1960's Album Covers

 

 

Kenny Drew Trio

The Kenny Drew Trio - 'If You Could See Me Now'

From 1976 on vinyl. Piano jazz.

Browsing the bins today and came across this. The guy in the record store told me that it was probably rare but gave it to me for five dollars because it has surface scratch's. I've played both sides and there's a few minor ticks but no skips. I would have taken it for the cover photo alone. 

Adrianne Lenker

'Abysskiss' by Adrianne Lenker. 

First of all, I was going to pick this up for the cover photo alone. It didn't matter that I had no idea of what I would hear or if I would appreciate the music. That said, the music is incredibly beautiful. 

From 2018. Record stores going out of business and drastically slashing prices often leads to blind buys and the discovery of new sounds. 

Adrianne Lenker is a guitarist and lead vocalist for the band, Big Thief.

Jon Mark

 Jon Mark - 'Songs For a Friend'

From 1975, on original vinyl.

An oldie in my collection. I didn't know much about Mark-Almond at the time that I first heard this and I sure didn't know that Jon Mark was the 'Mark' part of that duo. 

Just discovered while posting this entry that Jon Mark passed away less than two months ago. 

It's been quite a long time since I last listened. I recall listening almost daily for a period of time after buying this. 'Songs For a Friend'  is about as mellow as music gets. Piano driven, singer/songwriter ballads, but not what was usual for recordings of that genre and period. It quite often feels sad and dramatic and ends in a wash of strings and 'spoken word' verse/poetry. There's a sense from the song order and flow alone, that he just lost his best friend. Upon listening, one may feel the need to shed a tear.

Jeff Parker & the New Breed

Jeff Parker & the New Breed - 'Suite for Max Brown'

Saw a Twitter friend that I follow (who happens to be from Portland), post a photo of the cover while tweeting what she's listening to. (Thanks Jen!!) Was intrigued, checked it out, listened to a few moments, ordered it and it arrived the next day. If you can't go to the record store because of a little old pandemic or there's simply no stores remaining in your hometown, then this is the way to get your music .... next day, at your front door, when you return home from work!!!

The other directions in Jazz that I've been searching for. On vinyl!!!

Oxford American

A compilation from 2001 and Oxford American magazine. I think they would put out an annual collection of Southern music. I found two or three of these compilations a few years ago for $1. A check today shows they have become quite pricey.

A variety of sounds on each, Americana, Blues, Roots, Appalacha, Country, Zydeco, Singer/Songwriter and more .....  A little of a lot of styles. Older and contemporary sounds. Always filled with gems. 

Compilations done right!!!

Favorites here are ..... 'You R Loved' by Victoria Williams (I love the trumpets), 'The Lonesome River' by Ralph Stanley and Bob Dylan (Old-timey, front porch feel) and 'Down to the Well' by Kevin Gordon (A new name to check out). The song is a duet with Lucinda Williams.

An Evening With Bruce Cockburn

From 1971, Bruce Cockburn - 'High Winds White Sky'

Original vinyl record from my early collecting days that was a tough find back then because it was an import recording. It's been with me for a few years now. Had to travel to Portland as I recall. 

Singer/Songwriter and great guitarist as well, often including a solo guitar instrumental tune on his albums. Favorite songs on here are back to back on side one .....  'Love Song' and 'One Day I Walk'. Both incredibly beautiful!!

Beautiful snow and trees photography on the front and back cover and inside the gatefold sleeve. 

Jazz Conversation

A short conversation with a fellow old guy in the narrow aisle of the record store. He apparently recognized this record I had chosen and asked if I was a Jazz fan? He told me that he had ordered a Julie London record. Just moments before, I had been listening to female Jazz vocalists from the 1950's on the car radio. He said that he was buying as much vinyl as he could right now. That he was retiring soon and was afraid he wouldn't be able to afford the habit at that point. I told him that was one of my great fears as well. In fact, it's one of my top five reasons why I have not seriously considered the thought of retirement yet.,

Record stores are great places for striking up conversations with random strangers. And these days, for us oldsters, a greater sense of the people and community around us is needed. 

Picked up three records: 1) Bill Berry's L.A. Big Band - 'Hello Rev' .... 2) Stan Kenton and His Orchestra - 'Live at Humbolt State College' .... and 3) Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - 'Such Sweet Thunder.'

AM Radio

Listening to the local AM-radio, oldies station that I grew up listening to as a young teen in the late 1960's ...... In the days before I discovered FM-radio. It was a top forty station back then. If you heard a song that you really liked, you'd just have to wait an hour or two and there was a good chance you would hear it again. Of course it worked like that for the songs you didn't care for also. Hence my distaste at the time for the song, 'In the Year 2525' by Zagar & Evans.' 

I've since made my peace with old emotions and can tolerate that song if it comes on the radio these days.

The station has survived and kept the same four letter ID all this time. But now it's an oldies station with no rhyme or reason to their playlist order. They might play 'Hotel California' by The Eagles and follow it up with that 'Louie, Louie' song from the 1950's or early 60's or whenever the hell it was from. I don't call that 'easy listening' ..... More like 'difficult listening.'

