1/30/24

Judas Priest- Stained Class
(I sold all but one of my Judas Priest albums, among many others this past summer, during a particularly awful stretch of getting inventory. I got most of the Priest back yesterday. Gonna hit them all at some point. "Savage" is savage!)

Fiona Apple- Fetch The Bolt Cutters
(Still amazes me. Her best, no doubt.)

Electric Light Orchestra- Zoom
(I know it's not really a proper ELO record or Jeff Lynne solo album, but I think it's the best thing Lynne's name has ever been associated with. Sincerely.)

The Knack- Round Trip
(Three and a half songs- every bit as horrible as I remembered.)

Peter Gabriel- S/T (4th)
(Saw this tour on Thanksgiving night, 1982 at The Ritz. Mindblowing in such a small room. Bringing back memories.)

Judas Priest- Screaming For Vengeance
(Great production on this one. No wonder it was a huge hit.)

The Ventures- In Space
(Keith Moon's favorite record and def one of mine. Always hits the spot. "Love Goddess Of Venus!")

Fountains Of Wayne- Traffic & Weather
(Not enough people love this record. "This Better Be Good," "Michael & Heather, " "New Routine," & "I-95." Jeez! If this was 1984, those four tracks would have been the shit on MTV.)

 

 

1/29/24

The Four Tops- Greatest Hits
(Just a random pull off the shelf. Someone might have mentioned them, so it was in my head.)

John Cale & Terry Riley- The Church Of Anthrax
(I usually dig this record. Today it left me cold.)

Duke Ellington • Charlie Mingus • Max Roach- Money Jungle
(One of my ten favorite jazz records.)

Talk Talk- The Colour Of Spring
(A gorgeous record. I've seen "Spirit Of Eden" referred to as their masterpiece. I think this one is the masterpiece, in no small part to the amazing drumming throughout by Lee Harris.)

Prince- The Hits 1
(I'm usually appalled by single edits on greatest hits LPs. But most of these work for me.)

Lou Reed- New Sensations
(This one aged really well. Like it more now than I did then.)

1/28/24

Roy Harper- HQ
(Back to being my favorite!)

Roy Ayers Ubiquity- Red, Black & Green
(Becoming a favorite Sunday morning record.)

Lee Dorsey- The New Lee Dorsey
(One of the best records ever by a 9th Ward car mechanic.)

Irma Thomas- Sings
(I see a pattern.)

Sound Dimension- Jamaica Soul Shake Volume 1
(Like The Traveling Wilburys of Jamaica. Great 2 LP set that could have fit on a single LP.)

The 13th Floor Elevators- S/T
("Easter Everywhere" is more consistent, but this has "You're Gonna Miss Me" and "Fire Engine.")

Rachel Sweet- ...And Then He Kissed Me
(First time. Really great! Phil Spector meets E Street Band. Not what I expected after her debut. Also didn't know she did "Shadows In The Night" before Pat Benatar. And it's BETTER!)

Ellen Foley- Nightout
(I see a pattern)

Split Enz- True Colours
("I Got You" is 45 years old. WTF? This also brought me right back to Pier 84, NYC, 1982: Duran Duran with Split Enz opening. $12!)

Brian Eno- Here Come The Warm Jets
(And now, back to our regularly scheduled Eno binge.)

Derek & The Dominoes- In Concert (Sides One & Two)
(Thanks Troy, for paying attention and sending this to me. I could listen to Jim Gordon's intro to "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad" all night. Really, Jim Gordon's playing on all of it is incredible.)

1/27/24

Queen- Sheer Heart Attack- (Abbey Road HSM)
(Today I am thinking it's their best.)

Bernard Purdie- Soul Is...Pretty Purdie
(Groovy.)

George Harrison- Living In The Material World
(My friend and I agreed that if this was George's first proper solo album and not "All Things Must Pass," people would revere it more. Solid record.)

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Rasta Revolution
(This pre-Island, pre-Chris Blackwell stuff is just fantastic.)

Paul Weller- Modern Classics (The Greatest Hits)
(Might need to add this to the list of greatest "greatest hits" collections.)

The Slits- Cut
(Gotta play this one five times a year. Nothing sounds like "Cut." Truly unique.)

