Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Monday, February 23, 2026
Michael Hampton - Into the Public Domain: 7.5 (high B+)
Really grew on me, but #limitededition, and probably #jazz too.
Sly & Robbie - Meet King Tubby: 7.5 (high B+)
Might be an 8 (A-), but #import anyway. This original UK release with the orange cover and 10 tracks is the only one to get. Other import releases are first generation CD transfers or un-remastered CDs with bonus and/or alternate tracks.
Husker Du - 1985: The Miracle Year: 7.5 (high B+)
The grade is an average: the complete show January 30, 1985 set is an 8.5 (high A-) to me, while the 20 selected songs from other shows in 1985 is 7 (B+). So, the entire thing rounds up to 8 (A-), and then I dock it a notch for bloat, which makes it #live and #limited edition. The truth is that even at 8 (A-), I wouldn’t bother because the prices being asked by the lucky few consumers who snatched up copies early are ridiculous. Maybe the label will get smart and do another run, but probably not. Notably, there is no overlap between the two discs, and the better songs are not only from the complete show, but the better performances are too. I wish they would release that first complete show separately (they did release digital-only EPs of some tracks). If the complete show were a notch higher, I would buy the digital tracks of that show and burn it to disc, but I’m not going to pretend it’s 9 (A) just because it’s live Husker Du from their prime period. The whole thing is just too artisanal for me to get worked up about. I am looking into the specific sub-set of songs from the January 30th show that the label issued on EPs prior to this release, just to see if there is any rhyme or reason to that. The whole show is only an hour, so it would fit on a single CD, but maybe that 13-song sub-set is vinyl-appropriate?
Al Green - To Love Somebody [EP] - 7 (B+)
Digital-only. They’ll sell you a To Love Somebody t-shirt, but not the music.
Flamin Groovies - Groovies Greatest Grooves: 7 (B+)
Outstanding track: “Shake Some Action” (obviously). #garage/bestof
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Rod Stewart - 20th Century Masters: The Best of Rod Stewart: The Millenium Collection: notation
I usually love these, but there’s no way to justify this one. Four tracks from Every Picture Tells a Story, five from Never a Dull Moment, two from Gasoline Alley, and one from the debut. These are all strong albums worth having in their own right. The debut is probably the least strong, but it’s still good, and there’s only one song here from that. It’s obviously good enough that I played it four times. Musically, I’d give it a 9 (A), which I guess means I dock it three whole notches for complete inutility.
Tapper Zukie - From the Archives: notation
This contains all the songs on MPLA, except “Stop the Gun Shooting” and “Don't Deal with Babylon.” This also contains “Tapper [Tappa] Roots” and “Oh Lord” from Tapper Roots. See separate post on that album. Finally, this has “Peace and Love” and “The Bum,” which are good songs, but not good enough to make this necessary, in my opinion.
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.
Saturday, February 21, 2026
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.
Friday, February 20, 2026
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"
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Monday, February 16, 2026
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?"
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Various - Azagas & Archibogs: The Sixties Sound of Lagos Highlife [Original Music, 1991]: 7 (B+)
#multiartistcomp/folkloric/highlife
Saturday, February 14, 2026
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.
Friday, February 13, 2026
[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.
Saturday, February 7, 2026
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:
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Monday, February 2, 2026
Dry Cleaning - Secret Love: 7 (B+)
Upped from "liked" on fourth listen. In cart, awaiting a fair price.
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
Al Green - The Lord Will Make a Way: 7.5 (high B+)
#gospel (while I'll override #r&b for Al, I won’t override #gospel for him)
Sunday, February 1, 2026
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