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#lowellma — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #lowellma, aggregated by home.social.

  1. This also brings back personal memories of the one semester I did at #UMass Lowell after a medical leave from UMass Amherst - Dubus was the Writer in Residence at UML that semester and visited my American novel survey class to teach House of Sand and Fog, and you'd better believe I was one big nerd puddle. Now he's a professor there.

    I'm telling you, #lowellma is COOL. #bookstodon

  2. #Mississippi homeowners blame a noisy #DataCenter plant for sleepless nights. The mayor's advice? "Consider selling."

    By Lauren Fichten, July 16, 2026

    "It was 4 a.m. on a Sunday and 46-year-old Jason Haley was once again wide awake.

    "The suburban silence that Haley had grown used to in his two decades as a resident of #SouthavenMS, had, for the last few months, been replaced by a constant whirring, like an airplane hovering over his home, he said.

    "The noise keeping Haley awake was coming from a plant powering #ElonMusk's #xAI #datacenters in the area, according to a lawsuit filed in June against the company and its subsidiary, #MZXTech. Haley and two other #Southaven residents, who live within a mile of the plant, allege in the suit that 'near-constant' noise and vibrations are causing negative physical and psychological health effects.

    "The filing comes amid growing #resistance toward data center development, with the majority of Americans opposing local construction of a data center, according to a Gallup poll published earlier this year.

    "Similar disputes are playing out across the country, like in #MountPleasantWI, where a lawsuit this month filed by residents alleges a data center emits 'unreasonable and excessive noise' onto residents' properties and in #LowellMA [a city with a large #Latino population -- #EnvironmentalRacism], where noise from a data center's cooling center 'disrupts neighbors' sleep,' according to an April suit.

    "There are more than 4,000 data centers in the U.S., according to a recent United Nations report. To power the data centers, developers are building their own plants, sometimes with little warning to residents like Haley.

    "Haley reached out to Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite about the noise in emails he shared with CBS News. In one last November, he urged Musselwhite to drive through the neighborhood 'and take a listen to the constant #HighPitch noises.' "

    " 'I am aware of the noise and working on a solution with xAI officials,' Musselwhite had responded to Haley an hour later. 'It is a problem,' he said in another email later in the day.

    "But soon, another sleepless night rolled around and Haley was emailing the mayor again.

    ""Anyone else I can reach out to?" Haley wrote to Musselwhite. "It's almost 4 am and I can hear it from my bed. The high pitch and roaring combined is full force at this time. My ears are ringing. I can't live in this. How was this ever approved?"

    [In a later email, this was Musselwhite's response] "I know they want houses for employees, so you may want to consider selling your home." 😡

    Read more:
    cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-e

    #ElonSucks #BigDataSucks #NoisePollution #BigData
    #CorporateColonialism #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #AirIsLife #USPol
    #AISucks #DatacenterMoratorium
    #AIDatacenters #EnvironmentalRacism
    #PreyingOnThePoor #EnergyVampires #ResistAI

  3. Alright #MAPoli I'm new to this, so bear with me. Energy bills 💡 are a top concern for everyday people in Massachusetts when it comes to building performance. Supposedly the Lowell Sun is reporting on bill actvity on Beacon Hill, but they only list votes for a fraction of the representatives?

    lowellsun.com/2026/03/09/beaco

    What is going on? A quick search tells me the Lowell Sun probably focused on Middlesex County representatives for this piece - so that answers that q.

    Where is the Senate on H 5151? Last week I was disturbed to hear legislation proposed to make taxpayers cover lobbying costs for the energy companies. And a $1 BILLION cut to Mass Save. Are rep's working to increase costs for people? In any case, check out the article above for some pretty current updates ⚡

    #buildingPerformance #construction #energy #law #LowellMA #Lowell #Massachusetts

  4. Frozen puddles and canal edges in Cambridge and Lowell today, the first I’ve seen of the season #frozen #ice #lowellma #canal

  5. Echo And The Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here, 1981 on Sire/Korova

    Second album from Echo & the Bunnymen, produced by Hugh Jones (and the band) and recorded in Wales. It was put out by Korova in the UK and Sire in the US.

    While Crocodiles didn’t chart in the US this one did. The photo on the cover – taken on the shore in Wales – is such an iconic image for the era.

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5—is a US Jacksonville pressing from Allied metalwork.

