Transferring LPs to CD made easy – A guide (by Phil Harland)

(Last Updated June 2012)

INTRO

You can greatly enlarge your music library for very little cost if you get back into vinyl like I did. I’ve been transferring LP records to digital / CD for about six years. (These days I usually just transfer most to an external hard-drive with my computer connected to my main stereo). I thought it would be a good idea to gather together some resources for those who would like to do the same without spending a bundle. If you arrange a very good set-up and take care with your transfers, you can end up with digitized music that sounds just as good as (if not better than) your typical bought CD. I am told that my hearing is quite sharp when it comes to music, so I have quite high requirements (without being a stuffy audiophile who insists on every element costing thousands). (I cannot stand the sound of an MP3 and will only listen to uncompressed audio, for instance, but I won’t hold it against you if you use MP3s). My main stereo includes used Paradigm Studio Reference 100 speakers and a very good amplifier (used NAD C372), which is quite revealing if there are any weaknesses in the transfers.  I have largely eliminated weaknesses with my current set-up and process.

I’ll begin by outlining the key elements in transferring and then also link to several other sites that provide further information. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel here, but I do want to note what I’ve found to work best.

THE EQUIPMENT AND THE PROCESS

Here is what you need (with some of my comments on each):

1) A very good turntable

• I use a direct drive Technics SL-1200MK2 (which you can buy new for about $600 or used for about $200). Direct-drive turntables, distinguished from belt-drive, maintain a steady playing speed and prevent what they call wow and flutter (arbitrary speeding up and slowing down). Some audiophiles prefer belt-drives nonetheless, and belt-drives are the most common. (I also have a vintage Dual 1229 turntable in the basement, which would have worked fine but not as well as the Technics).  Another more recent option is to buy a turntable with a USB out specifically designed for transferring (and often with in-built phono preamp).   Since such turntables are quite cheap, they are not likely to produce the quality of sound of the set-up I suggest here.  But they may well be good enough for your purposes.
• Most turntables will have two RCA connectors (red and white) which plug into the phono input of your amp and a ground wire. It is absolutely essential that you attach that ground wire to the ground connector on the back of your amplifier/receiver (or ground it in some other way), otherwise you will have a loud constant hum from the turntable.

2) An excellent turntable cartridge and needle / stylus

• I did quite a bit of research on what cartridge and needle provided excellent sound without costing an arm and a leg. At first I ended up with the Audio Technica AT 440MLa (MM), which has what they call an eliptical stylus/needle and which you can buy online for about $100 (list price is about $300).  As of 2010, I have upgraded to the AT 150MLX (similar design to the 440MLa but better), which does make quite a difference in conjunction with a better phono preamp.
• There are two main formats of cartridge: 1/2″ mount and P-Mount. Good turntables generally use 1/2″ mount. There are two main kinds of cartridge-needle combinations: MM (moving magnet) and MC (moving coil). MC cartridges are “low output” and sometimes require additional set-up requirements and equipment, but if set up properly can provide a lower noise floor (quieter background noise from the record-playing). Nonetheless, a good MM can provide excellent sound and is less complicated in making sure it all works out (I’m told a badly set up MC can sound horrible). A new cartridge and needle needs to be “broken in” for a good number of hours before it hits its peak in sound quality.
• It is important that you make all of the necessarily adjustments when hooking up the cartridge, including the weight counter-balance, anti-skate setting, and cartridge alignment (on which go here for some free tools including a protractor).  You also want to make sure that the tonearm is parallel with the record surface, which is also known as setting the VTA (vertical tracking angle).

3) A very good amplifier or receiver with proper “Phono” input (and phono pre-amplifier)

• By “very good” I mean mid-range priced amps by the likes of NAD, Yamaha, or Denon. You must have a proper “phono” input on your amp or receiver since the sound-signal from a turntable needs extra amplification (a built-in “preamp” as they call it).  If you have a good amp already but it doesn’t have a phono input, you can buy a separate turntable preamp. At first, I picked up a used NAD 7155 (from the 1980s) for just $20, which has a good turntable preamp or “soundstage” and also happened to have the ability to switch between MC and MM cartridges. When buying a used amp, you may need to buy a spray bottle of cleaner from Radio Shack to clean the inside of the volume and other nobs (if there is initially static).  As of 2010, I have acquired a used Bryston BP 0.5b (basically the same as a Bryston BP 1), which is a standalone phono preamp with volume control.  This has made a significant difference to my rather sensitive ears.  I am also told that the Bellari phono preamp is a very good, relatively inexpensive one to use.
• You of course need RCA connectors (your typical stereo connectors) to link the turntable to the amp and to link the amp to the computer’s soundcard (if the soundcard uses a 3.5mm input like a small earphone input, then you need a connector that goes from red/white RCA to 3.5mm plug, which you can get at most computer stores).

4) A computer with an excellent sound card

• This is, in my opinion, essential if you want CD quality sound from your transfers. You can simply use the built-in soundcard in your computer, but most such soundcards are far inferior to soundcards that were purpose-built for high quality sound. One of the keys here is the analogue to digital converter (ADC) within the sound card.  If the converter within the soundcard is not good or is just average, then you loose a lot when you’re recording.  M-Audio produces many useful audio interfaces for linking your computer to sound equipment, and I chose the M-Audio Audiophile 2496, which has RCA in and out (analogue signal), as well as SPDIF (digital signal). The RCA connectors allow direct connections from stereo equipment.
• I should mention that I did thorough sound-tests with other equipment before choosing the 2496. I compared my in-built soundcard to the external USB Edirol UA1EX and found that the latter was better but not astoundingly better. I also tried Soundforge’s 24-bit external soundcard and found that it was inferior. I then tried the internal M-Audio 2496 and found it was considerably better that the external Edirol. As the name implies, my soundcard gives me the ability to record at 24-bit (higher quality than a CD’s 16-bit) and with sampling rates up to 96,000 (the quality of DVD audio).

5) Recording: Audacity software

• Audacity is an excellent, free audio recording program. This allows you to record any sound input into the soundcard device of your computer, in this case sound input from your turntable via your amplifier. You need to go into “Preferences” under “Edit” and click on “Audio I/O” in order to make sure that you have your high-quality soundcard (if you have one) chosen as default.
• Recording levels: The volume level of the sound from your LP that is going through the amp to your computer will not be at an optimum level (optimum level is a peak of -3 to 0 dB). You want to have a recording come close to but not exceed 0 dB (or, say – 3dB to play it safe) at its loudest moment. Any louder than 0 dB will create a terrible sound in digital music (Audacity warns you of this with a little red mark at the right end of the audio-meter). There are two ways to optimize recording level: (1) Adjust the volume level on some external equipment (e.g. amplifier, external preamplifier) such that the loudest moment on the LP reaches but does not exceed 0 dB on input meter in Audacity. (2) Adjust the volume level after you record by using the “Gain” slider to the left of the picture of your wav recording in Audacity. I find that the latter results in a lowering of the sound quality, in part because you are also adding gain (volume) to any background sound from the turntable or system, such as the equipment’s low running noise (but most others do not notice this as I do). I instead adjust the volume to an optimum level by using the large earphone output on my amplifier as my main out from the amplifier to the computer’s soundcard (which requires a earphone to RCA connector). (The tape-out RCA jacks of an amp cannot have the volume adjusted). Then I simply adjust the volume on the amplifier to arrive at the optimum level. Getting your recordings as close as possible to -3 to 0 dB also helps to have the volume of your recordings come close to those of a typical bought CD (so that you don’t find yourself always having to adjust volume level while listening). Avoid applying a software’s gain equalization feature to groups of files which makes all of your digital songs equal in volume level but may result in loss of detail in the sound quality.
• Lowering the noise floor (NEW Jan 2010).  If you want the best recordings, it is best to spend some time experimenting and lowering the noise floor.  Computer related equipment including DSL modems and monitors can add noise to your recordings if plugged into the same outlet as your turntable and amp or phono preamp.  Also, if you link your computer to another sound system or to a system that is linked to a TV cable or antenna, this can create a low hum (often caused by an electrical groundloop).  The “noise floor” is the overall running noise of the entire system as it would appear when you are recording in audacity with the volume already set to record a record but without lowering the needle to the record (in other words, you have the record player and amp on and have already set the volume to max out at 0dB but you haven’t lowered the needle to play).  At first, my noise floor was about -66 to -63dB (as viewed in Audacity) and then I moved my DSL modem and monitor to another outlet and the noise floor was lowered to -69dB.  Now with my Bryson phono preamp I have lowered things further so that, when I’m set to record maxing at 0dB, my noise floor is usually -74dB to -78dB (before setting down the needle).  This means that more of the small details in the music will have a chance to come through and you’ll have quieter sound in the silent parts of music.  If possible, link between your computer and another sound system using TOSLINK optical cables, which are not susceptible to electrical interference (digital coax and regular RCA cables will transfer noise — my TV antenna, for example, added about 10dB of noise to my recordings before I ensured my TV was utterly independent my main sound system which was connected to my computer, and optical connections between an amp and things that are connected to the TV and its reception cable, such as DVD players, permit this).
• Recording quality: Audacity by default records at a 32-bit level, which is exceptional (CD’s are 16-bit and you need to change this setting when you export). Leave it at 32-bit unless you have no room on your hard-drive. Before you record, you also need to choose the sample rate or “Project rate (Hz)” as it appears in the Audacity window. CD’s are typically 44100 Hz, so you need to use that rate if you mainly want to burn the recordings to CD. I tend to record at 48000 Hz and then convert to 44100Hz when I need a CD for the car. The bit-depth (e.g. 16 bit vs. 24 bit) is perhaps more important for sound quality, and that comes in at the exporting stage. (By the way, if your soundcard is only 16-bit, then that will be the maximum quality you will get regardless of Audacity’s ability to work at 32-bit and to export at 24-bit).
• Exporting quality and file formats: The essential stage for maintaining the quality of your recordings is when you export to other formats. Audacity allows you to export to just about every standard audio format, including MP3, FLAC, and WAV (look under “Edit” > “Preferences” > “File Formats” for options).  MP3 is a compressed format which means you loose sound quality (the most obvious loss comes with things like the deterioration of the sound of cymbals) but can fit a lot more on a CD or iPod or whatever.  WAV is an uncompressed format which means that no audio data is compressed or lost, but then it is much larger in size (in terms of the space it takes on your hard-drive or CD).  FLAC is, in a way, ideal, since it uses about half the space of a WAV file without loosing any data or detail in the sound-quality (both audacity and foobar2000 work with FLAC) and it supports “tagging” (attaching artist, date, album, album art info to the files).  With the way hard-drive sizes are going, there is no harm having large files, and if you want high quality recordings work with WAV (or AIFF on a Mac) or FLAC. (You will want to save the individual tracks as FLAC only AFTER you have used Clickrepair, since that program works with WAV only at this point).  Beyond the file format, you need to decide on what bit-depth and sample-rate to export the file at. Because I am going almost completely digital (and not usually producing actual CDs much anymore), I export all of my records at 24-bit and a sample rate of 44100 Hz, which does not take up much more space than 16 bit but does reveal more detail in the music if listened to on a good stereo system with excellent speakers. If you want to burn a CD, however, it will need to be at 16 bit, 44100 Hz. You can always export from Audacity twice for a particular recording, as I often do (once into my official music folder at 24 bit and again into my burn-a-CD folder at 16 bit). For more discussion of 16 bit vs. 24 bit recordings, go here. You will ultimately use Audacity to create track-breaks and to use fade-in and fade-out effects at the beginnings and endings of songs. However, for now you export the entire album in WAV to clean it up in a program called Clickrepair, which is the next step.

