Nina Simone, Baltimore, 1978 on CTI

The inimitable Nina Simone recorded in Brussels in January 1978 – her first and only record with CTI (Creed Taylor Inc). Apparently she and Creed Taylor did not find good creative collaboration and she disclaimed any choice of material or creative control.

“Baltimore” is the Randy Newman song from Little Criminals. Quincy Jones’ version of “Everything Must Change” was on Body Heat. The most surprising perhaps is “Rich Girl” – as in the Hall & Oates track from Bigger Than Both Of Us.

My copy is the Vinyl Me, Please reissue from 2024 on red marble vinyl, cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling and pressed at GZ Media.

Rodney Crowell, The Houston Kid, 2001 on Sugar Hill Records

Released on CD in 2001 but issued on vinyl for the first time in 2024, this was Crowell’s tenth full length album. Johnny Cash (Crowell’s former father-in-law) is featured on “I Walk The Line (Revisited).”

It’s a bit of an autobiographical concept album as Tony Scherman lays out in “Great Songwriter Mines His Past” – but you don’t have to know any of that to get it as a wonderful collection of songs.

My copy is the 2024 VMP reissue on “sepia marble” vinyl, pressed at GZ Media and cut by Barry Grint. (I think it’s still the only vinyl edition).

Destroyer, Labyrinthitis, 2022 on Merge Records

Dan Behar and co’s 13th studio album with John Collins, Joshua Wells, David Carsell, Nicolas Bragg, Ted Bois, and JP Carter.

Was number 30 on Pitchfork’s 50 Best of 2022.

My copy is the Vinyl Me Please edition on gray vinyl with black spatter.

The Runaways, The Runaways, 1976 on Mercury

Debut album from Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, Jackie Fox, and Sandy West, aka The Runaways – though apparently Nigel Harrison actually plays the bass on the album.

Currie published a memoir (Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway) on which the 2010 biopic The Runaways was based, with Kristen Stewart playing Joan Jett, Dakota Fanning as Curriue, and Michael Shannon playing manager Kim Fowley.

My copy is the Vinyl Me Please reissue from 2023, a numbered limited edition on blue vinyl pressed at Citizen Vinyl.

Gábor Szabó, Dreams, 1968 on Skye Records.

Gabor Szabo, Dreams, 1968 on Skye Records.

My copy is a 2020 reissue on Modern Harmonic through Vinyl Me, Please – fabulous pressing by QRP.

Szabó was a Hungarian guitarist and attended Berklee College

#1960s #1968 #2020 #BerkleeCollege #GáborSzabó #jazz #ModernHarmonic #QualityRecordPressing #Reissue #SkyeRecords #vinyl #vinylMePlease #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

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

T. Rex, T. Rex, 1970 on Reprise

Debut album as “T. Rex” for Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn, having previously released as Tyrannosaurus Rex, out on Reprise in 1970. Tony Visconti produced and reportedly added bass and recorder to some tracks.

The electric guitar Bolan holds on the gatefold cover signals the shift into a more rock sound from the folkier early records but also still a fair amount of strings and acoustic stuff here.

My copy is the 2024 VMP Reissue on green (“Jewel of Frost”) 180g vinyl.

#1970 #1970s #2024 #marcBolan #mickeyFinn #reissue #reprise #tRex #tonyVisconti #vinyl #vinylMePlease #vinylcollection

Isaac Hayes, Black Moses, 1971 on Enterprise

This double LP was Hayes’ fifth studio album and was the follow-up to Shaft. Wonderful covers of “Never Can Say Goodbye” as well as “Close To You” and “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.”

Reportedly the label exec Dino Woodward called Hayes “Black Moses.” The Bar-Kays are here on a few tracks, otherwise the band known as The Isaac Hayes Movement.

My copy is the 2024 reissue by Vinyl Me Please and Craft Recordings, on blue vinyl with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer and a fold-out poster mimicking the original album cover gatefold in the shape of a cross.

#1970s #1971 #2024 #andrewWinistorfer #enterprise #isaacHayes #isaacHayesMovement #reissue #soul #theBarKays #vinyl #vinylMePlease #vinylcollection

Boogie Down Productions, By All Means Necessary, 1988 on Jive

Second album from KRS-One under the Boogie Down Productions moniker, after the 1987 killing of Scott La Rock. Arguably the birth of socially conscious hip-hop, undeniably a key album in it.

So, you’re a philosopher?

Yes, I think very deeply

In about four seconds, a teacher will begin to speak

Let us begin, what, where, why or when

Will all be explained like instructions to a game

Did not know in listening to this back in ’88 that all these years later I’d be vegan and KRS-One would be 60 years old.

My copy is the 2024 Vinyl Me, Please reissue on 180g orange vinyl, with listening notes by Elijah Watson. Sounds great and has solid packaging – I hope VMP’s return under new ownership can keep the quality high.

#1980s #2024 #BoogieDownProductions #ElijahWatson #HipHop #JiveRecords #KRSOne #Reissue #ScottLaRock #vinyl #vinylMePlease #vinylcollection

Guy Clark, Old No. 1, 1975 on RCA Victor

Guy Clark’s debut album, out in 1975 on RCA Victor, reissued here by Vinyl Me Please in their Country track in 2024. Cover painting by his wife Susanna Clark.

Backing vocalists here include Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, and Steve Earle – among a shortlist of the folks Guy Clark was a tremendous influence on. Liner notes by Jerry Jeff Walker (of “Mr. Bojangles” fame) credited as Jerry Jeff Waffle.

Includes “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” “L.A. Freeway,” and “Texas – 1947,” all recorded by other major artists in the 70s. What a fantastic songwriter.

#1970s #1975 #2024 #Country #EmmylouHarris #GuyClark #JerryJeffWalker #RCAVictor #Reissue #RodneyCrowell #SteveEarle #SusannaClark #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseCountry #vinylcollection #vinylfinds