    #1980s #1981 #Allied #EchoAndTheBunnymen #Jacksonville #Korova #LowellMA #MillNo5 #Sire #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  6. Joy Division, Substance, 1988 on Factory

    Posthumous collection of Joy Division singles put out in 1988 as a 1xLP and reissued in 2015 as a 2xLP by Rhino (a digital remaster). Substance was also used at the title for the New Order singles collection that came out in 1987 (with “1987” added).

    Still looking for a good clean copy of Unknown Pleasures but I was glad to find this copy of Substance. The 2xLP version includes the “Pennine Version” of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” which was the b-side of the original single.

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5—is the 2015 Rhino US edition pressed at Optimal GmbH on 180g vinyl.

    #1980s #1988 #2010s #2015 #compilation #FactoryRecords #JoyDivision #LowellMA #MillNo5 #Rhino #Singles #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  7. Modern English, Mesh & Lace, 1981 on 4AD

    Debut album from Modern English on the 4AD label. This wasn’t released in the US formally until the 2012 CD reissue and then 2016 on vinyl.

    The debut is a bit darker and more derivative of Joy Division than some of the later work but still a really strong collection of songs.

    I always loved the lyric from “I Melt With You”: “never realizing it was always mesh & lace” but didn’t recognize at the time it was something of a reference to their debut.

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5—is a UK pressing by WEA in West Drayton, with the original inner sleeve.

    #1980s #1981 #4AD #LowellMA #MillNo5 #ModernEnglish #UK #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WEAWestDrayton

  8. Bauhaus, 4AD, 1983 on 4AD

    Yes, I did save this one for halloween. This was a compilation EP of the singles versions of “Dark Entries,” “Telegram Sam,” and “Terror Couple Kill Colonel.” Love that back cover photo.

    I was today years old when I realized that John Cale wrote “Rosegarden Funeral of Sores,” the opening triplet of which is burned into my adolescent brain so much it still comes up whenever I am tired of dealing with people:

    Virgin Mary was tired so tired / Tired of listening to gossip / Gossip and complaints

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a UK pressing with a white b-side label, pressed by Damont. I don’t believe this was ever issued in the US.

    #1980s #1983 #4AD #Bauhaus #DanielAsh #DavidJay #Goth #JohnCale #KevinHaskins #LowellMA #MillNo5 #PeterMurphy #UK #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  9. Bob Dylan, Street-Legal, 1978 on Columbia

    This was Dylan’s 18th studio LP, made with a band that included Jerry Scheff, Ian Wallace, Alan Pasqua, Billy Cross, Steven Soles, Steve Douglas, and David Mansfield – many of whom were in the Rolling Thunder Revue. (David Mansfield also went on to be part of The Range).

    Not as many absolutely central Dylan songs here, but I do love “Is Your Love In Vain?” and “Señor (Tales of Yankee Power).”

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No 5 in Lowell MA—is a 1978 pressing from Columbia’s Santa Maria plant. It’s written as “Street Legal” (no hyphen) on the labels but “Street-Legal” on the cover and spine.

    #1970s #1978 #AlanPasqua #BillyCross #BobDylan #Columbia #DavidMansfield #IanWallace #JerryScheff #LowellMA #MillNo5 #SantaMaria #SteveDouglas #StevenSoles #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  10. The Smiths, The World Won’t Listen, 1987 on Rough Trade

    This is a compilation album—the second of three—including singles and b-sides from 1985-1987. Most of these tracks also appear on Louder Than Bombs (a 2xLP), but two are different versions and two are edits.

    Fantastic collection of songs, including “Panic,” “Ask,” “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore,” and “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby.”

    What teenager hasn’t felt “And I’ve got no right to take my place in the human race . . . “?

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a UK issue from 1987, pressed by MPO. (Louder than Bombs was released in the US in lieu of this record, which was not released on vinyl in the US until the 2011 reissue series).

    #1980s #1987 #AndyRourke #JohnnyMarr #LowellMA #MikeJoyce #MillNo5 #morrissey #RoughTrade #TheSmiths #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  11. ZZ Top, Fandango!, 1975 on London Records

    Fourth release from Texas blues band ZZ Top, Fandango! included an A side with live songs (from The Warehouse, in New Orleans) and a B side of new studio recordings.

    A Fandango is a dance originating in Spain and Portugal – which wikipedia tells me “is used as a synonym for ‘a quarrel’, ‘a big fuss’ or ‘a foolish or pretentious act'” – not sure which one ZZ Top were after here.

    I think their first eight albums (yes, I include Eliminator) are fantastic though I’d argue after that it is downhill – but the live releases that have continued to come out from earlier days are great.

