8/21/2026

Arthur Alexander- You Better Move On (1962) ***1/2

Bleu- Sargeant Pepper Grinder (2026) *1/2

Strawberry Alarm Clock- Where's One? (2026) ****

Los Straitjackets- Rock En Espanol Vol. 1 (2007) ****

Santana- Caravanserai (1972) ***

The Godfathers- Birth, School, Work, Death (1988) ****

Jim Hendrix- Axis: Bold As Love (1967) ****

v/a- Move With The Groove: Hardcore Chicago Soul 1962-1970 (2012) ****

The Clash- S/T: U.S. (1979) ****

Television- Marquee Moon (1977) ****



 

• I lost patience with the Bleu record after five songs. What a cacophonous mess. Kitchen sink production trying to hide the non-songs.

• A new Strawberry Alarm Clock record with most of the original members? Does anyone really care? Well, this record is better than it has a right to be. It is also longer than it needs to be, clocking in at 57 minutes. First thing is to get rid of the pointless Beatles' covers and the last two goofy tracks. Then, what you have is a pretty great 38 minute psychedelic pop record. Very surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

• Man, there are so many gems on that Chicago soul comp. Dial it up, toot sweet. Here is a six-pack lagniappe to get you started.

• Happy Birthday Joe. 

 

 

8/20/2026

Allen Toussaint- The Bright Mississippi (2009) ****

v/a- The Legend: Augustus Pablo & Friends (1980) ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- A Date With...(1960) ****

ZZ Top- Tejas (1977) **1/2

Robert Palmer- Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley (1974) ****

Carlos Santana- Blues For Salvador (1987) ***

Marvin Gaye- Let's Get it On (1973) ***1/2

Thin Lizzy- Jailbreak (1976) ****

ZZ Top- Rio Grande Mud (1972) ***1/2

Todd Rundgren- A Wizard/A True Star (1973) ****1/2

The Cramps- Gravest Gravy (1977/2026) ***

v/a - Jagged Time Lapse Volume Two (2000) ***

8/19/2026

Paul Simon- There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973) ****

Todd Rundgren- Runt. The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren (1971) ****

Jeff Beck- Truth (1968) ****

Earl Sixteen- Showcase (1985) **1/2

Dent May- The Big One (2026) **1/2

10cc- Sheet Music (1974) ****

Lindsey Buckingham- Out Of The Cradle (1992) ****

James McCartney- Me (2013) ***1/2

Steve Miller Band- Personal Playlist (2025) ****

Abba- Personal Playlist (2026) ****

 

• I picked up a small collection yesterday, about 40-50 records, and a 2017 repress of "Rhymin' Simon" was part of it. I am blown away by the sound of this pressing. Best I've ever heard this record. It's this one, for you vinyl lovers. 

• 10cc's "Sheet Music" is a true work of genius. But would "Hotel" and "Oh Effendi" ever get released in today's PC world? 

 

8/18/2026

David Bowie- The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust... (1972) ****

Queen- A Night At The Opera (1975) ****

David Bowie- The Buddha Of Suburbia (1993) ****

Moby Grape- S/T: Stereo (1967) ****

Tom Verlaine- S/T (1979) ***1/2

Al Green- The Reverend: Personal Playlist (2025) ****

Boston- S/T: Kevin Gray Master (1976/2010) ****

The Vibrators- Pure Mania (1977) ***1/2

8/17/2026

iPod on Shuffle:
I Am An Animal- Pete Townshend
The Sea Refuses No River- Pete Townshend
Stop That Man- Sailor
God's Getting Worried- Virginia Dandies
Back Home- The Beach Boys
All My Life- Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville
Million Dollar Bash- Fairport Convention
Save The Last Dance For Me- Nilsson
Dawn- The Four Seasons
Golden Child- Pajama Club
Turn It On- Lindsey Buckingham
No Dark There- Wingless Angels
Talent Is An Asset- Sparks
That I Remember- Dwight Twilley Band
Version Galore- U-Roy
I Hate Music (Alternate Version)- The Replacements
The Green-Gold Girl Of Summer- Martin Newell
Just A Touch- R.E.M.

