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Vinyl Releases of the Week: September 7, 2011
Thank you to the fine folks at Rhino Records for bringing us not one but FIVE Grateful Dead reissues this week, and to the elusive bearded men at San Francisco’s 4 Men with Beards label for committing two beloved Leonard Cohen albums to 180-gram vinyl.
The Grateful Dead – The Grateful Dead (1967), Anthem of the Sun (1968), Aoxomoxoa (1969), Workingman’s Dead (1970), American Beauty (1970) reissues (Rhino)
Starting with the Grateful Dead’s 1967 eponymous debut, which captures the magic of their early live shows, and working up sequentially to their fifth album and greatest studio acheivement, American Beauty, Rhino Records has honored the spirit of the Dead with this generous reissue series. Documenting the beginning of the iconic San Francisco band’s long history, these titles also rank among the greatest of all time.
Leonard Cohen – Death of a Ladies’ Man, Various Positions reissues (4 Men with Beards)
180-gram vinyl reissues of two phenomenal albums by Leonard Cohen. Death of a Ladies’ Man (1977) features production by Phil Spector as well as back-up vocals from Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg on the track “Don’t Go Home with Your Hard-On”; Various Positions (1985) features the masterpiece “Hallelujah” and “Dance Me to the End of Love.”
Black Sabbath – Sabotage reissue (Rhino)
Originally released in 1975, Sabotage is the British heavy metal band’s sixth album and widely considered one of its best. Features “Hole in the Sky,” “Symptom of the Universe,” and “Am I Going Insane (Radio).”
Hank Williams III – Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town, 3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin’, Attention Deficit Domination (Hank3 Records)
The grandson of Hank Williams and the son of Hank Jr., Hank 3 is known for his love of punk and metal as much as for his love of country. He has never fit squarely into any industry models, so it should come as no surprise that he releases a country album (Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town), a speed-metal/”cattle core” album (3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin’), and a doom-rock album (Attention Deficit Domination) all on the same day. Look out for guest appearances by Tom Waits and Les Claypool on the double LP Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town.
Animal Collective – Danse Manatee reissue (Fat Cat)
The imaginative psych-pop band’s second album, originally issued in 2001 as an extremely limited release, has been DMM remastered and reissued as a double 180-gram vinyl LP! This is the first Animal Collective album to feature Geologist (electronics, samples, vocals), who regards it as one of his personal favorites.
TV on the Radio – World Cafe Live (Interscope)
The new live EP from Brooklyn’s TV on the Radio was recorded in Santa Monica, California for NPR’s “World Café” series. Their set features “Caffeinated Consciousness,” “Will Do,” and “Repetition” from latest album Nine Types of Light, “Red Dress” from 2008’s Dear Science, and “Province” from 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain.
The Rapture – The Grace of Your Love (DFA)
The long-awaited third album from the dance-punk band was produced by Philippe Zdar (Phoenix, Beastie Boys, Chromeo) and is available as a double LP. A more mature album for the band, The Grace of Your Love is laced with elements of ’70s soul, disco, and house music.
Bon Iver – “Holocene” 7-inch single (Jagjaguwar)
The second single from Bon Iver’s 2011 eponymous album backed by a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Come Talk to Me.”
Tindersticks – Tindersticks I and Tindersticks II reissues (Plain)
180-gram vinyl reissues of this ’90s British cult band’s first two albums. Both earning rave reviews and topping nearly every British year-end list upon their release (in 1993 and 1995, respectively), these albums really showcase the band’s unique, darkly romantic chamber pop style.
Thrice – Major/Minor (Vagrant)
The Southern California post-hardcore/experimental-rock band returns with its eighth album to date. Released as a double vinyl LP, Major/Minor is a decidedly grunge record and full of analog warmth.
A few highlights from last week that are not to be missed:
Glen Campbell – Ghost on the Canvas (Surfdog)
Recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, music legend Glen Campbell has decided to retire from the music industry after 50 years in show business. Ghost on the Canvas is his farewell album. It features collaborations with Jakob Dylan, Paul Westerberg, Chris Isaak, Robert Pollard, Dick Dale, and Billy Corgan, among others whom he has influenced over the years.
