Playlist Week of 2014-08-02

* Scriabin: The Complete Piano Sonatas (Laredo) (Nonesuch 2CD)

* Schoeberg: Piano Music (Pollini) (Deutsche Grammophon CD)

* Schoenberg: Piano Concerto, etc. (Cleveland/Uchida/Boulez) (Philips CD)

* Miles Davis: Agharta (Columbia/SME-Japan 2CD)

* Miles Davis: Pangaea (Columbia/SME-Japan 2CD)

* McCoy Tyner: Song Of The New World (Milestone LP)

* McCoy Tyner: Fly With The Wind (Milestone LP)

* Herbie Hancock: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (Warner Bros. 2CD)

* Bennie Maupin: The Jewel In The Lotus (ECM LP)

* John Abercrombie: Current Events (ECM LP)

* Marc Johnson: Bass Desires (ECM LP)

* Rodger Coleman & Sam Byrd: Cosmologies (NuVoid Jazz LP)

* Shuggie Otis: Introducing Shuggie Otis (Columbia/Legacy LP)†

* Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack (d.2-3) (GDP 5HDCD)†/‡

* Grateful Dead: The Pyramid, Memphis, TN 1995-04-01 (selections) (SBD 2CDR)

* Grateful Dead: The Pyramid, Memphis, TN 1995-04-02 (selections) (SBD 3CDR)

* Jerry Garcia Band: After Midnight: Kean College 2/28/80 (Rhino 3HDCD)†/‡

* Anthony Phillips: Private Parts & Pieces II: “Back to the Pavilion” (Passport LP)

* PFM: Cook (Manticore LP)

* PFM: Jet Lag (Zoo LP)

* Placebo: Ball Of Eyes (Parlophone/Music On Vinyl LP)†

* Placebo: 1973 (Parlophone/Music On Vinyl LP)†

* Placebo: Placebo (Parlophone/Music On Vinyl LP)†

* Fred Frith: Gravity (Ralph LP)

* The Jam: All Mod Cons (Polydor LP)

* Borbetomagus: Seven Reasons For Tears (Purge LP)

* Beck: Morning Phase (The Vinyl Experience) (Capitol MP3) †/‡

* Anathema: Distant Satellites (KScope CD/DVD)

* The Features: The Features (Serpents & Snakes LP)†/‡

* BORIS: Pink (Southern Lord CD)

* BORIS: New Album (Sargent House CD)

* BORIS: Noise (Sargent House 2LP)†/‡

* Mastodon: Once More ‘Round The Sun (Reprise 2LP/CD) †/‡

* Mastodon: Remission (Deluxe Edition) (Relapse 2LP)

* Agalloch: The Serpent & The Sphere (Dämmerung Arts 2LP)

* Syd Arthur: On An On (Harvest LP)†

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

This week I got to accompany Liz on a business trip to Jackson, Mississippi, where she selected some of Eudora Welty’s photographs for an upcoming exhibit at the NashvillePublic Library. It was truly extraordinary to have a private tour of the WeltyHouse by Eudora’s niece, Mary Alice Welty White, and an honor and privilege to be able to examine the rare, vintage photographs up close. The exhibit will really be something special. It opens September 5^th and runs through November 9^th.

On our way back, we stopped in Memphis and went to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, something we had meaning to do for years. Wow! it far surpassed our expectations. The original building was torn down long ago but has since been painstakingly reconstructed right down to the neon marquee and cavernous studio (which was originally a movie theater). Telling the full story of soul music from its gospel and hillbilly origins through the ups and downs of the Stax/Volt label, the exhibits are jam-packed with photographs, rare memorabilia and extensive text pieces. Frankly, it is an overwhelming amount of information to take in at once but the couple hours we were there was a truly moving experience. I want to go back soon.

The grooviest, 1970s-est exhibit has to be Isaac Hayes’s gold-plated Cadillac, which spins around on a giant turntable, while videos play of him tooling around Memphis, showing off his ride. Too cool for words! The Stax Museum is definitely worth the trip.

I also got to do a little digging at Goner Records, where I found stuff you just don’t see around very much these days: some Italian prog, German ECMs, Fred Frith’s first solo album and a Borbetomagus LP, of all things. Although not a record collector herself (or really much of a shopper), Liz was fascinated to see me in my element. Fun!

+++

Regarding the long-awaited Cosmologies vinyl release, I have good news and bad news. The good news is the records were finally pressed; the bad news is they are messed up. I am pursuing a remedy, but that means the album will only be further delayed. My apologies to everyone who kindly pre-ordered—I appreciate your patience! It will be worth the wait, I promise.

Here is a YouTube Vinyl Community video explaining the whole situation, including an audio sample:

I’ll keep you posted. You can download a digital copy of Cosmologies and pre-order the (hopefully) deluxe vinyl over at Bandcamp. Thank you so much for your support!