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Sailin’ Shoes by Little Feat (Vinyl record album review)

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Record basics

  • Album name: Sailin’ Shoes
  • Group name: Little Feat
  • Year: 1972
  • Number of discs: one discs / two sides
  • Collection: Selman

Sailin' Shoes by Little Feat

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I have never heard of this before and have no idea what it is.

What I expected

Judging by the album art, maybe something psychedelic?

What it was actually like

Let’s see. It was definitely bluesy, like blues rock, though there were also parts that sounded folky. Some of the heavier blues rock parts sounded almost like proto-metal, reminding me in a way of Led Zeppelin, such as Cold, Cold, Cold. Nothing on this record offended my tastes, but I can’t think of a single song on it that I’d like to hear again.

Grade

3/5

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Colors of the Day by Judy Collins (Vinyl record album review)

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Record basics

  • Album name: Colors of the Day
  • Artist name: Judy Collins
  • Year: 1972
  • Number of discs: one discs / two sides
  • Collection: Selman

Colors of the Day by Judy Collins

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I’m not really familiar with Judy Collins’ music and I might only have heard of her as Stephen Stills’ ex and the subject of Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.

I recognize a few songs on this record that are covers of other artists’ work: Leonard Cohen’s Suzanne, the Beatles’ In My Life, and Amazing Grace.

What I expected

Singer-songwriter folk rock.

What it was actually like

Besides the above, I also recognized Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now. I thought that Collins’ version of Suzanne was nice enough, but was really lacking in that essential Leonard Cohen quality.

On the other hand, while I appreciated her interpretation of In My Life, I thought it was not good, and not suitable for a greatest hits record.

Grade

3/5

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Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Wings (Vinyl record album review)

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Record basics

  • Album name: Band on the Run
  • Group name: Paul McCartney and Wings
  • Year: 1973
  • Number of discs: one discs / two sides
  • Collection: Selman

Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Wings

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

Obviously I knew Paul (technically Faul) McCartney as my least favorite Beatle, and Wings as his post-Beatles project. I know the title song Band on the Run and don’t find it objectionable, but I wouldn’t say it’s anywhere near one of Paul’s (or Faul’s) better songs.

What I expected

70s rock, maybe stadium rock, maybe some singer-songwriter rock.

What it was actually like

This record was mostly forgettable, like a lot of what Paul/Faul did when he wasn’t in the same room as John Lennon, my second least favorite Beatle.

If I were listening to the radio (though I’m not sure why I would ever listen to the radio) and Band on the Run came on, I don’t think I would turn it off, but I wouldn’t turn the dial to hear it, either.

On the other hand, I thought both Mrs. Vandebilt and Helen Wheels were pretty catchy and good.

Grade

3/5

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Motown Mania by Various artists (Vinyl record album review)

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Record basics

  • Album name: Motown Mania
  • Group name: Various artists (including The Contours, The Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Edwin Starr, Michael Jackson, The Supremes and The Temptations)
  • Year: 1981
  • Number of discs: one discs / two sides
  • Collection: Selman

Motown Mania by Various artists

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I’ve never heard of this compilation, but compilations of Motown hits are common because there’s a lot of demand from people like me who like the Motown sound and appreciate the style, while so many of the classic Motown songs are spread among a great variety of groups and singers.

What I expected

Motown hits!

What it was actually like

I overestimated this one. It included a few of my favorites, like Do You Love Me and This Old Heart Of Mine, though I wish it had included many others like It’s The Same Old Song or I Second That Emotion.

Side two was much weaker than side one. I had never heard of its songs, such as My Whole World Ended or Got To Be There before, and would not recommend many of them.

Grade

3/5

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Greatest Hits by Seals & Crofts (Vinyl record album review)

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Record basics

  • Album name: Greatest Hits
  • Group name: Seals & Crofts
  • Year: 1975
  • Number of discs: one discs / two sides
  • Collection: Selman

Greatest Hits by Seals & Crofts

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard of Seals & Crofts, either individually or as a group, before now.

What I expected

Folk rock.

What it was actually like

It was soft rock and, to my surprise, I actually did know it – well, I knew one song, Summer Breeze, which I was sure had been used in countless movies and maybe television commercials, and may or may not have been a mainstay on classic rock radio, back when I used to listen to the radio in the XX century.

So that song was fine, but given that this was billed as a “Greatest Hits” record, I don’t exactly see how Seals & Crofts are not just a one-hit wonder that put their only hit on a record with a bunch of other recordings that are totally serviceable but don’t stand out in any way.

Grade

3/5

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