Lenny Kravitz – Black and White America (Roadrunner)
Lenny Kravitz is a huge vinyl fan and it shows on his ninth album. A double LP created with the vinyl format in mind, Black and White America is meant to be listened to as a whole work of art in uncompressed audiophile goodness. Inspired by the great double albums of history (Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland, the Beatles’ White Album, Prince’s Sign o’ the Times, etc.), the album leans more towards a classic soul/funk/R&B style and features guest vocals from Drake and Jay Z.
Beirut – The Rip Tide (Pompeii Records)
Since the Balkan folk/indie-rock band released its surprising 2006 debut, Gulag Orkestar, one thing has been certain: Beirut and vinyl are a match made in heaven. On its third album, The Rip Tide, the band’s lush melodies, cinematic strings, vivid horns, and ukulele riffs are all there, as is a new sense of sophistication and pop savvy.
John Doe – Keeper (Yep Roc)
“Punk rock’s golden throat” AKA the former frontman of seminal L.A. punk band X, John Doe has enjoyed an impressive solo career as a songwriter, diving into alt-country, folk, and rock and roll. On his latest album, Doe explores uncharted territory: happiness. “I finally figured out how to write a love song where the people actually get loved,” he says. Keeper was recorded with hit producer Dave Way and features guests Patty Griffin, Don Was, Smokey Hormel, Steve Berlin, Cindy Wasserman, and Jill Sobule. Bonus track “101%” is only available on vinyl.
Tommy Stinson – One Man Mutiny (Done to Death Music)
The Replacements and Guns N’ Roses bassist returns with his second solo album. One Man Mutiny explores everything from bluesy garage rock to jangle pop to country and is already being called Stinson’s best work to date.
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Top 10 Greatest Supergroups
Music’s own version of an all-star team, the supergroup has captivated music lovers for decades. Unlike with sports, though, most supergroups never live up to their (seemingly astronomical) potential; those that seem too good to be true often are. So when a supergroup comes along that overcomes the challenge of egos and the novelty factor to create genuinely great music, it’s worthy of recognition. Here we honor those supergroups that have earned their titles:
#10: Temple of the Dog
Temple of the Dog was only a one-off project but legendary in its pairing of Seattle grunge heavyweights Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Conceived in 1990 for the sole purpose of recording a tribute album for the late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, Temple of the Dog brought together Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell and drummer Matt Cameron, Mother Love Bone bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard, and a then-unknown singer named Eddie Vedder and guitarist named Mike McCready. Temple of the Dog would only release one eponymous album, but Vedder, Gossard, Ament, and McCready would go on to form Pearl Jam shortly after.
#9: A Perfect Circle
Featuring Maynard James Keenan (Tool), drummer extraordinaire Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Devo, the Vandals), James Iha (the Smashing Pumpkins), and mastermind Billy Howerdel, A Perfect Circle may not have the legacy of some of its members’ other bands, but they made one hell of an album together with their 2000 debut album, Mer de Noms, which is the highest selling debut for a rock band ever.
#8: Audioslave
Though initially appearing to be Rage Against the Machine with a new singer—Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell in place of Zack de la Rocha (yep, Cornell is like the modern day Eric Clapton when it comes to supergroups)—Audioslave established its own distinct sound and entity by combining ’90s alt-rock with ’70s hard rock. Tom Morello was able to get more innovative with his guitar solos as the band explored slow and melodic songs, and Cornell dropped de la Rocha’s fiercely political approach in favor of a more haunted, poetic lyrical style. During its run from 2001 to 2007, Audioslave enjoyed a string of successful albums, its first two achieving platinum status.
#7: Asia
Formed in 1981 by John Wetton (King Crimson), Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), Geoff Downes (the Buggles), and Steve Howe (Yes), Asia had a major hit with its self-titled debut album. Released in 1982, Asia features the hits “Heat of the Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” and “Sole Suvivor.”
#6: The Highwaymen
An outlaw country supergroup featuring four of country music’s brightest stars—Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson—the Highwaymen released three albums together between 1985 and 1995. The first of these, Highwayman (1985), topped the charts with its hit title track and the group’s popular cover of Guy Clark’s “Desperadoes Waiting for a Train.” The album’s sequel, Highwayman 2 (1990), repeated this success.
