6/21/2026

v/a- Singin' Shoutin' Prayin': 16 Righteous Boppin' Bible Belters (2026) ***
(More hillbilly "boppin'" than gospel "beltin'." Still fun for a Sunday morning.)

Neu!- S/T (1972) ***1/2

Roy Brown- Good Rockin' Tonight: 1947-1960 (2017) ****
(The early stuff is out of control!)

Laura Nyro- Eli And The Thirteenth Confession (1968) ***

Mississippi Rail Company- Coal Black Train (2012) ****
(Yep, this is the real deal. It turns out I had two chances to see them live at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, but of course, had no idea who they were at the time.)

Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs- True Orleans (2018) ***1/2
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen- Live At Maple Leaf Bar, 1/17/2026 (2026) ****
Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane- Rough Mix: Abbey Road HSM (1977/2017) ****

The Rolling Stones- Beggars Banquet: U.K. MONO (1968) ****
(I haven't listened to "Salt Of The Earth" ever since Axl Rose ruined it. The record ends with "Factory Girl" in my house. But I could listen to Johnny Adams' version of "Salt Of The Earth" all day.)

Motorhead- On Parole: Steven Wilson Remix (1976/2026) ***1/2
(This is the best these recordings have ever sounded. Still, the band didn't really become Motorhead until "Fast" Eddie replaced Larry Wallis.)

Small Faces- S/T: Immediate, MONO (1967/2023) ****
(Nick Robbins MONO master is a monster!)

The Bobby Lees- Skin Suit (2020) ****

6/20/2026

Julie Driscoll- 1969 (1971) ***1/2

Mississippi Rail Company- Coal Black Train (2012) ****1/2
(Quite possibly the best thing I've heard all week. Gonna play it again to make sure.)

Steely Dan- The Lost Gaucho (1980/2022) ***1/2
(I had no idea this existed before this week, and it's apparently been a Dan holy grail for years. Clearly a bootleg, yet it's available on Amazon. Great sounding outtakes and alternates from "Gaucho.")

Amos Milburn- The Complete Aladdin Recordings: Disc Two (1994) ***1/2
Utopia- Oblivion (1983) ****

Graham Coxon- Castle Park (2011/2026) ***
(This started off strong, but fizzled out in the second half.)

King Crimson- Red: Steven Wilson Remix (1974/2024) ****
Olive Jones- For Mary (2026) ***1/2
Papa Mali- Do Your Thing (2007) ***
Steve Winwood- Ten: Personal Playlist (2025) ***1/2

6/19/2026

Jackie McLean- 'Bout Soul (1968) ***
John Coltrane- Ole (1961) ****
Chicago- Personal Playlist (2020) ****
Marc Bolan- Prehistoric (1995) **
New Age Doom feat. H.R.- Angels Against Angels (2026)- ***1/2
Ella Mae Morse- Rocks (2011) ***1/2
John Cale- Vintage Violence (1970) ****
Television- Marquee Moon (1977) ****

6/18/2026

Frankie Miller- High Life: Original Mix (1974/2011) ****
Dr. John- Ebbets Field, Denver: 9/25/74 (2026) ***1/2
Kenny Loggins- High Adventure (1982) ****
David Bowie- Station To Station: Half Speed Master (1976/2026) ****
David Bowie- Earthling (1997) ****
Paul McCartney- The 7" Singles: Today's Dozen (2022/2026) ***1/2
The Bobby Lees- New Self (2026) ***1/2
The Who- Who's Next: Record Plant Sessions (1971/2023) ***1/2
Queen- A Day At The Races (1977) ****

 

6/17/2026

The Band - Jubilation (1998) ***1/2
Paul McCartney- The Boys Of Dungeon Lane (2026) ****
The Claudettes- Garage Glamour (2026) ****
v/a- Sing Me Back Home: The New Orleans Social Club (2006) ***1/2
The Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat: Kevin Gray MONO Master (1968/2019) ****
Cream- Wheels Of Fire: Phase Corrected (1968/2026) ***1/2
Rick Derringer- Guitars & Women (1979) ****
Cheap Trick- S/T (1997) ***1/2
Shaun Cassidy- Wasp (1980) ***1/2

6/16/2026

Seu Jorge- The Other Side (2026) ***1/2
(18 years in the making and finally released. This did not disappoint.)

