Vinyl Distractions

The Cream front cover – photograph of John Lee Hooker, a 60-something-year-old black man in a very dapper light colored three piece suit, a black silk or nylon shirt with an incredibly wide collar reaching to the shoulders of his suit jacket, and a tall, broad-brimmed light colored hat. He is seated at a diner table, a tabletop jukebox selector in the booth behind him. He has one arm resting on the table, the other on his knee, his left leg crossed on his right knee, he sits turned out from the booth. On the table is a heaping ice cream sundae covered in whipped cream with a cherry on top.

December 22, 2024

John Lee Hooker – The Cream

Well here’s a brand new, 2024 re-release of another John Lee Hooker album that I was previously unaware of – from 1977 (released in 1978), a live recording titled “The Cream,” but having nothing...

'70s / Blues / Catchup / Live Album / RecordStoreDay

December 21, 2024

John Lee Hooker – Black Night Is Falling

When this popped up in the blues bin, I admit I was a little hesitant because here was a John Lee Hooker record I’d never heard of before, and a live performance at that,...

John Lee Hooker Live at Cafe Au-Go-Go front cover

'60s / Blues / Catchup / Live Album / RecordStoreDay

December 19, 2024

John Lee Hooker – Live at Cafe Au-Go-Go

Next up in the new John Lee Hooker acquisitions: Live at Cafe Au-Go-Go. Recorded in New York City in 1966, originally released in 1967, this features about the best backing Hooker could have: Muddy...

Don't Turn Me From Your Door front cover – the cover features the name "John Lee Hooker" across the top; beneath that in smaller, lower-case italic is the title, "don't turn me from your door." The photograph provides an almost entirely black background. Left of center are three separate types and sizes of microphones on three different stands; another, higher microphone is off to the right. Behind the microphones is John Lee Hooker, a black man in a sharp, dark pin-striped suit, looking down at the guitar he is playing.

'50s / '60s / Blues / Catchup / Colored Vinyl / RecordStoreDay

December 17, 2024

John Lee Hooker – Don’t Turn Me From Your Door

Next up in our flurry of John Lee Hooker acquisitions for 2024: this Black Friday Record Store Day reissue of 1963’s “Don’t Turn Me From Your Door.” His only release on ATCO, it brings...

'60s / Blues / Catchup / Colored Vinyl

December 15, 2024

John Lee Hooker – Burnin’

Okay, we’re about to go through a slew of new John Lee Hooker records. I currently have 20 albums by John Lee Hooker. Five of those, I’ve bought in the past year. And that’s...

Jimi Hendrix Songs for Groovy Children front cover

'60s / '70s / Catchup / Colored Vinyl / Live Album / Psychedelic / RecordStoreDay / Rock

December 13, 2024

Jimi Hendrix – Songs For Groovy Children

The latest Record Store Day, the Black Friday 2024 event, was really the first time I had a long list of wants, and this was on it. For a bunch of reasons, live recordings...

A black and white image of Jimi Hendrix, showing the upper half of his body facing to the left, his guitar gripped at the base of the neck with his right hand, his left hand a fist in the air. He is in some kind of colorfully patterned shirt, his hair in a natural afro style. The background is a series of four concentric color circles, like a sunsplash behind him.

'60s / Blues / Catchup / Live Album / Psychedelic / Rock

December 11, 2024

Jimi Hendrix Experience – Hollywood Bowl, August 19, 1967

Eventually I figured out that what I want from a Jimi Hendrix record is for it to be live. I’ve already written about “Are You Experienced?” and how I prefer “Axis: Bold As Love,”...

Heated Garage – Toasty Treasures from Minnesota’s Key Bank Studio

'60s / Catchup / Colored Vinyl / Garage / RecordStoreDay

December 10, 2024

Heated Garage – Toasty Treasures from Minnesota’s Key Bank Studio

Some garage rock compilations are more special than others. In a sense, garage rock records are the definition of limited edition – but this one is actually numbered! This was a Record Store Day pickup...

'70s / Catchup / Funk / Soul / Soundtrack

December 9, 2024

Isaac Hayes – Truck Turner (Original Soundtrack)

Okay, it has been a long time since I saw a movie and instantly thought, “I need that soundtrack!” What was the last one? “Go!”? “Empire Records”? Something back thataway. And most of the...

Vinyl Distractions