#5: Foo Fighters:
By no means intended to be a supergroup, Foo Fighters accidentally became one after what was originally a Dave Grohl post-Nirvana solo project became a full-fledged powerhouse featuring bassist Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate), guitarist Pat Smear (the Germs), and drummer Taylor Hawkins (Alanis Morissette). Over the course of their 17-year run, the Foo Fighters have earned three Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and produced some of the most well-known songs of the past decade. From their platinum-selling eponymous 1995 debut to this year’s Wasting Light, which debuted at number one in 12 countries, Foo Fighters have proved to be one of the most successful and enduring (unintentional) supergroups of all time.
#4: Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Three prog-rock superstars—Keith Emerson (The Nice), Greg Lake (King Crimson), and Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster)—became greater than the sum of their parts when they joined forces as Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Can you believe that ELP was almost HELP, with the H referring to Jimi Hendrix? Sadly, Hendrix tragically died before HELP ever came to fruition. As ELP, they still managed to become one of the main flagship bands of British prog rock, and their album Tarkus (1971) remains one of the most influential prog-rock albums of all time.
#3: The Traveling Wilburys
When it comes to supergroups, the Traveling Wilburys take the cake for the amount of sheer star power and collective talent. Its members alone could top any “Greatest Musicians of All Time” list: George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra). Initially just coming together in 1988 to collaborate on a Harrison B-side, the group ended up recording a full album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, which featured the singles “Handle with Care” and “End of the Line.” Had Orbison not died of a heart attack shortly after this release, who knows how super this group would have become. They did, however, release a second album without Orbison in 1990, Vol. 3, which also went platinum.
#2: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Composed of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers David Crosby (the Byrds), Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield), Graham Nash (the Hollies), and later Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield), CSN&Y was the ultimate supergroup of songwriters and one of the most prominent folk groups of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Between 1969 and 1999, they recorded a whopping eight studio albums, their most well-known being the multi-platinum, politically spirited Déjà Vu (1970), which Rolling Stone deemed one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. What puts Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young so high on this list isn’t just their string of hit albums—it’s the impact they had on American culture.
#1: Cream
Featuring Eric Clapton (the Yardbirds), Jack Bruce (Graham Bond Organisation), and Ginger Baker (Graham Bond Organisation), this ’60s British blues-rock band is frequently credited as the first rock supergroup (and was the first of many for Eric Clapton: The Dirty Mac, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos…). With its main run from 1966 to 1968, Cream was short-lived but hugely influential. The band’s heavy yet technical brand of rock set the stage for bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Rush, and it ultimately earned Cream a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Producing the world’s first platinum-selling double album, Wheels of Fire, and some huge classic rock hits including “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room,” Cream tops this list because they are often ranked among the greatest bands of all time—the ultimate achievement for any supergroup.
Honorable Mentions:
Supergroups from decades past clearly have the advantage here. New supergroups like Mick Jagger’s Super Heavy (featuring Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, and AR Rahman) that have yet to release an album may very well top a list like this 10 years from now. So while we can’t say these are the best just yet, we can certainly say we have our eyes on them:
Atoms for Peace
Initially named ??????, Atoms for Peace is the ultimate modern-day supergroup featuring Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, superstar drummer Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.), and percussionist Mauro Refosco (David Byrne). No albums yet, but holy moly what a lineup!
Them Crooked Vultures
Formed in 2009 by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), the rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures has already won a Grammy Award. (They took home the title of Best Hard Rock Performance for the song “New Fang” off their eponymous debut.) If all goes as planned, look out for a second album from these guys later this year.
The Dead Weather
The White Stripes’ Jack White has had a hand in the supergroup world before with his band the Raconteurs, but the Dead Weather takes the cake thanks to lead singer Alison Mosshart (The Kills). Featuring White on drums, Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) on guitar, and Jack Lawrence (the Raconteurs) on bass, the Dead Weather plays some killer dark, sludgy rock. With two albums already under its belt, who knows what more is in store for the Dead Weather now that the White Stripes have called it quits.
Broken Bells
Gnarls Barkley producer Danger Mouse and the Shins lead singer James Mercer kicked up a flurry of excitement last year with their unexpected self-titled debut. They followed this up with the Meyrin Fields EP and talks of a sophomore follow-up.