• Neil Diamond - Shilo
• Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In the Sky
• Eric Burdon & The Animals - Sky Pilot
• Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie
• Main Title from the movie, 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'

The Danger of Alina Simone

Alina Simone - 'Make Your Own Danger'

Found a new method to discover new music!! .... The need for an updated prescription of one's vision. I saw an album cover that looked interesting. I thought it said Alina Simone, which I entered in a online search.. I listened to a few short samples and ordered two albums. The first to arrive at my front door was the record that I originally spotted ..... It was Nina Simone!! I've heard of Nina Simone but don't know her music. It was followed two or three days later by the Alina Simone record. 

Never mind that the two album covers appeared to be from greatly different time periods, 1959 and 2011, and are of vastly different styles. I was under the impression that I was acquiring two Alina Simones and instead received Nina and Alina!! Glad it all worked out!! Sometimes there's benefits and rewards in poor vision.

Make Your Own Danger Review

Roedelius

Roedelius - 'Tape Archive Essence 1973-1978'

Electronic sounds, which I've been making a concerted effort to gain a greater appreciation of. I wouldn't have given this much attention even a year ago. Late night listening. When you're ready to close your eyes and clear your mind. Definite mood music.

And I love the cover art!!

David Poe

A self-titled album from David Poe. From 1997.

The record store owner asked me if I was familiar with the musician .... "Well no, I'm just taking a wild chance." (Certainly not a first for me.) "I'll tell you what" he said, "I'll take two dollars off the price and if you don't like it you can bring it back. I don't like for anyone to be stuck with music that they don't like."

I guess I won't have to take him up on that offer because I like it!! Quite a bit. I was initially drawn in by the artwork on the back of the album. Another hint was that it's produced by T Bone Burnett. The songs don't always go in the direction that I'm anticipating but that's certainly not a criticism. 

If you have expectations or hopes of being rocked out, well perhaps you've come to the wrong place.

A few found, written words about this album: ".... in this record that is at times exuberant but more often hushed .... '

Four Tet

 Four Tet - 'Parellel'

I don't own this. Never even heard of it before tonight. It just popped up on Youtube. Totally spacey, ambient and repetitive and I'm enjoying the hell out of it while sitting here at my desk listening to the wind and rain.

Doesn't look like it's available for purchase on vinyl or compact disc, though I shall research further. May have to do the files thing. 

Little Bit of Rain

Feeling highly disappointed in the antique store today where my former local record store has a spot. I saw on Facebook where they had added some albums to the bins and I was on a search for a specific record that I had spotted in the post. 

And it wasn't there!!! Damnit, someone beat me to it!! Then I thought, maybe I should look under 'N' for his last name ..... and there it was!!!

Geez!! How long have I been collecting records? Why am I making rookie mistakes? I should have a masters degree by now in record collecting.

Fred Neil - 'Little Bit of Rain.' From 1970 on vinyl.

Fred Neil wrote the classic song, 'Everybody's Talkin'.' which I first heard as a teenager on an old Neil Diamond record. 

Everybody's Talkin' is not on this record but there's two sides of other great songs!!

The title song, 'Little Bit of Rain' is the highlight.

The New OK

 Drive-By Truckers - 'The New OK'

I read that the DVT's were on a break from a tour promoting the release of their previous album, 'The Unraveling,' when the world suddenly became crazy with covid lockdowns. So they put together a new album in response. 

I've come to despise this term: "Our new reality" but I'm good with: 'The New OK'

1972 Playlist

Had a particular year come to mind. A playlist of what I might have been listening to on any given day in 1972. .... That's if I can recall. It was only forty-nine years ago.

• Jackson Browne - Rock Me On the Water
• Neil Young - Needle and the Damage Done
• Poco - I Can See Everything
• Gordon Lightfoot - Second Cup of Coffee .... People overlook what a great songwriter he was.
• Carole King - Come Down Easy
• It's A Beautiful Day - White Bird .... One of the first songs I think of when I think back to discovering fm-radio in the late 60's/early 70's. Only a few stations at the tile but one was playing this.
• Cat Stevens - But I Might Die Tonight
• Dan Fogelburg - To the Morning
• Arlo Guthrie - Lightning Bar Blues .... Bought the album for 'City of New Orleans' but quickly was taken by this song.
• Cheech & Chong - Let's Make a Dope Deal .... Just a tiny bit of comedy thrown in between the lines. As I recall, first heard at a friends house while hoping not to have to explain our laughter to his parents.
• Crosby & Nash - Immigration Man .... A little bummed when CSN and CSNY broke up but this proved that any two members of that collective, could also make great music.
• The Eagles - Train Leaves Here This Morning
• Pure Prairie League - Amie
• Rick Roberts - Jenny's Blues
• War - The Cisco Kid

New York Scene

 Various Artists - 'The New York Scene In the 40's - From Be-Bop to Cool'

On vinyl. Found while digging through bins. A Jazz compilation and history. Two of my favorite subjects. 

Number 27 in the 'Do You Like Jazz' series. Implies there are others to search for. 

Masterpieces

 Duke Ellington's, 'Masterpieces.'

Just looking through the collection and having difficulty believing how many Ellingtons and Count Basie recordings I have. I've never sought them out, just taking them home when I come across one.

Must have been fun following them in the 1940's and 50's. Knowing that something new was always around the corner. None of this waiting two or three years between releasing new recordings.