i am talking albums in which the musician plays ALL the instruments. there is something pure about these sorts of records. no compromise. no collaboration. just pure vision. 
emitt rhodes recorded four such albums. i've only heard the first two----both are stellar. a californian macca is the most succinct description. it took some serious effort for him to start the track and then run to a drum kit, put on the headphones and play on cue. 
shuggie otis' inspiration information is a classic. he plays along to a rhythm king drum machine. for those not familiar, he wrote "strawberry letter 23"----you may know the brothers johnson version. 
my favorite springsteen album. a haunting recording done on a four-track. he plays guitar, glockenspiel, mandolin, organ, harmonica... 
oar by skip spence. one of my favorite all time albums ever. recorded on a three-track after s.s. was released from a mental hospital. and it sounds like it. he's a moby grape founder and former member of jefferson airplane. and more recently, the visitor, by jim o'rourke. this is on its way to me... i am sure it will be good! i know i am just scratching the surface here. i know there's got to be a prince or stevie wonder album that fits the bill...
emitt rhodes recorded four such albums. i've only heard the first two----both are stellar. a californian macca is the most succinct description. it took some serious effort for him to start the track and then run to a drum kit, put on the headphones and play on cue. shuggie otis' inspiration information is a classic. he plays along to a rhythm king drum machine. for those not familiar, he wrote "strawberry letter 23"----you may know the brothers johnson version. my favorite springsteen album. a haunting recording done on a four-track. he plays guitar, glockenspiel, mandolin, organ, harmonica... oar by skip spence. one of my favorite all time albums ever. recorded on a three-track after s.s. was released from a mental hospital. and it sounds like it. he's a moby grape founder and former member of jefferson airplane. and more recently, the visitor, by jim o'rourke. this is on its way to me... i am sure it will be good! i know i am just scratching the surface here. i know there's got to be a prince or stevie wonder album that fits the bill...
Roky Erikson's Never Say Goodbye----legendary frontman of 13th Floor Elevators with an acoustic guitar pouring out his soul. the only time he seems halfway sane is when he sings. and Buddy Holly's Apartment Tapes----his last known recordings before his death, recorded in his New York apartment. and uh... most of Jandek's back catalog.
