Pat MacDonald and The Essentials, Essentialist Propaganda, 1983 on Counter-Pop

Pat MacDonald would go on to be one half of Timbuk 3 with his wife Barbara Kooyman, listed here as Barbara K. MacDonald. “Too Much Sex (Not Enough Affection” from this EP also was later on Eden Alley in 1988.

Pat MacDonald and The Essentials put out one full length album and this EP, which was recorded in Chicago. (The MacDonalds formed Timbuk 3 in Madison Wisconsin before relocating to Austin).

I was super excited to find my copy at Antone’s Records in Austin TX – so far as I know (or discogs knows) there’s only been one pressing.

#1980s #1983 #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #CounterPop #CounterPopProductions #MadisonWI #PatMacDonald #PatMacDonaldAndTheEssentials #TheEssentials #Timbuk3 #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, He’s the DJ, I’m The Rapper, 1988 on Jive

Second album from the duo of Jeffrey Townes (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff) and Will Smith (aka The Fresh Prince), including “Parents Just Don’t Understand” which won the first Best Rap Performance Grammy in 1989.

Not sure I even realized this at the time, but their first two albums came out before The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire, which didn’t air until 1990.

My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX—is an 80s pressing complete with inner sleeves and hype sticker. It’s a double LP but not a gatefold.

#1980s #1988 #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #DJJazzyJeffTheFreshPrince #FreshPrince #HipHop #JazzyJeff #JiveRecords #Rap #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Re-Flex, The Politics of Dancing, 1983 on Capitol

Debut album from English new-wave band Re-Flex, on EMI in the UK but Capitol in the US. Produced by John Punter who produced Roxy Music and Japan.

Re-Flex formed in Birmingham UK in the early 80s and only put out two albums in the 80s. Clearly the title track on this album is the one most folks know. (Some would call them a one-hit-wonder on 80s compilations).

My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX—is a Jacksonville pressing with an original inner sleeve.

#1980s #1983 #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #Capitol #EMI #English #ReFlex #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The Special AKA, Nelson Mandela, 1984 on Two Tone

Extended version 12″ single from The Specials (Special AKA), produced by Elvis Costello. One of my favorite early 80s ska protest songs. Now dated in its reference but hey – never forget: Mandela was in prison for 27 years but would go on to be the president of South Africa. It’s an amazing story in which the song is just a footnote, but was very compelling, real, and timely in 1984.

My copy—a UK pressing on 2 Tone labels with Chrysalis copyright and marketing and a picture sleeve—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX.

#1984 #2Tone #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #ElvisCostello #ska #Specials #TheSpecialAKA #TwoTone #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The Robert Cray Band, Who’s Been Talkin’, 1980 on Tomato

Debut album from Robert Cray and band (Curtis Salgado, Richard Cousins, and Dave Olson). Tomato was a NY based indie label started in the late 70s by Kevin Eggers, who also released albums by Albert King, Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and John Cage (among others).

My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX—is an original 1980 Presswell pressing with the Tomato label.

#1980 #1980s #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #Blues #CurtisSalgado #DaveOlson #RichardCousins #RobertCray #RobertCrayBand #TomatoRecords #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Oscar Peterson & Dizzy Gillespie, 1975 on Pablo

Pablo records, with a logo and name inspired by Picasso, was started by Norman Granz (who also produced this record) in the early seventies. There’s a ton of great Pablo jazz records—I generally pick them up whenever I see them.

Recorded in 1974 in London, this release brings together two greats but it is not a “legacy” album – their playing is still super vibrant here. (Gillespie won a Best Jazz Performance Grammy for this recording).

My copy via Antone’s Records in Austin TX

#1970s #1975 #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #DizzyGillespie #NormanGranz #OscarPeterson #PabloRecords #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Randy Newman, Live, 1971 on Reprise

Randy Newman recorded at The Bitter End, Sept 17-19th, 1970, and released in 1971. Only his self-titled debut (1968) and “12 Songs” (April 1970) had been released at this point.

Such a talented songwriter – “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” and “Lonely at the Top” are great versions here. Produced by Larry Waronker and Russ Titelman.

As the cover suggests it was originally conceived as a promo-only record but then was released.

My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin, TX—is an original 1971 Los Angeles pressing.

#1971 #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #LarryWaronker #Live #RandyNewman #Reprise #RussTitelman #Songwriter #TheBitterEnd #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

John Prine, Sweet Revenge, 1973 on Atlantic

Prine is one of my favorite songwriters of all time. This was his third full-length, and third on Atlantic. Produced by Arif Mardin, it was mostly recorded in Nashville, with one track (“Dear Abby”) recorded live at SUNY New Paltz.

Musicians include Steve Goodman and many of the folks who played on Prine’s debut album. The cover photo is Prine in the Porsche convertible he bought following the success of his debut.

My copy, via Antone’s Records in Austin TX, is a 1973 pressing from PRC in Richmond.

#1970s #1973 #AntoneSRecords #ArifMardin #Atlantic #AustinTX #JohnPrine #Songwriter #SteveGoodman #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds