what was the last 'classic album' you got and were knocked out by?

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Yeah, New Values is killer, but be prepared for the last two tracks, which are prime "you could never get away with that today" stuff.

but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 27 April 2021 02:12 (three years ago) link

Don't get any of the old versions, but the late mix of 'Kill City' puts it up pretty close with Ig's other 70s records. I did not check that out for a long time as I had one of the old Bomp versions and it kinda makes Charlie Patton sound like Dark Side of the Moon.

"The Endless Sea" off 'New Values' is a track fans of 'The Idiot' should search out if they don't know it. That one reminds me of the Doors quite a bit.

earlnash, Tuesday, 27 April 2021 02:20 (three years ago) link

hey this *is* really good. any idea where i might have heard "i'm bored" before? definitely recognize it.

also "don't look down" holy shit iggy goes stax!!??!

Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 27 April 2021 02:23 (three years ago) link

xp I like Kill City a lot… I have that Bomp! version you mentioned, lol (on a single disc w/the “I Got a Right” single). New Values is also good.

smoking grass, poor caddying. (morrisp), Tuesday, 27 April 2021 02:26 (three years ago) link

Agree about Kill City. It's Iggy in 70s Stones mode, and it really works a lot of the time.

"Bang Bang," from Party, is an incredible single, but there's nothing else on the album that's remotely its equal. This TV performance is one of the weirdest things I've ever seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcUa65cgX9c

but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 27 April 2021 02:28 (three years ago) link

Kill City has been my go-to Iggy record for a few years.

visiting, Tuesday, 27 April 2021 02:37 (three years ago) link

I like it a lot too, probably better than any of the proper solo records, but it's a real case of stretching the material (which was only supposed to be a demo) to fill out the record: ending both sides with an instrumental (plus Iggy mumbling), the first of which is reprised at the beginning of the second side. I mean, it's all listenable and it adds to the sense of utter dissolution.

Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 27 April 2021 02:45 (three years ago) link

Austin you're in Oz or an expat, right? "I'm Bored" is the jumped-up gyrating Countdown performance which follows The Ig's legendary amphetamine interview with Molly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMtH58M3HXA

assert (MatthewK), Tuesday, 27 April 2021 04:16 (three years ago) link

Hum Dono by Joe Harriott and Amancio da Silva

mahb, Tuesday, 27 April 2021 07:50 (three years ago) link

yeah picked that up a few years ago when it was reissued. I think I'd already meant to get some Harriott and saw some great reviews of that. It is pretty lovely.

Stevolende, Tuesday, 27 April 2021 08:20 (three years ago) link

Yonin Bayashi
Great japanese prog lp from the early 70s. I think i'd heard bits of this some years ago but just found a cd copy so listening to that on my 3 changer this week. great guitar which is pretty US psychy. & the rest of teh band is pretty decent too.

Stevolende, Tuesday, 27 April 2021 09:59 (three years ago) link

which one, stevo? I'm listening to Ishoku Sokuhatsu right now and it's hitting the spot.

Daniel_Rf, Thursday, 29 April 2021 09:50 (two years ago) link

that one.
yeah forgot it wasn't s/t cos it was in another room.
BUt yeah saw that Dodax had some copies so picked it up and yeah its really something .
Not sure if the later ones are as good.

Stevolende, Thursday, 29 April 2021 09:53 (two years ago) link

I have a 1978 UK issue of Kill City on Radar and I think it's great, no idea if there's any different to the Bomp! versions but I don't think so?

New Values obv good but I also like Zombie Birdhouse a lot.

CP Radio Gorgeous (Colonel Poo), Thursday, 29 April 2021 10:44 (two years ago) link

"Bang Bang," from Party, is an incredible single, but there's nothing else on the album that's remotely its equal. This TV performance is one of the weirdest things I've ever seen.

just watching this video now and yeah its amazing. when those ping pong balls fall, waht is happening lol

nobody like my rap (One Eye Open), Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:46 (two years ago) link

Not to overly de-Iggify the thread, but

The Clientele - The Violet Hour

Kangol In The Light (Craig D.), Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:51 (two years ago) link

The net's forgotten site

Kangol In The Light (Craig D.), Thursday, 29 April 2021 13:12 (two years ago) link

baby detonate for me

Long Tall Arsetee & the Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Thursday, 29 April 2021 13:16 (two years ago) link

Hum Dono by Joe Harriott and Amancio da Silva

another in a long line of good jazz albums ruined by vocals

Paul Ponzi, Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:04 (two years ago) link

yeah singing, who ever thought that was a good idea

brimstead, Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:13 (two years ago) link

whaaat? It's Norma Winstone!

mahb, Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:24 (two years ago) link

The Clientele - The Violet Hour

― Kangol In The Light (Craig D.), Thursday, April 29, 2021 8:51 AM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

Some of the greatest music ever. So much atmosphere.

Evan, Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:28 (two years ago) link

matthew! that's it! such a classic clip. right up there with lou reed's "i don't do drugs" interview.

another one for me today and another reminder of the collective i've underrated so much through the years:
paul kantner's blows against the empire. just the scope of that stuff is wild enough, but it's like a british psych folk album in its execution. maybe not good for every day listening, but it's way better than i expected. is it considered a classic album?

Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Thursday, 29 April 2021 20:05 (two years ago) link

it should be! That is one rad kinda fucked up album, glad to hear you’re digging it.

brimstead, Thursday, 29 April 2021 20:36 (two years ago) link

best part was: i went into barnes + noble to get the newly reissued / remixed plastic ono band (not the big boy version tho) and they had blows against the empire in the $4.99 bin! it's the legacy edition too, with the bonus tracks!

Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Thursday, 29 April 2021 21:36 (two years ago) link

is it considered a classic album?

Maybe it's because "classic album" is in quotes in the thread title, but the criteria seem pretty loose ITT.

I figured maybe it had to be older than 20 years or so to be a classic, but someone listed jessie ware's "what's your pleasure?".
A lot of these are also pretty obscure (Yonin Bayashi? Amancio da Silva?), so we're not exactly sticking to 33 1/3 canon.

But then again, I think you kinda answered your own question:

maybe not good for every day listening, but it's way better than i expected.

enochroot, Thursday, 29 April 2021 23:13 (two years ago) link

yeah, makes sense. i worked in a used record store for several years and i just recall seeing it all the time; very common record. so, i always just assumed it was at least considered a classic of the period.

Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Thursday, 29 April 2021 23:39 (two years ago) link

don’t know if it’s considered a classic or not - I had never heard of it, a casual mention by Marcello Carlin on his revived Then Play Long blog caught my attention - but No Nos Pararan by La Charanga 76 (from 1980) is fantastic.

slightly raggedy, somewhat dubby en-español reworks of then-recent disco hits (mostly of the Chic kind, their “Good Times” is spectacular), plus “C-U-B-A Is Cuba”, which is *not* a raggedy, dubby en-español reworking of the Gibson Brothers hit, but an original (afaict).

(I see that this was a bit of a diversion from them, as they were actually a salsa band)

Long Tall Arsetee & the Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, 1 May 2021 20:27 (two years ago) link

a diversion from for them

Long Tall Arsetee & the Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, 1 May 2021 20:29 (two years ago) link

love their cover of “ain’t no stopping us now”

brimstead, Sunday, 2 May 2021 01:34 (two years ago) link

yep, that’s the title track (and the one Carlin referred to), but their “Good Times” is even better imo

Long Tall Arsetee & the Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Sunday, 2 May 2021 11:42 (two years ago) link

I'd heard Aretha's Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) in the past, but it's been a very long time, and I've never owned it. Right now I can't even express how much it's knocking me out. It's going to take a few more listens.

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 5 May 2021 19:54 (two years ago) link

70s aretha in general is some of the best shit ever.

Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 5 May 2021 21:06 (two years ago) link

also let us not forget the un-classic review of that album on allmusic:

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) was just about Franklin's last gasp before succumbing to disco. This odd album, with its cheesy, junky artwork, contains some gems -- notable are a poignant cover of Bernstein's "Somewhere," and a sparkling "Moody's Mood," and the beautiful Carolyn Franklin composition "Angel."

(three stars)

yeah, when one succumbs to disco that's when you know it's over.

(angry eyeroll)

Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 5 May 2021 21:09 (two years ago) link

I haven't heard anyone say anything good about Aretha's disco albums, though.

Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 5 May 2021 21:13 (two years ago) link

Although "Until You Come Back to Me" was on her next record, and that's not disco but is great, so that's two inaccuracies in that review.

Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 5 May 2021 21:26 (two years ago) link

Listened to "Foxbase Alpha" for the first time today. I've actually started following Bob Stanley as a curator of compilations before I ever got into his band, and the contrast between the 60's pop idols in the record sleeve and the modern dance music on the grooves confuses me some, even though there is one track that feels like it splits the difference, with a strong Bacharach feel. Anyway album is great, need to read more about how the band were perceived at the time.

Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 13:33 (two years ago) link

Foxbase Alpha was a revelation at the time, one of my favorite albums from one of my favorite musical periods, i.e. when rock and dance music really got down with each other. Bob's critic's sensibility really drove both the music and aesthetics of St. Etienne, collages of cherished musical memories with a dance beat. They also did one of the first dance remakes of a classic rock warhorse ("Only Love Can Break Your Heart") which became a pretty commonplace move in the early 90's.

henry s, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 14:18 (two years ago) link

'Return of the Giant Slits' is the best thing ever, I have no idea why I resisted its charm for such a long time.

Maresn3st, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 14:21 (two years ago) link

I should give it yet another listen. Love Cut but I've never warmed to Return.

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 11 May 2021 16:11 (two years ago) link

You guys gotta hear Foxbase Beta the fantastic album of remixes and re-recordings by Richard X. Some of the tracks actually do improve on the originals;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfPyAJfsy1g

Also the commentary that went along with it (featuring Richard X and Bob and Pete); where they talk about the recording of Alpha (and Beta)..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryr8oCoIfgM

piscesx, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 16:59 (two years ago) link

Feelies - Only Life
only heard the first album before, this one is really doing it for me
reminds me of 80s Flying Nun bands but with an actual recording budget

( X '____' )/ (zappi), Tuesday, 11 May 2021 17:29 (two years ago) link

Can’t ever go wrong with the Feelies

Evan, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 17:34 (two years ago) link

The Good Earth is my fave Feelies, it's like a whole album of "Dear Prudence."

henry s, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 17:54 (two years ago) link

Have always wanted to get a physical copy of Beta, but it sold out on the St. Et website way too fast.

henry s, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 17:55 (two years ago) link

Yeah Discogs has copies but it's always like thrice the original price.

piscesx, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 18:11 (two years ago) link

aww yeah foxbase alpha is legit a top 5 album for me. every note is perfect, the vibe is immense

brimstead, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 22:36 (two years ago) link

I loved Foxbase Alpha for decades, then I got Foxbase Beta and loved it all over again anew... Richard X and the band really did a fantastic job reimagining it.

mark e. smith-moon (f. hazel), Wednesday, 12 May 2021 04:33 (two years ago) link

Dr John, "Gris-Gris"

I had (possibly inaccurately) only ever associated the late Doctor with the kind-of boogie-woogie jamming Jools Holland music which is not my thing at all.

But this album is clearly something else, truly bewitching and weird.

Some of the best music ever made feels like it has the power of a spell over you, and this definitely fills that criteria for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD8npKskEdo

"Spaghetti" Thompson (Pheeel), Wednesday, 12 May 2021 07:11 (two years ago) link


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