Our Favorite Albums (351 – 360)
351. The Police – Reggatta de Blanc [1979]
Nominated by Andy Chatfield of Center for the Arts Radio Hour.
Reggatta de Blanc took four weeks to record, spaced over several months.[5] Unlike its successor, Zenyatta Mondatta, there was no pressure on the band. Of the sessions, Stewart Copeland said, “We just went into the studio and said, ‘Right, who’s got the first song?’ We hadn’t even rehearsed them before we went in.” In a piece for Modern Drummer magazine, Copeland chose Reggatta de Blanc as the best Police album. Against the wishes of A&M, who had wanted to equip the promising band with a bigger studio and more famous producer, the Police opted to again record at Surrey Sound with Nigel Gray. The small budget (between £6,000 and £9,000) was easily covered by the profits of their previous album, Outlandos d’Amour, further ensuring that the record label would have no control over the actual creation of the band’s music. (wikipedia.org)
352. of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? [2007]
Nominated by DJ TJ of Punkadelic.
The album was written, performed, and recorded by Kevin Barnes, with assistance from friends and family: prominent Elephant Six members Bryan Poole, Jamey Huggins and Heather McIntosh, as well as Barnes’ wife Nina Grottland, credited as Nina Twin, and daughter Alabee Barnes, credited as Alabee Blonde. Credits also feature Georgie Fruit, a glam rock alter ego of Barnes. (wikipedia.org)
353. The War and Treaty – Healing Tide [2018]
Nominated by Karen Stein of Imagine who says: The debut album of Michael Trotter and Tanya Blount, who are married. Great soul-gospel-rock infused tunes, reminiscent of another pair of powerhouse musicians who happened to be married, Ike and Tina Turner.
354. Donovan – Donovan’s Greatest Hits [1969]
Nominated by Leith of the Light Fandango.
Donovan’s Greatest Hits is a distinct entry in Donovan’s discography for several reasons. First, it collects three singles that were previously unreleased on any album: “Epistle to Dippy”; “There Is a Mountain”; and “Laléna.” It also presents the unedited “Sunshine Superman” (one minute and fifteen seconds longer than the original 1966 single and LP release), and most of the songs appear for the first time in stereo. Lastly, Donovan’s Greatest Hits contains re-recordings of “Catch the Wind” and “Colours” with Big Jim Sullivan playing guitar, John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards and Clem Cattini on drums. Epic Records could not obtain the right to release the original recordings of these two songs, so Donovan recorded new versions in May 1968 with a full backing band and a lavish production by Mickie Most. (wikipedia.org)
355. The Chambers Brothers – The Time Has Come [1967]
Nominated by Sir Jon of Pint O’ Comics who says: This group was not a one-hit wonder and should be recognized for the power of their vocals and sound.
356. Natalia Lafourcade – Musas: Un Homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de Los Macorinos, Vol 2 [2018]
Nominated by DJ Lukey G of The Guest List.
Muses: An Homage to Latin American Folklore in the Hands of Los Macorinos, Volume 2), shortened to Musas, Vol. 2 (“Muses, Vol. 2”), is the eighth studio album by Mexican recording artist Natalia Lafourcade and the second in collaboration with the acoustic guitar duo Los Macorinos. (wikipedia.org)
357. Ian & Sylvia – Four Strong Winds [1964]
Nominated by Bill Revill of Acoustic Blender who says: Harmonies. Great harmonies.
358. Makaya McCraven – Highly Rare [2017]
Nominated by Rick Reaction.
The sounds were recorded to four track cassette tape at a DIY show packed into the confines of Chicago dive Danny’s Tavern, a place definitely not known for having live bands, let alone live recordings. It’s a place known to vinyl heads both locally and globally as a legendary hub in the crate digger diaspora. It’s the place where Jeff Parker learned how to DJ. It’s the place where Dante Carfagna held down a rare soul party for over a decade, where he first dropped public needles on 45s that would eventually make compilations he curated for Numero Group and Chocolate Industries. It’s the place where DJ Shadow still does sets on the low when he rolls through town. (bandcamp.com)
359. Black Star – Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star [1998]
Nominated by Fluccs Capacitor of Time Moves Slow who says: An amazing work of lyricism and production that sounds like it belongs in ’94 rather than ’98. As hip hop moved down south and got shinier and more diamond encrusted, Black Star traded complex rhyme schemes by the tightly introspective Kweli and the fluid Mos Def. Relatable, these MC’s dropped knowledge that was at once academic and experiential – classically Brooklyn. A post Biggie record with a pre Biggie aesthetic.
360. Ramones – Ramones [1976]
Nominated by DJ Deni of Lovin’ the 70’s.
After Hit Parader editor Lisa Robinson saw the band at a gig in New York City, she wrote about them in an article and contacted Danny Fields, insisting that he be their manager. Fields agreed and convinced Craig Leon to produce Ramones, and the band recorded a demo for prospective record labels. Leon persuaded Sire president Seymour Stein to listen to the band perform, and he later offered the band a recording contract. The Ramones began recording in January 1976, needing only seven days and $6,400 to record the album. (wikipedia.org)
