Kiss, Destroyer, 1976 on Casablanca

This was the fourth full length for Kiss, with the Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley line up, supported by Dick Wagner on three tracks. (Sadly Ace passed this week).

This is the first vinyl record I remember holding and listening to – I loved “Beth” and the Casablanca label – but I’ve no real idea how i came to have it. It wasn’t a first pressing so a later 70s reissue on the “filmworks” Casablanca label. I still know all the words and the solo to “Beth. ” (Was “Beth” the first in the tradition of soft piano ballads by heavy metal bands? Certainly the earliest I know).

My current copy (not the one I originally had) has the misprint on side B where the “1” is missing and the blue “Bogart” Casablanca label – via A1 Records in NYC.

#1970s #1976 #A1Records #AceFrehley #Casablanca #GeneSimmons #Kiss #PaulStanley #PeterCriss #Rock #vinyl #vinylcollection

Bauhaus, Mask, 1981 on Beggars Banquet

Second studio album from Bauhaus and their first on Beggars Banquet (In The Flat Field was on 4AD), with a cover drawn by Daniel Ash, across a gatefold and on the labels.

The first five Bauhaus records are are perfect – as is the singles collection 1979-1983 and most of the bands that followed in the Bauhaus diaspora (Dali’s Car, Love and Rockets, and Tones on Tail).

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is the 2023 reissue pressed at GZ Media.

#1980s #1981 #A1Records #Bauhaus #BeggarsBanquet #DanielAsh #DavidJay #GZMedia #KevinHaskins #NYC #PeterMurphy #Reissue #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

U2, R.O.K., 1981 on Island Records

Punny title (you too, are ok or U2 are ok) aside, great early EP for the European market from U2. The live tracks on the b-side are from their appearance at the Paradise in Boston in March 1981 – about 8 years later my freshman dorm room would be a block away.

This was the first single (“Fire”) from the debut full-length album Boy, though there had been the EP Three and ~5 other singles before this

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is from the first pressing for the German marked, pressed by Sonopress in Gütersloh.

#A1Records #BostonMA #Germany #IslandRecords #NYC #Paradise #Sonopress #SonopressGmbH #U2 #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

XTC, English Settlement, 1982 on Virgin/Epic

This was the fifth XTC studio album, out on Virgin Records in the UK and Epic in the US. The band stopped touring after this LP and became more of a studio only group. Interesting midpoint between “Making Plans For Nigel” (1979) and “Dear God” (1986). Includes “Senses Working Overtime.”

Still looking for a 2xLP version, maybe a UK pressing.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is an original US single LP release, which has few tracks than the original UK release. Later US releases followed the 2xLP format.

#1980s #1982 #A1Records #Epic #NYC #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #Virgin #XTC

Tom Waits, Big Time, 1988 on Island Records

Live album from Tom Waits, including performances from the 1987 tour, also available as a concert film on Amazon Prime / MGM+.

Waits is joined by Willie Schwarz, Michael Blair, Greg Cohen, Marc Ribot, and Ralph Carney – and Kathleen Brennan and Waits co-produced. Most (all?) of the Tom Waits catalogue is being reissued these days but it is great to find an early pressing.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is actually a Brazillian pressing manufactured by BMG Ariola Discos Ltda. Divisão Sonopress, as you can see from the rim text on the labels.

#1980s #1988 #A1Records #Brazil #GregCOhen #IslandRecords #KathleenBrennan #Live #NYC #RalphCarney #TomWaits #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WillieSchwarz

John Mayall, The Latest Edition, 1974 on Polydor

I collect lots of John Mayall – this followed the era of Mayall moving to the US in the late 60s, and the band here includes Larry Taylor, Red Holloway, Soko Richardson, Hightide Harris and Randy Resnick. Lots of jazz/fusion influence here with saxophone. Mayall is wearing a cast on the cover.

Mayall passed unfortunately in 2024, but there are so many great LPs live and from the studio that I keep finding new (to me) music from his career.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a 1974 All Disc pressing in a gatefold sleeve.

#1970s #1974 #A1Records #AllDiscRecords #Blues #HightideHarris #LarryTaylor #NYC #Polydor #RandyResnick #RedHolloway #SokoRichardson #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Too Much Joy, Son of Sam I Am, 1988 on Alias

This was the second full length from Scarsdale New York’s Too Much Joy. I didn’t actually know them in the 80s so picked this up a bit on a whim (it sounded vaguely familiar but I couldn’t place it). Great LP of late 80s college radio alternative with some humor, as the title suggests.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is an original 1988 pressing by Rainbo, which includes the Bozo the Clown sample at the beginning of “Clowns” that was removed from later pressings due to a lawsuit.

It also had the original promo letters from the PR firm “Set To Run” including gems from the “ironic PR” era:

Following up 1987’s lamely produced, barely promoted, and wildly successful Green Eggs and Crack disc, Son of Sam I Am should make TMJ—which is curiously enough also an acronym for lockjaw—famous enough to stop kissing every music-biz butt-cheek from here to Hollywood, unless of course that cheek belongs to Debbie Gibson. Recorded at Venice, California’s Radio Tokyo Studio and produced by Michael James, someone you’ve never head of, the record accurately captures the band’s trademark Lou-Reed-if-heroin-were-beer meets pre-sandbox Brian Wilson sound.

#1980s #1988 #A1Records #Alias #Alternative #ScarsdaleNY #SetToRun #TooMuchJoy #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Billy Joel, An Innocent Man, 1983 on Columbia / Family Productions

Billy Joel’s ninth studio LP, with the title track, “Uptown Girl,” and “The Longest Time” as big hits. Toots Thielemans joins on harmonica on “Leave a Tender Moment Alone.”

Some people might put Billy Joel in the “guilty pleasures” column – I probably did in 1983 – but I’ve really come to appreciate him. Guess I’m getting old.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a 1983 Carrollton US pressing with the original printed inner sleeve.

#1980s #1983 #A1Records #BillyJoel #CarrolltonGA #Columbia #FamilyProductions #NYC #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Cowboy Junkies, Misguided Angel, 1989 on RCA

Margo, Peter, and MIchael Timmons with Alan Anton were Cowboy Junkies. This EP came out alongside the Trinity Session album, with the lead single “Misguided Angel” from that session at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto, plus four live tracks recorded at the ROXY in Hollywood.

Both “Sweet Jane” and “Walking After Midnight” were also on Trinity Session. The choice of songs: covering Lou Reed, Robert Johnson, and Patsy Cline, is a pretty good implication as to the sound of Cowboy Junkies.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a US promotional copy.

#1980s #1989 #A1Records #AlanAnton #CowboyJunkies #LosAngeles #LouReed #MargoTimmins #MichaelTimmons #NYC #PatsyCline #PeterTimmons #Promo #RobertJohnson #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Cactus World News, Special Forces Radio Concert, 1986 on Entertainment Radio / MCA

Another promo only release, this was a radio concert – originally sponsored by SPIN (the magazine), which is still featured on the cover, but with an insert noting SPIN has terminated their sponsorship.

Includes the cue sheet for radio programming and the original advertisements. This show was recorded at the Whiskey A Go-Go in Los Angeles.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is marked with WDFH, a public radio station in Westchester. Not sure if the ???!!! is expressing the question of whether to file this under Cactus World News, or just reacting to the name of the band.

#1986 #A1Records #CactusWorldNews #EntertainmentRadioInc #Live #MCA #NYC #Promo #Transcription #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WDFH #WhiskeyAGoGo