Dave Edmunds – 503

ALBUM: The Best of Dave Edmunds (1981) MVC Rating: 4/$$$ Ah, rock and roll. Smooth unfiltered like good Kentucky bourbon. It’s Berry DIddley and for Everley Buddy Lee Lewis. (Well that last sentence sort of belies the unfiltered description. Maybe filtered just right like Marlboro Lights? Not so good but I am deviating again.) I …

Top 24 Record Reviews on MyVinylCountdown

I couldn’t figure out how to scrunch the list. I will follow this post soon with a rundown of my Top 24 essays covering everything that is not a record review. Top 20 MVC reviews Views Joe Cocker 23,834 Willie Nelson 9,621 David Gilmour 8,367 Bobby Goldsboro 7,520 Lyle Lovett 4,093 David Lindley 3,262 Charley …

Rockpile 232

ALBUM: Rockpile (1980) MVC Rating: 4.5/$$$$ I used to say that if I was limited to one album to play at a party it would be Dr. John’s Gumbo. Swampy cajun with creole spices, a magical brew of traditional and current dance songs that, even if you can’t understand the words — are forced to …

My Vinyl Countdown still on track but it is more difficult (blog version)

Sitting here hunting and pecking my keyboard this early morning until my meds kick in. In the morning after 10 or more hours without the meds find me with my most outsized symptoms. Tremors and slow thinking to be specific. But morning is my best writing time simply for its peace and quiet. Only distraction: …

7 Most underrated albums in MVC collection

Here’s the second part as promised:The Top 7 most Underrated Albums in my collection of 678. I know this is subjective but I have the insight of living with these records  a long time. TUESDAY: Underrated Artists. On MVC WEDNESDAY: Underrated Albums . on MVC THURSDAY: Underrated Songs. On MVC FRIDAY/SATURDAY: All lists in one …

Nick Lowe — 357, 356, 355, 354

ALBUMS: The Rose of England (1985); Nick Lowe and his Cowboy Outfit (1984); Nick the Knife (1982); Pure Pop for Now People (1978); MVC Rating: Rose 4.0/$$; Cowboy 3.5/$$; Knife 3.5/$$$; Pop 4.5/$$$. The best Nick Lowe album on this list is the oldest — Pure Pop for Now People, a minor classic of smart …

Record Store Day (belated)

I’m kind of new to this Record Store Day thing. Last year I went to Charlemagne and Renaissance on Birmingham’s Southside. Don’t even remember what I bought to be honest. I just wasn’t in to shopping for records, I guess. This year I was feeling it a little more as I continue to countdown my …

Flamin’ Groovies — 487

ALBUMS: Now (1978) MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$ I was graduating from high school when this came out. Talk about retro.. This group was like something out of 1966. They cover ‘Paint it Black’ on this album like it was a new song. ‘There’s a Place’ cover sounds like the 1960’s prom band checking in on the …

Ducks DeLuxe –517

ALBUM:  Don’t Mind Rockin’ Tonight (1978) MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$ In the liner notes it says pub rock was no cliche’ in those days. I’m not sure when or if it has become  a cliche’ but this is pub rock by definition. “Down in the swamp, Daddy put the bomp in my soul.” Don’t  know exactly …

Ry Cooder — 573, 572

ALBUMS: Chicken Skin Music (1977); Borderline (1980) MVC Rating.:  Chicken 4.0/$$$$; Borderline 3.5/$$$ This guy has been playing roots music for a long time. He likes the slide and plays it well. When I say roots, I mean old time rock ‘n roll,  standards from various  genres, including  Hawaiian, Latin American, and Mexican. Hard to …