In our weekly series, Heavy Rotation, I will write about the five records I have been spinning regularly over the last week. There is not an expiration date. The records included can be from any time period at all. All entries are eligible to appear for multiple weeks. In fact, repetition is likely due to the fact that while I listen to a fair amount of music, it's not as much as I'd like to make time for. Also, as some of you may know, we have a vinyl only policy around our house, so as expected, all entries on the list are being listened to via turntable.
Ladies and germs, presenting week two (or thereabouts) of Heavy Rotation . . .
Soundway Records | 2011
Yet another killer world music re-issue from the world combing collector/repackagers over at Soundway. This volume fixates on the Discos Fuentes record label and the singles they released between 1962 and 1972. Mastered from the original recordings, all of which went straight to 45 rpm at their release, Cartagena unleashes a feast of great Colombian dancehall, pop and cumbia. This record is fun, funky, hip shaking and mind-blowing. In short. it's a groovy and catchy ass kicker. Nearly all of the Soundway stuff laid upon my ears sounds great, but this is in the upper echelon.
Cartagena! Curro Fuentes & The Big Band Cumbia and Descarga Sound of Colombia 1962 - 1972 by Soundway
Beggars Banquet | 1995
Penthouse represents a high water mark for Luna's fine career. Though the band have many other fine records, Penthouse reads like a series of short stories written by an author who envisioned narratives contrived by Flannery O'Connor and Woody Allen all set to a poppier version of the Velvet Underground. There are not many records from the mid-90's that still resonate with me, but Penthouse is a very special record. There is an emotional response every time I hear it - and I never tire of that feeling.
Sundazed Records | 2011
If someone asked me to make a short list of the most criminally under-appreciated bands ever, the Byrds would slide into second place behind the Kinks without another thought. This 2-LP live set vinyl reissue further solidifies the point. After years of lineup changes and brushes with pop superstardom, the Byrds of 1971 were an undeniably powerhouse four piece consisting of just one original member (Roger McGuinn) and the badassedness guitar player (Clarence White) country rock ever saw. This Sundazed reissue is a beautiful pressing with wicked versions of hits throughout the Byrds' canon. This is not a band to forget about it. Just listen or yourself.
Polygram Records | 1983
As a general rule, I do not spin a lot of greatest hits collections. Yet there are always exceptions to every rule. In this particular case, The Jam are a really great band with many very good records, but their greatest strength is most often found within their singles. This double LP set is therefore, a clinic in how The Jam made a bevy of singles in the late 70's and early 80s with a punkish energy, a mod-like sense of style and an Elvis Costello-ish knack for melodies and hooks. For the uninitiated to the work of The Jam and Paul Weller, this is the ideal place to dip your toe into the pool.
Edition EG | 1974
Brian Eno is perhaps best known as a producer of mammoth records by gigantic bands like U2, Coldplay, Talking Heads and David Bowie. Many others will link him to his ambient instrumental work. Some will even recall his involvement in the early Roxy Music records. But the greatest gift of Eno's career are the four solo pop records he made in the early and mid 1970's. Mixing cooky-yet-catchy melodies with oddly fascinating veiled lyrics, he crafted some really great songs, especially on this record. At times, he comes off like a more educated Bowie or T-Rex with a tad of Graham Greene intrigue tossed in for good measure. It is exceedingly difficult to make a smart pop record with an attitude, an agenda and a penchant for glam. Brian Eno pulled it off in spades on this one.
