The BCPF and I started vacation yesterday and we went into Underdog Records to pick up an album that Jonathan had put back for us. We wanted to change things up a bit. Breakfast, some wine, used book store, etc. So, here’s the one record we got:
Lambchop – I Hope You’re Sitting Down — Of course, this is a “The BCPF Thing.” She loves this band and when we were just friends, she put the song “Bon Soir Bon Soir” on a mix-tape for me. This album is kind of alt-country, kind of like the Decemberists are but not quite the same. Beautiful melodies and miserable/dark lyrics. And, it’s on Merge Records, so, that’s what we got. 2×LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Red & Pink Swirl. New.
Underdog Records will be open on Christmas Eve, but closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. You still have time to purchase gift singles. Jonathan takes an old 45RPM record and makes it into a gift card or certificate. You can do any amount. It’s a cool gift for your record lovers. And use Discogs to track your collection.
Until next time, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “It’s beach blanket bingo at the end of the day. And his eyes are like wading pools and his feet are like clay. And he drifts through the crowd. They all know who he is. They have seen him before. He’s just a friend of his. Oh, get out of the car, bon soir bon soir.” – “Bon Soir Bon Soir” (Wagner)
I hope you all recovered from the holiday nicely. The BCPF and I went back to Underdog Records after a week off. We got good stuff. We enjoyed our day. ‘Nuff said! Here’s the haul:
Kiss – Off The Soundboard Tokyo 2001 — Supposedly, this is truly “off the soundboard” but there are parts that make me question that. It’s too good and slick. There’s no way a KISS show is going to be that good and slick. They’re sloppy. It was 20 years ago, so Paul’s voice was still hanging on pretty well. But, also, Paul is in his “old Jewish woman” mode here and that didn’t start happening until just about 8-10 years ago. So, I question whether it really is live. But, it’s a good listen nonetheless. 3×LP, Special Edition, Triple vinyl album with cardboard sleeve housing each vinyl in its own sleeve with tracklisting. New.
The Mountain Goats – Dark In Here — The BCPF loves The Mountain Goats and this was his newest album. I like him, okay, but he’s kind of a one-trick pony. He sings most of the songs the exact same way with the same cadences, rhythms, and notes, it seems. I dunno. 1 1/2 sides. Side 4 is etched, Blue. “High Noon Somewhere Blue” vinyl. Side 4 has an etching of the Kola Superdeep Borehole Tower. Gatefold jacket with full lyrics. Includes digital download card. New.
Fleet Foxes – Shore — Shore was recorded before and during quarantine in Hudson (NY), Paris, Los Angeles, Long Island City and New York City from September 2019 until September 2020. As with Mountain Goats, side 4 is etched, Stereo, Black Vinyl.
Lambchop – Showtunes — It seems to be a The BCPF-heavy haul. That’s okay. My KISS album was almost $60. Lambchop was one of the first bands that I remember her putting songs from on a Mix Tape (CD). Merge “Peak Vinyl” Edition New.
Jonathan had a fairly large crowd when we left Underdog Records. It was good to see that, especially with a big festival happening downtown. Watch the Instagram of Underdog to see what Jonathan has gotten in and putting out for purchase. You can shop new records, day or night, by visiting the Underdog Records website. RSD #2 is coming in two weeks! See the available list here. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection and The BCPF was just remarking this morning how it has saved us more than once from getting an unintentional duplicate. Or, it has allowed us to see that the copy of something we have is shite and this better version needs to be put in our collection. You should use it for that, too.
The BCPF and I went to Underdog on Friday instead of Saturday. Friday was my birthday and that’s one thing we did! You can backtrack and read the previous two days’ worth of blog posts to read more about that. Here’s the haul:
Pink Floyd – Delicate Sound Of Thunder — Die cut outer box, remixed from the original master tapes, heavyweight 180g vinyl, 24-Page booklet, brand new remix. 3×LP remaster, new!
The War On Drugs – Live Drugs — 2×LP, Limited Edition, Transparent Purple Vinyl. The BCPF love The War on Drugs, it’s a new live album. We had to have it. She had to have it. New.
Lambchop – Trip — Limited Edition, Coke-Bottle Clear & Yellow Swirl. Another of The BCPF’s faves. It’s covers of Weezer, Stevie Wonder and more. Includes 7.5″ Square Blotter Paper Print and A Small Poster. Printed Inner Sleeve (what appears to be for LSD or something; I have never done anything like that) and Download Code Card. New.
