The White Label Promo Preservation Society

 

 

Back in 2017, I had written a series of posts titled "The Other 100," featuring 100 records, personal faves, that have been in heavy rotation since their release, but rarely get mentioned in your basic Top 100 lists. In all the years of Burning Wood, I don't think I had as much fun as I did writing about these records. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

Now, that idea, although tweaked a bit, is the basis of a new book coming from my pal and bassist extraordinaire Sal Maida, Mitchell Cohen and a select group of friends titled, "The White Label Promo Preservation Society."

As Sal and Mitchell explain in the introduction:

"No one needs to tell you why Pet Sounds, Revolver or Blonde On Blonde are essential parts of any decent record collection, or guide you towards classics – or even somewhat lesser efforts – by the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry or the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Although we have strong opinions about pantheon artists like Led Zeppelin and Marvin Gaye, and are happy to share those views with anyone in earshot, that isn’t what this book is about. We aren’t here to challenge or endorse rock orthodoxy. Neither is the mission to, once again, assert the brilliance of Skip Spence’s Oar, of such artists as Nick Drake, Big Star, and the Velvet Underground, whose influence, despite the lack of any commercial success in their time, has been thoroughly – one might even say exhaustively – documented elsewhere.”

"What you will find out here are things like how Evie Sands, with Any Way That You Want Me, made one of the most confident and accomplished albums by a female singer-songwriter before Tapestry. You’ll find out how Bobbie Gentry followed up “Ode to Billie Joe” and the LP of that title with a haunting, mysterious concept album. You will, in all likelihood, be introduced to the quirky New York folk-rock duo of Bunky & Jake, to the art-rock of Ars Nova, and to the entrancing psych-pop of Blossom Toes. Georgie Fame, Joe South, the Hollies, Jackie DeShannon, the Impressions, the Everly Brothers, and Nico, all pop up here, often in ways you might not expect."

Maida and Mitchell have collected a wonderful array of contributors including Steve Wynn, Marshall Crenshaw, Peter Holsapple, Ira Robbins, Wreckless Eric, Bebe Buell, Dennis Diken, Amy Rigby, Lenny Kaye, our John Sally Ride co-conspirator John Dunbar, as well as yours truly, among many more who have turned in brand new essays on these special records from the 60's and 70's that did not crack the Billboard Top 100. 

I am honored to be part of this project and I think you should all pre-order your copy now.