Renaissance- Prologue (1972) ***1/2
Sparks- Kimono My House (1974) ****

The Claudettes- Garage Glamour (2026) ****
(Surprise of the week!)

Fischer-Z- Going Deaf For A Living (1980) ***
Rush- Signals (1982) ***1/2
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Armed Forces (1979) ****

Blue Oyster Cult- Secret Treaties (1974) ****

(I think about June 16, 1981 every time I listen to Blue Oyster Cult, which is often because I love this band. But as each year passes, now 45 of them, the memories from that night in 1981 become foggier than the year before. But this is what I remember...I think.

It was late afternoon and I got on the D train at Sheepshead Bay Road with my friend Mike and my cousin Al and we rode to Times Square. Six or seven hours later, we got back on the D train at what might have been one in the morning or even possibly two in the morning to get back home from a concert that was a bit of a disaster, to say the least.

We arrived around 7:PM and waited until the doors opened at 8:00 for a 10:PM show and by midnight, we were still standing in this legendary space having heard not a note of music. Whatever the technical difficulties were, lights, sound, monitors, it just wasn’t happening. I found out years later that the show was being recorded for a radio broadcast and the recording truck went missing, not to mention there being some serious issues with stage lights and an untuned Steinway piano.

We were very excited about this night. One of our favorite bands, Blue Oyster Cult, was playing a club under their original moniker Soft White Underbelly and we got tickets! Yet six hours after leaving Sheepshead Bay, we only ended up hearing about 30 minutes worth of music, none of which I remember at all. We were falling asleep while standing up, and we just couldn't stand up any longer.

But I have that ticket stub and I still think Blue Öyster Cult deserves a hell of a lot more from the rock ‘n’ roll cognoscenti than being thought of as one hit or maybe two hit wonders. That run from their debut through "Fire Of Unknown Origin" covers a hell of a lot of ground. The band often gets pigeonholed as heavy metal, which I think is unfair and inaccurate. They are too good at too many things to be tossed aside as one thing.)

 

The Dukes Of Stratosphear- 25 O'Clock (1985) ****
 
The Who- Live At Leeds: Abbey Road HSM (1970/2016) ****
(I listened to this last week and my copy was a bit too noisy after years of abuse. I found a copy of the Half Speed Master for $15. No goodies. No inserts. But amazing sound. This will be the go-to version from here on out.)

 

6/15/2026

Alice Coltrane- Universal Consciousness (1971) ***1/2
James Chance- Irresistible Impulse: Disc Two (2003) **1/2 
Pink Floyd- 8-Tracks (2026) ****

The Beatles- Yesterday & Today: Deidre's 2026 Stereo Mix (2026) ****
(I'm not usually a fan of fan made remixes, but this was absolutely stunning. It's on YouTube, and there is a link to download WAV files in the comments.)

The Mamas & The Papas- Golden Album (1968) ****
(Japanese only vinyl hits collection on RCA Living Stereo! Did not know this existed but I'm thrilled that I found it. Perfect song selection and fantastic sound.) 

Jennifer Lara- Studio One Presents...(1981) ****
Rush- Anika's Third Night, Inglewood: 6/11/2026 (2026) ****
The Kinks- Misfits (1978) ***1/2

Lou Reed- Rock 'n' Roll Animal: Complete (1974/20??) ****
(This album and "Lou Reed Live" edited together and resequenced by someone, sometime ago. "Lou Reed Live" is often considered a throwaway, but I like it more than "Rock 'n' Roll Animal" and this "deluxe" edit is a killer. It's the only way to fly.)

