Tag Archives: Echo and the Bunnymen

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 2/19 and 2/26

27 Sunday Feb 2022

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Salutations™!!

I missed last week. I just haven’t felt the writing. Sorry about that. I recorded a podcast for Useless Things last week and haven’t posted it, yet. I hope to break the funk. But, I’m going to highlight our haul from last week and yesterday.

©Merge

2/19:

Archers Of Loaf – Vee Vee — Eric Bachmann is on fire here. They are sonically punching people in the face. I still like his solo stuff better. Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Green vinyl. New.

Echo & The Bunnymen – Songs To Learn & Sing — Compilation, Reissue. Long-standing comp album from a really good band. New.

Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter — Soulsavers are Rich Machin and Ian Glover and Dave Gahan is the singer of Depeche Mode. Soulsavers are a songwriting and remix team. This album came out in November. New.

Black Pumas – Black Pumas — Deluxe Edition, Anniversary Release. Gold & Red/Black vinyl. One-year anniversary reissue. I don’t anything about them. NM.

Merle Haggard And The Strangers – Songs I’ll Always Sing — 2×LP, Compilation, Reissue, Gatefold. EX.

Alabama – The Closer You Get… — Not a huge Alabama fan, but it was just a few bucks and VG+ condition, so why not?

Ricky Skaggs – Don’t Cheat In Our Hometown — My dad is a big fan of Ricky Skaggs. I like some of his stuff, mostly because Dad liked it when I was growing up and there’s nostalgia. VG+.

The Kingston Trio – Time To Think — If it’s folk and available, The BCPF will get it. That’s what happened. VG+.

Tschaikovsky · Liszt · Debussy — Fritz Reiner / Chicago Symphony – 1812 Overture · Mephisto Waltz · Ibéria — VG+.

Giuseppe Verdi, Igor Markevitch, The Moscow Philharmonic, The State Academic Chorus – Requiem — VG+.

Various – Wings Of Sound — Two Michael Jackson songs, Kool & the Gang, Blondie, Little River Band, Rupert Holmes, ABBA, Kenny Loggins, and more. VG+.

Choir Of The Chapel Royal Of St. Peter Ad Vincula, The Tower Of London – Music For The Kings & Queens Of England — Like the title says it was music that was written for monarchs. VG+.

Karl Jergens, Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Dvorak – New World Symphony — I like Antonin Dvořák and I wasn’t passing on this. It’s just VG, but that’s okay.

Beethoven – Josef Krips & The London Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No. 5 In C Minor & Egmont Overture — Beethoven’s Fifth. Can you have enough versions of it? VG.

101 Strings – T.V. Themes — Hawaii Five-O, F.B.I., Ironside, Mystery Magazine, Run Alice Run, Kojak, M.A.S.H., and more. VG+

Various – Legendary Performers — 7×LP compilation, part of the Readers Digest collections. NM.

2/26:

The Psychedelic Furs – The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs — Pressed on indies exclusive 180g heavyweight vinyl, housed in a printed inner sleeve with new liner notes by Classic Pop and Long Live Vinyl editor Ian Peel. New.

Sinéad O’Connor – So Far… The Best Of Sinéad O’Connor — 2×LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Transparent Champagne. NM.

Superchunk – Wild Loneliness — We went to see Superchunk on Friday at The Ramkat here in WSNC. Mac talked about a new record and when we went to Underdog Records yesterday, here it was!!! Limited Edition, Green & Yellow. New.

Billy Joel – Glass Houses — This was a Walmart reissue that was released on Sky Blue vinyl. I have a VG+ copy and this is NM. Plus, a variant. So, I bought it.

Billy Joel – Storm Front — This is one of the few BJ albums that I don’t have in any form. Well, I fixed that. It’s also a Walmart exclusive red vinyl release. NM.

Go West – Go West — I bought this for the song “We Close Our Eyes.” I have liked what I’ve heard over the years from Go West. I hope the whole album is comparable. Sealed (which I will change soon). NM.

