ALL THE
REAL MUSIC!
'Best Music' lists that taste like tin foil!
These tunes will unscrew your overview
and ruckus your tocus!
C H A P T E R L I N K S :
• BEST ALBUMS: 2022
• COOL SONGS: 2022
• COVER SONGS 2022
• BEST REISSUES: 2022
2) Los Bitchos; Bang Bang Bad Girl; La Luz;
3) Lee Fields; Kae Tempest; Goat
B E S T
N E W
A L B U M S :
2 0 2 2
by Tym Stevens
This music player has songs from the following albums, in the same order.
• Calibro 35, ”Scacco al Maestro, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2” (Italy)
Cinematic Rock.
Who is more qualified to interpret Ennio Morricone's varied and resonant film scores than Rome's best band for channeling '60s Spaghetti Western and '70s Crime Rock sounds?
(see also: Daniele Luppi, Guess What, Adrian Younge)
• Weyes Blood, "And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow"
Ethereal Songwriter.
Our angelic bard's response to the lockdown was to reflect inner grace. This warm hearth of lightly-alien hymnals and sly confessions is an aurora in the twilight.
(see also: Judy Collins, Enya, Julia Holter, Julianna Barwick)
• Tami Neilson, "Kingmaker"
Juke Joint on Broadway.
Tami is a powerhouse who belts out Opry tunes like she's at the Grand Opera. Moody, tough, epic, no nonsense, all thrills.
(see also: Etta James, Shannon Shaw, Bonnie Whitmore)
• Wesley Bright, "Must Be The Love"
Party Soul.
Timeless Soul grooves to wear out the floorboards at your next house party.
(see also: Jr. Walker, Sam And Dave, Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings)
• La Femme, ”Teatro Lucido” (France)
Spanish Pop Nextlevel.
Paris' hippest partiers two-step sideways into lovely Spanish Pop, with flamenco guitars, crooning sirenas, and cosmic beats.
(see also: Casino Music, Air, Pepite)
• Unloved, "The Pink Album"
TripHop Vampitheater.
An astounding double-length album from the best TripHop band since Portishead (known for their eerie "Killing Eve" songs). Edgy, spectral, sensuous, perhaps illegal somehow.
(see also: Portishead, Kandle, Alexandra Savior)
• Scone Cash Players, "Brooklyn To Brooklin"
Groovy Soul.
Daptone Records rations out the gyrations with this hammond organ funkiness.
(see also: Ramsey Lewis, Booker T And The MG's, Soulive, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio)
• Breanna Barbara, "Nothin’ But Time"
Edgy Psyche.
Breanna punches through textural while melodic psychedelic blues like she's settling scores while stealing cars.
(see also: Alice Coltrane, Nicole Atkins, Annabelle Chairlegs)
• The Harlem Gospel Travelers, ”Look Up!”
Funky and Soulful Gospel.
Positive ravers with infectious grooves Stax and Motown would envy. Whatever your faith, you'll move with the feeling.
(see also: The Staple Singers, The Chi-Lites, Rance Allen Group)
• Angel Olsen, "Big Time"
Honey-Glazed Country.
The eminent singer-songwriter goes melodic, mellow, and measured, serenading the dawn.
(see also: Connie Smith, Bobby Gentry, Emmylou Harris)
• Orgone, "Lost Knights"
Street Funk.
Like Layne Staley getting down hardcore with '71 Funkadelic.
(see also: Mandrill, Menahan Street Band, The Lions)
• La Luz, "La Luz (Instrumentals)"
Surfstrumentals.
Last year, Adrian Younge produced the expansive self-titled album by the seraphic Surf band. Now we get to luxuriate in how great they play. Atmospheric and mercurial while hummable.
(see also: The Neptunas, Susan And The Surftones, Shantih Shantih, Shana Cleveland)
• Mavis Staples + Levon Helm, ”Carry Me Home”
Swamp Soul.
Recorded in 2011 at one of Helm's 'Midnight Ramble' jam hoedowns, this Blues and Soul barnstormer warms the heart.
(see also: The Staple Singers, The Band, Robert Randolph And The Family band)
• Bang Bang Band Girl, "12 Super Duper Extraordinary Girl Trouble Rock’n’Roll Tracks" (Netherlands/Chile)
Garage-abilly.
Like Vampirella transmitting eerie clanging rock'n'roll through your Marshall amp. Part cover songs, part run for cover.
(see also: Flat Duo Jets, The Kills, Mr. Airplane Man)
• Elvis Costello And The Imposters, "The Boy Named If"
Pop Punk.
The best record from 1979 about 1965 just made, with Elvis in timeless snide and snarl.
(see also: The Jam, John Wesley Harding, Spoon)
• Ghost Funk Orchestra, "A New Kind Of Love"
Cinematic Funk.
Seth Appelbaum composes moody soundscapes that strut and unsettle beguilingly.
(see also: Ikebe Showdown, L'eclair, The Sorcerers)
• Art d'Ecco, ”After The Head Rush” (Canada)
Nouveaux Wave.
In true Bowie form, the mysterious Art pinions from Glam stomp onward into angular synth dance. Bounding bass, alien earworms, and neon noir.
(see also: Roxy Music, Gary Numan, Toyah Wilcox, Dead Or Alive)
• Los Bitchos, "Let The Festivities Begin!"
Surf International.
The global group from London coast Surf through every disco in all countries.
(see also: La Luz, Khruangbin, Habibi)
• Lee Fields, "Sentimental Fool"
Southern Soul.
Daptone Record's finest is Soul Music decked out in a suit and charm.
(see also: James Brown, Charles Bradley, Robert Finley)
• Lera Lynn, "Something More Than Love"
Singer-Songwriter.
All the current attention on Angel Olsen, Weyes Blood, and Cate Le Bon should also reward this limitless songwriter, who is quietly killing it every time with her sharp tunes.
(see also: Sheryl Crow, Nicole Atkins, Laura Marling)
• Abraxas, ”Monte Carlo”
Mind Psyche.
Carolina Faruolo (former Los Bitchos) and Danny Lee Blackwell (Night Beats) craft Psyche Noir as complex as Prog and moody as soundtracks.
(see also: Blackwater Holylight, Khruangbin, Melody's Echo Chamber)
• Ty Segall, "Hello, Hi"
Melodic Folk.
The undisputed king of Fuzz Rock goes acoustic in the fields of the sun.
(see also: Neil Young, Kurt Vile, Cass McCombs)
• Kae Tempest, "The Line Is A Curve"
The King Of Rap.
The poet laureate of Rap, the Hamlet of Spoken Word, makes short stories out of emotional states, with guests like Lianne La Havas and Kevin Abstract.
(see also: Anne Clarke, Young Fathers)
• Robert Connely Farr, "Shake It"
Bruise Blues.
Nasty, corrosive tremelo that'll rattle the nails out of your swamp shack.
(see also: Tom Waits, T-Model Ford, Speedball Baby)
• Goat, ”Oh Death” (Sweden)
Psyche Worldbeat.
The mysterious tribal collective acts like Fela possessed by the spirit of Can.
(see also: Kikagaku Moro, Altin Gün, Karl Hector And The Malcouns)
• Father John Misty, "Chloe And The Next 20th Century"
Variety Hour.
Mr. Tillman goes uptown, with contemplative ballads and lovely harmonies lifted by string arrangements. Imagine Glen Campbell singing McCartney songs arranged by Gil Evans for a 1968 Broadway variety show.
(see also: Van Dyke Parks, Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens)
• Marcus King, "Young Blood"
Southern CountrySoulRock.
Like Bad Company jamming with Lynyrd Skynyrd at Muscle Shoals. Marcus has a soulful voice, fiery guitar chops, and eclectic tastes.
(see also: CCR, Funkadelic, Vinegar Joe, Molly Hatchet)
• Kidder Friendly Club, "Kidder Friendly Airwaves" (Japan)
Tokyo Merseybeat.
Beatlemania is an irrepressible aspect ennobling life, like sunshine or love.
(see also: Dara Puspita, The Pebbles, The Beat Girls)
➤ BEATLESQUE Songs: 1964-esque, with Music Player
• Pixy Jones, ”Bits N Bobs”
Pepper Tour.
The bassist for El Goodo makes his own 1967-mode Beatles album.
(see also: Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground, Jim Noir, Aaron Lee Tasjan)
➤ BEATLESQUE Songs: 1967-esque, with Music Player
• M Ross Perkins, "E Pluribus M Ross"
Psyche Pop.
The multi-talented songsmith makes his own Pop Opera cycle in the spirit of "Abbey Road".
(see also: Nilsson, Emitt Rhodes, Elliott Smith)
➤ BEATLESQUE Songs: 1969-esque, with Music Player
• Various Artists, "Ocean Child: Songs Of Yoko Ono"
Y O K O .
She did everything first, but took the abuse while her followers get all the acclaim. (The longest-running unchecked bias in Rock history.)
Now her followers flip the focus back, covering her diverse portfolio: The Flaming Lips, David Byrne + Yo La Tengo, Death Cab For Cutie, Deerhoof, Sharon Ven Etten, Jay Som, Stephen Merritt, and more pay tribute.
(see also: Can, Ann Peacock, Buffalo Daughter)
➤ Why We Love YOKO ONO (Or Should)!, with 2 Music Players
• Chris St. Hilaire, "Traveling Man" EP
Folkadelic.
After The London Souls' brilliant "Here Come The Girls" album (2015), the Classic Rock duo split. Tash went Blues Rock, while Chris is crafting luminous Folk and Trinidadian lilt songs.
