Tag Archives: Prokofiev

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul? 7/25/20

26 Sunday Jul 2020

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday

≈ Comments Off on Spinning Sunday or: The Haul? 7/25/20

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

Yesterday had to be one of the weirdest days we’ve seen in the last bit and this is 2020 where everything is weird. Even the most usual of things. So, we get up and get going. Routine. We run over to Underdog Records and I have a field day with some classical.

You see, The BCPF and I have turned our Sundays (for the most part) into Classical Sunday. We listen to a lot of rock and folk and all that stuff during the week and then Sunday has become the “day of rest” and with that a little culture. You saw over the last few weeks we had gotten the “TimeLife – Great Men of Music” box sets from the 1970s for Guiseppi Verdi and Sergei Rachmaninoff. I have quite a few full sets of TimeLife collections on CD and now I’ve decided I want to find the full collection from this series  ~1975. I didn’t decide that until yesterday and you’ll see why in a little bit.

GunsnRosesUseYourIllusionII

©Geffen

But first, the rest of the reason why yesterday was one of the weirdest days. We got three new records and there were skips in the first song on the second side of two of them. Okay. While listening to the second of the three new ones, the power goes out. A car hit a pole or something the text from the power company said. It was out for about 90 minutes. Then it comes back on, we finish album number two, put on album number three and the power goes out again. This time a tree had fallen. So, we start looking into what to eat for dinner. The power comes on again.

We pick our place for dinner, order it, and go pick it up. We get it home and the entire order was wrong. Practically everything on the order was either the exact opposite of what we ordered or stuff that we hadn’t even said. So, we drove all the way back and the place was closed. But, a few forceful knocks and a masked smile got me in the door. They apologized profusely and remade my order. They even threw in a few extras. They were nice. I will go back (of course).

So, that was the weird day we had. Here’s the weird haul we got:

  • R.E.M. – Out Of Time — The BCPF has been looking for this one. Jonathan ordered it special for us and here it is. This one has “Shiny Happy People” and the song that really broke them mainstream, “Losing My Religion.” New.
  • Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion II — Jonathan special ordered me this one. I like a lot of aspects about this one but upon listening to it yesterday (including the power outage), I realized that it doesn’t have the same oomph that Use Your Illusion I had. But, there is a caveat for me. The “filler” songs on this one are better than on I. The main meat of I was better but the peripheral songs on II were better, in my opinion. I used to like the “alternate” lyrics for “Don’t Cry” (and I still do) but realized over the last few weeks that the “original” is the better version. 2xLP. New.
  • P J Harvey – Dry — She is a strong and powerful woman and it shows in her music. This is a reissue of her debut album from 1991. This one I have to take back as B1, which was one of the main reasons why The BCPF wanted this, skipped all the way through. It knocked around 30 seconds off the song, I’d say. I examined it and can see little nicks and imperfections. We bought it new, too. Jonathan has another one held for me and we’ll exchange it. But, I really enjoyed listening to all but B1 and part of B2. New.

So, from here on in, it’s all classical, all the time. The first isn’t part of the TimeLife (TL) series but what follows is many Sundays of listening pleasure. Now, being the completist I am, I have to find the ones I’m missing. Dang it, whomever you are that unloaded your entire TL collection on Jonathan this week! Each of the “Great Men of Music” series are 4xLP and I list their grading. Here we go:

So, there you have it! Now, I only have about 20 more to go! I don’t know how many there are. I need to look that up. But, Underdog Records was jumping yesterday. Good crowd (still only five allowed in at a time – okay seven yesterday but people were checking out). I love seeing it that way. It reminds me of the “old” days. Maybe we’ll get back to the TLD/UR specials of the week and playing songs on TLD again. Check out the Underdog Records social media for the latest finds that can be yours. Jonathan still does deliveries during the early part of the week and will ship unlimited records for $4. Also, I use Discogs to keep up with this crazy collection of mine!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Whaz so civil ’bout war anyway?” – “Civil War” (Rose/Slash/McKagen)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 12/6/19

08 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by in Spinning Sunday

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

Much appreciation to those who have asked how I’m feeling. I am coughing up stuff but able to purge it. So, my throat hurts, my chest hurts, my head hurts, I hurt. The good news is, I got about three hours of sleep last night, twice! So, that’s a plus. Anywhat! We’re here to talk records. We went to Underdog Records on Friday since The BCPF was off work and then came home and listened to records. Saturday, we went to breakfast and basically just went home and didn’t leave the house for the rest of the day. Here is the haul:

556d7a-20190910-prince-1999-super-deluxe

©Warner Bros.

  • Prince – 1999 — The first-ever vinyl remaster of this iconic album, #163 on the RS list, and it’s in a beautiful “Prince Purple” vinyl. The packaging is reminiscent of the original and it sounds divine! Great album! New.
  • Pearl Jam – Vitalogy — #485 on the RS list, I dreaded listening to this when I got to it as I’m not a huge PJ fan. But, I have to say I enjoyed this album. The copy is VG as there is some surface noise but it doesn’t really affect the listening, or something like that, which Jonathan had put on the sticker.
  • Bob Marley & The Wailers – Natty Dread —  This is the seventh studio album by Bob Marley and the Wailers, released in 1974. It was the first album released as Bob Marley and the Wailers instead of just the Wailers, the first recorded without Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, and the first recorded with I Threes, a female vocal trio consisting of Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, and Marley’s wife, Rita Marley. “No Woman No Cry” is on this and is probably the best-known song from the album (if not Marley’s career). VG.
  • Villa-Lobos / Prokofiev – Leopold Stokowski, The Stadium Symphony Orchestra Of New York – Uirapurú + Modinha (From Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1) / Cinderella (Ballet Suite) — Great musical pieces from what I would only figure to be great ballets. The cover was attractive, as well. I enjoyed listening to it in my drowsy and dozing session. Original pressing as far as I can tell, EX/VG++.

