November Challenge Thread: All-Stars Edition!

November 25 - Today, play an album for some one you miss.

Grant Green "Alive!" (1970 Blue Note; 2019 reissue)
This is for my friend Mike, who passed suddenly a few years ago. Lawyer, connoisseur of excellent foods, and avid collector of things. I fondly remember great dim sum outings with him, my then 2 y.o. daughter being a flower girl at his wedding, and him putting me onto some excellent graphic novels, like the fantastic work of Norwegian cartoonist Jason. He was also an avid toy collector - he actually completed a trio of Planet of the Apes Apeonaut action figures for me - I had Cornelius and Zira but he happened to have an extra Dr. Milo (it's crazy how many extra random collectibles he had and would just give away to make people happy). I can post a photo of the set of figures I have prominently displayed if anyone is interested. He was also a Montrealer through and through - he spear-headed a campaign to rename Lionel-Groulx metro station (a historical figure with a problematic past) to Oscar-Peterson station. Too bad that never came about. So I'm playing some jazz in his honor.

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November 26
@Joe Mac gave is this moody masterpiece as Vol. 6:
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The Gloaming - 3

This record is on Real World records. This is Peter Gabriel’s label. It does quite a bit of international, non-western music. When I was in college, I was the World Music director at the campus radio station. The two labels I was most excited about sending me stuff was Real World and David Bryne’s Luka Bop. I became more interested in American roots music after leaving college and stopped paying attention to Real World (which had been a staple of my music buying habits even prior to college as starting with Us, Gabriel’s albums were in Real World.). This album reminded me of how much I love the label and I have been exploring their catalog a bit the past few years, not as much as I would like.

Today, play an album that connected you in some way to something from your past that had been long forgotten or given less attention.
Read more about Joe’s pick here:
Joe Mac

Thread 'Needles & Grooves AoTM /// Vol. 6 - December 2019 /// The Gloaming - 3 [2019]'

So its reached that point of the month! Without further ado...

Ladies and Gentlemen I'm delighted to announce to you all that your Needles & Grooves Album of the Month for December 2019 is....

The Gloaming - 3

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So for this month I decided to switch our communities focus to Irish music, a theme that will be continued in the further listening picks that I announce in a little while. For a small island we have a proud artistic tradition that deserves to be cherished and celebrated, I wanted to share a little bit of that with you...
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November 26:
Today, play an album that connected you in some way to something from your past that had been long forgotten or given less attention.

For as much as I love the Grateful Dead, I could never get into other post-Jerry Jam Bands. Everything just seemed derivative, or something was missing that I couldn't put my ear on.

When I saw these guys live for the first time that changed. There are very few similarities between the two bands (although they are getting closer), but the willingness to take things to an edge and hang out there for a bit struck that same nerve in me that the Dead did in their prime. Specifically the 15 minute Dripping Tap that closed it out sealed the deal. So I'm gonna go with this album, since Dripping Tap is the leadoff track.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard ~ Omnium Gatherum

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Day 22 -

Play something about space or the stars

The Bright Light Social Hour - Space Is Still The Place

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Bonus, it was the N&G AoTM Vol 30.

Tj.

Thread 'Needles & Grooves AotM///Vol. 30 December 2021///The Bright Light Social Hour - Space is Still the Place'

N&G December AOTM: The Bright Light Social Hour - Space is Still the Place

My reason for picking this is simply because it makes me happy every time I listen to it, so I want to give others a chance at that experience. I love so much about the album, from the echoing harmonies and the fuzzed out guitar licks, to the jam sessions, as well as the dancy tracks, and just the overall spacey vibe. This album has it all and blends it together perfectly. But it never got the recognition I felt it deserved so I'm excited to present it as AOTM.

I also think the packaging is fantastic, as it comes...
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November 26:
Today, play an album that connected you in some way to something from your past that had been long forgotten or given less attention.

