#lowellma — Public Fediverse posts

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

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

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

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

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

#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silence that Haley had grown used to in his two decades as a resident of #SouthavenMS, had, for the last few months, been replaced by a constant whirring, like an airplane hovering over his home, he said.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:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-elon-musk-xai-data-center-power-plant-noise/

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

#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:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-elon-musk-xai-data-center-power-plant-noise/

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

#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:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-elon-musk-xai-data-center-power-plant-noise/

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

#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:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-elon-musk-xai-data-center-power-plant-noise/

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

#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:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-elon-musk-xai-data-center-power-plant-noise/

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

#BostonWeekend thru 4/6 RIDES head to #LowellMA for a spring Carnival https://www.fiestashows.com/fs/lowell-carnival/ #Lowell #BostonKids

#BostonWeekend thru 4/6 RIDES head to #LowellMA for a spring Carnival https://www.fiestashows.com/fs/lowell-carnival/ #Lowell #BostonKids

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everything But The Girl, Idlewild, 1988 on Sire

This was the fourth EBTG album, released in early 1988 on Sire / Blanco y Negro Records. There’s a 2012 double CD reissue with bonuses but that has not been issued on vinyl. (The LP was reissued by Music on Vinyl in 2016 but as a single LP).

I love Tracey Thorn and Ben Watts, who married in 2009 after 27 years of engagement. Cover photo by Richard Haughton – I like to think of it as a prom photo with Ben holding a corsage, but I that’s just me.

My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a US Allied Pressing.

#1980s #1988 #Allied #BenWatt #BlancoYNegro #EverythingButTheGirl #LowellMA #MillNo5 #Sire #TraceyThorn #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

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

Bruce Hornsby and The Range, The Way It Is, 1986 on RCA Victor

Multi-platinum debut album for Hornsby & the Range, including the title track as well as “Mandolin Rain.”

The Range included David Mansfield, George Marinelli, Joe Puerta, and John Molo – Huey Lewis guests on “Down the Road Tonight” and produced three tracks.

I imagine some people now know this as the track sampled in 2Pac’s “Changes” more than the original but it was all over the radio in 80s. They also won Best New Artist at the 1987 Grammy Awards.

Hornsby went on tour with the Grateful Dead in the early 90s, after Brent Mydland died.

My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell—is an Indianapolis pressing with the original inner liner. This is not though the first cover so clearly not a first pressing of the LP.

#1980s #1986 #BruceHornsby #BruceHornsbyAndTheRange #DavidMansfield #GeorgeMarinelli #HueyLewis #JoePuerta #JohnMolo #LowellMA #MillNo5 #RCAVictor #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Marshall Crenshaw, Marshall Crenshaw, 1982 on Warner Bros.

Debut album from Marshall Crenshaw, including the song for which he is best known “Someday, Someway.”

The followup sophomore album (Field Day) was produced by Steve Lillywhite but did not do nearly as well, though he did go on to work with T-Bone Burnett and appear in the films Peggy Sue Got Married and La Bamba.

My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a 1982 Winchester pressing on WB labels.

#1980s #1982 #LowellMA #MarshallCrenshaw #MillNo5 #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The Smiths, The Smiths, 1984 on Rough Trade

Masterful debut album by Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce aka The Smiths. Produced by John Porter and recorded at multiple studios in Manchester and London in 1983.

Yes, I still listen to The Smiths even if Morrissey is problematic. This is a fantastic debut – not necessarily my favorite single Smiths record, but so much of what makes them great is already here.

My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a 1984 US pressing on Sire / RoughTrade, pressed at Specialty Records.

#1980s #1984 #AndyRourke #JohnPorter #JohnnyMarr #London #LowellMA #ManchesterUK #MikeJoyce #MillNo5 #morrissey #RoughTrade #Sire #TheSmiths #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Replacements, Let It Be, 1984 on Twin/Tone

Third full length album for The Replacements, following Hootenanny. Recorded at Blackberry Way after using a warehouse in Brooklyn Center for that record. Produced by Steve Fjelstad, Peter Jesperson, and Paul Westerberg.

Definitely one of my favorites – with the sublime (“Androgynous,” “Unsatisfied”) and the ridiculous (“Gary’s Got a Boner”) and a cover of Kiss’ “Black Diamond” for good measure. Peter Buck guests on “I Will Dare” and Chan Poling on “Sixteen Blue.”

My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is the 2016 reissue by Rhino on Twin/Tone labels.

#1980s #1984 #2016 #BobStinson #ChanPoling #ChrisMars #LowellMA #MillNo5 #PaulWesterberg #PeterBuck #PeterJesperson #Reissue #Rhino #SlippedDisc #SteveFjelstad #TheReplacements #TommyStinson #TwinTone #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The Replacements, Hootenanny, 1983 on Twin/Tone

Sophomore album from Minneapolis favorite sons The Replacements. A wonderfully messy record that’s sort of all over the place (rockabilly, blues, country and punk) but still works.

The transition from the wistful “Within Your Reach” ( “I can’t live without your touch / die within your reach”) to the surf-punk of “Buck Hill” sort of embodies the mixing that made The Replacements great. (I skied quite a bit at Buck Hill)- check out the trail map).

My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is part of the 2016 Rhino reissue series, and sounds great.

#1980s #1983 #BobStinson #ChrisMars #LowellMA #MillNo5 #MinneapolisMN #PaulStark #PaulWesterberg #PeterJesperson #SlippedDisc #SteveFjelstad #TheReplacements #TommyStinson #TwinTone #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The English Beat, What is Beat?, 1983 on I.R.S. Records

This is the North American version of this release (as evidenced by the “English”) which collected a number of singles, remixes, and live tracks as well as a number of tracks from the first three English Beat albums, serving as a kind of “best of” in the US.

There’s a 2xLP version with a different cover, attributed to The Beat, which was available in Europe. Still looking for a copy of that one.

As though IRS Records could get any cooler in the early 80s. Andy Cox, David Steele, Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger, Dave Blockhead, Saxa, and Wesley Magoogan make up the band across the tracks, and producers include Bob Sargeant, David Peters, Mike Hedges, and The Beat.

My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a 1983 pressing from RCA’s Indianapolis plant, with

#1980s #1983 #AndyCox #BobSargeant #DaveBlockhead #DaveWakeling #DavidPeters #DavidSteele #IRSRecords #LowellMA #MikeHedges #MillNo5 #RankingRoger #Saxa #ska #SlippedDisc #TheEnglishBeat #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WesleyMagoogan

Talking Heads, Speaking in Tongues, 1983 on Sire

This was the fifth Talking Heads LP, produced by Talking Heads themselves rather than Brian Eno. It was the tour for this album which became Stop Making Sense, including their only US top 10 hit “Burning Down The House.”

What a killer album. In addition to “Burning Down The House” you’ve got “Making Flippy Floppy,” “Girlfriend is Better,” “Slipper People,” and “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody).” The band is joined by Steve Scales, Bernie Worrell, Nona Hendry and Dolette McDonald, Alex Weir, Wally Badarou, Raphael Dejeesus and others.

My copy is a 2013 Rhino reissue – it is difficult to find original pressings of Talking Heads LPs in the wild that are reasonable and in good shape. But I think this reissue series is great in terms of consistency and quality – not necessarily advertised as “audiophile” but sounds great to me.

Via Slipped Disc at a Mill No. 5 record fair.

#1980s #1983 #BernieWorrell #ChrisFrantz #DavidByrne #DoletteMcDonald #JerryHarrison #LowellMA #MillNo5 #NonaHendryx #Reissue #Rhino #Sire #SlippedDisc #TalkingHeads #TinaWeymouth #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

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

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

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

The Replacements, Tim, 1985 on Sire

This was The Replacements’ fourth studio LP and their first on major label Sire as opposed to Twin/Tone. It was also the last with Bob Stinson.

