SPINNING THIS WEEK.... 2/12/23 - 2/18/23

What’s groovin’………………….? ;) I’ll tell ya, a bit of jazz, a couple of Midwest-centric rock albums and a guilty-pleasure (Reggae)…… without further ado…… the first album for this week is beyond a doubt one of my favorite bands of all time, having stopped counting how many times I’ve seen them live after 25-30……, enjoy.

I happen to have the Friday Music pressed on 180g, FRM-33806 and I’ve got to tell you………., don’t throw out your original Kirshner 150g floppy-copy in favor of this…….., yours is better, believe me. That said, this to me is a fantastic Kansas album….. along with Song For America it is my favorite. I had an 8-Track copy of this that rarely left the car. Oh so many years ago. Buy a “previously loved” copy today and hear what Kansas sounded like before “Carry On Wayward Son” was played a ga-zillion times…….

The jazz album of the week is a special one indeed! Having gotten in on the original kickstarter campaign for this…… the wait was worth it. I believe it even exists on Michael Fremer’s Top 100 jazz album list, and I know for sure John DeVore (much love) may have talked about it on his youTube channel. This is newer (2014) jazz recorded and pressed ALL ANALOG…….., from tape to cutter-head. Two LP’s of magic, it reminds me (not the music, as it’s of a more modern bent) of listening to some of the 50’s and 60’s pressings of free jazz that I own. Buttercream smooth, no edginess anywhere…… simply beautiful. FIND A COPY……, for sure a “must have”. :)

Yeah baby…………………, if only albums could talk…….., I’d be in trouble for sure. Quite possibly one of the coolest grooves ever recorded, Get On Home and Baby Wanna Dance will make you wiggle your toes at the very least. ;) I’m certain that Frank wore the tip of his stylus into a nub on his original pressing of this one……, and I’m sure Maureen can attest to that as well…. (inside joke, sorry). This is so Steve in the early 80’s, beyond Jet Airliner but prior to that awful dive into new-wave rock before righting the ship and re-embracing the blues. For me, this is timeless.

Yessir-eee-Bob……, my “guilty pleasure” for this week is one of the older Stick Figure albums, Smoke Stack, pressed on 160g translucent green splatter, this 2-LP set sounds EXCELLENT. In my experience, most reggae is played “clean”, so the ease of hearing all of the instrumentation is a paramount part of the experience. Scott Woodruff (Stick Figure) knows a thing or two about recording, this being self produced as well as pressed on his own label, Ruffwood Records. It’s just a blast, a very fun, toe-tapping collection of songs….., Jah Mon, Ire? Till next week, groove-on. Peace, out. Matt.