We’re happy to (finally) bring home, into the collection, Harry Belafonte’s 1957 album of Caribbean lullabies, Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean. She was once the black hole among the early Belafonte releases, the only missing LP from Harry’s first five years, and is arguably one of his all-time greatest records, aside from 1956’s Calypso and 1961’s Jump Up Calypso. Anyway, I was happy to find it for a cool $4 this weekend. Cheers.
Tag Archives: music
Split the Difference
This 2009 reissue of a 1997 bootleg between goth punks the Misfits and garage rock whores Rocket from the Crypt is an odd, yet complimenting split LP. On side A you’ve got a few 1995 live recordings by Hell’s house band, Rocket from the Crypt (I heard that somewhere and never forgot it, though I forget where), and on side B you’ve got 9 live tracks by the Misfits from 1981 (recorded somewhere in Jersey, if you can imagine). Pressed on white vinyl and limited to 300 “unofficial” copies, she marks the latest on the endless, yet essential list that is the Rocket from the Crypt discography. Listen with caution, I seldom say.
DtA
During my “all things Dan the Automator” phase I acquired, among a plethora of others, this 2006 soundtrack to the NBA 2K7 video game. As can be expected, each track is b-ball themed in both lyrics and song title (Baller Blockin’, Fade Away, Don’t Hate the Player, to name just a few), and makes for a perfect companion to the 2K7 Instrumentals album (which I do not yet have). As with (almost) all DtA releases, there is a stripped down instrumental release to accompany the full, words-from-the-silver-tongue version. Kind of an intelligent way to get people to purchase two of (nearly) the same album. I’m game.
I Was Aboot to Say…
Limited to only 218 copies on green vinyl, Oot & Aboot by Honest Don’s The Real McKenzies looks like your typical, run-o-the-mill black record until you shove it up to any given light source. The music is decent pop punk, but the quasi-hidden color makes for a fun, limited release.
Otha Fish
Fresh from the Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde The Singles Collection, this 2012 colored vinyl reissue of the 1993 classic was one of 7 x 7″ 45s that make up this essential Delicious Vinyl release (record 6 of 7 to be exact). The music isn’t all that bad, either. Otha Fish Single Version on side A, and Otha Fish Acapella on side B, for those of you wanting to tickle your hip hop beat production fancy.
Servants of Death
It’s always a good day when a new Refused record is released. Servants of Death was, in fact, the first record I grabbed last Friday (RSD Black Friday). The only record from that day’s haul that came with a download card (thank you Epitaph), this six track EP contains the “single” Servants of Death from last year’s Freedom release, as well as a new, never before released-on-vinyl track Stolen Voices, as well as four live tracks from the band’s 2015 tour. Overall a fantastic little accompaniment to an already stellar discography.
I Can Hear it Now
Every once in a while it’s good to break free from the shackles of prudent grooves and step back into well documented moments of great national history. And who better to lead you by your infant, trembling hand than Columbia Broadcasting System legends, Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly? Mr. Murrow, with help from producing partner, Fred W. Friendly, cover a shit-ton of ground in the focused years 1933-1945, but let’s face it… there was a lot of shit to cover. An excellent listen, when in the mood. Anyway, not all news is good news, and not all records are spun for their prudent grooves.
Situation Vacant
Another day, another essential, yet overpriced Kinks Record Store Day release. The only one I was unable to acquire from this year’s Black Friday releases was the black and white swirled version of 1977’s Sleepwalker. I mean, Sleepwalker isn’t bad, but they need to start releasing sexy colored versions of Muswell Hillbillies, if you ask me. And since you didn’t, I’d suggest something similar to the 2011 UK rerelease of The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (green translucent / orange splatter colored vinyl). Well, there’s always next year, I suppose.
Till Death…
There are only two bands whose 7″ Record Store Day overpriced buffoonery I’d throw money at, and one of these bands is The Kinks. Complete with hype sticker (that will never be removed as far as I’m still breathing), this Village Green-era make-shift EP features the classics, Do You Remember Walter? and People Take Pictures of Each Other, both found on the Village Green masterpiece, as well as the brilliant throwaway, Till Death Us Do Part, which was apparently the theme to a film based on a popular British television series. Long story short, one can never go wrong with any Kinks record, and this EP is certainly no exception, regardless of its hefty price tag.
