New In 2025

On May 23th New West Records is releasing a Marc Ribot album featuring him singing. Available in both blue and black vinyl (both versions $30), and CD ($15).

On April 25th, Legacy Records releases a new Willie Nelson album, one of him preforming songs written by Rodney Crowell exclusively. Good for Rodney, a personal favorite of mine. If you don’t have his 2001 album The Houston Kid (Sugar Hill Records), you should get a copy. It was originally released on CD only, but Vinyl Me Please finally put it out on vinyl a coupla years back.

Also available on RSD is Ry Cooder Live At The Main Point 1972. I have a friend who saw Ry and his band (which included Jim Keltner on drums) in the 1970’s in Santa Cruz, I don’t know why I wasn’t there. I didn’t see and hear Ry live until I was at a show Little Village (again with Keltner) performed for an industry-only audience. I put that in just for rpeluso.

On the upcoming Record Store Day (April 12th), the new album by Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives comes out. My current favorite band in the world! The album is all instrumental, 20 songs free of those annoying vocals. 

On March 21st Analogue Productions is releasing the Buena Vista Social Club album (originally released as a 2-LP set) in a 4-LP/45 RPM version. Retail price is $119.99, not bad for four 45 RPM LPs. Classic Records released a Bernie Grundman-cut 4-LP set years ago, so AP probably used Bernie’s plates for their new pressing.

Out today on LP (in regular and Indi exclusive versions) and CD: Lonesome Drifter by Charley Crockett, produced by Shooter Jennings.

Coming out on CD on May 9th: Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day---The Unreleased Atco Recordings 1970-1971 by Jesse Ed Davis. Unknown to the general public, highly revered by musicians, Jesse was a rising star in the late-60's/early-70's. He can be heard playing guitar on the recordings of Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan ("Watching The River Flow", a favorite of mine), The Concert For Bangladesh, Jackson Browne (that's Jesse playing the solo in "Doctor My Eyes"), John  Lennon, Ringo Starr, Gene Clark, and Leonard Cohen.

Joining Jesse on his debut album on Atco were Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Gram Parsons, Merry Clayton, and John Simon (producer of the first and second Band albums). On his second album it was Jim Keltner, Duck Dunn, and Dr. John.

I find this news pretty surprising:

Sire Records (a Warner Brothers subsidiary) is getting into the One-Step business with their March 21st release of K.D. Lang’s Ingenue album. At least it’s retailing for less than everyone else’s One-Steps, $99.99.

I Do Not Play No Rock ’n’ Roll by Mississippi Fred McDowell comes out April 11th on Jackpot Records. The album was originally released in 1969, and is I believe one of Chad Kassem’s favorite Blues albums. Jackpot Records is located in Portland Oregon, so I can pick up a copy right at their storefront. No shipping charge, no sales tax (Oregon has none)!

Just announced, a Rhino Records "High Fidelity" reissue of The Ramones fourth album, Road To Ruin. While perhaps not their strongest album material-wise, it is notable for the appearance of drummer Marky in place of original drummer Tommy. Marky is a much more "muscular" drummer than Tommy, so for me his drumming made for a stronger band.

But this reissue leads me to ask a question. Does an album like Road To Ruin really need or deserve  a "high fidelity" reissue? The sound of the album is fine for what it is, but what it isn't is an album with audiophile sound quality. Why not just release it as a normal reissue, for half the price (Rhino's High Fidelity albums retail for about forty bucks)?

This reissue actually had a release date of 12-13-24, but I just found out about it. It’s Little Richard’s 1970 "comeback" album on Reprise Records entitled The Rill Thing, and from the report I heard (plus descriptions of it from it’s original release) it sounds like a must have for lovers of 1950’s Rock ’n’ Roll. I’m picking up my copy tomorrow.

The album was recorded not in Los Angeles (home of his record label in the 50’s, Specialty Records), but in Muscle Shoals. I was thrilled to read that, as that means Roger Hawkins is playing drums. And playing guitar is Travis Wammack, well known to Rock ’n’ Roll guitar aficionados and players (like Jeff Beck).

As with many 1950’s black artists from the South (Georgia in his case), Richard included Country & Western/Hillbilly music in his repertoire. On this album that means Hank Williams. And, believe it or not, "I Saw Her Standing There" by you-know-who. Paul McCartney was/is a huge Little Richard fan, and sang respectable versions of "Long Tall Sally" and "Kansas City". Lennon included a couple Little Richard songs on his dreadful 1975 Rock ’n’ Roll album, (mis)produced by Phil Spector.

For more info, watch this video:

https://youtu.be/0ia4zSf8EsY?si=B3Cfph7ut1EU5nHA

@winoguy17: Speaking for myself (and perhaps others), new release notices are made for purely musical interest value. Good sound is a welcome bonus, not a prerequisite. Some of my favorite music was unfortunately recorded in mediocre sound quality. I'll take mediocre recorded sound and great music over visa versa every time.