Salutations™!!

@Mercury

Yesterday was a cold, snotty, sleety, crappy-weathered day. But, I had my best gal and we had each other to keep warm and enjoy some record listening. That means, of course, that we went by Underdog Records! And, here is what we got:

• The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl – The BCPF is a huge fan of The Decemberists and this was their latest release, which came out last week but by the time we got there, Jonathan was already sold out. He got replacements, though, and this is the fruits of that.
• Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms – This is my favorite Dire Straits album. It was the first I ever heard of them in 1985 when “Money for Nothing” came out. A few things to note about this album. It was one of the first to be recorded, mixed and mastered digitally (anyone else remember the DDD on CDs?). It was also the first to sell one million copies and the first to outsell its LP version. This is an original UK pressing. Another thing to know about the LP version is that the CD and cassette copies had longer versions of every song on the first side except “Walk of Life,” which should have been the one truncated. Because of the digital media and almost endless length capabilities of cassettes, they didn’t have to worry about constraints whereas the LP certainly did. “So Far Away,” “Money for Nothing,” “Your Latest Trick” and “Why Worry” were all cut short on the LP. That sucks especially for “Your Latest Trick” as it truncates that awesome sax solo. But, the lush sound of vinyl is hard to ignore. VG+.
• Built To Spill – Untethered Moon – Another band that The BCPF is a huge fan of. We even saw them in concert in Carrboro a few years at Cat’s Cradle. VG++.
• The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Rostal & Schaefer, Ron Goodwin – The Beatles Concerto – Orchestral Beatles, what could be better? Not a lot. VG+.
• John Barry – Somewhere In Time (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – I really dig John Barry, I mean, I am a James Bond fan (he scored 11 of the films). I had the sheet music to this when I was younger. VG+.
• Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle – Yep, the “Cars” album. The whole album is pretty much “Cars” in different forms. That’s an exaggeration but that’s what I kept saying to myself. It’s a good album, though. VG.
• Mozart: Quartetto Italiano – Six String Quartets Dedicated To Haydn – 3xLP set. The box is a little frayed but the vinyl is NM!
• A Flock Of Seagulls – Listen – Their second album that had some hits. VG+.
• Scorpions – Love At First Sting – The first stuff I ever heard from them. “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” which I’ve played in several bands. “Hurricane” was the first song I ever played in a band in front of a crowd. So, that means something to me. VG/VG-.
• Brahms – The Fine Arts Quartet – Quartet In C Minor, Opus 51, No. 1 / Quartet In A Minor, Opus 51, No. 2 – VG+.
• Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones – This is an awesome album. RLJ has tremendous talent and what a great voice. It was fun to listen to. VG++.
• Pete Townshend – All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes – I never know what to expect from Pete. He changes styles and theme like the wind and it’s up and down. So, it was there, in good shape (VG+) and a good price. So, I got it.
• Various – Songbird – VG+ addition to my K-Tel collection featuring artists like Air Supply, Poco and ABBA. It’s soft rock stuffs.
• The Stills-Young Band – Long May You Run – Another reiteration of the whole CSNY family tree. VG.
• Roberta Flack – First Take – Adding another to the Roberta Flack discography collection, this being her debut, from the $1 bin. VG. And…
• Roberta Flack – Chapter Two – Her second album. Also VG and also $1.
• François Couperin, L’Ensemble Alarius De Bruxelles – Les Nations – VG condition and $1 bin find.
• Judy Collins – Living – VG $1 bin find.
• Various – The Original Sounds Of Broadway, Limited Edition – 4xLP of Broadway classics performed by original casts. VG+ and $1 bin find.

So, a pretty good haul. I was especially excited about the Dire Straits album even with the truncated first side. That and the Rickie Lee Jones were worth the whole thing. Good stuff.

New to vinyl? Want to get into vinyl? Returning to vinyl? Don’t go spend a ton of money on brand new equipment when you can get quality used stuff from Jonathan at Underdog Records. If you decide you want to get deeper into the “lifestyle” then you can go spend big bucks. But, don’t just jump in. My two cents.

Discogs is also a great way to catalog your collection, see your friends’ collections and even purchase used and new vinyl in the marketplace. It’s a great site and a great resource.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Is that her? What’s her name? Oh, it’s never going to be same. But that’s not her. I know what’s wrong – Chuck E’s in love with the little girl who’s singing this song.” – “Chuck E’s in Love” (Jones)