The first compilation / greatest hits album Johnny Cash released (or rather, the label released for him) was 1959’s appropriately titled, Greatest! 12 cuts, all from the Sun Records library, Greatest! is a breath of fresh, country air even 56 years after its initial release. I have no idea what LPs sold for back in 1959, but this one set me back only $3 just last weekend. Inflation be damned, am I right? Anyway, Greatest! contains some classic, early Cash greats such as Get Rhythm, Luther’s Boogie, a few Hank Williams numbers (Hey, Good Lookin’, You Win Again), and some lesser known classics to round out a full, pertinent collection of tragic songs. Greatest! may not be Cash’s greatest, but it’s worth seeking out.
Tag Archives: music
‘S
Former supporting member to significant heads of the 1940’s pop-jazz sound (Bob Crosby, Artie Shaw, and Harry James respectively), singer-composer Ray Conniff follows his first two “‘S” releases with 1958’s ‘S Awful Nice. ‘S Awful Nice is, in fact, awful nice. It’s tame, late 50s swell music for late evening lovers and their romantic cocktails. It’s, what I imagine to be, the last in a flood of easy listening releases that would be properly dammed by the rockabilly and rock n’ roll sound some few short years later. The word “innocence” comes to mind, often, when listening to Mr. Conniff and His Orchestra, and although on any given day of any given week of any given year I’d prefer both rockabilly and early rock to this easy listening bubble, it sure is a pleasant vacation every once in a while. Diversity, kids.
CP
This Citizens Patrol 7″ was mysteriously packaged in a recent purchase off Discogs, and I’m not quite sure if it was a “thanks for your order, enjoy this complimentary record,” or if it was some oversight. An email is out to the seller, but I’m curious to see if this guy is in fact “mine” just yet. I’m even more curious to hear what it sounds like, but am hesitant to spin it just in case I fall in love, then have to give it back. Spike Lee says, “Do the Right Thing.” He’s a smart man.
Auto Midnight
The Hot Snakes first album is my favorite, but I fight to call it their best. Suicide Invoice, their second, gets the best reviews online, but if pressed, I’d say Audit in Progress, their third, is the champion. Whichever you prefer, give it, or all, a proper listen sometime this weekend. Your Monday morning will thank you.
Open 24 Hours
This Telegraph, Skolars split is something of legend in my personal circle (of two). Ever since seeing Telegraph opened for Less Than Jake at my buddy’s 18th birthday (way back in 1997), I’ve been a (wherewithal) loyal Telegraph fan. I saw The Skolars here, and then their reincarnation at said 18th bday, LTJ show. I’m ecstatic to own Quit Your Band (97 Demo) and Open 24 Hours on vinyl. It’s a good day when these tracks get spun, and I encourage all quasi-ska-punk lovers to consider both The Skolars and Telegraph to justify your next swing-filled fix.
Exotica
It’s Thursday, which means, it’s hot-damn time for Exotica. Martin Denny and his space-age, late 50s collection of easy listening goodness comes at the perfect, unexpected, stress-relieving moment. The looming stress cloud is swiftly approaching, so let’s ease into flu season with some well earned, Exotica.
400 Copies
It’s not fun being sick, but wanna’ know what IS fun? Andrew Jackson Jihad’s debut LP, People Who Can Eat People are the Luckiest People in the World. This, seemingly purple LP, is “actually” brown wax, limited to 400 copies. Brother to its scarcer sister, the 100 copy black version, these siblings make up the 500 copies in the first (of 10, thus far) pressings. That is all, and have a good evening.
Hi-Fi
Finally, a reasonably priced vinyl version of the Original Soundtrack to High Fidelity. It only took 15 years, but this Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive was well worth the wait. The Kinks, The Velvet Underground, The Beta Band, and The Thirteenth Floor Elevators to name only a few rampant cuts covering four sides of wax make for a damn good compilation album. This album is best enjoyed while accompanied by Johnny Cash’s autobiography, Cash By Johnny Cash.
Kwyet Dedicated
What can one say when it comes to The Kinks? $14 for a 4-track reissue with virtually no resell value (not that one, a true fan, would resale any Kinks album anyway)? Well, yes, that seems viable. It’s The Kinks, and it’s (kind-of) new, so, yeah, you know, let’s do this thing. For arguably the only equitable band to rival The Beatles, any new release by The Kinks warrants consumerist activity.
… the Ones that Never Knock
One wonders what Joe Strummer would think of his first Clash record being released on blue / white split vinyl for Black Friday… My interjections of Joe’s disdain for this release aside, she does make for a perfectly viable reason to fork over $29 for an album one already owns three times over. One never, ever goes wrong with The Clash, and this was, most certainly, $29 very well spent.
Happy Thanksgiving
Everything sounds better with an empty glass of wine. Happy Thanksgiving!
Shot Pot
Hyper-frenzied J-ska’ers, Pot Shot released their first LP by ways of Asian Man Records wayyyyyy back in 1997. Titled Pots and Shots (clever enough), she was released once on vinyl, limited to 2000 copies worldwide, and has yet to be reissued. I had to order this puppy from Japan as domestic sales were either nonexistent or hugely overpriced. Their hit, Radio was featured on the 1998 comp, Mailorder is Fun! and as it turns out, was my first introduction to this exciting band. They’re aggressively upbeat, ferociously frenetic, and unmistakably catchy. Shove them in your ear this holiday season.
