John Coltrane – With The Red Garland Trio – Analogue Productions 200g Vinyl
For his second long player, John Coltrane (tenor saxophone) joined forces with his Prestige labelmate Red Garland (piano) to command a quartet through a five-song outing supported by a rhythm section of Paul Chambers (bass) and Art Taylor (drums). The absence of any unessential instrumentalists encouraged a decidedly concerted focus from Coltrane, who plays with equal measures of confidence and freedom. The Coltrane original “Traneing In” Is a rousing blues that exemplifies the musical singularity between Coltrane and Garland. Even though Garland, the pianist, takes charge from the start, the structure of the arrangement permits the tenor to construct his solo seamlessly out of Garland’s while incrementally increasing in intensity, yet never losing the song’s underlying swinging bop.
Pharoah Sanders : Live – Pure Pleasure Records 180g 2 LP Vinyl
Chasing the Dragon – Real Time Cassettes
John Lee Hooker – Burning Hell (Bluesville/Acoustic Sounds Series) 180g Vinyl
NOW AVAILABLE
Burning Hell was recorded in 1959 in Detroit, MI, but wasn’t released until 1964. Even then, it was only available in the UK. This 180-gram vinyl pressing marks the first official single LP worldwide release the album has seen. Pressed at QRP as part of the Bluesville Records / Acoustic Sounds series, the album features Hooker solo as he plays originals and classics. AllMusic states that, on this album, “Hooker shows himself to be an excellent interpreter who could have held his own with Delta bluesmen of any era.”
Arthur Fiedler / Boston Pops Orchestra – Chopin: Les Sylphides / Prokofieff: Love For Three Oranges – Analogue Productions 200g Vinyl
Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie Plus Oscar Peterson – The Alternate Blues – Analogue Productions 180g Vinyl
Cyndi Lauper – True Colors – Mofi Vinyl
Grammy-Nominated Double-Platinum Set Includes Internationally Recognized Title Track Plus “What’s Going On” And “Change Of Heart”
Cyndi Lauper could’ve easily played up the independent wild-child pop persona she established on her breakthrough debut until the trend faded. Instead, on her superb sophomore effort, the charismatic artist opts for a more mature and creatively ambitious program, inviting big-name guests and pursuing deeper instrumental textures on a set that goes far beyond the well-known title track. True Colors is a vocal tour de force, an expressive statement on which Lauper showcases singing steeped in emotion, phrasing, and earnestness.The Cars – Shake It Up 180g Mofi Vinyl
Numbered Edition 180-gram LP Sourced from Original Master Tapes
A return to form after the departure that was 1980’s muddled Panorama, the Cars’ Shake It Up bursts forth with a rich assembly of synthesizers, drum machines, electronic blips, and catchy melodies that make it an early 80s pop staple. Known the world over, the famous title track proves the band’s arrangement skills were in perfect shape and set the stage for a record overflowing with memorable hooks and complementary rock riffs.Donovan – The Hurdy Gurdy Man – Impex Records 180g Vinyl LP
Coming April 2025 pre-order your copy today!
Eric Dolphy – At The Five Spot, Vol. 1 (Stereo) Analogue Productions 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Part of the ultimate audiophile Prestige stereo reissues from Analogue Productions — 25 of the most collectible, rarest, most audiophile-sounding Rudy Van Gelder recordings ever made. All cut at 33 1/3 and also released on Hybrid SACD
All mastered from the original analog master tapes by mastering maestro Kevin Gray. 180-gram LPs pressed at Acoustic Sounds' state-of-the-art pressing plant, Quality Record Pressings, plated by Gary Salstrom
Tip-on jackets on thick cardboard stock
First 250 LP copies of each title will be numbered editions and will only be available to series subscribers
Pharoah Sanders – Live – Theresa Records 180 Vinyl 2 LP Gatefold Sleeve
This album features Pharoah Sanders playing some no-nonsense tenor in a quartet with pianist John Hicks, bassist Walter Booker, and drummer Idris Muhammad. Sanders performs “It’s Easy to Remember” (in a style very reminiscent of early-’60s John Coltrane), an original blues, and two of his compositions, including the passionate “You’ve Got to Have Freedom.”
The musicianship is at a high level and, although Sanders does not shriek as much as one might hope (the Trane-ish influence was particularly strong during this relatively mellow period), he is in fine form. Review by Scott Yanow/AMG