Tag Archives: Records

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 8/10/19

11 Sunday Aug 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was a great day! The BCPF and I got started a little early, went to breakfast, went to our favorite music store (possibly our favorite store of any ilk), we listened to great music, we went to Willows early and then we hung out with The Beer Dads’ extended family. Great times indeed. Here’s the haul:

Lone_Justice_-_Lone_Justice

©Geffen Records

  • R.E.M. – Green — The BCPF’s new addition, she said this was the first R.E.M. album that she bought new. I wasn’t into the band at the time, but “Stand” from this album is part of two stories that I tell. One is in my senior year in high school when I drew circles around the classroom (mimicking the video) and my teacher getting onto me. The other is that it was the first song I ever sang with the Vagabond Saints Society. New.
  • The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers — #64 on the RS list, it has always been a good album to me, even though I’ve never been a huge fan of the Stones. Big tunes are “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” “Sister Morphine” and “Bitch” which, by the way, Gene Simmons always said that “Deuce” was actually “Bitch” backward (the riff, that is). New.
  • Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials — We both had heard of F+Machine but didn’t really know much about them. This was there and is a fantastic 2xLP set. It’s like a lot of what The BCPF (especially) and I listen to, but the more modern version of it. Alternative-esque rock with electronic bite. I liked it. We both liked it, actually. VG++.
  • She & Him – Volume 3 — Who isn’t in love with Zooey Deschanel? Male or female. She’s just amazing. Plus, she can sing. I think Ma Mère would enjoy this album. She’s channeling all of her Leslie Gore/Dusty Springfield that she can muster. NM.
  • Rare Earth – Rarearth — Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. This album came out in 1977. I’m not really familiar with the band outside of a couple of songs like “I Just Want to Celebrate” and “Hey Big Brother.” The latter I only know because it was our closing song on Apartment 5B this past week. VG++.
  • Joe Cocker – Joe Cocker! — Cocker’s second studio album, this album features numerous covers of songs originally performed by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, John Sebastian, and Leon Russell. I liked Joe Cocker, although he could get on my nerves. It was a good listen, though.  VG+.
  • Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band – Night Moves — I have always maintained that there would be world peace without Bob Seger songs. But, Clay Howard has done a little work in trying to convert me and so, I am giving him another try with matured ears and I have to say it was a good album. However, I think I pinpointed the culprit of my dislike of him (well, outside of “Old Time Rock and Roll”). “Sunspot Baby” is that song. I hate that song and it is his screaming it the whole time that makes me despise hearing his voice (with the aforementioned OTRnR). But, the rest of the album is actually quite good, and dare I say it… enjoyable. VG+.
  • David Crosby / Graham Nash – Wind On The Water — Yet another of the many incarnations of the CSNY family tree. Yet another that we have, too. VG++.
  • Lone Justice – Lone Justice — I had never heard of Lone Justice but it was from 1985, had a Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ feel to the look and I decided to give it a spin. So, the band is a “cowpunk” band. They’re American (from Los Angeles), but cowpunk started in the UK. I had to look cowpunk up and here’s what I found: a subgenre of punk rock that began in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and California in the early 1980s. It combines punk rock or new wave with country, folk, and blues in sound, subject matter, attitude, and style. Many of the musicians in this scene have now become associated with alternative country or roots rock. From the first tune, we picked up on the Dolly Parton influence which oddly enough was paired with Punk-styled music. There was definitely a twang that goes with the country genre but it was still rocking. It’s an interesting, heck I’ll say “good” listen. VG+.
  • Mason Jones, The Philarte Quartet – Mason Jones And The Philarte Quartet — “Quintet In E Flat Major, K. 407 for French Horn, Violin, 2 Violas and Cello” by Mozart and “Quartet For French Horn and String Quartet” by Bernhard Heiden. VG++.
  • Firefall – Luna Sea — We’re listening to this one as I write this. “Just Remember I Love You” is probably the biggest hit on this one. We have gotten more and more into Firefall since we’ve started listening to Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM. Also, Ma Père’s ringtone when Ma Mère calls him is “You Are the Woman” (not on this album). $1 bin find, but the record is in great shape. I’m going to go with VG/VG+.
  • Ella Fitzgerald And The Nelson Riddle Orchestra – The George And Ira Gershwin Songbook — 2xLP of Ella and Riddle doing Gershwin songs. $1 bin find. VG.

