What Are You Listening To? October 2025
- Thread starter Ojai Sam
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Ojai Sam
Staff member
Natalie Merchant - Live In Concert (1999)
From MusicBoomerang.
10,000 Maniacs interested me, but never enough to dig deeper than their MTV Unplugged album. Sad to say, I didn't even notice when Natalie went solo. This is a pretty decent live set, with a couple of Maniacs songs, interesting covers of David Bowie and Neil Young and a bunch of songs from her first album. If someone had given me tickets, I would have enjoyed the show but I certainly wouldn't have paid a lot for them. From that perspective, getting this album via MB likewise provided a great opportunity to hear it, but I'm ready to trade!
on the Sam-O-Meter.
From MusicBoomerang.
10,000 Maniacs interested me, but never enough to dig deeper than their MTV Unplugged album. Sad to say, I didn't even notice when Natalie went solo. This is a pretty decent live set, with a couple of Maniacs songs, interesting covers of David Bowie and Neil Young and a bunch of songs from her first album. If someone had given me tickets, I would have enjoyed the show but I certainly wouldn't have paid a lot for them. From that perspective, getting this album via MB likewise provided a great opportunity to hear it, but I'm ready to trade!
on the Sam-O-Meter.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Nirvana - In Utero (1993)
Acclaimed #100
Acclaimed #100
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Goat - s/t (2024)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Nick Drake - The Making Of Five Leaves Left (rec. 1968-69, Universal comp., 2025)
You will usually find me bashing the huge music conglomerates, but Universal Music Group got this one right. When UMG gobbled up Polygram, they instituted a new tape management system that enabled them to locate lost material like that included here. Working with Nick's sister, Gabrielle, and Neil Storey, Island Records' former head of publicity, project manager Johnny Chandler assembled three CD's worth of outtakes starting with the very first demo session plus a fourth disc with the final album. A full size 12x12 booklet includes a full discography and insightful notes that put it all into context.
Maybe the most important reissue of the decade so far.
You will usually find me bashing the huge music conglomerates, but Universal Music Group got this one right. When UMG gobbled up Polygram, they instituted a new tape management system that enabled them to locate lost material like that included here. Working with Nick's sister, Gabrielle, and Neil Storey, Island Records' former head of publicity, project manager Johnny Chandler assembled three CD's worth of outtakes starting with the very first demo session plus a fourth disc with the final album. A full size 12x12 booklet includes a full discography and insightful notes that put it all into context.
Maybe the most important reissue of the decade so far.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
The Waterboys - Life, Death And Dennis Hopper (2025)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard, Golden Beach, Florida 33160, USA (1974)
I recently scored the 1996 remaster as a bonus disc from a very kind trader at MusicBoomerang.
freedb, ever exhaustive, identifies the artist as "Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (Ripley, Surrey, England, UK)". If they can do it, so can I.
This record is far better than I remembered it at the time. Back then, it seemed sleepy compared to Cream and Derek and The Dominos. Today, it bubbles along with bluesy intensity, greatly aided by Yvonne Elliman's soulful background vocals.
I recently scored the 1996 remaster as a bonus disc from a very kind trader at MusicBoomerang.
freedb, ever exhaustive, identifies the artist as "Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (Ripley, Surrey, England, UK)". If they can do it, so can I.
This record is far better than I remembered it at the time. Back then, it seemed sleepy compared to Cream and Derek and The Dominos. Today, it bubbles along with bluesy intensity, greatly aided by Yvonne Elliman's soulful background vocals.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Snooper - Worldwide (2025)
axolotl
Nunquam non paratus
I gotta admit; I had ta look up Egg Punk.Snooper - Worldwide (2025)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger: Live From Austin City Limits (rec. 1976, rel. 2020)
Vinyl Spin of the Day.
Willie Nelson has made more appearances than anyone on "Austin City Limits", starting with the pilot in 1974. His second time around came on October 4, 1976., a year after his revolutionary Red Headed Stranger had turned the country music world upside down with its raw demo sound.
It was the perfect occasion to perform the complete album in order, before a wildly appreciative Texas audience. Willie had been including a medley of songs from the first side (remember those?) of the record as part of his regular show but rarely if ever did the second half. Sister Bobbie Nelson used the opportunity to blow the audience away with her exuberant piano solo on "Down Yonder". For this special show, Willie even emulated The Grateful Dead by utilizing two drummers. Rex Ludwig, who was playing in Jimmy Rabbitt's Renegade band joined regular Paul English to fill out the sound.
This show sat in the vault until Columbia dusted it off for a vinyl only release on Record Store Day in 2020. A better union of performer, venue, audience and material you will never find.
Vinyl Spin of the Day.
Willie Nelson has made more appearances than anyone on "Austin City Limits", starting with the pilot in 1974. His second time around came on October 4, 1976., a year after his revolutionary Red Headed Stranger had turned the country music world upside down with its raw demo sound.
It was the perfect occasion to perform the complete album in order, before a wildly appreciative Texas audience. Willie had been including a medley of songs from the first side (remember those?) of the record as part of his regular show but rarely if ever did the second half. Sister Bobbie Nelson used the opportunity to blow the audience away with her exuberant piano solo on "Down Yonder". For this special show, Willie even emulated The Grateful Dead by utilizing two drummers. Rex Ludwig, who was playing in Jimmy Rabbitt's Renegade band joined regular Paul English to fill out the sound.
This show sat in the vault until Columbia dusted it off for a vinyl only release on Record Store Day in 2020. A better union of performer, venue, audience and material you will never find.
on the Sam-O-Meter.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Neil Young - Harvest (1972)
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall (1979)
Acclaimed #102 and #103
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall (1979)
Acclaimed #102 and #103
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
The Stooges - Fun House (1970)
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (1985)
Acclaimed #105
Remember getting this on cassette in college - not even sure why I picked it up. May have been in the Rolling Stone Top 100 of the past 20 years (1967-1987). Was so different, original for me at the time (and still)
Acclaimed #105
Remember getting this on cassette in college - not even sure why I picked it up. May have been in the Rolling Stone Top 100 of the past 20 years (1967-1987). Was so different, original for me at the time (and still)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Hélène Grimaud, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Choir (Esa-Pekka Salonen, cond,) –
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, "The Tempest", Fantasia For Piano, Chorus And Orchestra In C Minor, "Choral Fantasy"
Arvo Part: Credo
This is a truly remarkable album. The brilliant Helen Grimaud takes us a on a stormy journey from a Beethoven sonata to his "Choral Fantasy" to Arvo Part's dramatic "Credo". In the process, she draws out unexpected emotional similarities between these two very different composers. Esa-Pekka and the Swedes sing and play up a storm but she stands strong and tall through it all.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, "The Tempest", Fantasia For Piano, Chorus And Orchestra In C Minor, "Choral Fantasy"
Arvo Part: Credo
This is a truly remarkable album. The brilliant Helen Grimaud takes us a on a stormy journey from a Beethoven sonata to his "Choral Fantasy" to Arvo Part's dramatic "Credo". In the process, she draws out unexpected emotional similarities between these two very different composers. Esa-Pekka and the Swedes sing and play up a storm but she stands strong and tall through it all.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Primal Scream - Screamadelica (1991)
Acclaimed #107
Acclaimed #107
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Duane Eddy - Duane Eddy (1987)
When the King of Twang decided to release his first album in a more than a decade, he gathered a few friends to help him out. Friends like Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Ry Cooder and David Lindley were happy to jump in. But wait, there's more. The opening track, "Kickin' Asphalt", featured solos from James Burton, Steve Cropper and John Fogerty.
on the Sam-O-Meter. The tribute album to end all tribute albums.
Sadly, it's not on Spotify.
When the King of Twang decided to release his first album in a more than a decade, he gathered a few friends to help him out. Friends like Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Ry Cooder and David Lindley were happy to jump in. But wait, there's more. The opening track, "Kickin' Asphalt", featured solos from James Burton, Steve Cropper and John Fogerty.
on the Sam-O-Meter. The tribute album to end all tribute albums. Sadly, it's not on Spotify.
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