Elvis – The Sun Sessions — This compilation album was the only one I was missing to have all of the Top 25 (26, actually) from the 2012 edition of the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time list. This is the one that I call “the list that matters.” EX.

10cc – Deceptive Bends — I may or may not have mentioned that I am going to be the backup bassist for the Camel City Yacht Club and “The Things We Do For Love” is one of the songs we’ll be learning. It was $4 and VG+.

Various – Rainbow: The Soft Sounds Of Today’s Rock — Billy Preston & Syreeta, Dirt Band, Nicolette Larson, Rupert Holmes, Commodores, Air Supply, Crystal Gayle, Paul Davis, and more. Another in my quest for pertinent K-Tel records. VG+.

So, there’s a good list and haul between two weeks, I think.

The Forsyth County Mask Mandate is set to expire on Tuesday and Jonathan intends to be “mask-optional” but that is subject to trends of cases. That’s to be expected. It’s his store, so don’t be a dick if he reenacts it. Just don’t go. It’s not about you.

Check out the Underdog Record social media for what Jonathan is getting in (and announcements on masks usage) and you can order NEW vinyl day or night, 24/7/365 by visiting the website. Use Discogs to track your music collection, no matter the media.

Until next time, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Call me a joke, call me a fool. Right at this moment, I’m totally cool. Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife, I feel like I’m in the prime of my life. Sometimes it feels like I’m going too fast. I don’t know how long this feeling will last. Maybe it’s only tonight. Darling, I don’t know why I go to extremes. Too high or too low there ain’t no in-betweens.” – “I Go to Extremes” (Joel)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul RSD Edition 6/12/21

13 Sunday Jun 2021

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I got up and went to eat and then did some immediate grocery shopping for our project for today (even though we have to go do some more this morning) and decided to let the RSD crowd settle down. I love RSD but there just wasn’t any titles this drop that I was interested in enough to camp out and if there had been one or two things I wanted, I could have Venmoed money to one of my friends that were participating. So, the rush had waned and it was cool to just go and look at what was left over. The BCPF had things she wanted and she did get two of those things, but we just purchased a few items and went on our way. Here’s the haul (all are new except the last one):

©Record Store Day

Ella Fitzgerald – Ella In Berlin — The BCPF loves Ella. I wish we would have looked at the track list before purchasing it. It’s a 12″ maxi single. Two versions (1960 & 1962) each of “Mack the Knife” and “Summertime” (I hate that song). Limited Edition only 4000 total pressed.

Black Francis – Abbabubba (Bsides, Etc.) — The BCPF loves her some Pixies (at least the studio albums) and this is Frank Black’s RSD contribution. It was one of the two she was looking for. Limited Edition, Reissue, Black & White Split. Record Store Day 2021, Drop 1 exclusive limited of 1750 copies. 180g.

Joni Mitchell – Archives – Volume 1: The Early Years (1963-1967): Highlights — The other she was looking for. Compilation, Limited Edition, 180g. Many of these recordings were produced informally and on non-studio-grade equipment. There are some occasional, inherent audio anomalies, but we feel the historical significance, the music, and the performances far outweigh any of those audio imperfections. The release – which has been supervised by Joni Mitchell – features rare home recordings, live performances, and radio broadcasts recorded between 1963 and 1967. Pressed on 180gram vinyl, exclusively for RSD Drops 2021. Strictly limited to 15000 copies worldwide.

Echo And The Bunnymen – Live In Liverpool — 2×LP, Reissue, Clear. Record Store Day 2021, Drop 1 Exclusive. 180g. Recorded in 2001 at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Limited of 3500. This was my pickup.

We got the Jeffrey Dean Foster album that was released for yesterday, too, but it’s not in Discogs, yet. I haven’t had time to put it in. JDF is a friend of mine, in fact, I should see him today but if not, Thursday and definitely Friday. RSD was doing regional releases this drop and Jeff’s was one of them.