Monsters of Folk
As their name suggests, this supergroup features the top indie folk rockers around: Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), and M. Ward (She & Him). Together, the Monsters released one classic rock-spirited eponymous album in 2009.
Tinted Windows
Perhaps the most curious of groupings, Tinted Windows features James Iha (the Smashing Pumpkins), Taylor Hanson (Hanson), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), and Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick). Their self-titled debut was released in 2009.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: August 24, 2011
While we don’t get a vinyl option for the new Muppets tribute album, we do get one from another star, Jeff Bridges, as well as a Patti Smith best-of collection and the long lost third album from L.A. new wave band the Motels!
Jeff Bridges – Jeff Bridges (Blue Note)
We came to love his lazy, crazy ways in The Big Lebowski and appreciate his musical talent in Crazy Heart. Now the Academy Award-winning actor teams up with producer T-Bone Burnett (O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Crazy Heart) to record his major label debut. An intimate album of country and blues hymns, the record features guest vocals from Rosanne Cash, Ryan Bingham, Sam Phillips, and Benji Hughes, as well as songwriting from many of the same people behind the Crazy Heart soundtrack – not to mention a couple of Bridges originals.
Patti Smith – Outside Society (Sony Legacy)
Patti Smith’s first career-spanning collection is presented here on 180-gram vinyl. Each disc of this double LP features nine re-mastered, chronologically-arranged tracks that take listeners through the most accessible and most challenging songs from the Godmother of Punk. All ten of Smith’s studio albums are represented here, beginning with her magnificent 1975 debut, Horses (“Gloria,” “Free Money”), and ending with her 2007 covers album, Twelve (“Smells Like Teen Spirit”). Includes track-by-track liner notes from Smith.
Buddy Miller – Magic Silver Strings (New West)
Limited-edition vinyl pressing of the acclaimed Americana artist’s 2011 album. Magic Silver Strings features renowned guitarists Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, and Greg Leisz, as well as guest vocals from Miller’s longtime cohorts Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Lee Ann Womack, Ann McCrary, Chocolate Genius, and his wife Julie Miller. Together, this supergroup magnificently re-imagines classic country tunes.
The Motels – Apocalypso (Omnivore)
The ’80s new wave band’s long-lost third album! Originally recorded in 1981, Apocalypso was shelved by Capitol Records. The Motels would go back to the studio and return with a much slicker, more commercial (and not coincidentally, their best-selling) All Four One. Now 30 years later, the original version of that record is finally seeing the light of day.
Whitesnake – Live at Donington 1990 (Frontiers)
At long last, we see the Stateside release of this live album from the English rockers. Available as a triple vinyl LP, the album features the Whitesnake lineup of singer David Coverdale, guitarists Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenberg, bassist Rudy Sarzo, and drummer Tommy Aldridge during their unforgettable live performance at the UK festival on August 18, 1990.
Eric Church – Chief (Capitol)
The third album from the country sensation has already topped the Billboard Country Charts and debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200. It also finds Church pushing the creative envelope and earning the title of “trailblazer.”
Raekwon – Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang (Ice Water)
Originally intended to be a new Wu-Tang album, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang became the fifth solo album from Wu-Tang member Raekwon. Yet, it still features the usual Wu suspects Ghostface Killah and Method Man, as well as Black Thought, Nas, Lloyd Banks, Rick Ross, and Busta Rhymes.
George Gruntz – Mental Cruelty Soundtrack (Sonorama)
The hard-bop soundtrack to the 1960 Swiss film Mental Cruelty features pianist and composer George Gruntz accompanied by tenor/soprano saxophonist Barney Wilen, drummer Kenny “Klook” Clarke, bassist Karl Theodor Geier, trumpeter Raymond Court, and alto saxophonist Marcel Peeters. It was initially issued on Decca as a 10-inch EP, but quickly became an obscure collector’s item after the musicians, who were only paid to do a film soundtrack not a recorded one, sued Decca and the record was immediately withdrawn. Thanks to Sonorama, the soundtrack is back on vinyl.
Stephin Merritt – Obscurities (Merge)
A collection of early, rare tracks from the Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt. Includes songs from his unfinished sci-fi musical, “The Song from Venus,” as well as a song he wrote for the audio book version of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline.
