3/30/24

Creation Rebel- Rebel Vibrations
(The second of three long out of print reggae classics reissued last week. This one is Creation Rebel's dub record. Not bad, but nothing Augustus Pablo hasn't done better.)

v/a- Jamaica- Rhythm & Blues: 1956-1961 (D1)
(Really fun collection, like hearing Wynonie Harris & Louis Jordan songs covered by Jamaican ska bands. Great stuff.)

The Kinks- God's Children E.P.
(Excellent RSD piece with four tracks from "Percy.")

 

The Beatles- Abbey Road (2019 Stereo Remix)
(Someone on social media referred to this as "their worst record." Had to play it. Wanted to make sure I disagreed. Someone else, a Beyonce fan defending her cover of "Blackbird," also referred to the Beatles as "an elevated boy band.")

Elvis Costello- My Aim Is True (Kevin Gray Master)
(Absolute definitive version of this record.)

The Who- A Quick One (True Stereo, Abbey Road HSM)
(With just a little tweaking, this could have landed in The Who's Top 5.)

Guitar Gable w/ King Karl- Cool, Calm, Collected
(Groovin' in the Louisiana swamps with this one. Big influence on my man C.C. Adcock. Actually got to see C.C. & King Karl perform in New Orleans.)

 

 

Pete Townshend- Empty Glass (Abbey Road HSM)
(Got into a discussion about this with a friend, so of course, I needed to play it. Amazing record, but I give "Chinese Eyes" the edge.)

Todd Rundgren's Utopia- S/T (Side One)
(Another discussion, this time with one of my old Todd/Utopia buddies, who doesn't love this album. I love Side One. I don't mind Side Two, I just never play it. It's a 35 minute commitment.)

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- S/T
(Been thinking about this one since my "Firsts" post, and C In California's comments.)

Deep Purple- Stormbringer
(This record is where the band turned the corner. I love the Coverdale/Hughes records. "Burn" edges this one out because it is still reminiscent of classic Purple, but there are some killer tracks here. I just read somewhere...social media, Mojo, who can remember?..."Sabbath and Zep were harder, but Deep Purple had the groove." "Stormbringer" is full of grooves. And it's all because of Ian Paice, who could do it all!)

Elton John- Caribou
(Another one of those records that didn't stand a chance. This followed "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," which might as well have been Elton's first, because that is when he truly exploded. So, in some ways, "Caribou" could be the "sophomore slump." 50 years later, it delivers, and has one of my all time fave EJ tracks. See below...the four of you who are reading.)

)

3/29/24

Frank Sinatra- A Swingin' Affair (U.K. Remaster)
(One of a number of Frank records in this recent collection I purchased. Excellent sound on this U.K. remaster. If I am not mistaken, this is my ex-business partner's fave Sinatra. It's damn swingin', that's for sure.)

Deep Purple- Machine Head (2024 Dweezil Zappa Remix)
(Not sure I approve of this Dweezil remix. It seems unnecessary. Was he given the job because his dad and Montreux? A few added effects on Gillan's voice and a new ending to "Highway Star," a bit more fuzz on the intro of "Space Truckin'" equals "so what?" I prefer the Kevin Gray master of the album proper.)

 

 

Donovan- Sunshine Superman
(Man, I love "The Trip." And I only just discovered a few years ago that Todd Rundgren's The Wheel" is pretty much just Donovan's "Ferris Wheel" rewritten.)

 

 

Scott H. Biram- The One & Only
(I have a friend who absolutely loves Biram, so I decided to give the new one a spin. Okay. It rocks occasionally. It doesn't occasionally. I can hear the appeal.)

Aerosmith- Draw The Line
(This didn't have a chance after "Rocks," but 47 years later it's one of my faves.)

 

Pete Ham- Misunderstood
(Yet another collection of Ham demos. Hit and miss like any collection of this sort, but plenty of gems. Worth your time.)

 

 

Kiss- S/T
(Everyone needs the first six albums!)

Kiss- Rock And Roll Over
(Kiss is just power pop with bigger amps and stupider lyrics. My second fave Kiss album, by the way.)

Van Halen- S/T
(It's a Sheepshead Bay Friday night. Hitting all the faves of East 19th Street. And how f**king amazing is Eddie's solo on "Ice Cream Man?")

 

 

 

3/28/24

Dion- Kickin' Child: The Lost Album 1965
(This blew me away when it first came out and it still kicks ass today.)

 

Steely Dan- The Royal Scam
(Mojo called "Sign In Stranger" one of the Dan's Top 30 songs and I'd agree. Somewhat infuriating list as they burned 5 entries on either Becker/Fagen solo tracks, or songs from the last two mediocre albums.)

 

AC/DC- Personal Playlist
(Only Bon. No Brian.)