Axiom: Reconstructions and Vexations.
Not quite sure if this fits but close enough.
I was a big fan on Bill Laswell and the Axiom label back in the 90s and early 2000s but started to drift away when I started to collect vinyl again because his stuff was hard to get on record. Stumbled across this cd and started to pick up other Axiom/Laswell titles whenever I can.
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jamieanderson1968 said:
November 26:
Today, play an album that connected you in some way to something from your past that had been long forgotten or given less attention.

Axiom: Reconstructions and Vexations.
Not quite sure if this fits but close enough.
I was a big fan on Bill Laswell and the Axiom label back in the 90s and early 2000s but started to drift away when I started to collect vinyl again because his stuff was hard to get on record. Stumbled across this cd and started to pick up other Axiom/Laswell titles whenever I can.
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Click to expand...

There ain’t no damn rules! I’m just telling stories and giving a prompt: if the prompted prompted you to play this, your golden pony boy!
 
Day 24 -

Your prompt today is to play an album that represents your musical heritage.

The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile

My parents loved the Beach Boys, and there were always their records in the house although they were usually the earlier records. I remember playing them in the garage on the stackable turntable. No idea where those records are, but assuming in the garbage after the beating they took.

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November 27

@Alexander classed up the joint with this pick:
IMG_3810.jpegRecomposed by Max Richter - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

I got no story today, except this here cat is in my top fifty all time listened artist and is one of a few select artists that I actively seek records of in the classical realm. I don’t mind flipping sides, don’t mind 45 rpm records and changing belts. I do dislike movements/songs being split up. A good record is sequenced so that even the record flip is part of the process, think of that side change to Abbey Road or Dark Side. Classical isn’t meant to be constrained by the side of a little black disc.

Today, play a classic.

Read more about this selection here:
Alexander

Thread 'Needles & Grooves AotM /// Vol. 13 - July 2020 /// Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons'

Hello friends. Looks like you're in my hands for the next month.

This should be fun!

I'll kick things off with a clue:

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November 26
Today, play an album that connected you in some way to something from your past that had been long forgotten or given less attention.

Going back to the parking lot at my high school in 1976. It was a happening place. The cars - what a great mix, pretty much any of them you'd love to own today. Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, Cougars, Firebirds, Corvairs, Javelins, GTOs and, of course, the mighty Mustang.

I was tooling around in a fully loaded 1967 Mustang convertible with a four-barrel 289 V8, factory AC, an AM/8-Track and a power top back then. Top shelf for a high schooler.

Fun fact - I still own this car.

This record takes me right back to that parking lot...



Foghat - Fool For The City

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Yer Ol' Uncle D said:
November 26
Today, play an album that connected you in some way to something from your past that had been long forgotten or given less attention.

Going back to the parking lot at my high school in 1976. It was a happening place. The cars - what a great mix, pretty much any of them you'd love to own today. Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, Cougars, Firebirds, Corvairs, Javelins, GTOs and, of course, the mighty Mustang.
Click to expand...

The Mid 70's Pinto Wagon I drove in High School feels left out of this list.

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November 27 - Today, play a classic

Well, this seems like the antitheses of what Max Richter was doing, but I'm gonna play it anyway. And to be honest, this is a lot for 8am and just starting my first cup of coffee.

This includes ELPs gentle and understated take on Pictures at an Exhibition.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer ~ Live at the Isle of Wight Festival

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November 26 - Today, play an album that connected you in some way to something from your past that had been long forgotten or given less attention.

Fine Young Cannibals "Fine Young Cannibals" (1985 London Records - original UK pressing)
Had a hard time wrapping my head around what to play for this prompt. But @Yer Ol' Uncle D 's talk of cars and @imtheocean 's post of a hatchback led me to my high school buddy Jason. Definitely something/someone I haven't thought of in a while. Jason had this green 80's Plymouth Horizon he'd drive around while we were in our last few years of high school. He'd often pick me up in the morning and give me rides to school and back. He also loved his questionable pop music - I heard my fill of Richard Marx, Tiffany and Debbie Gibson driving around with him. But it wasn't all bad - I quite enjoy Fine Young Cannibals, which he played a lot too. I should be playing The Raw And The Cooked because that was the record he'd play, but I only have the S/T. So that's what I'm playing.

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