records-of-records

[records-of-records]

Lloyd & Glen “Keep On Pushing” 1967

Lloyd Robinson and Glen Brown were a duo that released a handful of really great (but underheard) singles in the 1960’s before finding success apart from each other as a singer (Lloyd) and a producer (Glen “The Rhythm Master”). They ran the gamut from Northern Soul stompers (“Minskirt and Go-go Boots”) and early reggae ( “That Girl”). Here we have a superior cover of The Impressions classic “Keep On Pushing”. Written by Curtis Mayfield I wouldn’t say it’s an improvement over the original because that is a fantastic track in itself. I’ll say it’s different and on a nearly equal ranking.

And for good measure here’s the original….

[records-of-records]

Genesis “In The Beginning” 1969/1977

A repackaging of Genesis’s debut “From Genesis To Revelation” this a pleasant (though dated) listen. Phil Collins and Steve Hackett are years away from joining the group. In fact they were teenagers who hadn’t even played a gig yet. Peter Gabriel arrives fully formed and he pretty much carries this whole record. The rest of the band are still learning their trade and are somewhat drowned out by the production imposed on them. Still it’s neat hearing where they started from even if it has absolutely no bearing on anything they’ve ever done since. Except for Gabriel’s voice you’d be hard pressed to identify this as Genesis if you’ve never heard it. I wouldn’t say the band has disowned it but it is telling that they’ve never owned the rights to it.

[records-of-records]

Soccer Mommy “Sometimes, Forever” 2022

What this? An album from a current active artist who’s relatively young? Not traditionally in my wheelhouse but it cost $3 and I’ve read good things about her so at that price I’ll give her a shot. It’s different. This a hard record to describe. Kind of a weird mix of hazy shoegazey pop I guess. Nothing really stands out (which is not saying it’s bad). I don’t hate it. In fact I’m finding to be real grower on me. Is the rest of her catalog worth exploring?

[records-of-records]

Lijadu Sisters “Horizon Unlimited” 1979/2024

I was ecstatic to see this get a reissue last year! I had been trying to figure out how to get an affordable copy of it for a few years after falling in love with “Come On Home” a few years back! Turns out I just needed to be patient. Fortunately the whole record is quite fantastic!

It looks like Numero Group is eventually going to reissue their whole catalog though they’re doing it rather slowly. “Danger” is due out next month.

[records-of-records]

Sylvie Vartan “Il ńa rien retrouvé” 1965/2021

A Japanese compilation of non-LP tracks or unreleased tracks (or something like that. Because apparently Ms Vartan is big in Japan and her French label decided to reissue it in her 60th anniversary reissue campaign. It’s an enjoyable listen though it’s all over the map stylistically as an odds and sods album typically is. What isn’t typical is the slightly unglamorous cover photo (compared to her other promo photos of the time) but the glam is in full force on the back cover. Being English is my language finding very much info on a Japanese album of French music is pretty challenging.

[records-of-records]

[records-of-records]

Jackie Mittoo “Oboe/Wall Street” 1980/2020

The keyboard king of Studio One! The Jamaican equivalent to Booker T Jones.

[records-of-records]

Ruby Johnson “Ruby Johnson” 2022

A very short compilation of tracks that little known soul singer Ruby Johnson recorded for the Stax/Volt label in Memphis in the mid-sixties. I’ll give anything that went through the Stax studios a chance and came out with a win on this. Everything here is great, maybe not any standouts that scream hit but a bunch of really great deep cuts. Unfortunately she never got to record a whole album at one time so all we’re left with is this short compilation of singles and a bunch more singles. It’s nice that someone put this together.

The liner notes say there’s 12 songs but there’s only 10. Small quibble because quite frankly we’re pretty lucky that we even get to hear about these tracks in the first place.

[records-of-records]

Thelonious Monk “Genius Of Modern Music Volume 1” 1951/2019 reissue

Early Monk recorded for Blue Note Records! There’s two volumes of his “Genius Of Modern Music” and I might as well cover both of them now because they have identical covers except for the color. Covering from the mid-1940’s to the very early 1950’s this is foundational jazz. I tend to bounce back and forth between Monk and Bud Powell as my favorite jazzmen. Which makes sense because their stories are strongly intertwined. Some of the best music recorded. He would go on to make great albums his whole career.

