my personal vinyl collection, explained
Yet another dollar-bin classic, certified by Amoeba: Light of Smiles is peak late-career Gary Wright, delivering on hooky pop masterpieces while centering his songwriting around Paramahansa Yogananda. Continue reading The Light of Smiles by Gary Wright
Columbia Records, 1979 A1. In a Little While (I’ll Be on my Way)A2. Since I Don’t Have YouA3. And I KnowA4. Sail on a RainbowA5. Miss You NightsB1. Finally Found a ReasonB2. Beyond the TearsB3. Oh How HappyB4. When Someone Doesn’t Want YouB5. Take Me Away Gotta say, this was a fun find in Amoeba’s dollar bin many years ago. It is marked for Demonstration: … Continue reading Fate for Breakfast by Art Garfunkel
Drawn in by the minimalist artwork, I was not disappointed by this Poco LP. Apparently the band was the next chapter for two former members of Buffalo Springfield. Wikipedia suggests that they were well-loved and an enduring band, with a career that has stretched from the late ’60s through as recently as 2021. Last year, sadly, founding member Rusty Young passed away. He wrote six of the nine tracks on Legend. Continue reading Legend by Poco
A classic in every sense. Sister Sledge is one of those rare household staples, whether everyone realizes their name or not. Their sound defines the ’70s for me, and that’s saying a lot when you consider that a majority of my wax collection was originally printed in that fortuitous decade. It’s a little bit disco, a little bit R&B, and a whole lotta let’s-boogie-on-the-dancefloor. Everyone certainly knows “We Are Family.” Continue reading We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Hold On, I’m Comin’ Recorded Live at the 1972 New York & Montreux Jazz Festivals by Herbie Mann Atlantic Records, 1972 tracklist/favesA1. (Gimme Some of That Good Old) Soul Beat MommaA2. Never Can Say GoodbyeA3. Respect YourselfB1. Memphis UndergroundB2. Hold On, I’m Comin’ Herbie Mann is a name I’ve heard from music nerds around LA as well as floating in the wind around my college’s … Continue reading Herbie Mann
Finland by Cassandra Complex Waxtrax Records, 1990 Tracklist/ faves(side one)A. I Believe in Free Everything (Charlie Victor)AA. Let’s Go to Europe(side two)AAA. What Turns You On? (Plastic Mix)B. Fire and ForgetC. Forests The Cassandra complex is a psychological phenomenon in which an individual’s accurate prediction of a crisis is ignored or dismissed. (x) Cassandra Complex is a band with quite a history. For once, this is … Continue reading Cassandra Complex
Period. Another American Lie by B.A.L.L. Shimmy-disc, 1987 Tracklist/ favesA1. All is Sought in ProgressA2. CavemanA3. Ballad of Little RichardA4. The King Will Never DieA5. Skull and CrossA6. Bastard Baby BoyA7. No SongA8. AlwaysA9. Favorite DayA10. My T.V. is BrokeA11. The FrenchB1. I Can Never SayB2. Billy and the CometsB3. Black SpringB4. Treasure IslandB5. Fuck the LawB6. St. Vitus DanceB7. In the WoodsB8. Theme B.A.L.L. … Continue reading B.A.L.L.
Many of my stories of music discovery start with my job as a shelver at my county library in high school. What began in my eyes as a random CD that I remembered my mom mentioning offhand once, quickly became one of my favorite records of all time. Once I found Graceland, my worldview changed, sparking an interest in world music and the native songs … Continue reading Going (Back) to Graceland
After a tumultuous few months consisting of me trying to figure out what was wrong with my record player, realizing it was probably the motor that needed an overhaul, then resigning to the fact that I would need to just buy a new one, I finally did it. I got a new* turntable and it works better than my other did on its first play. … Continue reading Back in Business
Windham Hills Records, 1982 Dug up at Amoeba sidewalk sale Track list, faves in bold A1. Thanksgiving A2. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head A3. Joy A4. Prelude A5. Carol of the Bells A6. Night B1. Variations on the Kanon by Johann Pachelbel B2. The Holy and the Ivy B3. Some Children See Him B4. Peace December is a solo record from George Winston, an American … Continue reading December by George Winston
Sawdust & Gin 