Mark Smotroff
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marksmotroff.bsky.social
Mark Smotroff
@marksmotroff.bsky.social
Mostly music including my reviews on Analog Planet and eCoustics.
Music is love...
Its rainy here in NorCal so a little son-shine is in order. 🌞 My review about this fairly-priced, Optimal-pressed reissue of #DizzyGillespie's 1959 Verve Records LP w/ #SonnyRollins & #SonnyStitt is on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #jazzsky #music #jazz
www.ecoustics.com/music/sonny-...
November 16, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It's hard to not fall in love with a market that stocks #tamale cooking pots and even has a full stocked tamale bar! #food
November 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Boppin' into the weekend with a sweet 1959 #DizzyGillespie LP featuring 2 Sonnys and 2 Bryants. This doesn't show up often & clean originals are scarce. My review of this fair priced Optimal-pressed reissue is on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #jazzdky

www.ecoustics.com/music/sonny-...
November 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Road Tunes... #musicsky #jazzsky
November 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
My review of the new #GuidedByVoices album "Thick Rich and Delicious," is now on eCoustics (dot com). It is!

#musicsky #music

www.ecoustics.com/music/thick-...
November 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The new #GuidedByVoices album is another great one so I'm spinning it again for the 4th or 5th time since buying it last week. My review is now on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #music
November 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Winding down with a wonderful Buddy Emmons #pedalsteel guitar album I scored at the flea market a month or so back. From 1969, its real good start to finish. Especially like the opening track "Witches Brew" which gets some overdrive distorted soloing going at points. #musicsky #music
November 14, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Belated happy birthday greetings to XTC's Andy Partridge! This is the uncommon (in the US) 12-inch single from their brilliant psychedelic alter-ego band The Dukes Of Stratosphear. #musicsky #music #xtc
November 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Honestly, the last thing I really need right now is another 45 RPM single but how could I leave behind this (beautiful condition vinyl) promo of The Move's classic baroque psychedelic pop single "Blackberry Way"? Cont'd

#musicsky #music #roywood #themove #elo
November 12, 2025 at 6:39 AM
A fair approximation of what I imagine I look like these days trying to sort through hundreds of 45s & incorporate loads of new albums into the collection. A slow process of review/comparison, ultimately deciding what gets purged. The struggle is real. Tho' I'd never use a hammer... #musicsky #music
November 12, 2025 at 6:37 AM
This is making the rounds...spot on...
November 12, 2025 at 1:52 AM
And then I completed the run of original Big Joe Turner LPs on Atlantic Records. Found this 1957 album in the bins at Amoeba for a tenner, which in this condition is a great deal. #musicsky #music #jumpswing #rockandroll
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
My review of two new vinyl reissues of 1990s hits by The #Cranberries and #Superdrag is on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #music

www.ecoustics.com/music/cranbe...
November 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Giving another spin to the new 30th anniversary reissue of The #Cranberries' megahit No Need To Argue (with its hit single "Zombie."). My review is on eCoustics (dot com) along with a new #Superdrag reissue. #musicsky #music

www.ecoustics.com/music/cranbe...
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
My listening report on the new "straight from the vault" series archival reissue of Antonio Carlos Jobim's classic 1963 debut from Verve Records/UMe is on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #music #jazzsky #jazz #brazilianjazz #bossanova #jobim
www.ecoustics.com/music/compos...
November 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Tip-toeing into Monday with Judee Sill's 1971 debut. Another gift from one of the my vinyl angels (again, thank u!). The cover is well loved but the vinyl very clean.. and.. it included her 2nd LP inside (no sign of that cover in the box). Cont'd #musicsky #music #JudeeSill
November 10, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Wishing you all a great week ahead… (unretouched pic taken at 6:30 a.m.) #sunrise #sanfrancisco #oakland #MtDiablo
November 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
1st spin, fab upgrade copy of Ann Peebles' 1974 soul classic, "I Can't Stand The Rain." Another gem gifted by one of my vinyl angels (!). I've never seen this on a striped Hi/London label before. I thought London put that label design to bed in the late '60s. #musicsky #music #soul
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Fun cardboard flexi discs from the flea market for pennies this a.m. From a flexi magazine called Echo (just four issues 1959-60). They featured the 1953-54 Norman Granz' Astaire Story series pairing the dance legend w/ Oscar Peterson & JATP pros. Non essential but cool to have. #musicsky #jazzsky
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Recharging with Gil Evans' homage to #Hendrix. I have a regular copy but couldn't leave a Quad behind in the bargyn bin. Haven't compared yet, so not sure if mixes any different. Fun album, some great players here. Works much better than you might think. #musicsky #jazzsky #jazz #music
November 9, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Two mid-1960s big band jazz classics have been repackaged into a tasty 2LP set, The Giants Of Jazz: Frank Sinatra, with Count Basie & Duke Ellington. My review is on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #jazzsky

www.ecoustics.com/music/giants...
November 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
First spin of a brilliant UK comp of 1966-72 singles from Louisiana's Lanor Records, tracks by Willie Mallory, Hugh Boynton, Phil Phillips and Ella Brown. Big love for the label design too (I'm a fan of Krazy Kat!). Another gift from one of my vinyl angels, a keeper. #musicsky #soulmusic #music
November 7, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Spinning "The Giants Of Jazz" : Frank Sinatra, with Count Basie & Duke Ellington. New reissue/repackaging of two mid-1960s big band jazz classics into a tasty 2LP set. My review on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #jazzsky #music #jazz
November 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Friends sometimes don't believe me when I tell them that the orange beastie was loathed back in the days before that TV show whitewashed him into some sort of business guru. Even R. Crumb was taking him down back then!
November 7, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Grabbed this nifty 1981 pop sampler at a local thrift last week for the cover alone. Turns out its from Iceland! How did that get out to San Francisco? Includes one of my favorite early synth pop singles, Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin's cover of "It's My Party." #musicsky #music
November 7, 2025 at 3:59 AM