Strange As Angels, Strange As Angels, 2021 on Kwaidan

Billed as “Strange as Angels” the hype sticker calls this “Marc Collin (Nouvelle Vague) presents Chrystabell Sings The Cure.”

Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux were the masterminds behind Nouvelle Vague, which released bossa nova covers of new wave songs, playing off multiple meanings of Nouvelle Vague. (Nouvelle Vague means “new wave” in French, and Bossa Nova means “new wave” in Portugese).

Chrystabell has put out a half-dozen records herself as a singer, including work with David Lynch – here delivers Cure covers in the style of Nouvelle Vague.

My copy via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN

#2020s #2021 #Chrystabell #covers #ElectricFetus #Kwaidan #MarcCollin #MinneapolisMN #NouvelleVague #StrangeAsAngels #TheCure #Tribute #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

David Bromberg, My Own House, 1978 on Fantasy

Bromberg’s 9th album as a solo artist, from 1978 – his first on Fantasy after three great Columbia records in the seventies. Bromberg is one of my favorite musicians I feel doesn’t get enough attention.

Fewer guest stars here than some of his other albums, but still excellent music from Bromberg, including a number of traditionals and blues covers (Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller). Produced by Bromberg himself, with George Kindler and Dick Fegy supporting on mandolin, fiddle, and banjo.

My copy, via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN, is a 1978 pressing in great shape.

#1970s #1978 #Americana #BlindBlake #BlindBoyFuller #DavidBromberg #DickFegy #ElectricFetus #Fantasy #Fiddle #GeorgeKindler #Mandolin #MinneapolisMN #Traditional #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Fleetwood Mac, In London [1968], 2010 on Lilith

This is a bootleg that’s been released under a number of names – originally “London Live ’68” on Thunderbolt records. It was recorded at the Polytechnic of Central London, April 27th, 1968 – just a few months after their debut album.

Lineup here is Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie. It’s not the greatest sound recording (as expected) but does give you a sense of what it would have been like to be in that room for the very beginnings of the British Blues version of Fleetwood Mac.

My copy via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN

#1960s #1968 #2010 #Bootleg #ElectricFetus #FleetwoodMac #JeremySpencer #JohnMcVie #Lilith #Live #LiveLondon68 #London #MickFleetwood #MinneapolisMN #PeterGreen #Reissue #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Aaron Neville, Like It Is (reissued as Humdinger), 1967 on Minit

Although this was released in 1967 on Minit (and Liberty in the UK) as Like It Is, my copy is a 1986 reissue titled as Humdinger, on Stateside (a UK label designed to reissue things from smaller American labels).

As John Broven’s sleeve notes (from 1986) put it:

This album harks back to Aaron’s first recordings for the famed Minit label of New Orleans, between 1960 and 1962. Already his burgeoning talent as an R&B torch balladeer has started to burst through.

The reissue adds two tracks: “Humdinger” and “Show Me The Way.” Allen Toussaint on piano, joining Alvin Tyler (baritone sax), Chuck Badie (bass), Melvin Lastie (cornet), John Bourdreaux (drums), Roy Montrell (guitar), and Nat Perrilliat (tenor sax).

Love it – heavily influenced by Nat King Cole and maybe Sam Cooke, with some New Orleans influence (though not very strong here as on later Neville Brothers records).

My copy via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN

#1960s #1967 #1986 #AaronNeville #AllenToussaint #AlvinTyler #ChuckBadie #ElectricFetus #JohnBourdreaux #MelvinLastie #Minit #MinneapolisMN #NatPerrilliat #Reissue #RoyMontrell #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

David Byrne & St. Vincent, Love This Giant, 2012 on 4AD

Two of the most creative and eclectic artists and musicians collaborate here on a brass-band heavy record. (St. Vincent also contributed to Here Lies Love, Byrne’s collaboration with Fatboy Slim – a concept album / rock musical about Imelda Marcos).

The Dap-Kings and the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra join on “The One Who Broke Your Heart” and John Congleton co-produced with Byrne, St. Vincent (Annie Clark), and Patrick Dillett.

Fantastic album – unexpected but once you get to know it you can’t imagine how it could be any better.

My copy (based on runouts) is a somewhat later pressing (indeterminate) with markings from both Optimal Media GmbH and United Record Pressing – via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN

#2010s #2012 #4AD #AnnieClark #Antibalas #DavidByrne #ElectricFetus #JohnCongleton #MinneapolisMN #OptimalGmBH #StVincent #TheDapKings #TodoMundo #United #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Willie Nelson, Milk Cow Blues, 2000 on Island Records

Originally released in 2000, but issued on vinyl for the first time in 2023, this is Willie singing the blues, with guests including Francine Reed, Keb’ Mo’, Jonny Lang, Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi, B.B. King, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (doing a mean “Texas Flood”).

Mix of Wilie’s own songs plus covers (“The Thrill is Gone.” “Ain’t Nobody’s Business,” “Sittin’ On Top Of The World”) from the genre. Artwork (“cow illustrations”) by Micah Nelson. Band is full of Austin studio stalwarts – Jon Blondell, George Rains, Derek O’Brien, and Riley Osbourn, sometimes joined by Mickey Raphael on Harmonica.

My copy via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN

#2000 #2000s #2023 #BBKing #DrJohn #ElectricFetus #FrancineReed #IslandRecords #JonnyLang #KebMo_ #KennyWayneShepherd #MinneapolisMN #Reissue #SusanTedeschi #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WillieNelson

Otis Redding, The Dock Of The Bay, 1968 on Volt.

This was the first posthumous release after Redding died in 1967, and his seventh studio album. It collected some singles, b-sides, and previously released tracks, including the title track “(Sittin’ On) The Doc of the Bay” which was cowritten by Steve Cropper and Redding. Also has a great version of “Nobody Knows You (When You’re Down And Out.”

The band here includes Booker T. Jones, Isaac Hayes, Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, and Al Jackson Jr. Carla Thomas joins on “Tramp.”

My copy is a 1968 pressing via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN – it’s in great shape.

#1960s #1968 #AlJacksonJr #BookerTJones #CarlaThomas #DonaldDunn #ElectricFetus #isaacHayes #MinneapolisMN #OtisRedding #Soul #SteveCropper #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #Volt

Annie Lennox, Nostalgia, 2014 on Blue Note

Annie Lennox is of course best well known as one half of the dynamic duo that recorded and performed as Eurythmics, but she’s also made a number of wonderful solo albums, going back to 1992’s Diva.

This record, issued in the Blue Note Records 75th Anniversary series, has Lennox covering blues / jazz / soul standards, including “Mood Indigo,” “Summertime,” “Strange Fruit,” and “God Bless the Child.”

I know some people don’t go for the “rock stars doing standards” thing, but I’m a sucker for these, as I know and love the originals too, but appreciate the new spin.

My copy via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN

#75thAnniversary #AnnieLennox #BlueNote #Blues #ElectricFetus #JazzAtThePhilharmonic #MinneapolisMN #Soul #Standards #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Various Artists, Something About Joy Division, 1990 on Vox Pop

Great compilation / tribute to Joy Division on Italian label Vox Pop.

Tracklist:

• The Difference – Colony
• The Carnival of Fools – Love Will Tear Us Apart
• Allison Run – Ceremony
• Orange Party – Heart and Soul
• Silver Surfers – She’s Lost Control
• Speed Blue – Interzone
• Comic Spoilers – Decades
• Afterhours – Shadowplay
• Subterranean Dining Rooms – Atrocity Exhibition
• Sundowners – Dead Souls
• Hitchcock’s Scream – Atmosphere
• Definitive Gaze – Warsaw

The second edition was not a gatefold (which makes sense since the inside of the gatefold is just blank white anyway). I especially enjoy the versions of “Colony,” “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (piano and vocals), “Shadowplay” (acoustic guitar driven), and Warsaw (which sounds a bit like Echo and the Bunnymen). The punk version of “She’s Lost Control” somehow actually made it a less interesting song (though it is still fun). Lots of bands here that I did not know.

In my collection via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis

#1990 #1990s #covers #ElectricFetus #Italy #JoyDivision #MinneapolisMN #Tribute #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #VoxPop

Various Artists, The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs of Nick Drake, 2023 on Chrysalis

Tribute album full of covers of Nick Drake songs, by modern artists including: Fontaines D.C., David Gray, John Parish & Aldous Harding, Ben Harper, Joe Henry & Meshell Ndegeocello, Liz Phair, and John Grant (among many others). This pressing also includes a one-sided 7″ single of Nick Drake himself covering Dylan’s “Tomorrow is a Long Time.”

Some really great renditions here, and some […]

#2020s #AldousHarding #BenHarper #Chrysalis #DavidGray #ElectricFetus #FontainesDC_ #JoeHenry #JohnGrant #JohnParish #LizPhair #MeshellNdegeocello #MinneapolisMN #NickDrake #variousArtists #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6E4

Jens Lekman, The Cherry Trees Are Still in Blossom, 2022 on Secretly Canadian

“This is a reconstruction / reimagining / excavation of the album ‘Oh You’re So Silent Jens’ that originally came out in 2005”

Jens Lekman is a very intriguing independent Swedish musician who has put out a series of imaginative releases since 2004. This release is a revisit, 17 years later, of an earlier compilation which tracked singles, EPs, and other loose ends.

That LP has been […]

#2005 #2022 #ElectricFetus #JensLekman #MinneapolisMN #ReRecorded #Reissue #SecretlyCanadian #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6AH

S. Carey, Break Me Open, 2022 on Jagjaguwar

S. Carey (aka Sean Carey) is the drummer and backing vocalist from Bon Iver – he put out a solo album All We Grow back in 2010. Break Me Open is his fourth full length under the S. Carey moniker, all on Jagjaguwar – though he has put out some EPs as well.

It’s a dark album – Amanda Wicks on Pitchfork called it “bleak” – but I actually really love the sound and the mood. Maybe it’s just […]

#2020s #2022 #BonIver #Eco #ElectricFetus #Indie #Jagjaguwar #MinneapolisMN #SCarey #Solo #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6Ac

Superchunk, Wild Loneliness, 2022 on Merge

Twelfth studio album from Superchunk on Merge, the label founded by McCaughan and Ballance back in 1989. Superchunk came out of Chapel Hill in the late 80s and were one of my favorite bands through the 90s. They’ve mellowed a bit but love this album.

Guests include Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, Andy Stack, Mike Mills, and Sharon Van Etten, with McCaughan credited as producer.

My copy […]

#2020s #2022 #ChapelHill #ElectricFetus #MacMcCaughan #Merge #MikeMills #MinneapolisMN #NormanBlake #NorthCarolina #SharonVanEtten #Superchunk #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6yv

Shovels & Rope, Busted Jukebox Volume 3, 2021 on Dualtone

The third in a series of cover albums by Shovels & Rope, this one focuses on kids songs or songs in lullaby style, thus the “Juicebox” joke in the cover. But these are great versions with contemporary artists, including Sharon Van Etten, John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars), Felice Brothers, Deertick, M. Ward, The Secret Sisters, and the War and Treaty.

My copy via Electric Fetus in […]

#2020s #2021 #Deertick #Dualtone #ElectricFetus #FeliceBrothers #JohnPaulWhite #MWard #MinneapolisMN #SecretSisters #SharonVanEtten #ShovelsRope #TheWarAndTreaty #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6w7

Valerie June, Under Cover, 2022 on Fantasy

Valerie June’s a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Memphis and part of the Broken Strings Collective. She’s known broadly for her unique voice and range across Americana / Blues / Folk and put out this EP of cover songs in 2022.

All the versions are wonderful, but I especially love her takes on “Pink Moon” and “Fade Into You” which open the record.

My copy, the “indie exlusive” on […]

#2020s #covers #ElectricFetus #Fantasy #MinneapolisMN #ValerieJune #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6sX

She & Him, Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson, 2022 on Fantasy

I love tribute albums and cover albums, and also both Brian Wilson and She & Him (the duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), so this was right in my wheelhouse. It’s their seventh studio album.

Nothing very unexpected or out of left field here – pretty straightforward what you’d expect from She & Him performing songs […]

#2020s #2022 #BrianWilson #covers #ElectricFetus #Fantasy #MWard #MinneapolisMN #SheHim #Tribute #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #ZooeyDeschanel

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6sA

Various Artists, Tommy Boy’s Baddest Beats, 2022 on Tommy Boy

I don’t normally chase special releases put out for Record Store Day, but this was an “RSD First” release in 2022, limited to 3500 copies. Great collection of songs from Tommy Boy:

Naughty By Nature – Hip Hop Hooray

Stetsasonic – Talkin’ All That Jazz

Queen Latifah – Wrath of My Madness

Coolio […]

#2020s #2022 #Apache #Coolio #DigitalUnderground #ElectricFetus #HipHop #HouseOfPain #K7 #MinneapolisMN #NaughtyByNature #QueenLatifah #RecordStoreDay #RecordStoreDay2022 #Stetsasonic #TommyBoy #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6se

OMD, Universal, 1996 on Virgin / EMI

I always loved Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – the name, with it’s British spelling – and the music. This was their tenth full length album, released in 1996. In many ways this was the end of a dark era for OMD who had fallen out of fashion given grunge, britpop, and other ascendant styles – and would be their last record for over a […]

#1996 #AndyMcCluskey #ElectricFetus #MinneapolisMN #OMD #OrchestralManoeuvresInTheDark #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

https://wp.me/p4tTZ-6qb

Buying books at #BirchbarkBooks and music at #ElectricFetus as one does when visiting #MSP.

#WDYWT
My favourite Minneapolis record store.
#tshirt
#ElectricFetus
#Minneapolis
#noternisleftunstoned