7/30/25

Paul Weller- Find El Dorado- ****
(Really enjoyed the second spin.)

Ozzy Osbourne- Under Cover- ****1/2
(I had no idea this record existed before this week. And it's produced by my man Mark Hudson. And it features Jerry Cantrell on guitar. And Ian Hunter! And songs you thought you never wanted to hear covered ever again. But guess what? It all works! This is a very smart record. Trust me. Mark Hudson is a genius.)

George Harrison- Brainwashed-****

Queen Patsy & Stranger Cole- The Fabulous Songs Of Miss Sonia Pottinger Vol. 1- ****1/2
(This is insanely good. Mid-60's ska would be the easy way to describe this collection. But it's unbelievably diverse, with twists and turns in and out of doo-wop, pop, R&B and more.)

Peter Gabriel- S/T (Debut, Side One Plus "Slowburn.")- ****
XTC- Apple Venus Volume One-****
Wet Leg- moisturizer- ****

Bryan Ferry- Bete Noire (Dolby Atmos)- ****
(Somewhere in the comments over the last week, someone mentioned this. I can't find the comment, so I will say here and now, this sounded great! You could drive a car around the horns, guitars and vocals on "Limbo." Great suggestion, wherever it is.)

David Bowie- Toy (Unplugged & Somewhat Slightly Electric)- ****

7/29/25

Paul McCartney- Chaos & Creation In The Backyard- ****1/2
(I love this record so much, I really believe it is his best. Hard to say out loud, but I'm feeling it.)

The Abyssinians- Satta Massagana (Original Jamaican Mix)- ***1/2

Sonny Sharrock Band- Seize The Rainbow- ****
(Another record that riles me up in the best ways. Gnarly guitars and a massive two drummer rhythm section, just hammering through songs that actually have sweet melodies in the middle of all the chaos. An all time fave.)

Roxy Music- Country Life-****
Robert Fripp- Exposure (Third Edition)- ****

The Stooges- Fun House- ****
(A damn riff machine! One of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time.)

Dead Boys- Young, Loud & Snotty-****1/2
(Another that gets better and better with age, both its and mine!)

Goo Goo Dolls- A Boy Named Goo-****

Prince- Dirty Mind- ****1/2
(This is where I came in and it's where I'll stay. Punk music you can dance to. "Purple Rain?" Yeah, ok. ~yawn~ This and "Parade," that's where it's at!)

7/28/25

The Drifters- Golden Hits (Kevin Gray MONO Master)- ****
(The definitive version of one of the greatest collections of all time.)

Bruce Springsteen- Born To Run- ****
Nellie Lutcher- Real Gone: The Singles Collection-***

Todd Rundgren- No World Order Lite- ****
(Another record I really disliked upon release that has grown on me over the last 30 years.)

Donovan- Cosmic Wheels- ***
(All Music doesn't like this record, especially Side One. I decided to listen since a) I had a copy sitting around and B) I had never heard it before. It's nutty for sure, and I preferred the rockier Side one more than the typical Donovan fare on Side Two. Title track is excellent, by the way.)

Queen- Greatest Hits III- ***1/2

Jessie Hill- Naturally-****
(Hot off the presses from the Tipitina's Record Club. Haven't heard this in years. It's still a greasy blast.)

The Rolling Stones- Undercover- ****
(This was great tonight!)

Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...****
(The way Kenney Jones stumbles in to "Miss Judy's Farm" will never not thrill me.)

Jon Cleary- Occapella-****

7/27/25

James Booker- BBC Session, 1978- ***1/2
Donovan- Troubadour (Personal Playlist)- ****

The Tripwires- As Knife, Fork, Spoon and Plate In Good Party Tape- ***1/2
(This was fun. Sounded like if Slade played pub rock. Lead singer has a bit of Noddy Holder in him.)

Free- Fire & Water- ***1/2
Peter Gabriel- So- ****

The Rolling Stones- Undercover- ****
(Another record that is better now than it was then.)

