Tag Archives: Vinyl

Reviews

Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane – The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Craft Recordings) (review)

Finally a packaging that is worthy of the phenomenal music housed within.

Touching a button on your phone and immediately getting music leaves you wanting more. It’s like going to a fancy steakhouse and just getting the steak. It’s the reason you came, right? But, it’s the potatoes, steamed vegetables and glass of wine that enhance the flavors of that steak. Streaming music is very much like that – you get the music, but where’s the liner notes, photos, front and back cover, and essays, to help elevate the music?

No record company is more aware of this fact than the newly-minted Craft Recordings, a subsidiary of Concord Music, run by veteran Sig Sigworth (who’s held titles at great labels like Rhino and IRS). Their maiden release is one sure to turn heads – Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane – The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings, a 3-LP set, which comes cleverly housed in a package that replicates an expanding file folder with postage information on the outer cover. Your friends may think you’ve been given some sort of super-important document (and, they’d be right!). Continue reading Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane – The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Craft Recordings) (review) →

Shows

#290 – Peter Holsapple – Don’t Mention the War

Legendary melodic songwriter Peter Holsapple is back with a new vinyl 45, his first new solo project in 20 years.

Peter was a touring musician for both R.E.M. and Hootie & the Blowfish

If you trace the roots of Power Pop,  in the Seventies you had the Raspberries, Badfinger & Big Star.  Later in the Nineties you had artists like Matthew Sweet, the Gin Blossoms & Weezer that were able to have commercial success.  But, during the decade in the middle there – the Eighties, it was all about funny hair and keyboards, and it was hard going for the power pop guys.  There were bands like North Carolina’s the dB’s, who released a string of hook-laden albums that gained only a cult following, but are now considered classics.

Singer/guitarist Peter Holsapple not only led the dB’s, he’s also been a member of the alternative supergroup the Continental Drifters, and was a touring member of R.E.M. and Hootie & the Blowfish during their peak years.  Holsapple has just issued a vinyl 45, his first new solo outing in 20 years called “Don’t Mention the War.”

We talk radiofreesongclub.com, the project that helped spur on this recent burst of creativity, plus the excellent music video that accompanies the song.