Valentine's Day's

Various Artists - The Rama Story (1999) {2CD Set, Westside Records WESD215 rec 1953-1956}
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© 1953-56, 1999 Rama Recordings / Westside Records | WESD 215
Rhythm & Blues / Doo Wop / Oldies / Rockabilly / Rock 'n' Roll

This 2 disc set brings together 61 tracks from this early George Goldner run label. Although Rama only had a three year run as a label, they made significant inroads, especially as a doo-wop specialist with seminal tracks from the Crows ("Gee"), the Wrens ("Come Back My Love"), the Valentines ("Lily Maybelle") and the Heartbeats ("A Thousand Miles Away"). But there's also some errant pop sides and some fine rockabilly aboard as well from Don "Red" Roberts, Little Billy Mason (a white Frankie Lymon sound-alike with guitar band backing), and Roc LaRue. A delightful two disc set that shows off the many sides of this interesting label.

Tom Waits - Used Songs 1973-1980 (2001) {Elektra–Rhino 8122-78351-2}
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© 1973-80, 2001 Asylum / Elektra / Rhino / Warner | 8122-78351-2
Rock / Blues / Blues Rock / Singer-Songwriter

Rhino's fine 16-track collection Used Songs (1973-1980) chronicles Tom Waits' first seven albums, all recorded for Asylum Records. This contains pretty much all his staples from the '70s – "Heartattack and Vine," "Burma Shave," "Ol' 55," "Jersey Girl," "(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night," and "Tom Traubert's Blues" among them – sequenced not chronologically, but sequenced for maximum impact. Given the sheer amount of music Waits made for Asylum, it shouldn't be surprising that there are some fan favorites missing, but there are no complaints with what is here, and this provides a near-perfect encapsulation of his pre-Island years, especially for those only familiar with the Island recordings.

Adam Ant - Adam Ant Is the BlueBlack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter (2013) {BlueBlack Hussar Records BBH002CD}
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© 2013 BlueBlack Hussar Records | BBH002CD
Rock / New Wave / Post-Punk Revival / Aternative / Pop Rock

Last time Adam Ant released an album, chart success was possible, even expected, so he indulged in his softer side on 1993's Wonderful. Those were different times. Twenty years later, the music biz has fractured and Adam himself hasn't had an easy time of things (the past two decades were littered with tabloid stories of his travails), and he's decided to seize these two events on the wild, sprawling double-album Adam Ant Is the BlueBlack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter. Its convoluted title refers to Adam's early persona, pirate torture, and record label machinations and, unsurprisingly, the album addresses all of these problems and more – including "Who's a Goofy Bunny," an old demo revived as a tribute to the departed Malcolm McLaren – channeling all these thoughts into something of a concept album portraying Adam Ant as a lone warrior combating the world.

'Seasons Of Change II: More Happening Hits Of The Hippy Era' is the much-anticipated sequel to the original instalment released a couple of years ago. This second volume once again plugs into the 'vibe' and musical mood of that late-60s/early-70s period - focusing on those tracks that became local charts hits, and album cuts that received lots of radio airplay during those heady years.