John Lee Hooker:

The Best Of:(1987)

John Lee Hooker was a different kind of cat. Never as flashy as some of his Blues peers, instead coming across as so Earthy and real that his feet seemed planted in the good dirt. His were down and dirty grooves that could be unrelenting. There wasn't the big guitar solos, instead there was a ditch diggin' groove for that sweet thundering voice to ride upon. There's no B.S. from a John Lee Hooker record. Also unlike some of peers, John Lee wasn't afraid to get political in his lyrics, tackling issues like race, and war in a down home way, almost like your Grandfather was talking to you. This is a nice overview kind of album.

Hooker 'N Heat:(1971)

Team a versatile powerhouse of a band like Canned Heat with someone they admire as much as John Lee Hooker, and you've got a seriously classic album on your hands. This album starts off with Hooker by himself playing, seemingly waiting for the band to show up. When they do the camaraderie and the music takes off like a steady rollin' plow. The production values on this album are killer, and take on a cinema verite/fly on the wall style that allows us to hear the conversations before and after songs. This makes for an intimate listening experience.  

One of my favorite quotes came when John Lee was asked why he almost always wore sunglasses on stage, and he replied, they hide the frequent tears that come when I play.

The Highwaymen:

Highwayman:(1985)

The four faces of the Mt. Rushmore of American music peer out from the cover of this record like old friends. It's that camaraderie that comes through in the tunes. It feels like a glimpse into a private weekend gathering at one of their houses, or at least how an outsider might imagine it.  Jimmy Webb may have written the words of Highwayman, but they never sounded so believable as they do from these four iconic voices. I have a few issues with the 80's production values, but I can overlook that to enjoy this classic album.

John Hiatt:

Slug Line:(1979)

All Of A Sudden:(1982)

Warming Up To The Ice Age:(1985)

John Hiatt is an amazing songwriter, but there is a serious divide in his catalog. His early albums, from Hanging Around The Observatory to Warming Up To The Ice Age, share a lot with Elvis Costello & The Attractions albums of that time. It's this era of Hiatt's career that is represented in these three pieces of vinyl. They have a youthful bounce to them, that at times, overshadows the lyric. In any case these are fun albums that hint at the greatness that would arrive in 1987 with Bring The Family. I enjoy hearing the full catalog of an artist I dig, it helps tell the full story of their work.

Joe Henry:

Murder of Crows:(1989)

I've read interviews where even Joe Henry himself has suggested that maybe listeners should skip over his first few albums. But, being a bit of a completist, I've tried to collect them all. However, I understand the point of view, I'm not crazy about people hearing my first albums either. But, this blog is focusing on my vinyl collection, which brings us to Murder of Crows, the only piece of the Joe Henry discography I have on vinyl. I have all the others, except for Talk of Heaven, on CD. Now, is Murder of Crows as strong as, say, Trampoline or Invisible Hour? No. But, most of the areas where this album stumbles are in the production. The songs feel solid. It's just the that the singer gets a little lost and seems unsure of the surroundings in what feels like a dated production style. Which brings up the question, why own albums, even by an artist your dig, if you feel they are weak albums? Because when I dig an artist as much as I dig Joe Henry, I want the whole picture. I may not listen to this album as many times as I reach for Tiny Voices, but it paints a path of where the artist came from, perhaps informing me about production ideas Henry has tried to stir away from in his later work. Bob Dylan has said, the journey is the goal, not the destination. And someone's early albums are that "journey", deeming them worth hearing. 

Not having seen any of Joe Henry's albums on vinyl, I was not expecting to find any. I was surprised while digging through a dusty crate at Black and Read's second Denver location, the one with just used stuff, and only open on Saturdays, to come across Murder Of Crows. Upon finding it I dug feverishly through many more boxes hoping to find more Henry vinyl. Alas there were none. 

As a complete side note, as a singer/songwriter myself, there are very few singer/songwriter/producers that I respect more than Joe Henry. It would be an honor to be able to get on the shovel and work with him on a project.

