1. The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury, Vol.4 (1954-1956)
Volume 4 from Mercury, covering '54 to '56, that's where the Queen really dug in. Her delivery, it's this perfect blend of gospel fire and a blues-drenched ache, delivered with a sophisticated swing that just cuts through all the noise. You hear the transition here, from pure jazz siren to the R&B empress who'd shake up the charts. Her voice, a weapon and a comfort, laying down those tracks with an authority few could touch. This ain't background music; it's a testament to raw, undeniable talent.
2. Esquerita!
Before Little Richard got truly wild, there was Esquerita, bashing keys and hollering like a man possessed. His self-titled debut from '58 is pure, unadulterated primal rock & roll, a glorious mess of gospel-tinged vocals, stomping piano, and a theatricality that was just too much for the mainstream. It’s got that raw, untamed energy, a blueprint for rebellion that still sounds dangerous. This record rattles the bones, reminding you where the real fire came from, unpolished and absolutely essential.
3. More of The Monkees (Deluxe Edition)
Look, I know the pedigree, but you can’t deny the hooks. This Deluxe Edition of their '67 sophomore effort, it’s a masterclass in crafted pop-rock, despite its manufactured origins. Sure, it was studio wizardry rather than garage grit, but the songs like "I'm a Believer" had that infectious, almost proto-punk immediacy. It’s got a sugar-coated sheen, but beneath it, there’s a sophisticated pop sensibility that, for better or worse, defined a sound for millions. A necessary evil, maybe, but undeniable.
4. Zuckerzeit
Cluster's 1974 offering, it’s a minimalist marvel, a krautrock blueprint for the electronic future. This ain't about flashy solos; it's about texture, repetition, and a subtle, almost industrial hum that builds its own strange world. Each track is a carefully constructed soundscape, stripped down to its essential rhythmic and melodic bones. It’s got that early electronic grit, but also a dreamy, almost psychedelic quality. This record proved you didn't need a guitar hero to conjure a deep, transformative experience.
5. Christmas Collection
A good Christmas collection, when done right, pulls from the deep well of the foundational era. Think those bluesy laments, the swing big bands, or the early R&B crooners giving familiar carols a whole new groove. It's about that warmth, that melancholic joy filtered through voices that understood struggle and celebration. This ain't the saccharine stuff; it’s the real deal, echoing the raw emotion of early gospel and soul, making the season feel genuine, not just shiny.
6. Is It All Over My Face?
Arthur Russell, under the Loose Joints moniker, dropped this in 1980, and the dancefloor was never the same. This track, it’s the epitome of early disco evolving into something more stripped-down, more hypnotic – a true precursor to house. That bassline, those sparse, funky guitars, and the repetitive, almost chanted vocals, it just locks you into a groove. This isn't just a record; it's a pure, unadulterated slice of New York's underground club culture, still vibrating.
