Turn It Up To 11

Eno. Fripp. Dream team. Hadn't heard that LP in years so I dusted it off last weekend. Gave it a spin. While not one of Eno's or Fripp's most refined/sophisticated projects, it's certainly intriguing. And ingratiating. Hypnotic, minimalist, rewarding "loop music" that's ultimately quite beautiful.

I didn't know Bowie's work well when I 1st heard Tin Machine's debut. I saw the vid for Under the God, it rocked, so I got the LP. In hindsight, it finds the man in a creative state of mind, reenergized after nearly a decade of cruising on autopilot. It was refreshing then and has aged rather well.

90125. Many ex-colleagues/friends snubbed and ridiculed this record. Still don't know exactly why. True, it has nothing to do with late '60s/'70s Yes but for what it is (a sophisticated pop album made for the MTV gen), it's nearly flawless. My personal fav on this has always been the closer, Hearts.

When I worked at a record store in the early 1990s, this one played… a lot. Arguably, Squeeze's finest hour on vinyl. They got everything right here. One thing it does well is capture aspects of the UK life (a bit like Blur's Parklife). Varied, creative, catchy. A new wave LP of the highest order.

Neu!'s 1972 debut. A krautrock milestone that influenced countless artists over the years : Eno, Bowie, Iggy Pop, PIL, Radiohead, etc. The epic, beautiful 10-minute opener, Hallogallo, alone, is worth the price of admission but the rest of the record is also worth listening to. Pioneers.

I firmly believe, you never forget your first exposure to jazz music. I was 7-8 when I first heard Blue Rondo à la Turk at my uncle's cottage. Something happened at that very moment. It clicked. I recently listened to a lot of Brubeck stuff. But Time Out is a timeless, absolutely essential record.

Such an important record. Very first NY LP I ever got (thanks to an ex-partner). First one he made with Crazy Horse. And his first really great album. A total departure from his debut and the blueprint for, essentially, the rest of his career. Some highlights : Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River, ...

I never met Marianne Faithfull but an ex-colleague of mine said she was the "coolest grandma." For some, her voice is an acquired taste. Not for me. Love it. Broken English is rewarding. While it's clearly a product of its time, the material is pretty strong. Guilt, Lucy Jordan, title track, ...

I see that LP ev. day in my record collection. Never talked about it. Let's do it. When I was young, I heard stuff from Starship (Sara) on the radio. This is the original band. The real deal. Today. Somebody To Love. White Rabbit. Not a weak track on this. Still inspired, trippy almost 59 yrs later.

The 1st live Talking Heads LP. And I must say, purely as a listening experience, I prefer it to Stop Making Sense. The band is on fire on this; hungry, there's an urgency that's utterly charming and compelling. Overall, it's more satisfying. A great live document. The 2004 re-release is a must-own.

THRAK. I often think of this one as a neglected Crimson LP. Many critics at the time said it was "more of the same" or "Red-sounding" but I tend to disagree. Maybe not one of their all-time best but certainly not bad. Many fine moments: VROOOM, Dinosaur and my personal fav, the delightful One Time.

Two days ago was Bryan Ferry's birthday. I still can't believe the King of Cool is now 80 years old. I find it genuinely sad that his voice has drastically weakened. But hey, that's life. His distinctive '70s-'80s voice remains one of my favs. I was 15 when I got this. 9 covers, 1 original. Good LP.

The infamous Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe album. Big Generator was a big disappointment for me, so when this came out it was a breath of fresh air. I liked it quite a bit then. Still like it now. Basically, a Yes LP minus the name… and Squire's bass. Heck, it was even better than Yes' Union.

Jon Hassell was such a gifted, innovative trumpet player. Many highlights in his lengthy catalog : his remarkable work with Eno, late career gems such as Last Night the Moon… Vernal Equinox, his first official solo LP, remains a really fine introduction. Still impressive and powerful 47 years later.

I believe the first time I heard of Pin Ups is from Canadian singer Sass Jordan in the late 1980s. Think it was her favorite David LP. Is it one of MY fav LPs? No, it isn't. Is it one of his best? No. Having said that, for a covers-only album, it's intriguing; a must-listen for the man's true fans.

