Bettie Serveert - Palomine [CD single] - notation

The US and UK issues of this contain a demo of the Lamprey track "Silent Spring" and the two versions of the song "Palomine" that appear on the album Palomine. AllMusic lists this as an EP, which appears to be inaccurate. I listened to the unremarkable demo once. The Dutch version of this has this cover:

This contains the title track, plus the songs "Get the Bird" and "Watch That Pleasure." The latter, which is a live track, I couldn't find anywhere to stream. I did play the former once. It also appears on the deluxe version of Palomine. (That deluxe version also contains The Palomine Demos and two other songs, "Smile" and "Maggot," both of which also appear on the "Tom Boy" CD single released in the US in 1992. See separate post on that release.)

As a final note, I think there was also a promo CD single with the "Palomine" title, which apparently contains a different version of the title track which I have not heard, and then the two other tracks on the US CD single. Not sure why I ended up going down this particular rabbit hole, but I do think Palomine is a great album, underrated by some important critics.

Living Colour - Stain: 7.5 (high B+)

Living Colour - Time's Up: 8 (A-)

The Alpha Band - The Alpha Band: 7 (B+)

#ccm/roots

The "Chirping" Crickets [Buddy Holly] - The "Chirping" Crickets: X (X)

Not qualified to grade, but this first album is a great listen and more like an EP (12 tracks; 25m 59s). Never re-issued on remastered CD without bonus tracks, and original vinyl is too expensive, so I don't have a copy. I never realized Ronald Reagan was a Cricket until I examined this album cover closely.

Buddy Holly & The Crickets - 20 Golden Greats: X (X)

Not qualified to grade, but obviously an essential classic. Never released domestically on CD.

Al Green - The Absolute Best: 9 (A)

Christgau rates this five stars in one location and four in another. I come out in the middle.

Flamin Groovies - Teenage Head: 8 (A-)

This was never issued on remastered CD without a slew of bonus tracks. This generally means I also would not go back and buy the original vinyl, which in this case is too expensive anyway. Great album though. Outstanding track: "Whiskey Woman"

Tapper Zukie - MPLA: 8 (A-)

The Modern Lovers [Jonathan Richman] - Precise Modern Lovers Order: Live in Berkeley and Boston: liked

:-)

The Manhattans - Super Hits [Sony/BMG, 2007]: 8.5 (high A-)

I don't know why I like this a couple notches better than Greatest Hits (1980). Could it be as simple as sound quality? Here are the only track differences (same number of tracks, but with two swapped songs):

Super Hits:

"Wish That You Were Mine"

"Am I Losing You"

Greatest Hits:

"I'll Never Find Another (Find Another Like You)"

"Do You Really Mean Goodbye?"

Various - Azagas & Archibogs: The Sixties Sound of Lagos Highlife [Original Music, 1991]: 7 (B+)

#multiartistcomp/folkloric/highlife

Al Green - The Definitive Greatest Hits [Capitol/Hi, 2007]: notation

This is the third edition of the man's Greatest Hits, from what I can tell. The first in 1975 with 10 tracks (vinyl-only), the second in 1995 with five additional tracks (CD-only), and this in 2007 with six additional tracks to the 15 in 1995. Here are the six:

"Take Me to the River"

"Keep Me Cryin'"

"Oh Me, Oh My (Dreams in My Arms)"

"Back Up Train" - from Back Up Train

"I Can't Stop" - from I Can't Stop

"Perfect to Me"- from Everything's OK

The last three are not on the two-disc The Absolute Best. I have noted above where those three are taken from. I have the latter two. I am evaluating the first album, Back Up Train, but will obviously not upgrade to this for that track alone, no matter where I come out on the album.

[Ronald] Shannon Jackson & The Decoding Society - Nasty: 7.5 (high B+)

Might be an 8 (A-), but #import anyway, so I'm not going to make the distinction. Five plays.

Ronald Shannon Jackson & The Decoding Society - Barbeque Dog: 8 (A-)

Vernon Reid on guitar.

Bettie Serveert - Palomine: 9 (A)

New Order - Low-Life: 7.5 (high B+)

The Delfonics - Platinum & Gold Collection [Arista/BMG Heritage, 2003]: 8.5 (high A-)

Aka The Very Best of the Delfonics [Arista/Legacy, 2005]. I like the cover of that one much better, but Gold & Platinum is the one I could find for the best price. The Very Best cover looks like this:

Th Faith Healers - Lido: 8 (A-)

Brian Eno - Before and after Science: 7.5 (high B+)

Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg: 8 (A-)

Pavement - Hecklers Choice: Big Gums and Heavy Lifters - A Pavement Collection: 9 (A)

Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force - Lost Generation: 7.5 (high B+)

#electro

Dry Cleaning - Secret Love: liked

:-)

Little Willie John - Fever: The Best of Little Willie John [Rhino, 1993]: X (X)

Christgau has this compilation dated 1995, which I believe is incorrect. #r&b