Various Artists

A cornucopia, if you will.

  • Funky Sounds from Central Africa Funky Sounds from Central Africa

    I guess this is the kind of record that would scream “grab me” even to the most casual of record browsers so I feel extra lucky it fell into my greedy hands. This is a very rare compilation released in the Netherlands by some forward souls at Philips. The bulk of the 12 tracks, although […]

  • Driven Element (Various Artists) Driven Element (Various Artists)

    From around 1982 until about 1991 (dates are unclear) Marcel Dion ran a weekly Electronic/Experimental/Avant-Garde radio show on CJSR (campus/community radio station in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) called Departures. It’s always unclear with campus/community radio how large your audience is and so it’s unknown how popular the show was. However, what is clear is that it […]

  • VA: Wilderness America VA: Wilderness America

    Local NorCal save the wilderness benefit comp that ranges from symphonic overtures, and new age, to sensitive singer/songwriter wannabe James Taylor shit. I honestly don’t even know why I picked this up originally based on it’s looks… oh yeah, I think Iasos the “Finger Listener” dude is on it. Anyhow, the real standout track has […]

  • Various: Si, Para Usted Various: Si, Para Usted

    I’m not just reviewing this because I got a free promo. Nor am I reviewing it because Waxing Deep’s Dan Zacks (the taste-maker responsible for this CD) is an “e-bud” who I’ve sent dead birds to. Waxidermy is above such collusion. I am reviewing this because it’s awesome. Now, I’ve never been to Cuba… much […]

  • Various Artists - Folk Music USA Vol.1 Various Artists - Folk Music USA Vol.1

    Another Folkways box along the lines of the excellent “Anthologies” LPs. This double LP box dates from 1959 and focuses on field recordings from all genres of american folk music. The comprehensive liner note booklet (including lyrics) is written by Charles Edward Smith and the songs were compiled by Harold Courlander. One of several Folkways […]

  • Various Artists - A Night At The Apollo Various Artists - A Night At The Apollo

    A live recording on Vanguard of a night of performances from the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.  It sounds as though it is from the early-mid 50s.  I don’t remember where I got this LP from, but it is a UK press.  Liner notes are by Langston Hughes.  The artists featured are the Apollo Band Of […]

  • Various Artists - Opus Jazz Various Artists - Opus Jazz

    This was another one of those book fair “the records are only 10 cents & this looks interesting even though I have never heard of it before, so why not” purchases (actually the same fair as the Pete Seeger instructional LP I posted here previously). I assume it is a local white label promo […]

  • Various Artists - Million Sellers Of The Sixties Various Artists - Million Sellers Of The Sixties

    I originally saw this record in the book “Naked Vinyl”, which is basically a collection of record covers that feature chicks in varying degrees of nakedness. Worth a read for sure. The book actually belongs to my girlfriend and as we were flicking through it laughing at some of the covers she saw […]

  • Various - Seventh Annual Bands Of Tomorrow Contest Various - Seventh Annual Bands Of Tomorrow Contest

    This is a record documenting the performances of the High School Division Finalists in the Seventh Annual “Bands Of Tomorrow” Contest held at Falls Church, Virginia on January 25, 1969.  It’s on Century Records and was recorded live at Langley High School, who also won the Senior High School Division.  Western Junior High School won […]

  • Various - Cumbias Y Gaitas de Colombia Various - Cumbias Y Gaitas de Colombia

    Housed in an incredibly nice cover with a unique pre-historic Flinstone vibe (the drum, the model, the hair…), this record contains several outstanding cumbias. I thought the following cumbia (eh, or Gaita?) from this record is a nice one to post because it features a great hot-jazz guitarist who at one point goes out of […]

  • Various - Sensazioni Various - Sensazioni

    The Italian Phase 6 series might have had one of the coolest strings of sexy covers ever. This one is an absolute favorite of mine. The typefont, the angle, the color of the sky, the choice of model, the negligent position of her bikini. One can almost smell the hot herb-filled air of Italy’s coast […]

  • CKUA Presents: The ACME Sausage Company CKUA Presents: The ACME Sausage Company

    This is a private compilation put together for a community radio station (CKUA) in Edmonton, Alberta circa 1972 in a run of 1,000. The compilation was produced by then musical enthusiast Holgar Peterson. Holgar went on to form Stonyplain Records and become a local celebrity, his label still quite active. I was a little skeptical […]

  • Various: African Dances Various: African Dances

    I’m a complete novice when it comes to this type of stuff, but this along with a small handful of other things I’ve been lucky enough to pick up lately has really sparked an interest. This one is simply titled “African Dances” on a (very budget looking) label called “Authentic”. It appears to be an […]

  • Various Artists - Bass Modulations Various Artists - Bass Modulations

    This one comes from Italy on the obscure Octopus library label. No date is listed on the back cover but a safe guess would be early 70’s. The music on here is mainly jazz, but there are a few tracks which venture into the ‘psych’ territory. Most of the songs are composed by R. Conrado […]

  • Various - Pornophone / Sänghingsten Various - Pornophone / Sänghingsten

    Oh Oh, this cover is quite explicit, when i bought this 45 i thought it was punk underground stuff, it was written in swedish, the only thing i understood was “pornophone” and “Made in Sweden”, the rest is swedish, anyway i bought it. Back home, i listened to it and i was disapointed: only spoken. […]

  • The Now Sounds Of Today (Columbine) The Now Sounds Of Today (Columbine)

    The year and location of this record are ambiguous. However, apparently, this is apart of a series of recordings where a songwriter would submit their work through mail order to have their works performed by a professional singer. The singers on this compilation are ones named Marie Bain, Kay Weaver and Ralph Lowe. The women […]

  • New American Music Vol. 1 New American Music Vol. 1

    Here’s the first of four volumes in Folkways’ New American Music series. You know it’s new American music because the Eagle on the cover is playing a harp. Eagles mean America, harps mean music and new means new. But this record is actually 30 years old, so I guess in this case new means old. […]

  • Various Artists - Electronic Music Various Artists - Electronic Music

    Outstanding set of early electronics on the ever-popular Folkways label. It’s hard to imagine the nerdish looking dudes pictured in the included booklet would be the ones producing these totally bizarre sound structures.

  • Morgan Fisher - Miniatures Morgan Fisher - Miniatures

    In 1980, Mott The Hoople Keyboardist and Londoner Morgan Fisher solicited musical contributions from 50 musicians that he admired…

  • Hit 'Em Hard OST Hit ‘Em Hard OST

    Okay, half of this soundtrack is mediocre but the other half is amazing. My favorite tracks on this one are by Delilah Moore (who’s name they misspelled on the front cover) Overall there’s four great funky soul tracks by her. Great stuff!