It’s Homegrown New Vinyl Thursday at The Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven. Check out this week’s list of new vinyl arrivals:
24-Carat Black – III
Weekly Review:
Funk collective 24-Carat Black released only one album, which flopped on the charts in 1973 but gained a second life in the in the 1990s thanks to several prominent hip hop samples. The Numero Group, a Chicago label specializing in obscure and forgotten labels and bands released a collection of unreleased 24-Carat material in 2009. Now, even more 24-Carat Black material has been unearthed and released by Numero as III.
It is clear from some of the performances and mixes that these recordings were never intended to be the final version. That said, there are some moments worth seeking out. The muted trumpet on “I’m Coming Back” places the track in jazz/fusion territory popular in the late ‘70s. Similarly, “Speak Low” feels like a missing link between classical, funk and jazz. The 10-minute “Skelton Coast” sounds like something mid-‘70s Marvin Gaye would have cooked up. It is interesting to wonder what ideas were waiting to be added to the mostly instrumental track. Fans who devoured 24-Carat’s proper album and the previous vault collection will enjoy III. Newcomers should start with the original 1973 Stax release. -Joel Francis
The 1975 – Notes on a Conditional Form
Weekly Review:
With a running time only slightly shorter than most romantic comedies, the fourth album from Manchester pop rockers The 1975 suggests an overstuffed epic. Instead, Notes on a Conditional Form plays like a manic yet polished playlist, careening from one style to another with little regard to flow.
The seven singles plucked from the album so far have done a good job of cherry-picking the high points, from arena rock and dancefloor pop to a tender acoustic duet and ‘80s pastiche. If that’s not enough, environmental activist Greta Thunberg, a gospel choir, an orchestra and several atmospheric pieces also appear.
There’s enough here that everyone will find at least a few tracks to like, but without a core narrative or flow, the album just ambles along. After 22 songs, Notes doesn’t conclude as much as it stops. It’s an album ripe for selective shopping, but spreading the songs across a surprisingly succinct four sides of vinyl, creates mini playlists. These smaller doses work in the album’s favor and make for a more enjoyable listen. -Joel Francis
Built to Spill – Built To Spill Plays The Songs Of Daniel Johnston
Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (180 Gram Vinyl, Mono Sound)
Beyoncé – Lemonade (180 Gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket, Colored Vinyl, Yellow, Download Insert)
Beyoncé – B’day
Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill (30th Anniversary Edition)
Beastie Boys – Beastie Boys : Ill Communication
The Beatles – Rubber Soul (180 Gram Vinyl, Remastered, Reissue)
Boards of Canada – Music Has the Right to Children (Digital Download Card, Reissue)
Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (Colored Vinyl)
Carly Rae Jepsen – Dedicated Side B
Chicano Batman – Invisible People (Limited Edition, White)
Dr. John – Dr. John’s Gumbo (Limited Edition, Turquoise Colored Vinyl)
Weekly Review:
45 years ago Dr. John released his iconic tribute to New Orleans music, Dr. John’s Gumbo. This fifth album by this artist is a collection of covers of classic tunes associated with his native city. The resulting sound falls somewhere between the earliest rock n’ roll and the contemporary sounds of the early seventies, all while remaining musically true to the New Orleans R&B sound.
Dr. John’s Gumbo was the first studio album to significantly change musical direction. He later wrote that this album was, “both a tribute to and my interpretation of the music I had grown up with in New Orleans in the late 1940s and 1950s.”
Dr. John’s Gumbo starts with its most significant hit, “Iko Iko”, originally composed by James “Sugar Boy” Crawford in the 1950s and telling the story of a parade collision between two tribes of Mardi Gras Indians. Musically, the choppy rhythms are accented by scratchy lead vocals, responsive backing vocals and just the right amount of boogie-woogie piano and brass sections, nicely setting the pace for the album. “Blow Wind Blow” the first of several Huey “Piano” Smith songs, works its way in from the ending of “Iko Iko” in medley-like fashion and offers another fine upbeat and entertaining rock boogie.
Earl King‘s “Big Chief” is built on a cool electric organ arpeggio, offering a spooky-cool groove upon which to build – other elements including a growling sax and more call and response backing vocals. “Somebody Changed the Lock” leans the most towards New Orleans jazz, especially through the various iconic horns throughout above the now standard boogie piano.