6/14/2026

Cannonball Adderley- Somethin' Else (1958) ****
Allen Toussaint- Songbook: Expanded (2013/2026) ****
Judy Mowatt- Black Woman (1979)- ****
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Goodbye Cruel World: Rhino Bonus Disc (1984/2004) ***1/2
XTC- Skylarking: Steven Wilson Remix (1986/2016) ****
Jason Falkner- Presents Author Unknown (1996) ****

Jason Falkner- Genius: Personal Playlist (2022) ****
(This-

Play Myself Some Music
Johnsberg, Illinois
Pretty Ballerina
Author Unknown
Very Best Years
The Neighbor
The Lie In Me
Eloquence
Maybe The Universe
Friend of Mine
Follow Me
Afraid Himself To Be
Revelation
All God's Creatures
Runaway
Moving Up
Both Belong
I Go Astray
Both Sides Now-First Version)

Cyril Neville- Don't Wait Til I'm Gone (2026) ***
Los Straitjackets- Rock En Espanol Vol. 1 (2007) ****
Motorhead- Another Perfect Day (1983) ****

6/13/2026

Ry Cooder- S/T (1970)  ***1/2

Will Bernard- Blue Plate Special (2008) **** 
(Almost the Stanton Moore Trio, but with John Medeski replacing Robert Walter on keyboards, and Andy Hess on bass. Been awhile, but it still sounds great.)

 

 

Bonerama- So Much Love (2026) ****
Robert Walter, Eddie Roberts, Stanton Moore- The Breaks (2026)- **** 
Brenda Holloway- Motown Unreleased 1966 (2017) ***1/2
Neil Young- Walk On (1973-74/2020) ***1/2
Todd Rundgren- Something/Anything?: Sides 1-3 (1972) ****
Led Zeppelin- III (1970) ****
Rush- Fly By Night (1975) ****


Dave Edmunds- Tracks On Wax 4 (1978) ****
(Who did it better?)

  

Squeeze- East Side Story (1981) ****

The Bluebells- Sisters (1984) ***
(I prefer Bananarama's version of "Young At Heart.)

6/12/2026

Johnny Cash- American VI: Aint No Grave (2010) ***1/2
Grateful Dead- American Beauty: Kevin Gray Master (1970/2024) ***1/2
Nat "King" Cole- Personal Playlist (2026) ****
Pink Floyd- Animals: 2018 Remix (1977/2022) ****
Ringo Starr- Ringo (1973) ***1/2
The Zombies- Odessey & Oracle: 2025 MONO RM (1968/2025)- ****
Daryl Hall/John Oates- War Babies (1974) ***1/2
Lou Reed- New York (1989) ****
Nazz- Nazz Nazz: MONO (1969) ****
The Replacements- Pleased To Meet Me (1987) ****
Jon Spencer- Songs of Personal Loss and Protest (2026) ****

6/11/2026

Girl Satchmo- Blue Beat 45s (2023) **1/2

Earth, Wind & Fire- I Am (1979) **** 
(My fave EWF album. I used to warm up to "In The Stone" before band rehearsal.)

The Doobie Brothers- Takin' It To The Streets (1976) ****
(My fave Doobies album. Listen to "Wheels Of Fortune" with headphones. The instrumental break is badass. Two drummers grooving perfectly without stepping on each other's toes.)

Bill Kirchen- Cat Out Of The Bag (2026) ***
World Party- Give It All Away: Studio Rarities By Rob/Dbs (2026) ***1/2
Nine Inch Nails- Broken (1992) ****

The Stooges- Fun House: Kevin Gray Master (1970/2026) ****
(No question, the best version I have ever heard. You can feel it in your chest. I am glad I pulled the trigger on the vinyl. Some of the reviews turned me off, but it's one of my favorites of all time and so I took a chance. It paid off. It sounded so good, I let "L.A. Blues" play until the end.)