Rockpile- Seconds Of Pleasure: Kevin Gray Master (1980/2024) ****

Chris Hillman- Bidin' My Time (2017) ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- Stories We Could Tell ****

The Soft Boys- Nextdoorland (2002) **1/2

The Move- The Best Of: Sides Three & Four (1974) ***1/2

King Crimson- 1974 Penn State (2026) ***

Elvis Costello- King Of America (1986) ****

The Everly Brothers- In Our Image (1966) ****

 

• The Everlys were so over by 1972, even a record with Ry Cooder, Graham Nash, Warren Zevon, David Crosby, John Sebastian, Spooner Oldham, Jim Gordon, Barry Beckett, Clarence White, Waddy Wachtel, Wayne Perkins and Bonnie Bramlett couldn't excite anyone. "Stories We Could Tell" is a keeper. If you like Mike Nesmith's solo work, or the EVERLY BROTHERS, you should like this, too.

• First time hearing that 2002 Soft Boys record. Do people like this record? It bored the hell out of me.

• I've written about this on Burning Wood, but it never fails to get me. Listen to Costello's "Brilliant Mistake" off of "King Of America," then listen to the Everlys' "It Only Costs A Dime" off "In Our Image." 

8/16/2026

v/a- Screaming Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 1 (2011) *** 

Smoky Babe- Way Back In The Country Blues: The Lost Dr. Oster Recordings (2014) ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- Roots (1968) ****

Aretha Franklin- Aretha's Gold (1969) ****

The Jolly Brothers- Conscious Man (1978) ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- The Fabulous Style Of...(1960) ***1/2

Kelly Willis- Translated From Love (2007) ***1/2

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Catch A Fire (1973) ****

Deep Purple- Fireball (1971) ****

The Datsuns- S/T (2002) ****

Jeff Beck- Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop (1989) ***1/2

Led Zeppelin- Presence (1976) ****

Small Faces- S/T: Decca, MONO (1966) ****

• Just discovered the Jolly Brothers today. A Lee "Scratch" Perry production, recorded in 1977 and then forgotten/shelved for years. A good one!

• Still in Phil & Don mode. "Roots" should be in everyone's library. Cosmic country!

• I loved "Translated From Love" when it came out, but have not thought about it in a long time. I don't have a working CD player, and it's not on vinyl, so it fell off my radar. Thanks Jeff for the reminder. Jules Shear has a few on this record, as well as Chuck Prophet, if I'm not mistaken. Oh...and that IGGY cover!

8/15/2026

Jon Batiste- Monk Movements (2026) ***

The Zombies- Odessey & Oracle: 2025 MONO RM (1968/2025) **** 

Elton John- Caribou (1974) ****

Pete Townshend- All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982) ****

The Dukes Of Stratosphear- Psonic Psunspot (1987) ****

Max Romeo & The Upsetters- War Ina Babylon (1976) ****

The Everly Brothers- Beat 'N Soul (1965) ****

The Cult- Pure Cult: The Singles, 1984-1995 (2000) ****

The Everly Brothers- Two Yanks In England: Stereo (1966) ****

XTC- Wasp Star, Apple Venus Volume 2 (2000) ****

Buzzcocks- Singles Going Steady (1979) ****


• "Caribou" never had a chance after "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," even with its two huge hits. I think it is a helluva lot better than its rep.

• Just picked up about 25 Everly Brothers records. So, I'll be hitting those for a few days.

• "Pure Cult" is a really fantastic set. I know it's the "singles," but it would be so much better if "Revolution," "Rain," "Edie (Ciao Baby)," and "Resurrection Joe" were replaced with "King Contrary Man," "Zap City," and "Automatic Blues." And the full intro to "Sun King" needs to be restored."