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell, MA—is a later 1979 Winchester Pressing on Warner Bros. labels.

    #1970s #1975 #LondonRecords #LowellMA #MillNo5 #NewOrleans #TheWarehouse #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #ZZTop

  12. Cyndi Lauper, She’s So Unusual, 1983 on Portrait

    Lauper’s debut solo album, She’s So Unusual had four top-five singles: “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” and “All Through The Night.”

    A number of the songs were covers – “Money Changes Everything” by The Brains, “When You Were Mine” by Prince, “All Through The Night” by Jules Shear, and even “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” which was written by Robert Hazard who had performed it with multiple bands and made a demo recording.

    Truly a must-have album for an 80s music fan.

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a 1984 pressing with the original inner liner and Portrait label.

    #1980s #1983 #CyndiLauper #JulesShear #LowellMA #MillNo5 #Portrait #prince #RobertHazard #TheBrains #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  13. Randy Newman, Little Criminals, 1977 on Warner Bros

    Randy Newman’s fifth studio LP and his highest charting, in part due to “Short People,” which was also a hit single. Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman, with supporting players including Waddy Wachtel, Joe Walsh, Glen Frey, J.D. Souther, Tim Schmit, Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, Willie Weeks, and even Ry Cooder on mandola on “Kathleen.”

    My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a Bestway pressing, with some price sticker damage on the front from a previous owner.

    #1970s #1977 #GlenFrey #JDSouther #JimKeltner #JoeWalsh #KlausVoorman #LarryWaronker #LowellMA #MillNo5 #RandyNewman #RussTitelman #RyCooder #TimSchmit #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WaddyWachtel #WarnerBrothers

  14. #BostonWeekend 19x Sat 9-3 SPECTACLE Kinetic Sculpture Race annual event in #LowellMA - teams build human powered vehicles to race a course downtown and through the water, then BACK out of the water up a muddy incline. Engineering contraptions that float, boat bikes, canoes on wheels, people get creative. Where I'd be if I wasn't required at What the Fluff in Somerville. Rude to be the same weekend, srsly.
    lowellkinetic.com/about en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_ #Boston #BikeTooter #STEM #BostonBikes #Race #engineering

  15. U2, Give Me One Last Chance, 2023 on Dear Boss.

    Bootleg of U2 live in Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernadino CA, on May 30th 1983.

    Dear Boss. (apparently the period is part of the label name) is a new label reissuing things that were broadcast, which means under EU law are out of copyright at this point. Not sure if this was technically an FM broadcast or not (it was released multiple times on video), but it is the set U2 played (on “Rock Day”) at the US Festival in 1983.

    There’s a great video of it on YouTube (but can’t be embedded here): U2 War Tour US Festival 1983 remastered Devore, CA.

    My copy via Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA

    #1980s #1983 #Bootleg #DearBoss_ #LowellMA #MillNo5 #U2 #USFestival #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  16. Bauhaus, In The Flat Field, 1980 on 4AD

    Debut album from Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, David Jay, and Kevin Haskins aka Bauhaus. Bauhaus and its many spinoffs (Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets, Dali’s Car) are among my favorite musical lineages.

    They’d released “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” as a single in 1979 on Small Wonder records, but this debut came out on 4AD which itself was new in 1980 under the Beggars Banquet umbrella.

    The cover is a photograph called Homage to Purvis de Chavannes by American photographer Duane Michals – hopefully it doesn’t get my account flagged as naughty.

    My copy – as so many in the last few weeks via Slipped Disc at a Mill No 5 record fair – is a 2013 reissue.

    #1980 #1980s #4AD #Bauhaus #DanielAsh #DavidJay #Goth #KevinHaskins #LowellMA #MillNo5 #PeterMurphy #SlippedDisc #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  17. The Police, Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980 on A&M

    Third album in the brilliant opening set of LPs from Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers. Side one opens with “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” “Driven To Tears,” and “When The World is Running Down, You Make The Best of What’s Still Around” – what a sequence!

    There’s such a tight and interesting rhythm to these early Police albums – obviously a trio of brilliant musicians taking basic rock structures and expanding on them in interesting and challenging ways.

    Before I starting bringing discogs (on my phone) when record shopping, I bought 2 or 3 copies of each of the first 5 Police LPs – now I know better and only pick one up if it is an upgrade of quality.

    My copy—via Slipped Disc at a vinyl fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—looks to be a 1981 pressing from Pittman, perhaps with stampers from Terre Haute.

