9/15/2026

The Congos- Congo Ashanti (1979) ****

The Rumble- Ain't No Dying (2026) ****

Creation Rebel- Close Encounters Of The Third World (1978) ***

Rush- Boston, 9/12/2026: Highlights (2026) ***1/2

Cheetah Chrome & The Ghetto Dogs- S/T (1987) ***1/2

The Creed Taylor Orchestra- Shock Music In Hi-Fi (1958) ****

Bob Dylan- Oh Mercy (1989) ****

Yes- Drama: Kevin Gray Master (1980/2016) ****

 

 

• "Heart Of The Congos" is a reggae essential and I play it often. But this was the first time I heard the follow-up, "Congo Ashanti." It's pretty damn great!

• New album from The Rumble is just as great as their last. Great New Orleans, Indian funk. 

• "Shock Music In Hi-Fi" legit scared me when I was a kid. It’s still pretty eerie. But now that I’m older and only mildly creeped out by it, I can appreciate the craft and imagination put into the making of it. Good stuff!

9/14/2026

The Rolling Stones- Now!: MONO (1965) **** 

Bob Dylan with The Band- Planet Waves (1974) ***1/2

Neil Young & Crazy Horse- Ragged Glory (1990) ***1/2

Dwight Twilley- Scuba Divers (1982) ****

The Beatles- A Hard Day's Night: Stereo RM (1964/2012) ****

The John Sally Ride- A New Set of Downs (2017) ****

Queen- A Day At The Races (1976) ****

Thin Lizzy- Bad Reputation (1977) ****

Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children (1978) ****

9/13/2026

David Torkanowsky- Steppin' Out (1988) ****

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

Bob Dylan- Love And Theft (2001) ****

Nick Lowe- Jesus Of Cool (1978) ***1/2

The Replacements- Don't Tell A Soul: Matt Wallace Mix (1989/2019) ****

Fountains Of Wayne- Welcome Interstate Managers (2003) ****

Blondie- Eat To The Beat (1979) ***1/2

Dwight Twilley Band- Sincerely (1976)  ***1/2

Be-Bop Deluxe- Futurama: 2024 Remix (1975/2024) ****

Pokey LaFarge- Rent Money (2026) **1/2

Aerosmith- Rocks (1976) ****

Dead Boys- Young, Loud And Snotty (1977) ****

X- Wild Gift (1981) ****

• "Tork" changed my life 25 years ago, when I saw him manipulate a piano at the Funky Butt in New Orleans the way Jimi manhandled his guitar at Woodstock. I’ve been a fan and a friend ever since. His one solo record "Steppin' Out" is worth your time. Trust me, if only for "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"

• "Eat To The Beat" is my favorite Blondie album and it still needs an edit. 

• After a killer opening track, the new Pokey went downhill fast. Lazy songwriting and basically the same arrangement for every song. Very disappointing.

• Feeling a 40 Essential Punk Albums list coming on, though I may need to do two lists- Punk V. "Punk." Ain't no way Aerosmith's "Rocks" is being left off an essential "punk" list. "Rats In The Cellar" is the "prototype of hardcore punk," said my late, great pal Alan Landess, who fronted NYC punk semi-legends Hammerbrain.

• Just found out Cheetah Chrome passed. I'm stunned. 

 

9/12/2026

Bob Dylan- Blood On The Tracks (1975) ****

Keith Hudson- Brand (1977) ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- Two Yanks In England (1966) ****

David Bowie- Welcome To The Blackout: Live London '78 (2018) ****

Aerosmith- Pump (1989) ****

Ringo Starr- Ringo (1973) ***1/2

The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour: Stereo (1967) ****

Shack- H.M.S. Fable (1999) ****

Peter Frampton- Frampton: Chris Bellman Remaster (1975/2024) ****

Todd Rundgren- The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect: Side One (1982) ****

Utopia- S/T (1982) ****

 

• "Welcome To The Blackout" kicks "Stage's" ass. 

9/11/2026

Milt Jackson & John Coltrane- Bags & Trane: MONO (1961) ***1/2

Quiet Sun- Mainstream: 2026 Mix (1975/2026) ***1/2

Bryan Ferry- Frantic (2002) ***1/2

Elton John- Blue Moves: Personal Edit (1976/2023) ***

Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour- Watching the Tide (2026) ***

Del Shannon- Move it On Over (2011)  ****

Bob Dylan- Love And Theft (2001) ****

Rush- Signals (1982) ***

Squeeze- Cool For Cats (1979) ****

9/10/2026

iPod on Shuffle:
Closing My Eyes- Fleetwood Mac 
Run Devil Run- Paul McCartney
Lady Jane- The Rolling Stones
Red Clay Halo- Gillian Welch
Underway- Fleetwood Mac
Blessed- Simon & Garfunkel
Riding To Vanity Fair- Paul McCartney
Easy To Say- Del Shannon
More Power To You- Harold Burrage
Flyin' Shoes- Townes Van Zandt
I Want To Tell You About What I Want- Robyn Hitchcock
I Wanna Be Loved- The Heartbreakers
Harry Rag- The Kinks
What Can I Do- C.L. Blast
Ruby Baby- Donald Fagen
Submission- Sex Pistols
Draggin' The Line- Tommy James & The Shondells
World Without Tears- Lucinda Williams
Sacrificial Bonfire- XTC
Downtown- Johnny Thunders
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me- Elton John
Cause I Love Him- Alder Ray
Leave- Buffalo Springfield
Be My Wife- David Bowie
Teenage Wildlife- David Bowie 

Townes Van Zandt- For The Sake Of The Song (1968) **1/2

Sir Collins/Various Artists- Peace & Love (1977) ***

XTC- Homespun: The Apple Venus Volune One Home Demos (1999) ****

Swag- Catch-All (2000) ****1/2

Jill Sobule- Things Here Are Different (1990) ****

Cheap Trick- The Latest (2009) ****

The Who- Who Are You (1978) ***1/2

Paul McCartney & Wings- Red Rose Speedway (1973) ****

9/9/2026

Frank Sinatra- Watertown (1970) ****

Tony Bennett & Bill Evans- The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album: Kevin Gray Master (1975/2023) ****

Roy Ayers Ubiquity- Everybody Loves The Sunshine (1976) ***1/2

The Who- By Numbers: Abbey Road HSM (1975/2024) **** 

Bee Gees - Horizontal: Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1968/2007) ****

Ian Hunter- All American Alien Boy (1976) ***1/2

Al Di Meola- Casino (1978) ****

John Coltrane- Plays the Blues: MONO (1962) ****

Eno- Here Come The Warm Jets (1974) ****

David Bowie- David Live : 2005 Mix (1974/2005) ****

 

* Sinatra's "Watertown" never fails to affect me. It's a heartbreaking concept and Frank delivers convincingly. More people need to love this record.

* The first three Bee Gees records got the Kevin Gray treatment in 2007 and there is no other way to hear these records. Stunning sound.