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.

 

7/26/2026

v/a-Caribbean Voyage: Trinidad: Carnival Roots (2000) ***

Syd Barrett- Barrett (1970) ***1/2

The Soul Brothers- Hot Shot (1967) ***1/2

The Lewis And Clarke Expedition- Earth, Air, Fire & Water (1967) ***1/2

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

• I was led to the Lewis & Clarke record after listening to The Monkees' "Pisces, Aquarius..."
I absolutely love "What Am I Doin' Hangin' 'Round" from that record, a song written by Michael Murphey, but recorded first by The Monkees. One thing led to another and I found the L&C record featuring Murphey under the alias Travis Lewis. I really enjoyed this. It's like Nesmith sung Monkees tunes crossed with David Lindley's Kaleidoscope. A little bit country, a lotta bit psychedelic.

7/25/2026

Marco Benevento- Glera (2026) ***1/2

A Girl Called Eddy- Been Around (2020) ***1/2

Jefferson Airplane- Surrealistic Pillow: MONO (1967) ****

Echo & The Bunnymen- S/T (1987) ***1/2

World Party- Best In Show: Expanded (2007/2025) ****

The Who- Who's Next (1971) ****

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

Baby Rose- Yearnalism (2026) ***1/2

Andy Partridge- My Failed Songwriting Career: Vol. 1 (2021) ****

Rush- Clockwork Angels: Sal Edit (2012/2026) ***1/2

Jack White- Frozen Charlotte (2026) ****

Small Faces- S/T: Decca MONO (1966) ****

Motorhead- Bomber (1979) ***1/2




 

 

• The Marco Benevento record is a lot of fun, especially if you like groovy movie music from Italian films, as well as American classics like "Bullitt," "Dirty Harry," and soundtracks by Lalo Schifrin and David Shire. Good stuff.

• "Clockwork Angels" is an excellent finale to Rush's studio career, but it is too long. I found that this edit plays much better. It's still 45 minutes, though I might put back "Seven Cities of Gold."

Caravan
Bu2b
Clockwork Angels
The Anarchist
The Wreckers
Headlong Flight
The Garden

• I loved the new Jack White enough to spring for the vinyl. What an awful pressing! I can't think of one Third Man pressing that impressed me. Flat, lifeless, almost dirty sounding. "Frozen Charlotte" on my iPod sounds better.

 

7/24/2026

Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussein, Eric Harland- Sangam & Friends (2026) ***

Pink Floyd- Atom Heart Mother: Side Two (1970) ***1/2

Plas Johnson- The Capitol Singles (1982) ***1/2

Todd Rundgren- Live In Beverly, MA: 7/19/2026 (2026) ****

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

David Bowie- Reality (2003) ****

Robyn Hitchcock- The Confuser (2026) ***

The Monkees- Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.: Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1967/2025)- **** 

Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...: Kevin Gray Master (1971/2010) ****

Izzy Stradlin & The Ju Ju Hounds- S/T: Burning Wu Deluxe Edition (1992/2026) ****

 

 

 

• Do Charli XCX's records prior to this new one sound like this new one? Because, I really dug it, and it's not what I expected. Might need to investigate further. 

• The new Robyn Hitchcock has gotten raves. First pass did not keep me engaged the way his last two did. Gotta try again.

7/23/2026

v/a- Scandal Ska (1989) ****

Clifton Chenier- Louisiana Blues & Zydeco (1990) ***

Wings- Wild Life: Abbey Road HSM (1971) ****

Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys- Grand Isle (2011) ****

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

The Who- Who's Power Poppin' (2026) **** 

Big Star- #1 Record (1972) ****

Utopia- Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo: 4//9/79 (1999) ****

 

• Take it from me, I know from where I speak, this is Utopia at the peak of their powers. It's here if you dare.