[Review] The Joe Jackson Band: Beat Crazy (1980)
Dig that crazy beat, because there really isn’t much else to dig on here.
[Review] Vangelis: The Dragon (1978)
More jam sessions from 1971, this time featuring Aphrodite’s Child guitarist Anargyros Koulouris and drummer Micky Waller.
Phil Collins: “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (1984)
Nominated for an Academy Award, this song also managed to top the US charts.
[Review] Gary Burton Trio: New Vibe Man in Town (1961)
The 18-year-old vibraphonist from Indiana comes out swinging on his first session as a leader.
[Review] Fela Ransome Kuti & The Afrika ’70: Gentleman (1973)
Generally regarded as one of Fela’s best albums, this mixes Afrobeat with a pronounced jazz feel.
Todd Rundgren: “Good Vibrations” (1976)
A faithful cover of The Beach Boys classic that showcases Rundgren’s production skill.
[Review] Split Enz: Second Thoughts (Mental Notes) (1976)
A second merry-go-round featuring a handful of re-recordings from the first album plus new tracks.
[Review] Paul Carrack: Nightbird (1980)
Late the face of Ace, Carrack steps back into the spotlight with this tuneful collection of blue-eyed soul songs.
Spirit: “Mechanical World” (1968)
The first single from Spirit’s first album featured two great tracks that caught the ear of radio stations.
[Review] Dio: Intermission (1986)
Thirty minutes of live music from the Sacred Heart tour plus a new track, “Time to Burn.”
Icehouse: “Hey Little Girl” (1983)
This single from Primitive Man sounded like the second coming of Roxy Music.
[Review] The Clash: Sandinista! (1980)
A sprawling three-album set that achieves self destruction through self production.
[Review] Jerry Garcia/David Grisman: Shady Grove (1996)
A collection of folk songs recorded by Garcia and Grisman in the early 1990s and released after Garcia’s death.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: “From the Beginning” (1972)
Lake delivers a ballad for the ages and sets into motion the obligatory love song on every ELP album that followed.