Vinyl Selection Of The Quarter (Q2/19)

I spent a bit of my free time again to browse through my vinyl collection and randomly picked three old records and a more recent one to briefly talk about those. If you missed the vinyl selection of the 2019's first quarter, feel free to read that article first. Enjoy the following presentation of the next four records of my vinyl collection.

Level 42 - Running in the family (1987)

In 1987, the 7th album of the British jazz-funk/dance-rock band Level 42 "Running in the family" was released on Polydor Records, Universal Music Group. Five singles of the studio album's total amount of nine tracks peaked in the Top 10 in the Netherlands and were also hit singles in its origin country. The album itself peaked at position #2 of the UK album charts and at #3 in the Netherlands, was later certified twice with platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and generally was a big international success, reaching the Top 10 in numerous countries. Nevertheless, this album was the last one with the formation including the founding members Gould brothers, Phil (drums) and Rowland (guitar), due to their dissatisfaction of the band's musical direction. In a different band formation, Level 42 is still touring with its lead singer and bassist Martin King.

My favourite track of this record is "Running In The Family" (Track 3), that gave the album its name.

D Train - Music (1983)

D Train was a project collaboration between the American duo James D-Train Williams (songwriter and lead vocals) and Hubert Eaves III (songwriter and keyboardist) who both met during high school. During the first half of the 1980s, they scored several hits on the Billboard dance and R&B charts. Music, their second and second last studio album was released in 1983 on the NewYork-based independent label Prelude Records. I recommend you to have a listen to "Keep Giving Me Love" (Track #1).

Earth, Wind & Fire - The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. 1 (1978)

You probably all know Earth, Wind & Fire and their most famous song "September" (Track #7) that reached number one US R&B charts, number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK singles chart. This song along with other - nowadays - band's classics that were released a few years before like "Getaway" (Track #5) and "Fantasy" (Track #2) were bundled as an album record and released in 1978 on Columbia Records, Sony Music Entertainment. The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. 1 received five-times platinum in the US and also platinum in the UK and Canada. Besides, it achieved a #3 position on the Billboard Top Soul Albums as well as #6 on the Billboard 200 charts.

Mayer Hawthorne - Man About Town (2016)

Is this really from 2016? That question comes to your mind when you listen to this beauty of a record. American singer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, songwriter and producer Mayer Hawthorne just continued with his unique, Mowtown-ish retro style R&B/soul on his fourth studio album Man About Town that was released in April 2016 on Vagrant Records, BMG Rights Management. It peaked at position #6 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #90 on US Billboard 200. Highly recommended are the songs "Cosmic Love" (Track #2), "Lingerie & Candlewax" (Track #5), "Love Like That" (Track #8) and "Get You Back" (Track #9). Enjoy ;)

Another four vinyl records will be presented in Q3 of 2019. Stay tuned for the next randomly picked records from AP's vast vinyl collection!