Love Junk (1988) ****

Led Zeppelin- Physical Graffiti (1975) ****

Motorhead- Ace Of Spades (1980) ****

 

Prompted by a Facebook thread posted by a musician who is not a fan of Andrew Watt or what Watt has done to the Stones, Iggy, or Macca, I decided to listen to "Hackney Diamonds." I still love it. And I love Iggy's "Every Loser," which I will get to this weekend. 

Lester Winchester McKendree released a debut and the press release was intriguing, far more than the actual music on the record.

And I already planned on resisting Banda AL9, feeling completely satisfied with The Lemon Twigs and completely put off by the Uni Boys. But, the Banda AL9 record is hard to resist. Yes, it's more Merseybeat/British Invasion, but it's too much fun to ignore. I didn't feel that way about Uni Boys. Banda AL 9 is a grower...I think.

I've all but given up the Motorhead fight. I guess you either get it or you don't, and actually, while I get it completely, I still get why others don't. That said, if you are ever in the mood to go in, either again or for the first time, listen to "Ace Of Spades" and "Overkill." Those two are the real deal.

 

 

 

7/2/2026

Lee Perry- Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Corn Bread (1978) ****
Stranger Cole-  "Forward" In The Land Of Sunshine (1976) ***1/2
The Grateful Dead- Workingman's Dead (1970) ***1/2
Preservation Brass- For Fat Man (2025) ****
The Plastic Ono Band- Live Peace In Toronto 1969: Side One (1969) **1/2
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- Echo (1999) ***
Deep Purple- SPLAT! (2026) ***
Rush- Presto (1989) ****
Corey Harris & Henry Butler- Vu-Du Menz (2000) ****
Bad Brains- I Against I (1986) ****
Thin Lizzy- Black Rose (1979) ****

 

Preservation Brass received a Grammy nomination for this album. If traditional New Orleans jazz isn't your thing, but you maybe want to try again. Listen to "For Fat Man." It's the best of its kind. 

I was really looking forward to loving the new Deep Purple after reading a number of positive reviews, a few using words like "heyday" and "the seventies."  And while the band sounds great, especially Ian Gillan who will be 81 years old next month, the songs go nowhere. They all have a sameness to them that could not keep me interested. Not a bad record, but not nearly the great record I've been reading about.

And Petty's "Echo" needs a major edit.

As for "Presto," I've played this at least three times in the last year, which is two more times than I had since 1989. Whatever I wasn't hearing, or not getting, I am getting now. This one is solid. Check out "War Paint."

 

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.