Tag Archives: Chipmunks

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 3/14/20

15 Sunday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

It’s a weird world we’re in right now, Dear Reader. This COVID-19 is throwing the world and everyday life into havoc-filled disorder. Nowhere is immune to this and we have to be vigilant and hygiene-minded. As I have said a lot of times over the week, “wash your damn hands.” You don’t have to do “Happy Birthday.” Pick another song. Whatever.

The BCPF and I went to breakfast, to Underdog Records and back home, used a lot of sanitizing wipes and washed our hands profusely. At dinner, we took our own hand sanitizer and when we got home, we washed our hands. Whilst at Underdog Records, here’s the haul:

YRR HDITJ

©Pleaserock Records

  • Yacht Rock Revue – Hot Dads In Tight Jeans — A band that started by being a cover band doing the soft rock goodness that we all got from the late 70s to the early 80s. The BCPF and I love our Yacht Rock and will spend a lot of time listening to that on SiriusXM as it has its own channel. I’ve not yet listened to this as I had to spend about 45 minutes putting it on Discogs because no one else had. New, orange transparent vinyl.
  • Lambchop – FLOTUS — The BCPF loves Lambchop and this came out in 2016. It is not named after the First Lady of the United States, however. It stands for “For Love Often Turns Us Still.” It was the usual soft-spoken indie rock it is. A good listen, too. 2xLP, EX.
  • The Chipmunks – Chipmunk Rock — The third of the Chipmunk albums that I have. I liked Chipmunk Punk (1980) and was okay with Urban Chipmunk (1981). This was the third of the series, too. I say series because even though they were out in the 50s and 60s, this was the “reintroduction” of the “genre” that Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. crafted from his dad’s creation. It was just a year after these albums came out that the 80s cartoon series (that, yes, I did watch) started, with Ross, Jr. doing the part of Dave. VG+.
  • The Moody Blues – In Search Of The Lost Chord — I have been trying to fill my Moody Blues collection and there were three at Underdog, all reasonably priced, that I didn’t have so, I picked them up. This one was difficult to find in Discogs, though. I didn’t know it was a reissue and searched high and low for the original with the blue London label and that wasn’t a gatefold cover. I found it and I like the album art. It was the Moodys’ third studio album (again, this is a reissue from 1971 or so). EX.
  • The Moody Blues – The Present — One of their 80s offerings. They tried to capture the essence of their previous release, Long Distance Voyager, which was much more successful. VG++.
  • The Moody Blues – Octave —Their ninth, released in 1978, it was the last to feature keyboardist Mike Pinder, who wanted time with his family and had some friction with his bandmates. VG+.

So, another short haul for us. I have a dilemma right now. Record Store Day, which was to be April 18, has been moved to June 20 because of the COVID-19 scare/outbreak. I was like, okay, I know what the weather will be like in June. It’s testy in April. But, that’s not the kicker. I have a lot of activities in April that I am supposed to be part of, and it just so happened that the 18th of April was not one of those days. However, the move to June 20, kind of ruins some stuff. I’m supposed to go to Boston with The BCPF for her work conference (because I love Boston) and that’s the same week/weekend. Also, I have a Carolina Cobras game on that evening. There’s a chance I can pull it all off, but it will be rough. Or, I’ll have to rework the schedule. Or, I’ll have to cancel something. Or, I’ll just not go camp out. But, that’s part of the fun for me. There is still plenty of time to figure that out and there is still a chance some or all of those events could be postponed or canceled outright. So, we’ll see how it goes. Go to the RSD website to see what the list looks like. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. Use Discogs to track your collection. And, wash your damn hands!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I worked like a slave for years. Sweat so hard just to end my fears. Not to end my life a poor man. But by now, I know I should have run.” – “Ride My See-Saw” (Lodge)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 2/23/19

24 Sunday Feb 2019

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Salutations™!!

I saw a meme yesterday, pretty much admonishing John Fogerty that yes, indeed, we have seen the (expletive) rain. Rain is needed but we have had our fill over the last three months. It’s winter, couldn’t it at least be snow or something? Anywhat! We did get around to Underdog Records despite the inclement weather and came home with a modest haul. Good stuff, though. Here it is:

Supertramp_-_Even_in_the_Quietest_Moments

©A&M

  • Supertramp – Even In The Quietest Moments… — As I stated on my Facebook and Instagram posts with this, the rule in our house is if there’s a Supertramp album that isn’t in our Discogs collection, then it must be purchased. This was the album right before their megahit, Breakfast in America. VG+.
  • Todd Rundgren – Initiation — I guess the same rule for Supertramp applies to Rundgren, too because if we see it, we check to see if we have it, we add it if needed. So, there. This was his sixth studio album and on it, he embraced the synth-driven direction he had been toying with. VG+.
  • Carpenters – Horizon — Their sixth album and the first not to be a top 5 hit in the US. This one only reached #13. The following albums continued a downward trend and they never again held the acclaim they did at the beginning of their career. VG++.
  • The Chipmunks – Chipmunk Punk — My sister had this when we were growing up and I listened to it more than she did. I loved it. I realized, though, rather quickly that this isn’t that good. Unlike the Urban Chipmunk album, I can’t tell what the heck they’re saying and knowing this was a kid’s album that they let some of the songs stay on the album. In particular, “Good Girls Don’t” and “My Sharona” from The Knack. I love the songs and yes, they were hits on the radio, but for the time (1980), they were pretty racy to have as “kid” songs. I apologized to The BCPF after listening yesterday for making her sit through that. VG.
  • The Outlaws – Outlaws — The album is known for the rock classic “Green Grass & High Tides,” which is considered by many to be one of the greatest guitar songs, plus the hit single “There Goes Another Love Song.” $1 bin find. VG.
  • Slim Whitman – All My Best — I think I remember seeing the adverts for this on TV as a kid. I couldn’t resist paying $1 for it. It’s in decent shape but the outer sleeve is made of cheap flimsy cardboard, as I think a lot of those “as seen on TV” records probably were. VG.