(see also: George Harrison, Jim Croce, Gerry Rafferty)
➤ BEATLESQUE Songs: 1968-esque, with Music Player
C O O L
S O N G S :
2 0 2 2
All the REAL MUSIC
beyond the box!
Here's the
D R E A M
J U K E B O X !
like a Disco full of Crisco!
by Tym Stevens
Hear the unlimited Playlist here.)
All the songs elasticize their genres.
Get your groove on in this sonic order.:
Psyche! Glam! New Wave! Alt-Roots!
Blues! Soul! Funk! Africanarama!
World! Riot Grrrl! Alt-Rock! Electro!
Alt-Rap! Cinematic! RESIST!
The Courettes 1; Tammi Savoy
16 hours of thinky, wiggly music, featuring the following fine folks in this exact order!:
JD McPherson, La Perra Blanco, Lily Locksmith, The Surfrajettes, João Gordo, Bang Bang Band Girl, Wasurete Motels, Twin Temple, and Bloodshot Bill.
The Hoodoo Tones, The Silhouettes, Amphibian Man, The Manakooras, Los Daytonas, Shawn Lee, La Luz, Messer Chups, The Hawkmen, The Courettes, and Lizzie No.
Kidder Friendly Club, The Kafers, Frank Lee Sprague, Elvis Costello, Televisionaries, The Mocks, Benny Trokan, Pixy Jones, Autoramas, Shanda And The Howlers, Gee Tee, The Fuzztones, Tammi Savoy, The Len Price 3, Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited, Jon Spencer And The HITmakers, Tess Parks, and The Black Angels.
Ty Segall; Art d'Ecco
The Tuners, Melody's Echo Chamber, Adrian Belew, Breanna Barbara, M Ross Perkins, Melody's Echo Chamber, Caleb Nichols, Sloan, Liam Gallagher, Julian Lennon, Michael Rault, La Luz, Chris St. Hilaire, Richard Norris, Ty Segall, King Tuff, Kendra Foster, Toro y Moi, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Dungen, Annabelle Chairlegs, Nebula, and Steel Beans.
Art d'Ecco, Paul Cauthen, Young Fathers, Doctor Explosion, Peace De Résistance, Art d'Ecco, Caleb Landry Jones, Penza Penza, and Minami Deutsch.
Leyla McCalla; Father John Misty
Seratones, Lucius, Say She She + Piya Malik, Art d'Ecco, Bad Breeding, Osees, Belly Jelly, Secret Agent Headcheese, Billiam, The Bug Club, The Paranoyds, Glove, and LCD Soundsystem.
Melissa Carper, Willie Nelson, Jason McNiff, Prakash Slim, Chris St. Hilaire, Weyes Blood, Ty Segall, Aoife Nessa Frances, Leyla McCalla, Courtney Marie Andrews, Stephen Bailey, Angel Olsen, Father John Misty, Bailey Bigger, and The Cactus Blossoms.
Danielle Ponder; Bobby Oroza
William Bell, Adia Victoria, The Black Keys ft. Billy Gibbons, Hank Williams Jr, Tami Neilson, Larkin Poe, GA-20, Shemekia Copeland, Robert Connely Farr, Ivor S.K., Michael Head And The Red Elastic Band, and Twanguero.
Charley Crockett, Marcus King, Miko Marks, Scone Cash Players, St. Paul And The Broken Bones, The Harlem Gospel Travelers, Gabriels, Greyhounds, Danielle Ponder, Lee Fields, Ruthie Foster, Bobby Oroza, Alanna Royale, Jalen Ngonda, Kendra Morris, Wesley Bright, Nicky Egan, The Limboos, Jean Carn, Monophonics, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Say She She, Say She She + Piya Malik, Lizzie No, and Mamas Gun.
Orgone
Ghost Funk Orchestra, Ikebe Shakedown, The Winston Brothers, SAULT, Mamas Gun, The Diasonics, Adrian Quesada, Surprise Chef, Thurteen, Lettuce ft. Bootsy Collins, Tra'zae Clinton + Danny Bedrosian, Fantastic Negrito, Jorge Drexler, Ural Thomas And The Pain, Eddie9V, The Mighty Mocambos, Trombone Shorty, Orgone, Boulevards, and Jean Carn.
The Kevin Fingier Collective, The Go! Team + Star Feminine Band, The Liberators, WITCH, Vusi Mahlasela, Oumou Sangaré, Vieux Farka Touré, C'mon Tigre ft. Xenia Rubinos, Charlotte Adigéry + Bolis Pupul, and Goat.
Las Cafeteras; Abraxas
Kikagaku Moyo, Melt Yourself Down, Palatine, Kacimi, La Femme, Natalia Lafourcade, Las Cafeteras, Calexico, Adrian Quesada, New Regency Orchestra, Panda Bear, Lucrecia Dalt, Los Bitchos, Abraxas, Altin Gün, Charif Megarbane, and Arooj Aftab ft. Anoushka Shankar.
Jr Thomas And The Volcanos, The Soul Chance ft. Wesley Bright, The Interrupters, and Horace Andy.
Beth Hart, Las Odio, The Darts (U.S.), Deerhoof, Wet Leg, The Linda Lindas, Kidder Friendly Club, Ghost Car, Special Interest, Petrol Girls, Arre! Arre!, Tallies, Courtney And The Wolves, and Deerhoof.
Party Dozen, Spoon, Thao, Aidan Baker, Mitski, Jean Dawson, Wet Leg, Ecstatic Vision, Private Lives, Iggy Pop, Marina Herlop, Weak Signal, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Katy J Pearson.
The Linda Lindas;
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Viagra Boys, The C.I.A., Cosey Fanni Tutti, ADULT., Christine And The Queens, and Sara Bareilles.
Kae Tempest + Kevin Abstract, Chuck D + Bob Log III, Jake Blount, Kae Tempest, Lupe Fiasco, Ezra Collective ft. Kojey Radical, Moor Mother, Danger Mouse + Black Thought , Saul Williams, and Adn Maya Colectivo.
Jairus Sharif, LEYA, Bill Orcutt, Ty Segall, Saul Williams, Katalyst, Garrett Saracho, The Mighty Mocambos, Charif Megarbane, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bear McCreary ft. Raya Yarbrough + Griogair Labhruidh, Calibro 35, Black Lips, Night Beats, Pixies, Mary Ann Hawkins, Humanga Danga, Daniel Pemberton, Mick Jagger, Fred Pallem + Le Sacre du Tympan, Japanese Television, Lera Lynn + Arnaud Roy, Lera Lynn, Unloved, Theodore Shapiro, Michael Giacchino, Ewan McGregor, John Williams, Jeremy Brauns, Bear McCreary ft. Fiona Apple, and Bear McCreary ft. Megan Richards.
Chuck D
Spaceheads, The Frightnrs, M Ross Perkins, Ann Wilson, Lera Lynn, S.G. Goodman, Tami Neilson, Rainbow Girls, Petrol Girls, Kek'star + Gil Scott-Heron, Creative Culture Co., Orgone, Charlie Hodson-Prior, Annika Chambers, Pink Floyd ft. Andriy Khlyvnyuk, Breanna Barbara, Kae Tempest, The Harlem Gospel Travelers, and Thee Sacred Souls.
Gil Scott-Heron; Rainbow Girls.
C O V E R
S O N G S
2 0 2 2
All the Best
COVER VERSIONS
of the year!
Singing timeless songs in times of uncertainty brings us solace, offers out support, and bonds us in communion.
In (still another) year that separated us from each other, sharing songs reaffirmed us as a people, honored our origins, and lit the way for the young.
There were an abundance of cover songs in 2022. Through them, we sought reflection, revelation, and renewal. Here’s a playlist of our mutual journey.
by Tym Stevens
List = Original By / Cover Artist
Songs are sequenced in the chronological order of the Originals.
(Traditional) / Taj Mahal • (Trad.) / Dashawn Hickman • (Trad.) / Adia Victoria • Groucho Marx / Kula Shaker • “Sonny Boy” Williamson / Mud Morganfield • Mississippi Fred McDowell / Prakash Slim; The William Loveday Intention • (Fain/Kahal) / Cat Power • (Traditional) / Sarah Brown • Merle Travis / Nina Hagen • (Lieber/Stoller) Big Mama Thornton / The Record Company; Shonka Dukureh • Junior Parker / Justin Pickard And The Thunderbird Winos • Ruth Brown / Tammi Savoy.
Willie Nelson; Mavis Staples
Rev. Gary Davis / Gina Sicilia • Bobby “Bue” Bland / Angela Strehli • Nina Simone / Diunna Greenleaf • The Beatles / The Surfrajettes • The Beatles / Autoramas • The Zombies / Watkins Family Hour • Dionne Warwick / Lake Street Dive • The Who / The Gold Needles • The Beatles / The Greyboy Allstars • The Troggs / Bang Bang Band Girl • Nancy Sinatra / Palatine • Ennio Morricone / Calibro 35 • Donovan / The William Loveday Intention • The Beatles / Willie Nelson • Kenny Rogers And The First Edition / The Soul Jacket • The Zombies / The Teskey Brothers • The Kinks / Publicity Stunt • The Association / The Courettes + The Association • The Beatles / Toni Green • Peter Cooke / The Shadracks • The Impressions / Mavis Staples • Merle Haggard / Eli "Paperboy" Reed • Ennio Morricone / Calibro 35 • Nancy Sinatra + Lee Hazelwood / Whitehorse • Miles Davis / Club d'Elf • The Stooges / Tropical F_ck Storm • Led Zeppelin / Otu • The Delfonics / The Delfonics + Budapest Symphony Orchestra • The Beatles / Norah Jones • The Beatles / The Bright Light Social Hour • The Beatles / Buddy Guy • The Beatles / Honeyboy Slim And The Bad Habits • Bob Dylan / The Cactus Blossoms.