Queen- A Kind Of Magic- ****
(Yesterday I called this record "cringey." I admit, I hadn't heard it a long time. I really enjoyed it today. I guess I'm getting softer as I get older.)

v/a- Blue Note Plays Prince (about half)- **1/2
(This didn't work for me. To paraphrase Ozzy Osbourne, if you love a melody enough to sing it, why change the melody when you sing it? I'm talking to you, Cassandra Wilson.)

Queen- The Game- ****
Jeff Lynne- Long Wave-****

v/a- Blue Note Plays The Beatles- ****
(This worked much better. More traditional and swinging. Some great stuff here.)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Trust-****

7/26/25

Magic Sam Blues Band- West Side Soul- ****

Toots & The Maytals- Slatyam Stoot- ****
(I'm A Moron, Volume 7: I have had this record for years and only today realized its title is "Toots Maytals" backwards.)

Bob Dylan- St. Paul, 10/30/02-***1/2
(I love this show because of all the wacky covers.)

Graham Gouldman- The Graham Gouldman Thing-****
Todd Rundgren- Runt (Alternate April 1970 Master)- ****

Talking Heads- More Songs About Buildings & Food (Alternates) - **1/2
(Not a fan of the album so no surprise that I didn't enjoy alternates.)

V/A- Another Saturday Night: 16 Cajun & Louisiana Jukebox Hits-****
Black Sabbath- Mob Rules- ****
Velvet Underground- S/T (Kevin Gray MONO Master)- ****

Queen- The Works- ****
(I hated this record when it came out. It was an improvement over "Hot Space," but it felt like the band was really over. Sharp ears will notice each song is basically a rewrite of songs on "The Game." But I digress. 40 years and Freddie's death has shed new light on their entire catalogue and I love most of it now for different reasons. Though, "A Kind Of Magic" is still pretty cringey.)

Echo & The Bunnymen- S/T- ****

Goo Goo Dolls- Superstar Car Wash- ****
(The last great record before John Rzeznkinkizkznzki transitioned from Buffalo's Paul Westerberg into Buffalo's Jon Bon Jovi.)

Dr. Feelgood- Down By The Jetty- ***1/2

7/25/25

Chico Buarque- Construcao-***1/2
Grateful Dead- In The Dark- ***

Johnny Osbourne- Truths & Rights- ****
Echo & The Bunnymen- Meteorites- ****

Ozzy Osbourne- No More Tears- ****
(His best record, I think. Could use a 15 minute edit, though.)

Fats Domino- What A Party!- ****
Alvin "Red" Tyler & the Gyros- Rockin' & Rollin'- ****
(A great New Orleans double header for a steamy NYC afternoon. The Gyros, at any given time by the way, featured Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Lee Allen, Roy Montrell and Mac Rebennack!)

V/A- Licensed To SKA: Studio One 007-****
David Bowie- "Heroes"-****

Aerosmith- Pump-****
(The first comeback album "Done With Mirrors" was better than the drug infested "Rock & A Hard Place," but so was "The All Kazoo Orchestra Plays Jerry Vale." "Permanent Vacation" was excellent and they were legitimately "back." But, "Pump" sealed the deal. I love that the Toxic Twins went from near death to this record. Play it loud!)

The Rolling Stones- Steel Wheels- ****
(Speaking of great records that the codgers are conditioned to hate based on nothing...)

7/24/25

Genesis-Nursery Cryme- ****
Tony Hazzard- Demonstration- ****

Paul Weller- Find El Dorado- ****
(Lovely record. I wish it was 15 minutes shorter. Might have gotten an additional 1/2 star. We'll see how Round Two plays.)

Echo & The Bunnymen- Meteorites- ****
(This knocked me out. I had no idea it existed before yesterday. This 2014 release rivals anything in their career. It actually reminds me of what Oasis might sound like if they were interesting.)

Ozzy Osbourne- Ozzmosis- ***1/2
Roxy Music- S/T (Outtakes & Alternates)- ***
Dr. John- The Sun, Moon & Herbs- ***1/2

The Rolling Stones- Black & Blue- ****
(This never doesn't sound amazing. Keith's vocals on "Memory Motel" always make my night.)

Del Amitri- Some Other Sucker's Parade- ****
(Their best and one of my favorite albums of the last 30 years, this FINALLY gets a vinyl reissue. I sold an original for $400 and I regretted it, that's how much I love this record. The new $30 repress is perfect.)

Lil’ Band O’Gold- S/T- ****
(R.I.P. Tommy McLain. The Traveling Wilburys of Louisiana! Play this record. It will become a favorite.)

7/23/25

Cat Stevens- Teaser & The Firecat- ***1/2
Lee Perry- Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Corn Bread- ****
v/a- Sugar & Spice: 14 Studio One Rock Steady Sure Shots- ***1/2
v/a- Trapped: 16 Early R&B Soul Stompers- ****
Black Sabbath- Sabotage- ****
Marcia Griffiths- Sweet & Nice- ****1/2
Jethro Tull- This Was (Steven Wilson Remix)- ****
Suzi Quatro- S/T- ***
The Beatles- Meet The Beatles (2024 MONO RM)- ****
Kid Creole & The Coconuts- Wise Guy- ****
Elvis Costello- This Year's Model- ****

7/22/25

Roland Kirk- We Free Kings-***1/2
Cartola- S/T- ***1/2

Tony Hazzard- Demonstration-****
(Excellent. Review coming on Burning Wood.)

BettySoo- If You Never Go Away (about half)- ***
(Average and typical alt-country/pop record out of Nashville. Not bad, just not very exciting.)

Split Enz- See Ya 'Round- ***1/2
(Last Split Enz album or the first Crowded House album? Either way, it misses the mark. But the five good songs are really good, and so it is a keeper.)

Black Sabbath- Vol. 4- ****
(Four songs into this and I get the news that Ozzy passed. I am freaking out a bit.)

Black Sabbath- Never Say Die- ****
(The album everyone loves to trash, including the band. It's why the band broke up. I love it. I guess metal heads had a hard time with the saxophones and synthesizers. If nothing else, listen to "Junior's Eyes.")

Yes- Talk- ***1/2
Split Enz- Corroboree- ***1/2

Led Zeppelin- In Through The Out Door- ****
(Another record with a bad rep.)

Thin Lizzy- Vagabonds Of The Western World (Plus a few bonus tracks)- ****

7/21/25

Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat (Kevin Gray MONO Master)- ****
(Everyone should listen to Side Two without interruption or distraction as a rite of passage.)

Johnnie Mae Matthews- Mama Didn't Lie- ***1/2
(Greasy Detroit R&B from a woman who was wooed by Berry Gordy for Motown but ultimately turned him down so she can do it on her own label. Some great stuff here and some average.)

Corey Glover- Hymns- ****
Jose Mauro- Obnoxious- ***
Todd Rundgren's Utopia- Another Live- ***1/2

Corey Glover- The Pledge (almost all of it) - **
(I had no idea this existed. A 2012, fan funded solo record that flew completely under my radar. It's not very good. Bad songs, awful arrangements. Unpleasant, and I am a fan.)

Danzig- II: Lucifuge- ***1/2
Utopia- An Evening With Utopia: Los Angeles, 11/24/82- ****
Keith Richards- Talk Is Cheap- ****

7/20/25

The Impressions- The Young Mod's Forgotten Story- ****
The Impressions- This Is My Country- ****
(An amazing one-two punch! Essential listening.)

The Kinks- Are The Village Green Preservation Society (Stereo)- ****
Miles Davis- Blue Haze- ***1/2
De La Soul- 3 Feet High & Rising- ***1/2
Al Green- I'm Still In Love With You- ****

The Iguanas- Plastic Silver 9-Volt Heart- ****
(My favorite record by one of my favorite New Orleans bands.)

Pete Shelley- XL-1- ***
(An okay record, but I have always loved both the A and B side of the first single, 'Telephone Operator/If You Ask Me.")

Living Colour- Vivid- ****1/2
(I saw Corey Glover this past Friday with his Soul Experience side project and it was a total blast. Full on soul revue with covers of Sly, Bobby Womack, The Impressions, Al Green...you get the picture. Anyway, had to play this classic. Almost 40 years and 40 memories later and "Vivid" still kicks my ass. Go see Corey Glover's Soul Experience if he comes to your town.)

Kaiser Chiefs- Employment (Anniversary Edition)- ****
(20 years? Aren't the Kaiser Chiefs a new band? This record still holds up and the bonus material has more than a few keepers.)

The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters- ****
(A record with so much Saturday night seeping out of its grooves, it needs Sunday night to finish things up.)




 

7/19/25

Velvet Underground & Nico (Kevin Gray MONO Master)- ****
(Kevin Gray VU mono box is back in print at Sundazed. Get it while it's $150 and not $1000 on secondary markets.)

John Cale- Helen Of Troy- ****
The Clash- London Calling- ****

C.C. Adcock & The Lafayette Marquis- New Orleans Jazz Fest, 4/22/05- ***1/2 
(I have a very vivid memory of the sound being awful at this performance and this official Fest CD isn't that much better. Band rocks, though.)

Matthew Sweet- Sweet On Ya (Personal Playlist)- ***1/2
(I went too heavy on the covers. And his cover of ELO's "Livin' Thing" is terrible. Could have been better.)

Sly & The Family Stone- The First Family: Live At Winchester Cathedral, 1967- ****
(Wild early set. Mostly covers, like a Vegas "soul revue." Great playing. Both The Four Tops cover and "St. James Infirmary" are worth the price admission.)

Los Straitjackets- Rock En Espanol Vol. 1- ****1/2
(Dios, me encanta este disco!)

The Who- Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy- ****
(Found a nice early Decca pressing on the street this morning. Three bucks. I wasn't going to leave it there! The intro to "Pinball Wizard" is worth $3!)

Steve Miller Band- Personal Playlist
(Loving this story of how Steve canceled his whole summer tour due to "bad weather." He's NOT wrong! Lefsetz and ticket holders called bullshit. I don't blame Steve. Can't count on outdoor shows to go off without a snag in the middle of a climate crisis. Anyway, had to hear some music. This is a good playlist, if I do say so myself. Check it out below.)

My Dark Hour
Serenade
Space Cowboy
Wild Mountain Honey
Baby's Callin' Me Home
Fly Like A Eagle
Threshold
Jet Airliner
Wide River
Keeps Me Wondering Why
Dear Mary
Things I Told You
Something Special
Quicksilver Girl
Swingtown
True Fine Love
Steppin' Stone 

7/18/25

Bud Powell- The Amazing Bud Powell (Vol. 1)- ****

Joe Walsh- There Goes The Neighborhood- ****
(This is a really nice Joe record.)

Robin Trower- Los Angeles, 3/16/75- ***1/2

X-Ray Spex- Germ Free Adolescents- ****
(A punk essential. I just read that Ringo gave this to his son Zak as a recommendation. Ringo gets cooler every day.)

Stanton Moore- Groove Alchemy- ****
(My second fave of the trio trilogy. Hot!)

Danzig- S/T- ***1/2
Hawksley Workman- (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves- ****

Joe Gibbs & The Professionals- African Dun: Chapter Four- ***
(First three chapters are much better.)

John Zorn & Dave Lombardo- Memories, Dreams & Reflections- ***1/2
(It's what you'd expect from Zorn. It's a noisy, nerve-shredding free for all. But sometimes it feels good when played loud. Good stuff, though not for the faint of heart. This hit the spot today.)

Lou Reed- The Blue Mask- ****

7/17/25

v/a- Shake Your Rump (A Burning Wood Weekend Mix)- ****
Joe Walsh- Analog Man- ***1/2
Bruce Springsteen- Asbury Park, 11/24/96- ****
King Crimson- In The Wake Of Poseidon- ****
The Beatles- A Hard Day's Night (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, MONO)-  ****
The Young Rascals- Groovin' (MONO)- ****
Peter Wolf- Midnight Souvenirs- ***1/2
Beaver Brothers- Ventriloquisms- ****
O Bando- S/T- ***
Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane- Rough Mix- ****



 

7/16/25

Michael Monroe- Nights Are So Long- ***1/2

Hawksley Workman- (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves- **** 
(I heard a Hawksley record years ago that didn't take. This was a recommendation from a friend and it was not what I was expecting. Great! Different! Very musical and never settling for convention.)

Bob Dylan- Rolling Thunder, Montreal: 12/4/75- ****

The Who- A Quick One (U.S. Two-Fer)- ***1/2
(Uneven pressing of this record, which is always a four or four and a half star spin for me. "So Sad About Us" is true stereo and it's worth the price of admission. But Side One sounds like it has some shady sources.)

Jason Falkner- All Quiet On the Noise Floor- ****

Mikey Dread- At The Control Dubwise-****
(One of the greatest dub records of all time.)

Caetano Veloso- Bicho- ***1/2
(I know this is considered one of his masterpieces, and it's a fine record. But something just doesn't click when I play it.)

The Scruffs- Wanna Meet The Scruffs?- ****
(Baby Big Star.)

Beastie Boys- Paul's Boutique- ****
(This inspired me. Stay tuned for this Weekend's Mix.)

The Flashcubes- Sportin' Wood: A Tribute To Roy Wood-***1/2 

 

7/15/25

Squeeze- Cosi Fan Tutti Fruitti- ***1/2
(Some great songs and some horrible songs, both marred by dated production. Still a decent listen.)

Electric Light Orchestra- Face The Music- ****
Fafa de Belem- Agua- ***1/2
Strawbs- Hero & Heroine- ****
U2- War- ***

Aerosmith- Rocks- ****
("Rats In The Cellar" was thrash before there was thrash.)

St. Vincent- Todos Nacen Gritando- ****
Brian D'Addario- Till the Morning- ****
David Bowie- Low- ****
Martin Newell- The Greatest Living Englishman- ****1/2
Fountains of Wayne- S/T- ****

7/14/25

Bob Dylan- Austin, 7/4/25- ***
Sandy Denny & The Strawbs- All Our Own Work- ****

The Who- Who's Next (Early Doug Sax Cut)- ****
(NERD ALERT! There is constant debate, still, over which is the best sounding version of this classic. The very first Decca pressing with a W-1 stamper seems to get universal applause, as does this Doug Sax cut which can be identified by a W2 and three slanted 8's in the dead wax. There is also a remix on the MOV label that is pretty crisp and a Kevin Gray cut, which surprisingly isn't the definitive version like most of Gray's work. I will say this, I've always been happy with the early Decca pressings and this Doug Sax cut is a winner with a great drum sound, lots of space for the guitars and not too "Ox" heavy. And it for sure beats out the recent half-speed master.)

Daryl Hall- Sacred Songs- ****

Strawbs- From The Witchwood- ****
(R.I.P Dave Cousins. What a great record.)

Ze Ramalho- Nacao Nordestina (Disc One)- ***
The Specials- S/T- ****
The Kinks- Face To Face-****

Led Zeppelin- Presence- ****
(Brilliant and underappreciated. Top Three in my world.)

Fantastic Cat- Now That's What I Call Now That's What I Call Fantastic Cat- ****

7/13/25

v/a-Jubilation! Great Gospel Performances Volume 1: Black Gospel- ****
(Sunday mornin' testifyin'!)

Dionne Warwick- Scepter Singles (Personal Playlist)- ****

James Booker- Tipitina's, 2/2/83- ****
(If I've been to Tip's a dozen times, 11 of those times the club was mobbed. Once, on January 2nd, 2002, it was 3/4 full. This show sounds like Booker is displaying his genius to 10-15 people. How is this possible? Was he rehearsing while the staff set things up for the night? Is this a 75 minute sound check? This performance is mind-blowing and no one is there to hear it.)

The Beatles- Let It Be...Naked- ****

Alexis & the Samurai- Move Into View- ****
(It took years but I finally found a vinyl copy of this lovely record out of New Orleans. Check it out. It's not what you'd expect. No "hoo-na-naying," if that ain't your thing. Just a smart record with great songs.)

