What Are You Listening To? January 2026

[Ojai Sam]

Lawrence Welk Featuring Larry Hooper (1959)

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

One of the key elements of Lawrence Welk's long-running success was his willingness to share the spotlight with other talented members of his ensemble. Larry Hooper (1917-1983) was hired by Welk as a pianist but his deep voice made his occasional vocals, mostly novelties, a real highlight of every show.

This Coral LP proved to be surprisingly hard to find but was well worth the search. Where else would you find a song like "Lola O'Brien, The Irish Hawaiian"?

 

[Ojai Sam]

Fleshtones - s/t (aka Blast Off!) (ROIR cassette 1978, CD reissue 1996)

MusicBoomerang Trade of the Day.

Since I am working my way through a big stack of incoming from MusicBoomerang, I figured I might as well highlight them here.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lionel Hampton - The Mess Is Here (1957)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

Wasn't one of my musical resolutions to discover new music? And yet here I am going through the Beatles' discography this week
Ah well!
It's never a disappointing exercise especially as I often forget to check out the Past Masters collection which have some fantastic singles
And as this is as this one remains an interesting composite, it does get neglected a bit c/w albums like Abbey Road, Revolver, and The Beatles

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The National - Alligator (2005)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The National - Alligator (2005)

Every time I see the National, I think of Shallowgal who was the biggest National fan ever it seemed

 

[axolotl]

Every time I see the National, I think of Shallowgal who was the biggest National fan ever it seemed

Yes. She rated Alligator on RYM, even higher than TKG's

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport (2009)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms (1985)

 

[Ojai Sam]

R.E.M. - Document (1987)

MusicBoomerang Trade of the Day.

I'm sure I streamed this more than once, probably during our 60 Years of Great Music extravaganza. But this is my first spin in physical form. Needless to say, I love it.

 

[Ojai Sam]

The Lennon Sisters - Let's Get Acquainted (1957)

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

The Lennons had been featured artists on the Lawrence Welk show for two years when their first LP appeared. Oddly, the Welk orchestra is not identified but was probably hiding behind the names of two of his other stars, Tiny Little and Pete Fountain, who were given label credit.

 

[axolotl]

Max Ochs ~ Hooray for Another Day (2008)



Cousin to Phil, or so it says

Hooray For Another Day, by Max Ochs

12 track album

tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com

 

[Ojai Sam]

Grant Lee Buffalo - Jubilee (1998)

MusicBoomerang Trade of the Day.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Yesterday and Today - music of 1964
Continuing year-by-year playlists

Now:
T. Rex - Electric Warrior (1971)

 

[axolotl]

B'shnorkestra ~ Go to Orange (2013)

Go To Orange, by B'shnorkestra

8 track album

bshnorkestra.bandcamp.com

 

[Ojai Sam]

Dick Silvera - Folk Songs & Ballads (Stinson 1956)

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

This is the only release by Jamaican Dick Silvera, about whom little seems to be known. That is rather surprising when you consider that, according to the booklet accompanying this album, he appeared on Broadway in the casts of South Pacific and Show Boat as well as television, night clubs and concerts. The album contains a generous selection of 20 songs many of which originated on Georgia's Sea Island. Silvera is backed by the acoustic guitar of Dick Weissman who later founded The Journeymen. His rich, bold, declamatory singing style can best be described by imagining Harry Belafonte's early repertoire performed by Paul Robson.

I will be posting more about the fascinating history of Stinson Records in the near future.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Jimmy Page & Robert Plant - Walking Into Clarksdale (1998)

MusicBoomerang Trade of the Day.

I enjoyed this Zep reboot far more than I expected to. AMG damned it with faint praise and Christgau awarded it a bomb, but to me it bristled with much of the same slow burning energy that made Plant's later collaborations with Alison Krauss so successful.

on the Sam-I-Meter.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Sonic Youth - Bad Moon Rising (1985)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Chicago - John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Washington D.C. 9/16/1971 (2024)

Chicago only released one legitimate domestic live album during their heyday, the 4 disc Carnegie Hall box from earlier in 1971. It took five decades, but this three CD set was worth the wait. Robert Lamm's spoken introduction makes it clear that this show was being recorded as a showcase for several new songs that wouldn't appear until Chicago V came out a year later, including the hit "Saturday In The Park". In addition, the band took a much more adventurous approach to their older material, giving songs like "Beginnings" and "Make Me Smile" a jazzier jam vibe. The contrast with their usual "by the book" performances typified by the Carnegie Hall shows is notable. It all worked very well, sending the eager audience home surprised, exhausted and happy.

This show was recorded less than a week after the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts. Among the songs Chicago performed that night was their jab at President Nixon, "A Song For Richard And His Friends". It is truly ironic that all this time later another ultra ambitious president finds himself under fire at the same venue.

 

[axolotl]

It is truly ironic that all this time later another ultra ambitious president finds himself under fire at the same venue.

I admire your propensity for understatement.