May 26, 2022
NEW THIS WEEK AT THE SHOP:
As soon as its opening notes ring out slow and ominous, like a swelling hangover, you know that 'Nancy & Lee', the iconic album from NANCY SINATRA & LEE HAZLEWOOD, isn't your typical pop duet. Since its release in 1968, this cleverly psychedelic, bronze bombshell of an LP has beckoned countless listeners to explore its mysteries, starting with the juxtaposition on its cover of an affable goofball and one of the most beautiful women to ever walk the earth: why would someone want to be called "Sand"? Exactly what or who is phaedra? Is "Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman" a parody? Unless you've somehow lucked into a minty original copy, it's unlikely you've heard this record without a symphony of clicks and pops or the wretched compression of an old bootleg; Light in the Attic has done us the immense solid of a fresh remaster with a super flat soundstage, and a beautiful gatefold as well, plus metallic gold vinyl while supplies last. We follow this one up with a nice repress of the exquisite debut album from MINNIE RIPERTON, 'Come To My Garden', and a massive new reissue ofGRATEFUL DEAD's 'Three From The Vault'.
Before his sudden passing in 2016, vocalist Dan Klein and his sublime modern rocksteady group THE FRIGHTNRS recorded one last session that finally sees the light of day this week as 'Always', in the shop on red/blue splatter vinyl. West Coast soul unitORGONE revs way up on 'Lost Knights', and we have a pair of deeply cinematic post-jazz albums from Australia: a sweeping new disc from GODTET called 'Meditations & Suite', and a repress of the ever kinetic trio THE NECKS' 2015 album 'Vertigo'.
Enough jibber-jabber, its organ fusion time! The Blue Note Classic vinyl series lands on a pair of early beasts of the genre. Hammond whiz JACK MCDUFF's 1970 rarity 'Moon Rappin' returns, sporting bass from Richard Davis, and an absolutely unhinged performance from drummer Joe Dukes.RONNIE FOSTER came out of the gate quick with his 1972 debut, the Tribe-sampled 'Two-Headed Freap'. The ever-evolving Virginia soul-jazz unit ONENESS OF JUJU recorded the tracks on 'Bush Brothers & Space Rangers' back in 1977 after their first two classic albums, but most of them have not appeared on vinyl until now.
Not one but two new records are in from Oasian LIAM GALLAGHER; a new studio album called 'C'mon You Know', available in a clear vinyl pressing, and a new live record, 'Down By The River Thames'.BRUCE HORNSBY returns with 'Flicted' on yellow wax;DEF LEPPARD are back with 'Diamond Star Halos' on clear vinyl, plus we have a new return from STARS with 'From Capelton Hill', and a new LP version of a previously digital only lockdown album from modern crooner DANIEL ROMANO, 'Content To Point The Way'.
Rapper, singer and kissing enthusiast DOJA CAT has wrapped up just about every award nomination available with her latest album 'Planet Her', which is finally here on vinyl. GUILTY SIMPSON returns with 'Ego', plus we have a new purple vinyl edition of ERYKAH BADU's latest record 'But You Caint Use My Phone', and a fresh pressing of the long out of print 'Lucy Ford' album from ATMOSPHERE.
Ripping, unpretentious Chicago rockers DEHD continue to top themselves with a great new record called 'Blue Skies', arriving on red vinyl. NYC noise-rockers COCONUTS channel US Maple on a belated release of their 2010 album '2'. Gleaming indie pop is in from JORDANA on 'Face The Wall', and the slightly-more-than-human synth pop duo MAGDALENA BAY return with a new EP called 'A Little Rhythm And A Wicked Feeling'.
Texas musician CLAIRE ROUSAY has been proudly waving the flag for "emo ambient", and delivers her most distilled expression to date on 'Everything Perfect Is Already Here', an album of two sidelong pieces that see evocative, site-specific field recordings drifting along with gorgeous piano lines. Two of her influences FELICA ATKINSON & JEFRE CANTU-LEDESMA have a fantastic new collection of pieces together called 'Un Hiver En Plein Ete', while California analog synthesist KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH pairs up with composer EMILE MOSSERI (best known for his arresting soundtrack for the film 'Minari) on an adventurous run of contemplative ambient pop called 'I Could Be Your Dog / I Could Be Your Moon', in the house on clear blue vinyl. The Blank Forms label brings us hard to find avant-garde titles from GRAHAM LAMBKIN and STILL HOUSE PLANTS, while garage-rock jackknife TY SEGALL converts his proficient riffs into something approaching library funk (!!) for the 'Whirlybird' soundtrack.
On the electronic front, a trio of albums from current artists who have secured major "buy on sight" bonafides. Elusive Swede AXEL BOMAN makes up for a long absence with an epic double album of psychedelic house called 'Luz / Quest For Fire'. Chicago producer JLIN graces us with four tracks of fleet, vaporous footwork on the 'Embryo' EP. London's LEON VYNEHALL loves his house and techno, buthis new 'Fabric Presents' DJ mix showcases a whole lot more, with cuts from Woo, Piero Umiliani, and even Monroe Street librarian Louise Bock turning up in between the bangers!
Conor Oberst and his band of merry Nebraskans BRIGHT EYES revisit their first 3 albums, 'A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997', 'Letting Off The Happiness', and 'Fevers and Mirrors' with lovely 'Companion' album versions consisting of demos and alternate takes, pressed in lovely foil packaging and gold vinyl in a limited run that won'tlast long. We also revisit the first three records from the extremely influential Danish heavy metal band fronted by King Diamond, MERCYFUL FATE, in new proper LP editions.
Just weeks since the tragic passing of their legendary drummer Gabe Serbian, experimental grindcore heroes THE LOCUST see a new reissue of their third album 'New Erections' land on clear smoke colored vinyl. Melodic punkers PENNYWISE's fourth album 'Full Circle' is reissued, along with 'On A Wire', the 2002 Vagrant debut from THE GET UP KIDS. Step into the land of Zeuhl with the iconic 'Khntarksz' from French evil proggers MAGMA , the world-famous SPARKS see their 00s album 'Exotic Creatures Of The Deep' get a new vinyl release, and last but most definitely not least: back in stock for the first time in too long, the mighty 'E2-E4' by Krautrock legend MANUEL GOTTSCHING, featuring a full hour of the most relentlessly uplifting analog synth you will ever hear.
USED VINYL ALERT:
Another classic haul in the Used Vinyl Alert this week, as welcome a slew of old classics plus quite a bit more from the present day than we are used to seeing! Tame Impala, Glass Animals, Tyler the Creator, the Weeknd, Trampled By Turtles, Father John Misty, the Deftones, Pop Smoke, J Blavin, Mac Demarco, King Khan, Pearl Jam, RHCP, Major Lazer, Skrillex, Taylor Swift, the Oh Sees, Post Malone, and Khalid top the list.
Some big ones we don't see too often are here as well: knock Tracy Chapman, Sinead O'Connor, Tony Joe White, and Guy Clark off your list, for instance. Lots of classics are in from Neil Young, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, John Prine, David Bowie, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, and so many more.
A thorough run of soul includes big names like Otis Redding, Ann Peebles, Aretha Franklin, the Supremes, Mandre, the Impressions, Mariah Carey, and James Brown. Loads more obscure, early and rare soul titles too, plus some very lovely gospel albums. Female vocalists across all genres are deeply represented, from Odetta to Phranc, plus we've got loads of jazz, classical, Irish, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern records, and a smattering of country, both old school and from the present day.
SELL US YOUR CDS & LPS:
Yes, we are still buying! Call Ron to schedule (608.213.3610).
Ron, Ryan, Angie, Marty, Evan, Matt, Ed, Eric, Jack, Steve, Shep, Mark, Brad & Roger