The final stretch of the album starts with “Those Lonely Lonely Nights”, rapid piano over steady rhythms in Fats Domino-like fashion. Next is a seamless tribute to Huey “Piano” Smith, with a medley of three tunes (“High Blood Pressure”, “Don’t You Just Know It”, and “Well I’ll Be John Brown”) are offered over steady boogie rock, never breaking out of key or rhythm. The album wraps with “Little Liza Jane”, featuring a good sax lead and rich harmonies.
Dr. John’s Gumbo commenced a very successful phase in Dr. John’s career and set the stage for the follow-up 1973 album, In the Right Place, which became his most commercially successful album ever.
Pick up a copy from the gang at the “Underground” -Albert Schmurr
Dr. Dre – Chronic
Elliott Smith – An Introduction To Elliott Smith (180 Gram Vinyl)
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (180 Gram Vinyl)
GZA – Liquid Swords
Hapshash And The Coloured Coat – Featuring The Human Host And The Heavy Metal Kids
Jaime Wyatt – Neon Cross (Colored Vinyl, Limited Edition, Pink, Indie Exclusive)
Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced
King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King (Remixed By Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp) (Limited Edition, 200 Gram Vinyl)
King Crimson – Islands (Remixed By Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp) (Limited Edition, 200 Gram Vinyl)
King Crimson – Lizard (Remixed By Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp) (Limited Edition, 200 Gram Vinyl)
King Crimson – In the Wake of Poseidon (Remixed By Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp) (Limited Edition, 200 Gram Vinyl)
King Crimson – Rarities (Remixed By Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp) (Limited Edition, 200 Gram Vinyl)
Lucinda Williams – Good Souls Better Angels (Indie Exclusive)
Lil Baby – My Tum (Colored Vinyl, Blue, Paexp)
Misfits – Legacy of Brutality
Neil Young – Homegrown (Indie Exclusive)
OutKast – Speakerboxxx: The Love Below
Parcels – Live Vol. 1
Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher (Red, Indie Exclusive)
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Shabaka and the Ancestors – We Are Sent Here By History
Weekly Review:
In the 1960s, Impulse Records was responsible for releasing some of the most incendiary and forward-leaning albums by John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders. The spirit of those recordings thrives on Impulse’s latest release, the second album by Shabaka and the Ancestors. The 11 cuts on We Are Sent Here By History are filled with a sense of urgency and vitality that make them the perfect soundtrack to our tension-filled time.
Quite simply, there are no songs or even bad moments on this album. Imagine Kamasi Washington spiked with Afro-beat and the best elements of those ‘60s Impulse releases and you’re close. We Are Sent By History is an essential addition to any music library. -Joel Francis
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers – Damn The Torpedoes (180 Gram Vinyl)
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers – Hard Promises (180 Gram Vinyl)
Various – Once Upon a Time In…Hollywood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (150 Gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket, Poster)
Warren Zevon – Life’ll Kill Ya (Anniversary Edition)
FLASH SALE!
50% OFF – Bishop Briggs “Champion” Today only- Thursday, June 18th!
Turntables! We got ’em. From starter tables to audiophile, and everything in between, we have you covered. We are honored to once again be carrying a full line up of the award winning, top of their class, made in America, U-turn Orbits! We have all the colors- including the high performance walnut and maple. Get here fast for best selections. They have stopped all wholesale orders until after the first of the year so there won’t be more before the holidays. Get yours today!
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Here’s where we talk about the virus. We are all freaked out. We are all nervous and anxious. We are OPEN. If you want to come shop in person, we will say hello, give you a virtual high five- a virtual hug if we know you that well- and we will keep our distance. We love all of our customers and are glad to keep this little bit of normalcy in these crazy times. With that being said, we will also offer various other ways to get your vinyl fix. We have always shipped music and we will continue to do so. We also offer curbside pick up. Call us, pay, call us when you are outside and we will deliver your freshly sanitized purchase to your car.
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Enjoy the music and we will see you soon. Your loving Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven staff:
Sherman, Gordon, Cat, Matt, Dylan, Doyle, Heather and Max
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