Complete Budos
All hail a complete discography! Save for the 7 inches, that is. Paying full price these days for a new record is something of a scarcity among my close-knit community, but when it comes to The Budos band and their shadowy brand of afro-funk, price is no object. So far The Budos Band (their first) gets the most spins, but The Budos Band III is not too far behind. For deep, dirty, diabolical grooves, one could argue, it doesn’t get much better than The Budos Band.
Brilliant Performances
A quick (very, very quick) fact check places this Capitol Records insert in, or around the year 1959. Meredith Wilson’s Original Broadway Cast of The Music Man was released in ’57, Louis Prima’s Las Vegas Prima Style was ’58, and Sinatra’s 1959 Come Dance With Me! all help make this claim. Regardless, these vibrant colors coupled with this elegant and straight-forward layout make for compelling and eye-catching contemporary art. My local record store has STACKS of these random inserts, and I’m 15 minutes shy of heading down there and asking how much they want for the lot. I’m sure my SO would be thrilled to beat the band about me acquiring even more record paraphernalia. Let the convincing commence…
East of Suez
Jabba the Hutt’s taste in women derives from the Red Sea shores of this north-eastern Egyptian city, or so it would appear from the cover to 101 String’s 1959 space-age pop-jazz compilation, East of Suez. Perhaps slave women apparel is globally standard and I’m just catching on, or, per chance, it’s that Mr. The Hutt has a very distinct taste in his slaves’ swimwear. If you’re in the market for orchestral mood music with a provocative, Egyptian undertone, look no further than East of Suez.
New Mark
Newly added to the fold is this, Money Mark 10” titled, Performing Chicken. I’ve yet to spin this delicacy, but cannot wait for its tempting, downtempo juices… in the morning. RIP MCA, kids.
Henry Get Your Gunn
Like something straight out of the opening credits to North by Northwest, this, the original cover to Henry Mancini’s 1959 The Music From “Peter Gunn” aptly packages the swiftly-infused late 50’s power jazz within. Spy Hunter has nothing on Peter Gunn, clearly, and this original sleeve runs high-speed laps around its reissue, which was (im)perfectly showcased here. Word on the street (via Internet Ave) is that John Williams was part of Henry Mancini’s orchestra during this time, so hit your local brick and mortar first thing tomorrow and track this down this jazzy jamboree.
Folks’ Van Mix
I implore you to indulge in some alluring autumnal rock. ‘Tis the season, after all. This mix was hand curated by yours truly while on holiday (no, NOT in Waikiki) a few years back, and was just rediscovered upon a thorough cleaning of the office just this morning. Tracklist below for those of you populating the playlist public. It’s captivating fall music, perfect for any fan of the mighty Kinks.
The Kinks – Folks’ Van Mix (misspelled, of course)
1. The Moneygoround (1970)
2. Mr. Pleasant (1966)
3. Autumn Almanac (1968)
4. Holiday in Waikiki (1966)
5. Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues (1971)
6. Skin and Bone (1971)
7. Sitting By the Riverside (1968)
8. Animal Farm (1968)
9. Village Green (1968)
10. Starstruck (1968)
11. The Contenders (1970)
12. Last of the Steam Powered Trains (1968)
13. Arthur (1969)
14. Lincoln County (1968)
15. Rats (1970)
16. 20th Century Man (1971)
17. Susannah’s Still Alive (1967)
18. Harry Rag (1967)
19. David Watts (1967)
20. Apeman (1970)
21. A Well Respected Man (1965)
22. All of My Friends Were There (1968)
23. Waterloo Sunset (1967)
24. Strangers (1970)
25. People Take Pictures of Each Other (1968)
Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Play The Beatles
Modern contemporary conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, Mr. Arthur Fiedler tackles The Beatles with his 1969 album, Play the Beatles. This is EXACTLY what you’d think it would be from the master composer at age 75. 12 classical-pop interpretations of Penny Lane, Hey Jude, Eleanor Rigby, With a Little Help from My Friends, among others, done the only way Mr. Fiedler and the Boston Pops knew how… straight fucking forward. The only provocative part about this record is the album cover, which in no way represents the contents within. That certainly does not, however, make for a tedious listen. If your expectations are high, and I’m not exactly sure why they would be, pass this one up, but if you’re in the mood for a middle of the road take on British pop songs you’ve heard a thousand times, check out Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Play the Beatles.
Music to Live By
Music to Live By… if you’re rich, Caucasian, and generally backwards-thinking. This Mercury Records “Demonstration” record offers a Werther’s Original to the mind’s creative sweet tooth. Mother curled up on the couch next to her older brother’s high school track & field buddy, now her husband of 19 years. Father, a successful plastics distributor fresh off a 3% annual salary increase for convincing his supervisors that Fred Hamlin’s work just wasn’t up to snuff. Fred was Mother’s suitor back in secondary school… poor Fred. Daughter, poised like a brazen hussy on the floor (apparently the kids weren’t allowed on the furniture), pretending to give a shit about the family photo album from their long-winded trip to Old Faithful. Son nervously watches a motionless fireplace, silently praying his overbearing parents don’t find out about his recent school expulsion.
Music to Live By, solving each and every family’s upper middle class problems one record spin at a time. Thank you, consumerism.
The Prudent Groove 