 

Robin Trower- Twice Removed From Yesterday (50th Anniversary RM)
(You can buy the first five Trower records anywhere for a buck. No one cares, which is a shame because they all smoke, including the live album. I jumped for the recent 2 LP anniversary remaster, because if any records needed an upgrade, it's those first five Trower records. Amazing pressing with solid bonus tracks, too.)

 

Creation Rebel- Close Encounters Of The Third World
(Finally getting reissued along with two other C.R. records, today! This one is the best of the three.)

The Plugz- Better Luck
(Yeah, I know. I go on and on about The Plugz. But I love both records. When I listen, I feel like they'd appeal to everyone. But what do I know?)

3/27/24

The Mahavishnu Orchestra- The Inner Mounting Flame
Yes- Relayer

iPod on Shuffle:
Someone I Once Knew- Paul Westerberg
Mercy Street- Peter Gabriel
John Barleycorn- Traffic
The Bitterest Pill- The Jam
Blue Eyes- International Submarine Band
The Last Time I Saw Richard- Joni Mitchell
Woman (2010 Stripped Renix)- John Lennon
If Only You Were Lonely- Paul Westerberg w/Tom Waits
When The Sour Turns To Sweet- Genesis
The Yard Man- Bettye Crutcher
Fly- David Bowie
Pretty Girl- The Easybeats
You've Got A Habit Of Leaving (Unplugged)- David Bowie
In The Summer Of His Youth- Bee Gees
Ensure- Lloyd Charmers
Bewtiched, Bothered & Bewildered- Jeff Lynne
The Informer- David Bowie
Man Of The World- Toots Hibbert
It's Late (Alt. Version)- Queen
Pressure Drop- Toots & The Maytals
You're Funny Boy- Carl Smith
Lovelines (alt. voc.)- The Replacements

3/26/24

Lenny Kravitz- It Is Time For A Love Revolution
(A recent Mojo mag article called this record one of his greatest. It's exactly like every other Lenny album. Two great tracks and ten other decent tracks that sound just like all the other tracks on all the other Lenny records.)

Bryan Ferry- In Your Mind
(Ferry's first solo album of all original material remains his best. This record sounds like the Roxy Music album that would have followed "Siren," had they remained active.)

The Merry-Go-Round- The Best Of
(They only have one album, but the single only tracks and rarities included, make this an exceptional overview.)

Jules Shear- Watch Dog
(I sold a copy of "She's So Unusual" and saw Jules' name. Been a long time since I played this one. Jules, Todd Rundgren and the definitive version of "All Through The Night.")

Asia- S/T
(That collection I bought on Friday is jogging the memory. My girlfriend broke up with me (for the first time) by telling me to listen to "Only Time Will Tell." This record was a major disappointment at the time. I wanted more from this lineup. But they wanted hits and they got'em. I don't mind it so much now. "One Step Closer" is a pretty damn good song.)

Bryan Ferry- Bete Noire
(Looks like I am stuck in the 80's. "Limbo" is def a Top 10 Ferry solo track. Love that drum pattern, even if it may be a machine.)

 

3/25/24

Tin Men- Hit It!
(Fun new record from New Orleans' premier "guitar/tuba/washboard" trio. Covers of Kinks, Beatles and Funkadelic, too!)

Southern Culture On The Skids- Countrypolitan Favorites
(A fave! Another Kinks cover, among others.)

Mel Brown- Chicken Fat
(Funky and groovy. First time hearing it, and it's a Kevin Gray master, to boot.)

The Nice- Autumn To Spring
(All the right songs.)

Bob Dylan- Infidels
(Sly & Robbie, Mick Taylor and Mark Knopfler. In my Top 5 Dylan records. Okay, Top 7.)

Aerosmith- S/T
("One Way Street!" And Side Two!! Okay, and "Dream On." These guys weren't always Diane Warren, power ballad idiots.)

Robert Gordon w/Link Wray
(Robert stole $2 VHS tapes out of my store 20 years ago, but I still like his records. Love the art, right?)

Rare Earth- Ma
(Just riffing here! 1200 records in that collection I purchased on Friday, so many new things to choose from. Actually don't think I have ever heard all of this record. I know two tracks, but by other artists. Back in a few.
~record plays~ 
Okay. Overblown, overplayed. Unnecessarily trippy. Meh.)

 

3/24/24

I bought 1300 records on Saturday night. The majority of today's listening will be from this new batch, many of which will be up for sale on the Discogs page over the days ahead.

Chet Atkins- It's A Guitar World
(Wow. I knew what to expect from a Chet Atkins record, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. Killer versions of "For No One" and "Cast Your Fate To the Wind.")

The Box Tops- Super Hits
(Still hard to believe the guy singing these songs is the guy singing Big Star songs.)

The Rascals- See
(A great half a record.)

Sonya Spence- Sings Love
(New to me. Solid rock steady reggae. Pretty rare.)

