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) ****

6/24/2026

Sonny Rollins/Don Cherry- The Complete 1963 Paris Concert (2008) ***
XTeeHee- Fossil Fools (2024) **

v/a- Loggins & McDonald: Personal Playlist (2026) ****
(Had to tweak this a bit, but those changes made it even better.)

Dennis Bovell- Brain Damage (1981) ***1/2
David Bowie- Aladdin Sane (1973) ****
Crabby Appleton- S/T (1970) ***

Todd Rundgren- The Dream Set List: Personal Playlist (2026) ****

Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel
Unloved Children
Long Flowing Robe
It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference
The Ballad (Denny & Jean)
Bread
I Don't Want To Tie You Down
Soul Brother
The Verb To Love
The Last Ride
Weakness
Eastern Intrigue
Initiation

~intermission!

The Road To Utopia
Lysistrata
Bad Little Actress
Set Me Free
There Goes My Inspiration
Shinola
The Very Last Time
Crybaby
Trapped
Couldn't I Just Tell You

~encore~

One World
Fade Away
Love Is the Answer
Just One Victory 
Torch Song 

https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/71a73d91bfe2452a899891244916d10esune?ref=dm_sh_VMw4B4BsIublEn5qMr6vAFYlU 

 

6/23/2026

Don Evans- S/T (1983) ***1/2
(One of the legendary Paragons, solid rock steady vibe throughout. Nice record.)

 

King Crimson- Discipline: Steven Wilson Remix (1981/2022) ****

The Claudettes- High Times In The Dark (2020) **
(This did little for me. I prefer the new singer. I prefer the diversity of the new songs. This was very samey to me.)

Todd Rundgren- Second Wind (1991) ***1/2
Rocket From The Crypt- Scream, Dracula Scream: White Trash Soul Edition (1995/2026) **1/2

Utopia- Swing To the Right (1981) ****
(In a just world, "Lysistrata" would have been a monster hit. A pop masterwork!)

 

Graham Coxon- Castle Park (2011/2026) ***1/2
(This one is growing on me.)

Frankie Miller- Once in A Blue Moon (1973) ***
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band- Night Moves (1976) ***1/2
The Who- Sell Out: Stereo Bonus LP (1967/2021) ***1/2 

6/22/2026: Happy Birthday, Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren- Runt. The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren (1971) ****
Savoy Brown- Blue Matter (1969) ****
Todd Rundgren- Initiation: Side One (1975) ****
Haircut One Hundred- Boxing The Compass (2026) ***
Todd Rundgren- Liars (2004) ****
The Winkies- S/T (1975) ***
v/a- The Todd Rundgren Remix Project (2026) ***1/2
The Clash- S/T: U.S (1979) ****

The Lemon Twigs- Live a Fip & Radio Nova (2026) ****
(Was searching for some Rundgren stuff on YouTube and the sidebar--god bless it--showed two acoustic performances from their current Euro tour. Dial them up. They're fantastic.)

John Lennon- Gimme Some Truth: The Ultimate Mix (2020) ****

6/21/2026

v/a- Singin' Shoutin' Prayin': 16 Righteous Boppin' Bible Belters (2026) ***
(More hillbilly "boppin'" than gospel "beltin'." Still fun for a Sunday morning.)

Neu!- S/T (1972) ***1/2

Roy Brown- Good Rockin' Tonight: 1947-1960 (2017) ****
(The early stuff is out of control!)

Laura Nyro- Eli And The Thirteenth Confession (1968) ***

Mississippi Rail Company- Coal Black Train (2012) ****
(Yep, this is the real deal. It turns out I had two chances to see them live at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, but of course, had no idea who they were at the time.)

Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs- True Orleans (2018) ***1/2
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen- Live At Maple Leaf Bar, 1/17/2026 (2026) ****
Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane- Rough Mix: Abbey Road HSM (1977/2017) ****

The Rolling Stones- Beggars Banquet: U.K. MONO (1968) ****
(I haven't listened to "Salt Of The Earth" ever since Axl Rose ruined it. The record ends with "Factory Girl" in my house. But I could listen to Johnny Adams' version of "Salt Of The Earth" all day.)

Motorhead- On Parole: Steven Wilson Remix (1976/2026) ***1/2
(This is the best these recordings have ever sounded. Still, the band didn't really become Motorhead until "Fast" Eddie replaced Larry Wallis.)

Small Faces- S/T: Immediate, MONO (1967/2023) ****
(Nick Robbins MONO master is a monster!)

The Bobby Lees- Skin Suit (2020) ****