Jimi Hendrix:

Are You Experienced:(1967)

Band of Gypsys:(1970)

Jimi Hendrix Vol 2:(1976)

The Essential:(1978)

Extremely few people have expanded the boundaries of music in the way Jimi Hendrix accomplished. Fewer still have been able to maintain fame after such a tragically short career. For all those reasons and more it's important to keep a few Hendrix albums around at all times. That said, if I was picking favorite Hendrix songs, I tend to gravitate toward the more melodic less bombastic guitar driven stuff, i.e. May This Be Love, Have You Ever Been (to Electric Ladyland), and The Wind Cries Mary. But the tune of his that gets stuck in my head most is Gypsy Eyes.  OK, enough naming songs...time to go listen to some Jimi Hendrix!

Richard Hell and The Voidoids:

Blank Generation:(1977)

 A fabulous album by someone who doesn't get as much credit as he probably should in the evolution of rock'n'roll. Just being a founding member of Television earns high marks in my book. Unlike a lot of the mid-seventies New York scene, Richard Hell seemed to be a little more forward thinking in much the same way as Patti Smith. That's what translates into this being a seminal album. I never get tired of hear this record. 

Isaac Hayes:

The Isaac Hayes Movement:(1970)

Black Moses:(1971)

Isaac Hayes was an iconic figure for a brief shining moment in his absurd gold chain vest, and beautiful bald head, then popular music shifted as it's oft to do, and he became a self parodying comedic figure. From Black Moses to Chef. Personally I thought his best songs were written before he became "Isaac Hayes", back when he was just a songwriting partner for David Porter churning out songs like: Soul Man, Hold On I'm Coming, B-A-B-Y, I Thank You, and When Something Is Wrong With My Baby. I was always a little perplexed as to why his solo albums were mostly covers. He reimagined them into these impressive slow groove things, couldn't he have just written his own?Anyway, these two pieces of vinyl come from the heyday of Isaac Hayes being Isaac Hayes, complete with the big four foot foldout album cover for Black Moses.  

George Harrison:

Wonderwall Music:(1968)

I love this album. I probably reach for this Harrison gem more than most. Equal parts world music, and psychedelia, but all George. So good!

All Things Must Pass:(1970)

I think George was such an underrated songwriter, and to me this album proves it. There are so many incredible songs on this triple album. Just go back and listen to the lyrics of Isn't It A Pity again. The depths to which George was willing to mine are striking. The icing on the cake here is all the fabulous musicians who played on these sessions; Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman, Bobby Whitlock, Ringo, Bobby Keys, most of Badfinger...the list goes on. 

Dark Horse:(1974)

George Harrison had a deep sharp sense of humor, and to me it comes through in abundance on this album. Just check out songs like Hari's On Tour [Express], or the crazy pitch shifting cover of Bye Bye Love. However, to my ear the song Far East Man is the highlight.

George Harrison:(1979)

As a kid my folks had this album lurking about, but they didn't play it. They would say, "well, George got too experimental for us." When I finally started playing this beautiful record I realized they had confused this album with one of John Lennon's experimental albums. This album is anything but experimental. It's such a sweet beautiful cycle of songs, maybe Harrison's strongest. Blow Away might be my favorite George Harrison song. In his autobiography, I, Me, Mine Harrison described the low period that yielded this tune. He said something I'll never forget, [paraphrased] 'a problem is only a problem if you become attached to it. You have to realize we all contain the light of the divine, we just have to remember to reflect that light to shed the worries of this world.' 

"All it takes is some warmth to make it blow away, blow away, blow away..."

 

Tim Hardin:

Suite For Susan Moore and Damion-We Are-One,One, All In One:(1969)

This may be the most private album I've ever heard. It feels like, as a listener, you just stumbled upon a door that's thinly cracked open, and on the other side is this songwriter confessing his deep personal thoughts to just the shadows in his room. And there seem to be lots of heavy deep shadows. Even when the songs speak of love and tenderness there's an underlying pain. I came to this album by chance. I knew of Hardin from a Woodstock compilation, and by the covers of his songs by people like Rod Stewart and Johnny Cash. Then one day I came across this album in a thrift store for twenty-five cents. The ghostly cover drew me in, and once I'd dropped a needle on it, I was completely taken. This is a beautiful album.

Herbie Hancock:

Man-Child:(1975)

I hear the influence of Miles Davis all over this album, and no wonder since Hancock played with him for a long time. But it has that searching feeling that Davis' stuff had. This is also Hancock's most funky bit every. It's that element that keeps this album from becoming too full of itself.