Thundercat; Ibeyi
Mountain / Annika Chambers • Bobby Gentry / Margo Price • The Beach Boys / She & Him • Trad./ Simon And Garfunkel / The Surfrajettes • Neil Young / Cowboy Junkies • George Harrison / Annika Chambers • George Harrison / George Is Lord • Gil Scott Heron / Gil Scott Heron + Kek'star • The Who / Lisa Mychols And Super 8 • Marvin Gaye / Night Owls • Johnny Cash / Chuck D + Bob Log III • Al Green / Chris Stapleton • Neil Young / Beck • Stevie Wonder / Father John Misty • Gil Scott Heron / The Greyboy Allstars • Hound Dog Taylor / GA-20 • Nino Rota / Didi Wray • Steely Dan / The Fearless Flyers • Led Zeppelin / Beth Hart • The Stooges / Florence And The Machine • Robin Trower / Ann Wilson • John Hartford / Sam Bush • Chris Bell / Wednesday • Earth, Wind, And Fire / Charles Stepney • Steve Miller Band / Thundercat • Clifton Chenier / Sir Rod And The Blues Doctors • The Runaways / The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs + Cherie Currie • Blondie / Solitary Friends • David Bowie / Ibibio Sound Machine • Donna Summer / Krontjong Devils • Kraftwerk / The Routes • The Damned / Tony Hawk • Suicide / Guards • Iggy Pop / JD McPherson • Betty Everett / Weyes Blood • Gerry Rafferty / Brendan Benson • The Undertones / The Dollyrots • Blondie / The Surfrajettes • Blondie / Krontjong Devils • Blondie / Juliana Eye • Cheap Trick / Jon Brion.
Joy Division / Amythyst Kiah • Yoko Ono / Japanese Breakfast • Grace Jones / Bacao Rhythm And Steel Band • Black Flag / Ibeyi • Alan Parsons Project / AWOLNATION, ft. Beck • The Go-Go’s / Jennie Vee • Wham! / The Soul Chance • (McCartney) The Everly Brothers / The Whitmore Sisters • Eurythmics / Ann Wilson • Madonna / The Bright Light Social Hour • The Church / Lilly Hiatt • Metallica / Ramin Djawadi • Pixies / JD McPherson.
Traveling Wilburys / Dr. John + Aaron Neville • Red Hot Chili Peppers / Tashaki Miyaki • Neil Young / The Brothers Comatose, ft. AJ Lee • PJ Harvey / Nilüfer Yanya • Mazzy Star / Valerie June • Nine Inch Nails / St. Vincent • Nine Inch Nails / Jehnny Beth • Nick Cave / Anna Calvi • Nirvana / Otu • Lucinda Williams / The Band Of Heathens • Sleater-Kinney / Courtney Barnett.
Gnarls Barkley / Marcus King • Jimmy Duck Holmes / Robert Connely Farr • David Lynch / Marissa Nadler.
B E S T
R E I S S U E S :
2 0 2 2
Quality is timeless.
by Tym Stevens
This music player has songs from the following albums, in the same order.
• 1930s •
• Skip James, "The Complete 1931 Sessions"
James' high, kind voice infuses the humanity into these Blues classics.
Ella Fitzgerald
• 1950s •
• Various Artists, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On: Rockabilly and Beyond at Sun Records” (1952+)
An entry record to Sun Records on its 70th anniversary: the Who's Who roster includes Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Lee Riley, and Charlie Rich.
• Carl Perkins, "The King Of Rockabilly" (late-’50s)
The country gentleman of Rock, everybody's friend, whose standards have been covered by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Black Sabbath, Chris Isaak, and you, if you're smart.
• Tarheel Slim, "Tarheel’s Essentials” (late-’50s)
Proving Rockabilly had no color, Tarheel clanged and drawled with the best of them.
• Ella Fitzgerald, "Ella At The Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook" (1958)
In the late-'50s, producer Norman Granz and Ella recorded a series of lush studio albums spotlighting songwriters which changed the industry: they elevated past pop into canon standards, brought sainthood to the writers, saved and defined Ella's career, established Verve Records, and brought Jazz into everyone's living room.
Here, Ella takes it to the people.
"Gotta Get A Good Thing Goin’:
The Music Of Black Britain In The Sixties"
• 1960s •
• Sarah Vaughan, "Sarah Slightly Classical" (1963)
Orchestral Jazz, lilted by the sassy class of the divine Vaughan.
• Various Artists, "Girls With Guitars Gonna Shake!"
The sixth volume in Ace Records' ongoing 'Girls With Guitars' series, spotlighting all-female (and some female-fronted) bands of the '60s Beat and Garage scenes.
• The Animals, "The Animals”, “The Animals On Tour”, “Animals On Track, “Animalisms” (1964-’66)
The original four albums, produced by Micky Most, are remastered for vinyl reissue.
