Pop/Rock/Blues
We all know about the Dark Side of the Moon and such classics of the genre. So I’ll try to list here recordings that are a little less known....
This is potentially the hardest part of this recordings list, because of the enormous amount of music out there, and the vast range of tastes. My only hope is that you’ll discover works that you didn’t know before, and will enjoy them...
I will add, as time permits, a grade for Recording Quality: RQ. The scale used is from 1 to 5, 1 being the lowest quality, 5 the highest. There are sometimes large differences in quality, depending on the origin of the pressing, and of the re-issue, when applicable (see the NOTE in my introductory page). Therefore the ratings below relate only to the pressings I know.
LAURIE ANDERSON
• Mister Heartbreak (Warner Records, 1984) // RQ: 5
THE BLACK KEYS
• Magic Potion (Nonesuch, 2006) // RQ: 4
• Brothers (Nonesuch, 2010) // RQ: 4
BLACK PRAIRIE
• A tear in the eye is a wound in the heart (Sugar Hill Records, 2012) // RQ: 4.5
THE CLASH
• London Calling (Epic, CBS, 1979) // RQ: 4
LEONARD COHEN
• Old Ideas (Columbia) // RQ: 5
FLEET FOXES
• Fleet Foxes (Subpop, 2008) // RQ: 4
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
• Lungs (Universal Republic Records, 2009) // RQ: 4
• Ceremonials (Universal Republic Records, 2011) // RQ: 4
FOO FIGHTERS
• Wasting Light (RCA, 2011; 45 rpm) // RQ: 4.5
JJ GREY & MOFRO
• This River (Alligator Records, 2013)
BUDDY GUY
• I Was Walking Through The Woods (MCA, 1990, 1970)
ROBERT JOHNSON
• King of the Delta Blues Singer (Columbia -- recorded 1936-37)
KATATONIA
• Night is the new day (Peaceville, 2009)
KEB’ MO’
• with Tommy Eyre, James Hutchinson, Laval Belle, Quentin Dennard, Tony Draunagel (Sony, 1994; reissued by Mobile Fidelity, 2011) // RQ: 5
• Blue Americana - with Michael Hicks, Kevin Moore, Casey Wasner, Steve Jordan, Ken Stroud (Kind of Blue Music, 2014) // RQ: 4
ALBERT KING
• with Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session (Stax, Acoustic Sounds 45 rpm, 2003 -- recording session from 1983) // RQ: 5
KINGS OF LEON
• Mechanical Bull (RCA, 2013) // RQ: 4
KING CRIMSON
• Lizard (Island, 1970)
• In the Wake of Poseidon (Island, 1970)
RAY LAMONTAGNE
• Till The Sun Turns Black (RCA, 2006)
OPETH
• Deliverance (Koch, 2002)
• Damnation (Koch, 2003) // RQ: 5 (if you can find the original pressing)
• Ghosts Reveries (Roadrunner, 2005)
PATTI SMITH
• Horses (Arista Records, 1975)
ST PAUL AND THE BROKEN BONES
• Half the City (Single Lock Records, 2014)
TOM WAITS
• Mule Variations (Anti, 1999)
• Rain Dogs (Island Records, 1985)
• Swordfishtrombones (Island Records, 1983) // RQ: 5
• The Early Years, Volume Two (Manifesto Records, 1993; recorded 1971) // RQ: 4
TOOL
• Lateralus (Volcano Entertainment, 2001)
If it weren’t for the fancy (?) art work on the vinyl, the sound quality would be quite good. As it is, the surface noise is at times ridiculous...
MUDDY WATERS
• Folk Singer - with Buddy Guy, guitar; Willie Dixon,bass; Clifton James, drums (Chess, Quality Record Pressings 45 rpm 2011) // RQ: 5
• The Lost Tapes - with George "Harmonica" Smith, harmonica; Pinetop Perkins, piano; Sammy Lawhorn, guitar; Pee Wee Madison, guitar; Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, bass; Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, drums (Blind Pig Records; recorded 1971)
JACK WHITE
• Lazaretto (Third Man Records, 2014) // RQ: 3
CASSANDRA WILSON
• Blue Light Till Dawn (Pure Pleasure Records - Blue Note, 1993) // RQ: 5
FRANK ZAPPA
• Zappa in New York (WEA, 1977)