Steve Earle - I Feel Alright: 7.5 (high B+)

I'm certain I got this when it came out but must have sold it back. I listened to it three extra times now in order to assign a formal grade. #country

Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band - The Mountain: 7 (B+)

I did get this when it came out but must have sold it back. I just played it again to give it a formal grade, which would have been no more than 7.5 (high B+) in my mind at the time if I sold it. #country/bluegrass

Steve Earle - Train a Comin': 8 (A-)

Steve Earle - Guitar Town: 8 (A-)

Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley: X (X)

Elvis Presley - Elvis: X (X)

Elvis Presley - From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis: 8 (A-)

For those who don't know, this contains the album In Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada [recorded 1969], and also Back in Memphis. So this is the "back" cover.

Elvis Presley - Elvis at Sun: X (X)

This contains the first disc of Sunrise. Ie, you get that, for a great price, and without the second disc of crapola you don't want or need.

Elvis Presley - From Elvis in Memphis: 7.5 (high B+)

I will probably get the Legacy Edition. My copy of this is disc only. I think a pet destroyed everything else. Normally I don't worry about that, but this has the benefit of containing Back in Memphis also. Seems like a nice set for a good price.

Lou Reed - Hudson River Wind Meditations: 7.5 (high B+)

I'd probably still buy it even though it's #newage, because it's Reed, if it were selling for non-artisanal prices. Actually, I realized that the reason it's priced that way is that it comes with a book, so maybe I'll pick up a copy after all? Plus, it's his last studio work. Update (March 2026): Just no reasonably-priced copies to be had, so I won't even bother with an alert at this grade.

Elvis Presley - Elvis [NBC-TV Special]: 7.5 (high B+)

Mix of studio production numbers including medleys of his songs, "sit-down" performances and "stand-up" numbers with an orchestra. Soundtrack to the TV special, which I also watched. The production included two sit-down shows and two stand-up shows. I listened to both stand-up shows once and the second one twice. Counting that as three listens, I’d give those 7 (B+) (could do without the strings). That just leaves the sit-down shows. For that, I'll just listen to Tiger Man, because Hull recommends it so highly. Not going to bother with the second show. I'm sure it's very similar and RCA chose the other one, so it must be at least a hair better. I did buy a copy of Memories: The '68 Comeback Special when it came out a quarter century ago, but it's got so many repeat tracks, and includes the full special, so I'm going to put that in the sell-pile and get a copy of Tiger Man to represent that whole extravaganza. #miscarticles/soundtracks

Taha/Khaled/Faudel: 1, 2, 3 Soleils: In Concert: 8 (A-)

Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual [honorable mention]

:-)

Mofungo - Unreleased: 7 (B+)

Digital-only

Burning Spear - Living Dub [Vol. 1]: 7.5 (high B+)

Famous dub of Social Living (aka Marcus' Children). Originally issued in 1982 with the above cover (actually, there was a 1980 issue with a very similar cover, but without the volume designation). Album reissued with a different mix (by Barry O'Hare) in 1993 on Heartbeat, with this cover:

I listened once to this remix. The album was then reissued on Spear's own label, with the original mix, and the title Original Living Dub, Vol. 1 and this cover:

Somewhat overrated in my view, but still worth having. In the market for a used copy of the original mix at a reasonable price. I listened to the original mix four or five times.

Trouble Funk - In Times of Trouble (w/Saturday Night Live! from Washington, D.C.): 7 (B+)

Contains Saturday Night Live (aka Saturday Night Live! from Washington, D.C.). #gogo

U-Roy - Super Boss: The Great Treasure Isle Collection, Vol. 1: notation

On Lagoon/Culture Press. All tracks are on Your Ace from Space comp, with three exceptions:  “What Is Catty?”, “Way Back Home,” and “I Can't Lose.”

The Fugs - Greatest Hits 1984-2004: 7 (B+)

Released on the band’s own label in 2006. Completely and totally unavailable, it seems. It's #folk anyway.

The Fugs - Songs from a Portable Forest: 7 (B+)

Looks like Christgau gave this the equivalent of an 8.5 (high A-), Hull a B. I’m closer to Hull, obviously. Grade, btw, is for the songs not on Greatest Hits 1984-2004, which I will grade separately. #bestof/folk

Beneficence/Jazz Spastiks - Summer Night Sessions [honorable mention]

:-)

Goodie Mob - Dirty South Classics [placeholder]

:-| [Contains tracks from albums I have. Played once to check the gestalt. Might have bought if not so overpriced used.]

Goodie Mob - World Party: 8 (A-)

Goodie Mob - Still Standing: 8 (A-)

Swans - Filth: 7.5 (high B+)

Normally, this would be # [noise; experimental], but I've had a nice copy on vinyl for decades. [Actually, I purchased the 1991 CD reissue on Young Gods Records. While this was not remastered, it was "re-equalized" (whatever that means), and, more importantly, it contains their self-titled first EP, which I think might be their best work. See separate review of that.]

The Itals - Cool and Dread [honorable mention]

:-)