Tom Waits- Mule Variations (1999) ****
Blue Oyster Cult- Fire Of Unknown Origin (1981) ***1/2
The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour: MONO (1967) ****

6/10/2026

James Chance- Irresistible Impulse: Disc One (2003) **1/2
v/a- Studio One Archives, Vol. 3 (2026) ***
Culture- Two Sevens Clash (1977) ****
Rush- Clockwork Angels (2012) ***1/2
Pretenders- S/T (1980) ****

Badfinger- Personal Playlist (2022) ****
https://amazon.com/music/player/user-playlists/c2b8bf172d7842dcaa2ac9c0d2c0cd05sune?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_fslYNBeiLjJRlHA4me0zLQHZM

Cal Everett- The Weight Of Early Promise (2026) ****
Queen- I: 2024 Remix (1973/2024) ****
The Ventures- In Space (1964) ****
World Party- Private Revolution (1986)****

6/9/2026

Joao Donato- A Bad Donato (1970) ***
Jason Marsalis- Brian Wilson Set: New Orleans Jazz Fest, 5/3/2026 (2026) ***1/2

Os Novos Baianos- Acabou Chorare (1972) ****
(#1 on Rolling Stone's list of Top 100 Brazilian records and for good reason. An amazing set of music!)

Frank Sinatra- Watertown: 2022 Mix (1970/2022) ****
(A misunderstood failure when it was released, it's now regarded as a gorgeous but incredibly sad classic. I loved it since day one.)

Rush- Hold Your Fire (1987) ***1/2
Simon Phillips- Protocol 6 (2026) ***

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- The Alternate "Imperial Bedroom" (1982/2022) ****
(If you love this record, you will love this alternate version. No song has been officially released on any version of the album. THIS and more was found HERE.)

Lennie Hibbert- Creation (1969) ****
Peter Gabriel- Sal's Berry Hill: Personal Playlist (2026) ****
Peter Gabriel- S/T (1977) ***1/2
Mink DeVille- Cabretta (1977) ***1/2
Graham Parker & The Rumour- Squeezing Out Sparks (1979) ****

6/8/2026

Chicago- II: Steven Wilson Remix (1970/2017) ****
Rush- Hemispheres (1978) **** 
Class Three Overbite- Rendezvous (2007) ***1/2
Grand Funk- Closer To Home (1970) ***
Tyrannosaurus Rex- Prophets, Seers & Sages (1968) ***
Peter Gabriel- Security (1982) ***1/2
The Replacements- Don't Tell A Soul (1989) ****
The Band- Jericho (1993) ***1/2
The Who- Sal's Odds & Sods (2026) ****
Todd Rundgren- Todd: Personal Edit (1974/2024) ****
Peter Frampton- Where I Should Be (1979) ***1/2 

6/7/2026

v/a- Studio One Archives, Vol. 2 (2026) ****
(15 volumes of Studio One a-sides and b-sides ripped from vinyl, courtesy of:
https://compartilhandoreggae.blogspot.com/) 

Fernando Perdomo- TRGTR: The Music Of Todd Rundgren (2021) **1/2
Allen Toussaint- Life, Love And Faith (1972) ****
Yes- Relayer (1974) ***
Rush- Moving Pictures (1981) ****
John Doe- A Year In The Wilderness (2007) ****
Patti Smith Group- Wave (1979) ***1/2
Say She She- Cut & Rewind (2025) ****
Bad Brains- S/T (1982) ****
The Clash- S/T: U.K. (1977)- ****
Violet Grohl- Be Sweet To Me (2026) ****
The Who- By Numbers: Abbey Road HSM (1975/2024) ****

 

6/6/2026

Kraftwerk- Trans Europa Express (1977) ****
(Weekend Mix under construction.)

v/a- Put On Your Best Dress- Sonia Pottinger's Rocksteady, 1967-1968 (1990) ****
(Every volume of this series is outstanding.)

