Steve Winwood, Roll With It, 1988 on Virgin

Steve Winwood has had an illustrious and extensive career including having been a key member of the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith. Just having written "Can't Find My Way Home" would earn him a spot in my pantheon. Roll With It was his fifth solo album and was quite successful commercially, including the...

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Bill Callahan, Reality, 2022 on Drag City

Some people write this as Ytilaer, based on how it appears mirrored on the cover and labels. Drag City's website lists it as YTI⅃AƎЯ, and on discogs they call it Reality, which is what I think of it as. Whatever you call it, it's the eight solo album Callahan's put out on Drag City. Recorded...

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The Who, Who’s Greatest Hits, 1983 on MCA

I don't tend to favor Greatest Hits albums from an artist I'd otherwise collect individual albums from, but picked this up as part of a bundle of records. I love it when an artist puts out a Greatest Hits so early in their career - there's also a 2009 Greatest Hits album On vinyl, this...

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Unmarked Milestones – John Eckman

Personal site for John Eckman - Digital Platform Leader & Executive

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The Monkees, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., 1967 on Colgems

This was the fourth Monkees LP, as they were taking increasing control and playing the instruments themselves, joined by studio session musicians. "Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky"— which introduces "Pleasant Valley Sunday"—reminds us we're at the heart of the psychedelic 60s. There's now a four CD "Super Deluxe Edition" on the Monkees website, as...

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James Taylor, Walking Man, 1974 on Warner Bros.

I became a James Taylor fan in the 80s via a CD of Greatest Hits but as I'm rebuilding my vinyl collection have been picking up his early 70s albums. Walking Man was his fifth, out in 1974 on Warner Bros. (after his debut had been on Apple Records). It was less successful commercially than...

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Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Vol 1., 2017 on Mercury Nashville

Stapleton was a fairly successful Nashville based songwriter for more than a decade before his 2015 debut LP Traveller, as well as fronting a bluegrass band (The Steeldrivers) and a southern rock band (The Jompson Brothers). Ironically his big hit - "Tennessee Whiskey" is a cover of a David Allen Coe song (written by Dean...

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Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves, Roll With You, 2008 on Q Division, Reissued By Yep Roc

This was Eli "Paperboy" Reed's debut LP in 2008, originally on Q Division out of Somerville MA (and recorded at their studios). Great "blue-eyed" soul in the spirit of the Dap Tones. Not sure if he needed "Paperboy" because there's already an Eli Reed (a photographer and journalst) or because he just liked the notion...

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Paul Simon, One-Trick Pony, 1980 on Warner Bros

Paul Simon's fifth solo album and first after moving to Warner Bros. from Columbia. Sort of a soundtrack to the same-named film (starring Simon) but with somewhat different versions and tracklist. Some folks think of this as a bit of a commercial low point for Simon, but it's a great album, including the title cut....

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Iron & Wine, The Creek Drank The Cradle, 2002 on Sub Pop

Debut studio album from Sam Beam's Iron & Wine, put out on Sub Pop in 2002, recorded at home by Beam himself (in Miami Florida, though now he lives in North Carolina. Beam is another artist I could just put on endless repeat (harder to do on vinyl, I'll grant you). If you don't know...

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Bill Callahan, Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest, 2019 on Drag City

Bill Callahan's sixth studio album under his own name (he previously led a project under the name Smog), recorded at Wonder Chamber in Austin Texas, which is Brian Beattie's home studio. Beattie plays on the record along with Matt Kinsey, Adam Jones, Gary Newcomb, and Callahan. Callahan is a consistent and prolific artist - maybe...

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Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs, God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise, 2010 on RCA

Fourth full length from New England's Ray LaMontagne (born in New Hampshire, has lived in Maine & Massachusetts) and the first credited to a band. The album was recorded at The Big Room at Apple Hill, on LaMontagne's property in western Massachusetts. Pariah dog is another name for Desi Kutta or Indian Pariah dog, though...

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Steely Dan, Gaucho, 1980 on MCA

This was the seventh Steely Dan full length and their only one on MCA records, following six on ABC. It would also be their last studio album for ~20 years. Though Keith Jarrett would later sue and be awarded writing credit on the title track here it is still credited just to Becker and Fagan....

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Regina Spektor; Home, Before and After; 2022 on Sire

I was a bit obsessed with Soviet Kitsch, Spektor's major label debut, when it came out in 2004 via Sire (she'd previously self-released it), as well as Begin to Hope which included the song "Samson". This is Spektor's eighth full-length album and her sixth for Sire. It was produced by John Congleton (along with Spektor...

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Coldplay, Parachutes, 2000 on Parlophone

Stunning debut album from Coldplay, out in 2000 on Parlophone in the UK. I know some folks have turned on Coldplay as uncool (I blame The 40 Year Old Virgin) but this is truly a wonderful album from beginning to end. It also sold like wild and won Best Alternative Music Album at the 2002...

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Code for the People | A Film by Bao Nguyen | Full Documentary

YouTube video by Code for the People

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Code For the People

New short documentary (< 20 minutes) via Automattic about Open Source and the Future of the Web. If you're already working in open source there won't be anything new here, and if you're part of the WordPress community you might even wonder if the timing of this has anything to do with the WP Engine...

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R.E.M., The Best of R.E.M. at the B.B.C., 2018 on Craft Recordings

Craft Recordings put out an 8 CD / 104 file digital download R.E.M. at the B.B.C. in 2018 - this was the condensed "best of" version, narrowing down to 20 tracks across 2 LPs. The first disc is all BBC sessions (Nicky Campbell, John Peel, Mark and Lard, Drivetime, Radio 1 Lounge) and the second...

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The Connection, 7 Nights to Rock, 2013 on King Yum Records

This may actually be called Connection Collection Vol 1 - there's no real title on the cover or the labels but that's what it is currently called on Bandcamp (which also says it came out in 2012). But the "one sheet" for the release I found on Facebook (see below) calls it "7 Nights to...

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Devotchka, This Night Falls Forever, 2018 on Concord Records

DeVotchKa (their capitalization) are an American band formed in Denver, despite the Russian name and the global folk sound. This is actually their most recent full length LP, though they also did the soundtrack for The Neverending Story in 2020. Like many people I found DeVotchKa through the soundtrack to Little Miss Sunshine but since...

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The National, The National, 2001 on Brassland.

This was the debut album from Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, Scott Devendorf, with Bryce Dessner listed under additional performers under "with" rather than as part of the band. Maybe the harshest reviewed records in The National's catalog. I'd agree it is not their strongest but it it where it all started. Who knew...

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Mia Doi Todd, Gea, 2008 on Zen City

Gea was Todd's sixth full length studio album, released in 2008 by her own Zen City Records. It's very atmospheric art-folk strongly featuring her voice - she's really a unique talent. My copy—via Vinyl Index in Somerville MA—is the 2020 Org Music reissue, on transparent green vinyl, which was put out as part of Record...

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Eli “Paperboy” Reed, 99 Cent Dreams, 2019 on Yep Roc Records

Boston's own (Brookline via Somerville) Eli "Paperboy" Reed's sixth full length and his second on Yep Roc, 99 Cent Dreams was recorded in Memphis at Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis with Matt Ross-Spang producing and engineering. My copy—via Residency Records in Salem MA—is an RTI pressing and sounds great.

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INXS, Shabooh Shoobah Rarities, 2023 on Petrol / ATCO / Atlantic

Shabooh Shoobah was the third full-length from INXS, and I believe the first with real international distribution (WEA). The big single was "Don't Change" which was a top 20 hit in the US. This rarities release includes 4 songs live from the US Festival and a couple of extended mixes. Fan reception was mixed as...

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Various Artists, Red Hot + Fela, 2013 on Knitting Factory

Another entry in the set of benefit compilations from the Red Hot Organization (who also put out Red Hot + Blue, Red Hot + Latin, and others) this Fela Kuti covers album was released in 2013, raisi…

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Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be a Good Time, 2025 on Jagjaguwar

I was excited for this debut release, having caught Folk Bitch Trio (I hope this doesn’t get me flagged for language in the fediverse) at SXSW in 2024 (at the Driskill in the Victorian Room).…

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Nina Simone, Let It All Out, 1966 on Philips

Yes, back in the day Philips (who you likely know more now as the maker of Sonicare toothbrushes) was also a reputable jazz and classical label. Though the copyright was 1965 they put out this albu…

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