So, the haul was “modest” but it’s the end of the month and we were running a little low on funds. We had a couple of other things we were wanting but we’ll pick those up (based on availability) next week. I hope, too, that I will get my first “Curated by Underdog” package. I look forward to that. You should visit the Underdog Records website and find out more about that program. If it sounds good to you and you want to sign up, tell Jonathan that I sent you. And, use your Discogs to curate your own collection!

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“She’s your adolescent dream, schoolboy stuff, a sticky sweet romance. And she makes you want to scream, wishing you could get inside her pants. So, you fantasize away. And while you’re squeezing her, you thought you heard her saying… ‘Good girls don’t, Good girls don’t, Good girls don’t, but I do.'” – “Good Girls Don’t” (Fieger)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 10/20/18

21 Sunday Oct 2018

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Salutations™!!

Finally, after a break of several weeks, I have a haul to write about. Yay, me! It was good to get back in Underdog Records, see Jonathan, bin dive and then actually getting some good record listening time in. Here’s what we got:

Stan_Getz_Captain_Marvel

©Columbia

  • New Order – Movement — The debut album from New Order after the death of Ian Curtis and thus ending Joy Division. The BCPF says “this is my jam.” Needless to say, she likes it. I didn’t mind it. It was decent. New.
  • Nirvana – Nevermind — In September when the anniversary of this album came around, I went to play it in honor of the milestone. I looked and looked and looked. I couldn’t find it. I looked on Discogs and it wasn’t there, either. I keep a list of the RS list to see what I have collected from it. It wasn’t marked there, either. I was flabbergasted. How did I not have it? Well, I didn’t and now, I can’t say that anymore. I got it yesterday. I hated it when it came out. I hated the idea of grunge taking over the hair band scene. I’ve talked about that ad nauseum, so I’ll leave it be. This was new.
  • Pixies – Surfer Rosa — I actually got this last week when I couldn’t stay away from Underdog. It’s one of The BCPF’s faves and we know I want her to get what she wants, even when she didn’t know it was there to want. The record that is, she knew about the album. VG++.
  • Stan Getz – Captain Marvel — This album is great! Not only do you get the lyrical sexy saxy stylings of Stan Getz but you get Chick Corea on electric piano, Stanley Clarke on bass, Airto Moreira on percussion and drum hall of fame member (and drummer for Miles Davis) Tony Williams. Such great stuff. VG+.
  • Wings – Wings Over America — a 3xLP live album from Sir Paul (before he was Sir) and company. It is heavy, for sure. It feels like it weighs about 10 pounds, but really it is only about one. Haven’t listened yet. VG+.
  • George Harrison – Dark Horse — Not my favorite George album, but it has some great spots. The BCPF was excited to get it. VG+.
  • Randy Newman – Trouble In Paradise — I love Randy Newman and when I see something from him that I don’t already have, I need to get it. This has the hit “I Love LA” and a tune called “The Blues” which is a duet with Paul Simon. VG+.
  • Yes – Going For The One — The eighth studio album from Yes, which marked the return of Rick Wakeman who had left to do other things two albums prior. It’s only 5 songs but it is full-length. A lot of proggy goodness here. VG+.
  • The Who – Face Dances — The 1981 follow-up to the Quadrophenia album in 1979. It has the song “You Better You Bet” and is pretty fine. VG.
  • Atlantic Starr – All In The Name Of Love — I will admit that I purchased this (for $2) just because of one song. That song is “Always.” I have always loved it. It serves my R&B Slow Jam sensibilities. VG.
  • The Chipmunks – Urban Chipmunk — Yeah, you read that correctly. I’ve had more comments (positive ones) about this album than most any other recently. I even had someone offer to buy it from me already. Why? Because it’s a memory from our childhood. I wanted this when I was a kid and never got it. I had a cousin who had it. My sister had Chipmunk Punk which was a better album, but I wanted both of them. I haven’t found the Punk one and loved finding this one. And, yes, it is as awful as you’d think it would be, but that’s a glorious thing! Even though it was a $1 bin find, it was in VG+ condition.

Underdog Records is THE Official Music Sponsor of The Less Desirables. They have fantastic vinyl choices and players. There are also a few cassettes because apparently, that’s a thing again? Listen to the weekly episode of TLD to hear what the TLD/Underdog Special of the week is. Watch the social media channels for Underdog Records to see what is going freshly onto the sales floor.

I use Discogs to keep track of my collection. I spent a lot of time bin diving with my app on the phone open so I could check that I did or didn’t have the great stuff I was finding.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I call you on the telephone my voice too rough with cigarettes. I sometimes feel I should just go home. But I’m dealing with a memory that never forgets. I love to hear you say my name especially when you say yes. I got your body right now on my mind and I drunk myself blind. To the sound of old T-Rex. To the sound of old T-Rex, who’s next?” – “You Better You Bet” (Townshend)