Paul McCartney- McCartney (Abbey Road HSM)
Van Halen- 1984
Jimi Hendrix- War Heroes
(I enjoyed all three of these immensely, especially "War Heroes," which blew my mind when I first heard it 50 years ago.)

Kiss- Hotter Than Hell
(So yeah, a bunch of Kiss records in this collection I bought. "Hotter Than Hell" was the first one I purchased upon release. I always thought it was one of the worst sounding records in recorded history. Great songs, with a godawful mix. Not bothering me tonight. Sounding pretty damn good. "Got To Choose!" Also, triggered a memory of me singing "Mainline" in my bedroom and my mother bursting through the door screaming, "MAINLINE? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SINGING?" Oh...and both "Coming Home" and "Got To Choose" are superior on the "MTV Unplugged" set.)

Spirit- Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
(This one always delivers. I tend to forget about it. Then I hear "Nature's Way," "Animal Zoo," "Life Has Just Begun," and "Mr. Skin" and I want to listen again...right away.)

3/23/24

I bought 1300 records at 9PM last night. The majority of today's listening will be from this new batch, many of which will be up for sale on the Discogs page over the days ahead.

The Strawberry Alarm Clock- Incense & Peppermints (MONO)
(Fun record beyond the hit.)

The Left Banke- Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina (STEREO)
(An all time fave in stereo or mono.)

Elvis Presley- Loving You (MONO)
(Solid record! First three or four are, actually.)

Electric Light Orchestra- Out Of The Blue
(Man, I could make one killer record out of this double.)

Kiss- Love Gun
(My third favorite Kiss record.)

Squeeze- Play
(The secret weapon of the Squeeze catalogue.)

Ian Hunter- Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad Of Hunter & Mott The Hoople (Record One)
(With all the chatter, it was inevitable that this would find its way to the turntable. Great selection,  but the single edits give me the twitch.)

Rod Stewart- Foot Loose & Fancy Free
(Haven't heard this record in years! Forgot about the cover of "You Keep Me Hanging On" in the Vanilla Fudge arrangement with Carmine Appice on drums. New collections are so much fun.)

 

 

3/22/24

Pink Floyd- Masters Of Rock
(A "Boink!" candidate for sure. Excellent overview of the Syd years, with singles, deep cuts and b-sides. An all-time fave record.))

The Kinks- The Kink Kronikles
(Brilliant.)

The Beatles- Rubber Soul (U.K.MONO)
(Good band.)

Paul Weller- True Meanings
(This is another Weller record that left me cold upon release, but a revisit revealed a beautiful folk record, at times reminding me of Tim Hardin or Nick Drake. Really lovely.)

Chris & Rich Robinson- Brothers Of A Feather: Live At The Roxy
(Deep cuts, covers, rarities all in an acoustic setting. Saw this tour at Rose Hall and Town Hall, and this record is a great souvenir.)

Butthole Surfers- Locust Abortion Technician
(Hard to believe I loved this record in 1987. So did my friend Tim Vega. We were both high all the time, so that might have a lot to do with it. I'm sure I won't listen to this again. Though, I do want to hear a few more Butthole Surfers records to see if I feel the same about those.)

3/21/24

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

John Coltrane- Plays The Blues
(No bad Coltrane records on Atlantic.)

David Bowie- A House Of Fear (Sigma Sound, 1974)
(New "unofficial" release of "Young Americans" demos, outtakes and unreleased. Second time around. Really love this. "Lazer (The Gouster)" has bits that became both "TVC 15" and "Scream Like A Baby." Fun bootleg!)

The Replacements- Boink!!
(I had to.)

3/20/24

The Messthetics And James Brandon Lewis- S/T (four songs)
(Really wasn't a Fugazi fan, but Fugazi playing jazz with James Brandon Lewis intrigued me. Lasted four songs. Not appealing at all.)

Lazy Lester- S/T (Flyright)
(Swampy good!)

Paul McCartney- Egypt Station (Explorer's Edition, Record 3)
(A couple of really good bonus tracks.)

Renaissance- Ashes Are Burning (Side Two)
(One of my very favorite Side Twos. Side One ain't so bad, either.)

Temple Of The Dog- S/T
(Better than any Pearl Jam or Soundgarden record.)

Prince- Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
(This record is underrated and really holds up. Title track, Sheryl Crow cover, "Love You, Don't Trust You" and "Pretty Man" all standouts.)

Prince- Lovesexy
(This is probably a better record than I think it is. It reminds me of a lousy time. It triggers something and I end up not liking most of it because of the memories attached to it. I'm sure I'm not being fair.)

 

3/19/24

Charlie Gabriel- Eighty Nine
(This one still knocks me out. Might see him perform next week down in New Orleans.)

Rickie Lee Jones- S/T (Kevin Gray Master)
(Can't hear "Danny's All-Star Joint" without dancing around. Can't hear "Company" without breaking down.)

Heart- Little Queen (2024 VMP RP)
(This pressing just came out and it is massive! Best this record has ever sounded.)

Jeff Lynne- After Years
(Something I've had in my iPod for some time. Not sure if it's a bootleg or a fan made collection, but it's odd tracks, covers and b-sides. Fun stuff.)

The Creation- Action Painting
(Yesterday's Song Of The Day put me in the mood for all of it.)

Kiss- Dressed To Kill
(My favorite Kiss record. Polishing some chapters in this book and it brought me here.)

The Replacements- Boink!!
("Boink!!,) with two exclamation marks. I play this way too often, but I think it's perfect. Not a perfect "hits" comp. But a perfect rep of this band. Might have to call it my fave 'Mats record.)

Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...
(Just listen to the first few seconds of the first song, speaking of what "reps" the band. The way Kenney Jones falls in...just slightly behind the band as "Miss Judy's Farm" takes off, is exactly what makes this band great...and what lacks in so many others. What an amazing feel!)

3/18/24

Black Sabbath- Vol. 4
(This is a lot of Sabs fans fave Sabs album. Good one, but I like four others more.)

Paul Weller- A Kind Revolution
(Another Weller record that didn't kill me upon release, but sounds much better now.)

Toots & The Maytals- Funky Kingston
(Hard to beat that "Louie Louie" cover.)

iPod on Shuffle:
You're The Beautiful One- The Posies
Karma Man (Unplugged)- David Bowie
Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush- Traffic
Black Cow- Steely Dan
Whenever You're On My Mind (demo)- Marshall Crenshaw
Everything Is Sunshine- The Hollies
Turn & Walk Away- The Babys
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down- Elvis Costello & The Attractions
El Rock de la Carcel- Los Teen Tops
Chaos & Disorder- Prince
Rip Her To Shreds- Blondie
Fools Fall In Love- Elvis Presley
Lay Down- Melanie

3/17/24

Mance Lipscomb- Texas Sharecropper & Songster
(Absolutely perfect for a Sunday morning.)

Miles Davis- Kind Of Blue
(Easing into Sunday. Also, looking forward to the new James Kaplan book about this band.)

Nick Lowe- The Impossible Bird
(The first of his "old man" records, whatever that means. Brilliant, like all of his "old man" records.)

Coverdale • Page- S/T
(I really love half this record.)

Jason Falkner- I'm Ok...You're Ok
(And still...we wait...and wait...for new music.)

U2- Achtung Baby!
(Well, it is St. Patrick's Day. Plus, this record is a masterpiece. It's the only one you need by these lads.)

The Walker Brothers- Greatest Hits (Sides Two,
("The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" will never not stop me in my tracks.)

The Who- Who's Next
(Old reliable.)

 

3/16/24

The Black Crowes- Happiness Bastards
(Yeah, it's great.)

Aerosmith- Permanent Vacation
(Five songs from this album and five from "Pump" would have made up one amazing record rivaling "Rocks.")

Cream- Fresh Cream
(This is a debut that is definitely taken for granted.)

New Order- Substance 1987 (Sides Two & Four)
(I love what I love, but I almost always lose patience beyond those six or seven songs.)

The Black Crowes- Happiness Bastards
(I'm hooked!)

Led Zeppelin- Coda: The Companion Discs (LP 2)
(When you feel like hearing LZ but need something you haven't heard in a while.)

Electric Light Orchestra- All Over The World: The Very Best Of...
(When you can't decide on what ELO you need to hear. This really is a good comp.)

3/15/24

Miles Davis - In A Silent Way
(Each listen brings this closer to being my favorite Miles.)

Grant Green- Feelin' The Spirit
(My two favorite Grant Green records both happen to be filled with spirituals--"Sunday Mornin'" and this one.)

Nico - Chelsea Girl
(I'm having a terrible day. Usually, I'll put on something raucous like the Pixies or Motorhead to snap me out of it. For some reason, I grabbed this. Love the record but, what a mistake.)

The Saints- Eternally Yours
(Usually dig this record. But it didn't cut it today.)

David Bowie- The Metrobolist
(AKA, Tony Visconti's Vanity Project.)

Eddie Money- No Control
(Always loved Eddie Money, especially the first album. Then I saw this on Instagram, written by Dangerous Dave, lead singer and songwriter of power punks Wyldlife:
"Twilley, Seymour, Petty, Carmen...all well-earned spots in the pantheon of power pop's past. But what about Eddie Money? The guy ripped and is downright overlooked."
Well, I never thought of Eddie as power pop, but Dave suggested "No Control" and I think he may be on to something. Good record!)

Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children
(Speaking of power punk. Here comes the weekend.)

The Rolling Stones- Hackney Diamonds
(Gave this one a long rest. Still sounds great.)

Pixies- Surfer Rosa
(Their best! And a record that sounds like no other. This brings me back to Smash CDs on St. Mark's place. Working with Sean & Rob, who both loved this record and played it constantly.)

The Black Crowes- Happiness Bastards
(Even better the second time around.)

3/14/24

The Black Crowes- Happiness Bastards
(First pass, very good. Hoping it's a grower. Vinyl tomorrow.)

Snooks Eaglin- That's All Right
(Snooks! Can't go wrong with his acoustic stuff.)

David Bowie- A House Of Fear (Sigma Sound, 1974)
(New "unofficial" release of "Young Americans" demos, outtakes and unreleased. First, amazed by the audio quality. Second, I can't believe how much I hadn't heard before. Great!)

Queen- Greatest Hits In Japan (As Selected By Japanese Fans)
(Finally got a hold of this. The Japanese have the same taste as I do! Great selection of hits and album cuts, though there is no reason to include "Radio Ga Ga" over countless others.)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Armed Forces
(After Todd Rundgren, I think I've seen Elvis live more than anyone. And I think he's opened almost every show since this album was released with "Accidents Will Happen." Aside from "Alison" and "Pump It Up," I think "Accidents Will Happen" is his most performed song in concert. Just riffing here.)

The Rolling Stones- Live At The Wiltern
(The 93rd Stones live album! I don't mind if they are good, and this one is good. I saw this 2002 "club/arena/stadium" tour at Madison Square Garden and Roseland. They went deep. I got "She Smiled Sweetly" at Roseland. The Wiltern got "Neighbors." I win.)

3/13/24

David Bowie- Pin Ups
(Aynsley Dunbar is the secret weapon of this session.)

10cc-The Original Soundtrack
(Just snagged tix for their first U.S. tour in over 30 years!)

Paul & Linda McCartney- Ram
(I am in a British mood. And man, "Dear Boy" is good!)

10cc- Bloody Tourists
(I'm in 10cc mode. Very psyched about the tour, and this record is the last sorta classic. Actually, this plays better now than it did then.)

The Zombies- Odessey & Oracle
(Everyone needs to listen to this record at least three times a year. It's good for you.)

The Replacements- Songs For Slim
(A great E.P.! The cover of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" is worth the price of admission.)

Mott The Hoople- Mott (Kevin Gray Master)
(If you love this album, you need this pressing. Trust me. It has never sounded this good.)

10cc- Deceptive Bends
(Very underrated! First without Godley/Creme.)

3/12/24

Raspberries- Best
(It was Chris Collins comment on the Eric Carmen post that did it. "Those songs!")

World Party- Goodbye Jumbo
(The masterpiece!)

Lou Reed- Legendary Hearts
(This one came in the mail about an hour ago. I haven't heard it since it was released and it's been missing from my Lou section. Great record!)

Dub Judah- Twinkle's Riddim
(Discovered this back in January. British producer, kind of reggae meets Massive Attack. Really dig it.)

Fats Domino- Million Sellers
(How's this for stream of consciousness? Scrolling thru IG, saw a clip of Jools Holland playing "I'm Ready" with Fats Domino from a 1985 Jools doc called "Walking To the New Orleans," which I had never heard of!! So I now needed to both see the film and hear "I'm Ready." I have 18 Fats Domino albums. NONE of them have "I'm Ready." It was only a single!)

Earl King- Street Parade
(In NOLA mode.)

World Party- Bang!
(Still discussing Karl with friends. What a loss. And man, this record is good.)

 

 

3/11/24

Rush- Snakes & Arrows
(I don't recall ever hearing this album. After listening, I understand how I could have forgotten. Incredibly generic for a Rush record. Nothing stood out at all.)

Glenn Tilbrook- Transatlantic Ping Pong
(One gem after another...well...save one track.)

Ultravox- The Paradise, Boston: 3/3/79 (Late Show)
(Excellent audience recording with a cool set list. Really enjoyed this.)

Yes- Going For The One
(This one has aged really well. A great Side One and a very good Side Two.)

Steely Dan- Can't Buy A Thrill
(Avoiding my World Party records. I don't think I could handle them right now.)

World Party- Private Revolution
(Ah, fuck it. )

 

3/10/24

Professor Longhair- Rock 'N' Roll Gumbo
(Getting ready for the next trip. A great way to start a Sunday.)

Jellyfish- Spilt Milk
(Good record. Debut much better. New pressing very disappointing.)

David Bowie- Hunky Dory
(It's "Hunky Dory!")

St. Vincent- Actor
(Really looking forward to the new one.)

KillerStar- S/T
(Second time around is even better than the first! Listen to this...especially if you're a Bowie fan.)

The La's- S/T
(Something about the lead singer of KillerStar's tone took me to this gem, which by the way, I could listen to everyday.)

The Cult- Pure Cult: The Singles, 1984-1995
(I'm calling it, March 10th, 2024, 5:08 P.M., this is one of the 10 greatest "Greatest Hits" collections out there.)

3/9/24

The Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel One Studios
(An original copy of this was given to me by a friend a couple of years ago. I hadn't heard it prior and it has since become an essential reggae record for me. Great kickoff to a long weekend of listening.)

Prince Ras Murray- Miltant Dread (four songs)
(First time spin--average DJ album. Not killing me.)

John Martyn- Solid Air
(One of his best. Been awhile.)

Robyn Hitchcock- S/T
(Great record, but I like the follow-up "Shufflemania!" even more.)

Mott The Hoople- Brain Capers
(I was writing a bit about Mott and of course, I needed a soundtrack. I love this record, but the Bowie transformation that followed is a miracle.)

Jim Ford- Harlan County
(Sly Stone, Bobby Womack, Nick Lowe & Elvis Costello all loved this guy. Some good songs across various compilations, but the country boy soul on this album wears thin pretty quickly. The cover of "Spoonful," though, is genius.)

Judas Priest- Invincible Shield
(My fave heavy metal band. I consider "British Steel" to be the heavy metal GOAT. Their last record "Firepower," almost 40 years later, was a favorite of 2018 and falls into my Priest Top 5. I didn't expect yet another record from these guys 50 years on, so my expectations were low, and maybe that's why I loved this on first listen. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! This kicked ass! It's J.P. doing what they do best.)

Grace Jones- Warm Leatherette
(The first of the brilliant trilogy. Always a great spin.)

Iggy Pop- Suck On This
(Hall Of Fame bootleg with a performance to match. This puts the officially released "T.V. Eye" to shame. I think this is the definitive representation of the 1977 tour with Bowie on bk. vocals and keys.)

Snooks Eaglin- Teasin' You
(His later records were never as good as his live performances, but this one comes close. His Imperial sides are the shit, by the way.)

3/8/24

KillerStar- S/T
(Interesting debut that features 7 ex-Bowie band members. Decent enough rock/new wave, with enough  nods to Bowie's catalogue---"Absolute Beginners" backing vocals, "Aladdin Sane" piano, "Ashes To Ashes" keys, "Blackstar" sax parts- to keep the songs more interesting than they really are. Worth a second spin.)

Paul Weller- Sonik Kicks
(This record really rubbed me the wrong way when it was first released. A few years and different ears, and I now love it.)

David Bowie- Black Tie White Noise
(This gets better and better. Loved it from Day One, but loving it more now. Possibly his most underrated.)

Brian Eno- Here Come The Warm Jets
(First song, Side Two, "On Some Faraway Beach," was heard in the trailer for the upcoming Steve Martin documentary and that was enough for me to pull out the album.)

Mance Lipscomb- Trouble In Mind
(Had to, after writing about it.)

Joey Ramone- Don't Worry About Me
(As good as the best Ramones records.)

The Dukes Of Stratosphear- 25 O'Clock
(My bud Tim Vega brought this record over one summer night in 1985, we got high and cranked it. I said, "Singer sounds like Andy Partridge." Tim said, "It is, you putz!" Mind blown! Thanks Tim.)

Whitesnake- Greatest Hits Remixed • Revisited • Remastered
(The remixes are solid. They take nothing away from the songs you know...and you know more than you think. This is a great collection. I love it every time I play it. Get the hairspray and Tawny Kitaen videos out of your mind and dig the record making and musicianship. P.S., saw them in 1987 with Great White and White Lion! No, really.)

3/7/24

Paul McCartney- Unplugged: The Official Bootleg
(Sublime.)

Elvis Presley- 30 #1 Hits
(Thank ya ver much.)

The Techniques- Classics
(Early 80's rock steady that sounds like late 60's rock steady. A reggae fave.)

Ray Barretto- Indestructible
(Another in the Craft Records/Kevin Gray/Fania reissue campaign. Every one of these records cooks.)

Iggy Pop- The Idiot
(Review of Iggy's "Bowie Years" box over at the Everybody's Dummy blog put me in the mood to hear it all.)

Iggy Pop- Lust For Life
(See "The Idiot.")

Errol Scorcher- Roach In A De Corner
(Discovered this last weekend. Back for more. Really great vibe.)

The Slits- Cut
(I play this record a lot. Love it more now than I did when it came out.)

3/6/24

Chris Braide & Andy Partridge- Queen Of The Planet Wow!
(Third time's the charm. Great little release.)

v/a- Studio One Oldies But Goodies Vol. 1
(So many early reggae and ska gems. Wonderful.)

The Who- Live At Shea Stadium 1982 (Sides One & Two)
(Sure wish this sounded better. Good performance but lousy recording for an official release.)

Rush- Counterparts
(This was their back to basics record, according to Geddy. It has its moments, but mostly stays around too long. Still what's good is great. I enjoyed this.)

Stiff Little Fingers- Inflammable Material
(Back in the collection after selling off my original. Punk Hall Of Fame!)

Jackie Mittoo- In London
(The keyboard king of Studio One covering Procol Harum, Bee Gees, and of course, "Soul Finger." I love this record and while in Kingston JA, found a beautiful cover to replace my beater.)

Jerry Reed- The Unbelievable Guitar & Voice Of...
(This has got to be the blueprint for every Mike Nesmith solo record.)

3/5/24

Miles Davis- In A Silent Way
(Maurice Brown opened his set at City Winery with a sick twist on "In A Silent Way." Had to hear the original.)

Nico- The End
(I've come around to Nico, especially "The Marble Index" and "Desertshore." But "The End is still traumatizing. Will never listen to this again.)

Maurice Brown- Personal Playlist
(Still high from last night's performance. Needed to hear more.)

Creation Rebel- Psychotic Jonkanoo
(One of three Creation Rebel records getting reissued this month. First time hearing this one. Heavy dub vibe. A bit too trippy. Ok, but not a keeper.)

Yusef Lateef- Eastern Sounds (2023 Kevin Gray Master)
(One of my favorite jazz records in a stunning new pressing.)

The Rolling Stones- Tattoo You Lost & Found: Rarities
(Some great stuff here.)

3/4/24

Eddy Arnold- The Best Of
(My friend Dave posted an Eddy Arnold vinyl haul he picked up a flea market and we got to talking. That's the way it goes. Not a bad track here, by the way.)

Uni Boys- Buy This Now! (about half)
(Just found about this. West Coast power pop produced by The Lemon Twigs. Very late 70's, skinny tie. Okay, nothing great.)

The Lemon Twigs- Everything Harmony
(Can't wait for the new one. This one will be hard to top.)

iPod on Shuffle:
Where Is My Soul- Finn Brothers
Alone- The Four Seasons
Life Itself- Bruce Springsteen
Kotton Krown- Sonic Youth
Tears- John Waite
Downtown- Johnny Thunders
Monkey Gone To Heaven- Pixies
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (2018 Stereo Mix)- The Beatles
Goin' Back- The Byrds

 

3/3/24

Julian Lage- Speak To Me
(Just wonderful! Might need to check out his earlier work.)

Little Walter- Boss Blues Harmonica
(Possibly my fave Chess blues guy. I think Mick, Keef and Ronnie's, too.)

Paul Weller- Illumination
(This is a strong record. Haven't listened in a while.)

International Submarine Band- Safe At Home (Kevin Gray MONO Master)
(This was a year before "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo," and as much as I love that Byrds record, I think I love this more.)

Gram Parsons- GP
(The ISB album took me here. Those harmonies on "Streets Of Baltimore!" Damn!)

Allen Toussaint- The Allen Toussaint Collection
(Decent enough, three-sided set. A few questionable choices and some glaring omissions.)

The Tubes- Love Bomb
(This caught me eye while putting away the Allen Toussaint. My fave Tubes record. Genius production by Todd Rundgren with a brilliant sidelong suite, banded into a nine different songs. Unfortunately, it bombed and broke the band up. Easily four hit singles on this record.)

Michael Monroe- One Man Gang
(More people need to love Michael Monroe.)

The Godfathers- Birth, School, Work, Death
(My theme song! Really, when was the last time you played this record? Turn it up!)

Echo & The Bunnymen- Songs To Learn And Sing
(If it had "Lips Like Sugar," it'd be perfect.)

3/2/24

v/a- Jamaica Jazz From Federal Records: Carib Roots, Jazz, Mento, Latin, Merengue & Rhumba 1960-1968
(Fun collection. The trad stuff more interesting than the straight jazz stuff.)

James Booker- Junco Partner
(Blows my mind every time.)

Errol Scorcher- Roach In A De Corner
(First time spin. Diggin' it. Dub, toasting. Great vibe throughout.)

Chris Braide & Andy Partridge- Queen Of The Planet Wow!
(This is a very pretty record, with some excellent guitar playing from Mr. Partridge.)

Lou Reed- New Sensations
(My birthday buddy! Gotta celebrate with some Lou.)

The Kinks- Muswell Hillbillies
(The recent remaster of this classic sheds new light on an already brilliant record. I highly recommend trading up from your OG vinyl.)

Southern Culture On The Skids- Countrypolitan Favorites
(SCOTS do a fine cover of "Muswell Hillbillies," along with 18 other faves.)

The Bobby Fuller Four- S/T (MONO)
(The difference between the mono and stereo is like the difference between shooting a bullet and throwing it.)