XTC- Skylarking (Steven Wilson Remix)- ****

Pet Shop Boys- Smash (The Singles 1985-2020)- ****
(It's ridiculous how many fantastic singles these guys released. Every track is full of hooks, gorgeous melodies and infectious choruses.)

Yes- S/T- ****

Elvis Costello- My Aim is True (Kevin Gray Master) - ****1/2
(NERD ALERT! I have always loved this record, but there were always other Elvis records I loved more. Then I heard the Kevin Gray master and I started playing this somewhat obsessively. The difference between what you first heard in 1977 and this version is astonishing. I still love a few E.C. records more, but Kevin Gray has made me love this album more than I thought.)

The Pursuit Of Happiness- Love Junk- ****1/2
Jon Cleary- So Swell- ****




 

7/12/25

Oscar Brown Jr. & Luiz Henrique- Finding A New Friend- ****
(Excellent!)

The Ethiopians- Songs Of Our Forefathers- ***1/2
Wet Leg- moisturizer-  ****

Los Lobos- Colossal Head- ****1/2
(This needs to be considered as one of their best. It opens strong and ends stronger.)

Fafa de Belem- Tamba-Taja- ****
(Fantastic recommendation from our friend pmac. Percussive, emotional, triumphant.)

The Action- Highlights From "Shadows & Reflections" (Personal Playlist)- ****
(I wrote this on Burning Wood in 2018- "Produced by George Martin, The Action were doing what bands like the Small Faces and The Creation were doing, but to fewer ears. Both Paul Weller & Phil Collins have cited The Action as their favorite band." Every time I listen, I can hear why. Pushing them again because they are soooo good.)

Cheap Trick- S/T (1977)- ****
Sugar Pie DeSanto- Use What You Got: Complete Singles (Personal Edit)- ***1/2

Bash & Pop- Friday Night Is Killing Me- ****
(Great on any night. This, Paul's "14 Songs" and the 'Mats "Boink!!" are my three favorite Replacements' albums. Put'em on shuffle and see what I mean.)

7/11/25

Marvin Gaye- You're The Man- ****
Bob Marley & The Wailers- Wail'n Soul'm Singles Selecta- ***1/2

Wet Leg- moisturizer- ****
(Yep, this is a winner. And I think, better than the debut. We'l see on spin three.)

David Bowie- Pin Ups-****

Willie Tee- I'm Only A Man- ****1/2
(Forgot how much I love this record. Another genius David Axelrod production.)

Genesis- Selling England By The Pound (Nick Davis Remix)- ****1/2
(Some purists hate this remix, but I think it's massive.)

Iggy Pop- The Idiot- ****1/2
Blue Oyster Cult- Spectres-***1/2
Sweet- Action: The Anthology (Personal Edit)- ****
Wet Leg- moisturizer- ****

7/10/25

Mike Heron- Smiling Men With Bad Reputations- ***1/2
Charlie Haden & Hank Jones- Steal Away (Spirituals, Hymns & Folk Songs)- ***1/2
The City- Now That Everything's Been Said- ***1/2

Wet Leg- moisturizer- ****
(Hey, this is really good!)

Peter Gabriel- S/T (3rd)- ****

Roxy Music- Siren- ****1/2
(I fall for this all over again every time I play it. It's their best. Period.)

The Wild Magnolias- S/T (Kevin Gray Master)- ****

Lou Reed- New Sensations- ****1/2
(This record has aged beautifully.)

Barbara Lynn- The Crazy Cajun Recordings-****

7/9/25

Television- Marquee Moon- ****
The Gladiators- Presenting The Gladiators- ****

Paul McCartney- Ram- ****
(For any vinyl people reading, this was a pressing from 1980 when Macca was signed to Columbia and it had a great, punchy sound to it. I think in many ways, it is better, more powerful than the half-speed master. Good chunky guitar in the right channel.)

King Crimson- In The Court of The Crimson King (Side One)- ****
The Who- Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy- ****

Paul McCartney & Wings- Back To The Egg- ****
(Yet another Macca record that deserves so much more.)