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Mirror Traffic (Matador)
The fifth post-Pavement album from Stephen Malkmus was produced by Beck and is already being heralded as one of his finest.
Zee Avi – Ghostbird (Republic)
The sophomore album from the young Malaysian singer-songwriter known for her Billie Holiday-channeling, ukulele-based songs. Ghostbird began in Avi’s Brooklyn kitchen, was finished in the silence of the Florida Everglades, and recorded in Jack Johnson’s Solar-Powered Plastic Plant studio with producer Mario Caldato, Jr. (Beastie Boys, Bebel Gilberto).
Darondo – Listen to My Songs: The Music City Sessions (Omnivore)
Back in the early ’70s, the soul-funk singer-songwriter Darondo released a few 45s, had a local hit with the song “Didn’t I,” then faded into obscurity. The recent discovery of his lost Music City master tapes, recorded between 1972 and 1974, reveals a goldmine of Bay Area street funk and soul grooves featuring Darondo at the top of his game.
The George-Edwards Group – Archives (Drag City)
A collection of never before released ’70s and ’80s psychedelia.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: August 17, 2011
The variety this week is ridiculous! Thanks to Mississippi Records and their diligent reissue efforts, bluesman Fred McDowell is represented in this batch along with the Malian Rail Band and Pacific Northwest rockers Dead Moon. We’ve also got new releases from Dolly Parton, Sly Stone, and Van Dyke Parks. And [drum roll please] the entire ABBA catalog courtesy of Polydor UK.
ABBA – Ring Ring (1973), Waterloo (1974), ABBA (1975), Arrival (1976), The Album (1977), Voulez-Vous (1979), Super Trouper (1980), The Visitors (1981) (Polydor UK Imports)
UK vinyl reissues of the Swedish pop superstars’ eight albums.
Sly Stone – I’m Back! Family & Friends (Cleopatra)
The first new album from the funk legend since 1982, I’m Back! Family & Friends features new versions of Sly & the Family Stone classics including “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Family Affair,” and “Thank You,” as well as three previously unreleased tracks. Sly gets some help from guests Jeff Beck, Ray Manzarek, Bootsy Collins, Ann Wilson, Carmine Appice, and others.
Dolly Parton – Better Day (Dolly Records)
Not only did the vivacious country legend release an uplifting and inspirational new album, she released it on vinyl via her own Dolly Records imprint. Available as a double LP, Better Day features all-original material and showcases Dolly’s rootsy bluegrass side as well as her contemporary country-pop chops.
The Wood Brothers – Smoke Ring Halo (Southern Ground)
The third collaborative studio album from siblings Chris Wood (of jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood) and Oliver Wood (of rock/blues band King Johnson). Bursting with soulful folk, Smoke Ring Halo was produced by Jim Scott (Wilco, Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and features backing vocals from Zac Brown and Clay Cook.
Animal Collective – Sung Tongs reissue (Fat Cat)
The first domestic vinyl pressing of Animal Collective’s 2004 avant-pop masterpiece. Available as a double LP, this reissue has been DMM re-mastered and includes a digital download of the album.
John Hiatt – Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (New West Records)
Double vinyl LP pressing of the new album from veteran singer-songwriter John Hiatt. On Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns you’ll find both an ode to the Buick Electra 225 (“Detroit Made”) and a heartfelt tribute about 9/11 (“When New York Had Her Heart Broke”). Produced by Kevin “The Caveman” Shirley (Silverchair, Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa), the album pairs Hiatt’s honest, often-harrowing storytelling with some mean blues guitar.
Fred McDowell – The Alan Lomax Recordings (Mississippi Records)
Featuring the first-ever recordings by Blues Hall of Famer “Mississippi” Fred McDowell, this album was recorded in 1959 by folklorist Alan Lomax. It features a spirited version of Bukka White’s ‘Shake ’em on Down,’ harmonies from Mrs. Annie Mae McDowell, and even hair comb playing by a Ms. Fanny Davis. An intimate, genuine, and essential record of Mississippi hill country blues.
Rail Band – Orchestre Rail-Band de Bamako (Mississippi Records)
The legendary Malian Rail Band’s 1970 debut reissued on vinyl for the first time.
Bob Dylan – Oh Mercy (4 Men with Beards)
180-gram vinyl reissue of Dylan’s great 1989 comeback album.
Van Dyke Parks – “Dreaming of Paris”/”Wedding in Madagascar” and “Wall Street” / “Money Is King” singles (Bananastan)
The first two singles to be released by the iconic musician/composer/producer as part of his new 7-inch vinyl series. Each single is illustrated by a top contemporary American artist – in this case Ed Ruscha and Art Spiegelman, respectively.
Dead Moon – In the Graveyard (1988), Unknown Passage (1989), Defiance (1990) (Mississippi Records)
Re-mastered vinyl reissues of the revered underground Pacific Northwest band’s first three albums. Fun Fact: These albums were originally mastered by the band’s frontman, Fred Cole, on the same mono lathe used to cut the Kingsmen’s version of “Louie Louie.”
The Clash – Black Market Clash 10-inch (Drastic Plastic)
Limited-edition 10-inch vinyl reissue of this 1980 EP. A North America-only release that came out between London Calling and Sandinista!, Black Market Clash compiles UK B-sides and other songs that were previously only available in the US as imports. There are also dub versions of the songs “Bankrobber” and “Armagideon Time,” and a remix of the Clash’s Toots and the Maytals cover “Pressure Drop.”
Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine (Plain Recordings)
180-gram double LP reissue of Fiona Apple’s universally acclaimed third album, originally released in 2005.
Michael Yonkers Band – Microminiature Love (Sub Pop)
Vinyl reissue of this long-lost record from 1968 by the obscure Minnesota musician. First unearthed in 2002 and released in a very limited vinyl run by Destijl Records, the album is now available in wide release via Sub Pop.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: August 10, 2011
Come sail away this week with reissues from Black Sabbath, Yes, Jefferson Starship, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Cypress Hill, Belle & Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Guided by Voices, Meat Puppets, and … Styx! Also out is a series of imported 12-inch singles from Björk’s forthcoming album, Biophilia.
Black Sabbath – Volume 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975) (Rhino Records)
180-gram reissues of the British heavy-metal icons’ classic early-’70s releases.
Heaven & Hell – Neon Nights: Live at Wacken (Back on Black)
Recorded at Germany’s Wacken Open Air Festival on July 30, 2009, this live set features songs from the three official Dio-era Black Sabbath albums as well as Heaven & Hell’s 2009 album, The Devil You Know. This tour would prove to be the heavy metal supergroup’s last, as its frontman Ronnie James Dio would pass away the following year from stomach cancer.
Yes – Tales from Topographic Oceans (Friday Music)
For the first time on 180-gram audiophile vinyl, this deluxe double LP (originally released in 1973) is a fan favorite featuring four incredible workouts from the English prog rockers. Yes, that means one song per side!
Styx – The Grand Illusion (Friday Music)
Kicking off Friday Music’s Styx 180-gram Audiophile Series is this limited edition pressing of the American prog-rock band’s masterwork. Originally released in 1977, this multi-platinum record remains one of the most revered albums in rock history and features the band’s mega hit “Come Sail Away.”
Jefferson Starship – Red Octopus (Friday Music)
Re-mastered 180-gram audiophile vinyl reissue of this 1975 No. 1 album from the Jefferson Airplane spin-off. The best-selling Jefferson album to date, Red Octopus features the Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, and David Freiberg line-up and includes the hit single “Miracles.”
Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill (Get On Down)
20th anniversary red vinyl reissue of Cypress Hill’s eponymous 1991 debut. One of the most influential hip-hop albums to date.
Willie Nelson – Countryman (Lost Highway)
This reggae-infused country album was shelved for nearly 10 years before finally seeing the light of day. Now Lost Highway brings it to life on vinyl. On Countryman, Nelson infuses some of his classic country tunes with a reggae upstroke and gives Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” and “Sitting in Limbo” a country twist. Nelson also turns Johnny Cash’s “I’m A Worried Man” into a duet with reggae singer Toots Hibbert.
Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose (Third Man Records)
Originally released in 2004, the Grammy Award-winning Van Lear Rose finds honky-tonk legend Loretta Lynn working with the White Stripes’ Jack White. The two complement each other to brilliant effect with Lynn penning all of the album’s tracks and White handling production. They even duet on the rousing “Portland, Oregon.”
