Monday, May 15, 2017

Freddy Fender: Tex-Mex (1979)


ABC Records ‎MAY-1132

This was from the dollar bin in a Toronto record shop, one of several Freddy Fender LPs, all in very good condition.

"Just Because," "Cajun Stomp," and "Sweet Summer Day" appear on various Freddy Fender compilation CDs. The rest of this album is not on CD.

Fender had just appeared in the movie "She Came To The Valley" as Pancho Villa, hence the cover artwork. The title song from the movie appears on this LP.

Many of Fender's albums have not been released digitally, although some of the tracks appear on compilations. In 2012, Australian company Raven Records released a CD containing both 1974's Before the Next Teardrop Falls and its 1975 follow-up Are You Ready for Freddy? – two of his biggest sellers, and an essential CD for Fender fans, or at least ones without a turntable.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Canadian Brass: Rag-Ma-Tazz (1975)


Boot Records BMC 3004

[Update: tracks were deleted from Youtube] I found this in a dollar bin at a Toronto record store, in great shape. I enjoy Christmas brass recordings (I have two by the Canadian Brass), and I like ragtime music, so I figured I'd enjoy this recording of Joplin (and other) rags.

With an essay on the back cover by "Canadian radio commentator" Richard Gale about the then-current revival of ragtime music titled "The Rag Rage."

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Waylon Jennings: Sweet Mother Texas (1986)


RCA ‎– AHL1-7184

On this LP, Waylon Jennings covers Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire." Also, both Johnny Cash and Earl Scruggs make guest appearances. Yet it hasn't been released as a CD or mp3s. I'm surprised by whoever it is that decides these things.

This was a gift from a fellow collector in Toronto. I shopped for LPs there this past weekend and made many finds in the dollar bins.