• Phil & Don, backed by most of The Hollies, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, with 8 of the 12 tracks written by L Ransford, the pseudonym of Clarke-Hicks-Nash, "Two Yanks In England" deserves a 60th anniversary 2 LP vinyl reissue featuring remastering and both stereo and mono mixes. Make this happen!

8/14/2026

The Womack Sisters- S/T (2026) ***

Jon Batiste- Black Mozart (2026) ****

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Uprising (1980) ****

The Harvey Averne Dozen- S/T (1969) ***1/2

King Crimson- Discipline: Steven Wilson Remix (1981/2022) ****

Adrian Belew- Inner Revolution (1992) ****

The B-52's- Ancient Culture: Mesopotamia Revisited, Disc 1 (1982/2026) ****

The Lemon Twigs- Look For Your Mind! (2026) ****

Aimee Mann- Whatever (1993) ****

Cheap Trick- S/T (1977) ****

Todd Rundgren- Red Bank, NJ: 8/12/2026 (2026) ****

 

 

 

• The Womack Sisters started off strong, then fizzled into another all style/no substance Daptone record.

• In a Belew mood after getting tickets to the BEAT tour, now with Terry Bozzio on board! 

• Really liked "Mesopotamia" when it was released and I hadn't thought about it in years. This new expanded set is terrific. The addition of the lost tracks to the original set is a plus. Normally I wouldn't care about a live disc, but I happened to be at the Roseland show that is included. Good souvenir.

• Wow! That Aimee Mann record sounded better than ever. It's been ages since I played it. Still love "Bachelor No. 2" more, but this is right up there. I also have a great Aimee/XTC story that I might share at the other place next week.

 

8/13/2026

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Confrontation (1983) **1/2

Peter Tosh- Equal Rights (1977) ****

King Crimson- In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969) ****

Robert Palmer- Pride (1983) ****

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Live! (1975) ***

Lou Reed- The Blue Mask (1982) ****

Etta James- Rocks The House (1963) ***1/2

The Beatles- Let It Be: Giles Martin Mix (1970/2021) ****

8/12/2026

The Beatles- A Hard Day's Night, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: MONO RM (1964/2024) ****

The Critters- Younger Girl (1966) ***

The Kinks - Arthur, Or...:Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1969/2019) ***1/2

The Partridge Family- Album (1970) ***

8/11/2026

Gram Parsons- GP (1973) ****

Roy Ayers Ubiquity- Red Black & Green (1973) **** 

Can- Ege Bamyasi (1972) ***1/2

Andy Crofts- Melody Boy (2026) **1/2 

Robert Palmer- Secrets (1979) ****

Faces- Ooh La La: Kevin Gray Master (1973/2025)  ****

Generation X- S/T (1978) ****

Graham Parker- Howlin' Wind (1976) ***1/2

Cheap Trick- The Latest (2009) ****

8/10/2026

Bryan Ferry- Bete Noire (1987) ***1/2

Paul McCartney & Wings- Red Rose Speedway (1973) **** 

Cheap Trick- All Washed Up (2025) ****

The Beatles- Meet The Beatles: 2024 MONO RM (1964/2024) ****

The Kinks- Soap Opera: Kevin Gray Master (1975/2023) ****

iPod on Shuffle:
Meanwhile Back At The Ranch...Should I Smoke -Badfinger
Only- Nine Inch Nails
Who's That Man- Todd Rundgren
Get Up, Get Into It, & Get Involved- James Brown
Day Tripper- The Beatles
Border Song- Aretha Franklin
Julian The Hooligan- Rockin' Horse
Know Your Rights- The Clash
Thoughs To Send- Juliana Hatfield & Eric Payne
Rudy, A Message To You- Dandy
Do Right Woman-Do Right Man- Aretha Franklin
Road To Ruin- Mr. Big
If She Knew What She Wants (Live)- Jules Shear, Marshall Crenshaw & Graham Maby
Nightmare- The Whyte Boots
Wild Mountain Thyme- The Byrds
Terrapin- Rockfour
Had To Phone Ya- The Beach Boys
Champs- Wire
Everything- Adrian Belew
First Came The Thunder- Chuck Prophet w/Qiensave
How Can That Be- Lou Rawls
Love To Love You Baby- Donna Summer

