Playlist Week of 2016-04-23

* Dowland: Lachrimae or Seven Teares 1604 (Hesperion XX/Savall) (Alia Vox SACD)

* Stockhausen: “Atmen gibt das Leben…” (Norddeutschen Rundfunks/Stockhausen) (DG LP)

* Sun Ra: Spaceways (Black Lion/ORG LP)

* Herbie Hancock: Mwandishi (Warner Bros. LP)

* Herbie Hancock: Crossings (Warner Bros. LP)

* Les McCann: Invitation To Openness (Atlantic LP)

* Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On (Motown/Mobile Fidelity SACD)

* Prince: Lovesexy (Warner Bros. LP)

* Alan Stivell: Live in Dublin (Fontana LP)

* John Renbourn: The Attic Tapes (Riverboat 2LP)

* Bob Dylan: "Melancholy Mood" + 3 (Columbia 7” EP)

* Van Morrison: Poetic Champions Compose (Mercury LP)

* Kevin Ayers, Eno et al.: June 1, 1974 (Island LP)

* Tony Conrad & Faust: Outside The Dream Syndicate (Superior Viaduct LP)

* Edgar Froese: Aqua (Virgin LP)

* Edgar Froese: Macula Transfer (Brain LP)

* Harmonia: Documents 1975 (Groenland LP)

* Harald Grosskopf: Synthesist (Sky/Bureau B LP)

* VCSR: Tape #4 (Permanent LP)

* Pere Ubu: “30 Seconds Over Tokyo”/”Heart of Darkness” (Nearpan/Fire 7”)

* DNA:  “You & You”/ “Little Ants” (Superior Viaduct 7”)

* Arto Lindsay: Encyclopedia of Arto (Northern Spy 2LP)

* Guided By Voices: Please Be Honest (GBV, Inc. LP)

* Boris & Merzbow: Gensho Part 1 (Relapse 2LP)

* Boris & Merzbow: Gensho Part 2 (Relapse 2LP)

* The Sword: "John The Revelator" (Razor & Tie 7”)
* Zombi: Spirit Animal (Relapse 2LP) †/‡

* Lower Dens: “Batman”/ “Dear Betty Baby” (Gnomonsong 7”)

* London Grammar: If You Wait (Columbia 2LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

2016 is turning out to be a bad year for rock stars (and famous musicians in general). But it was shock to hear of the sudden passing of Prince at the age of 57 -- that's only a few years older than me! 

Coming of age in the '80s it was impossible not be captivated by Prince's unique brand of funky pop music and while I lost track of him as the '90s wore on (and his draconian stance on copyright didn't help), I always had tremendous respect for his outsized talents. 

Of course, there is is lots of speculation right now about the actual cause of death -- and rumors are swirling around of serious opiate abuse -- but none of that really matters. The music will live on.

So, who's next to leave the planet?

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As promised, here's another record collecting video. The Vinyl Community Love Train stopped by my house this week!