Little Feat- Sailin' Shoes- ****
(Over 50 years and "Willin'" still shakes me up.)

The Beatles- Hey Jude- ****
(Because pressings matter to vinyl people, this is a 1978 issue on the purple Capitol label and like so many of those reissues on the purple Capitol label, this was a killer.)


 

7/8/25

Ornette Coleman w/Alvin Batiste & Ellis Marsalis- New Orleans Jazz Festival, 4/27/03- ****
Matumbi- S/T- ***1/2
The Kinks- Something Else By...- ****1/2
King Crimson- Red- ****
Hanoi Rocks- Back To Mystery City- ***1/2
Julie Driscoll- 1969- ****
Johnny Thunders- So Alone- ****
The Grays- Ro Sham Bo- ****
Hanoi Rocks- Self-Destruction Blues- ***1/2

7/7/25

Wil Malone- S/T- ***1/2
David Axelrod- Song Of Innocence- ****
Giles, Giles & Fripp- The Cheerful Insanity Of...(Songs Only)- ***

Black Sabbath- Heaven & Hell- ****
(This is better than 3/4 of the Ozzy records.)

The Wild Tchoupitoulas- S/T- ****1/2
James Booker- The Lost Atlantic Sessions- ****
Liam Bailey- Zero Grace- ****
David Bowie- Station To Station- ****
Ultravox!- S/T- ****

The Ventures- In Space (MONO)- ****1/2
(The moment I reached for this I knew it would be the best thing I listened to all day.)


 

7/6/25

John Cale- Vintage Violence (Kevin Gray Master)- ****

The Rascals- Time Peace: Greatest Hits (MONO)- ***1/2
(New release from Friday Music is a muddy mess. Great songs, but better sound elsewhere.)

Nico- Chelsea Girl- ***1/2

Gladys Knight & The Pips- S/T- ***1/2
(Some of this pre-Motown stuff is excellent.)

Oasis- (What's The Story) Morning Glory?- ****
Black Sabbath- Paranoid- ****
The Byrds- Sweetheart Of The Rodeo-****
John Cale- Paris 1919- ****
Galactic And Irma Thomas- Audience With The Queen-****
Lee Dorsey- Yes We Can-****

Lou Ann Barton- Read My Lips- ***1/2
(An amazing voice singing fantastic songs with killer musicians behind her. But Lou Ann's records all suffer from bad production. This is a terrific record marred by terrible 80's bombast. Every song sounds like it is vying for a spot in a "Lethal Weapon" bar scene. DO OVER!)

Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos- The Prosthetic Cubans- ****

7/5/25

Charlie Hunter & Ella Feingold- Different Strokes For Different Folks- ***
(This is not a straight up Sly tribute, but it certainly has a big time Sly vibe.)

Ray Charles- The Great Ray Charles- ****

Micheal Smotherman-S/T- ****
(A lost classic. James Jamerson on bass. Robert Palmer's drummer Dony Wynn keeping time. This is an all time fave. Funky, with a Cajun feel and full of pop hooks, too.)

Alvin Robinson- Blue Cat Singles- ****
Bob Marley & The Wailers- Soul Revolution II- ***
Bruce Springsteen- Streets Of Philadelphia Sessions- ***1/2
The Byrds- The Columbia Singles '65-'67- ****

Finn Brothers- Everyone Is Here-****1/2
(Their masterpiece.)

Boston- S/T (Kevin Gray Master)- ****1/2
The La's- S/T- ****
Soul Asylum- Let Your Dim Light Shine-****

Leon Russell- S/t (Kevin Gray Master)- ****1/2
(The best pressing of one of the greatest records of all time. I have played this pressing more in the last five years than I have the record in the previous 50 years.)

 

7/4/25

David Axelrod- Song Of Innocence- ****1/2
(Been a while since I played this one. Still as amazing as ever.)

James Booker- Junco Partner-****

Jerry Garcia- Might As Well: A Round Records Retrospective- ****
(This is a great compilation. Nicely done.)