Rainbow- The Best Of (Sides One & Two)
(Sides Three & Four are fine, but Sides One & Two always hit the spot.)

Pixies- Come On Pilgrim
(Love them and this record.)

The Beatles- Beatles For Sale (MONO)
("Uh...reality check. The Beatles ain't that good."
--Daily Moron Social Media Post)

1/26/24

Brian Eno- Before And After Science
(The beginning of an Eno binge)

The Band- S/T (45 RPM Remix)
(On a blog I check in with daily, it was suggested that The Band were overrated and that their harmonies and their "shtick" were subpar. Many other "followers" chimed in with the same feelings. After listening to this for the 200th time in my life, I've decided that some get up and go to work--doctors, firemen, retailers, etc.--while others wake up with no other purpose than to be contrary.)

Brian Eno- Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
(And more...)

Aerosmith- Rocks
(Greatest hard rock album of all time.)

Cream- Disraeli Gears (Abbey Road HSM in MONO)
(Great pressing of a great record.)

Gram Parsons- GP
(My musical ADD hijacked my ENO marathon. After talking with a friend about Gram and the Black Crowes, I had to hear both.)

The Black Crowes- Lions
(My least favorite Crowes record---Thanks Don Was---but it was being discussed, so I had to hear it. Oddly, it contains one of my Top 3 BC songs. Final outcome? Some highlights. Didn't hate it, but still my least fave.)

Leon Russell- S/T (Kevin Gray Master)
(The Crowes led me here. I can't get enough of this record. This PRESSING!)

1/25/24

Rush- S/T
(Never play this one, but reading Geddy's book, so it seemed like the right time. Not as bad as I remembered it.)

T-Bone Walker- The Truth (Side One)
(Nothing special.)

V/A- Studio One Ska Fever!
(Excellent set.)

Johnny Guitar Watson- Funk Beyond The Call Of Duty
(Solid, and a nice part of the trilogy, but not on the same level of genius as the two before it.)

Sonny Phillips- Black On Black!
(Solid, though not exactly groundbreaking soul jazz session. "Black Magic!" is better.)

Blind Willie Johnson- Praise God I'm Satisfied
(A masterclass in acoustic country blues, with about half being covered--uh, appropriated?-- by 60's and 70's rock legends.)

Lightnin' Slim- Rooster Blues
(Great stuff, similar to Slim Harpo.)

iPod on Shuffle:
Man Out Of Time (demo)- Elvis Costello
Our Sweet Love (Vocals With Strings)
Paraguay- Iggy Pop
In the Middle Of Nowhere- Dusty Springfield
Fools- Deep Purple
Seven Ways Of Going- Patti Smith
Sweet Marie (demo)- Thin Lizzy
Stand By Me- The Jam
You're Driving Me Crazy- The Blues Busters

1/24/24

Miles Davis- Miles Smiles
("Kind Of Blue," "Sketches Of Spain," and "Miles Smiles," three very different and very perfect Miles records.)

Peter Tosh- Equal Rights (Dub Versions)
(His best. Dub versions just as powerful, like a different record.)

David Bowie- Station To Station
(Saw a number of social media posts about this record, which celebrated 48 years this past Tuesday. Had to play it.)

Peter Frampton- Where I Should Be
(The beginning of the end for Pete, but I will stand by this record. Just great! Steve Cropper, "Duck" Dunn, Jamie Oldaker and Tower Of Power are here, too.)

Lee Morgan- The Cooker
(My fave Lee Morgan record thanks to the killer version of "Just One Of Those Things.")

X- Los Angeles
(This and "Wild Gift," what a one-two punch!)

Lightnin' Hopkins- Low Down Dirty Blues
(First time. Solid solo session from 1974.)

Miles Davis- Water Babies (Kevin Gray Cut)
(Never a fave, even with a terrific Kevin Gray press. Meh.)

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Jamaican Storm
(The earlier the better! I love all Marley, but this pre-Island stuff is priceless, even if some of it was remixed.)

Little Jr. Parker- "Blues Man"
(Fun stuff. It's on the Minit label, so you really can't go wrong.)

The Shangri-Las- I Can Never Go Home Anymore
(I bought this before the news of Mary Weiss' death. It came in the mail today. Had to play it. Glad I did. Miles above your usual 60's girl group albums.)

