8/2/2026

v/a- Goodbye, Babylon: D1, Introduction (2003) ***1/2

Dusty Springfield- Dusty In Memphis: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2026) ****

Johnny Adams- Heart & Soul (1970) ****

Marvin Gaye- What's Going On: Kevin Gray Master (1971/2022) ****

Graham Gouldman- The Graham Gouldman Thing (1968) ****

Rush- Now Playing (2026) ****

Dave Davies- Hidden Treasures (2011) ***1/2

The Who- Who's Next: 1995 Jon Astley Remix (1971/1995/2012) ****

The Zombies- Greatest Hits In MONO (2017) ****

Faces- Ooh La la (1973) ****

XTC- Skylarking: Steven Wilson Remix (1986/2016) ****


 

• For your consideration- Johnny Adams' "Heart & Soul," one the great southern soul records of all time.

8/1/2026

The Grateful Dead- Reckoning (1981) ****

The Lovin' Spoonful- Everything Playing: MONO (1967) ***

The 3 Sounds- Moods (1960) ****

Peter Tosh- Legalize It (1976) ****

Rush- Hold Your Fire (1987) ****

Rainbow- Rising (1976) ***1/2

The Grateful Dead- Dead Set (1981) ***1/2

Rush- Moving Pictures: Side One (1981) ****

The Soft Boys- Underwater Moonlight (1980) ****

Flamin' Groovies- Shake Some Action (1976) ***

Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026) ****

• "Reckoning" is a great first play of the day. It's a record I imagine might even be enjoyed by those who aren't really Dead fans. Good way to celebrate JG's b'day.

• Just released on Sony Legacy, a 50th Anniversary gold edition of the Peter Tosh classic "Legalize It," and it's both excellent sounding and inexpensive. I don't like colored vinyl as a rule, but this gold LP is pretty snazzy.

• Speaking of possibly liking a record even if you're not a fan of the artist (see GD above), "Hold Your Fire" might be Rush's poppiest and most musical record. Maybe it suffers just a bit with the 80's production, but the songs are very accessible and the playing is great, of course. And Aimee Mann is on it!

• Here's a Rush lagniappe, my attempt at a mix of songs that might appeal to those who aren't fans of the band. It's here, if you dare.

• I think the "Shake Some Action" album might be a tad overrated. 

 

7/31/2026

Fairport Convention- Unhalfbricking (1969) ****

Twin Temple- God Is Dead (2023) ****

The Cleaners From Venus- Beryl & Rush Go Shopping (2026) **1/2

Rush- 2112 (1976) ***1/2

Paul Weller- Sonik Kicks (2012) ****

10cc- The Original Soundtrack (1975) ****

Rush- Counterparts (1993) ****

The Kinks- Soap Opera (1975) ****

Aerosmith- S/T: 2024 Mix (1973/2026) ****

David Bowie- Cracked Actor: Live Los Angeles '74 (2017) ****

 

 

 

• I'd been reading about Twin Temple, Satan worshippers who got kicked off the Charley Crockett tour for their occult imagery but then were invited by Jack White to open for him. I hadn't heard any of their music until Ken D tipped me off. What a great surprise! Think The Ronettes, The Crystals and Lesley Gore singing about the devil. It works! 

• Saw Rush at Madison Square Garden last night, so there will be another Rush mini-binge this weekend. A fantastic show, by the way. Anika Nilles is the real deal.

• As for "Counterparts," I always thought this was a solid rock album, but loses its way in the middle. I removed "Nobody's Hero," "Alien Shores" and "Speed Of Love," and man did it sound good and tight. 

• "Soap Opera" gets my vote for The Kinks' most underrated record. 

7/30/2026

Fela Kuti- Coffin For Head Of State (1981) ***

Amazing Blondel- Fantasia Lindum (1971) ***1/2

Bonnie Tyler- Natural Force (1978) **1/2

Emitt Rhodes- S/T (1970) ****

Marshall Crenshaw- Covers (2026) ***1/2

Echo & The Bunnymen- Songs To Learn & Sing (1985) ***1/2

iPod on Shuffle:
We Got Married- Paul McCartney
Not Dark Yet- Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
Cliptron Scuttle- The Claypool-Lennon Delirium
Bobo On The Corner- Beastie Boys
I'll Be Back- The Beatles
The Place We Call Mars- Squeeze
Oh Claire- Cheap Trick
Worn Out Suits, Brand New Pockets- Dave Edmunds
Rock & Roll Stew- Traffic
North Country- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Ska Parisienne- The Skatalites
Queen Bitch- David Bowie
Man On A Mission- Van Halen
Olympic Jam ("One More")- Small Faces
That Dangerous Age (BBC)- Paul Weller
Children Of My Mind- Georgie Fame
Dirty Cold Sun- The Black Crowes
One Way Street- Lou Ann Barton
Tell Me- Dead Boys

7/29/2026

O.V. Wright & The Sunset Travelers- The Peacock Singles: 1960-1966 (2020) ****

The Lovin' Spoonful- Do You Believe In Magic: MONO (1965) ****

The Move- Live At The Fillmore 1969 (2011) ***1/2

Roxy Music- Stranded (1973) ****

Roxy Music- Siren (1975) ****

Blossom Toes- We Are Ever So Clean (1967) ****

The Lovin' Spoonful- Daydream (1966) ***1/2

Bad Brains- Rock For Light (1983) ****

Charli XCX- Music, Fashion, Film (2026) ****

The Kinks- Something Else By...MONO (1967) ****

Robyn Hitchcock- S/T (2017) ***1/2






 

 

• Remembering the great Sal Maida on what would have been his 78th birthday by dialing up some of his faves. HBD Zallie! 

• "Face To Face" is their most fun. "Village Green" is their most accomplished. But "Something Else" is my favorite." - Sal Maida

 

7/28/2026

Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70- Alagbon Close (1974) ***

Jimmy Witherspoon featuring Ben Webster- Roots (1961) ***1/2

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

The Millennium- Begin (1968) ****

Emerson, Lake & Palmer- Works: Sides 2 & 3 (1977) ***

Utopia- Ra (1977) ***1/2

Fleetwood Mac- Rumours: Sal Edit (1977/2026) ****

Damned- Damned Damned Damned (1977) ****

Cheap Trick- Heaven Tonight (1978) ****

Juliana Hatfield- Sings Olivia Newton-John & ELO: Personal Playlist (2024) ****

• The "Rumours" Edit:
Second Hand News
Dreams
Never Going Back Again
Go Your Own Way
Songbird
The Chain
You Make Loving Fun
I Don't Want To Know
Silver Springs (Original Studio Version)

• I don't have a lot of readers here, and I imagine the few who do check in aren't really vinyl buyers. But there is a new reissue of the Damned debut and it's great. If it is something you wanted but didn't want to spend $60-$100, this new pressing is worth the $30. (here it is) 

 

7/27/2026

The Amazing Blondel- Blondel (1973) ****

Family- Fearless (1971) **1/2

Robert Walter, Eddie Roberts, Stanton Moore- The Breaks (2026) ***1/2

Jon Cleary- Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice (1989) ***

Robyn Hitchcock- The Confuser (2026) ***1/2

David Bowie- Heathen (2002) ****

R.E.M. - Accelerate (2008) ****

The Dave Clark 5- The Hits (2019) ***

Bobby Fuller Four- I Fought The Law: MONO  (1966) ****

Television- Marquee Moon (1977) ****

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

• "Blondel" isn't considered to be one of the great Amazing Blondel records, but it's the one that caught my ear. It's an achingly beautiful British folk pop record and unbelievably musical.