8/30/2026

Dolly Parton- Jolene (1974) ***

Os Tincoas- S/T (1973) ***1/2

Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin- Love Devotion Surrender: MoFi HSM (19732024) ****

Horace Andy- Mr. Bassie (1998) ***

Jethro Tull- This Was: Kevin Gray Cut (1968/2026) ****1/2

Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers (1984) ***1/2

Michael Penn- Six Pack (2026) ***1/2

Taj Mahal- Mo' Roots (1974) ***1/2

Genesis- Selling England By The Pound: Nick Davis Remix (1973/2008) ****

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- IbMePdErRoIoAmL (1982) ****1/2

The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters (1977/2021)- ****

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

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

• Revisiting "Love Devotion Surrender" last week knocked me out. I decided I needed an upgrade and this MoFi half speed master is perfect. A fantastic pressing. 

• "This Was" is my favorite Tull album, followed by "Stand Up" and "Thick As A Brick." Needless to say, I was stoked to see Rhino release a box with the first five Jethro Tull records all revamped by the one and only Kevin Gray. I've had an original U.K. MONO of "This Was," an original U.K. stereo, an original U.S. stereo and a Steven Wilson remix. None come close to this Kevin Gray cut. Can't wait to dig in to the other four.

8/29/2026

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Natty Dread (1974) ****

Elton John- Madman Across The Water (1971) ****

David Bowie- Hunky Dory (1971) ****

Strawberry Alarm Clock- Incense And Peppermints (1967) ***1/2

Jellyfish- Spilt Milk: Vinylphile Edition (1993/2026) ****

Dr. John- Locked Down (2012) ****

8/28/2026

Burning Spear- Marcus Garvey (1975) ****

v/a- Good News: Bunny Lee & Friends (2013) ***1/2

Tom Waits - Bone Machine (1992) ****

Badfinger- Magic Christian Music (1970) **1/2

Alabama Shakes- I Must Be Dreaming (2026) **1/2

Mastodon- Marrow Deep (2026) ***1/2

The Linda Lindas- Gotta Get Out (2026) **1/2

Todd Rundgren- A Cappella (1985) ****

Elton John - Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy: Sal's Version (1975/2025) ****

Grace Jones- Living My Life (1982) ****

 

 

• Bunny Lee & Friends is a really solid reggae collection from Doctor Bird. Worth seeking out. I'm also going to check out a companion dub disc called "Dub Will Change Your Mind" featuring The Agrovators. 

• I never got the Alabama Shakes, but I liked Brittany Howard's solo stuff enough to try again. I still don't get the Alabama Shakes. This new record goes nowhere. 

• For "Capt. Fantastic," I removed "Meal Ticket" and replaced it with "Philadelphia Freedom." That is all.

 

8/27/2026

Iggy Pop- Blah Blah Blah (1986) ****

Bonerama- So Much Love (2026) ****

Adrian Belew- Mr. Music Head (1989) ***1/2

Lunachicks- Pretty Ugly (1997) ***

The Meters- Fire On The Bayou (1975) ****

Pearl Jam- Backspacer (2009) ****

Pink Floyd- Piper At The Gates Of Dawn : MONO (1967) ****

Jet- S/T (1975) ****

The Knack- Get The Knack (1979) ***1/2

Elvis Costello- Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Years (1997) ****

Judas Priest- Screaming For Vengeance (1982) ***1/2

 

 

• It's been years since I listened to "Blah Blah Blah," an Iggy/Bowie record that I always thought was good, but not great. Man, did it sound great after the long lay off.

• Watched the Lunachicks documentary "Pretty Ugly" and enjoyed it. I really hadn't listened to much of their music. Decent punk rock. The two records I've heard so far have been uneven, but the tracks that are good are really good.

• Jet's 1975 debut is the great lost Sparks record, and actually better than a few Sparks records from the 70's. Andy Ellison, Davy O'List, Martin Gordon! This is the Traveling Wilburys of 70's glam and no one cared. Actually, I had never heard it until a few years ago. Now it's a fave!

• I played "My Sharona" 10 times a day for the entire summer of 1979 and then I just couldn't listen to it for years. But that guitar solo is one for the ages. There may be better solos, by better guitarists, but it's hard to find a guitar solo as exciting as Berton Averre's solo in "My Sharona."