The Christmas season is slow to get cranked around this year. Jonathan would love if you came by to see him. If you don’t have a turntable, then he’s got you covered. There are several used turntables, receivers, speakers and more there in the shop ready to find a place in your home. Then you can start experiencing the joys of vinyl listening as I do. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. Use Discogs to keep track of your music collection, vinyl, CD, cassette or 8-track! Possibly even reel-to-reel.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Waitin’, watchin’ the clock. It’s four o’clock. It’s got to stop. Tell him, “Take no more.” She practices her speech as he opens the door. She rolls over, pretends to sleep as he looks her over. She lies and says she’s in love with him, can’t find a better man. She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can’t find a better man.” – “Better Man” (Vedder)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 12/1/18

02 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

Our original plan for this week was thwarted when the Connells had to postpone their show in Durham due to a member of the band being in a car accident. So, we did the breakfast thing and then over to Underdog Records. It was a dreary morning but we brightened it up with rekkids! Here’s the haul!

Lightscamerarevolution

©Epic

  • Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill — #219 on the RS list, I wanted to get this to show 3B that not all rap is this mess they call rap these days or cRap as I call it. Sometimes you gotta fight for your right to better music. New.
  • Suicidal Tendencies – Lights… Camera… Revolution — I used to listen to this when my friend Danny (Daniel now) and I used to cruise Stratford. “Lovely” and “Send Me Your Money” was the two best on the album and they still are. Robert Trujillo who is now the bassist for Metallica was the bassist for ST in the day. I saw them open for Queensryche on the “Building Empires” tour, too. They were one of the first rapping metal bands that I remember. New on transparent green vinyl.
  • The Mountain Goats – All Hail West Texas — This is one of those bands that The BCPF loves. This was the sixth “studio” album by the “band.” Up to and including this the albums had been recorded on a Panasonic boombox and it was only John Darnielle writing, recording and playing the songs. It’s a concept album that the cover even says, “fourteen songs about seven people, two houses, a motorcycle, and a locked treatment facility for adolescent boys.” You can hear the wheel gears on the boombox whirling the whole time. It’s very lo-fi and I didn’t really care for it, but it wasn’t for me anyway. New.
  • The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat — Once again, I will never understand the appeal of the Velvet Underground. Not the songs. The songs have some substance but the total disregard of sonic sense in the recordings of this album is raking on the nerves of people that enjoy real music. This is #293 on the RS list and I think that is asinine. It should be in the #1 spot for worst thing ever. This is worse than The Velvet Underground + Nico album and that’s saying something. VG++ but how would you know?
  • The Allman Brothers Band – The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East — The good news is I was able to add a few from the RS list. The bad news is that I don’t really like two of them. This was is #49 on that list which, again, I just don’t get. I stirred a bit debate on Facebook with the post about this album. I get so tired of extended jamming and endless crapola solos. I agree the guitar tones were fantastic and Gregg’s voice was on point, but if it were just songs of normal lengths, I’d have been quite fine with this, but it goes on and on and on forever. I mean the whole Side 4 is a 22-minute version of “Whipping Post.” I like that song but it was just a bunch of showing off. I didn’t care when I first heard it and I still don’t. But, it’s part of my collection and one off the list. VG+.
  • Handel, Leonard Bernstein, The New York Philharmonic, The Westminster Choir – Messiah — Christmas is coming, right? Leonard Bernstein, right? Yeah. 2xLP set. VG+.
  • Serkin / Beethoven – Three Favorite Sonatas — The “Moonlight Sonata,” “Pathétique” and “Appassionata” are the three and they are doing beautifully by Rudolf Serkin. This was NM and not a single pop and crackle was heard.
  • Bonnie Raitt – Takin’ My Time — I never really cared about Bonnie Raitt but the last few things I’ve listened to, I really liked from her. On this album, there are a few songs that she channels her inner Etta James and you can’t go wrong with that. Others she’s like Carole King. This is a great album. VG+.
  • Prokofiev – The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy– Classical Symphony, The Love For Three Oranges Suite, Lieutenant Kijé Suite — A $1 bin find, it seems like yesterday was a good classical day for The BCPF and me. Yay us. Even though it was a $1 bin find, it is in VG+ shape.

We got a lot of it listened to yesterday. It was a good day, even with two (necessary) clunkers. Jonathan was bouncing around the store and joking around, so he has gotten over the Record Store Day weekend. He’s gearing up for a good holiday season and you should tell your loved ones that you want a gift certificate to Underdog Records for your Christmas gift. You can use it for anything in the store. You’ll get it on a 45 7″, too. Listen to The Less Desirables each week to hear the TLD/UDR special of the week.

Discogs is the way I keep track of what my collection looks like. Also, I can purchase from other sellers the things that Jonathan may not be able to get.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!

—
“White light, White light goin’ messin’ up my mind. White light, and don’t you know its gonna make me go blind. White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes. White light, Oh have mercy white light have it goodness knows.” – “White Light/White Heat” (Reed)