Orquesta Aragon – Boleros Con Cha Cha Cha — Continuing our fascination of “world music.” This isn’t on their official discography, so I don’t know what it is, per se. VG+.

So, RSD drop 1 is done. Drop 2 is July 17. Check out the RSD website for more info. I may camp for that one. I haven’t decided, yet. There are a couple of King’s X albums that I would love to have, so maybe. Jonathan looked tired but good yesterday. He said it was the longest line he’s ever had and he thinks he did okay on the sales. He will be doing a sale for the unsold RSD inventory as well as a regular sale, I figure. Follow him on social media and go to the Underdog Records website to purchase and peruse. I use Discogs to track my collection and to bring these blog posts to you. You should use it for your collection, too. Even if it’s not on vinyl. They do that.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Under blue moon, I saw you. So soon you’ll take me up in your arms, too late to beg you or cancel it, though I know it must be the killing time. Unwillingly mine. Fate up against your will through the thick and thin. He will wait until you give yourself to him.” – “The Killing Moon” (de Freitas/Pattinson/McCulloch/Sergeant)

Now Normal Chronicles or: The Choice

06 Monday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

There were several albums to choose from today. ELP’s Trilogy, Steely Dan’s Countdown to Ecstacy, the debut B-52s album, Precious Time from Pat Benatar, PIL’s This Is What You Want… This Is What You Get, the self-titled album from Heart, QRIII from Quiet Riot, the self-titled fifth album from Echo & The Bunnymen, and In the Dark from the Grateful Dead. All of them had anniversaries today. But, this is the song I picked to play. I love it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The sweetest song is silence that I’ve ever heard. Funny how your feet in dreams never touch the earth. In a wood full of princes, freedom is a kiss. But the prince hides his face from dreams in the mist.” – “These Dreams” (Taupin/Page)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul(s) 7/3-4/20

05 Sunday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I both took Friday off, so we treated it like a “first Saturday.” We did the things we do for Saturday. We had breakfast/brunch/lunch, went to Underdog Records then came home and listened to what we got. We repeated the process on the actual Saturday, too, although that wasn’t the plan. Anywhat! Here’s the two-day haul (and a note that all these releases are “new”):

The_Waterboys_Album_cover

©Chrysalis/Island

  • Nirvana – In Utero (2013 Mix) — I’ve had a tumultuous relationship with Nirvana. But, most of my disdain has passed and I am more on the “appreciate” side of them, now. This is the 20th-anniversary remix of the album from 2013. But, this is also a reissue of that version. 2xLP.
  • Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot — #493 on the RS list, it’s one of The BCPF’s faves. “Heavy Metal Drummer” was put on a mix CD for me when we were both just friends. I like that they mention KISS throughout and that Mediocre Bad Guys covered it. The buildings on the front cover make up Marina City in Chicago. When we were in Chicago last we stayed at the Hotel Chicago which is directly behind Marina City, part of the complex itself. It was something out of Mad Men but elegant. It was definitely a weird stay but we enjoyed it. Not quite as much as we enjoyed the Sofitel but that was one of the nicest hotel rooms we’ve ever had. 2xLP.
  • Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones — I liked this one better than I liked the other we got from Mr. Waits this weekend. I know it’s his schtick. I know it’s his gimmick. But, I really dislike it when he gets the most grumble for his buck in his voice. He actually sings in a regular tone and timbre for some of the songs. When he does that, his voice actually comes through. He sounds like he’s faking it at times when he grumbles. But, his piano playing is fantastic. I love that part (of both albums).
  • Tom Waits – Heartattack And Vine — Ditto everything I said on the previous entry.
  • The Mothers Of Invention – Weasels Ripped My Flesh — I have been trying to at least understand Zappa better. This credited to The Mothers of Invention but only so because of the live material. The studio stuff was Zappa solo, as the Mothers had disbanded two albums prior. I have tried to take the approach to Zappa as the fact that he was a talented jazz musician that liked take the idea of jazz to the far extreme boundaries of the genre. Sometimes it’s beautiful. Other times it is anything but. This, well it just is.
  • The Waterboys – The Waterboys — The debut album from this Edinburgh-based band. While not on this album, their biggest hit was probably “The Whole of the Moon.” I hear a lot of Doug Davis (yes that Doug Davis) on this. Not that he was on it, but I hear some influence on it. I know that he’s a fan of the band. It was a great listen.
  • The Mountain Goats – We Shall All Be Healed — The brainchild of John Darnielle, the award-winning author and musician, The Mountain Goats, again, is a favorite of The BCPF. He’s funny, witty, and a good musician. I get kind of tired of everything sounding the same but again, the content makes up for that.
  • Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me — This is the Nina Simone album that I mentioned last week that we got two weeks ago. It finally made it to Discogs so I could include it. It was a great record and we really enjoyed it.
  • Madonna – Madame X — Madge’s latest album, released Summer 2019. A lot of electropop and a mixture of activism/connected and Madonna pop sensibilities. Not a bad record. I got it brand new from the clearance bin. Was regularly $30+ but I got it for $16. Win!
  • Schubert / The Budapest Quartet – The Last Quartets — This is technically “new” because it is still sealed and never opened. Jonathan had it in the “used” bins. It was supposed to be purchased on Friday but we accidentally left it in the bin instead of grabbing it. We got it yesterday. 3xLP of Schubert. Yes.

