John Mayall, Lots of People, 1977 on ABC Records

Mayall live from The Roxy in LA, recorded November 24th, 1976. This was Mayall’s eighth live album, with supporting band including a horn section with Red Holloway, Ann Patterson, David Li, Jimmy Roberts, Bill Lamb, and Nolan Smith. That’s lots of people on stage.

I’m something of a Mayall completist – this mid-seventies California Jazz fusion exploring Mayall is maybe my least favorite, but I’m still along for the ride.

My copy via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA.

The Housemartins, Me and the Farmer, 1987 on Go! Discs

Released as a 12″ single from The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death, including the b-side of the 7″ single “I Bit My Lip” but also “He Will Find You Out” and “Step Outside.”

Norman Cook (who later became Fatboy Slim among many aliases), Dave Hemingway (also later in The Beautiful South), Stan Cullimore, and Paul Heaton were The Housemartins, a Christian Socialist band out of Hull. I was (and still am) a huge fan and pick up their singles/EPs whenever I find them, which is not often.

My copy, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA, is a UK Aston Clinton pressing.

The Smiths, Meat is Murder, 1985 on Rough Trade / Sire

Released on Rough Trade in the UK and Sire in the US, this was the second studio album from the Smiths. The US version of the LP included “How Soon is Now?” which did not appear on the UK edition. but was issued as a single.

The version I knew growing up was the US version with “How Soon is Now?” on the b-side as the first track.

I was not vegan back when I first heard this LP but loved it from the get go – too me a good 20 years to come around to Morrissey’s POV on eating animals, and while I can’t say I agree with his politics these days this LP is still perfect.

My copy—via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA—is a 2012 reissue pressed at Optimal which restores the UK tracklist and omits “How Soon is Now?”

Everything But The Girl, Night and Day, 1982 on Cherry Red

Another one that originally came out as a single in the early eighties (1982) but was reissued in 2022 on Record Store Day, in this case with the same three tracks (“Feeling Dizzy” and “On My Mind” on the b-side) but as a 12″ 45rpm record.

I’m a massive fan of EBTG so was super excited to find this at Joe’s Albums in Worcester. It was half-speed mastered at Abbey Road by Miles Showell and released on clear vinyl to celebrate the 40th anniversary – limited to 2000 copies, though they are not numbered.

Madness, Baggy Trousers, 2022 on BMG

While the original single “Baggy Trousers” came out in 1980 on Stiff Records, this 2022 six song EP is the first 12″ version. It was released for Record Store Day 2022 on 180g vinyl by BMG / Union Square Music.

Six generously proportioned tracks together for the first time

This includes a French cabaret style slowed down version, “Le Grand Pantalon” incorporating an accordion (though still sung in English).

My copy via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA.

Cowboy Junkies, Songs of the Recollection, 2022 on Proper Records

Margo, Michael, and Peter Timmins plus Alan Anton make up Toronto Canada’s Cowboy Junkies. This 2022 album is a collection of covers reflecting their formative influences: Bowie, Gram Parsons, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Vic Chesnutt, and The Cure.

Some of these songs are previously released on b-sides or other compilations but it is great to have them all in one place.

My copy via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA.

#2020s #2022 #AlanAnton #CowboyJunkies #JoeSAlbums #MargoTimmins #MichaelTimmins #PeterTimmins #ProperRecords #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA

Chet Baker, Albert’s House, 1969 on Beverly Hills

One of Baker’s releases following getting his teeth (allegedly) knocked out (see Born to Be Blue) – eleven songs composed by Steve Allen. Gets some pretty negative reviews – I’d agree it isn’t Baker at his prime, but I’m closer to the Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide which gives is three out of five stars than to Allmusic who gave it one.

He’s joined by Paul Smith (piano, organ), Barney Kessel (guitar), Jim Hughart (bass), and Frank Capp (drums).

My copy is a 2021 reissue on Liberation Hall that was part of Record Store Day (“RSD First”) in November 2021, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA

#1960s #1969 #BarneyKessel #BeverlyHills #ChetBaker #FrankCapp #jazz #JimHughart #JoeSAlbums #LiberationHall #PaulSmith #RecordStoreDay #RecordStoreDay2021 #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA

Lou Donaldson, Blues Walk, 1958 on Blue Note

Great late 50s Blue Note album, with Donaldson joined by Peck Morrison on bass, Ray Barretto on congas, Dave Bailey on drums, and Herman Foster on piano. Sleeve notes by Ira Gitler. (Donaldson died last month – November 2024).

I wasn’t as familiar with Donaldson as some of his better known contemporaries, but he started with Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk, and was part of Art Blakey’s Quintent on A Night At Birdland. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for his other Blue Note LPs from the 50s and 60s.

My copy from the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series, mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA.

#1950s #1958 #BlueNote #BlueNoteClassicVinylSeries #CohearentAudio #DaveBailey #HermanFoster #IraGitler #JoeSAlbums #KevinGray #LouDonaldson #PeckMorrison #RayBarretto #Reissue #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA

Ike Quebec, Easy Living, 1987 on Blue Note

Though this was first released / issued by Blue Note in 1987, it was actually recorded in 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in New Jersey, and represents that early 60s jazz era. It was originally going to be issued as BST-84103 – but the tracks on side one did ultimately make it on Blue Note LT-1089 (1981).

Quebec is joined here by fellow tenor sax master Stanley Turrentine and Bennie Green (on the first three tracks) plus Sonny Clark, Milt Hinton, and Art Blakey (on all six).

Unfortunately both Ike Quebec and Sonny Clark died in January of 1963, three days apart.

My copy via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA.

#1960s #1962 #1987 #ArtBlakey #BennieGreen #BlueNote #IkeQuebec #jazz #JoeSAlbums #MiltHinton #RudyVanGelder #SonnyClark #StanleyTurrentine #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA

Dexter Gordon, Daddy Plays the Horn, 1956 on Bethlehem Records

Wonderful mid-50s bop jazz record I’d have bought just for the cover illustration by Howard Stabin. Gordon is joined here by Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawreance Marable on drums. Liner notes by Joseph Muranyi.

This was recorded just after Gordon got out of prison at Chino and before being incarcerated again at Folsom later in the 50s.

Bethlehem Records was founded by Gus Wildi, and put out 10″ records in 1954 and 1955, switching to 12″ records in 1955-1960, the BCP1 to BCP93 series.

My copy, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA, is a modern (2022) reissue by BMG (Bethlehem Records is now owned by Verve, which in turn is owned by BGM). Like apparently many others in this reissue, the A-side label is actually for The Jazz Experiments Of Charles Mingus (BCP-65 instead of BCP-36) but the audio is correct. The hype sticker calls it a “1955 classic” but it wasn’t actually released until 1956.

#1950s #1956 #2022 #BethlehemRecords #BMG #Bop #DexterGordon #jazz #JoeSAlbums #KennyDrew #LawranceMarable #LeroyVinnegar #Reissue #Verve #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA