Acquisitions: 9/24/11

Well-traveled ears deserve music worth traveling for, and I believe this expedition, while it had some disappointments, was ultimately worth it.

First stop was a Salvation Army. I've been going to this one for the past couple of years on the hopes that they'd eventually be able to follow up on the massive pile of awesome new-wave I found there once. They have yet to, but occasionally some gems do show up.

Enoch Light & The Light Brigade: Big Bold & Brassy/Tony Mottola: Roman Guitar
There's just something - maybe a few somethings - that compel people to buy Command records like these. Is it the bold cover art? Is it the fascinating text inside the gatefold that lists every nuance of every song, and the technical details on the back that list evey mic for every instrument? Or is it really for the music, and the top-notch talent used to perform it? I mean, you don't get much better than Tony Mottola, Doc Severinsen, Bobby Byrne, Phil Bodner and Bucky Pizzarelli. And between these two albums, they're all there. And so is everything else that makes for a top-notch evening of listening.

Wayne & Marin Foster: To-Get-It Together
OK, you want mash-up? Here you go. This one album by two people (a wifey-hubby team) contains 28 songs (some in medleys) in almost as many styles. There's Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White, Put On A Happy Face, You Made Me Love You, Little Green Apples, Happy Together, some originals, and the one I'm most looking forward to, Satisfaction. I hope to post a couple tracks from this one soon.

Paul Jabara: The Third Album
The album is two medleys, one a side. The first artfully - wittily? - arranged into segments called Disco Wedding, Honeymoon (In Puerto Rico), and Disco Divorce. And I bet an unbelievable number of the latter happened in the late '70s. On side two, the other medley: A Foggy Day, Never Lose Your Sense Of Humor (with guest Donna Summer), and Just You And Me - not to be confused with Chicago's Just You 'N' Me.

Pseudo Echo: Love An Adventure/Animotion
I do love me some First Wave on the Sirius XM satellite. But for all I listen, there's still so much to learn about it. I think that's what inspired me to try out these minty-nice nuggets of '80s synthiness.

Next stop was another Salvation Army upshore. Like any other thrift store, the selection is hitsy-missy, but when you hit, you can hit it big. Last visit I scored THREE Cruisin' America With Cousin Brucie radio shows - cue sheets and all. This time? Not so much, but I'm still proud.

The Carpenters: Christmas Portrait
"Merry Christmas darlin', happy new year too." I can't believe I've gone so long without this one in my collection! I may not have many Carpenters albums, but if you're like me, you have to have this one if none other.

George Thorogood & The Destroyers: Maverick
This is the one with I Drink Alone. Looking forward to Willie & The Hand Jive and Memphis, Tennessee.

Kenny Burrell: Guitar Forms
If I had to judge a book (or record, in this case) by its cover, this one would get high marks just for its personnel. Gil Evans arranges and conducts "modern interpretations of the classic guitar styles played by Kenny Burrell against a tight and glowing orchestral backdrop." Ron Carter (bass), Roger Kellaway (piano), and Grady Tate (drums) make appearances here on this 1965 album produced by legendary Creed Taylor.

Johnny Jenkins: Ton-Ton Macoute!
He played with Otis Redding. He inspired Jimi Hendrix. And he never let his talents get in the way of working a solid day job. This is his 1971 debut on Capricorn Records. Duane Allman on guitar. Derek Trucks's uncle Butch plays drums. See where this is going?

Television's Greatest Hits
The album that started it all for TVT Records: a must for any TV fan, and probably still available, just not on double-record vinyl. Cover has some ringwear, but the records are decent.

I also hit a Goodwill today, This Goodwill never ceases to fail me. A piddling electronics section, and three - count 'em, THREE - boxes of records. Two of those boxes consisted entirely of Reader's Digest box sets...and those box sets consisted of boredom. I think I'll stick with the few that I already have, thanks.

Next album feature as yet undecided, so hang tight and wonder along with me!