For the next selections, these are all “imports.” Most are “unofficial” releases which, to me, anyway, could mean “bootleg.” But, they were sold to Jonathan through a distributor, so I don’t know. Anywhat! All are “new.” Here we go.

  • Pink Floyd – Live In NYC 1977 — I love Pink Floyd. They hover around the 5-8 spot on my “all-time favorite” list. This is basically Wish You Were Here live. The sound quality is awful as is the performance, but it’s cool to hear it. I didn’t mind the fact that they didn’t recreate the album, they interpreted their own album. Clear “coke bottle” vinyl.
  • Echo & The Bunnymen – BBC Recordings 1979-1980 — I didn’t know E&BM went back that far, but they did. When I heard these songs yesterday, I thought it was U2, but it’s not. U2 has been around since 1976, I didn’t know that, either. Still, the fact that this album sounded like Boy or October is a good thing, as I like everything U2 up until Zooropa. Not my fave by any means. This was a great listen and makes me love that era of the “first wave” even more. We need more of this.
  • Pixies – Into The White- BBC Recordings From 1988 And 1989 — Everything that I said about Mothers of Invention earlier? Well, multiply that by about 20. I like Pixies in the studio. Live, they get weird. I have a hard time taking them seriously, but I try.
  • Brian Eno – The BBC Sessions — I am a fan of Brian Eno. At least I think I am. One thing the BBC Sessions always tell me is that people get weird (or weirder in Eno’s case) when they step into the BBC Studios. Now, to be fair, we haven’t listened to this one, yet. So, it may not be weird. I am just preparing for it to be.

A big haul, for sure. Bigger than most, recently. Good stuff. A lot of listening time. Jonathan has Underdog Records, the brick-and-mortar, open Thursday through Saturday 11-7, and doing deliveries on Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesday as long as weather permits. Watch Instagram and Facebook for what he’s putting out, be it new or used. You can shop for new vinyl anytime, day or night, by visiting the website. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection and you should, too!

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Well, the eggs chase the bacon round the fryin’ pan and the whinin’ dog pidgeons by the steeple bell-rope. And the dogs tipped the garbage pails over last night. And there’s always construction work bothering you. In the neighborhood.” – “In the Neighborhood” (Waits)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 8/1-5/17

06 Sunday Aug 2017

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Salutations™!!

This week’s haul spans several days as we visited Underdog Records on Tuesday upon our return from Raleigh, seeing Belle and Sebastian. So it’s extra long today. Let’s hit it!