8/9/2026

The Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel One Studios (1977) ****

Linton Kwesi Johnson- Bass Culture (1980) ***1/2  

Gal E Caetano Veloso- Domingo (1967) ***1/2

Harry Nilsson- Harry (1969) ***1/2

Otis Redding- Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965) ****

Small Faces- The Autumn Stone: Expanded Remaster,  Sides 1-4 (1969/2025) ****

Robyn Hitchcock- The Confuser (2026) ****

The Psychedelic Furs- Forever Now (1982) ***1/2

The Ventures- In Space: MONO (1964) ****

Charli XCX- Music, Fashion, Film (2026) ****

Grace Jones- Nightclubbing (1981) ****

Paul Weller- Wake Up The Nation: Anniversary Remix (2010/2020) ****

Specimen- Wet Warm Cling Film Red Velvet (1997) ***

The Pretty Things- Get The Picture? (1965) ***1/2

8/8/2026

Mississippi John Hurt- Today! (1966) ***1/2

Dennis Bovell & The 4th Street Orchestra- Ah Who Seh? Go Deh! (1976) ****

The Pretty Things- Emotions (1967) **1/2

Love- S/T: Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1966/2018) ****

Jules Shear- Allow Me (2000) ****

Lou Reed- Street Hassle (1978) ***1/2

Albert King- Born Under A Bad Sign (1967) ****

The Beatles- Beatles For Sale: Stereo (1964) ****

Jr. Walker And The All Stars- Home Cookin' (1969) ****

Little Feat- Sailin' Shoes (1972) ****

Charlie Hunter- Space Bomb (2026) ****

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Blood & Chocolate (1986) ****

Bad Brains- Rock For Light (1983) ****

Television- Adventure (1978)

• The 4th Street Orchestra will be this week's Reggae Record Of The Week. Get a jump on it.

• "Emotions" is a pretty lousy Pretty Things record. They really couldn't decide just what kind of band they wanted to be for the first 10 years of their career, at least to my ears.

• Kevin Gray strikes again. Love's debut never sounded better. It's as if you're in the studio hearing playback.

• "Space Bomb" is Charlie Hunter's best in years. Check it out here.

• "WE WILL NOT DO WHAT THEY WANT OR DO WHAT THEY SAY! OH NO!"

 

• I've tried, twice a year, maybe three or four, since 1978, to appreciate "Adventure." And if "Marquee Moon" never existed, I'd have more love for it. But it is really a terrible follow-up. 

 

8/7/2026

John Lee Hooker- The Real Folk Blues (1966) ***

Allen Toussaint- Life, Love And Faith (1972) ****

Donna Summer- The Wanderer (1980) **1/2

The Rails-  Fair Warning (2014) ****

The Beatles- Help!: Stereo (1965) ****

Utopia- Deface The Music (1980) ****

The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour: Stereo (1967) ****

Wet Leg- moisturizer (2025) ****

Faces- Long Player (1971) ***1/2

8/6/2026

Jimmy Witherspoon- Classics: 1950-1951 (2005) ***1/2

Del Shannon- Move It On Over (2011) ****

T. Rex- The Slider: Tony Visconti Remaster (1972/2020) ****

The Everly Brothers- Sing (1967) ****

Graham Parker & The Rumour- Squeezing Out Sparks (1979) ****

Ian Hunter- You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (1979) ***1/2

Stardust Five- S/T (2006) ****

Yes- S/T (1969) ****

Lou Reed- New Sensations (1984) ****

The Sorrows- You've Got What I Want: The Essential Sorrows, 1965-1967 (2010) ***

 

 

• There is a song on the Jimmy Witherspoon collection called "Once There Lived A Fool" that knocked me out. I was ready to make it a Song Of The Day, but YouTube only has a version from years later. It's a solid version, but if you could track down the version from 1951, it'd be worth your time.

• "New Sensations" is def top 5 Lou.

 e

8/5/2026

Linton Kwesi Johnson- Dread Beat And Blood (1978) ***1/2

Pete Townshend- Empty Glass (1980) ****

Stardust Five- S/T (2006) ****

Gang Of Four- Entertainment! (1979) ****

The Beatles- Revolver: 2022 Stereo Remix (1966/2022) ****

XTC - Go 2 (1978) ***1/2

XTC- White Music (1978) ***

The Keys- The Keys Album (1981) ***1/2

 

 

 

• The Stardust Five found me earlier this week. I knew nothing about this record, and I've been listening to Paul Kelly for a long time. This record is incredible. It's strange and beautiful, raucous at times, even soothing occasionally. Hard to describe. Listen to it, if you don't know it.

• "Revolver" is 60 years old today. SIXTY!

• For years I've avoided XTC's "Go 2" like the plague. I hated it the first time I heard it and would only occasionally throw "Meccanik Dancing" on a mixed tape. But a friend gave it some love on social media and I thought I'd go in for the first time in years. It's way better than I remembered. It's very herky-jerky, but enough of it is solid, making it official that there are NO bad XTC records.

• "Go 2" surprised me so much that "White Music," a record I always thought was better, didn't quite cut it tonight. That feeling may change down the line. But I do think it's time for an XTC revision on Popsurfing. 

 

8/4/2026

Olu Dara- In The World From Natchez To New York (1998)  **** 

The Rails- Australia (2015) ****

Burning Spear- Hail H.I.M. (1980) ***

Elvis Costello- My Aim Is True: Kevin Gray Master (1977/2001) ****

Free- Heartbreaker (1973) ****

iPod on Shuffle:

We All Fall In Love Sometimes- Elton John
It's For The Love The Petals Fall- Georgie Fame
Liquidize- Wet Leg
One Hundred Years From Now- The Byrds
East Of Asteroid- 801
To Love Somebody- James Carr
Baby What You Want Me To Do- John Cale
Something In 4/4 Time- Daryl Hall
Get That Gasoline Blues- NRBQ
Frank's Theme- Tom Waits
I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)- The Temptations
Man Overboard- Ian Hunter
Stop Messin' Round- Fleetwood Mac
Water Song- Hot Tuna
Exposure- Peter Gabriel
Wasting My Time- Jimmy Page
Moving Up- Jason Falkner
Radio, Radio- Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I Have Decided To Join The Airforce- Bee Gees

• Elvis Costello just announced an October deluxe release of "My Aim Is True," featuring a newly remastered LP and CD, as well as a 5 CD set with demos, early takes, outtakes and live material. I'll go on record right now, that upcoming remaster will NOT come close to this Kevin Gray master. This record never sounded better.

8/3/2026

Lou Reed- S/T (1972) ****

The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra- What Can We Do? (2026) **

v/a- Gulf Coast Grease: The Sandy Records Story Of Mobile, Alabama Vol.1(1996) **1/2

The Doobie Brothers- Takin' It To The Streets (1976) ***1/2

Twin Temple- God Is Dead (2023) ***1/2

v/a Jagged Time Lapse Volume One (2000) ****

Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy (1978) ****

Dr. John- Gris-Gris: Kevin Gray MONO Mix (1968/2018) ****

King Crimson- Beat (1982) ***1/2

The Hollies- Butterfly: MONO (1967) ****

The Hollies- For Certain Because: Stereo (1966) ***1/2

  

• Couldn't make it through three songs on that Anthony Paule record. "Soul Orchestra" is a misnomer. This is second rate blues with a horn section. And he isn't a very good singer either. 