Professor Longhair- Mardi Gras In New Orleans (1949-1957)
(A great comp. Carnival is on!)

1/23/24

Television- Marquee Moon (2023 Kevin Gray Master)
(Probably the cleanest and warmest it's ever sounded, for better or worse.)

The Beatles- Please Please Me (UK MONO)
(Testing out my new Ortofon cartridge on a bunch of classics today. Loving it!)

Simon & Garfunkel- Bookends (Kevin Gray Stereo master)
(Wow!)

Todd Rundgren- Runt (Alternate April 1970 Master)
(Still the musical find of the century...for a Todd fan.)

Living Colour- Shade
(So good. Their best since their debut.)

Suicide- S/T
(The original Bruce's "Nebraska.")

Prince- Originals
(Smart release. Great stuff.)

 

1/22/24

Roy Ayers Ubiquity- Everybody Loves The Sunshine
("Red, Black & Green" is so much better.)

Mod Cons- S/T
(Cool new project from Charlie Hunter. Really digging it.)

The Cult- Ceremony
(Another great one. The last in a killer trifecta.)

Led Zeppelin- IV
Warren Zevon- S/T (Kevin Gray Master)

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- You're Gonna Get It
(I could listen to "Hurt" on repeat.)

Buzzcocks- A Different Kind Of Tension
("Mad Mad Judy!")

Motorhead- Another Perfect Day
(The oft-maligned Brian Robertson record. To the detractors, I say, "WRONG!"

Barbara Lynn- S/T
(My Beaumont, Texas crush. Great, "unofficial" all label Dutch comp. Highly recommended.)

1/21/24

Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat
(The older I get, the more I love "Sister Ray," and this whole record. Used to be my fourth fave VU. Now it's my second.)

Johnny Griffin- The Congregation
(Good playing. Typical Blue Note bop session.)

Genesis- Duke

John Doe- A Year In The Wilderness
(This really hit the spot. Been awhile. "The Golden State" remains one of the most upbeat, emotional and sexy pop songs ever written.)

The B-52's- S/T
(One of the all time great Side Ones.)

The Clash- London Calling

Television- The Blow-Up
(Right up there with The Who "Live At Leeds," Aretha at the Fillmore, Jerry Lee at The Star-Club and the Stones "Marquee '71.)

1/20/24

Wayne Shorter- The All Seeing Eye
(Title track is an all-timer.)

Duke Ellington- Far East Suite
Dwight Twilley Band- Sincerely

Freddie King- Is A Blues Master
(Good record with a good band, including James Booker! But I recall liking it more the last time I played it.)

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- Into The Great Wide Open
(Old reliable)

Dr. John- The Sun Moon & Herbs
("Gris Gris" younger, weaker brother. Still a fun listen.)

O.V. Wright- 8 Men & 4 Women
(Killer!)

James Carr- You Got My Mind Messed Up
Todd Rundgren- A Wizard/A True Star
Lyn Collins- Think (About It)

The Cult- Sonic Temple
(Pound for pound, their best. and one of the best Side One/Track Ones ever!)

Joan Jett- S/T
(This one brings back a lot of memories, both great and horrible. Her solo debut and still her best. Oh, and the 2006 Greg Calbi remaster cleaned up a record that sounded better dirty. Buy an original.)

Slade- Slayed?
(The two hits aren't the best tracks on this album.)

1/19/24

Larry Young- Contrasts
(Good, not great. Charles Tolliver shines. Guest vocalist does not.)

Magic Sam Blues Band- West Side Soul
(Never fails.)

Roy Ayers- Virgo Vibes
(Solid, not earthshaking. More Charles Tolliver.)

Larry Young- Lawrence Of Newark
(First time listening to this apparently legendary record. Interesting but will never play it again.)

Grand Funk Railroad- Closer To Home
(Classic.)

Paul Westerberg- 14 Songs
(Always the best thing I listen to on the days I listen to it. Let's see if that happens when today's listening is through.)

The Toms- Applestation
(Back for more.)

13th Floor Elevators- Easter Everywhere
(Still great. One of the few consistantly solid psych records.)