You never forget your first Beatles album. Xmas '87. I asked for the Red Album, not the blue one (because the cover showed them happy, innocent, young). A few days before Xmas, I tore up the corner of the wrapping paper to make sure it was the right LP! And it was. A great entry point for newbies.

I know people who absolutely love this record (some even said it was "life-changing") and some who really hate it. I like it. An incredibly inspired, beautiful piece of music. All improvised. And knowing Mr. Jarrett was very sick and only 29 when he recorded it makes it all the more impressive.

To say that Harry Nilsson was an iconoclast is an understatement. He had a gorgeous voice, a gift for melody and clever lyrics. He also had demons. Many demons. A complicated and fascinating artist. In the mid-late 70s, the man released some defiantly idiosyncratic LPs. A gateway Nilsson work? This.

IMO, Robbie Robertson's best solo LP remains his 1987 debut. Storyville is not far behind but I usually come back to this one. There's a U2 collab that's ok (Sweet Fire of Love) but the rest is better, IMO. Crazy River. Fallen Angel. Showdown. Broken Arrow. Really solid batch of tunes.

1975. What a fantastic year for music. Born to Run. Horses. Blood on the Tracks. Basement Tapes. Plus the 1st Crazy Horse LP in 5 years. Aside from the goofy cover art, it's melodic, the guitar tone is remarkable; there's a raw quality that's delightful. Cortez alone is worth the price of the LP.

On the turntable today : The English Beat's debut. What a fun record. Mirror in the Bathroom. Hand's Off She's Mine. Tears of a Clown. No filler on this one.

Another LP I see regularly in my collection... but I rarely listen to. Spun it last night and had a good time. Less R&B-oriented than previous Marvin releases; more funky, "discofied". Pretty steamy, very sensual with beautiful, lush arrangements. Perfect for Saturday evenings in good company.

Someone once said this is a "minor" Neil Young LP. Strongly disagree. Not only is it an important NY album but I'd even say it's one of the best of the '70s. 3 of the 8 titles have the word "blues" in them but it's not a blues record: it's a cathartic, vibrant, unvarnished, unapologetically rock LP.

In America, Richard Thompson is not a household name; best-known in the UK as a member of Fairport Convention. Gifted guitarist, songwriter, he released a string of superb LPs w/ his then-wife (Linda) from the mid-70s to the early 80s. This is one of the great breakup LPs. His final project w/ Linda

Two decades ago, I used to travel to NYC every summer. And one of the things I loved doing was finding used (and new) vinyl LPs in record shops. Found this one around 2005 for a few bucks. It's mellow, title track is quite amazing. A very good HH LP. Always reminds me of Manhattan when I spin it.

Discovering The Clash's music at 15 was life-changing. Quite literally. There's so much rage, anger on the band's debut, yet it remains catchy, hummable with an urgency and a vital, nervous energy; that dirty, raw sound influenced countless artists and bands. Super short tunes. Many gems here.

I barely listen to any Pink Floyd anymore. I overdosed on Dark Side, WYWH, Meddle, Animals, Atom Heart, (...) as a young adult. Basically, the only LP I enjoy spinning once in a while is this one. Delightful spacey psych pop from the twisted mind of Syd Barrett that's as fractured as it is playful.

Another LP I see every day in my collection. Growing up, I didn't like Relayer. At all. But over the years, I've warmed up to it… even though I still prefer The Yes album, Fragile and CTTE. Only 3 tracks. Delirium : ambitious and complex. Chaser : full of contrasts, rewarding. A real grower.

I rarely talk about compilations bc I simply don't like 'em. Usually, studio LPs tell a story from the 1st to the last track. Comps are just a bunch of tunes. Period. Having said that, there ARE great comps out there. Like this one. Only hits from the Stones' best period (1964-1971). Awesome stuff.

Big Max Richter fan. One of my favorite contemporary composers. Many remarkable releases : the gorgeous Blue Notebooks, his recomposition of The Four Seasons, ... But his magnum opus remains Sleep, an 8 1/2-hour experience. I really recommend the full version (not the 1-hour LP titled From Sleep).