6) Restoring or Repairing the recording: Clickrepair software

• Audacity has some useful functions for cleaning up and preparing the recording of your LP. In the past I often used the “Repair” function under “Effect” to eliminate ticks or clicks that can be heard from an LP (you need to zoom into the image of the wav file). This does work but it is very time-consuming and I generally only aimed for larger clicks.
• However, there is an astounding program that I only recently discovered that does an incredible job of eliminating virtually all clicks or other faults in the recording without audibly damaging the music itself: Clickrepair. I cannot overstate how essential and effective this inexpensive ($40) program is. It was created by a mathematician / professor in Australia who wanted to transfer his LPs to digital but could not find any program to remove clicks and other artefacts without damaging the music overall. So he designed and created his own program that accurately isolates damaged areas and repairs them. This has even allowed me to salvage some LPs that I considered unusable (I generally only keep and use an LP if it has very limited noise / clicks). To remove clicks and other damaged areas from the recording, you simply “open” up the wav file of the entire album (or tracks using the “Batch” function under “File”) that you exported from Audacity (which can be saved at 16 or 24 bit depths and at various sample rates), adjust certain settings in Clickrepair, and then press “start”. You can then listen to the noise that is being removed to ensure no music is dissappearing (e.g. certain drum-beats), listen to the input sound with noise and all, or listen to the cleaned output music (listening to anything slows the program down, however — I now turn “sound output” off since I know what settings are best). The settings I use in Clickrepair are not the defaults: I always leave “Pitch Protection” on (to avoid loss of things like repeated trumpet blasts that can look like clicks in a wav file); I set the “Declick” slider to 30 (unless a record is really bad in which case I put it up to 40); and I set the “Automatic” slider to “Automatic: All” (you may wish to put that at semi-automatic at first just to understand the process). Clickrepair then saves the repaired file (at its original bit depth and sample rate), which can then be imported back into Audacity. Once back in Audacity with the clean file for the entire album, you can then insert track breaks and fade-ins or fade-outs before exporting the individual tracks using “Export multiple” (where you once again need to ensure that the export bit-depth setting is what you want).

• Here is a sample from an album in quite poor shape (usually I would discard it). This is a recent transfer of Bruce Springsteen’s “Something in the Night” from Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) which illustrates how well the program works (to save server space, these are mere mp3s):

Before Clickrepair

After Clickrepair

7) Listening to your music: Foobar 2000

• I have found Foobar 2000 to be the best (free) program for playing music of various sample-rates and bit-depths (it can play 24 bit WAV or FLAC files which things like Realplayer cannot). This player is flexible for “tagging” information to your files (e.g. artist, date, album, track), if you are using MP3 or FLAC (but not WAV), and making various playlists from digital music on your hard-drive. (I used to run an RCA audio cable from the tape-out on the amp attached to my computer to the auxiliary input on the amp of my main stereo in a different room. Lengths of 50ft or less with RCA cables do not significantly lose audio quality to my ears.  As of 2010, I now have a digital to analogue converter — a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic — which is connected with a 50ft optical cord.  This has significantly improved the reproduction in the other room).

OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

This sounds quite complicated but is actually quite easy once your get things together and run through the process, and the results you get are incredible. My outline here is based on my own experience, but others have far more detailed comments on various stages of the process. Here are a few of the websites I found most useful when I first started:

• Transferring LPs to CDR: Some Advice: This is among the best overall descriptions of the process, which goes into more detail than I did here.
• Convert Vinyl Records to CD: This is another useful guide to the process.
• Vinyl Engine: An excellent site that provides important information and free manuals for many turntables, as well as very good forum discussions.
• Tweaking Your Record Player: This is a rather long but helpful article on how to set up a turntable properly.
• Turntable Adjustment and Set-Up – Phono Cartridge Alignment
• Phono Hum Troubleshooting: This helps you through one of the more common issues with turntable set-up.
• Turntable Basics Advice page: Explains various terms and issues relating to turntables.
• Dynamic Comparison of LPs to CDs, part 4 (at Audioholics): This article discusses the sound quality of the LP and shows how it compares on various issues to the CD.
• 16 bit vs. 24 bit Audio Recording Demystified: This helps you to understand and decide whether to use 24 bit.
• Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary: This will explain all kinds of music and audio related concepts.
• Glossary of Audio and Music Industry Terms (by Yorkville Audio): This will help you understand some of the terminology you’ll encounter.

Latest vinyl finds – February 2013

 

• Savoy Brown, The Best of (1967-77)
• First Edition, 69 (1969)
• Milt Jackson, The Impulse Years (2 LP; 1956-69)
• Blind Lemon Jefferson, The Collection: 20 Blues Greats (Italian press.; 1920s)
• Miriam Makeba, The Many Voices of (1960)
• Modern Jazz Quartet, The Legendary Profile (1972)
• Gerry Mulligan, Reunion with Chet Baker (1957)
• Rascals, Freedom Suite (1969)
• Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, King and Queen (1967)
• REM, Document (1987)
• Righteous Brothers, Just once in my life . . . (1965)
• Dave von Ronk, Inside (1963)
• Phil Spector, Christmas Album (1963)
• Spirit, Spirit (1968) + Clear (1969)
• Various, The Blues: Volume 4 (1950-61 [Chess 1988])
• Ventures, Hawaii Five-O (1969)
• Weather Report, Mysterious Traveller (1974)
• XTC, Black Sea (1980)

Latest vinyl finds – November 2012

 

• Animals, Animalism (1966)
• Art Blakey, Hard Drive (1957)
• Art Blakey, Thermo (2 LP; 1962-64)
• Association, Insight Out (1967)
• Beatles, Past Masters: Volumes One and Two (1960s)
• David Bowie, Space Oddity (1969)
• David Bowie, The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
• Dave Brubeck, Dave Digs Disney (1957; [1980s RE])
• Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis (1965)
• Bob Dylan, Nashville Skyline (1969)
• Impressions, We’re a Winner (1968)
• Joe Jackson, I’m the Man (1979)
• Joe Jackson, Live 1980-86 (1980-86)
• Milt Jackson and Ray Charles, Soul Brothers (1958)
• Ahmad Jamal, Sun Set = At the Pershing Vols. 1 &2 (1958) + At the Blackhawk (1961)
• B.B. King, A Heart Full of Blues (1962)
• King Crimson, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (1973)
• John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra: Apocalypse (1974
• Miriam Makeba, In Concert (1967)
• Modern Jazz Quartet, Lonely Woman (1962)
• Morrisey, Kill Uncle (UK; 1991)
• Pentangle, Basket of Light (1969)
• Procol Harum, Grand Hotel (1973)
• Procol Harum, Live in Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1971)
• Staple Singers, Be What You Are (1973 [1990RE])
• Supremes, Reflections (1967-68)
• XTC, Go 2 (1978)
• Warren Zevon, Warren Zevon (1976

Latest vinyl finds – September 2012

 

• Beach Boys, Wild Honey (1967)
• Beach Boys, 20/20 (1969)
• Harry Belafonte, Swing Dat Hammer (1960; mono)
• Breeding Ground, Tales of Adventure (1986)
• Elvis Costello, Blood and Chocolate (1986)
• Echo and the Bunnymen, Ocean Rain (1984)
• Herbie Hancock, Kawaida with Don Cherry (RE 2000s; 1969)
• Love and Rockets, Express (1986)
• Morrissey, Kill Uncle (1991)
• Wilson Picket, The Wicked Pickett (1967)
• Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins (Blue Note RE 1980s; 1957)

Latest vinyl finds – July 2012

• Herb Alpert, Whipped Cream and Other Delights (1965; German “London” pressing)
• Argent, Nexus (1974)
• Joan Armatrading, Track Record (1975-83)
• Eagles, The Long Run (1979)
• Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace (2 LP; 1972)
• Tin Machine, Tin Machine (1989)
• UNESCO, Sung Poetry of the Middle East (Musical Sources) (1975)
• Weather Report, Black Market
• Zawinul, Zawinul = Weather Report (1971)

Jazz (Ludwig):

• Jimmy Giuffre, Free Fall (mono; 1963)
• Earl Hines, Life with Fatha (VSP 35 = Earl’s Pearls; 1960)
• Stan Kenton, Concert in Progressive Jazz (10″; 1951)
• Ramsey Lewis, Hang on Ramsey, Live at the Lighthouse (1965)
• Ramsey Lewis, The In Crowd, Live at the Bohemian Caverns, Washington (mono; 1965)
• Adam Makowicz, From My Window (1980)
• Dick McClish, The Dick McClish Quintet (Canadian Talent Library; 1967)
• Wes Montgomery, The Mastersounds with (1958)
• Phineas Newborn, A World of Piano (1961; mono)
• Phineas Newborn, Solo Piano (1975)
• Oscar Peterson, Affinity (1962)
• Oscar Peterson, Girl Talk (1968)
• Oscar Peterson, Montreux ’77, with Ray Brown and Miels Pedersen (1977)
• Herb Pilhofer, Jazz (Argo 657; 1960)
• Howard Roberts, Color Him Funky (1963)
• Shorty Rogers, Martians Come Back! (1955)
• Mongo Santamaria, El Pussy Cat (1965)
• George Shearing, Goes Hollywood (1949-53)
• Ralph Sutton, Piano Solos (1978)
• Art Tatum, The Tatum Masterpieces, Vol. 1 (1953-55)
• Various, The Great Big Band Vocalists (1940s)
• Various, Jazz Jam Session, with Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie (1940s)
• Various, Jazz Festival, with Maynard Ferguson, Teddy Wilson, Clark Terry and Rufus Jones (1965)
• Fats Waller, “One Never Knows, Do One?”: The Best of Fats Waller (4 LP; 1947-42)

Latest vinyl finds – June 2012

 

• Argent, Nexus (1974)
• Art Blakey, Meet You at the Jazz Corner of the World, volume 2 (1960)
• Jackson Browne, Late for the Sky (1974)
• Dave Brubeck, Brubeck and Mulligan Live in Concert (1970)
• Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Crosby, Stills and Nash (1977)
• Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On (1971; 1970s pressing)
• Roland Hanna, Gershwin Carmichael Cats (1977)
• Etta James, Etta James (1973)
• Kraftwerk, Autobahn (1974)
• Love and Rockets, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985)
• Love and Rockets, Earth, Sun, Moon (1987)
• Mott the Hoople, All the Young Dudes (1972)
• Nice, Elegy (1969-70)
• Procol Harum, Shine on Brightly(1968)
• Split Enz, Frenzy (1978-79)
• Tin Machine, Tin Machine, with David Bowie (1989)
• Tonio K, Notes from the Lost Civilization (1988)
• Various, Unesco Collection: Musical Sources: Sung Poetry of the Middle East (1975 ; Dutch press. Philips)
• Zawinul, Zawinul (1971)

Latest vinyl finds – April 2012

• Beach Boys, Pet Sounds (RE 1966)
• Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, The Live Adventures of (1968)
• Jackson Browne, Late for the Sky (1974)
• Clancy Brothers, A Spontaneous Performance Recording, with Pete Seeger (1961)
• Gentle Giant, Octopus (1973)
• Ahmad Jamal, Standard-Eyes (1958-61)
• Charles Mingus, Pithecanthropus Erectus (RE 1956)
• Procol Harum, A Salty Dog (1969)
• Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time (RE 1957)
• Simple Minds, Empires and Dance (1980)
• Alan Stivell, In Dublin (1974)
• Various Indonesia, Unesco Collection: Music from Sunda West Java (1970)
• Various Indonesia, Bali: Gamelan Music from Sebatu (1974)
• Weather Report, Black Market (1976)

 

I just picked up a load of jazz lps from a local person who was married to a jazz pianist.  Here are a few that I’ve listened to so far:

• Monty Alexander, Facets (1979)
• Ernestine Anderson, Sunshine (1979)
• Chet Atkins, Chet, Floyd, and Boots (1950s)
• Count Basie, The Retrospective Sessions (1962-69)
• George Benson,  It’s Uptown (1965)
• Eubie Blake, The Eighty Six Years of Eubie Blake (1968-69)
• Bola Sete, At the Monterey Jazz Festival (1966)
• Ruby Braff, The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet Live at the New School (1974)
• Bob Brookmeyer, Trombone Jazz Samba (1962)
• Dave Brubeck, Time In = Time (1955)
• Dave Brubeck, All-Time Greatest Hits (1950s-60s)
• Dave Brubeck, At Carnegie Hall (1963)
• Ray Bryant, Slow Freight (1966)
• Milt Buckner, Rockin’ Hammond (1956)
• Nat King Cole, Nat Cole at JATP 2 (1944)
• Mary Lou Collins, Canadian Talent Library (1967)
• John Coltrane, Impressions (1961-63)
• John Coltrane, Coltrane [on Impulse!] (1962)
• John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963)
• John Coltrane, The Best of John Coltrane: His Greatest Years (1961-66)
• James Cotton, 100% Cotton (1974)
• Count Basie, The Retrospective Sessions (2 LPs; 1962, 1969)
• Count Basie, Straight Ahead (1968)
• Stanley Cowell, Blues for the Viet Cong (1969)
• Ted Curson, Flip Top (1964, 1966)
• Jackie Davis, Big Beat Hammon: Jackie Davis at the Console (1962)
• Miles Davis, Get Up With It (1970-74)
• Manu Dibango, O Boso (1972)
• Duke Ellington, The World of Duke Ellington (2LPs; 1949)
• Herb Ellis, Herb Ellis at Montreux with Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton (1979)
• Bill Evans, Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)
• Bill Evans, We Will Meet Again (1979)
• Pete Fountain, Pete Fountain’s Jazz Reunion (1976)
• Erroll Garner, The Elf: Savoy Sessions (1945-49)
• Monica Gaylord, Monica Gaylord Plays Ben McPeek (1977)
• Stan Getz, Opus de Bop: The Savoy Sessions (1945-49)
• Stan Getz, Captain Marvel, with Chick Corea (1972)
• Egberto Gismonti, Sol do meio dia (1978)
• Benny Goodman, Trio and Quartet (French press.; 1935-38)
• Grant Green, Idle Moments (1964)
• Scott Hamilton, Scott Hamilton and Warren Vache(1978)
• Johnny Hammond, Wild Horses Rock Steady (1971)
• Johnny Hammond, Breakout (1971)
• Johnny Hammond, The Prophet (1972)
• Lionel Hampton, Steppin Out(1942-44)
• Harold Harris, Here’s Harold (1961)
• Beard Hearsy, Lookin’ for that Groove (1977)
• Woody Herman, 25th Anniversary (1962)
• Earl Hines, Grand Reunion Volume One, with Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge (1965)
• Earl Hines, Plays Duke Ellington (4 LP; 1971-75)
• Paul Horn, Visions (1974)
• Illinois Jacquet, Jazz at Town Hall Volume 1, with Arnett Cobb and Milt Buckner (1973)
• Ahmad Jamal, Poinciana (Argo 719; 1958)
• Keith Jarrett, Treasure Island (1974)
• Keith Jarrett, Death and the Flower (1975)
• Keith Jarrett, The Koln Concert (1975)
• Keith Jarrett, Bop-Be (1978)
• Oliver Jones, Oliver Jones et Charlie Biddle (1983)
• Oliver Jones, The Many Moods of Oliver Jones (1984)
• Oliver Jones, Requestfully Yours (1985
• Quincy Jones, This is How I Feel About Jazz (1956)
• Quincy Jones, The Quintessential Charts [missing disc 1] (1961)
• Roger Kellaway, Center of the Circle (1972)
• Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, Sing a Song of Basie (1957)
• Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, The Hottest New Group in Jazz (1960)
• John La Porta, The Most Minor (1959)
• Yank Lawson, The World’s Greatest Jazz Band, with Bob Haggart and Billy Butterfield (1970)
• Mead Lux Lewis, The Original Boogie Woogie Piano Giants, including Peter Johnson and Albert Ammons (1938-41)
• Ramsay Lewis, Solid Ivory (1974)
• London Experimental Jazz Quartet, Invisible Roots (1974)
• Maneige, Maneige (1975)
• Thelonius Monk, Who’s Afraid of the Big Band Monk? = Big Band and Quartet in Concert (1963) + Monk’s Blues (1968)
• Carlos Montoya, Plays Flamenco Guitar (1950s; Palace records)
• Joe Muranyi, Clarinet Wobble, with Herbie Hall (1970)
• Oliver Nelson, The Blues and the Abstract Truth with Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, and Bill Evans (1961)
• Oliver Nelson, More Blues and the Abstract Truth (1964)
• Phineas Newborn, The Newborn Touch (1984)
• Charlie Parker, Encores: The Savoy Sessions (1944-48)
• Charlie Parker, Volume V (1946-47)
• Joe Pass, Virtuoso (1974)
• Joe Pass, Portraits of Duke Ellington (1975)
• Oscar Peterson, Stage Right (1952, 1955)
• Oscar Peterson, Jazz Spectrum Vol. 3 (1959-62)
• Oscar Peterson, The Trio Live from Chicago (1961)
• Oscar Peterson, West Side Story (1962)
• Oscar Peterson, Rare Mood (1964)
• Oscar Peterson, Blues Etude (1966; mono)
• Oscar Peterson, Soul Espanol (1966)
• Oscar Peterson, Trio in Transition (2 LP; 1965-66)
• Oscar Peterson, Easy Walker = Action (1968)
• Oscar Peterson, Travelin’ On (1968)
• Oscar Peterson, The Way I Really Play (1968)
• Oscar Peterson, Mellow Mood (1968)
• Oscar Peterson, Hello Herbie, with Herb Ellis (1969)
• Oscar Peterson, Tristeza on Piano (1970)
• Oscar Peterson, Walking the Line (1970)
• Oscar Peterson, Oscar Peterson and Harry Edison (1974)
• Oscar Peterson, The Trio, with Joe Pass and Niels Pedersen (1974)
• Oscar Peterson, Porgy and Bess, with Joe Pass (1976)
• Oscar Peterson, The Silent Partner (1979)
• Oscar Peterson, If You Could See Me Now with Joe Pass (1983)
• Bud Powell, A Portrait of Thelonius (1965)
• Pat Riccio, The Pat Riccio Quartet featuring Teddy Wilson, with Ed Thigpen (Canadian Talent Library; 1965)
• Howard Roberts, HR is a Dirty Guitar Player (1963)
• Sonny Rollins, There Will Never Be Another You (1965)
• Tom Scott, John Klemmer and Gato Barbieri, Foundations (1968-73)
• George Shearing, The George Shearing Quartet [Sheba] (1972)
• Zoot Sims, Zoot! (1956)
• Zoot Sims, The Best of Zoot Sims (1980)
• Willie The Lion Smith, Grand Piano with Don Ewell (1967)
• Gabor Szabo, His Great Hits (2 LP; 1962-67)
• Art Tatum, Solo Masterpieces Vol. 8 (1953-55)
• Art Tatum, Art Tatum Discoveries vol. 1 (1956)
• Creed Taylor, Presents Know Your Jazz [volume 1 RE 1970s] (1956)
• Gene Taylor, Handmade (1986)
• Bob Thiele, Jazztime USA: The Best of Bob Thiele’s Classic Jam Sessions of the 1950s (2 LPs; 1952-55)
• Three Sounds, Live at the Lighthouse (1967)
• McCoy Tyner, The Early Trios (1962-64)
• McCoy Tyner, Reevaluation: The Impulse Years (1962-65)
• McCoy Tyner, Song for My Lady (1973)
• Michal Urbaniak, Fusion (1973)
• Various, Jazz Odyssey Volume III: The Sound of Harlem (1920-42)
• Lester Young, Pres and His Cabinet (1952-58)

Latest vinyl finds – March 2012

 

• Laurinda Almeida, Duets with the Spanish Guitar Album 2 (1960)
• Animals, Love Is (1968)
• Beach Boys, Smile ( 1966-67 [2011])
• Beatles, Beatles for Sale (UK press. RE; mono; 1964)
• Harry Belafonte, The Midnight Special, with Bob Dylan on harmonica (1962; mono)
• David Bowie, The Lodger (1979)
• Dave Brubeck, A Place in Time, aka Time (1954)
• John Coltrane, Ballads, with Mccoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones (RE; 1961-62)
• Bob Dylan, Greatest Hits Vol. II, with unreleased material on side D (1971)
• Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace (2LP; 1972)
• Gentle Giant, In a Glass House (RE Alucard; 1973)
• King Crimson, USA (1974)
• Johnny Lytle, The Village Caller! (1963)
• Van Morrison, Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast (1983)
• Poco, A Good Feelin’ to Know (1972)
• Portishead, Dummy (1994)
• Renaissance, Live at Carnegie Hall (2 LP; 1975)
• John Renbourne, Sir John Alot of (1968)
• Sonny Rollins, The Freedom Suite Plus = The Freedom Suite (1958) + The Sound of Sonny (1957)

Latest vinyl finds – Feb 2012

 

• Sidney Bechet, And the New Orleans Feetwarmers (1932-40)
• Art Blakey, A Night in Tunisia (1957; BMG RE 1998)
• Art Blakey, Mirage (1957)
• Bourgeois Tagg, Bourgeois Tagg (1986)
• Bourgeois Tagg, Yoyo (1987)
• Jackson Browne, Jackson Browne, Saturate Before Using (1972)
• Ida Cox, Volume 2 (Fountain Vintage Blues; 1923-24)
• Crosby, Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills and Nash (Atlantic tri-colour; 1969)
• Eagles, On the Border (1974)
• Aretha Franklin, Young, Gifted and Black (1972)
• Gentle Giant, Free Hand (1975)
• Etta James, Her Greatest Sides Volume 1(19??)
• Billy Joel, An Innocent Man (1983)
• Leadbelly, Keep Your Hands Off Her (1943-47; Verve reissue of Leadbelly Sings Folk Songs)
• Little Richard, 20 Greatest Hits (1950s)
• Manassas, Down the Road (1973)
• Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, The Good Earth (1974)
• Moody Blues, Go Now (debut; 1965)
• Poco, Poco (1970)
• Poco, From the Inside (1971)
• Portishead, Third (2 LP; 2008)
• Billy Preston, I Wrote a Simple Song (1971)
• Ramatam, Ramatam (1972)
• Ramatam, In April Came the Dawning of the Red Suns (1973)
• Lou Rawls, A Man of Value (1972)
• Paul Revere and the Raiders, Greatest Hits (1961-67)
• Sonny Rollins, A Night at the Village Vanguard Volume 3 (1957; Japanese press.,  1985)
• Spirit, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1967)
• Mel Torme, Lulu’s Back in Town (1956)
• Westland Steel Band, Steel Band / Trinidad: The Sound of the Sun (1969; Nonesuch Explorer Series)

Latest vinyl finds – January 2012

 

• Atomic Rooster, Death Walks Behind You (1970)
• Atomic Rooster, In Hearing of (1971)
• Tony Bennett, In Person, with Count Basie and His Orchestra (1959)
• Diahann Carroll, The Andre Previn Trio (1960)
• Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, 4 Way Street live (2 LP; 1970)
• Brian Eno, Here Come the Warm Jets (1974)
• Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials (2011)
• Gentle Giant, The Missing Piece (1977)
• Stan Getz, Music from the Sound Track of “Mickey One” (1965)
• Junior Mance, Get Ready, Set, Jump!!! (1964)
• Joni Mitchell, Blue (1971)
• Shawn Phillips, Furthermore (1974)
• Mel Torme, Sings Sunday in New York (1963)
• U2 (the Edge), Captive soundtrack (1986)
• Vector, Mannequin Virtue (1983)

Latest vinyl finds – December 2011

 

• Jackson Browne, For Everyman (1973)
• Betty Carter, Social Call (1955-56)
• Nat King Cole, The Man and His Music (1959-61)
• John Coltrane, More Lasting than Bronze = Coltrane and Lush Life (2 LP; 1958)
• John Coltrane, The Last Trane (1965)
• Miles Davis, In a Silent Way (1969)
• Donovan, Mellow Yellow (1966; orig. yellow label)
• Nick Drake, A Treasury(1969-72; I gave up hope of finding any originals or even the fruit tree compilation, so I’m happy to find anything by him)
• Florence and the Machine, Lungs (2009)
• Stan Getz, With Cal Tjader (1963)
• Billy Joel, The Nylon Curtain (1982)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nuthin’ Fancy (1975)
• Charles Mingus, Mingus at Monterey (2 LP; 1964)
• Thelonius Monk, Straight, No Chaser (1967 – finally more Monk on vinyl!)
• Manfred Mann, Attention! Manfred Mann! (German press.; 1966-69)
• Mott the Hoople, The Hoople (1974)
• Osibisa, Woyaya (UK press.; 1971)
• Return to Forever, Live: The Complete Concert 4-Record Set (1978)
• Jimmy Smith, Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Verve French press.; 1964)
• Pete Townsend, Empty Glass (1980)
• David Wiffen, Coast to Coast Fever (Bruce Cockburn on guitars and producer; 1974)