 

8/26/2026

The Wailers- The Wailing Wailers (1966) ****

Dolly Parton- Hello, I'm Dolly (1967) ***1/2

Paul McCartney & Wings- Band On The Run (1973) ****

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

Dolly Parton- The Bargain Store (1975) ****

Willie Tee- I'm Only A Man (1970) ****

Carly Simon- Comes In Waves (2026) **1/2

XTC- The Big Express (1984) ****

King Crimson- In The Wake Of Poseidon: Steven Wilson Remix (1970/2010) ***1/2



 

8/25/2026

John McLaughlin With The One Truth Band- Electric Dreams (1979) **1/2

Bruce Springsteen- Lucky Town (1992) ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- Best (1959) ****

Grey De Lisle & Les Greene- Grey & Greene (2026) ****

John Waite/The Babys- Personal Playlist (2019) ****

The Byrds- Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (1968) ****

Lunachicks- Babysitters On Acid (1990) ***1/2

Michael Monroe- Nights Are So Long (1987) ****

Mott The Hoople- The Hoople (Sal's Version, 1974/2024) ****

 

• John Waite is one hell of a singer. This playlist hit the spot.

Every Step Of The Way
Saturday Night
Keys To Your Heart
Act Of Love
Turn & Walk Away
Broken Heart
When You Were Mine
Head First
Isn't It Time 
Tears
Let's Get Out Of Here
Change
In God's Shadow
Every Time I Think Of You
Midnight Rendezvous
Wild One
She's My Girl
Missing You 
Don't Walk Away

• (Removed both "Trudi's Song"- yes, I know it's about Ian's wife, but it's not very good- and "Through The Looking Glass," because the b-side "Rest In Peace" is a better ballad than both. And I added the two last singles "Foxy Foxy" and "Saturday Gigs," because they belong!)

 

8/24/2026

Ellen Foley- Nightout (1979) ****

John McLaughlin- Electric Guitarist (1978) ***1/2

Pete Townshend- Scoop (1983) ***

The Stranglers- IV: Rattus Norvegicus (1977) ****

Tom Waits- The Heart Of Saturday Night (1974) ****

Boz Scaggs- Silk Degrees (1976) ****

The Rolling Stones- Flowers: MONO (1967) ****

Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026) ****

The Rolling Stones- Some Girls (1978) ****

8/23/2026

The Staple Singers- Faith And Grace: A Family Journey 1953-1976, Personal Highlights (2015/2026) ****

Shakti with John McLaughlin (1976)  ***

John McLaughlin- The Promise (1995) **1/2

The Pretty Things- Parachute (1970) ***1/2

The Beatles- S/T: Giles Martin Stereo Remix, Sides Three & Four (1968/2018) ****

King Crimson- THRAK (1995) ****

Genesis- ...And Then There Were Three (1978) ****

X- Los Angeles (1980) ****

Joe Jackson- I'm The Man (1979) ***1/2

Prince- 10 From "Emancipation" (1996/2026) ****

Motorhead- Bomber (1979) ****

The Who- My Generation: Japanese True Stereo (1965/2023) ****

• I only listened to half of "The Promise," which is still about 38 minutes! Nothing was sticking. Amazing playing but really boring tunes.

• "THRAK" is one of the best records of 1995 and without question, the tour was one of the best KC shows I have ever seen. Town Hall never shook so hard.

• Happy Birthday Keith Moon! Dead at 32. That's just wrong, though that's 5 years longer than a few other rock and rollers we all know and love.

8/22/2026

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers- A Hard Road (1967) ****

Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac- Greatest Hits (1971) ****

Moacir Santos- Coisas (1965) ***1/2

Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin- Love Devotion Surrender (1973) ****

Lindsey Buckingham- Law & Order (1981) ***

Utopia- Cleveland Agora, 8/23/78 (1978) ***1/2

Steely Dan- Aja (1977) ****

The Wailers- Burnin' (1973) ****

Love - Forever Changes: Stereo (1967) ***1/2
 

• Maybe an unpopular opinion but I think "A Hard Road" with Peter Green is a better record than the "Bluesbreakers" with Eric Clapton. 

• It's been a while since I listened to "Love Devotion Surrender." It continues to blow my face off.

 

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.