• Sunny And The Sunliners, "Mr. Brown Eyed Soul, Vol. 2"
Soul is the heart, and everyone can open theirs. This Chicano band from Texas proved it true.
• Various Artists, "Gotta Get A Good Thing Goin’: The Music Of Black Britain In The Sixties"
With all the focus on the British Invasion and its blues-based pop, at last a compilation now honors their parallel brothers and sisters. As immigrant waves began expanding Britain, you can actually hear the shift from Soul Pop into High Life, Ska, and Rock Steady.
• The Beatles, "Revolver" (1966)
A box set essaying the essential album, with state-of-the-art mixes, unreleased demos and rehearsals, and more in deluxe packaging.
If your band creates eclectic songs, with adventurous arrangements, and makes art that folks can ponder and feel, it's because this timeless album templated how to do it, and showed record companies it would sell and critics that popular music is an art form.
"Heroes And Villains"; Elton John
• Dara Puspita, "Burung Kaka Tua"
The all-female Beatles from Indonesia. This long-overdue compilation doesn't have everything, but includes many of their crack tunes. More please.
(The 1967 EP shown above is an example, not the album cover.)
• John Carter, "My World Fell Down: The John Carter Story" (mid-’60s-early-‘70s)
A retrospective of the songwriter from The Ivy League who wrote many hits for other artists, like Brenda Lee, Herman's Hermits, The Troggs, and Sagittarius.
• Bobbie Gentry, "The Girl From Chickasaw County: The Complete Capitol Masters" (1967-’71)
Bobby did it all -Swamp Rock, Country, Pop duets, Soul, Funky- and then disappeared. This new remastered box set contains all 7 of her albums, plus copious bonus tracks for each, and the “Live At The BBC” album (rec. 1968), too.
(The 1968 album shown above is an example, not the box set cover.)
• Various Artists, "Heroes And Villains: The Sound Of Los Angeles 1965-68"
Sunshine Psyche from all of Brian Wilson's competition. Grapefruit's astute compilation works as a fine companion to Rhino Records' "Where The Action Is: Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968" box set and their 'Psychedelic Pop Nuggets' series.
• The Monkees, "Headquarters" (1967)
On their third album, The PreFab Four broke free, ditching the studio machine to write and play everything themselves. This remastered box set surveys the whole affair, with extras galore.
• Elton John, "Regimental Sgt. Zippo" (rec. 1967)
Elton John's lost debut album, which was never released properly until now. In finest "Sgt. Pepper" mode here, he was already bringing his piano Soul into Baroque Pop.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience; The Stooges
• The Living Daylights, ”Let’s Live For Today: The Complete Recordings”
The British band did the song before The Grass Roots' hit, and now all of their unreleased works come out of the vault.
• The Moving Sidewalks, "Flash"
Billy Gibbons before ZZ Top, in a strong Texas psyche band with some real blues bite.
• Dana Gillespie, ”Foolish Seasons” (1968)
Later known for work with David Bowie, Dana debuted with this rare gem, a warm pop record with facets of Psyche, Folk, and Jazz.
• Nancy Sinatra + Lee Hazlewood, "Nancy And Lee" (1968)
The cowboy and the angel. Pairing the woozy troubadore with the pop chanteuse was deranged genius, a classic album of odd tempos, cinematic vistas, and beat psalms.
• William Bell, ”Never Like This Before: The Complete ‘Blue’ Stax Singles 1961-1968”
The great Stax Records singer behind "Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday" has so much more Soul to offer.
• Ella Fitzgerald, "Live At Montreaux 1969"
Ella was the first mainstream artist to take The Beatles seriously, covering a swingin' "Can't By Me Love" in 1964. Still hyper hip here, she does "Hey Jude" and Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" (!) for the jazz set.
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience, ”Los Angeles Forum - April 26, 1969 (Live)”
From the band's last North American tour, newly mixed by Eddie Kramer himself.
• The Stooges, ”The Stooges” (1969 okay)
The debut of the godfathers of Punk, remastered here for vinyl reissue.
Joni Mitchell; Curtis Mayfield
• 1970s •
• Affinity, "Affinity" (1970)
A Psyche and Prog band, known for their overhaul of "I Am The Walrus" and the herculean wail of Linda Hoyle.
(Also, check out Linda's classic solo album, "Pieces Of Me" [1971].)
• Piero Umiliani, "Paesaggi" (1971)
Easily the grooviest composer in the Cinecitta Studios pantheon, the shapeshifter twirls through global Lounge on this side project.
• David Bowie, "Divine Symmetry: The Journey To 'Hunky Dory'"
A box set charting the complex evolution of the breakthrough "Hunky Dory" album (1971), with remasters, rarities, demos, and live sessions.
• Yes, "Fragile" (1972)
The Yes catalog has been remastered, and all have their merit, but this one is The One. If "Sgt. Pepper" unleashed all the possibilities that Prog Rock would explore, this dynamic and tuneful album is the one that fulfilled them best.