Jason Marsalis- New Orleans Jazz Fest, 5/3/2026 (2026) ****
(Missed Jason's Brian Wilson shows by two days on two separate trips to New Orleans. Thankfully, most of his recent Jazz Fest set was dedicated to Brian. Had to buy it. Just amazing stuff.)

(Jason/Brian Lagniappe- Grab it while you can!)

The Who- My Generation: Japanese 2016 True Stereo (1965/2016) ****

David Bowie- Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) ****
(I wrote this in January of 2022, "This album is what I imagine Bowie haters think all Bowie records sound like. You can hear him posing on every track. His affected vocals even give me the twitch. But there is enough on it to like, even though it has always been one of my least played Bowie albums." My feelings haven't changed much, though I do enjoy it more now than I think I ever have.)

Cheap Trick- Rockford (2006) ***1/2
(Good, forgotten record. More than a half dozen gems.) 

Stevie Wonder- Signed, Sealed & Delivered (1970) ****
(New episode of Billy Corgan's "The Magnificent Others" features Todd Rundgren and Todd mentions this Stevie record as being a favorite. I think he said, "Not a bad song." He's not wrong, though maybe two or three songs are merely very good.)


The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters (1977/2021) ****
Crowded House- Temple Of Low Men (1988) ****
The Replacements-Tim: Ed Stasium Mix (1985/2023)- ****

6/5/2026

Van Morrison- Remembering Now (2025) ****
The Rising Sons- S/T (1966/1992) ***1/2
The Bluebells- This Is...(2026) ***1/2
The Black Crowes- Tallest (1993/2025) ***1/2
Adrian Belew- Young Lions (1990) ***1/2
Prince-1999: Personal Edit (1982/2019) ****

6/4/2026

Ry Cooder- Chicken Skin Music (1976) ***1/2

Derek Douget- Love Is Supreme: A Tribute To John Coltrane, Live At The N.O. Jazz Fest, 4/26/2026 (2026) ***1/2
(Stellar set from my man Derek, one of the greatest sax players out of New Orleans. It's HERE, so grab it while you can.)

v/a- Tabu, Vol. 1 (1999?)- ***1/2
Jah Ruby- Dread Affairs (1977) ****

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66- Foursider (1972) ***
(Two sides are plenty.)

Boston- S/T (1976) ****
Paul McCartney- The Boys Of Dungeon Lane (2026) ****

Squeeze- Dodgy Argybargy (1980/2026) ****
(I did some tweaking and it sounded great. But I may need to tweak it again. It's essentially Side One with some changes to Side Two. Out go "Here Comes That Feeling," "Vicky Verky" and "Wrong Side Of The Moon" and in come "Funny How It Goes" and "What The Butler Saw.")

Grace Jones- Nightclubbing (1981) *****
(There is nothing wrong with this record. There isn't one nit to pick. It's perfect. It’s unique. It’s sublime. And sexy. And slick. And smart. And a dozen more words that start with “S.” And Sly & Robbie are driving the bus the whole way. And the records before and after are nothing to shake a stick at either. What a trifecta!)

Iggy Pop- The Idiot (1977)- ****1/2
(I'm thinking this and Grace Jones' "Nightclubbing" on shuffle. Need one or two more. Maybe Robert Palmer "Clues." Or the obvious, Side One of "Low" and "Heroes?" Maybe "Marquee Moon?") 

The Replacements- Hootenanny (1983)***












 

6/3/2026

Lone Ranger- Learn To Drive (1985) ***

Violet Grohl- Be Sweet To Me (2026) **** 
(Did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did.)

Pink Floyd- The Piper At The Gates: Stereo (1967) ****
Fripp & Eno- Healthy Colours (1979/1994) **

Little Feat- Ebbets Field, Denver: 7/19/73 (2026) ***1/2
(Maybe you've heard or maybe not, but a huge lot of soundboard recordings from both The Capitol Theater in Port Chester and Ebbets Field in Denver have leaked and many have been turning up online. This is from that huge leak. And it's pretty great. You can find it and lots of more HERE.)

