John Coltrane- Ole: Kevin Gray MONO Master (1961/2025)- **** (In a word, stunning! "John Coltrane and two bassists walk into a studio..." My fave J.C. record.)
Elton John- S/T (1970)- ***1/2
Marianne Faithfull- Before The Poison (2004)- **** (This record is intense, and at times, incredibly beautiful.)
Lou Reed- Transformer (1972)- **** Willy DeVille- Backstreets Of Desire (1992- ***1/2 Buffalo Springfield- S/T: MONO (1966- **** Jr. Walker And The All Stars- Home Cookin' (1969)- **** (One of my favorite non-comp Motown albums. We, The Cool Jerks, used to cover "The Things I Do For You. I created a mix you might dig. This is a typical Cool Jerks set. The originals, of course. It's HERE.)
John Coltrane- My Favorite Things: Kevin Gray MONO Master (1961/2025)- **** (In a word, stunning!)
Dave & Ansel Collins- Double Barrel (1971)-***1/2 Prince- Dream Factory (1986)- **** The Detroit Cobras- Baby (2004)- ***1/2 The Rascals- The Complete Singles A's & B's: Record One (2018)- **** Dennis Alcapone- Ba-Ba-Ri-Ba Skank (1992)- **** (This will be Monday's "Reggae Record Of The Week," but loyal readers of the Now Playing blog can listen to it today. It's here.)
The Clash- Combat Rock (1982)- ***1/2 Arthur Alexander- A Shot Of Rhythm And Soul (1983)- **** The Slits- Cut (1979)- ****
World Party- Arkeology: Random Picks (2012)- **** (So many gems, but I do love his "Dear Prudence" cover.)
John Coltrane- Plays The Blues: Kevin Gray MONO Master (1962/2025)- **** (In a word, stunning.) Bobby Darin- From Hello Dolly To Goodbye Charlie (1964)- **** (Half ballads and half swingers, and the stuff that swings is killer! Probably the definitive version of "More.")
Olive Jones- For Mary (2026)- **** (Holding strong on second pass. This one below was the stand out on this spin.)
George Harrison- All Things Must Pass: Sides 1-3 (1970)- **** Marshall Crenshaw- S/T (1982)- **** Keith Richards- Main Offender (1992)-***
Aerosmith- S/T: 2024 Mix (1973/2026)-**** (My second favorite Aerosmith record gets the deluxe treatment and it's a doozy. Worth the price of admission for the first official release of the Paul's Mall show from Boston, 1973, one of my favorite live sets ever. The new mix of the album is pretty great, too. More space, and somehow a little glammy like "Rocks." A much needed boost to this legendarily lifeless recording. Great stuff.)
Karl Richter- Johann Sebastian Bach (1964)- *** Howlin' Wolf- The Howlin' Wolf Album (1969)- ***1/2 Nick Lowe- At My Age (2007)- ***1/2 John Lennon & Yoko One- The One To One Concert: Hybrid Best Of Show (2025)- ***1/2 (I highly recommend the documentary. A big takeaway for me--Lennon was a pretty great live guitar player.)
Lou Rawls- Natural Man (1971)- *** Graham Nash- Songs For Beginners (1971)- **** Kraftwerk- 2 (1972)- *** Joe Jackson- Fast Forward: New York Side & New Orleans Side (2015) - **** (That New Orleans side kills me. Stanton Moore playing for J.J.!)
The Beatles- Anthology 4: Personal Highlights (2025)- **** v/a–Nuggets II: Orig. Artyfacts From The British Empire & Beyond 1964-1969, Disc One (2001)-****
Jimmy Page- Outrider (1988)- ***1/2 (It's easy to hate on this record, especially if you're a born Zep hater. Actually, I'm a Zep lover and I find it very easy to hate this record. Chris Farlowe, a legend it says, sabotages the songs he sings. He is unforgivable. How anyone signed off on this, including Page, is a mystery. The Robert Plant guest spot/reunion is a nothing song. The writing is average at best. But, it's Jimmy's record, and his playing on ALL of it is incredible. Listen to the solo on "Hummingbird," if you can stand Chris Farlowe's vocals, which are intolerable. Just listen for Page. This is a Jimmy Page showcase.)
Stanton Moore, John Medeski, Nels Cline & Skerik- Garcia's Chicago, 3/14/26, Late Show- *** (Two hour show with about an hour of noodling. Good, not great.) (https://archive.org/details/SMoore2026-03-14.late)
New Age Doom feat. H.R.- Angels Against Angels (2026)- **** The Black Crowes- A Pound Of Feathers (2026)- ***1/2 Fire Town- The Good Life (1988)- **1/2 Kelly Groucutt- Kelly (1982)-***1/2 Roy Wood- The Singles (1982)- **** (This is a sketchy release. It's on the Speed (?) label. The Move stuff sounds like it was recorded off of an A.M. radio. But all else sounds great and it's truly a great representation of this madman genius.)
Rush- Grace Under Pressure: Terry Brown Mix (1984/2026)- ***1/2 Traffic- Mr. Fantasy: U.S. Stereo (1967)- **** v/a-The Harder They Come, O.S.T. (1972)- ****
John Lennon- Plastic Ono Band: Ultimate Mix, Side One (1970/2021)- *** (This "ultimate" mix is pretty terrible. It's a muddy mess and completely ruins the original, raw feel of the recording.)
Beady Eye- Complete 7" Singles: A White Trash Soul Compilation (2025)- **** Utopia- Ra: Side One (1977)- **** Juliana Hatfield & Eric Payne- Bets (2026)- **** Kid Creole & The Coconuts- Wise Guy (1982)- **** Creedence Clearwater Revival- Green River: Abbey Road HSM (1969/2018)- ***12 Outfit- Preservers Of The Pearl (2026 )- **** (Excellent new record from Daniel Romano.)
v.a- Phil Spector's 20 Greatest Hits (1976)- **** ("Walking In The Rain!" That is all.)
The Motors- Approved By (1978)- **** (Been years since I played this one. So many gems!)
Montrose- S/T (1973)- (Took in about 600 records this weekend. Been listing for sale on Discogs and listening as I go along. I am in the "M" box.)
The Monkees- Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. (1967)- ****
Henry Mancini- Music From Peter Gunn (1959)- *** Bob Dylan- Blood On The Tracks: MoFi Orig. Master (1975/2012)- **** v/a- Jin Records: 1967-1969 (2026)- *** v.a- Written In Their Soul-The Stax Songwriter Demos: Uncut Songs Part One (2023)- **** (This set is endlessly entertaining. Some highlights below.)
Squeeze- Trixies (2026)- ***1/2 Elton John- Tumblweed Connection (1970)- **** Traffic- John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)- ****
The Tubes- Personal Playlist (2026)- **** (It's HERE for your listening (dis)pleasure. Fair warning, it's heavy on the Todd Rundgren produced records. Hey, whattaya want from life?)
The B-52's- Cosmic Thing (1989)- **** Alice Cooper- Greatest Hits (1974)- **** Scandal- S/T (1982)- **** (This was great! I've got a few stories about this record, this band, Patty. Maybe I'll add it to the book. Or not.)
Herbie Nichols- The Prophetic Herbie Nichols (1955)- *** The Finn Brothers- Finn (1996)- **** Holly & The Italians- The Right To Be Italian (1981)- **** (Always loved "Tell That Girl To Shut Up," but had no recollection of the rest of the album. It's pretty great!)
Ray Davies & The Kinks- Bonus Tracks, Demos & More: An hpunch Compilation (2026)- *** Marshall Crenshaw- #447 (1999)- ***1/2
The Beach Boys- Dance Dance Dance (1981)- **** (All analog repress of "Today" with the last two filler tracks removed. Smart reissue.)
Billy Idol- Rebel Yell (1983)- *** Black Sabbath- Vol. 4 (1972)- **** Small Faces- Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake: Stereo, Side One (1968)- **** The Black Crowes- A Pound Of Feathers (2026)- ***1/2 Iggy Pop- The Idiot (1977)- ****
Cameo- Alligator Woman (1982)- **** (I love this record! Haven't heard it in years, but I picked up 700 records this weekend and there were two copies of this. It's a $5 record, but it's $500 worth of badass.)
The Beach Boys- California Girls (1980)- **** (All analog repress of "Summer Days & Summer Nights" with the last two filler tracks removed. Smart reissue.)
Tappa Zukie- Escape From Hell (1978)- *** The Meters- Look-A Py Py: Kevin Gray Master (1970/2023)- **** Tinariwen- Hoggar (2026)- **** (I loved these guys at one time and then they fell off my radar. This new one is pretty great.)
The Beach Boys- Pet Sounds: Kevin Gray Stereo Cut (1966/2015)- **** Juliana Hatfield & Eric Payne- Bets (2026)- ***1/2 (Juliana and her contractor! Who'd a thunk it? I really enjoyed this. Sweet melodies, chunky guitars and more than a few forays into Television/Verlaine territory. Looking forward to a second spin.)
Velvet Underground- Loaded (1970)- **** Jellyfish- Spilt Milk: Vinylphyle Edition (1993/2026)- **** Paul Westerberg- 14 Songs (1993)- **** Husker Du- New Day Rising (1985)- ***1/2 Squeeze- East Side Story (1981)- ****
Quarteto Novo-S/T (1967)- **** (This record is a killer!) v/a- Well Cha'rged Channel One (1997)- **1/2 (Below average collection of rock steady and dub.)
Thomas F. Browne- Wednesday's Child (1971)- ***1/2 Buddy Holly-Personal Playlist (2026)- ***
The Black Crowes- A Pound Of Feathers (2026)- ***1/2 (First pass was fun. Same template as the last record. I guess a few more spins will determine if the new songs are better or worse than the last album.)
The Tubes- Love Bomb (1985)- ****
State Of Micky & Tommy- S/T (2008)- **** (Excellent U.K. psych, featuring a pre-Spooky Tooth and Foreigner Mick Jones.)
Music City- Welcome To Music City (2026)-**** The Byrds- Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (1968)- **** Davey Lane- Finally, A Party Record (2025)- ****
Are you an Allman Brothers fan? 17 years ago today, the ABB played their 4th show of a 15 show 40th Anniversary run at the Beacon Theatre. There were many special guests during that run. Here's the show from 3/13/2009, with special guests Boz Scaggs and Bruce Willis.
Squeeze- Trixies (2026)- ***1/2 U.K.- Danger Money (1979)- **** (I've always considered the band's debut the better record because I love Bill Bruford so much. But Terry Bozzio is no slouch, and this has better songs.)
Quarteto Novo- S/T (1967)- **** (One and done with Airto Moreira, Heraldo Do Monte, Theo De Barros and Hermeto Pascoal. Fantastic! Thanks pmac.)
Paul Gilbert- WROC (2026)- *** (How's this for a
concept--George Washington's Rules of Civility as 13 rock anthems? Good
fun and, of course, amazing guitar playing throughout. Might have gotten
another 1/2 star if it was 37 minutes long instead of 57 minutes long.)
Todd Rundgren- White Knight (2017)- ***1/2
Frumpy- All Will Be Changed (1970)- ** (Lots of overplaying with no real songs. Like Deep Purple, with worse everything.)
Dr. Z- Three Parts To My Soul (1971)- ** (The
cheapest original copy of this prog "classic" is currently going for
$3100...plus $15 shipping. All Music said this, "At its most inventive
and textured, however, Three Parts is an excellent
example of early-'70s prog at its deepest and darkest, as inventive as
it is occasionally magpie-like." I'm a fan of progressive rock, but I
guess others use that term more loosely than I do. This record did
nothing for me. The playing isn't particularly exciting. The drum solo
in track three is not even as good as Little Ricky's was on "I Love
Lucy." To my ears, this is Spinal Tap, only not funny. Check it out.)
The Lemon Twigs- A Dream Is All We Know (2024)- **** (The kids have a new single out now and a new record in May. Love the single.)
Faces- Long Player (1971)- **** Elvis Costello & Lucinda Williams- Crossroads (2002)- **** (While digging for the "Spectacle" audio, I found this too. It's good! It's HERE, if you want it.)
v/a- The Bestacle Of Spectacle (2026)- **** Jackson Heights- Ragamuffins Fool (1972)- ***
New Age Doom feat. H.R.- Angels Against Angels (2026)- **** (I was unaware of this "drone metal" band prior to this record and it only caught my eye because I am a Bad Brains fan. I really enjoyed this collab. Trippy and dubby, nasty and atmospheric, with H.R's unique vocalizing. I won't try to sell this to you, but it hit the spot...for me.)
Marvin Gaye- What's Going On: Kevin Gray Master (1971/2022)- **** (Good news is, this record never gets old. Bad news is, this record never gets old.)
Fugazi- Albini Sessions: Benefit For Letters Charity (2026)- **1/2
APB- Something To Believe In (1985)- **** (Compilation of some of my favorite singles of the early 80's.)
Davey Lane- Finally, A Party Record (2025)- **** (One of my favorites of 2025, I think I like it even more now. This lost traction pretty quick on Burning Wood. I think if you missed it, you need to listen.)
Joe Jackson- Presents Max Champion In "What A Racket" (2023)- **** The Kinks- Could've Been New Album: An hpunch Creation (2025)- ***
The Who- Sell Out: Japanese True Stereo (1967/2021) - **** The Smiths- Essentials: Edit (2024/2026)- ** (I didn't like this band then, and I don't like them now. Actually, the band is fine. Morrissey is just a horrible vocalist. Unbearable at times.)
v/a- Jin Records: 1966-1967 (2026)- ***1/2 The La's- S/T (1990)- **** Mike Keneally w/Andy Partridge- Wing Beat Elastic: Remixes, Demos & Unheard Music (2012)-*** Radiohead- The King Off Limbs (2011)- ** Elvis Costello & the Attractions- Blood & Chocolate (1986)- **** The Rascals- Groovin': MONO (1967)- **** Elton John- Honky Chateau (1972)- ****
Flashcubes- Pop Masters (2013)-**** (Fun power pop covers collection featuring a few special guests from the original bands who songs are covered.)
The Kinks- Picture Book AND: An hpunch Compilation (2025)- **** (Thoughtfully compiled by the biggest Kinks fan I know. Solid collection of stray tracks.)
Jesper Lindell- 3614 Jackson Highway (2026)- *** (Ex-football player turned Swedish soul singer records an album in Muscle Shoals with Swedish musicians and a tracklist of songs from Memphis and Nashville and liner notes written by Joe Henry. Alrighty then. Not a bad listen, just a bit confusing. He's a good singer for a football player I guess, but he's no great singer.)
Billy Bremner- Bash! (1984)- **** Agitation Free- 2nd (1973)- ***1/2 Split Enz- Time & Tide (1982)- ***1/2 Bad Brains- I Against I (1986)- **** The Legal Matters- Lost At Sea (2026)- **** Motorhead- Bomber (1979)- ****
Squeeze- Trixies (2026)- ***1/2 Southern Culture On The Skids- Dirt Track Date (1995)- **** NRBQ- All Hopped Up (1977)- **** Squeeze- Trixies (2026)- ***1/2
Brave New World- Impressions On Reading Aldous Huxley (1972)- **** (This was new to me, another excellent find in Vertigo's first 100 releases. Best described as Kraftwerk meets Yusef Lateef during the "Atom Heart Mother" sessions. Incredibly effective.)
Squeeze- Trixies (2026)- *** (This needs a few more spins before my final decision. But first pass was underwhelming.)
Genesis- Wind & Wuthering (1976)- ****
Paul McCartney & Elvis Costello- Flowers In The Dirt Demos (2017)- **** (The nine demos on the deluxe version of "Flowers In The Dirt" are some of my favorite things of all time. But there are more, with three appearing on a limited cassette, and two from U.K. singles. I had to have them all in one place, so I made a mix, which is HERE for you, if you into it.) The Hi-Risers- In The Spotlight (2001)- **** (Greg Townson's band before Los Straitjackets on a rec from my friend Jeff K. This snapped me out of my record-breaking stupor. Here are two faves.)
Paul McCartney- McCartney II (1980)- **** The Masonics- You Can Tell, Its... The Masonics: 18 Rock 'N' Roll And Rhythm & Blues Greats Of The '50s And '60s! (2026)- ** (These guys just don't have it. Great songs to cover, but they sucked the life out of most of'em. Listen to The Hi-Risers instead.)
David Torkanowsky & David Paquette- The Duo Series (2001)- **** (Torkanowsky was the first non-drummer to blow me away the first time I went to New Orleans. I saw his band Astral Project at the Funky Butt and he played the piano the way Hendrix played his guitar. All these years later, he continues to knock me out. This record with David Paquette, another brilliant player, is a masterclass in New Orleans piano.)
Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra- Interstellar Low Ways (1967)- ***1/2 (Very accessible without ever letting you doubt who you are listening. A Top 5 Sun Ra experience.)
Bob Marley & The Wailers- Kaya (1978)- ***1/2 Music City- Welcome To Music City (2026)- **** The Move- Hits & Rarities (1999)- **** Psychedelic Furs- Forever Now (1982)- ****
The Merry-Go-Round- Listen, Listen: The Definitive Collection (2005)- **** (This needs some editing, but any day you can hear "She Laughed Loud" and "Missing You"is a good day.)
Germs (GI) (1979)- ****
Todd Rundgren's Utopia-S/T: Side One (1974)- **** (This photo popped up as a social media memory. Pier 84, NYC, 8/13/82. Had to listen to Utopia.)
The Beatles- Beatles For Sale (1964)- **** The Kirkbys- It's A Crime: The Complete Recordings (2025)- ***
Paul McCartney & Wings- Red Rose Speedway + Bonus Tracks (1973)- **** (Watched and really enjoyed "Man On The Run." I feel an early solo Macca & Wings binge coming on.)
Peter & Gordon- Hot Cold & Custard (1968)- ***1/2 Paul & Linda McCartney- Ram (1971)- **** XTC- The Big Express: Steven Wilson Remix (1984/2023)- **** The Claypool Lennon Delirium- South Of Reality (2019)- **** Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys- Bayou Ruler (1998)- ***1/2 Wings- Wild Life: Abbey Road HSM (1971/2021)- **** The Orlons- Personal Playlist (2026)- **** (It's HERE, if you want it.) The Equals- Personal Playlist (2026)- **** (It's HERE, if you want it.)
Sun Ra- Bad & Beautiful (1972)- ***1/2 Radiohead- Amnesiac (2001)- ** (This was a mistake. It's as bad as I remembered.)
Todd Rundgren- A Wizard/A True Star (1973)- **** (Both this brilliant record and I were released on this date. The album in 1973 and me not in 1973.)
Peter Tosh- Mama Africa (1983)- **** Dub Specialist- Dub Store Special (1974)- **** Johnny Guitar Watson- Ain't That A Bitch (1976)- **** The Legal Matters- Chapter Three (2021)- *** (This is a nice record. But if you played it for me without telling me who it was, I would never have guessed it was the same band I just raved about. It's like they grew tenfold between this record and the new one five years later.)
Robert Plant- Dreamland (2002)-**** Todd Rundgren- The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect: Side One (1982)- **** XTC- Drums & Wires (1979)- **** Yes- Fragile Rarities (1971/2024)- ***1/2 Sex Pistols- Never Mind The Bollocks...: Kevin Gray Cut (1977/2025)- ****
v/a- Showcase Volume 1: Twelve Tribes Of Israel (1980)- *** Django Reinhardt- 1947, Vol. 2 (1999)- ***1/2 Sting- The Soul Cages (1991)- **** Olu Dara- In The World From Natchez To New York (1998)- **** The Legal Matters- Lost At Sea (2026)- **** Bob Dylan- Tell Tale Signs: Sal's Playlist (2008/2026)- ***1/2 Donnie Iris- Back On The Streets- ***1/2 (One of the best concerts I have ever seen. The Ritz, 1981, touring for his second album "King Cool." Amazing showman and vocalist. Killer band. I caught Kevin Valentine's drum stick, which I think is worth almost three dollars now.)
Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs- Pigus Drunkus Maximus (1987)- **** Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026)- **** (Another winner from Michael Monroe. This was my third or fourth pass and it is still holding strong. Here are two. The album closer is epic.)
The Babys- On The Edge (1980)- **** (John Waite is one of the greatest singers of all time. More people need to think so. Click on THIS for some of my faves.) Thin Lizzy- Jailbreak (1976)- **** (It may be an obvious choice for their best record, but maybe it was popular because it was their best. I believe Irving Berlin said that. And speaking as I was about John Waite, Phil Lynott is another amazing singer that does not get enough credit or respect. Phrasing? Well, there's Frank Sinatra. How about Robert Palmer? And how about Phil Lynott? Okay, easy there. That's not an official Top Three, but Philo is so damn good, I needed to mention it.)
Elvis Costello & The Confederates- Tokyo, 11/17/87 -**** (My two favorite EC records are "King Of America" and "Blood & Chocolate." My favorite concerts of all time are the five nights of Elvis on Broadway in 1986. There was nothing like it. This show is a pretty great representation of that week. It's HERE if you care.)
George Harrison- Electronic Sound (1969)- * (After the surprise enjoyment of "Wonderwall Music," I thought I'd try this. This is crap.)
Peter Tosh- Bush Doctor (1978)-**** The Harvey Averne Dozen- Viva Soul (1968)- ***1/2 The Kinks- Kinda Kinks (1965)- **** Nucleus- Elastic Rock (1970)- ****
Mod Lang- Borrowed Time (2026)- *** (The review I read said this record is "pulling from the widescreen pop drama of Big Star and the melodic muscle of The Raspberries without slipping into nostalgia." Unfortunately, every song sounds like The Beatles, which isn't a bad thing, other than, that certainly IS "slipping into nostalgia." Still worth a second spin.
Neil Sedaka- Personal Playlist (2026)- **** (Many years ago, a bunch of us got tickets to see Fountains Of Wayne. A few weeks after that, tickets went on sale for Neil Sedaka at Joe's Pub. I had seen FOW a number of times already and had never seen Neil. But, we had dinner plans and no one was even remotely excited by the prospect of seeing a legend, except me. The FOW show started later than usual and when Chris Collingwood took the stage, he immediately said, "Sorry we're late. We were singing with Neil Sedaka over at Joe's Pub." Still not over it.)
Deee-Lite- World Clique (1990)- ****
(One of the best dub records of all time, if you're into that thing, is HERE for your enjoyment.)
The Legal Matters- Lost At Sea (2026)- ***1/2 (Midwest powerpoppers have a little more going on than your usual power poppers. Full review coming on Monday's Burning Wood.)
Iggy Pop- Every Loser (2023)- **** Small Faces- S/T: Decca, MONO (1966)- **** Thin Lizzy- Bad Reputation (1977)- ****
