John Eckman2d ago

The Parachute Club, At the Feet of the Moon, 1984, RCA / Current

Great early 80s pop - look at the outfits on that back sleeve. The Parachute Club were a Toronto band and this was their second full length following a self-titled debut. Reminiscent a bit of Level 42 (strong baselines) but with a more mainstream pop sensibility. "At the Feet of the Moon" was a hit in Canada. There's an episode of Behind the VInyl withlead singer Lorraine Segato: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwLKXQ_TkC4 My copy—via a grab bag of LPs at Bull Moose Records in […]

https://goatless.org/2026/06/01/the-parachute-club-at-the-feet-of-the-moon-1984-rca-current

John Eckman4d ago

Billy Joel, The Nylon Curtain, 1982 on Columbia

It may never have been cool to be a Billy Joel fan. It certainly was not among my friends in 1982. But this is a great album. Joel's 8th, it was produced by Phil Ramone and includes "Allentown," "Pressure," and "Goodnight Saigon." And that's just side one. Also I no longer care if it is cool or not, I am a fan of these records. My copy—via Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH (not part of a $2 grab bag)—is a Pitman pressing with the QC code (so not a first pressing).

https://goatless.org/2026/05/30/billy-joel-the-nylon-curtain-1982-on-columbia

John EckmanMay 25

Giant Sand, Returns To Valley of Rain, 2018 on Fire Records

Howe Gelb and company (on this record that's Scott Garber, Winston Watson, Gabriel Sullivan, and Annie Dolan plus guests) return to (and re-record) the material from their debut Valley of Rain (1985). Great alt-country / Americana / punk from Tuscon AZ. Worth picking up whether you had (and loved) the original or are new to Giant Sand. My copy—via Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH—is the limited edition blue vinyl version pressed at Optimal GmbH.

https://goatless.org/2026/05/25/giant-sand-returns-to-valley-of-rain-2018-on-fire-records

John EckmanMay 24

Tavares, The Best of Tavares, 1977 on Capitol

Wonderful collection of disco/soul/funk from the mid-seventies, including their biggest hits "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" and "It Only Takes a Minute." They ended up on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, doing "More Than A Woman." But even if you don't like disco, they are well worth checking out. They were from New Bedford MA / Providence Rhode Island, and Bernie Worrell briefly joined Tavares in 1968 while he was at the New England Conservatory of Music. My copy—via Bull Moose […]

https://goatless.org/2026/05/24/tavares-the-best-of-tavares-1977-on-capitol

John EckmanMay 21

El Perro Del Mar, Love is Not Pop, 2009 on Control Group

3rd studio album from Sarah Assbring's musical project from Sweden. (Yes, the name literally translates as "The Dog of the Sea," and yes, her name is Assbring). Lots of reviewers called this a breakup record, which I guess it is - but it's also a wonderful album reflecting the evolution of her/their sound. Co-produced and performed with Rasmus Hägg (who has also worked with Jens Lekman and is also part of the duo Studio). My copy—via Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH—is a 180g vinyl […]

https://goatless.org/2026/05/21/el-perro-del-mar-love-is-not-pop-2009-on-control-group

John EckmanMay 17

Elvis Costello, Hey Clockface, 2020 on Concord Records

Elvis Costello's 31st studio LP out in 2020 on Concord. There are a couple of different recording sessions here with different bands, but Steve Nieve, Bill Frisell, and Nels Cline all make appearances here. "Hatty O'Hara Confidential" was a highlight when I saw Costello and Nieve at the Cabot last year. My copy—via Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH—is the standard 2xLP on black vinyl with a gatefold.

https://goatless.org/2026/05/17/elvis-costello-hey-clockface-2020-on-concord-records

John EckmanMay 15

Nicolet, Hochelaga, 2017 on Chivi Chivi

Nicolet is the project of Etienne Hamel, a Quebecois multi-instrumentalist - Hochelaga is the debut full length under that moniker. The name refers to a neighborhood in Montreal, on the St. Lawrence river near Mount Royal. Great francophone indie rock. Unfortunately it's also the name of a stoner metal album by Dopethrone. I ended up with this copy as part of a grab-bag from Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH. $2 for a bag with 10 LPs, but no returns/exchanges and you have no idea what […]

https://goatless.org/2026/05/15/nicolet-hochelaga-2017-on-chivi-chivi

John EckmanMay 8

Jens Lekman, When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog, 2004 on Secretly Canadian

I'm a big fan of Jens Lekman - this was his debut album, though some of the tracks had been released independently. Can you imagine in 2003 seeing Jens Lekman and José González together at Goteborg Concert Hall? Banner year for Swedish indie music. My copy—via Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH—is the Secretly Canadian 25th Anniversary exclusive reissue on green vinyl. (That's 25 years of Secretly Canadian, not 25 years of the album).

https://goatless.org/2026/05/08/jens-lekman-when-i-said-i-wanted-to-be-your-dog-2004-on-secretly-canadian

John EckmanJan 27, 2025

The Replacements; Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash; 1981 on Twin/Tone

This was the debut album of Minneapolis’ own The Replacements, in all its ragged glory. Somehow – likely because of how I acquired them – I’d always thought that Stink! (the EP) came out before Sorry, Ma – but it was the other way ’round.

I don’t usually by CDs these days, but this reissue came in a 4 CD plus 1 LP, including a remastered version of the original album, two CDs of demos, outtakes, & alternate versions, one live CD (Unsuitable for Airplay) and a vinyl LP of an alternate version of the original album.

My copy via Bull Moose Records in Portsmouth NH

#1980s #1981 #2021 #BullMooseRecords #CD #PortsmouthNH #Reissue #TheReplacements #TwinTone #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The Replacements, Unsuitable for Airplay: The Lost KFAI Concert, 2022 on Twin/Tone. | Goatless

Recorded live at the 7th St Entry on January 23rd, 1981 and released on vinyl as part of Record Store Day in April of 2022, this was also included (on CD) as part of the Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash box set. Paul Westerberg, Chris Mars, Bob Stinson and Tommy Stinson in

Goatless
John EckmanJan 2, 2025

Rush, Exit . . . Stage Left, 1981 on Mercury

Like many, I found Rush as teen (or maybe pre-teen?) and was immediately hooked by the aggressive musicality and complexity and the allusive nature of Peart’s lyrics. Even the album title here is a reference to Snagglepuss (as well as a reference back to All The World’s a Stage?).

Still holds up as an amazing live album, drawn from the tour supporting Moving Pictures as well as the previous Permanent Waves tour. Mixed and overdubbed / fixed at Le Studio in Quebec after the tour.

My copy via Bull Moose Records in Portsmouth NH

#1980s #1981 #AlexLifeson #BullMooseRecords #GeddyLee #Mercury #NeilPeart #PortsmouthNH #Rush #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds