Joni Mitchell, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, 1975 on Asylum

Mitchell’s seventh studio LP and third on Asylum – continuing to draw on more jazz-rock influences and more synthesizers (Moog, ARP).

Some find it a step down from 1974’s Court and Spark but I really love this record and this presing.

My copy is the 2024 Vinyl Me, Please reissue by Rhino in the Vinyl Me, Please Essentials series (E-139), on green vinyl as a 2xLP at 45 RPM, lacquer cut by Ryan Smith. I know audiophiles tend to like these 2x45rpm releases but I’d actually prefer a single LP cut well.

#1970s #1975 #2024 #asylum #jazz #joniMitchell #reissue #rhino #rock #ryanSmith #vinyl #vinylMePlease #vinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection

Nilsson, Pussy Cats, 1974 on RCA Victor

I first came to discover Harry Nilsson via The Point!, the fable accompanied by an animated film adaptation that aired on ABC in 1971. (I was too young for it at the time but came upon it later). I then came to realize all the songs he was responsible for and how deep and broad his influence was in particular in early 70s American pop.

The Beatles identified Nilsson back in 1968 as their favorite American group, and Nilsson was friends with John Lennon and Ringo Star, with Lennon sharing producer credit on this album – recorded during his “lost weekend.”

Many covers on this LP – “Many Rivers to Cross,” “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” even “Rock Around the Clock” – and lots of guest musicians from that early 70s scene. Makes for a fun listen and love the packaging here with booklet, print, and gatefold.

My copy—direct from Vinyl Me, Please—is the 2020 reissue on purple split vinyl in the Essentials track with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer and an “art print” by Alan Hynes. (A 50th anniversary edition, as well).

#1970s #1974 #50thAnniversary #AlanHynes #AndrewWinistorfer #JohnLennon #LostWeekend #Nilsson #RCAVictor #Reissue #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Texas Flood, 1983 on Epic

Hard to believe given how fully formed the sound is, but this was the debut album for Vaughan and Double Trouble. Said to have been recorded in two days with no overdubs.

What a fantastic debut: “Love Struck Baby,” “Pride and Joy,” and the title track lead off side one. The band here is Vaughan with Tommy Shannon on bass and Chris Layton on drums – John Hammond as Executive Producer, with Richard Mullen and Vaughan sharing Producer credit.

My copy is the 2023 Vinyl Me, Please reissue, E125 in the Essentials track, on what they call “Pride & Joy” split vinyl (black and white), with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer. Excellent pressing of a great album.

#1980s #1983 #AndrewWinistorfer #Blues #ChrisLayton #JohnHammondJr #Reissue #RichardMullen #StevieRayVaughan #StevieRayVaughanAndDoubleTrouble #TommyShannon #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection

Broadcast, Tender Buttons, 2005 on Warp Records

This was the third studio album from Broadcast, at this point largely a proect of Trish Keenan and James Cargill as a duo, credited on the album as James & Trish. Tender Buttons was also a book of poetry by Gertrude Stein that came out in 1914 – I took a flyer on the album just based on that (and did not know Broadcast before) but it is really wonderful.

The vinyl releases have a slightly different track order than the CDs or streaming.

My copy is the 2025 Vinyl Me Please “20th Anniversary” edition on magenta & cyan vinyl, in the Essentials Track. It’s a great package and sounds wonderful.

#2000s #2005 #2025 #Broadcast #DreamPop #Electronic #JamesCargill #Reissue #TrishKeenan #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Willie Nelson, Phases and Stages, 1974 on Atlantic

This was Nelson’s 17th studio album and second (and last) of the Atlantic era, following Shotgun Willie, produced by Jerry Wexler and recorded at Muscle Shoals in Alabama.

As the listening notes explain, while Nelson disclaimed the autobiographical elements of the record, “when you make . . . the most devastating divorce record of all time – and have been beaten by an ex-wife after she’s sewn you into your sheets – people begin to believe the album is about you and your ex-wives.”

My copy is the 2024 Vinyl Me, Please Essentials edition (E135) on “bloody mary marble” with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer (who also wrote for the Anthology collection The Story of Willie Nelson) with additional artwork by Mike MItchell.

#1970s #1974 #AndrewWinistorfer #Atlantic #Country #JerryWexler #MikeMItchell #MuscleShoals #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection #WillieNelson

Gus Cannon, Walk Right In, 1963 on Stax

Jug Band leader Gus Cannon started recording in the late 20s as “Banjo Joe” and reappeared as part of the folk revival in the 50s on Folkways. This was his first and only Stax LP released in 1963.

“Walk Right In” the song became a hit for the Rooftop Singers – who were credited with songwriting without mention of Cannon. The success of the song (and the Rooftop Singers album titled after it) “provided the impetus” as Bob Altshuler’s liner notes (from 1963) put it “to record an album of music by Gus Cannon.” Great early country blues / jug band but recorded with 1963 Stax equipment.

My copy is the Vinyl Me, Please 2024 reissue on yellow vinyl (E142 in the Essentials track), which is a great Craft Recordings pressing and comes with an “Art Print” of a show poster for the Banjo & Elixir Medicine Show.

#1960s #1963 #Blues #craftRecordings #GusCannon #JugBand #Reissue #Stax #vinyl #VinylMe #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection

Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969 on Fantasy

This was the fourth LP from CCR, and the third released in 1969 (one in January, one in August, and this one in November) – talk about striking while the iron is hot / saturating the market. John Fogerty, older bother Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford are in fine form, including “Down On the Corner” and “Fortunate Son” as well as some longer album tracks like “Effigy” and “Feelin’ Blue.”

My copy is the 2024 Vinyl Me Please reissue in the Essentials track (E143), made by Craft Recordings, on “Washboard Marble” vinyl. Great pressing which replicates the Fantasy labels but with the Craft Recordings catalog number (CR00819).

#1960s #1969 #2024 #craftRecordings #CreedenceClearwaterRevival #DougClifford #Fantasy #JohnFogerty #Reissue #StuCook #TomFogerty #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection

Jim Sullivan, U.F.O., 1969 on Monnie Records

im Sullivan’s U.F.O. originally came out on Monnie back in 1969 (basically a self-funded pressing), and then was reissued with the title Jim Sullivan (with a different mix) by Century City Records in 1970. It was out of print until Light in the Attic reissued it in 2010, forty years later.

Sullivan famously disappeared in New Mexico in 1975, adding some romance and intrigue – especially when one of the theories is alien abduction, given the album’s title.

Musicians on the LP include some of the Wrecking Crew: Earl Palmer, Don Randi, Jimmy Bond, Lyle Ritz, and Max Bennett.

My copy is the Vinyl Me Please reissue made by Light in the Attic, as part of the VMP Essentials track (VMP E081) which came out in 2019. Reissue was produced by Matt Sullivan (co-found of Light in the Attic – no relation to Jim) with sound restoration/mastering by Dave Cooley.

#1960s #1969 #2019 #DaveCooley #DonRandi #JimSullivan #JimmyBond #LightInTheAttic #LyleRitz #MattSullivan #Reissue #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection #WreckingCrew

Herbie Hancock, Sextant, 1973 on Columbia

1973’s Sextant was the last LP with the so-called Mwandishi-era sextet: Bennie Maupin, Eddie Henderson, Julian Priester, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart. It was also his debut on Columbia after Blue Note and Warner Bros. Columbia would also release Head Hunters later the same year.

Great, funky collection – side 2 is one track, the 19:35 “Hornets.” Hancock plays Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, and ARP and Moog synthesizers and there’s lots of complex percussion and instrumentation.

My copy is the Dec 2023 Vinyl Me Please Essentials (VMP E132) reissue, marketed as the 50th Anniversary Edition, on “Lunar Marble” vinyl with listening notes by Marcus J. Moore (who wrote High and Rising, the first biography of De La Soul).

#1970s #1973 #2023 #BennieMaupin #BillyHart #BusterWilliams #Columbia #EddieHenderson #Funk #herbieHancock #JulianPriester #MarcusJMoore #Reissue #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection

Labelle, Nightbirds, 1974 on Epic

Labelle were a trio including Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash, and grew out of Patti Labelle and the Bluebells. They are the original “Lady Marmalade” power trio – and this was their best-selling album. Allen Toussaint produced and The Meters supplement (replace?) Labelle’s usual band.

My copy is the January 2024 Vinyl Me Please Essentials reissue, on orange (marmelade) vinyl, with listening booklet by Sasha Geffen and an “art print” by Jean Pierre Consuegra. Great album and wonderful pressing.

#1970s #1974 #2024 #AllenToussaint #Disco #JeanPierreConsugra #Labelle #NonaHendryx #PattiLaBelle #Reissue #SarahDash #SashaGeffen #TheMeters #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseEssentials #vinylcollection