Jason Falkner- Can You Still Feel?
(This is always the best spin of the day. Every song is special. Pop masterpiece. "At the end of the day, all I can say, is yeah yeah yeah...oh yeah.")

Soul Asylum- Let Your Dim Light Shine
(Turning into a 90's classics Saturday. This is their best, no question.)

Goo Goo Dolls- Superstar  Car Wash
(Turning into a 90's classics Saturday. This is their best, no question.)

45s
The Who- The Kids Are Alright
Erykah Badu & James Poyser- Tempted
Alive And Kicking- Tighter, Tighter
Marshall Crenshaw- You're My Favorite Waste Of Time
Carl Carlton- Everlasting Love
The Exciters- Do Wah Diddy
Extreme- Hole Hearted
Bringin' On The Heartbreak- Def Leppard
The Black Crowes- Hole In My Soul
Tina Britt- The Real Thing
Abba- Dancing Queen
The Cinderellas- Baby Baby (I Still Love You)
Friend & Lover- Reach Out Of The Darkness
The Four Tops- Reach Out (I'll Be There)
Lou Gramm- Midnight Blue
Heart- Alone
Jefferson Starship- Jane
Madonna- Rain
Mick Jagger- Visions Of Paradise
Cissy Houston- Be My Baby
Foreigner- White Lie
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield- What Have I Done To Deserve This?
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- Jammin' Me
The Posies- Ooh Child
The Poppy Family- Which Way You Goin' Billy?
The Stairs- Weed Bus
The Kinks- Lola
The Easybeats- St. Louis
Buffalo Springfield- For What It's Worth
The Easybeats- Good Times

3/1/24

iPod on Shuffle:
Rush Across The Road- Joe Jackson
Do Anything You Want To Do- Thin Lizzy
Vampire (outtake)- Peter Tosh
Easy Silence- Dan Wilson
The Bed- St. Vincent
Hallelujah, I Love Her So- Ray Charles
Can't Find Time For Anything Now- John Williams
Only A Fool- The Black Crowes
Like A Nightmare- Motorhead
Hurting Each Other- The Walker Brothers
So Much Love- Dusty Springfield
Hey Grandma- The Move
Then She Kissed Me- Kiss
Lookin' For Boys- The Pinups
You Are Leaving Now- The Gaylads
Fifi The Flea- The Everly Brothers
Heavy Cloud No Rain- Sting
The Passenger- Siouxsie & The Banshees

Ornette Coleman- The Art Of The Improvisers
(This is the record I foolishly think will make the haters turnaround. Who am I kidding? Still, it's one of my faves.)

St. Vincent- Marry Me
(Every song a winner.)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- All This Useless Beauty
(Almost every song a winner. Great to have fully prodcued versions of the Aimee Mann and McGuinn tracks.)

Chris Braide & Andy Partridge- Queen Of The Planet Wow!
(This came out of nowhere. I don't know Chris Braide. But this E.P. is very Andy/XTC. Love it.)

Motorhead- Overkill
(This is where it all began. 1979, East 19th Street, Sheepshead Bay. Phil pulls up and this is blasting from his Blaupunkt car stereo, scaring all the girls away.)

Grace Jones- Nightclubbing
(The bass playing on "Pull Up To The Bumper!" The low harmony on the second chorus of "Pull Up To The Bumper!" There is a lot of genius on this record. Never gets old. And one of the best sounding records I own. Sly & Robbie!)

Joe Bataan- Gypsy Woman (Kevin Gray RM)
(I realize I am talking to 5 people here, but I can't stress enough how HOT those Fania boogaloo records from 1967-1972 really are.)

2/29/24

Ministry- HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
(This was fun...once.)

Todd Rundgren- White Knight
(New tour, but new album? Not sure. Doubtful. Still enjoying "White Knight.)

Billy Cobham- Spectrum
(This was featured on one of the jazz guys IG feed I follow, so I needed to hear it, of course. Classic "jazz" record in every rocker's collection.)

Paul Weller- Wake Up The Nation
(And it continues...)

Julian Lage- Speak To Me
(Wow! First time listening to Mr. Margaret Glaspy. Was expecting some kind of amelodic, BN jazz guitar noodling, but this is not that. It's Ry Cooder, Danny Gatton, Kenny Burrell, Les Paul, Jeff Beck, Django. Fantastic. What a feast for the ears!)

Liam Gallagher & John Squire- S/T (five songs)
(Meh. I think it's Liam. I just don't like the way he sings. He whines everything! Nothing new here.)

Steve Earle- Copperhead Road
(Def a contender for his best.)

Warren Zevon- Personal Playlist
(Talking about Zevon with Michael Giltz, so I had to listen to Warren Zevon. "The Hula Hula Boys" is genius, by the way.)

Ramones- Rocket To Russia
("The Quintessential punk album" it says on the hype sticker. I've got ten better, but I love it at #11.)