Craft Recordings has a full passel of offerings for Record Store Day '24. So many (8), in fact, that I can only wrap my head around some of them at this point. However, I wanted to share my thoughts about the Craft releases that most catch my attention. Were I ambling over to my local vinyl monger on Record Store Day, Black Friday these are the Craft releases that I'd have my eyes peeled for.
Various Artists – The Soul and Songs of Young Curtis Mayfield: The Spirit of Chicago (2-LP; Black Vinyl)
From 1958 to 1965 Curtis Mayfield honed his chops becoming the Curtis Mayfield that you know and love. He did so by working behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer, learning all he could about the foundation of the record industry before becoming a front man.
This 27-track collection features newly remastered audio from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY-winning engineer Paul Blakemore, and new liner notes by Jim Miller offer round out the package. The 2-LP set is limited to 2,800 copies worldwide.
The Soul and Songs of Young Curtis Mayfield: The Spirit of Chicago Tracklist:
Side A
Jerry Butler & The Impressions – For Your Precious Love
The Impressions – The Gift Of Love
The Impressions – At The County Fair
The Impressions – Senorita I Love You
The Impressions – A Long Time Ago
The Impressions – Let Me Know
The Impressions – Young Lover
Side B
The Impressions – That You Love Me
The Impressions – A New Love
Jerry Butler – I Found A Love
Jerry Butler – He Will Break Your Heart
Jerry Butler – Thanks To You
Jerry Butler – Find Another Girl
Jerry Butler – When Trouble Calls
Side C
Wade Flemons – At The Party
Wade Flemons – Devil In Your Soul
Jerry Butler – I’m A Telling You
Jerry Butler – Aware Of Love
Jerry Butler – Isle Of Sirens
Jerry Butler – I’m The One
Side D
Gene Chandler – Rainbow
Gene Chandler – Man’s Temptation
Jerry Butler – A Woman With Soul
Jerry Butler – Need To Belong
Jerry Butler – I’ve Been Trying
Jerry Butler & Betty Everett – Just Be True
Jerry Butler & Betty Everett – It’s All Right
Various Artists – Jazz Dispensary: The Golden Hour (1-LP; Golden Wave Swirl Vinyl)
Another entry into Craft's proprietary Jazz Dispensary collection. Is there a subset of record collectors who collect all of the Jazz Dispensary compilations? Because if there is, I'd like to meet with them monthly to discuss (over coffee) how great - and fun - these compilations often are. I love the micro-collections within my collection and am slightly disappointed in myself that I don't have each one of JD's compilations in the library. I'll have to work on achieving that accomplishment, and I can get started by grabbing The Golden Hour this Black Friday.
Limited to just 6,200 units worldwide, The Golden Hour is pressed on a dreamy blue-and-gold Golden Wave Swirl vinyl and housed in a jacket designed by acclaimed visual artist Kamil Czapiga, who used microscopic cameras to film special color inks as they reacted to songs from the album.
Say that again? What's that about the microscopic cameras? I'll let you know more if I get this in my hands.
Jazz Dispensary: The Golden Hour Tracklist:
Side A
Hampton Hawes – Web
Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Soul Talk-1970
Sonny Rollins – Newkleus
Nat Adderley – Fortune’s Child
Side B
Gene Ammons – Cántaro
Vince Guaraldi – Little Birdie
Chico Hamilton – Gengis
Catalyst – Suite for Albeniz
Joe Bataan – Riot! (1-LP; 180-Gram Black Vinyl)
Readers of my writing know that I love a great reissue from Craft's Latino releases. See my reviews of Ray Barretto's Que Viva La Musica and Willie Colón's "La Gran Fuga". So, my heart always skips a beat to see the announcement of a clean, well-mastered, well-designed, new release added to their offerings. I was keeping up for awhile, but have not been able to sustain the pace at which Craft is releasing these key albums.
But Joe Bataan's Riot! is on my shortlist. Released by the "King of Latin Soul" in 1968, Bataan - with the help of his musical compadres - crafted a record that explored the highs, lows, and in-betweens of the good, bad, happy and sad changes which took place in the late 1960s.
Limited to 2,100 copies worldwide, this reissue has been mastered from the original analog tapes by Clint Holley and Dave Polster at Well Made Music and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl.
Riot! Tracklist:
Side A
It’s A Good Feeling (Riot)
For Your Love
Muñeca
Pa’ Monte
Side B
What Good Is A Castle
Daddy’s Coming Home
Mambo De Bataan
My Cloud
Ordinary Guy
Max Roach – Deeds, Not Words (Mono; 1-LP; 180-Gram Vinyl)
Roach on drums, mono reissue: count me in. There's been some buzz about this one online, so if you're looking for it, move swiftly.
Limited to 3,100 copies worldwide, this special edition features all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, 180-gram black vinyl pressed at Fidelity Pressing and a Stoughton tip-on jacket, replicating the album’s original design.
Deeds, Not Words Tracklist:
Side A
You Stepped Out Of A Dream
Filidé
It’s You Or No One
Side B
Jodie’s Cha-Cha
Deeds, Not Words
Larry-Larue
Conversation
Isaac Hayes – Truck Turner (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / Reel Cult)
An original pressing of Truck Turner lives in the archives, but - I admit - it's been quite some time since it's been spun. In my early collecting days, if Isaac Hayes was a part of it, then I was probably handing over some cash for it. Now could be the perfect time to clean up my copy and let it rip so that I can compare it with the new reissue.
Limited to just 3,100 copies worldwide, this reissue—presented by Varèse Sarabande’s Reel Cult series—marks the return of Truck Turner to vinyl for the first time in 20 years. The 2-LP set was cut from its original analog tapes by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl and pressed on 180-gram Translucent Purple wax. Tip-on jacket included.
Angelo Badalamenti – Music for Film and Television (1-LP; Translucent Red Vinyl)
If you are a lover of film, you'll no doubt have heard the music of Angelo Badalamenti. My collection shows only one tiny entry for a Badalamenti credit: he arranged the orchestra for the song "Rent" on Liza Minelli's 1989 album, Results. So, it's high time I wade into the compositional output of Badalamenti. This "greatest hits" compilation seems like an ideal place to start.
Limited to just 2,800 copies worldwide, this new LP release of Music for Film and Television is pressed on translucent red vinyl and features brand-new artwork by acclaimed illustrator Brianna Ashby, who depicts the maestro with iconic prop items from the beloved projects he scored.
Music for Film and Television Tracklist:
Side A
Blue Velvet (Main Title Theme)
A Very Long Engagement (Un Long Dimanche De Fiancailles) – (Suite From A Very Long Engagement)
Wild At Heart (Dark Spanish Symphony)
The Comfort Of Strangers (The Other Side Of The Mirror)
Mulholland Drive (Main Title Theme)
Side B
Twin Peaks (Laura Palmer’s Theme • Main Title Theme (Falling))#
The City Of Lost Children (La Cité Des Enfants Perdus) – (Suite From The City Of Lost Children)
Who Will Take My Dreams Away (featuring Marianne Faithfull) *
The Straight Story (Rose’s Theme)
*Music by Angelo Badalamenti, Lyrics by Marianne Faithfull
#Music by Angelo Badalamenti & David Lynch
Comments