The Replacements- Boink!! (1986) ****

Squeeze- Some Fantastic Place (1993) ****
(I didn't love this record when it came out.  But whenever I play it, I love it more & I find new brilliance.) 

The La's- S/T (1990) ****

6/2/2026

iPod on Shuffle: 

Crazy Egypt- John Cale
Seize The Rainbow- Sonny Sharrock Band
At Last (I Found A Love)- Taj Mahal
Sinner- Neil Finn
Never The Same- The Cribs
Gentle On My Mind- Lou Rawls
I'm Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)- Kiki Dee
I Don't Know- The Replacements
Everything- Adrian Belew
Break Into Your Heart- Iggy Pop
Feathers- The Black Crowes
For The Love Of Him- Bobbi Martin
Everytime You Go Away- Hall & Oates
27 Spanishes- Los Lobos
My List- Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
Come To My Side- Dion & The Belmonts
Different Strings- Rush
Superman Lover- Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Suicide- Thin Lizzy
You're So Fine- Pee Wee Kershaw
Sacred Cow- Crowded House
Toys In The Attic- R.E.M.

The Pale Fountains- Pacific Street (1984) **1/2
The Replacements- Pleased To Meet Me (1987) ****
Paul McCartney- Working Classical (1999) ***1/2
Sally Baby's Silver Dollars- Festival Internationale, Lafayette: 4/25/2026 (2026) ***1/2
India Ramey- Villain Era (2026) ***
The Rolling Stones- Black & Blue (1976) ****
The Greenberry Woods- It's All Good, Sugar...(2026) ****
Blue Oyster Cult- Mirrors (1979) ****
The Greenberry Woods- House (2018) ***

Creme Soda-Tricky Zingers (1975) ***
(Sorry. No notes or lagniappes today. But man, do I have a story about this record.)


 

6/1/2026

David Bowie- "Heroes" (1977) ****
Squeeze- Trixies (2026) ***1/2
801-Live (1976) ****
The Beatles- Abbey Road (1969) ****
Sly & Robbie- Power House Dub (2026) ***

Dogstar- All In Now (2026) **
(This was one early U2 song rewritten 12 times.)

Billy Joel- Turnstiles (1976) ****

The Greenberry Woods- It's All Good, Sugar...(2026) ****
(Even better second time around. Review coming soon.)

Izzy Stradlin & The Ju Ju Hounds- S/T (1992) ****
(Better than any GNR record. There. I said it. And the track Izzy left off the album is the best JuJu Hounds groove of all. This track rocks!)

 

5 /31/2026

Paul McCartney- The Boys Of Dungeon Lane (2026)- **** 
Sonny Rollins- Plus 4 (1956)- ***1/2

v/a- Spirit Of New Orleans- The Genius Of Dave Bartholomew 1992)- ****
(One of the greatest New Orleans collections out there. Here's a little six pack to pique your interest.)

(lagniappe)

Ry Cooder- Boomer's Story (1972)- ****
(There are few pieces of music as beautiful as "Maria Elena.")

Todd Rundgren- Runt. The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren (1971)- ****
(This record turns 55 years old today! That is nuts!)

The Byrds- Fifth Dimension (1966)- ****

The Greenberry Woods- It's All Good, Sugar... (2026)- ****
(Review coming soon.)

Bob Dylan w/The Band- Planet Waves (1974)- ***

The Reekers- Meet The Reekers (2007)- **
(This was new to me, found on a blog I subscribe to, so I trusted it. It's crazy! It spans 15 years or so, going from 60's garage rock, which was great, to Dickey Betts southern rock, which wasn't bad, to straight out bad rock and roll. Weird little comp.)

Lou Reed- New Sensations (1984)- ****
Paul McCartney- The 7" Singles: Today's Dozen (2022/2026)- ****
Paul McCartney- The Boys Of Dungeon Lane (2026)- ****