That’s all. We were there, really, to pick up things I had preordered. We are trying to save up some credit for this coming Friday which is Record Store Day Black Friday Edition. I don’t think I’ll be getting up before dawn to stand in line for this one, but we will probably go to see what is left. You can look at the offerings at the RSD website. Underdog Records will be open at 8a and this is a “queue and wait” affair, unlike the last few RSD events. You can shop Underdog Records day or night 24/7 by visiting their website. Jonathan does direct-to-porch deliveries Monday-Wednesday and the store is open 11a-7p Thursday-Saturday (except this Friday, which again, is 8a). Use Discogs to track your collection!
Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’… Scorp out!
— “One of these days, I’m going to cut you into little pieces.” – “One of These Days” (Wright, Mason, Gilmour, Waters)
You’d think in this time of “self-isolation” and “stay-at-home” and being surrounded by a lot of vinyl dreaminess that I’d have a lot of time to catch up on some listening. Yeah, you’d think that. But you’d be incorrect.
See, the thing is, while I am home working, so is The BCPF. We work no more than 12 feet from each other. She and I work with different music strategies. She’s more the indie folk/rock stuff from the early 90s on and I’m all over the place. So, while I do listen to music during this (when I’m not in the studio, alone mind you), it’s usually under headphones and listening to streaming.
Since we are both home and working, it’s less practical to put on a record or be mindful of what to listen to next. If we listen to something collectively, it’s Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM because we both dig that.
Plus, on top of this, I have been busier than I was before the lockdown. That food and beverage list has kept me steady for the last three weeks. It’s going great and getting a lot of traction but it is a lot of work. There are other lists that may have as much as we have on our list but they are using the Ron Popeil method of “Set It and Forget It.” They put the list up and don’t update it. They have erroneous information and… well, that’s not what this post is about. This post is about records and vinyl and listening and stuff.
I realized, too, that not only have we had limited listening chances but also that I haven’t posted a record-listening post since early March. Almost a month, actually. So, I’m going to make up for it today. This is what we have listened to since March 7.
Since I can’t get by Underdog Records (he’s not open), then we have to rely on our back catalog of vinyl. That’s a shame, right? We only have slightly less than 2500, I mean we’ll run out. I kid. Underdog Records has been selling still. Jonathan is posting on social media and people have been buying from there, the website, which he’s spent a lot of time updating, or from Discogs. He ships flat rate of like $4 or something (check the site) and if you live within 10 miles of downtown, he’ll hand-deliver your items to your door with “no contact” delivery.
There hasn’t been much TLD to talk about so there are not any TLD/UR specials right now. We’ll get back to that when we get back to life. Watch Underdog Records on social media or visit the website and buy some records, would ya?
Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!
— “I’m so sorry you have just reached my answering machine. I’m not in at present, I’m sure you know this whole routine. Leave your name and number and I’ll try and get back to you. You have thirty seconds to talk to me before you’re through.” – “Answering Machine” (Holmes)
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:
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)
The post mother’s day edition of Spinning Sunday Monday is here. We had a whole weekend that was “normal” for us and about time. Started with breakfast, then to Underdog Records, buying and listening and then to dinner. A great day, minus the rain, but we were in listening to records, so there’s that! Here’s the haul:
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction — #62 on the RS list and really a great all-around album. I had never had it on vinyl and was waiting to find a good used copy but people don’t just give that up so we bought it new. This album was a game changer. I know I give Nirvana a lot of flack for “killing my music,” but I really believe this is where the killing started. They may have had a song about “doing it” but most of it was slinging their stuff around with attitude and extreme prejudice. They weren’t fluffing anything and taking no prisoners. Hair bands couldn’t keep up with this and the scene shifted a bit. Hair was still going strong into the 90s but it was watering itself down and then in 1992, it all really fell apart. This was just turning the eye on. I will say if I never hear “Paradise City” again, I’ll be happy. Everything else on the album is great.
Judas Priest – British Steel — Four to go. I have every official Judas Priest album from the first Rocka Rolla to Screaming for Vengeance and also Turbo. I want to fill the gap to Painkiller which is what I think of as the definitive “Priest Discography.” Yes, they did stuff, good stuff, even after, but once you get past 1990, then records weren’t the thing any longer. I need Defenders of the Faith, Priest Live, Ram It Down and Painkiller to have them all. I am glad to have what I have so far. Great first wave of British Heavy Metal stuffs. New.