Belle & Sebastian – Tigermilk (1996), If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996), The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998) (Matador)
120-gram vinyl reissues of the Scottish indie-pop band’s first three studio albums. All widely acclaimed and all considered to be among the band’s greatest works.
Jill Scott – The Light of the Sun (Warner Bros.)
The neo-soul/R&B artist’s chart-topping fourth studio album is now available on vinyl! This double LP includes the hit single “So in Love” featuring Anthony Hamilton, as well as collaborations with rappers Eve, Paul Wall, and the human beatbox Doug E. Fresh. A largely improvised album, The Light of the Sun mixes Scott’s signature spoken word with soul, funk, hip-hop, and jazz grooves, lush strings, and even ragtime piano to create a potent brew of empowerment.
Cat Power – What Would the Community Think (1996), The Covers Record (2000), Jukebox (2008) (Matador)
120-gram reissues of Cat Power’s two covers records and her oft-overlooked 1996 masterpiece, What Would the Community Think. Chan Marshall’s first albums of covers, The Covers Record takes on the Rolling Stones and the Velvet Underground (among others) with just a spare guitar, piano, and her emotive vocals. Jukebox is a tribute to the vocalists that have influenced her including Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Billie Holiday, and James Brown.
Yo La Tengo –Painful (1993), And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000) (Matador)
120-gram reissues of two significant titles from the New Jersey noise-pop band: Painful, the album on which YLT really came into its own creatively, and the critically acclaimed And Then Nothing…, a more intimate, hushed record featuring the 17-minute epic “Night Falls on Hoboken.”
Björk – The Crystalline Series (Import)
A series of imported 12-inchs featuring variations on music from Björk’s forthcoming album, Biophilia. The first in the series features mixes of the “Crystalline” and “Cosmogony” singles by Grammy Award-winning engineer Serban Ghenea; the second features remixes of “Crystalline” by British electronic musician Matthew Herbert (who previously collaborated with Björk on her 2001 album, Vespertine); the third features versions of “Crystalline,” “Tesla,” and “Mawal” by Syrian musician Omar Souleyman; the fourth features remixes of “Cosmogony” by Herbert.
Guided by Voices – Alien Lanes (Matador)
120-gram vinyl reissue of the lo-fi psychedelic post-punk band’s popular 1995 album.
Shelby Lynne – Just a Little Lovin’ (Lost Highway)
On this 2008 album, country-pop artist Shelby Lynne pays tribute to one of her favorite singers Dusty Springfield by covering nine songs that Springfield made classic – including “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “I Don’t Want to Hear It Anymore” – and contributing one Springfield-inspired Lynne original. Produced by Phil Ramone, Just a Little Lovin’ is stunning in its restrained instrumentation and intimate feel.
Meat Puppets – Up on the Sun (MVD Audio)
Re-mastered vinyl reissue of the Meat Puppets’ more folk-rock infused 1985 album. Definitely among the country-psych-punk band’s best.
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Peyton on Patton (SideOneDummy)
Country-blues artist Reverend Peyton covers the works of one of his greatest influences and heroes, the legendary “Father of the Delta Blues” Charley Patton. Staying true to Patton’s method, Peyton recorded the entire record in one day with one microphone. He also uses the rest of the Big Damn Band sparingly with his wife, Breezy, occasionally contributing washboard percussion and vocals, and drummer Aaron Persinger hand drumming on a hundred-year-old tobacco barrel.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: August 3, 2011
This week, jazz luminaries Coleman Hawkins, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Stitt, and Paul Gonsalves receive the deluxe 180-gram treatment courtesy of Analogue Productions, seminal punk band NOFX keeps the hardcore spirit of the ’80s alive, and rock supergroup Black Country Communion carries on the hard blues tradition of the ’70s.
Fountains of Wayne – Sky Full of Holes (Yep Roc)
Four years after their last release, power-pop heroes Fountains of Wayne return with a new album that is full of all the things that make them great: sharp storytelling, big guitar hooks, and fun, feel-good pop gems. Well worth the wait!