Future Shock:(1983)

Of course, we all know this record. Supposedly important for being the first instance of record scratching on a mainstream recording, but Grandmaster Flash had stuff out before this. That said, Rockit is still a cool track, with an insane video to match it. However, I always feel like this record gets pretty tedious about a third of the way in, I don't know. I love Bill Laswell and Material's experimentation here. Very cool.

Half Japanese:

Music To Strip By:(1987)

If you're unfamiliar with Half Japanese I suggest you track down a copy of the documentary The Band That Would Be King. Jad and David Fair are pop geniuses from another dimension. On this, their fifth album, incredible originals like Stripping For Cash, and U.S. Teens Are Spoiled Bums are mixed in with a selection of covers like only Jad and David could do them, like La Bamba. 

Strange But True:(1998)-Jad Fair and Yo La Tengo

This is a killer album where Jad recites inventive nonsensical stories over music by Yo La Tengo. I love this record. It's an adult kid record. 

Bill Haley and His Comets:

Greatest Hits:(1969)

Well, this is some killer early Rock'n'Roll, isn't it? I mean Danny Cedrone's solo on Rock Around The Clock is worth the price of admission. I've been a Bill Haley fan since I was a tiny kid. As a five year old I was knocked out by See You Later Alligator. 

Merle Haggard:

Mama Tried:(1968)

It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad):(1972)

One of the greats, and the last original connection to the source of Jimmie Rodgers. If you're going to play Country music, I want it to be real Country, not the Pop-Rock crap with a fiddle and a steel guitar. Merle was Country. What others sang about, he lived, and he brought it all out in songs for 79 years. 

Buddy Guy & Junior Wells:

Play The Blues:(1972)

Well, shit...this is Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, enough said. Two masters in their prime!

Just listen to it!

Arlo Guthrie:

Arlo:(1968)

This is the only Arlo Guthrie piece of vinyl I own, and it's a pretty good one to have, because it's a live album, and that's where Arlo seems to really come alive. You hear the interaction with the audience, and prolonged storytelling that makes this album pop. So instead of writing a whole bunch let's just sit back and sing a verse of that classic, The Motorcycle Song...

Woody Guthrie:

The Legendary Woody Guthrie In Memoriam:(1967)

1940-1946 Original Recordings Made By:(1977)

Dust Bowl Ballads Sung By Woody Guthrie:(2009)

What a guiding light this man continues to be, a benchmark for honest defiant sympathetic songwriting. Woody was more perfectly embodied that Rock'n'Roll, Punk, American spirit than just about anyone. And did it all during a time there wasn't necessarily gold at the end of music fame rainbow. Whenever I feel a bit down about my chosen profession or the world in general, I can play a Woody record, and get back on the path. Here's Woody in his own words:

I hate a song that makes you think you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody.No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim. Too ugly or too this or too that. Songs that run you down or poke fun at you on account of your bad luck or hard traveling. I'm out to fight those songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood. I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to sing the songs that make you take pride in yourself and in your work. And the songs that I sing are made up for the most part by all sorts of folks just about like you.

I could hire out to the other side, the big money side, and get several dollars every week just to quit singing my own songs and to sing the kind that knock you down farther and the ones that poke fun at you even more and the ones that make you think you've not got any sense at all. But I decided a long time ago that I'd starve to death before I'd sing any such songs as that. The radio waves and your movies and your jukeboxes and your songbooks are already loaded down and running over with such no good songs as that anyhow.

Bobby Gentry:

Ode To Billie Joe:(1967)

Believe it or not, this was the only album to bump Sgt. Pepper from the its fifteen week Top 200 run. I've always been fascinated by Bobbie Gentry's voice, so worn, and experienced sounding. I was floored when I finally saw a picture of her...I did not expect someone as young and attractive to have sported that husky velveted voice. I must have been about seven years old the first time I heard Ode To Billie Joe, the song. Growing up in the 80's in Mississippi there was an oldies radio show called Tunes Till Two that my parents used to put on while doing yard work etc. My folks pointed out that Billie Joe was a story song. I loved it from the first time I heard it. However, it didn't get played a lot, at least not when I was listening to the radio. So I waited eagerly, and got ecstatic when it came back on. Like so many, I wondered where the story came from, and what was being thrown off that bridge. The older I got, and the more into music, I started to appreciate this album for more than that one song, for instance, Jimmie Haskell's incredibly evocative swampy string arrangements. Oh! They are so good. To this day this album still carries all the mystery and depth that it always had without giving anything away. Marvelous!