Lambchop – This (Is What I Wanted To Tell You) — The BCPF loves Lambchop, but this, his latest release, was a bit of a departure from what he’s done in the past. It was good, but he used a bit too much autotune as a prop, I felt. The BCPF agreed, I think. It’s on cool clear vinyl, though. New.
Rush – Caress Of Steel — I have started trying to fill my Rush discography, as well. I got three steps closer on Saturday. This album is the oldest of theirs that I have and a little rawer than I’d like but it has some great stuff on it. “Bastille Day” is probably the biggest thing from it. It’s just starting to be a little more prog from the band at this point. VG+.
Rush – Permanent Waves — The album that followed Hemispheres (which I need to get) and before their biggest album Moving Pictures, this has “Spirit of Radio,” “Free Will” and “Entre Nous” on it. I didn’t know that I was such a fan of what they did before yesterday. Yeah, I know stuff I like, but I’ve always said they were too robotic and lacked feeling. That is true about some aspects of their music, but the lyrics are deep (sometimes too deep) and they tell a story with the music, even above the lyrics at times. I liked it. VG+.
Rush – Grace Under Pressure — The band was definitely in their synth years at this point, which I love because I’m a synth fan. When I saw the video for “Distant Early Warning” for the first time, I didn’t get it and didn’t like the song. Now, though, I dig the song. I like this album and it had four “official” singles, “Distant Early Warning,” “The Body Electric,” “Afterimage” and “Red Sector A.” “The Enemy Within” had a video and was the very first video played on Canada’s MuchMusic in August 1984. VG+.
Pet Shop Boys – Please — The debut album from Pet Shop Boys, it is probably still what they’re best known for, even though they have had some great things since. The big singles were “West End Girls,” “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money),” “Suburbia,” and “Love Comes Quickly.” Great synth-pop from some of the masters of that genre. VG++.
ELO – Time — The ninth studio album from Electric Light Orchestra, although for this album they were credited as ELO only. It’s a concept album and had five singles released for it: “Hold On Tight,” “Twilight,” “Ticket to the Moon” (backed with “Here Is the News”), “Rain Is Falling” and “The Way Life’s Meant to Be.” This was more synth-based music as Jeff Lynne had already gotten rid of the orchestral aspect of the band, which may be why they went with ELO as the band’s name? Who knows? VG+.
Chilliwack – Lights From The Valley — I know little about Chilliwack, except for two songs, “My Girl (She’s Gone, Gone, Gone)” and “I Believe” in which neither is on this album. They came later. But, in my quest to become more rounded in my musical knowledge, this was at Underdog and I wanted it. It was sealed, which, I immediately unsealed it to get the catalog number to be able to put it in Discogs. The vinyl is in NM condition and the sleeve is VG+ with a little wear on it, including a “record ring.”
Bangles – All Over The Place — The band’s debut album with the singles “Hero Takes a Fall” and “Going Down to Liverpool,” written by Kimberley Rew of Katrina and the Waves. Great pop record, this. VG++.
Roger Hodgson – In The Eye Of The Storm — I asked Jonathan if Hodgson’s solo stuff sounds like Supertramp (since he was one of the main songwriters/singers) and he said that not only does it, but he has this record in his collection and loves it. So, I bought it. I’m a fan of Supertramp, so I figure I’ll be a fan of this, too. VG++.
Various – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — I know a lot of people hated this film. I didn’t hate this film. Plus, I mean the all-star lineup for the soundtrack is hard to beat and they’re doing Beatles songs? Heck yeah! 2xLP. VG.
Donnie Iris – Back On The Streets — Donnie Iris, the former songwriter/singer of The Jaggerz (“The Rapper”) and post-“Funky Music” Wild Cherry, I came to know him for one song. “Ah, Leah.” It was brought to my attention because my sister’s name is Leah and she liked the tune. That’s on this album and why I snatched it from the $1 bin. VG.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River — A very “fair” copy of this album. It’s scuffed, it’s scratched, I almost didn’t include it in the collection. But, it is here, now. G at best and that’s pushing it. $1 bin find.
Underdog Records was a bit empty when we got there but people started coming in pretty steady by the time we left. Jonathan wasn’t feeling good, so watch social media to make sure he’s back by Tuesday. Always listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to find out what the TLD/UR special of the week is.