• Elton John, "Madman Across The Water" (1971)
Recorded under the spell of Leon Russell and Randy Newman, this country rocker gets a deluxe box set array.
• Neil Young, "Harvest" (1972)
The country classic gets an expanded box set. Also, the 1971 documentary, "Neil Young: Harvest Time", about the making of the album is released for the first time.
• Joni Mitchell, "The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)"
It turned out that Joni's fine folk albums were just the warm-up. This next phase of bold sonic expemimentation created some of the best and most essential albums of the decade, such as "Court And Spark" and "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns".
• Branko Mataja, "Over Fields And Mountains" (1973; mid-'80s)
A Croat POW of WWII, who became a guitar maker in LA. His rare albums get proper spotlight, with their haunting homeland melodies and unique sounds.
• Curtis Mayfield, "Superfly" (1973)
The essential Funk soundtrack. After leading The Impressions through the '60s, Curtis hit superstardom with this stunningly honest dissection of street reality that you can dance to.
• War, "The World Is A Ghetto", "Deliver The Word" (1972; 1973)
The whole '70s War catalog, including the first two albums fronted by Eric Burdon, are now reissued on vinyl. They are all formidable, but everyone should check out these two masterstrokes above all.
Staple Singers; Roxy Music
• Fanny, "Charity Ball”, “Fanny Hill"
The first all-female band signed to make major label albums. Last year, the first "Fanny" album (1970) was reissued, and now the excellent second and third albums have followed. Buy all, watch the movie, tell friends.
• David Bowie, "The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" (1972)
When Boogie Rock met Baroque Art. This is ground zero for all the glams, punks, new romantics, abstracters, and gender-enders to come.
• T. Rex, "The Slider" (1972)
Essential Glam. You should own "Electric Warrior" (1971) and "The Slider" (1972). If you don't, there's still time to save yourself.
• The Beach Boys, "Sail On Sailor - 1972" (1972)
The albums "Carl And The Passions" (1972) and "Holland" (1973), with tides of alternate tracks and rareties.
• The Staple Singers, "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" (1972)
The absolute pinnacle of Stax Records, Mark 2. "This World", "Respect Yourself", and "I'll Take You There". If you don't own this one, I don't even know what to say for you that the title song didn't already.
• Young-Holt Unlimited, "Plays Super Fly" (1973)
The groovy instro' duo gets funky with covers of Curtis Mayfield, The Spinners, The Stylistics, and The Carpenters.
• Roxy Music, "For Your Pleasure", "Avalon" (1972-’82)
For their current reunion tour, the remastered catalog has been reissued. All great, all different, but the crown jewels are the art rock second, "For Your Pleasure" (1973), and the majestic finale, "Avalon" (1982).
• Ennio Morricone, "Quando L’Amore e Sensualita" (1973)
As different as his prolific output was in styles, so were the tunes within any soundtrack. Here, terse suspense, cooing erotica, tubular bells, fuzzy funk, plus.
The Rutles; "Revenge Of The She-Punks"
• Various Artists, "Piombo - Italian Crime Soundtracks From The Years Of Lead (1973-1981)"
Every cratedigger and Funk fan knows that '70s crime soundtracks are the joint, with Funk-Rock blowouts and Jazzy breaks. Here's a good sampler.
• Yoko Ono + Plastic Ono Super Band, "Let’s Have A Dream - 1974 One Step Festival Special Edition"
Yoko headlines the first major Japanese rock festival, backed by Steve Khan, Andy Muson, Rick Marotta, Steve Gadd, Don Grolnick, and The Brecker Brothers.
• Staples Jr. Singers, "When Do We Get Paid" (1975)
Young teens with startling maturity and vocals, belting out soulful Gospel in the spirit of their heroes, The Staple Singers.
• Junie Morrison, "‘Junie’ Live At Dooley’s, 1976"
Junie, the one-man Funk band, doing his solo thing in between leaving The Ohio Players and joining Funkadelc.
• The Troggs, "The Troggs Tapes" (1976)
A strong reunion captured on a lost album, right in the hinge between Hard Rock and Punk around the corner.
• Blondie, "Against The Odds: 1974-1982"
The definitive overview of the evolution of CBGB's finest Pop band.
• Various Artists, "Jon Savage’s 1977-1979 (Symbols Clashing Everywhere)"
The acclaimed writer ("Englands Dreaming") curates the exhilerating style chaos of the late-'70s: Punk, Dub, Electro, PostPunk, Psychobilly, Art Pop, Garage Revival, and more.
• The Rolling Stones, "Live At The El Mocambo 1977"
Playing at a small Toronto club as a tour warm-up, they blew it the first night, and then kicked history the second.
• Les Rallizes Dénudés, "’77 Live"
The long-lived Japanese Psyche-Noize band with songs a year long peel the paint off the walls.
• Dennis Bovell, "The DuBMASTER: The Essential Anthology"
An overview of the Dub maestro, his hits and his productions.
• The Rutles, "The Rutles" (1978)
For Eric Idle's TV mockumentary based on The Beatles, Neil Innes and Ollie Halsall crafted a faux retrospective of songs so brilliant that they could be the real thing. Loved by all.
(Also check out the deeply underrated sequel, "Archeology" [1996].)
• Various Artists, "Revenge Of The She-Punks: Compilation Inspired By The Book By Vivien Goldman"
Musician and journalist Goldman's 2019 book about Punk women from the '70s to now gets a box set soundtrack.
• Jerry Goldsmith, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979)
Faced with the musical history of the 'Star Trek' TV series and the smash hit STAR WARS score by John Williams, Goldsmith nailed it with a new score by turns stately, industrial, and sublime. It reset the standard, from the "Star Trek" The Next Generation" theme on out.
Prince And The Revolution; Bad Brains
• 1980s •
• The B-52's, "Wild Planet" (1980)
The first album was perfect, and then they matched it again. Ricky Wilson was an alien Surf guitar genius.
• Alessandro Alessandroni, "Alessandroni Proibito" (1976-'81)
Morricone's secret weapon was Alessandroni: he did all the whistling, guitar riffs, and chorals on the spaghetti westerns. He also composed soundtracks, like these rare gems for softcore films.
• DEVO, "Live 1981"
Touring for "Freedom Of Choice" in the advent of Reagan, the band is tough, pissed, and revved in revolt.
• The Selecter, "Celebrate The Bullet" (1981)
The excellent Ska band from the 2-Tone movement expands their palette, fronted by Pauline Black.
• The Clash, "Combat Rock + The People’s Hall" (1982)
The final real Clash album, which broke the band, to the world and then apart.
Behind the scenes, guitarist Mick Jones had led an album called "Rat Patrol Form Fort Bragg", which got truncated and overdubbed as "Combat Rock".> They should have remastered and finally released the original (ahem), but the added bonus sessions are nice.
• Prince And The Revolution, "Prince And The Revolution: Live" (1985)
When Prince was the King of the world, riding the phenomenal success of "Purple Rain" into glory.
• Les Calamités, "Encore ! 1983-1987"
While The Go-Go's chimed sunny '60s Pop in the states, these chipper songbirds did the same for France.
• Bad Brains, "Quickness" (1989)
Hardcore Punk like a mofo. Backstage -at lightning speed- the band had fallen apart, run through new memebers, regrouped, and re-recorded. Play at 11.
• 1990s •
• The Smithereens, "The Lost Album" (1993)
In between labels, the tough Power Pop band recorded at their own expense, and shelved it when the next label came.
• The Juliana Hatfield Three, "Become What You Are" (1993)
A potent blend of teen girl shoegaze and rumbling snarl guitar, like Blake Babies turning into Crazy Horse.
• David Bowie, "Brilliant Adventure EP" (1995)
Now released as a standalone from a recent box set, this collects two songs left off of "Outside" and two live tracks.
• Robert Gordon/ Chris Spedding, "Hellafied" (rec. 1998)
An unreleased album of the premiere Rockabilly singer and guitarist, rip-roarin'.
The Kills; Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks
• 2000-2022 •
• Joe Strummer, "Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years" (1999-'03)
Dark Horse Records, reactivated by Dhani Harrison, essays the great second act of Strummer, reviving the best spirit of The Clash with global adventurism.
• Broadcast, "Maida Vale Sessions" (1996-'03)
Maida Vale was the former roller rink turned recording studio where the BBC taped all of their great Rock guests. Here are the sessions of the experimental Pop band, led by the late Trish Keenan.
• The Stooges, "A Fire Of Life" (2003; 2006)
The incendiary reunion tour, still molten.
• Edan, "Beauty And The Beat" (2005)
The "Paul's Boutique" of the 21st century, with killer rhymes, collage hopscotch, and chuffed vibes.
• The Kills, "No Wow (The Tchad Blake Mix 2022)" (rec. 2004)
The original album by the Garage Punks, plus a new vibrant remix by the noted producer Tchad Blake (Los Lobos, Cibo Matta).
• The Limiñanas, "Electrified (Best Of 2009-2022)"
Garage Psyche by the Spanish couple, with sonic dalliances and special guests on the joyride.
• The Courettes, "Back In Mono (B-Sides And Outtakes)"
A companion to last year's "Back In Mono", by the Brazil/Denmark couple who combine Girl Group with Garage Rock.
• Brian Wilson, "Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road"
The promised soundtrack to the 2021 documentary, notable for some new songs and unreleased songs from the '90s.
• Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, "Solna, Texas (1992-2022)"
Brutal guitar reverb of the highest disorder, scoring mind-movies for the outlander and the outlandish.
© Tym Stevens
"A splendid time is guaranteed for all!"
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