1/18/24

iPod on Shuffle:
Rock Your Baby- George McRae
The Light That Has Lighted The World- George Harrison
Train True (Lennie's Song)- Blue Oyster Cult
Makin' Out- The Darkness
It's Over- Electric Light Orchestra
Hammer (Remixed Outtake)- Peter Tosh
So What!!- The Lyrics
I Won't Look Back- Dead Boys
The Hand That Feeds- Nine Inch Nails
Racist Friends- The Specials
Take Me To The Mardi Gras (acoustic demo)- Paul Simon
Ricochet- David Bowie
Social End Product- The Bluestars
Highway Knees- T. Rex
Cindy Tells Me- Eno
You Tell Me- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Don't Let Me Down (Naked)- The Beatles
My Love Will Not Let Me Down- Bruce Springsteen
Iceberg- 10cc
To Kingdom Come- The Band

Moby Grape- S/T (MONO)
(Been awhile and it hit the spot.)

Dr. John- Desitively Bonnaroo
(Def Top 3 Dr. John.)

Prince Lasha Quintet w/Sonny Simmons- The Cry!
(Just great. Even better than the first time I heard it after seeing that doc on free jazz a couple of years ago.)

The Toms- Applestation
(Had no idea this existed before today, when I found it in a collection I bought. Wow!)

1/17/24

Todd Rundgren- Space Force
(still holds up)

Miles Davis- Live-Evil
(better than I remembered)

David Bowie- Blackstar
(overrated, but I understand)

Thin Lizzy- Renegade
(wildly underrated!)

Lou Reed- Street Hassle
(solid)

Daryl Hall AND John Oates- Bigger Than Both Of Us
(Oates!)

Irma Thomas- Love Is The Foundation
(such a beautiful record)

John Lewis- Improvised Meditations & Excursions
(first time. slick. cool. and hot.)

1/16/24

Lord Sutch & Heavy Friends
Meat Loaf- Bat Out Of Hell- (Kevin Gray Master, Side One)
Black Sabbath- Master Of Reality
Jalen Ngonda- Come Around & Love Me
Elvis Presley- Elvis Is Back (Living Stereo)
Badfinger- Personal Playlist
Ian Hunter- Man Overboard
Cruzados- Land Of The Endless Sun

1/15/24

Bad Brains- Rock For Light
The Soft Boys- Invisible Hits
World Party-Egyptology
Lou Reed- The Blue Mask
The Who- Sell Out (Stereo)
Faces- Ooh La La

1/14/24

Lucille Furs- Another Land
John Cale- Paris 1919
David Bowie- Low
St. Vincent- Marry Me
Raspberries- Best
Joe Bataan- Gypsy Woman (Kevin Gray Master)
The Rolling Stones- Tattoo You
Thin Lizzy- Vagabonds Of The Western World
Thin Lizzy- Vagabonds Of The Western World (Bonus LP)
Suzi Quatro- S/T

1/13/24

Miles Davis- On The Corner
Nico- The Marble Index
Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy (MoFi 45 RPM HSM)
New Order- Substance 1987
Miles Davis- Get Up With It
Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children
The Collins Kids- Introducing Larrie & Lorrie
Charlie Hunter/Scott Amendola- Not Getting Behind Is The New Getting Ahead

1/12/24

Nick Harper- Tempus Fugitive
The Toms- The 1979 Sessions
Bad Brains- I Against I
T. Rex- S/T
The Toms- S/T
The Black Crowes- By Your Side
Queen- Made In Heaven
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- Damn The Torpedos
The Toms- S/T (Bonus LP)

45s
The Who- Let's Se Action
Mafia & Fluxy & Winston Rose- Marcus Salute/Version
Tony Roots- Burning Fire
Disciples- Inferno
The Orlons- Envy (In My Eyes)
The Beatles- Help (Australian E.P.)
The Yardbirds- Goodnight Sweet Josephine/Think About It
Grace Jones- The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
Lee & The Clarendonians- Night Owl/Version

1/11/24

Linda Martell- Color Me Country
Charlie Rich- I Hear Those Blues: Rich In Stereo
Hit the Bongo!: The Latin Soul Of Tico Records
Electric Light Orchestra- All Over The World: The Very Best Of...
Jimi Hendrix/Band Of Gypsys- Songs For Groovy Children (1/1/70-Second Set)
Eddie Floyd- Knock On Wood