I use Discogs to rate, catalog and track my collection. You can do it with CDs and cassettes, too.
Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!
— “Off on your way, hit the open road. There is magic at your fingers. For the spirit ever lingers, undemanding contact in your happy solitude.” – “Spirit of Radio” (Peart/Lee/Lifeson)
We changed up our routine yesterday a bit because Mary’s Gourmet Diner was on vacation. We went to Underdog Records first and then went to a new place to eat breakfast/lunch. You’ll need to watch The Man Who Ate the Town blog (and listen to the podcast) to find out more about that experience. I will just say, “WOW!!!!” Okay, here’s the haul:
Lambchop – What Another Man Spills — The BCPF is a huge fan of Lambchop (is a band) and when Jonathan included this in his “flip video” on Friday, she went nuts because she didn’t see it until around 8 hours after he posted it. She figured that was a lost opportunity. It wasn’t. It was still there. This is a remastered 2xLP in a pea green and peacock blue (one each) and the artwork is just a black cover, as opposed to the slightly more colorful original. This was the first time this has ever been on vinyl and it’s a promo copy. NM.
Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hot — Another that The BCPF was gaga over. She loves this band and her brother went to high school with someone from SNZ. It was VG+ and a fun listen. Even the production sounded like it was from the swing heyday.
Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell — Yet another for The BCPF. When I think of “her music,” I think of Elliott Smith first, Belle & Sebastian second and Sufjan Stevens third. We have a few albums by him and while I don’t have a wide knowledge of his stuff, I am going to say this is my favorite. There’s a lot of emotion on here and it was therapy for him by the loss of his mother (Carrie) who abandoned him when he was about one. They had connections later, I think, and Lowell (Sufjan’s stepfather) actually co-founded Asthmatic Kitty Records with Sufjan. A funny line in one of the lyrics which was presumably about Lowell and was “Emerald Park, wonders never cease. The man who taught me to swim, he couldn’t quite say my first name. Like a Father, he led community water on my head, and he called me ‘Subaru.'” This was VG++.
Paul McCartney – Tug Of War — Not my favorite Macca albums but it does have some good stuff on it. The title track, “Take It Away” and “Ebony and Ivory” were some of my faves. VG+.
Bee Gees – 2 Years On — The only one we didn’t get to listen to yesterday of this haul. We will today. I don’t know much about the album other than it only sold around 375k copies. Which is way more than I’ve sold but still… Robin Gibb had had a spat with his brothers a couple of albums before and had left. He came back for this one. Okay. VG+.
Queen – Hot Space — Often considered the “awful” Queen album, I didn’t mind it. It’s not the Queen we were used to at this point but it wasn’t bad. I equate it to KISS’ Music from ‘The Elder.’Not what you thought it would be but in hindsight? It’s decent. The production is very synth-heavy. On The Game, Queen had “discovered” the OB-X from Oberheim. That kind of turned Freddie on and he led the band in this direction. The other band members have voiced how much they really weren’t happy with it and David Bowie had done some backing vocals for a tune or two and asked that they be removed just before the album went to press. Of course, “Under Pressure” featured Bowie’s vocals, but that was recorded before the album. VG- according to Jonathan, but it was in good listening shape.
Crowded House – Temple Of Low Men — As I said on social media, I have never heard a Crowded House song I didn’t like and this is no exception. The band always puts out quality stuff and this is one fantastic album. As our pal, Neil says, “Better Be Home Soon,” “Into Temptation,” “Mansion in the Slums,” “Love This Life,” “Kill Eye,” “Sister Madly,” all great tunes from this album. I agree with him. VG- but again, in really good shape.
So, the haul was small but we got great stuff. Nothing on the RS list but that’s okay. Jonathan had to close the Underdog Records for a few days this past week because he was sick but he’s back and better. We loved our finds (all in the recently used bin) and made it out to do some good listening with good stuff. I didn’t get a good look at what all was in there because we were in a hurry, but you know you can always find cleaning and listening supplies, some new and a lot of used equipment, including a set of Pioneer speakers for $150 for the pair (I think). There’s lots of good stuff there and you already know that by now. Go check him out.
And, you know by now that I use Discogs to catalog my collection and to buy used (and sometimes new) records that Jonathan can’t get.
Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!
— “In the afterlife, you could be headed for the serious strife. Now you make the scene all day, but tomorrow there’ll be Hell to pay.” – “Hell” (Maxwell)
Useless Things Need Love Too 