The Bobblymen
Just one of the great Record Store Day Black Friday releases acquired this morning in Los Angeles, Mike Watt + The Bobblymen’s The Bobblymen EP. If three unreleased tracks from over three decades ago originally intended for The Minutemen isn’t enough to persuade you, have a read at what Mr. Watt himself has to say about this historic 7″:
“Here’s three tunes I wrote for The Minutemen thirty-five years ago that never got released (hell, one never ever got play live and the other two only a tiny bit), I recorded them very recently w/guys I regularly play w/but never together in this configuration which was Bob Lee’s idea and hence the name of the proj” – Mike Watt
Dust Club
So, this happened. I really need to steer clear of https://mondotees.com, although, if I did, I’d never had stumbled across this insane double LP. The only selling point you need… wait for it… “Music by The Dust Brothers.” You’re welcome.
Starship
Not much to say about Spitfire other than she’s been a long time coming. She turned 40 this year, and still sounds (and looks) just as good as the day she was released.
I Feel For You
Chaka Khan feels for us, guys. This is, obviously, very exciting news! By the looks of things, she’s been feeling for us since 1984, or so Warner Bros. Records would like us to believe. I for one am both not surprised and pleasantly pleased about this new found observation, and with the holiday coming up, we could all use a little more feelings from Chaka Khan, am I right?
– Now!
Oh, Wayne Newton. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t get enough solid Wayne Newton time these days. It’s a shame, really. The voice of a songbird dressed as a Native-American Las Vegas crooner, Carson Wayne Newton is known to many people by many names. Mr. Entertainment and The Midnight Idol to name a few, Mr. Las Vegas is still performing at the young age of 74, and has a series of upcoming shows in Vegas starting on 11/28 and going through the end of the year. If you find yourself pulling slots and huffing secondhand smoke in the middle of an air conditioned desert, spend a few intimate hours with this Sin City legend.
Invisible Tears
On Invisible Tears, Ray Conniff (and the Singers) offered their laid back, pop-jazz renditions of popular tunes of the 1964 era. With tracks like, I Walk the Line, Waitin’ for the Evening Train, and yes, you guessed it, Invisible Tears, your evening of quiet, unassuming dining room waltzes is only an invisible tear away.
It’s Always Jerry
Mr. Jerry Vale answered a seemingly endless string of mundane, and inessential questions with the title of his 1965 album, Have You Looked into Your Heart. Odd that there’s not a question mark at the end of this title. Anyway, below is a brief series of questions, adequately answered by this Italian-American legend:
Q: Dammit! I’m late for work… again. Where the hell are my damn keys?
A: Have You Looked into Your Heart?
Q: Why is my toe bleeding?
A: Have You Looked into Your Heart?
Q: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
A: Have You Looked into Your Heart?
Poster Included
To prove to everyone that I’m not a liar (but, mainly just proving to myself), here is the full Best of Dolly Parton album cover w/ “POSTER INCLUDED” hype as mentioned on the 11/11/16 post from the Prudent Groove (enter shameless self-promoting plug here). 80’s love songs may or may not be spilling from our living room Echo at the moment, but our post-dinner spin will include a cut (or two) from Best of… the poster may or may not make an prominent appearance. Have a groovy evening, kids.
Connie in the Night
On the search for a decent rendition of Bert Kaempfert’s Strangers in the Night (a question I ask myself multiple times a day), then look no further than Connie Francis’ 1966 release, Movie Greats from the 60’s. I’m partial to the Rogers & Clarke version, myself.
Disconnected
Former Dead Boys lead singer Stiv Bators released his first solo album in 1980 on Bomp! Records titled, Disconnected (featured here). This, of course, followed the breakup of The Dead Boys just a year prior (reportedly due to constant pressure from Sire Records to become more marketable / mainstream). Considered more power pop than disturbing hardcore that surrounded The D’ Boys, Stiv’s debut feels surprisingly tame by today’s standards, but must have seemed unsightly back in the early days of the primitive 80’s. Think glam rock for the disheveled, obscenely drunk and painfully talented. Disconnected is also on Spotify, if you’re into such convenient things. Cheers.
A Grave Reflection
It must have been nearly 15 years since I’ve spun The Pick, The Sickle and the Shovel by Long Island’s Gravediggaz. Just having (temporarily) exited my hip hop phase (one that had ignited back in Jr. High thanks to Columbia House and BMG… that seems like an eternity ago… man, I’m old), my days and evenings in late 1997 / early 1998 were instead given to The Clash and Ministry, among various pop-punk comps acquired at summer Warped Tours, but when a 19-year-old collector of, well, things, finds a pristine copy of some badass hip hop at a thrift store for about the cost of a basket of beer battered cheese curds, the hip hop torch begins to flicker again.
The Prudent Groove 