Donovan- Wear Your Love Like Heaven- ***1/2
The Rolling Stones- Aftermath (U.K. MONO)- ***1/2
James Booker- Molde Jazz Festival, Norway 1978- ****
Electric Light Orchestra- Discovery-****
Paul McCartney- Personal Playlist- ****

Izzy Stradlin & The Ju Ju Hounds- S/T- ****
(The best Guns & Roses record. Really, one of the best rock and roll records of all time. Honest.)

Squeeze- Argybargy-****
 

7/3/25

James Booker- Live At The Toulouse Theatre, November 1980- ****
(One of the best solo piano sets I have ever heard.)

Bobak, Jons, Malone- Motherlight-***
Fickle Pickle- Sinful Skinful-***1/2
Rush- Clockwork Angels- ***1/2
Billy Nicholls- Would You Believe?- ****

The Beach Boys- 1968-Wake The World (Alternate "Friends")- **1/2
(Mostly piss-takes.)

Clifton Chenier- Louisiana Blues & Zydeco- ****
Andwella's Dream- Love & Poetry-***

The Soft Boys- Underwater Moonlight-****
(New vinyl remaster sounds great and has a great package.)

The Beatles- Yesterday & Today (Stereo)- ****
Todd Rundgren- Todd (Personal Edit)-****

Wings- Venus & Mars-****
(Another one of those records that followed a critically acclaimed blockbuster and then got a raw deal. I'm convinced critics don't really listen. Fans listen. Everyone else just rides the wagon.)

7/2/25

The Everly Brothers- In Our Image- ****
(Just about every Everly Brothers record is great. Maybe not "Instant Party," but everything else. This is a fave.)

Eddie Harris- The In Sound- ****

Judy Mowatt- Black Woman-****1/2
(One of the greatest reggae records of all time. My kind of church!)

James Booker- Bremen, 11/1/76-****
v/a- The Ska's The Limit-***1/2

Judas Priest- British Steel-****1/2
(The greatest heavy metal record of all time.)

The Joe Jackson Band- Volume 4- ***1/2
(Good record, but it did not age well.)

Free- Free At Last-****

Beaver Brothers- Ventriloquisms-****1/2
(Yep. It's the real deal. Genius.)

David Bowie- Outside (Personal Edit)- ***1/2
10cc- Sheet Music-****

7/1/25

Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quintet- Sound Remains-***1/2
The Bonzo Dog Band- Tadpoles-***
Cliff Wade- Look At Me I've Fallen Into A Teapot Part One- ***
Pink Floyd- Animals (2018 Remix)- ****

Beaver Brothers- Ventriloquisms- ****
(A new discovery courtesy of my friend John. Cliff Wade and Geoff Gill, formerly of Fickle Pickle---a great record, by the way, and they are also the writers of Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker," which was news to me, too---now here as the Beaver Brothers. If you dig Badfinger, McCartney & McGear, Bee Gees, Bonzo Dog Band, 10cc and ELO,  dial this one up on YouTube while you can.)

The Gladiators- Presenting The...- ****
(A reggae masterpiece.)

Jerry Reed- The Unbelievable Guitar & Voice Of-****
(And man do I love this record. It doesn't get any cooler.)

Bruce Springsteen- Inyo-***1/2
(This is a good record. Second time around and I still dig it.)

Daryl Hall/John Oates- Along The Red Ledge (Personal Edit)- ****

Beaver Brothers- Ventriloquisms- ****1/2
(Even better second time around.)

Pete Townshend- Empty Glass-****

Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers- ****
(As far as comeback albums go, this is right up there.)

6/30/25

The Beatles- Beatles For Sale (MONO)- ****
Nico- Desertshore- ***1/2
Sparks- Halfnelson- ***1/2

James Booker- Cologne Studio Session, 1978-***
(Great playing, because it's Jame Booker. But heoversings all the vocal tracks, as if he was trying extra hard to impress the producer, and it pretty much sabotages all of those tracks.)

Lene Lovich- Stateless-***1/2
The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters-****
Nine Inch Nails- Broken-****
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Almost Blue- ****