Latest vinyl finds – November 2011

 

• The Band, Islands (1977)
• Count Basie, Count Basie and the Kansas City 7 (1962)
• Bill Bruford, One of a Kind (1979)
• Canned Heat, Living the Blues (1968)
• Eric Clapton, Money and Cigarettes (1983)
• Bob Dylan, Planet Waves, with the Band (1974)
• Keith Hampshire, The First Cut (1973)
• Elton John, Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player (1972)
• Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, and Teddy Wilson (1955; German pressing of the 1980s)
• Odetta, The Essential (2LP; 1973)
• Rolling Stones, Some Girls (1978)
• Simple Minds, Live in the City of Light (1987)
• Traffic, Last Exit (1969)

Latest vinyl finds – October 2011

 

• Chuck Berry, The London Chuck Berry Sessions (1972)
• Blue Rodeo, Outskirts (1986)
• Byrds, Younger Than Yesterday (1967)
• Cars, The Cars  (1978)
• Johnny Cash, Original Golden Hits Volume 1 (1955-57)
• Johnny Cash, Original Golden Hits Volume 2 (1957-59)
• Johnny Cash, Original Golden Hits Volume 3 (1957-59)
• Eric Clapton, Just One Night (1980)
• Cowboy Junkies, The Caution Horses (1990)
• Art Farmer, “Live” at the Half-Note, featuring Jim Hall (1963)
• Grand Funk, We’re an American Band (1973; orange vinyl).
• Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced (1967; orig. Canadian stereo press.)
• John Lennon, Mind Games (1973)
• Bob Marley, Shakedown / Best of  (1971)
• Steve Miller, Circle of Love (1981)
• Osibisa, Osibisa (1971)
• Robert Palmer, Double Fun (1978)
• Jaco Pastorius, Jaco (1976)
• Jaco Pastorius, Invitation (1983)
• Rush, 2112 (1977)
• Santana, Festival (1978)
• Various, Stand by Me (1950s)

Latest vinyl finds – September 2011

 

• Blood, Sweat, and Tears, New Blood (1972)
• Booker T and the MGs, Greatest Hits (1970)
• Herbie Hancock, Secrets (1976)
• Jethro Tull, This Was (1967)
• Roger McGuinn, Roger McGuinn (1973)
• Muddy Waters, Can’t Get No Grindin’ (1973)
• Muddy Waters, Super Super Blues Band, with Howlin’ Wolf and Bo Diddley (1968)
• Rolling Stones, Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)
• Steppenwolf, Rest in Peace (1972)
• Mel Torme, The Torme Touch (1956)
• Mel Torme, Loves Fred Astaire (1956)
• Zombies, The Best of… (1964-68)

Latest vinyl finds – August 2011

• Beatles, The Complete Silver Beatles (1962)
• Tony Bennett, Bennett and Basie Strike up the Band (1959)
• Electric Light Orchestra, Electric Light Orchestra (1972; US pressing)
• Electric Light Orchestra, On the Third Day (1973)
• Bill Evans, Time Remembered (2 LP; 1962-63)
• Genesis, Selling England by the Pound (1973; UK pressing)
• Ahmad Jamal, Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet (1961)
• Meade Lux Lewis, The Blues Piano Artistry of  (1961)
• Manfred Mann, The Best of (1963-66)
• Sergio Mendez, The Brazilian Bag (1965)
• Wilson Pickett, In Philadelphia (1970)
• Wilson Pickett, Don’t Knock My Love (1971)
• Billy Preston, Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music (1973)
• Suzi Quatro, Quatro (1974)
• Queen, Queen II (1974)
• Alan Stivell, E Langonned (1975)
• Them, Them Featuring Van Morrison (1966-69)
• Various, Brazil’s Super Hits (1968)
• Who, Magic Bus / My Generation (1966-68 / 1965)
• Yes, Tormato (1978)
• Yes, 9012 Live: the Solos (1985)

Latest vinyl finds – July 2011

 

• Beatles, Hard Day’s Night Parlophone RE (1964 [1987])
• Beatles, 1962-1966 [Red] (for my 8-year old son who asked me to find more beatles for him)
• Beatles, 1967-1970 [Blue]
• Beatles, Rock n’ Roll Volume 1 (1970)
• Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)
• Jackson Browne, The Pretender (1976)
• The Dells, Love is Blue (1969)
• Electric Fly, A Long Time Comin’ (1968 – RE with Byrds label)
• Marvin Gaye, Here, My Dear (1978)
• Genesis, From Genesis to Revelation (London; 1969)
• Genesis, Nursery Cryme (1971; orig. Buddah/Quality)
• Genesis, Foxtrot (1972; orig. Buddah/Quality)
• Herbie Hancock, Jammin’ with Herbie Hancock = Rock Your Soul (1961)
• Isaac Hayes, Joy (1973)
• Isaac Hayes, Chocolate Chip (1975)
• Ahmad Jamal, Ahmad Jamal (1958)
• Elton John, Blue Moves (1976)
• Journey, Infinity (1978)
• Yehudi Menuhin and Ravi Shankar, West Meets East (1966)
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, You’re Gonna Get It (1978)
• Stephen Stivell, Chemins de terre (1973)
• U2, The Unforgettable Fire EP (1985)
• Ultravox, Lament (1984)
• Sarah Vaughan, Sarah Vaughan Sings and Other Jazz Stars (195?)
• Stevie Wonder, For Once in my Life (1968)
• Zombies, Odessey and Oracle (1968; 30th anniv. Big Beat UK 1997)

 

Latest vinyl finds – June 2011

• Pearl Bailey, Gems by (1958)
• Booker Little, Victory and Sorrow; re-release of Booker Little and Friend (1961)
• Eric Burdon and War, Eric Burdon Declares War (1970)
• Big Country, The Seer (1986)
• Ray Charles, Genius + Soul = Jazz (1961)
• Miles Davis, The Complete Birth of the Cool (1949-50 [1970 RE])
• Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, Getz / Gilberto (1964; stereo)
• Billy Preston, That’s the Way God Planned It (1969; Apple)
• Black Keys, Rubber Factory (2004)
• Black Keys, Brothers (2010)
• The Who (with guests), Tommy, with the London Symphony Orchestra (2 LPs; 1972)

Transferring some really good early 80s LPs for friends who wouldn’t let me buy them (and listening to them myself, as well):

• Depeche Mode, Power, Corruption and Lies (1983)
• Sinead O’Connor, The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
• REM, Chronic Town (1982)
• REM, Murmur (1983)
• REM, Green (1988)
• Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks (1977)
• Sheep Look Up, Sheep Look Up EP (1986
• Siouxsie and the Banshees, Once Upon a Time / The Singles (1978-81)
• Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Scream (1978)
• Siouxsie and the Banshees, Kaleidascope (1980)
• Siouxsie and the Banshees, Juju (1981)
• Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dazzle4 track 12″ (1983)
• Siouxsie and the Banshees, Hyaena (1984)
• Smiths, Hatful of Hollow (1984)
• Specials, More Specials (1980)
• Squeeze, Singles 45′s and under (1978-82)
• Stooges, The Stooges (1969)
• Tear Drop Explodes, Wilder (1981)
• Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes (1983)
• Violent Femmes, Hallowed Ground (1984)

Some CDs at a garage sale:

• Beautiful South, Choke (1990)
• Beautiful South, 0898 (1992)
• U2, Achtung Baby (1991 – to replace skipping one)
• Watchmen, Brand New Day (1996)
• Neil Young, Freedom (1989)

Latest vinyl finds – May 2011

Twice a year, a record dealer up in Elmira has a major sale to clear out things he hasn’t sold.  The records are virtually all in near mint condition and so I picked up a good number of jazz and other records for 2 bucks a piece:

• Louis Armstrong, Town Hall Concert Plus (1947)
• Louis Armstrong, European Concert Recordings by Ambassador Satch (1955)
• Louis Armstrong, Louis Armstrong and Eddie Condon at Newport (1956)
• Pearl Bailey, The Best of Pearl Bailey (1950s)
• Count Basie, Basie’s Beatle Bag (1966; UK press)
• Chuck Berry, Bio (1973)
• Big Country, Steeltown (1984)
• Charlie Byrd, Mr. Guitar (1959)
• Nat King Cole, The Touch of Your Lips (1962)
• Johnny Eaton, College Jazz: Modern (1956)
• Fifth Dimension, Live!! (2LP; 1971)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Rodgers and Hart Song Book (1956)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Irving Berlin Song Book (1958)
• Bobby Hackett, Live at the Roosevelt Grill (1970)
• Bill Haley, Golden Hits (2LP; 1950s)
• Lionel Hampton, Hamp’s Big Band (1959; stereo)
• Lionel Hampton, Many-Splendored Vibes (1962)
• Herman’s Hermits, 15 Greatest Hits(1965-67)
• Housemartins, Now That’s What I Call Quite Good (1985-88)
• Elton John, 11-17-70 (live at WABC-FM) (1970)
• Kinks, The Ultimate Collection (1964-70)
• Gene Krupa, Swingin’ with Krupa (1936-50)
• Oscar Peterson,  On the Town (1958)
• Oscar Peterson, Trio Plays (1964)
• Oscar Peterson, Something Warm (1966)
• Oscar Peterson, Trio + One, with Clark Terry (1964)
• Oscar Peterson, Canadiana Suite (orgl Limelight; 1964)
• Gene Pitney, She’s a Heartbreaker (1969)
• Tito Puente, Let’s Cha cha cha (1956)
• Buddy Rich, Big Band Machine (1975)
• Buddy Rich and Lionel Hampton, Transition (1975)
• Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Under Analysis (1956)
• Seventy Sevens,  Seventy Sevens (1987)
• Ravi Shankar, India’s Master Musician, World Pacific Records (1958)
• George Shearing, An Evening With the George Shearing Quintet (1951)
• George Shearing, The Shearing Spell (1955)
• George Shearing, Shearing on Stage! (1959)
  
• George Shearing, Latin Affair (1960)
• George Shearing with Nancy Wilson, The Swingin’s Mutual (1961)
• Frank Sinatra, Come Dance with Me (1959)
• Frank Sinatra, Swing Along with Me with Billy May (1961)
• Dakota Staton, The Late, Late Show (1957)
• Steely Dan, Katy Lied (1975)
• Supertramp, Indelibly Stamped (1971)
• Tonio K, Notes from the Lost Civilization (1988)
• Mel Torme, Love Moods (195?)
• Mel Torme, Right Now! (1966)
• Mel Torme, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head (1969)
• Sarah Vaughan, Sarah Sings Soulfully (1963)
• Sarah Vaughan, The Lonely Hours (1964)
• Mary Lou Williams, From the Heart (1971)
• Nancy Wilson, Like in Love debut with Bill May (1960)
• Nancy Wilson, Yesterday’s Love Songs-Today’s Blues (1963)
• Nancy Wilson, Broadway-My Way (1964)
• Nancy Wilson, Just for Now (1967)

From a garage sale at $1 a piece:

• Laurindo Almeida, Duets with the Spanish Guitar Album 3 (1958)
• Laurindo Almeida and Charlie Byrd, Brazilian Soul (1981)
• Joan Armatrading, The Shouting Stage (1988)
• Bach, Tripelkonzert a-moll BWV 1044 and Konzerte für Cembalo (Archiv; 1960)
• Bach, Magnificat BWV 243 and Katata BWV78 (Archiv; 1961)
• Byrds, Fifth Dimension (1966)
• Aldo Ciccolini, Piano Music of Erik Satie, vol. 1 (1968)
• Miles Davis, The Man with the Horn (1981)
• Faces, Long Player (1971)
• Handel, 6 Tiosonaten für 2 Oboen, Fabott und Cembalo (Archiv; 1969)
• John Klemmer, Blowin’ Gold (1969)
• John Klemmer, Brazilia (1979)
• John Klemmer, Hush (1981)
• Faces, Long Player (1971)
• Cleo Laine, Best Friends, with John Williams (1976) – 2 copies – how did I do that in one day?
• Cleo Laine, This is . . . Cleo Laine: Shakespeare and all that Jazz (1964; UK press)
• Bob Marley, Burnin’ (1973)
• Bob Marley, Catch a Fire (1973)
• Bob Marley, Uprising (1980)
• John McLaughlin, Al di Meola, and Paco de Lucia, Passion, Grace, and Fire (1983)
• Mozart, Requiem, Karajan and the Wiener Singverein Berlin Philharmonic (1962)
• Mozart, The Last Four String Quartet and The Julliard Quartet (2LP: 1976)
• Mozart and Schubert, Jupiter-Symphonie and Unvolledette, Eugen Jochum and the BSO (1973)
• Mozart, Klavierkonzerte and Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 12, Rudolf Serkin and the LSO (1982)
• Pentangle, Solomon’s Seal (1972)
• Pentangle, Sweet Child (1969)
• Jean-Luc Ponty, Imaginary Voyage (1976)
• Jean-Pierre Rampal, Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano, with Claude Rolling (1975)
• Jean-Pierre Rampal and Lily Laskine, Sakura: Japanese Melodies for Flute and Harp (1976; Japanese press)
• John Renbourn, The Lady and the Unicorn (1970)
• James Taylor, JT (1977)
• Peter Tosh, Wanted Dread or Alive (1981)
• Vivaldi, The Complete Flute Concertos,with Jean-Pierre Rampal on flute (3 LP; 1959)
• Bunny Wailer, Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers (1980)
• Stevie Wonder, The Secret Life of Plants (1980)
• Narciso Yepes, The World of Guitar Volume 1 (195?? [1967])
• Narciso Yepes, The World of Guitar Volume Four (195?? [1967])

Latest vinyl finds – April 2011

Later in the month I managed to pick up a tonne of records for free.  The vast majority of the 400 were scratched beyond belief (one wonders how it is even possible to abuse one’s records so much), but about 50 were in very good shape after thorough cleaning (dish-pan style).  Many good jazz, including Chet Baker (too bad some of his original pressings were scratched, though).