Peter_criss_solo_album_cover

©Casablanca/UMe

 

So, as you can see, that’s a pretty good haul. Some stuff we’re really excited to get, some we just needed for the collection and some “must haves.” It’s always fun to go in Underdog Records. We have a little community that we’ve formed being customers over there. I know Jonathan has a few quality turntables for sale in the store right now and some receivers and speakers, as well. If you’re looking to get into vinyl for the first time, or again, or just want/need to upgrade your setup, then you’ve choices over there. And, we all use Discogs to manage and archive our collection (and to provide you links for this blog).

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“My house! Is out of the ordinary. That’s right! Don’t wanna hurt nobody. Some things sure can sweep me off my feet. Burning down the house.” – “Burning Down the House” (Frantz, Byrne, Harrison, Weymouth)

The Lost Boys or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

25 Saturday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

a/perture Cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Lost Boys, The Less Desirables Movie of the Week. It is from 1987 and stars Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Jason Patric, Jami Gertz and Kiefer Sutherland.

IMDb’s synopsis: “After moving to a new town, two brothers are convinced that the area is frequented by vampires.” That’s a horrible synopsis, but I guess it’s not far from what’s happening.thelostboys

Michael and Sam Emerson, two brothers played by Patric and Haim, respectively, move in with their grandfather in Santa Carla, California along with their mother, Lucy (played by Dianne Wiest) and weird things start happening, like people start disappearing. The Frog brothers, played by Feldman and Jamison Newlander run a comic shop and amateur vampire extermination business and attempt to show Sam that he needs to be cautious of vampires. Well, someone should have told his older brother that.

Michael, being both sucked in by a pretty girl named Star and hazed as the “new guy,” has to prove his manliness to a group of young thugs led by Kiefer Sutherland. Whether it’s following the gang in a motorcycle race or drinking ancient “blood” out of a bottle. Drinking that blood makes Michael start acting strangely, whether it means he is “flying” after falling from a bridge, becoming very sensitive to sunlight or having a hunger for blood whether it’s his brother’s or not.

Meanwhile, Lucy starts a relationship with a video rental store owner named Max, played by the late, great Ed Herrmann. She went looking for him during the day, after having to leave their date early because Sam was freaking out over Michael’s weird transformation. She gets attacked by his dog who is only protecting his master. She has him come over and Michael invites him in to their house. Hmmm.

The Frog brothers and Sam become convinced that Max is the head vampire and by killing him they would turn Michael and the other “halflings” back to full human status. They try to show his reflection missing in a mirror, splash him with holy water, inundate him with garlic, anything you see in the basic canon of vampire fodder and it all falls shy of working. He appears to be human.

Well, a big showdown happens between the vampires and humans and it’s a bloodbath (pun intended). The main vampire is destroyed and Michael, Star (Jami Gertz) and Laddie are returned to human status. The revelation of the main vampire is predictable but still fun.

The film is a thriller but has a lot of comedic elements, especially around the Frog brothers and Sam. I was 16 or 17 at the time and was into the vampire elements. I loved mullets and though Keifer Sutherland’s was the best ever; in fact, I wanted one like that, but my hair was too fine to stand up like that. So, I have a place in my heart for this film and yes, it really does go beyond wanting that mullet. I thought the storyline, being a vampire film in the 1980s, was plausible and the execution was pretty good. The soundtrack was great, featuring Echo and the Bunnymen’s cover of the Doors classic, “People are Strange.” Also on the soundtrack: INXS, Roger Daltrey’s version of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John and Run-DMC’s version of “Walk This Way,” among others.

Rotten Tomatoes has it rated as 72% Fresh while the Audience Score is 86%. I tend to fall on that side, however, most of mine is nostalgic and I’m okay with that. It was directed by Joel Schumacher and I watched it on Netflix. I am rating it 4 Stars. Have you seen it? Do you agree with me? What films would you like to see me review? Hit me up on all the proper forms of social media (or here) and I’ll do what I can to review it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach; all the damn vampires.” – Grandpa (Barnard Hughes)