1/10/24

Nico- Desertshore
Roy Harper- Folkjokeopus
V/A- EG First Edition
10cc- How Dare You
Bread- The Sound Of...
Rush- Hemispheres
Rush- Hold Your Fire
The Clovers- Dance Party

1/9/24

The Lemon Twigs- Everything Harmony
Lee Perry- Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Corn Bread
boygenius- the record
Charlie Hunter Quartet- Natty Dread
Geese- Projector
The Lemon Twigs- Do Hollywood
Elvis Costello & The Imposters- The Boy Named If
Black Sabbath- Heaven And Hell

1/8/24

Blind Blake- Ragtime Guitar's Foremost Fingerpicker
The Everly Brothers- Roots
David Bowie- Live Santa Monica '72
The Posies- Solid States
Cheap Trick- In Another World
Bash & Pop- Friday Night Is Killing Me
Love- S/T (MONO)

1/7/24

Fairport Convention- What We Did On Our Holidays
Bee Gees- Odessa (Kevin Gray Master)
The Lemon Twigs- Songs For The General Public
Dwight Twilley Band- Twilley Don't Mind
Big Star- Radio City
Geese- Projector
Motorhead- Iron Fist
Motorhead- 1916
10cc- Sheet Music
Damned- Damned Damned Damned
Sweet Cream- ...And Other Delights

1/6/24

Rufus Harley- Bagpipe Blues
Charlie Hunter & Lucy Woodward- Music! Music! Music!
Little Walter- The Best Of...
Cargoe- S/T
Otis Redding- The Best Of... (MONO)
Sound Dimension- Jamaica Soul Shake Volume 1
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Armed Forces
The Damned- Machine Gun Etiquette
David Bowie- Something In The Air (Live Paris 99)
Split Enz- Waiata
De La Soul- 3 Feet High & Rising

1/5/24

Earth & Stone- Kool Roots
The Sons Of Negus- Freedom Sounds
Earth, Wind & Fire- I Am
Sam Cooke- Night Beat
The Zombies- Begin Here
Alton Ellis- Sings Rock And Soul
Lee Perry- Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Corn Bread
Black Sabbath- Sabotage
Bad Brains- Black Dots
O.V. Wright- A Nickel & A Nail-and-Ace Of Spades

1/4/23

Marty Manning & His Orchestra- The Twilight Zone
Marshall Crenshaw- #447
Mod Cons- S/T
Don Patterson With Sonny Stitt- Donny Brook
Dub Judah- Twinkle's Riddim
David Bowie- Toy
Dead Boys- Young, Loud & Snotty
Trashcan Sinatras- Cake
Whitesnake- Greatest Hits Remixed • Revisited • Remastered

1/3/24

Ian M. Bailey- We Live In Strange Times
Johnny Guitar Watson- Stressin' The Strings
Betty Davis- They Say I'm Different
The Flying Burrito Brothers- The Gilded Palace Of Sin (Kevin Gray Master)
Yes- Time And A Word (German Edition)
Black Sabbath- S/T
Ray Barretto- Barretto-Power
Derek & The Dominoes- Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
George Harrison- Gone Troppo
Jimi Hendrix- The Cry Of Love

1/2/24

Dub Judah- Twinkle's Riddim

The Lemon Twigs- My Golden Years (3Xs)

Little Walter- Hate To See You Go
Sting- The Dream Of The Blue Turtles
JD McPherson- The Warm Covers LP
Sabu Martinez & His Jazz-Espagnole
Deaf School- English Boys/Working Girls
Lydia Loveless- Nothing's Gonna Stand In My Way Again
Sting- The Soul Cages
Buzzcocks- Singles Going Steady

The Lemon Twigs- My Golden Years (2Xs)

1/1/24

Fairport Convention- What We Did On Our Holidays
The Kinks- The Journey Part 2
Robert Finley- Black Bayou (four tracks)

12/31/23

Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus- Rastafari
Aretha Franklin- 30 Greatest Hits
Bill Evans • Jim Hall- Undercurrent
Crowded House- Together Alone
The Pretty Things- Parachute
Captain Beefheart- The Spotlight Kid
The Rolling Stones- Made In The Shade
Jerry Lee Lewis w/The Nashville Teens- Live At The Star Club, Hamburg

V/A- New Year's Eve Mix