• Chet Baker, Chet Baker and Strings, with Zoot Sims (1953 [1974])
• Chet Baker, She Was Too Good to Me, with Paul Desmond (1974)
• Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, Together Again (1976)
• Booker T. and the MG’s, Best of (1962-68)
• Vikki Carr, Just for You (2LP; 1973)
• Neil Diamond, Touching You, Touching Me (1969)
• Bo Diddley, Go (1959 [1986])
• Ella Fitzgerald, The World of EF = Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! live (1961)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Rhythm is My Business (1962)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Ella at Juan-Les Pins (1964)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Hello Dolly (1964)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Ella in Hamburg (1965)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Misty Blue (1968)
• Roberta Flack, Quiet Fire (1971)
• Folkways, Anthology of American Folk, Volume Two: Social Music (1926-31 [1952])
• Free, Highway (1970)
• Robert Fripp, God Save the Queen (1980)
• Genesis, Nursery Cryme (1971)
• Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, Jazz Samba mono (1962)
• Benny Goodman, An Album of Swing Classics live (3 LP Classics Record Library; 1955)
• Benny Goodman band, Salute to Benny Goodman, with Brussels World’s Fair Orchestra (red vinyl; 1959)
• Al Green, Love Ritual compilation albums from (1975-76; ss)
• Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden, Jazz Ultimate (1957)
• Isaac Hayes, Black Moses (1971 — with full fold-out)
• Isaac Hayes, This is Isaac Hayes – single versions (1972; German press)
• Heart, Dog and Butterfly (1978)
• Heart, Bebe le Strange (1980)
• Jimmy Hendrix, Cry of Love (1968-70)
• Woody Herman, Woody Herman (Metro; 1965)
• Al Hirt, Swingin’ Dixie (stereo; 1957)
• Billie Holiday, Greatest Hits (Columbia CL 2666; 1935-41)
• Billie Holiday, The Billie Holiday Story (2LP MCA;  1944-50)
• Billie Holiday, Billie Holiday (Everest)
• Harry James, All Time Favorites by (1955)
• Harry James, The Golden Trumpet of Harry James, Phase Four (1968)
• Janis Joplin, Pearl (1971)
• Daniel Lanois, Black Dub (2010)
• Brenda Lee, Let Me Sing (1963)
• Michel Legrand, Archi-cordes (1967)
• John Lewis, A Milanese Story Original Soundtrack (1962)
• Madonna, Madonna (1983)
• Glenn Miller, A Memorial 1944-1969 (2LP; 1939-42)
• Wes Montgomery, Greatest Hits (1967-68; A&M)
• Gerry Mulligan, Concert Days live, with Zoot Sims (1954-57; Sunset)
• Gerry Mulligan, Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band on Tour, with Zoot Sims (1960)
• Willie Nelson, Stardust (1978)
• Charlie Parker, Voume III (Everest Records; [1968])
• Shawn Phillips, Collaboration (1971; orig. NM copy)
• Pink Floyd, Obscured by Clouds (1972)
• Otis Redding and Jimi Hendrix, Monterey International Pop Festival (1967)
• Sam and Dave, Soul Men (1967)
• Leo Sayer, Thunder in my Heart (1977; SS)
• Sly and the Family Stone, Life (1968)
• Sly and the Family Stone, Stand! (1969)
• Spirit, Spirit (1968)
• Various, The Jazz Round, with Fitzgerald, Armstrong, Peterson, Webster etc.  (VSP; 1966)
• Various, A Taste of CTI/Kudo, Vol. 1, Hubbard (1973-75)
• Various, The Tenor Sax Album, with Hawkins and Webster (Savoy; 1944-54 [1977])
• Various, Jazz Giants (I Giganti del Jazz), with Bud Powell, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims (2LP Curcio; 1981)
• Sarah Vaughan, Sarah Sings Soulfully (1963)
• Tom Waits, Mule Variations (1999)
• Paul Weller, Wake Up the Nation (2010)
• Wilco, Summerteeth (2LP +CD; 1999)
• Nancy Wilson, Today, Tomorrow, Forever (1964)
• Yes, Yeshowns (1976-78)
• Lester Young, The Lester Young Story, Volume 3, Enter the Count (2 LPs 1939)
• Lester Young, Lester Leaps In (1940-50; Italian Jazz Live series)

Latest vinyl finds – March 2011

Towards the end of the month I lucked out.  Someone had been keeping their parents jazz records and wanted someone to have them and listen to them.  So I got a great deal on about 80 records in pristine condition:

• Meredith d’Ambrosio, Little Jazz Bird (1982)
• Pearl Bailey, The Definitive Pearl Bailey (CL 985 six-eye; 1957)
• Count Basie, Hits of the 50′s and 60′s (1963)
• Count Basie, Basie Meets Bond (1966 ; German press.)
• Count Basie, Best of Basie (1938-44; Roulette)
• Count Basie and the Mill Brothers, The Board of Directors (1967)
• George Benson, Summertime (1977)
• Bill Berry, Hello Rev (1976)
• Bill Berry, Shortcake (1977)
• Brian Browne, Live at the Park Plaza (1960s?)
• Ray Brown, With the All-Star Big Band [with Cannonball Adderley] (1962)
• Dave Brubeck, Newport 1958 (1958)
• Dave Brubeck, Time Out (1980s RE)
• Ray Bryant, Solo Flight (1976)
• Canadian Brass, Basin Street (1987)
• Benny Carter, Summer Serenade (1980)
• Al Cohn, Billy Mitchell, Dolo Coker, Leroy Vinnegar, and Frank Butler, Night Flight to Dakar Recorded Live in Senegal West Africa (1980)
• Cootie and Rex, The Big Challenge [with Coleman Hawkins] (1957)
• Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (1959 [RE 1980s])
• Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain (1960 [RE 1980s])
• Bill Doggett, Jumping and Swinging (1952-58; German press.)
• Bill Doggett, Moondust for Dancers in Love (1955)
• Eric Dolphy, Last Date (1964 – mono)
• Eric Dolphy, Outward Bound (1960)
• Billy Eckstine, Orchestra 1945 (1945)
• Duke Ellington, Indigos (1958)
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Porgy and Bess vol. 2 (1959; German press.)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Ella in Hollywood (1961)
• Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, Take Love Easy (1973)
• Tommy Flanagan, George Mraz, and Elvin Jones, Eclypso (1977)
• Panama Francis, Everything Swings (1984)
• Astrud Gilberto, Look to the Rainbow (1966; German press.)
• Dizzy Gillespie, The Ebulent Mr. Gillespie (1959)
• Jake Hanna, Kansas City Express (1976)
• Scott Hamilton, Apples and Oranges (1981)
• Coleman Hawkins, Hawkins! Alive! at the Village Gate (1962)
• Earl Hines, Back on the Street (1973)
• Earl Hines, Fireworks (1974;  French press.)
• Helen Humes, Songs I Like to Sing (1960)
• Bob James and David Sanborn, Double Vision (1986)
• Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Live in Munich (1976)
• Louis Jordan, Best of (1941-53)
• James Last, Beat in Sweet (19
• Chuck Mangione, CM Quartet (1972)
• Chuck Mangione, Chase the Clouds Away (1975)
• Chuck Mangione, Feels So Good (Audiophile Series; 1977)
• Chuck Mangione, Children of Sanchez (1978)
• Branford Marsalis, Roayl Garden Blues (1986)
• Branford Marsalis, Renaissance (1987)
• Rob McConnell, The Jazz Album [with Moe Koffmann] (1976)
• Dave McKenna Quartet, Featuring Zoot Sims (1974)
• Carmen McRae, Carmen’s Gold (1964-65)
• Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grappelli, Strictly for the Birds (1980)
• Wes Montgomery, Bumpin’ (1965)
• Gerry Mulligan, What is There to Say? (1958-59 [1974])
• Joe Newman, Soft Swingin’ Jazz (1958)
• Art Pepper, So in Love (1980)
• Oscar Peterson, With Respect to Nat (1965)
• Oscar Peterson, We Get Requests (1965 [RE])
• Oscar Peterson, Oscar Peterson [Metro Hi-Fidelity] (1965)
• Oscar Peterson and Buddy de Franco, The George Gershwin Song Book (1954; German press.)
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Volume 1 (1977)
• Howard Roberts, HR is a Dirty Guitar Player (1963)
• Lucky Roberts and Willie Smith, Luckey and the Lion: Harlem Piano Solos (1960)
• Salt City Six, Dixieland at the Roundtable (1958)
• Jimmy Smith, The Cat (1964; German press.)
• Jimmy Smith, Got My Mojo Workin’ (1965; German press.)
• Jimmy Smith, Groove Drops (1969)
• Rex Smith, Rendezvous with Rex (1958; UK press.)
• Dakota Staton, Dakota at Storyville (1961)
• Ed Thigpen, Out of the Storm [with Herbie Hancock] (1966; German press.)
• Thomas Valentine, At the Kohlman’s Tavern (1972)
• Various, Hi-Fi Jazz Session (1957)
• Various, Riverside – The Soul of Jazz (1959-60)
• Various, Atlantic Honkers: A Rhythm and Blues Saxophone Anthology (1947-70)
• Sarah Vaughan, The George Gershwin Songbook (2 LPs; 1957)
• Miroslav Vitous, Infinite Search [with Herbie Hancock and John McLaughlin] (1970)
• Weather Report, Heavy Weather (1977)
• Weather Report, Mr. Gone (1978)
• Joe Williams, I Just Want to Sing (1985)
• Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley (1962 – better copy)
• Lester Young, Giant of Jazz (1968)

Monster Records is closing in Toronto, and so I got a few at 40% off.  Also found some more at the local antique market.

• Accolade, Accolade 2 (1971)
• Beautiful South, Welcome to the Beautiful South (1989)
• David Bowie, Tonight (1984)
• Delaney and Bonnie, Accept No Substitute (1969)
• Bob Dylan, Infidels (1983)
• Brian Eno and David Byrne, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book Vol. 2 (1961 – orig. still sealed – who on earth would not open it after 50 years to listen)
• Fleetwood Mac (Bob Welch), French Kiss (1977)
• Isaac Hayes, Shaft (1971)
• Headhunters, Survival of the Fittest (1975; Hancock produced)
• Hollies, Reflections = Hollies (UK press; 1965)
• Hollies, Hollies Sing Hollies (UK press; 1969)
• Hollies, Distant Light (1971)
• Housemartins, London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
• Impressions (Mayfield), This is My Country (1968 [Rhino RE])
• Joe Jackson, Look Sharp (1979)
• Robert Johnson, King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II (1936-37 [1970, RE])
• Gene Krupa, Sidekicks (1955; original 6 eye)
• Jazz Wave Ltd, On Tour (2 LP; 1969)
• Jethro Tull, Benefit (1970)
• James Last, Beat in Sweet (1965)
• Level 42, Level 42 (1981)
• Level 42, The Pursuit of Accidents (1982; UK press.)
• Level 42, Standing in the Light (1983)
• Level 42, True Colours (1984; UK press.)
• Level 42, World Machine (1985; UK press.)
• Curtis Mayfield, Curtis (1970 [Rhino RE])
• Charles Mingus, Jazz Workshop (1954-55)
• Charles Mingus, Mingus at Antibes (1960)
• Muddy Waters, Fathers and Sons (1969; 2 LPs)
• Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy and the Wolf (1969)
• Shawn Phillips, Favourite Things (1965)
• Shawn Phillips, Faces (1969)
• Shawn Phillips, Contribution (1970)
• Shawn Phillips, Do You Wonder (1975)
• Shawn Phillips, Transcendence (1978)
• Renaissance, Turn of the Cards (1974)
• Renaissance, Scheherazade and other Stories (1975)
• Renaissance, Novella (1977)
• Sonny Rollins, On Impulse (1965)
• Frank Sinatra, Swingin’ Brass, arranged by Neal Hefti (1962)
• Small Faces, Collection (2LPs; 1966-69 [1985])
• Sonny Stitt, Personal Appearance (1957 [1981]; Japanese press.)
• Talk Talk, The Colour of Spring (1986)
• The The, Soul Mining (1983)
• Tomita, The Tomita Planets (1976)
• Tonio K., Romeo Unchained (1986)
• T. Rex, My People were Fair …(1968a [1988 Castle Communications])
• T. Rex, Prophets, Seers and Sages (1968b [1988])
• Traffic, Mr. Fantasy debut (1967)

Latest vinyl finds – February 2011

• Eagles, Desperado (1973)
• Echo and the Bunnymen, Porcupine (1983)
• Brian Eno, Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy (1974 — finally found this on vinyl in excellent shape!)
• Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, Folkways, A Vision Shared: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly (1988)
• B.B.King, Love Me Tender (1982)
• John Mayall, Memories (1971)
• Split Enz, Mental Notes (1976; Manzanera produced)
• Ten Thousand Maniacs, The Wishing Chair (1985)
• Ultravox, Vienna (1980)
• Fats Waller, The Complete Fats Waller Volume II, 1935 (1935)
• Renaissance, A Song for All Seasons (1978)

Latest vinyl finds – January 2011

• Allman Brothers, At Fillmore East (2LP 1971)
• Blind Faith (Clapton and Winwood), Blind Faith (1969)
• Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, Flack and Hathaway (1972)
• Chicago, III (1971)
• Genesis, Nursery Cryme (1971)
• Coleman Hawkins, The Hawk in Flight (1939-47)
• Illustration, Illustration (1970)
• Phil Manzanera, Primitive Guitars (1982)
• John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Birds of Fire (1973; better copy)
• Leon Russell, Will o’ the Wisp (1975)
• Ravi Shankar, Music of India (His Master’s Voice; 1959)
• Chris Squire, Fish Out of Water (1975)
• Sarah Vaughn, Golden Hits! (Mercury; 1961)
• Fats Waller, History of Jazz: The Great Fats Waller (1934-41 [1971 Italian press])
• War, Deliver the Word (1973)
• Weather Report, Domino Theory (1984)

Latest vinyl finds – Dec. 2010

This past weekend was the record show in Kitchener, and unlike last year there were a good pile of deals to be had (including a good number of jazz lps).  I purchased the majority for .50 cents each and a few for $3-4 dollars each.  I finally got Layla and other Love Songs in mint condition, which cost me a bit more ($10):  At the end of the month I lucked out in finding just about every T-Bone Burnett LP that exists (at least the ones I didn’t have) at Vortex Records in Toronto (and they had 40% off for boxing week); Burnett LPs are not easy to come by.

• Animals, Greatest Hits of Eric Burdon and teh Animals Vol. 2 (1966-68 [1982])
• Joan Armatrading, Back to the Night (1974)
• Joan Armatrading, To the Limit (1978)
• Joan Armatrading, Me Myself and I (1980)
• Joan Armatrading, The Key (1983)
• Joan Armatrading, Track Record [Best] (1983)
• Harry Belafonte, The Midnight Special, with Dylan on harmonica (1962)
• Jackson Browne, The Pretender (1976)
• Jackson Browne, Hold Out (1980)
• Dave Brubeck, Anything Goes! The Dave Brubeck Quartet Plays Cole Porter (mono CL 2602; 1966)
• T-Bone Burnett, Alpha Band, Spark in the Dark (1977)
• T-Bone Burnett, Alpha Band,Statue Makers of Hollywood (1978)
• T-Bone Burnett, Truth Decay (1980)
• T-Bone Burnett, Trap Door (1982)
• T-Bone Burnett, T-Bone Burnett (1986)
• T-Bone Burnett, Talking Animals (1988)
• Cheap Trick, Dream Police (1979)
• Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority (1969; UK pressing)
• Chicago, X (1976)
• Chicago, Hot Streets (1978)
• Chick Corea and Gary Burton, Crystal Silence (1972)
• Chick Corea and Return to Forever, Light as a Feather (1973)
• Colourfield, Deception (1987)
• Crosby and Nash, David Crosby/Graham Nash (1972)
• Richie Delamore, Delamore Sings, A Night in the Caribbean (1962)
• Derek and the Dominoes (Clapton), Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
• Bob Dylan, Basement Tapes (1967 [1975])
• Bob Dylan, New Morning (1970)
• Bob Dylan, Hard Rain (1976)
• Jonathan Edwards, Jonathan Edwards (1971)
• ELP, Brain Salad Surgery (1973)
• Fats Domino, Blueberry Hill! (1967; Pickwick)
• Fleetwood Mac, Bare Trees (1972)
• Fleetwood Mac, Tango in the Night (1987)
• Earth, Wind, and Fire, I Am (1979)
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Porgy and Bess (2 LPs; 1957; Verve German Grammophon pressing)
• Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Works Volume 2 (1977)
• Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, et al, 801 Live (1976; UK pressing)
• Four Tops, Greatest Hits (1964-68)
• Aretha Franklin, Aretha Arrives (1967)
• Robert Fripp, League of Gentlemen (1981)
• Genesis, Foxtrot (1972)
• Genesis, Win and Wuthering (1976)
• Gentle Giant, Three Friends (1972)
• Gentle Giant, The Power and the Glory (1974; Capitol)
• Eddy Grant, All the Hits (1984; UK pressing)
• Al Green, Tired of Being Alone [actually Green is Blues with "Tired of Being Alone" replacing "the Letter"] (1969 [1977])
• Al Green, Truth n’ Time (1978)
• Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, In Concert (2 LPs; 1978)
• Fletcher Henderson, 1927-1936
• Various, Popular Koto Melodies of Japan (1973)
• Quincy Jones, Quincy’s Got a Brand New Bag (stereo; 1965)
• Kansas, Leftoverture (1976)
• B.B. King, Completely Well (1969)
• Gordon Lightfoot, Old Dan’s Records (1972)
• Mahavishnu Orchestra (John McLaughlin), Birds of Fire (1972)
• Murray McLauchlan, Song from the Street (1971)
• Modern Jazz Quartet, The Quartet (1952; Savoy pressing MG 12046)
• Randy Newman, Good Old Boys (1974)
• Nice, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack (1968; Italian pressing by Charly records)
• Paddington Bear Volume 2 (UK)
• Charlie Parker, Bird at the Roost, the Savoy Sessions (1949 [1977])
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band, When the Saints Go Marchin’ in: New Orleans, Vol. III (1983)
• Lou Rawls, When You Hear Lou, You’ve Heard it All (1977)
• Otis Redding, The Otis Redding Story, Volume One: Mr. Pitiful (2 LPs; 1962-66 [1986])
• Renaissance, Ashes are Burning (1973)
• Leon Russell, Asylum Choir II, with Marc Beno (1969)
• Boz Scaggs, Silk Degrees (1976)
• Frank Sinatra, Nice n’ Easy (1960)
• Donna Summer, Live and More (19
• Spirit, The Family that Plays Together / Feedback (2LP combo) (1968/1972)
• Cat Stevens, Foreigner (1973)
• Strawbs, Hero and Heroine (1973)
• T. Rex, Tanx (1973)
• Uriah Heep, Look At Yourself (1973)
• Who, Odds and Sods (1969-74)
• Stevie Wonder, Talking Book (1972)
• Neil Young, Zuma (1975)

Latest vinyl finds Nov. 2010

Just picked up a few somewhat hard to find Jazz Lps.  The most interesting one is a 1958 blue vinyl reissue of early material (from 1946-49) of the Dave Brubeck Octet (I didn’t even know they had coloured vinyl at that point); the front has a sticker with “Fantasy 8094″ and the back has “Fantasy 3-239″.  The only sad thing about it is it is fake stereo as part of the Fantasy 8000 stereo series (which you can read about in French here).  These are all in absolutely excellent shape, which means I paid between $10-20 for each (much more than I usually dish out, but for these it’s worth it):

• Dave Brubeck, Dave Brubeck Octet (1958)
• Dave Brubeck, Time Out (1959; finally a 360 label in pristine condition)
• John Coltrane, Blue Train (1957; BST 81577 Blue Note)
• Miles Davis, Jazz Track (1958; partial overlap with Ascenseur pour l’échafaud soundtrack)
• Charles Mingus, Blues and Roots (1960)

__________________________________

Another bunch, many still sealed original pressings (at least until I played them – who on earth wouldn’t open them — there’s some crazies out there)!:

• Allman Brothers, Eat a Peach (1972; 2 LP)
• Animals, In the Beginning [live] (1963; SS)
• Argent, Circus (1974)
• Big Country, Peace in Our Time (1988)
• Blood, Sweat, and Tears, 3 (1970)
• Charlie Byrd, Hit Trip (1968)
• Eric Clapton, 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974; Back to Black reissue)
• Jimmy Cliff, In Concert (1976)
• Bruce Cockburn, In the Falling Dark (1976)
• Eno, Moebius, and Roedelius, After the Heat (1978; 4 Men with Beards reissue)
• Aretha Franklin, Take a Look (1967; SS)
• Bobbie Gentry, Patchwork (1971)
• Al Green, Explores Your Mind (1974; SS)
• Al Green, Can’t Get Next to You (1977; SS)
• Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage (1965; Blue note reissue)
• Donny Hathaway, Extension of a Man (1973)
• Ike and Tina, ’nuff Said (1971)
• Ike and Tina, Feel Good (1972)
• B. B. King, The Blues (1958; UR)
• Gordon Lightfoot, Lightfoot (1966; original UA pressing)
• Mahalia Jackson, Recorded Live in Europe (1961)
• Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Composer of Desafinado, Plays (1963; German pressing)
• Quincy Jones, Big Band Bossa Nova (1962; UK pressing)
• Curtis Mayfield, Curtis in Chicago Recorded Live! (1973)
• Graham Nash, Wild Tales (1973; SS)
• Ramones, End of the Century (1980; Spector produced)
• Boz Scaggs, My Time (1972)
• Percy Sledge, The Best of Percy Sledge (1967; SS)
• Spencer Davis Group, Heavies featuring Stevie Winwood (1965-67 [1969]; SS)
• Spencer Davis Group, The Best of the Spencer Davis Group Featuring Stevie Winwood (1965-67)
• Edwin Starr, 25 Miles (1969)
• Edwin Starr, Involved (1971; SS)
• Ten Wheel Drive, Brief Replies (1970; SS)
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sincerely – Sacred and Secular (1941-69; Rosetta records)
• Traffic, Shout Out (1973)
• Dinah Washington, The Fats Waller Songbook (1957; Polygram Netherlands reissue)
• Stevie Wonder, Eivets Rednow (1968; SS)
• Stevie Wonder, My Cherie Amour (1969)