    #1980 #1980s #AM #AnySummers #LowellMA #MillNo5 #SlippedDisc #StewartCopeland #ThePolice #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  18. #BostonWeekend 12/x
    Fri-Sun WORLD #LowellMA Folk Festival (billed as the ‘largest free folk festival in the nation’ but understand it is more #WorldMusic than trad 'American folk') - recommend #BeauSoleil and #RedBaraat and #Solas lowellfolkfestival.org

  19. The Alarm, Change, 1989 on I.R.S. Records

    We recently lost Mike Peters of The Alarm, after a 30 year battle with cancer. He also had a lengthy solo career following the band’s breakup in the early 90s, and founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation.

    This album was their penultimate with the original lineup, and has NID YN CYMRU AR WERTH carved into the runout (“Wales is not for sale”). They also released simultaneously a version in Welsh called Newid.

    My copy—via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA—is a US pressing from 1989. The cover is die cut (ALARM on the front, CHANGE on the back) such that the inner lyrics sheet (which wraps around the printer inner) shows through.

    #1980s #IRSRecords #LoveHopeStrengthFoundation #LowellMA #MikePeters #Newid #TheAlarm #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  20. Junior Walker and the All-Stars, Anthology, 1974 on Motown

    While many folks only know Walker and the All-Stars via their first and biggest hit, “Shotgun,” this 2xLP release collects recordings from 1965-1973 – good way to get to know more of their catalog.

    Motown issued a whole series of Anthology releases in the mid-seventies – mostly 2xLP releases of collections from their best selling artists – and I’ll grab them whenever i find them in good shape at a reasonable price. (Record store owners and collectors sometimes have a preference for all the original records rather than these collections – but I enjoy them).

    My copy via Vinyl Destination (formerly) in Lowell MA

    #1970s #1974 #anthology #JuniorWalker #JuniorWalkerAndTheAllStars #LowellMA #motown #Soul #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  21. Rufus & Chaka, Masterjam, 1979 on MCA

    This was the eighth album by Rufus and their fifth with Chaka Khan. (They were Rufus, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, and Rufus & Chaka Khan in various releases). Produced by Quincy Jones, it’s great late seventies funk/soul and went platinum, led by the single “Do You Love What You Feel.”

    Rufus released their seventh album (Numbers) without Chaka Khan, and she released her first solo album Chaka in 1978, but they reunited for a live album in 1983. They still sound great together on this record.

    My copy is a 1979 pressing via Vinyl Destination (RIP) in Lowell MA.

    #1970s #1979 #ChakaKhan #Funk #LowellMA #QuincyJones #Rufus #RufusChaka #Soul #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  22. The Allman Brothers Band, Eat a Peach, 1972 on Capricorn

    Third studio album from the Allman Brothers Band, with a mixture of live and studio recordings, including some from the Fillmore East performances in 1971. Released after Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash in Macon Georgia. The extended “Mountain Jam” is spread across two sides, B and D.

    The song “One Way Out” is actually by Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson – I didn’t even know that was its actual title (“‘Cause there’s a man down there, might be your man I don’t know.”).

    Famous cover by W. David Powell and J.F. Holmes from Wonder Graphics out of Georgia – with no album title appearing on the cover (apparently it was still being decided upon when the graphics were finalized).

    My copy via Vinyl Destination (RIP) in Lowell, MA.

    #1970s #1972 #AllmanBrothers #Capricorn #DuaneAllman #LowellMA #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WonderGraphics

  23. Joe Jackson, Look Sharp!, 1979 on A&M

    Joe Jackson’s debut full length, with “Is She Really Going Out With Him?,” “Fools In Love,” and “Sunday Papers.” Love this iconic cover photo by Brian Griffin.

    Recorded at Eden Studios in London, with the band including Graham Maby, Dave Houghton, and Gary Sanford – produced by David Kershenbaum.

    My copy is a promotional pressing via Vinyl Destination in Lowell, MA

    #1970s #1979 #AM #DaveHoughton #EdenStudios #GarySanford #GrahamMaby #JoeJackson #LowellMA #Promo #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

  24. Paul McCartney and Wings, Band on the Run, 1973 on Apple Records

    The third Wings album, this time credited to Paul McCartney & Wings. Includes the title track, plus “Jet” and “Let Me Roll It.” This lineup includes Denny Laine, and Linda McCartney (as you see on the labels) but also Ginger Baker and Remi Kabaka on percussion, and Howie Casey on Saxophone.

    My copy is a 1973 pressing (the US version, with “Helen Wheels” which was not on the UK pressings), via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA.