And from Volume two…

[records-of-records]

Death Valley Girls “Street Venom” 2014/2021 reissue

Lots of fuzzy guitars! I haven’t heard the original mix of this album but I’m digging this remix. The lineup has changed (Patty Schemel from Hole is on drums here) lots of times since this record but they’re always great!

[records-of-records]

New Order “Everything’s Gone Green” 1981/2019

I loved the first few New Order singles and the first album “Movement”. I’ll say I even like them more than the stuff they did as Joy Division. But man, I sure do hate what they became! I remember getting the cassette of “Technique” when it came out and thinking “This is not good” so they must’ve completely lost me around the “Brotherhood” album. Fortunately this is their second single sitting squarely in their “unsure of what direction we’re going” era. EEGG does point the way to their breakthrough of “Blue Monday” but there still is enough lingering Joy Division sound here to keep my interest (especially on the two b-side tracks).

[records-of-records]

The Slits “Rough Cut” recorded 1979/released 2022

The rough/work-in-progress mixes of the songs from their 1979 classic album “Cut”. These did get a CD release on the 2009 deluxe CD edition but this is the first official vinyl release. My family does not have the enthusiasm for The Slits that I harbor. Which is too bad because they were a fun and lively listen.

[records-of-records]

The Cult “Dreamtime” 1984

There was a time in the 1980s that The Cult were considered cool amongst the high school kids. Import singles and albums by them and previous incarnations of the band were all the rage. This being their first album was one of them. I’m not sure when it got an official stateside release but it was well after their heyday. In my mind it’s the best album they’ve released! Kinda goth, kinda rock, kinda eighties. People had a hard time describing them. With 1986’s “Electric” where they morphed into a AC/DC inspired rock outfit out of seemingly nowhere. And that initially really confused people. Traded in their decent sized “cult” of rabid faithful for the greener (albeit fleeting) pastures of mainstream rock. But that’s a story for a different post. For now enjoy the energy and excitement of a young band finding their way…

[records-of-records]

“Bob Stanley/Pete Wiggs Present Winter Of Discontent” 2024

Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs have their hands in many jars besides being musicians. They write books. They compile album compilations. And they do a great job of it too, not confining themselves to one genre, I’ve found their compilations to be well thought out with excellent selections and outstanding liner notes. Their work is quality. This one is no exception either… a bunch of British DIY post-punk bands from 1978 to 1981 voicing frustration/displeasure with the direction society was going at the time. Where ideals were more important than musicianship (that pops up in music from time to time). Hopefully younger musicians are taking notes…

“Violence Grows” was the song I was most excited about! Thankful for this comp so I don’t have to track down a single!

I do hope you all have heard “Fairytale In The Supermarket”! It’s pretty fab.

Quite a few of these songs don’t seem to be on Spotify but are worth searching out (I especially liked “The Window’s Broken” by Human Cabbages).

[records-of-records]

He’s really into vinyl.

[records-of-records]

Oingo Boingo “Dead Man’s Party” 1985

A dose of nostalgia.

[records-of-records]

The Doors “13” 1970

Before tonight I didn’t have Doors records. Growing up I didn’t really need any because my dad had some of them. So I knew the hits between my dad and Midwest classic rock radio. Also they were pretty hip with a certain segment of my age group until that Oliver Stone movie came out. Then they were kind’ve uncool. So I never bothered. Recently I’ve hankering to revisit them but lamenting that their records don’t turn up as often as they used to. And then this compilation popped up in the local used shop! It was issued before the “LA Woman” came out so it’s missing some key tracks but it’s got a nice combo of the FM radio “hits” and deep album tracks. I read a review on rateyourmusic.com that said it played more like a Doors mixtape than a compilation. I think that’s pretty dead on. A very enjoyable, albeit incomplete, listen. It’ll do for now!