Archers of Loaf – Icky Mettle (Merge)
Reissue of the acclaimed 1993 debut album from the Chapel Hill indie rockers. Bonus material including the entire Archers of Loaf vs. The Greatest of All Time EP as well as singles and B-sides from the Icky Mettle era will be included as a digital download. Available on limited-edition blue vinyl.
NOFX – Untitled 10-inch (Fat Wreck Chords)
Dubbed “The Hardcore 10,” the latest release from these California punk vets is without a title, but it lacks nothing in the way of intensity or love for ’80s hardcore punk. Released only on 10-inch vinyl, the album features covers of songs from the genre the band was raised on, and members Fat Mike, El Hefe, and Eric Melvin trading off on lead vocals.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd – How I Go (Roadrunner Records/Loud and Proud Records)
It’s been seven years since his last studio album, and after hitting the road to film a blues documentary, getting hitched, and becoming a father, the acclaimed blues-rock guitarist returns with a new double LP. How I Go features a mix of classics (Bessie Smith’s “Blackwater Blues,” Albert King’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” and the Beatles’ “Yer Blues”) and originals that showcase Shepherd’s strong songwriting and guitar chops.
Boston Spaceships – Let It Beard (Guided by Voices)
Guided by Voices’ Robert Pollard describes the latest release from his new band as ”a subconscious concept album about the sorry state of Rock ‘n’ Roll… The White Album meets Quadrophenia meets Jesus Christ Superstar.” Joining the trio of Pollard, his former GBV bandmate Chris Slusarenko, and the Decemberists’ John Moen on this epic, 26-song double LP are Colin Newman (Wire), J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Steve Wynn (the Dream Syndicate), Mick Collins (the Dirtbombs), Dave Rick (Phantom Tollbooth), and Mitch Mitchell (Guided by Voices).
Black Country Communion – 2 (J&R Adventures)
The rock supergroup featuring bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath), blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (son of Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) returns with this highly anticipated sophomore LP. 2 indeed satisfies.
Coleman Hawkins – Wrapped Tight (Analogue Productions)
180-gram 45rpm double LP reissue of this revelatory 1965 album from one of jazz’s first great tenor saxophonists. One of the last recordings of Hawk’s long career, Wrapped Tight is bursting with creative new ideas.
McCoy Tyner – Nights of Ballads & Blues (Analogue Productions)
One of Tyner’s best early albums, this 1963 release was a low-key affair that contrasts his intense work with Coltrane at the time. With bassist Steve Davis and drummer Lex Humphries, Tyner develops standards and bebop classics like Thelonious Monk’s “‘Round Midnight,” Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “Satin Doll,” and Charlie Parker’s “Star Eyes.” In addition to performing ballads, he showcases his own writing talents with the bluesy “Groove Waltz.” Reissued as a 180-gram 45rpm double LP.
Sonny Stitt and Paul Gonsalves – Salt and Pepper (Analogue Productions)
This 1963 bebop treasure pairs jazz saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Paul Gonsalves. 180-gram 45rpm double LP pressing.
Drive-By Truckers – Ugly Buildings, Whores & Politicians: Greatest Hits 1998-2009 (New West Records)
The first “best of” compilation from the acclaimed, vinyl-loving alt-country band features songs culled from the group’s first seven studio albums. Double vinyl LP pressing.
Buffalo Killers – 3 (Alive)
If you’re quick, you may be able to snatch up one of the limited-edition colored vinyl pressings of this Cincinnati rock trio’s long-awaited third album.
Grinderman – “Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man” 12-inch single (ANTI-)
Limited-edition 12-inch single on white vinyl with black swirl. Features the album version of “Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man” (from the Nick Cave-fronted band’s 2010 release, Grinderman 2), a live French TV version, and a remix by Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme.
Richard Buckner – Our Blood (Merge)
The long-awaited follow-up to 2006’s Meadow is an understated treasure just like the enigmatic alt-country artist himself. Where Meadow turned up the volume, Our Blood is full of eerie, quiet tension and a hint of the electronic experimentalism of Buckner’s late-’90s work.
Okkervil River – “Your Past Life As a Blast” 7-inch single (Jagjaguwar)
The third single from Okkervil River’s latest LP I Am Very Far. Features a treasure of a B-side in “Gold Faces.”
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