    #1970s #1973 #AppleRecords #LindaMcCartney #LowellMA #PaulMcCartney #PaulMcCartneyWings #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #Wings

  25. Jeff Beck, Blow By Blow, 1975 on Epic

    Jeff Beck is a guitarists’ guitarist – constantly named by other greats as one of the greatest but not given quite the same public acclaim.

    This 1975 album – orchestrated, arranged, and produced by George Martin – has two Stevie Wonder songs (“Case We’ve Ended As Lovers” and “Thelonious”), a Beatles cover (“She’s a Woman”) as well as joint compositions by Beck and members of the backing […]

    #1970s #1975 #Epic #GeorgeMartin #Guitar #JeffBeck #JeffBeckGroup #LowellMA #StevieWonder #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

    wp.me/p4tTZ-6KU

  26. Traffic, Welcome to the Canteen, 1971 on United Artists

    As a result of some contractual disputes, this is credited on the labels and cover directly to Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason, Chris Wood, Rick Grech, “Reebop” Kwaku Baah, and Jim Gordon, with no mention of “Traffic” though the rear cover and labels include the Traffic logo. Recorded live at Fairfield Hall in Croydon and at the Polytechnic of Central London in June and July of 1971. […]

    #Reebop_ #1970s #1971 #ChrisWood #Croydon #DaveMason #FairfieldHall #JimCapaldi #JimGordon #KwakuBaah #London #LowellMA #PolytechnicOfCentralLondon #RickGrech #SteveWinwood #Traffic #UnitedArtists #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

    wp.me/p4tTZ-6HF

  27. Joe Jackson, I’m the Man, 1979 on A&M

    I knew Joe Jackson’s music from the early 80s – he was pretty hard to avoid on mainstream radio at that point – but I don’t think I really appreciated his unique talent until I was a bit older.

    This was his sophomore album, following 1978’s Look Sharp – and included the title track as well as “It’s Different For Girls” which became his biggest UK hit single.

    My copy via Vinyl Destination […]

    #1970s #1979 #AM #JoeJackson #LowellMA #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

    wp.me/p4tTZ-6FD

  28. James Taylor, One Man Dog, 1972 on Warner Bros.

    This was Taylor’s fourth studio album, with “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.” 18 tracks means lots of short bits / interludes, some of which can feel a bit unfinished but overall I like the effect.

    Performers include Carly Simon and Carole King on backing vocals, Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and John McLaughlin (of Mahavishnu Orchestra) on “Someone.”

    My copy via Vinyl […]

    #1970s #1972 #CarlySimon #CaroleKing #DannyKortchmar #JamesTaylor #JohnMcLaughlin #LowellMA #RussKunkel #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WarnerBrothers

    wp.me/p4tTZ-6Dp

  29. Eagles, The Long Run, 1979 on Asylum

    Fun fact: even though virtually everyone calls them The Eagles, it’s really just Eagles. (There was already some soul band called The Eagles).

    This was their sixth (and penultimate) studio album, their final one for Asylum records, and the first with Timothy Schmidt on bass (replacing Randy Meisner). They wouldn’t release another studio album until 2007’s Long Road Out of Eden.

    Some […]

    #1970s #1979 #Asylum #Eagles #LowellMA #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

    wp.me/p4tTZ-6BQ

  30. Steely Dan, Katy Lied, 1975 on ABC Records

    Walter Becker and Donald Fagen on the fourth full length studio album from Steely Dan. This was the first album after the departure of Skunk Baxter and Jim Hodder and the shift into studio albums with session musicians. (One of the session musicians here is Michael MacDonald providing backing vocals.)

    Apparently Becker and Fagen were unhappy with the sound for some technical reasons but it […]

    #1970s #1975 #1980 #ABCRecords #DonaldFagen #LowellMA #MCARecords #MichaelMacDonald #SteelyDan #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WalterBecker

    wp.me/p4tTZ-6At

  31. Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, 1970 on A&M

    Technically the soundtrack to the live movie of the same name, a sprawling live set with a tremendous band including (led by?) Leon Russell, across rock, soul and R&B. If you can only have one Joe Cocker album this probably ought to be it.

    Great renditions of “Cry Me A River,” “Bird on a Wire,” “Feelin’ Alright,” and “Delta Lady.”

    My copy via (the now defunct) Vinyl Destination in Lowell […]

    #1970 #1970s #AM #JoeCocker #LeonRussell #LowellMA #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

    wp.me/p4tTZ-6yP