• It's a shame that an amazing multi volume set of British psych like "Jagged Time Lapse" isn't an official release. Though actually, if it was official, it would most definitely be inferior, due to label big shots getting in the way. I love this stuff. Some of it gets weird, but none of it is boring. Here is a Volume One lagniappe for your sampling pleasure.

• The Kevin Gray MONO "Gris-Gris" is pretty amazing, but I think that record is best heard in stereo.

 

8/2/2026

v/a- Goodbye, Babylon: D1, Introduction (2003) ***1/2

Dusty Springfield- Dusty In Memphis: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2026) ****

Johnny Adams- Heart & Soul (1970) ****

Marvin Gaye- What's Going On: Kevin Gray Master (1971/2022) ****

Graham Gouldman- The Graham Gouldman Thing (1968) ****

Rush- Now Playing (2026) ****

Dave Davies- Hidden Treasures (2011) ***1/2

The Who- Who's Next: 1995 Jon Astley Remix (1971/1995/2012) ****

The Zombies- Greatest Hits In MONO (2017) ****

Faces- Ooh La la (1973) ****

XTC- Skylarking: Steven Wilson Remix (1986/2016) ****


 

• For your consideration- Johnny Adams' "Heart & Soul," one the great southern soul records of all time.

8/1/2026

The Grateful Dead- Reckoning (1981) ****

The Lovin' Spoonful- Everything Playing: MONO (1967) ***

The 3 Sounds- Moods (1960) ****

Peter Tosh- Legalize It (1976) ****

Rush- Hold Your Fire (1987) ****

Rainbow- Rising (1976) ***1/2

The Grateful Dead- Dead Set (1981) ***1/2

Rush- Moving Pictures: Side One (1981) ****

The Soft Boys- Underwater Moonlight (1980) ****

Flamin' Groovies- Shake Some Action (1976) ***

Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026) ****

• "Reckoning" is a great first play of the day. It's a record I imagine might even be enjoyed by those who aren't really Dead fans. Good way to celebrate JG's b'day.

• Just released on Sony Legacy, a 50th Anniversary gold edition of the Peter Tosh classic "Legalize It," and it's both excellent sounding and inexpensive. I don't like colored vinyl as a rule, but this gold LP is pretty snazzy.

• Speaking of possibly liking a record even if you're not a fan of the artist (see GD above), "Hold Your Fire" might be Rush's poppiest and most musical record. Maybe it suffers just a bit with the 80's production, but the songs are very accessible and the playing is great, of course. And Aimee Mann is on it!

• Here's a Rush lagniappe, my attempt at a mix of songs that might appeal to those who aren't fans of the band. It's here, if you dare.

• I think the "Shake Some Action" album might be a tad overrated. 

 

7/31/2026

Fairport Convention- Unhalfbricking (1969) ****

Twin Temple- God Is Dead (2023) ****

The Cleaners From Venus- Beryl & Rush Go Shopping (2026) **1/2

Rush- 2112 (1976) ***1/2

Paul Weller- Sonik Kicks (2012) ****

10cc- The Original Soundtrack (1975) ****

Rush- Counterparts (1993) ****

The Kinks- Soap Opera (1975) ****

Aerosmith- S/T: 2024 Mix (1973/2026) ****

David Bowie- Cracked Actor: Live Los Angeles '74 (2017) ****

 

 

 

• I'd been reading about Twin Temple, Satan worshippers who got kicked off the Charley Crockett tour for their occult imagery but then were invited by Jack White to open for him. I hadn't heard any of their music until Ken D tipped me off. What a great surprise! Think The Ronettes, The Crystals and Lesley Gore singing about the devil. It works! 

• Saw Rush at Madison Square Garden last night, so there will be another Rush mini-binge this weekend. A fantastic show, by the way. Anika Nilles is the real deal.

• As for "Counterparts," I always thought this was a solid rock album, but loses its way in the middle. I removed "Nobody's Hero," "Alien Shores" and "Speed Of Love," and man did it sound good and tight. 

• "Soap Opera" gets my vote for The Kinks' most underrated record.