Okay, so we received vinyl copies of two Grouper full-lengths: Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill and Wide. $17.99 each. Both are limited to 1000 copies. Dead Deer is one of my favorite albums of the 2000s and has been out of print since 2008. Used copies of previous pressings regularly fetch over US$100.

In addition to the Groupers and the LPs I listed in the previous post, we also received a shipment of Mississippi Records releases, including restocks of the Alan Lomax and the George Mitchell titles. $16.99 each.

You'll also find a few newish titles from Mississippi:

Marika Papagika - The Further The Flame The Worse It Burns Me
Marika Papagika was one of Greek music's greatest vocalists. She recorded 225 performances between 1918 & 1929. This LP features some of her most mystical & moving. Instrumental accompaniment is provided by various combinations of cymbalon, cello, violin & clarinet. Includes a booklet featuring all known photographs of Marika & extensive liner notes by Ian Nagoski which shed much deserved light on one of the deepest artists of the Rembetika & Greek folk music scene. Record is housed in an old school tip on sleeve.

L'Orchestre National A de la Republique du Mali - s/t
The National A Orchestra was founded by the new government at Mali's independence. They later divided into A and B formations. The A Orchestra was led by Keletigui Diabate a multi-instrumental virtuoso. An album of incredible Malian music reissued for the first time since the 1970s. Eight tracks with beautiful vocals and guitar work. This is the second in a series of six Mali music LPs we will be reissuing from Sterns.

Various Artists - I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore
This album has been out of print for a while. MR repressed a very small number of them. Here's how they describe it: "This compilation is our tribute to the music made in the U.S. between 1927 and 1948. We decided not only to focus on traditional genres (blues, old-time, Cajun), but to also show the music that was brought by the boatloads of immigrants coming to these shores. Their music influenced and still affects our culture today. The album starts off with a heavenly example of Greek rebetica from Marika Papagika. Also featured is early Tex-Mex pioneer Lydia Mendoza and gospel duo Two Gospel Keys. The latter gives us our title track. Louisiana Cajun music is beautifully executed by artists Cleoma Falcon and Blind Uncle Gaspard with Dela Lachney. The Blue Sky Boys may be considered old-time, but their haunting, melancholic harmonies belong in their own genre. The Caresser and Wilmouth Houdini bring on the Calypso with that New York jazz flavor. Hawaiian slack key guitar is demonstrated by Mike Hanapi's Ilima Islanders and Mme. Riviere's Hawaiians. Aside from Calypso, NY was also a big hub for Jewish klezmer, as shown by Jacob Hoffman playing with Henry Kandel's Orchestra. Sexteto Bolona is a great example of the roots of salsa and there's even a mystery track by an unknown Indonesian folk singer of the time. The comp ends with blues performer Big Boy Cleveland with his oddly original 'Quill Blues.' A beautiful record from beginning to end. A limited edition repress of this early out of print Mississippi LP. "The cover is hand made locally in our own pre-industrial style cover factory (All hand assembled using jigs - no electricity) faux "folkways" leather trim with a letter press print pasted on. Similar to our Joseph Spence and Mata La Pena covers. Real pretty."

Michael Hurley - Blue Hills
New recordings by Michael. On this LP we find Hurley stretching out on six longer than usual compositions that are heartbreaking & beautiful as anything he's ever done. Side one features Hurley on a creaky pump organ. Side two starts out with two newer compositions - just Michael on guitar & vocals. The record ends with a stunning version of Tea Song (which Michael originally wrote & recorded way back in 1963). A sustained feeling of loss & need for redemption haunts this record.