The 90's - My Top 50 Albums

I've been told, "Ron, you don't seem much like a 90's kind of guy!" - Why not? I lived through the entire 1990's! And now I will share a list of My Top 50 albums from the 90's. I recommend each and every album on this list. What are your favorites? What did I miss in the 90's? To be honest, I spent a lot of the 90's buying re-issues of 50's / 60's / 70's / 80's music! It simply wasn't possible to 'rank' these titles - so they're alphabetical. And a hint: My 80's list is a "Top 100"!

LES 5-4-3-2-1’s – 1973, JPN

A CERTAIN RATIO – Change The Station, UK

AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM – Vol. 1 – Sound Magic, UK

BARBIE BONES – Death In The Rockinghorse Factory, NOR

BOOM CRASH OPERA – Born, AUS

ALAIN CHAMFORT – Trouble, FR

LEONARD COHEN – The Future, US

CORDUROY – Out Of Here, UK

CORNELIUS – 69/96 – 96/69, JPN

CHARLELIE COUTURE – Melbourne Aussi, FR

THE CRUEL SEA – The Honeymoon Is Over, AUS

ETIENNE DAHO – Paris Ailleurs, FR

VANESSA DAOU – Slow To Burn, US

STEPHEN DUFFY – Duffy, UK

F.F.F. – Blast Culture, FR

FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE – (self-titled debut), JPN

FRAZIER CHORUS – Ray, UK

GOLDEN EARRING – Bloody Buccaneers, NL

JOHN GREAVES – Songs, UK

HARUOMI HOSONO & MIHARU KOSHI – Swing Slow, JPN

HIDEKI KAJI – Mini Skirt, JPN

KATERINE – Mes Mauvaises Frequentations, FR

JO LEMAIRE – Duelle, BEL

LIO – Des Fleurs Pour Un Cameleon, FR

LITTLE RABBITS – Yeah!, FR

THE LOUNGE LIZARDS – Queen Of All Ears, US

MAM – Stout, NL

MOMUS – Ping Pong, UK

CHISATO MORITAKA – Summer Will Be More Better , JPN

MR. OIZO – Analogue Worms Attack, FR

JEAN LOUIS MURAT – Le Manteau De Pluie, FR

THE NECKS – Next, AUS

HERMETO PASCOAL – Eu E Eles, BR

PIZZICATO FIVE – Bossa Nova 2001, JPN

MICHEL POLNAREFF – Kama Sutra, FR

LES RITA MITSOUKO – Systeme D, FR

IRMIN SCHMIDT – Impossible Holidays, DE

SCHNELL FENSTER – OK Alright A Huh Oh Yeah, AUS

SCRITTI POLITTI – Anomie & Bonhomie, UK

SKYLAB – Skylab 2: 1999, JPN

YOSHINORI SUNAHARA – The Sound of 70’s, JPN

HAJIME TACHIBANA – Bambi, JPN

TIPSY – Trip Tease, US

YANN TOMITA – Music for Astro Age, JPN

TORTOISE – T.N.T., US

TOY MATINEE – (self-titled debut), US

WATERMELON – Out of Body Experience, JPN

THE WHITLAMS – Undeniably, AUS

YELLO – Baby, SW

ZAZIE – Zen, FR

- Ron K

Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come

Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come

I recently got new editions of the three proper Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come albums as little paper album cover CD’s from Japan. When I visited Japan earlier this year, I did not see these CD’s in stores at all. They are from 2005; I knew they existed, but…I did not see them at all. When I got home, I special ordered them from Wes at Soundsource, who got them for me easily. Good job!

I have loved these three albums for decades – they are among my very favorite 70’s records of all time. They’re fun, the music is hot, Arthur is wonderful – and the original vinyl editions are extremely beautiful packages. I’m happy to say that the new Japanese CD’s replicate every detail perfectly – yes, the “Galactic Zoo Dossier” comes with a CD-size two-sided poster! On all three, the Japanese CD’s even match the paper texture / composition (glossy or matte) of the original LP package. I love my Japanese Kingdom Come CD’s. They’re so pretty!

When Voiceprint did these CD’s roughly 15 years ago, I got ‘em. They sound OK, but the CD packages for these left a lot to be desired. Uh, the covers didn’t match. And the “no info at all” booklets didn’t even name the bonus tracks, nor even bother to number the tracks on the CD’s! I remember getting them out, having to figure out where the track breaks were etc. Just nightmarish! And Voiceprint flipped Side One and Side Two of “Kingdom Come” in the running order – huh? I mean, I can figure it out, but – what a slipshod treatment of some truly classic British progressive rock!

But let’s get down to brass tacks – the new ’05 Japanese CD’s are different, to whit:

Galactic Zoo Dossier UK 62:45 JPN 63:08

Kingdom Come UK 61:00 JPN 61:20

Journey UK 62:31 JPN 78:29

The biggest difference is that the new “Journey” CD adds some BBC session tracks! Yeah! It’s not everyday that you get to hear some new Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come information! I will have to take a closer look and see why the other two CD’s have times varying 20 seconds or more...hmmm…

Current bonus tracks for “Galactic Zoo Dossier” are “Metal Monster (Alternate vers.)”, “Space Plucks Dem Bones” and “Sunrise (Alternate vers.)” – bonus tracks for “Kingdom Come” are “Traffic Light Song(Alternate vers.)”, “The Hymn (Alternate vers.)” and “The Experiment (Alternate vers.)”. “Journey” is exciting, with “Spirit of Joy (Alternate vers.)”, “Time Captives (Alternate vers.)”, “Conception(Alternate vers.)”, “Come Alive(Alternate vers.)”, “Slow Rock (BBC Session = ‘Come Alive’)”, and “Spirit of Joy (BBC Session)”.

Crazy About Playlists!

Done over 2 evenings...entirely from vinyl...

1. STUMP – Bit Part Actor (’86)

2. SPLIT ENZ – sugar and Spice (’77)

3. DEAF SCHOOL – Nearly Moonlit Night Motel (’76)

4. GODLEY & CRÈME – Under Your Thumb (’81)

5. ARMORY KANE – The Inbetween Man (’69?)

6. THE TORNADOS – Earthy (’63?) Joe Meek

7. M (Robin Scott) – Relax (’80)

8. THE WHO – Relax (’67) mono

9. NEIL INNES – Topless A-Go-Go (’73)

10. ROY HARPER – Magic Woman (Liberation Reshuffle) (’74)

11. GARY BROOKER – Missing Person (’85)

12. JOE COCKER – Change In Louise (’69?)

13. ELTON JOHN – Solar Prestige A Gammon (’74)

14. RINGO STARR – Occapella (’74)

15. LOVIN’ SPOONFUL – Bes’ Friends (’67)

16. RY COODER – De Re Mi (’70?)

17. FRANK ZAPPA – My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama (’70)

18. THE ROLLING STONES – I Got The Blues (’71)

19. CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG – Almost Cut My Hair (’70)

20. PAUL McCARTNEY – Momma Miss America (’70)

21. THE NICE – One Of Those People (’70)

22. THE BEE GEES – Idea (’68)

23. THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN – Rest Cure (’68)

24. NICK LOWE – Nutted By Reality (’78)

25. ALBERTO Y LOST TRIOS PARANOIAS – I Like Gurls (’76)

26. SUPERCHARGE – You’ve Gotta Get Up And Dance (’76)

27. JOHN MILES – Stranger In The City (’76)

28. DAVID BOWIE – Golden Years (’76)

29. THE STRANGLERS – Sometimes (’77)

30. THE MOTORS – Cold Love (’77)

31. GANG OF FOUR – Ether (’79)

32. JOHN OTWAY & WILD WILLY BARRETT – Racing Cars (Jet Spotter Of The Track) (’77)

33. IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (’77)

34. BASEMENT 5 – Work Dub (’80)

35. ALICE COOPER – Lace & Whiskey (’77)

36. STARZ – Live Wire (’76)

37. ROBIN TROWER – What It Is (’81)

Another Playlist

8-27-07 V.A. MD – Today, I have both Doctor and Dentist Appointments

I made another MD V.A. Playlist - this one from CD's (the other one posted today was made from vinyl)

1. TENPOLE TUDOR – 3 Bells In A Row

2. VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR – Abandon Ship!

3. LEVEL 42 – The Pursuit of Accidents

4. JOHN LURIE (aka MARVIN PONTIAC) – Runnin’ Round

5. THE GROUP – Thai

6. JAH WOBBLE – Message from Pluto

7. KIRSTY MacCOLL – Things Happen

8. LUCIO BATTISTI – Windsurf Windsurf

9. CHRIS KNOX – It’s Love

10. ASH RA – Phantasus

11. INXS – The Devil Inside (Extended Vers.)

12. ROBERT WYATT – Blimey O’Riley

13. JEFF PARKER – Beanstalk

14. KOERNER, RAY & GLOVER – Power Tool

15. EDWYN COLLINS – If You Could Love Me

16. HORACE SILVER – Liberated Brother

17. BILL POSTERS WILL BE BANNED – Hula Saw

New Playlist

New MD Deck V.A. – MDS-JE480

I got a new Sony MD deck, so I made a celebratory Playlist MD last night.

1. JOHN MAYALL – Crawling Up A Hill (Live)

2. STEPHEN STILLS – Nothin’ To Do But Today

3. MELINA MERCOURI – Je Suis Greque

4. PETE TOWNSHEND – Sleeping Dog

5. GRYPHON – Down The Dog

6. BE-BOP DELUXE – Love In Flames

7. YOUNG & MOODY – Young & Moody

8. THE RUMOUR – Frozen Years

9. MOTT THE HOOPLE – Rabbit Foot and Toby Time

10. THE BLUES PROJECT – No Time Like The Right Time

11. RANDY CALIFORNIA (aka KAPT. KOPTER) – Downer

12. YELLO – Oh Yeah Oh Six (Remix)

13. THE ROLLING STONES – She Was Hot

14. C.C.S. – Lookin’ For Fun

15. BEE GEES – Marley Purt Drive

16. PROCOL HARUM – All This And More (Live)

17. SCRITTI POLITTI – Turntable Mix by Mastermind (’84)

18. THE BILL BLACK COMBO – Willie

19. BILLY LEE RILEY – Catch The Wind

20. BUDDY MORROW – Bits ‘n’ Pieces

Stan Freberg

I am a life-long fan of Mr. Stan Freberg; I am lucky enough to have met Mr. Freberg before. I hope he gets to make more boxed sets and a Vol. 3 of 'the U.S.A.'

3 AUDIO ESSAYS (EP) SBRC US 101578

7" 1973? 3 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

ANY REQUESTS? (EP) CAPITOL NZ EAP 1-496

7" 1957? 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

BEST OF CAPITOL UK T-2020

LP 1963 12 TRKS Collection, mono

BEST OF re-issue CAPITOL US SM-2020

LP 1963 12 TRKS Collection, re-issue

BEST OF re-issue CAPITOL AUS AX 1120

LP 1982 14 TRK Collection

BEST OF re-issue EMI / MFP UK MFP 50390

LP 1963 12 TRKS Collection, mono; re-issue (this is the pictured item!)

BEST OF THE CAPITOL YEARS EMI UK CDP 791929.2

CD 1989 16 TRK Collection (50's recordings)

BEST OF THE CAPITOL YEARS EMI UK EMS 1321

LP 1989 16 TRK Collection (50's recordings)

BEST OF THE STAN FREBERG SHOWS, THE CAPITOL US WBO-1035

LPx2 1958 16 TRKS mono, radio shows

CAPITOL COLLECTOR'S SERIES CAPITOL US CDP 791627.2

CD 1989 21 TRK Collection (50's recordings)

CHILD'S GARDEN OF FREBERG, A CAPITOL US T-777

LP 1958? 12 TRKS debut, mono

CHILD'S GARDEN OF FREBERG, A re-issue JASMINE UK JAS 301

LP 1957 12 TRKS mono (80's re-issue)

FACE THE FUNNIES CAPITOL US T-1694

LP 1962? 7 TRKS mono (50's recordings)

FREBERG UNDERGROUND - SHOW #1 CAPITOL US ST-2551

LP 1964? 8 TRKS stereo

FREBERG UNDERGROUND - SHOW #1 CAPITOL US T-2551

LP 1964? 8 TRKS mono

GREEN CHRISTMAS (Part 1) / (Part 2) CAPITOL US 3503

7" 1988? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve (50's recordings)

GREEN CHRISTMAS / MEANING OF CHRISTMAS, THE CAPITOL US F 4097

7" 1959? 5 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

MADISON AVENUE WEREWOLF CAPITOL US T-1816

LP 1962? 9 TRKS mono (50's recordings)

MORE THAN MEETS THE EAR RADIO ADVE S 1499

LP 1965 6 TRKS 1-sided LP

NUTTIN' FOR CHRISTMAS / NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS CAPITOL US F 3280

7" 1958? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

OLD PAYOLA ROLL BLUES, THE (Part 1) / (Part 2) CAPITOL US F 4329

7" 1959? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

OMAHA (EP) CAPITOL NZ EAP 1-1101

7" 1959? 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

OMAHA / BUTTER-NUT COFFEE COMMERCIALS FREBERG LT HB 2234/5

7" 1959? 4 TRK EP; no pic sleeve, promo

PERSON TO PEARSON / POINT OF ORDER CAPITOL US F 2838

7" 1959? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

PRESENTS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAPITOL US SW-1573

LP 1961 12 TRKS original, stereo

PRESENTS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA #1 CAPITOL US CDP 792061.2

CD 1961 14 TRKS 2 x bonus tracks

PRESENTS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA #2 RHINO US R2 72477

CD 1996 34 TRKS

PRESENTS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA re-issue CAPITOL US SW-1573

LP 1961 12 TRKS re-issue, stereo

REAL SAINT GEORGE (EP) CAPITOL US EAP 1-628

7" 1958? 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

STAN FREBERG SHOW, THE #1 (4CD boxed set) SMITHSONIAN 57019-053-4

CDx4 1996 8 TRKS radio shows

STAN FREBERG SHOW, THE #2 (4CD boxed set) SMITHSONIAN 57019-117-4

CDx4 1997 8 TRKS radio shows

STAN FREBERG VS. ROCK 'N' ROLL RAVEN AUS RVLP 1019

LP 1987 17 TRK Collection (50's & 60's recordings)

STAN FREBERG WITH THE ORIGINAL CAST CAPITOL US T-1242

LP 1959? 8 TRKS mono

TIP OF THE FREBERG (4CD boxed set) RHINO US R2 75645

CDx4 1999 108 TRK Collection, with VHS video

UNCLE STAN WANTS YOU! ARMY GXTNY 80701/2

LPx2 1961 2 LP set Army promos

New Releases October 2, 1972

Phonolog Reports – New Releases

Week of October 2, 1972

Caught my eye:

TEN YEARS AFTER – Rock & Roll Music To The World (Columbia KC-31779) (LP)

LENNY BRUCE – Thank You, Masked Man (Fantasy 7017) (LP)

BIG STAR – No. 1 Record (ADS 2803)

YES – Close to the Edge (Atlantic SD 7244) (LP) (CD)

Alvin Lee & Co. rockin’ into the 70’s! Comedy re-issue for Lenny Bruce. ‘Much more famous now than it was then’ syndrome for Big Star. And this is where Yes started to lose me. Others have said this is their favorite Yes album. Not mine.

Also of interest:

LES McCANN – Talk To The People (Atlantic SD 1619)

GEORGE GERDES – Son of Obituary (United Artists UAS 5593) (LP)

RENAISSANCE – Prologue (Capitol/Sovereign SMAS-11116)

BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Nervous on the Road (United Artists UAS 5647)

Jazz / soul from Les McCann. Biting folk music from Mr. Gerdes. Neo-prog from UK band Renaissance. Nick Lowe gets a US release with Brinsley Schwarz.

Notable singles:

GARY OWENS – The Ballad of Willie Jackson (Pride 1010)

SUZI QUATRO – Rolling Stone b/w Brain Confusion (For All The Lonely People) (RAK ZS7-4512)

HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES – If You Don’t Know Me By Now (Philadelphia Int’l ZS7-3520)

DUNCAN BROWNE – In A Mist b/w Journey (RAK ZS7-4511)

BILLY PAUL – Me & Mrs. Jones b/w Your Song (Philadelphia Int’l ZS7-3521)

SAMMY DAVIS JR. – Mr. Bojangles b/w People Tree (MGM K-14426)

GUESS WHO – New Mother Nature b/w Runnin’ Back To Saskatoon (RCA 74-0803)

TEMPTATIONS – Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (Gordy 7121)

Some big R&B hits here for Philly Int’l! Did they really all come out this week? Nice novelty 45 for DJ Gary Owens. Two singles on RAK. A hit for Sammy! Decent A-side for the Guess Who.

Psychedelic Furs

I never knew there had been a book about them in '04. And I never got to see them live...

B-SIDES & LOST GROOVES COLUMBIA US CK 57889
CD 1994 15 TRK Collection

DANGER CBS UK CBSA 13-2865
12" 1982 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

DANGER (Remix) / I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR SHADOW CBS UK CBSA 2865
7" 1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

DUMB WAITERS / DASH CBS UK CBSA 1166
7" 1981 2 TRKS with flexidisc, pic sleeve

FOREVER NOW COLUMBIA US CK 38261
CD 1982 10 TRKS U.S. version

FOREVER NOW COLUMBIA US ARC 38261
LP 1982 10 TRKS U.S. version

GHOST IN YOU, THE / ANOTHER EDGE EPIC/SONY JPN 07.5P-295

7" 1984 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

HEAVEN / HEARTBEAT (Remix) EPIC/SONY JPN 07.5P-305
7" 1984 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

INTERCHORDS COLUMBIA US CAS 1310
LP 1988 14 TRKS Interview etc, promo-only

LOVE MY WAY CBS UK CBSA 132549
12" 1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LOVE MY WAY COLUMBIA US 44-03197
12" 1982 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

LOVE MY WAY / AEROPLANE CBS UK CBSA 2549
7" 1984 2 TRKS with fold-out pic sleeve

MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EPIC/SONY JPN 32.8P-187
CD 1987 10 TRKS

MIRROR MOVES COLUMBIA US BFC 39278
LP 1984 9 TRKS

MR. JONES / SUSAN'S STRANGE CBS UK SCBS 9059
7" 1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

PRETTY IN PINK CBS UK CBSA 13-1327
12" 1981 3 TRKS no pic sleeve

PRETTY IN PINK / MACK THE KNIFE CBS UK CBSA 1327
7" 1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

PSYCHEDELIC FURS COLUMBIA US CK 36791
CD 1980 10 TRKS U.S. version

PSYCHEDELIC FURS COLUMBIA US BL 36791
LP 1980 10 TRKS U.S. version

PSYCHEDELIC FURS re-master CBS UK 493343.2
CD 1980 11 TRKS U.K. version, re-mastered

SISTER EUROPE / * * * * CBS UK SCBS 8179
7" 1980 8 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

TALK TALK TALK COLUMBIA US CK 37339
CD 1981 10 TRKS U.S. version

TALK TALK TALK COLUMBIA US NFC 37339
LP 1981 10 TRKS U.S. version

WE LOVE YOU / PULSE EPIC UK EPC 8005
7" 1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve