ALBUMS-

• VAN MORRISON: ASTRAL WEEKS: 1968: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS:

• THE BEATLES: SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND: 1967: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS:

• GANG OF FOUR: ENTERTAINMENT: 1979: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A highly acclaimed album- Gang of Four’s debut- it didn’t sell well or get any airplay. I read about the album and bought it without having heard anything off of it. Pitchfork has ranked it as the 8th best 1970’s album and Rolling Stone has it at #490 on their 500 Greatest Album list. Punk with a mixture of dance, funk, and reggae influences. I must admit it took me a number of listens back in the day to get into this but eventually it did kick in.

• ATLANTIC RHYTHM & BLUES: 1947-74: 1947-1952: DISC 1: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: 1991: At least once a year I liked to listen to this eight disc box on Atlantic Records- an outstanding and legendary label. The box goes in chronological order- the first disc has jazz, R&B and bop music. Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner and The Clovers are highlights here. The 5 stars is for the entire box set. The first disc- well worth listening to- is my least favorite of the 8 discs- but the box is strong from start to finish. 203 songs on the 8 discs.

• ATLANTIC RHYTHM & BLUES: 1947: 74: 1952-1954: DISC 2: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Disc 2 is all R&B- enter Ray Charles, The Drifters, Ruth Brown, La Verne Baker, Professor Longhair, The Clovers. I haven’t seen this box set in stores for years but if you can get your hands on a copy…

• ROCKPILE: SECONDS OF PLEASURE: 1980: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A fun album. It sounds like they had fun making the album- and I know it is a fun album to listen to. The only album Rockpile- led by Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds ever made. Highlights- “Heart’. “Teacher Teacher”, “When I Write The Book”. “IF Sugar Was As Sweet as You”, and a Chuck Berry cover “Oh, What A Thrill.”  It’s too bad these guys didn’t do more together- although they did play on many of each others solo albums over the years.