Goal is to listen to 1500 different albums in a 12 month period.

TODAY-LISTENED TO 12 DIFFERENT ALBUMS, TOTAL FOR 36 DAYS 225 DIFFERENT ALBUMS. ON PACE FOR 2281.

• PAUL CARRACK: SUBURBAN VOODOO: 1982. 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. Coming off a stint in “Squeeze” where he sang their hit “Tempted” the former frontman for Ace “How Long” put out his first solo album which included the minor hit “I Need You”- a fine pop album.
• MARSHALL CRENSHAW: MARSHALL CRENSHAW: 1982: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. Great, great album of power pop songs. The highlight wasn’t even on the original release – a b-side “You’re My Favorite Waste of Time”- not that the original release wasn’t without its highlights- I love every song- Crenshaw had a minor hit with “Someday ,Someway.” Perfect album. It sparkles.
• LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM: GO INSANE: 1984: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS.”Go Insane” and “I Want You” should have topped the charts.
• BILL MONROE: 16 GEMS: 1996: These songs are from the 1940’s- prime Bill Monroe. Love his singing and his mandolin playing. He was my dad’s favorite.
• THE GRATEFUL DEAD: IN THE DARK: 1988: 3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. The Dead’s biggest selling album and their biggest hit “Touch of Grey”went to #9 on the Billboard Top 100- their only Top 40 appearance. Two great songs- “Touch of Grey” the opener and the closer “Black Muddy River”- in between songs- just alright, not essential.
• DON HENLEY: BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST: 1984: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. I am not an Eagles fan at all- but I really like Don Henley’s solo work. “The Boys of Summer” one of my all time Top 30.
• THE COSTELLO SHOW: KING OF AMERICA: 1986: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. After “Goodbye Cruel World” in 1984- his worst album- Elvis maybe wisely took 1985 off as far as releasing a new album- then he came back in 1986 and released two excellent albums making it 11 albums in his first decade. EC came to America, ditched The Attractions for this album [except for one track} and brought in studio musicians and T-Bone Burnett as producer. Wonderful results. Not a bad tune on the album.
• THE ROLLING STONES: METAMORPHOSIS: 1975: 3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. Outtakes and alternative versions of songs done by the Stones in the 1960’s. Nothing to get too excited about.
• ROBERT FORSTER: THE EVANGELIST: 2008: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. One of those albums I heard about from a great review in a magazine. Wonderful, heartfelt album by the former Go Between. One of my most listened to new albums of the past decade.
• LOU REED/ JOHN CALE: SONGS FOR DRELLA: 1990:  4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. Former Velvet Underground members Reed and Cale get back together on a song cycle about Andy Warhol. Hadn’t listened to this in ages. Very good stuff.
• ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS: BLOOD &CHOCOLATE: 1986: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. EC back with the Attractions- with his second great album of 1986. More rocking than King of America.
• FRANK SINATRA: COME SWING WITH ME!: 1961: 1 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS. Frank going through the motions playing out his Capital contract. Annoying arranging by Billy May- enough of the two trumpets with the call and response. This is a difficult listen.