Latest vinyl finds – Oct 2010

• Cannonball Adderley, Nancy Wilson / Cannonball Adderley (1961)
• Dave Brubeck, Jazz Goes to College (1954 – original label)
• Dave Brubeck, Time Further Out (1961 – original label)
• Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
• Bruce Cockburn, Joy Will Find a Way (1975)
• Bob Dylan, Empire Burlesque (1985)
• Fanny, Charity Ball (1971)
• Fanny, Mothers Pride (1973)
• Fixx, Phantoms (1984)
• Peter Gabriel, II (Scratch – better copy)
• Gentle Giant, The Official Live Gentle Giant (1977)
• Al Green, Sings the Gospel (1972-78 [1983])
• Isaac Hayes, Live at the Sahara Tahoe (1973)
• Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage (1965; Blue Note re-release with CD)
• Joe Jackson, Night and Day (1982)
• Lighthouse,  Sunny Days (1972)
• John Mayall, Moving On (1972)
• Nice, Five Bridges (1970)
• Graham Parker, The Parkerilla (1978)
• Shawn Phillips, Bright White (1973)
• Renaissance, Prologue (1972)
• John Sellers, Brother John Sellers in London (1957)
• Paul Simon, Rhythm of the Saints (1990)
• Yes, 90125 (1983)
• Warren Zevon, Excitable Boy (1978)
• Warren Zevon, The Envoy (1982)

Latest vinyl finds – Sept. 2010

• King Cole Trio, Nat Cole Trio Trio Days (1940s)
• Donovan, Barabajagal (1968 )
• Bob Dylan, Nashville Skyline (1969)
• Fifth Dimension, Greatest Hits on Earth (1967-72)
• Heart, Dreamboat Annie (1975)
• Hot Chocolate, Cicero Park (1974)
• Gene Krupa, Best of Gene Krupa, Verve’s Choice (1952-61)
• John Lennon, Collection (1970-75 [1982])
• Phil Manzanera, Diamond Head (1975)
• Jimmy McGriff, If You’re Ready Come God with Me (1974)
• Fred McDowell, Amazing Grace (1966; Testament records)
• Alan Price [of the Animals], Shouts Across the Street (1976 UK pressing)
• Simon and Garfunkel, Wednesday Morning, 3AM (1964)
• Frank Sinatra, I Remember Tommy (1961)
• Talking Heads, 77 (1977)
• Neil Young, Neil Young (1968)
• Neil Young, Le Noise (2010; Lanois produced)

Latest vinyl finds – Aug. 2010

• The Association, The Association 6th (1970; still sealed)
• Harry Belafonte, Belafonte Sings the Blues (1958)
• Pat Benatar, In the Heat of the Night (1979)
• Pat Benatar, Tropico (1984)
• Blue Rodeo, Diamond Mine (1989)
• The Cars, Shake it Up (1981)
• Cheap Trick, At Budokan (1978)
• Chicago, Chicago II (1970; RE better copy)
• Bill Cosby, Why is there air?
• Doobie Brothers, Stampede (1975)
• Doobie Brothers, Living on the Faultline (1977)
• ELP, Works (1977) – excellent copy
• Fanny, Fanny debut (1970)
• Foghat, Foghat (1972)
• Gameface, Three to Get Ready (1995)
• Stan Getz, Stan Getz and Friends: Early Getz (1949-53 [1979 by Prestige]; 2 LPs)
• Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy Gillespie’s Orchestra Vol. 1 (1947-49) (French press.)
• Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy Gillespie and his Orchestra Vol. 2 (1947-49)’
• George Harrison, All Things Must Pass (1970; 3 LPs Apple label)
• Heart, Little Queen (1977)
• Mahalia Jackson, Newport 1958 (1958)
• Kansas, Leftoverture (1976)
• Bob Marley, Natty Dread (1974)
• Steve Miller, The Joker (1973)
• Randy Newman, Little Criminals (1977)
• Neville Brothers, Yellow Moon (1989 – Daniel Lanois produced)
• Oscar Peterson, Motions and Emotions (1969 [1972 BASF])
• Prince, Purple Rain (1984)
• REM, Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
• Seals and Crofts, Diamond Girl (1973)
• Simple Minds, Street Fighting Years (1989)
• Staple Singers, Pray On (1954-59 [1986 by Charly])
• Steppenwolf, Gold: Their Great Hits (1968-71)
• Supertramp, Crisis? What Crisis? (1975)
• Supertramp, Breakfast in America (1979 ; Audiophile series)
• T.Rex, Electric Warrior (1971)
• Waterboys, A Pagan Place (1984)
• Steve Winwood, Talking Back to the Night (1982)
• Stevie Wonder, Hotter Than July (1980)
• XTC, Drums and Wires (1979)

Latest vinyl finds – July 2010

Picked up a few from a local person who’s moving out west and can’t bring the heavy records (turns out he’s an assistant audio engineer and is now working on the Crannberries new album).  He had a few 180gram reissues as well that I picked up (although I’m always hesitant about whether reissues will be better than original pressings).  Definitely the Radiohead was nice to get for such a deal.  On July 31st I finished off the month with a few more, mostly non-rock (I was glad to get another in the Nonesuch Explorer Series of world music, and I’ve been looking for Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew for some time — finally in NM too).

• Animals, Best of the Animals (1962-66 [1966])
• Arcade Fire, The Suburbs (2LP; 2010)
• Beatles, Help! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1965)
• Billy Bragg, Life’s a Riot Between the Wars (1983)
• Bruce Cockburn /. Paul Stoddart, Day Coach Rider (1974)
• Miles Davis, Bitches Brew (1970)
• Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan (1962 [1990s-2000s reissue])
• Bob Dylan, Together Through Life (2LP; 2009)
• Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On (1971; 2009 180gram reissue)
• Daryl Hall, Sacred Songs (1977 [1980])
• Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced? (1967)
• Jimi Hendrix, The Jimi Hendrix Concerts (2LPs; 1968-70 [1982])
• Bert Jansch, Moonshine (1973)
• Masekela, Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz (1973 Nigerian import)
• Maytals, The Sensational Maytals: That’s My Number (1960s [1980s])
• Van Morrison, Recorded in Concert, LA and London (2LPs; 1973)
• Gerry Mulligan, Capitol Jazz Classics Vol. 4: Gerry Mulligan Tentette, Walking Shoes (1947, 1953 [1971])
• Randy Newman, Sail Away (1972)
• Nonesuch Explorer Series, The Koto Music of Japan (1965)
• John Prine, John Prine (1971)
• John Prine, Sweet Revenge (1973)
• Radiohead, OK Computer (2 LP; 1997)
• Radiohead, Kid A (2 x 10″; 2000)
• George Russell, George Russell Sextet at Beethoven Hall, with Don Cherry (1965 [1973])
• Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
• Peter Tosh, You Got to Walk and Don’t Look Back (with Jagger) / Don’t Space Out 12″ (1978)
• Velvet Underground, Loaded (1970; reissue)
• Walt Disney, The Story and Songs of Black Beauty (1966 – still sealed)
• Walt Disney, Fantasia, Leopold Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra (3 LPs; 1940 [1957])
• Zombies, The World of the Zonbies (1967)

Kitchener David Gray Concert with player from archive.org

Here again is that David Gray concert I recorded, which you can access in lossless format here, where you will also find the full track listing and other info.  I was happy to see that it’s gotten about 500 downloads so far and one review (four out of five stars), so it’s quite well-received. 

So here is the player for streaming quality (not nearly as good as the FLAC files which you should download if you like what you hear here). The track-listing does not appear with this widget but you can skip ahead songs by simply hitting the skip button to the right of the play button:

Latest vinyl finds – June 2010

Mostly two bucks a piece:

• Argent, All Together Now (1972)
• Maggie Bell, Queen of the Night (1974)
• James Brown, Hell (1976)
• Eric Burdon (of Animals), Stop (1975)
• Johnny Cash, Songs of Our Soil (1959)
• Johnny Cash, Ride This Train (1960)
• Johnny Cash, Orange Blossom Special (mono, 1965)
• Chubby Checker, For Twisters Only (1962)
• Chubby Checker, For Teen Twisters Only (1962)
• Clancy Brothers, In Person at Carnegie Hall, with Tommy Makem (1963)
• Nat King Cole, SIngs My Fair Lady (1963)
• Cream, Fresh Cream (1966)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival, Green River (1969)
• Sammy Davis Jr. et al, A Man Called Adam (mono; 1966)
• Eagles, Hotel California (1976) – finally a copy in near mint
• Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Sings Gershwin, with Ellis Larkins at the Piano (Decca, 1959)
• Genesis, Trespass (1970)
• Ian and Sylvia, Northern Journey (1964)
• The Jasmine Isle: Javanese Gamelan Music, recorded by Suryabrata and David Lewiston (1969)
• Kraftwerk, Trans-Europe Express (1977)
• Gene Krupa, Gene Krupa (1956, Columbia)
• Cleo Laine, Cleo’s Choice (1957 [1980])
• Led Zeppelin, Coda (1969-78 [1982])
• John Lewis, Albert Mangelsdorff and the Zagreb Jazz Quartet, Animal Dance (1962)
• Hugh Masekela, The African Connection (1972)
• John Mayall and the Blues Breakers, Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966)
• Gerry Mulligan, Mulligan and Getz and Desmond = Getz Meets Mulligan in Hi-Fi + Blues in Time (2 LP; 1957)
• Charlie Parker and Lester Young, Bird and Pres: the ’46 Concerts, Jazz at the Philharmonic (2LP; 1946 [1977])
• Leon Russell, Carney (1972)
• Santana, Santana
• Frank Sinatra, Rarities: The Columbia Years (1940s [1988]) – still sealed
• Spirit, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)
• Stephen Stills, 2 (1971)
• Tangerine Dream, Alpha Centauri / Atem (2LP combo; 1971 / 1973; German pressing)
• Tangerine Dream, Phaedra (1974)
• Sarah Vaughan, In the Land of Hi-Fi (1955)
• Sarah Vaughan, Sings George Gershwin (1958)

Concert recording of the week: David Gray in Kitchener, May 25 2010

David Gray is an excellent folk-rock singer-songwriter, originally from Wales (Wikipedia page here).  He is perhaps best known for his hit “Babylon” from his White Ladder album, but there are many, many excellent tunes on his other albums as well.  I finally had an opportunity to try out my new H2 recording device last week when we went to the David Gray show here in Kitchener at the Centre in the Square.  The concert was excellent, as were the acoustics of the venue.  One untuned guitar led to a loss of “Hold On” (one of my favourite Gray acoustic tunes).  The recording turned out quite well, if I do say so myself (recorded at 44.1/16bit and saved as FLAC after some equalizing and fades in Audacity).  But the first few seconds of the first track are missing and I didn’t have the device pointing in the right direction until halfway through the first track.  So judge the recording by tracks 2-19. It’s available through the David Gray collection on the Live Music Archive at archive.org:

• David Gray at Centre in the Square, Kitchener, Ontario, May 25, 2010

Latest vinyl finds – May 2010

• Animals, Greatest Hits (1964-68 [1969])
• Blood, Sweat, and Tears, Blood, Sweat, and Tears 2nd (1968)
• Byrds, Mr. Tambourine Man (1965 [RE])
• The Call, Reconciled (1986)
• Sam Cooke, The One and Only (1968)
• Chick Corea and Return to Forever, Where Have I Known You Before (1974)
• Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
• Duke Ellington, The Music of Duke Ellington Played by DE (1954 [1973])
• Bill Evans, Quiet Now (1965 [1981])
• Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, and Count Basie, One O’Clock Jump (1957)
• Ella Fitzgerald, The Duke Ellington Songbook (1957)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Sings the Gershwin Song Book Vol. 1 (1959)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Sings the Gershwin Song Book Vol. 2 (1959)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Mack the Knife, Ella in Berlin (1960)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book (1963)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book (1964)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Stairway to the Stars (1965 Decca)
• Dizzy Gillespie, Something Old, Something New (1963)
• Dizzy Gillespie, New Wave! (1963 [Springboard Reissue])
• John Greenway, Australian Folksongs and Ballads (1960; Folkways)
• Lionel Hampton, Apollo Hall Concert 1954 (1954)
• Billie Holliday, Giants of Jazz: Billie Holliday (1933-46)
• Ian and Sylvia, Early Morning Rain (1965)
• Joe Jackson, Body and Soul (1984)
• Bob Marley, Exodus (1977)
• Bob Marley, Babylon by Bus (1978)
• Ada Moore, Buck Clayton, and Jimmy Rushing, Cat Meets Chick (1957; mint)
• The Nice, Nice (1969; Immediate UK Series)
• Oscar Peterson, Bursting Out wih the All Star Big Band! (1962)
• Oscar Peterson, Night Train (1962)
• Oscar Peterson, We Get Requests (1965)
• Bud Powell, Time Waits (1958)
• Genya Ravan, Urban Desire (1978)
• Otis Redding, The Best of Otis Redding (1964-70 [1972] German)
• Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin, Love, Devotion, Surrender (1973)
• Seatrain, Seatrain 2nd LP (1970; German press)
• Frank Sinatra, Sinatra at the Sands with Count Basie (1966)
• Bessie Smith, Giants of Jazz: Bessie Smith (3 LPs; 1923-33 [1983])
• Art Tatum, Giants of Jazz: Art Tatum (3 LPs; 1932-56 [1982])
• Sarah Vaughn, Linger Awhile (1956)