It’s one of my favorite albums of all time: “Kiss Me On The Bus,” “Waitress in the Sky,” “Bastards of Young,” “Swingin Party,” and “Here Comes a Regular” are all just perfect. It’s the right mix of Paul Westerberg’s mournful / wistful pop sensibility and punk ethos.

Not sure what format I had this on in the 80s, but my current vinyl copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No 5 in Lowell – is the 2017 Rhino reissue, which sounds great – I never see originals of this out in the wild.

#1980s #1985 #BobStinson #ChrisMars #LowellMA #MillNo5 #PaulWesterberg #Sire #SlippedDisc #TheReplacements #TommyStinson #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The English Beat, Special Beat Service, 1982 on IRS

On this release the spine uses the name “The Beat” but uses “The English Beat” on the cover and labels so as not to conflict with Paul Collin’s The Beat. This was their third LP and last under the original configuration – they’d show up later as The Beat featuring Ranking Roger and then The Beat starring Dave Wakeling.

Love all three of these original LPs – this one has “I Confess,” “Save it for Later,” and “Spar Wid Me.” In the UK they were on Go-Feet Records but in the US this one was on IRS

My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No. 5—is a goldisc pressing from 1982 with the original custom inner.

#1980s #1982 #AndyCox #DaveBlockhead #DaveWakeling #DavidSteele #EverettMorton #IRSRecords #LowellMA #MillNo5 #RankingRoger #Saxa #SlippedDisc #TheEnglishBeat #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WesleyMagoogan

The Replacements, “Stink”, 1982 on Twin/Tone

This EP aka The Replacements – Stink (“Kids Don’t Follow” Plus Seven) came out in 1982, following the release of Sorry Ma. I always thought it was their first release. Opens with the infamous “This is the Minneapolis Police, the party’s over . . . if you all just grab your stuff and leave there won’t be any hassle.” megaphone announcement which segues right into “Kids Don’t Follow.”

Recorded at Blackberry Way in March of 1982 and produced by Peter Jesperson, Steve Fjelstad and the Replacements. Great early energetic ‘mats but already showing some of the more wistful Westerberg to come in a song like “Go.”

My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No 5 in Lowell—is a fourth pressing circa 1986.

#1980s #1982 #BobStinson #ChrisMars #LowellMA #MillNo5 #PaulWesterberg #PeterJesperson #SlippedDisc #SteveFjelstad #TheReplacements #TommyStinson #TwinTone #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

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

The Brains, The Brains, 1980 on Mercury

Self-titled debut album from Atlanta’s The Brains, including a song later made famous by Cyndi Lauper, “Money Changes Everything.” The Brains would only go on to one more full length LP, Electronic Eden. Both were produced by Steve Lillywhite.

Various members went on to play in other Atlanta bands, including the Georgia Satellites. Tom Gray (primary singer and songwriter) later founded a band called Delta Moon Sadly, Gray died in 2021.

My copy—via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA—is a 1980 pressing via PRC Richmond.

#1980 #1980s #AtlantaGA #CyndiLauper #DeltaMoon #LowellMA #Mercury #TheBrains #TomGray #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

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

Sturgill Simpson, Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 (The Butcher Shoppe Sessions), 2020 on High Top Mountain Records

Sturgill Simpson is one of my favorite contemporary artists, who generally gets classified as a Country artist but here breaks out into bluegrass. The Butcher Shoppe is actually a studio in Nashville set up by David Ferguson and John Prine. (There’s also a Nashville studio called The Butcher Shop, operated by Butch Walker).

The band includes Scott Vestal, Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull, Miles Miller, Mark Howard, and Tim O’Brien – some very strong bluegrass bona fides in that room.

These are bluegrass versions of Sturgill Simpson songs, so you get “Turtles All The Way Down” and “Life Ain’t Far and the World is Mean” and “Sitting Here Without You.”

My copy via a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA

#2020 #2020s #Bluegrass #HighTopMountainRecords #LowellMA #MarkHoward #millNo5 #ScottVestal #SierraHull #StuartDuncan #SturgillSimpson #TimOBrien #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

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