Latest vinyl finds April 2010

At the very end of the month I lucked out when I found a pile of Jazz (mainly original pressings from the 1950s and 1960s) at the antique market at amazing prices:

• Allman Brothers, Duane and Greg Allman = 31st of February demos  (1968)
• Alphaville, Forever Young (1984)
• Louis Armstrong, The Genius of Louis Armstrong, Volume 1: 1923-1933 (2 LPs; 1923-33 [1971])
• Dave Brubeck, Bossa Nova USA (1963 – better, pristine copy)
• Dave Brubeck, Anything Goes! The Dave Brubeck Quartet Plays Cole Porter (1965)
• Dave Brubeck, Jazz Impressions of New York (1965)
• Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash & June Carter (1967)
• Chick Corea, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (1968)
• Count Basie, Blues By Basie (1957 original pressing)
• Clash, The Clash (debut 1977; UK pressing)
• John Coltrane, Giant Steps (1960 – That’s Jazz pressing)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival, Mardi Gras (1972)
• Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess (1958)
• Miles Davis, In Europe (1963)
• Paul Desmond, East of the Sun (1959 [1981])
• Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery (1973 — this copy in pristine condition with poster)
• Terry Gibbs, That Swing Thing! (1961)
• Woody Guthrie, Dust Bowl Ballads (1940 [1988], BMG)
• Woody Guthrie, Struggle (1940s [1976], Smithsonian; still sealed!!)
• Milt Jackson, Vibrations (1964)
• Ahmad Jamal, At the Top: Poinciana Revisited (1972)
• Leadbelly, Includes Legendary Performances Never Before Released [tribute to Blind Lemon Jefferson] (1935 [1970]; Columbia)
• Leadbelly, Huddie Ledbetter’s Best. . . His Guitar, His Voice, His Piano (1944 [1962], Capitol orange label)
• Led Zeppelin, Presence (1976)
• John Mayall, Jazz Blues Fusion (1973)
• Joni Mitchell, Mingus (1979)
• Muddy Waters, Good News volume 3 (1955-58 [1971] UK, Syndicate Chapter)
• Odetta, My Eyes Have Seen (1959 Vanguard; still sealed!!!)
• Oscar Peterson, Big 6 at the Montreux Jazz Festival (1975)
• Rascals, See (1969)
• Shakti (McLaughlin and L. Shankar), Natural Elements (1977)
• Ten Wheel Drive, Brief Replies (1970)
• Dinah Washington, The Bessie Smith Songbook (1957-58 [1986])
• Stevie Wonder, Greatest Hits (1962-67 [1968])
• Stevie Wonder, Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1968-71 [1971])
• Yes, Close to the Edge (1972) – had the CD remastered edition but find that far too compressed – nice to hear it the way it was meant to be again

“Record Club” website

There’s an interesting site (also a subsite of Beck‘s) devoted to re-performing favourite albums of current musicians called “Record Club“.  What they do is gather together artists from various bands on a day and ask one of them what one of his or her favourite albums is.  Then they perform each and every song from that album together spontaneously while they are taped and video-recorded in just one day.  The site posts the audio and video of each of the songs from each album “tribute” one by one.  They are raw, of course, which is part of the fun.  Spontaneous? Yes.  So far they have Velvet Underground’s, Nico, Leonard Cohen’s Songs of Leonard Cohen, Skip Spence, and INXS’s Kick.

If I were asked what album they should do next, I’d say John Baldry’s It Ain’t Easy (but I won’t be asked;).

This was new to me.

Concert recording of the week: U2 at KRO Studios, Hilversum, Holland (Oct 1980 — before Boy!)

At the risk of focusing too much on U2 (my favourite band as a teenager), my choice this week is another extremely early soundboard recording from 1980 (known as “Touch” in some of its bootleg versions), before the release of U2′s first album, Boy, in November of that year:

• U2 Hilversum, Holland. KRO Studios October 14, 1980 (FLAC – via Qualitybootz).

Concert recording of the week: U2 at Paris Cinema Studio, London (1981)

When the members of U2 have said anything about trading of concert recordings among fans, they have been quite positive.  They are very negative about people trying to profit from bootlegs, especially poorly recorded ones.  Both Bono and Edge state the band’s opinion, including statements on the official U2.com site:

“We invite people to bootleg our shows. We invite people to make CD copies, we’ve no problems with that, but if some guy is gonna make money off the back of this, we’re gonna find out where he parks his car…” (Bono; source: KROQ Radio USA, October 2000)

“We’ve never had a problem with bootlegs or people recording our shows for their own use. Our problem has always been people ripping off our fans with inferior recordings that they sell at exorbitant prices” (October 30, 2000; source: <http://www.u2.com/news/article/733>, official site accessed March 14, 2010).

One of my favourite concert recordings is an early one from 1981 which was a planned broadcast on FM (BBC) but sourced from the pre-FM tapes:

• U2′s concert at Paris Cinema Studio in London, England, on August 23, 1981 (FLAC – via Qualitybootz).

The setlists from that leg of the October European tour can be found here.

Concert recording of the week: Cowboy Junkies at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver (1996)

Since I was a teenager in the 80s, I’ll begin with a band from that era who have encouraged recording and sharing of their live shows: Cowboy Junkies (main archive page here).  The Cowboy Junkies’ Trinity Session (1988), which was recorded in a church in Toronto, sounded entirely new — and haunting — to me back in the day (still did when I recently transferred it from vinyl this year), and just about everyone else my age in Toronto seemed to know about that album.  This band is in many respects a jam band, whose live shows vary from night to night and who engage in considerable improvisation.  Their covers of standards in entirely new ways really stand out to me.

There are many, many freely available recordings of Cowboy Junkies’ live shows on archive.org.  The one I’ve been enjoying most lately is a great quality soundboard recording:

• Cowboy Junkies at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, 1996 (FLAC – via archive.org).

(For those who aren’t aware, FLAC and, less common, SHN formats are the best quality formats to download and do not result in any loss of sound quality.  For downloading shows from archive, I would suggest using Firefox with the free DownloadThemAll plugin which allows you to quickly identify the links for each song in FLAC and download them quickly.)

Intro to ethical “Bootleg” choice of the week series

In an attempt to revive my activity on this blog, I’m beginning a weekly post that will point you to a downloadable live recording that I find particularly cool or interesting.  Alongside my obsession with used LPs, I’ve been getting more and more interested in “bootleg” recordings of live shows of late.  The word “Bootleg” has some negative and positive connotations, as you may imagine (in light of its being a borrowed word from the prohibition of alcohol back in the early- to mid-twentieth century in some countries — put your “illegal” alcohol in your boot to avoid detection!).

When I advocate a concert or music “bootleg” in this upcoming series, I am referring to a recording of a live concert that is not commercially released by the artist or which has been given sanction for fan-trading by the artist.  These “bootlegs,” or live recordings, should be exchanged among fans without any financial gain to the fans (i.e. for free) and with promotion of the artist (and therefore appropriate future financial benefit to the artist) in mind.  In other words, I will follow what I consider a strict ethic here.  We’re not talking about “pirating” but rather fans trading and promoting the unreleased (live or other) music of the artists they like most.  Unreleased is the key term here, because I believe it is absolutely essential to support the artists who create the music by buying what they release in LP, CD, or whatever form.  Another main issue is the quality of the sound on the bootleg, such that it does not misrepresent the quality of the artists’ performances (but these can be either “audience” recordings or “soundboard” recordings, usually the latter).  Here I will only link to very high quality bootlegs in uncompressed formats (e.g. “shorten” and “flac” formats, and never MP3s).

There are two main sites which I consider ethical (in my terms) and high quality when it comes to live recordings (there may be more, of which I am now unaware–let me know in the comments section and I’ll investigate):

• Dave’s Qualitybootz;
• The Internet Archive’s “Live Music Archive” (closely associated with etree.org), which seeks permission from the artists (or their representatives) themselves.

So most of my choices will come from these two sources at this point.  I’ll soon post my choice of this week.

Latest vinyl finds March 2010

• Beatles, Please Please Me (1963a; mono 1987 release)
• Beatles, With the Beatles (1963b; mono 1987 release)
• Beatles, Meet the Beatles (1964; stereo US version of With the Beatles)
• Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Original Motion Picture Sound Track (1964)
• Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever ago (2008)
• Byrds, Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965)
• Byrds, Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
• Clash, Give ‘Em Enough Rope (1978)
• Elvis Costello, Almost Blue (1981)
• Elvis Costello, Imperial Ballroom (1982)
• Cream, Wheels of Fire (in the Studio) (1968)
• Friends of Distinction, Whatever (1970)
• Peter Gabriel and others, Big Blue Ball (1991-95, 2007)
• Gentle Giant, In’terview (1976)
• Al Green, Call Me (1973)
• B.B. King, Indianola Mississippi Seeds (1971)
• B.B. King, Live in Cook County Jail (1971)
• John Mayall, USA Union (1970)
• Flying Burrito Bros (Parsons), Gilded Palace of Sin (1969)
• Gram Parsons (with Emmylou Harris), Grievous Angel (1974)
• Leon Russell, Leon Russell and the Shelter People (Philips German pressing; 1971)
• Rod Stewart / John Baldry, Rod Stewart and Steampacket (1964-66 [1977])
• Supertramp, Crime of the Century (1974; Audiophile series half-speed)
• Ten Wheel Drive, Construction #1 (1969)
• Ten Wheel Drive, Peculiar Friends (1971)
• Neil Young, On the Beach (1974)
• Neil Young, Tonight’s the Night (1975)
• Neil Young, Comes a Time (1978 – even better copy)

Latest vinyl finds Feb 2010

• Argent, In Deep (1973)
• The Association, Greatest Hits (1966-68)
• Jeff Beck, There and Back (1980)
• The Call, Let the Day Begin (1989)
• Eric Clapton, 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974)
• Van Morrison, Veedon Fleece (1974)
• Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
• Pavel Sysoyev, Soviet Funk volume 1 (1971-76 [2009]; Secret Stash)
• Jeremy Taylor, producer, Reggae Interpretations of Kind of Blue (1981 [2009]; Secret Stash)
• The Who, Live at Leeds (1970)

CDs

• James Brown, 20 All Time Greatest Hits
• Peter Gabriel, Scratch My Back Deluxe (2010)

Latest vinyl finds Jan. 2010

• Long John Baldry, Everything Stops for Tea (1972 – John and Stewart produced)
• The Band, The Last Waltz (WB; 1978)
• Jeff Beck, Jeff Beck, Tim Bogert, Carmine Appice (1973)
• Johnny Cash, Hymns By Johnny Cash (1959)
• Miles Davis, Someday My Prince Will Come (1961)
• Miles Davis / Thelonius Monk, At Newport (1958, 1963)
• Stan Getz, Big Band Bossa Nova (1962)
• Lone Justice, Lone Justice (1985
• Curtis Mayfield, Give, Get, Take and Have (1976)
• Van Morrison, Hard Nose the Highway (1973)
• Pink Floyd, Meddle (1971)
• Simon and Garfunkel, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme (1966)
• Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska (198
• Traffic, When the Eagle Flies (1974)
• Tom Waits, Foreign Affairs (1977)
• Yes (Bill Bruford), Gradually Going Tornado (1980)