Again, a great day yesterday. Sunny, a good record-buying crowd coming in and just overall goodness of Saturday-ness. We had a great day. Jonathan had a few receivers and turntables that are in really great shape, you should check them out. Also, listen to each new episode The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special of the week is. And, I use Discogs to keep track of this vinyl madness that I bring to you.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Your feet are going to be on the ground. Your head is there to move you around. If wishes were trees the trees would be falling. Listen to reason, season is calling.” – “Stand” (Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

The Crossing or: Barefoot Two-Step

08 Thursday Aug 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Records

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Salutations™!!

It was 50 years ago today that John, followed by Ringo, followed by Paul (barefoot and out of step) followed by George walked across the crosswalk at 3 Abbey Road, St John’s Wood, City of Westminster in London. The iconic photo was taken by photographer Iain Macmillan, eventually was the cover of the last album recorded by The Beatles, Abbey Road.

Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo while he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up traffic behind the camera. Macmillan took six photographs, which McCartney examined with a magnifying glass before deciding which would be used on the album sleeve, according to the Wikipedia entry.

The 50th-anniversary special editions of Abbey Road were announced today. It will be a super deluxe 4 disc set, 3 LP deluxe vinyl, 2 CD deluxe, limited edition picture disc, CD, LP, digital and streaming. This will be available everywhere 27th September 2019. You know I’m going to have to ask Underdog Records for the 3xLP set, yeah?

So, look for more entries about this album coming soon!

Until tomorrow, get some Golden Slumbers…
Scorp out!

—
“Once there was a way to get back homeward. Once there was a way to get back home. Sleep, pretty darling do not cry and I will sing a lullaby.” – “Golden Slumbers” (Lennon/McCartney)

Nunya or: Spinning It

30 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by in Beer, Food, Podcasting, Records, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

As if I didn’t already have enough to do, I added yet another podcast to my plate, and this one is mine. Well, mine and Clay Howard’s. It’s on The Less Desirables Podcast Network and is called Beeswax Vinyl & More. Beeswax and More Logo Large

When I started The Less Desirables nine and a half years ago, I wanted it to be about movies, music, sports, technology, television, beer and more. Yeah, that’s right, Pop-Culture. TLD has kind of gotten away from a lot of the pop culture aspect. We still talk about music and beer. But, those conversations are more about the guests that we have and not necessarily about music and beer. Beeswax Vinyl & More gives Clay and me the opportunity to talk about music more in-depth.

I like this or I like that isn’t the topic of conversation, here. This isn’t about taste, although there are some elements in that. This is actual conversations about music.  We have certain subjects that we talk about.

One section is called “Leave Me Out of It.”In this segment, we take a certain album, let’s use the example of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, and we discuss if you have to leave one song off of it, which would it be? Hard, right? To many people, even people outside of Floyd fans, that’s a darned-near perfect album as it is. So, that is the point here. Something to add depth to the conversation. How about you, Dear Reader, which song would you leave out? Immediately, I think “On the Run.” Obvious, right? Well, hold on. “On the Run” ties together “Breathe” and “Time,” so that can’t go. I wasn’t thinking just because it’s an instrumental either. The one that I would go with is “Any Colour You Like.” Yes, another instrumental but where all the other songs have some tie to its predecessor/successor, “ACYL” is kind of stuck in there. I’d say that one.

How about Rumours or the debut Boston album or the debut album from The Cars? These are what most people would look at as “perfect how they are,” which is why we have the discussion.

Another segment is “You Mean You Like What?” That could be a debate about a band that one of us likes but the other doesn’t. Or, it could just be something we agree on but want to expound on it.

In “Random Grab,” Clay and I both use our Discogs collection (or perhaps a suggestion from the audience) and use the randomizing feature to, you guessed it, randomly pick an album. Then we will listen to them and give a review.

Neither Clay nor I like the phrase “guilty pleasure.” I mean, if I enjoy it, it’s not guilty. It’s just a pleasure. So, in “Yeah, I Said It!” we talk about something we like that others may not, or we may have a profound statement about something. That section has room to wiggle. 

We will talk about the local/regional music scene some because we are both a part of that and have a lot of friends that are, as well. We may have some guests that may or may not be part of the local/regional scene. We may have some record people in to talk about the topics with us. We may talk about some of these subjects every once in a while or we may add more topics to switch in or out. You never know.

So, we recorded the first two episodes last night and will do the next recording session in two weeks. If you’re keeping score, you probably know that The Beer Dads records around two episodes a session so that’s every other week and we will alternate them.

As of now, the only place to listen to this podcast is either on our website or the TLD Network site. But, I’ll be adding them to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify and more in the next week or so.

Yesterday, Ray and I also recorded The Man Who Ate the Town podcast and had Will and Latasha Lewis and their son, Cam, in to talk about Cam’s Coffee and a lot of other foodie things.

We also released The Beer Dads’ latest episode, as well.

So, you can hear the brand-spankin’ new Beeswax Vinyl & More podcast HERE.
The latest The Man Who Ate the Town HERE.
And, the latest The Beer Dads HERE.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Yeah, I said it!” – Clay Howard

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 7/27/19

28 Sunday Jul 2019

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Salutations™!!

DrjohnNighttripper

©Atco

Yesterday was a good music day. I was still on a high from the night before when I participated with the Vagabond Saints Society doing the music of The Cars at The Ramkat. Then, The BCPF and I went to Underdog Records and had a full day of music intake. We have listened to the whole of our haul from yesterday by now as we listen to the last entry in this post whilst I am writing it. Here’s the haul:

  • Dr. John, The Night Tripper – Gris-Gris — Mac Rebennack wanted to do something with his character, Dr. John, the Night Tripper. It was an elaborate story he was making and wanted others to help him, even trying to get someone else to be “Dr. John.” But, he ended up doing it and highlighting a lot of the good – and probably some bad – of the voodoo/New Orleans culture. This was his debut album and it sits at #143 on the RS List. It’s weird and wicked but cool. Unfortunately, we lost Mac last month. New.
  • Weezer – Weezer — This is Weezer’s cover album and these covers are bad arse! To name a few of the covers, “Africa,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Take On Me,” “Paranoid,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” and “No Scrubs.” It’s awesome. New.
  • Kate Bush – Lionheart — Hella talent here. But, man, she is somewhat cuckoo, at least as she purveys it. Great voice. I was tired after listening to this because of the ups and downs. VG++.
  • Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest — The BCPF said she knew it would be right up her alley but she wasn’t too familiar with this. It was psychedelic, experimental and trippy but had some hints of Jeff Buckley in there, too. It was a great listen. VG.
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! — Original mono pressing. I can’t emphasize how much we both love Ella. She was so amazing. Her voice like silk. Neither of us care for most of the “scatting” but it wasn’t too prevalent on this album. But, there is plenty of greatness on it. It’s a bit scratchy but still a good listen. VG-.
  • John Barry – Out Of Africa (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack) — I love John Barry’s work. From James Bond to Somewhere in Time to, well, this, and beyond. This incorporates a little bit of Mozart, but it’s a beautiful collection of music. From what I remember, I liked the movie, too. VG++.
  • Damien Jurado – Live At Landlocked — I believe, from the cover photo, Landlocked is a record/music store. The BCPF was all over this but I have to say, whilst I liked Damien’s commentary and explanations. Once he started singing it was like he only hit four notes on-key. I didn’t really care for it, but again, I’m pretty sure she did. And, that’s all that matters, right? VG-.
  • Various – Ruthless People (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) — I love soundtracks, but I have to say I didn’t really care for this one. I actually like most of the artists on the album but these songs were not that good. VG+.
  • Mendelssohn, Erich Leinsdorf, Boston Symphony Orchestra– Incidental Music To A Midsummer Night’s Dream — $1 bin find. It’s in great shape and sounds amazing. The BCPF doesn’t care much about the narration, but I think it’s cool. I like it. Great pieces of music, here, too. VG+.

This week, Bethany, my co-host on The Less Desirables purchased a turntable from Jonathan at Underdog. She posted that she was playing Van Morrison and had some Fleetwood Mac. I know she has like 10 Olivia Newton-John albums, so Top Leaf Cigar Lounge will be rocking! Speaking of TLD, listen to each new episode to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. And, use Discogs to catalog your collection and use that shaking feature (shake your phone) to select a “random grab.”

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“When there’s a yellow moon above me, they say there’s moonbeams I should view. But moonbeams being gold are something I can’t behold, ’cause I was born to be blue.” – “(I Was) Born to Be Blue” (Tormé/Wells)

Spinning Monday or: The Haul 7/20/19

22 Monday Jul 2019

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Salutations™!!

So, yes, I’m a day late with this because I had to talk about something more important yesterday. But, here we are today. Let’s just get right into it.

Emergency1984

©Island Def Jam/De Lite

  • Alice In Chains – Dirt — One of my top 20 albums of all time. Front-to-back a fantastic album. Heavy and melodic. Deep and full of drug references that I don’t think I realized how intense they were at the time. It was like Layne Staley was asking for help and he probably was. Jerry Cantrell is a great songwriter and guitarist (and vocals). My faves on here are “Them Bones,” “Rooster,” “Down in a Hole,” “Angry Chair,” “Dam that River,” “Would?” New in 180g vinyl – Audiophile edition.
  • Michael Jackson – Bad — #203 on the RS list, it’s my second favorite MJ album. I listened to this one a lot. It was really the last album of his that I was really that interested in. Great songwriting and production! EX/VG++.
  • AC/DC – Let There Be Rock — AC/DC’s fourth studio album and one that brought them from the brink of extinction. I’m not a huge AC/DC fan as I’ve mentioned many times but I feel any real rock fan needs to have a few of their albums, right? The Canadian release of this album. EX/VG++.
  • The Shins – Wincing The Night Away — The Shins is one of those bands that The BCPF really digs. They are “indie rock” through and through. And from New Mexico. How about that? I enjoyed listening to this album. It was really great. VG+.
  • Iron + Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days — The BCPF is reading a book of the same title and the author thanks Sam Beam in the dedication. My favorite tune from this album is “Naked as We Come” which was put on a mix CD when The BCPF and I started talking. We saw him do his thing in McGlohon Theatre in Charlotte and it was a great show. VG+.
  • Jessica Lea Mayfield – Make My Head Sing… — This one confused me a bit. It was a little like Blossom Dearie with an edge. But, it was also some post-punk heaviness. There would be a couple of more laid back songs and then a heavy beater was thrown in from nowhere. I liked it, don’t get me wrong, but it was confusing. NM.
  • Okkervil River – Sleep And Wake-Up Songs — We got an Okkervil River album last week and it was great. We haven’t listened to this one, yet, but I’m betting it’s also a great one. EX/VG++.
  • Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell — #343 on the RS list. Jim Steinman is a weird and wacky dude, but he is a heck of a songwriter and add that to Marvin Aday’s voice and you have a spectacular rock opera that really isn’t a rock opera. The album isn’t a cohesive story but it is epic in scope just based on the songwriting, singing style and orchestration. I believe this may be the Canadian edition. EX/VG++.
  • Eddie Murphy – How Could It Be — I had this on cassette because I still love “Party All the Time.” This is not a great album, but Murphy can actually sing and it’s entertaining. The title track could be my favorite song on the album. VG+.
  • Kool & The Gang – Emergency — I wore the ever-lovin’ crap out of this cassette when it came out. I then played the ever-lovin’ crap out of it on CD. Now I have it on vinyl and I will probably wear it out (at least the first side) here, too. It was my Kool & the Gang album. “Celebration” was a hit and I loved it, even had it on a “45” that had a crack in it that I made sure still lined up and playable. But, it was early for me to grab those albums. This was part of the RCA (eventually BMG) Record Club take I got. I loved it. It’s their biggest selling album with the title track, “Fresh,” “Misled,” “Cherish.” VG+.
  • REO Speedwagon – You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish — I don’t know about album-wise but the title is one of the most iconic (and overused) musical references ever. “Roll with the Changes” and “Time For Me to Fly” are probably the album’s biggest hits. VG+.
  • REO Speedwagon – Wheels Are Turnin’ — I think of this as the “cheesy REO album.” I don’t know if that’s fair. I really don’t have a great knowledge of REO’s history or catalog other than what I have. I just know it has “I Do’ Wanna Know” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” which were both kind of cheesy, even if I do like them. VG++.
  • Stanley Black And His Orchestra – Spain — Orchestral versions of Spanish tunes. It’s a great Sunday listening album. Lots of tremolo style strumming and Spanish guitar with orchestrations overtop. Pretty much what the title says. It’s a fun listen. VG+.
  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Pictures At An Exhibition — This is a recording of the band’s arrangement of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky, performed at Newcastle City Hall on 26 March 1971. According to Wikipedia, “Emerson wished to arrange the piece after seeing an orchestral performance of it several years before. He bought a copy of the score, and pitched the idea to Lake and Palmer, who agreed to adapt it.” I look forward to hearing it. It was a $1 bin find and I’d say it is in VG/VG+.
  • Various – Emotions — Another notch in my K-Tel collection. Dan Hill, Seals & Crofts, Paul Davis, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Crystal Gale, Commodores, Yvonne Elfman, Samantha Sang, Player and more. I didn’t even look at what was on it, I just looked that I didn’t have it. It’s a $1 bin find and I’d say in VG.

It was a great haul that day and we’ve enjoyed listening to what we have and I am happy with the take, really. Underdog Records was getting busy as we left, which we love seeing. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special of the week is. Also, use Discogs to catalog and track your music collection(s)!

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“And all I can do is keep on telling you: I want you. I need you. But, there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna love you. Now don’t be sad ’cause two out of three ain’t bad.” – “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” (Steinman)

Sounds Like Saturday or: The Haul 7/13/19

14 Sunday Jul 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was a good day. The BCPF and I got up “early” and went to breakfast, then we ran to get a replacement battery for her phone and then headed to Underdog Records for some wax delights. We got some good stuff. It seems that the haul was slanted slightly toward The BCPF and that’s how most of it goes. That’s cool with me. “Happy wife” and all that. Here’s the haul:

Off_the_wall

©Epic Records

  • Drab Majesty – Modern Mirror — 2x45LP meaning they’re played at 45 RPM instead of the usual 33 1/3. Nowhere on that record can I find it conspicuously saying that it is 45. Oh well. Drab Majesty sounds a lot like old Depeche Mode or even New Order in spots. But, it has a modern feel to it as well. I hear songs from this when I was making the commercial for Underdog on TLD this week. It’s in an awesome clear blue vinyl (also available in clear red). New.
  • Versus – On The Ones And Threes — One of the first albums that I bought for The BCPF when we started “talking” was this album on CD. It had just come out and she made a big deal about “Versus is getting back together.” They had been apart for a while and got back together and did this album. It’s a good one. 2xLP. New.
  • Depeche Mode – When Love Is Enough (Early Demos) — She found this in the “Imports” section. It’s not an official release but is an awesome release. To hear the early demos of songs I’ve been listening to for a while was pretty awesome. At times Dave Gahan/Martin Gore sounded like some singer from the 40s on a phonograph or crank record player. Not great production but so fun to listen to. VG++.
  • Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan At Budokan — Seems like in the 70s everyone was doing an “At Budokan” album. This is Dylan’s. I skipped it because I really don’t like Dylan live, especially in this time period. It’s just gonna be some swooping and yelling, I’m sure. But, The BCPF didn’t skip it (I knew she wouldn’t) and here it is. VG++.
  • Various – A Very Special Christmas — This album was a big deal back in 1987 and it is sealed, so I had to get it. The album has been certified quadruple platinum and has raised millions of dollars for the Special Olympics. Like I said, “sealed” so technically it’s “new.”
  • Jeff Tweedy – Together At Last (Loft Acoustic Session I) — This is basically in NM condition and the only reason it wasn’t $20 is that the jacket spine has some damage. Tweedy is the lead singer for Wilco and this is some solo stuff. In fact, it’s considered his first “solo record.” NM.
  • Jeff Tweedy – Warm — This is his second solo record. NM.
  • Michael Jackson – Off The Wall — #68 on the RS List, it’s MJ and Quincy Jones doing their thing in 1979. Features the songs “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You” and a plethora of A-List songwriters including Jackson himself, Rod Temperton, Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster and Sir Paul McCartney among others. VG+.
  • Fleet Foxes – The Electric Lady Session — I generally stay away from 7″ and 10″ singles/45s but it’s Fleet Foxes and my girl love Fleet Foxes so I made sure to get it for her. VG+.
  • John Cougar – John Cougar — The third (technically fourth) album by John Mellencamp and the first that he wasn’t called “Johnny Cougar” and the first on Riva Records. I have to say that the big hit on this album, “I Need a Lover,” annoys me. Really, the only thing that annoys me is that the intro goes on forever, for no reason. The rest of the song is great. And, I have to say, this is probably one of my favorite Mellencamp albums. I loved every song on it and really enjoyed listening. I’m glad I have it. VG++.
  • Graham Nash – Songs For Beginners — I got this for The BCPF. She didn’t even know I had it until we got home. Yay me! VG.
  • Mantovani And His Orchestra – Italia Mia — $1 bin find. You know we scour the $1 bin (as well as the regular bins) to find music from different countries. We’re suckers for that, as I’ve stated ad nauseam. Even though most of the records in the $1 bin aren’t in the most pristine shape, this one didn’t even need to be cleaned. Jonathan doesn’t rate $1 albums but I’m stepping out and saying this is VG+.

Had a great visit at Underdog Records yesterday. Got to talk with Jonathan. Got to be around records, which I absolutely love. Got to talk about a-holes that park incorrectly in the parking lot across the street and how it messes up the symmetry of the rest of the day. Saw a friend whose name I can’t really remember right now, but she was buying records and I love when new collectors come and browse. Just a good day. Then the Cobras had a game and won 72-0 and Ma ‘Rents, and Aunt and Uncle and My Sis and Bro-in-Law got to hear me in action. Great day all around. Oh, listen to the newest The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week.

I also use Discogs to track my collection. I am not ashamed (nor sorry) that I held up the “freshly used” section to look at my Discogs to see if I had stuff. This is what I do, dang it! Just kidding-ish.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Well, Shakespeare threw down his pencil. Said, I think I’m gonna start layin’ brick. Too much of this Romeo stuff enough to make anybody sick. ‘To be or not to be,’ I mean, what’s that supposed to mean? I’m changin’ my image tomorrow. Be a groupie, make the scene.” – “Pray for Me” (Mellencamp/Bec Var)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 7/5/19

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yes, I have the date right up there. The BCPF and I went to Underdog Records on Friday because I had a Cobras Game last night. Jonathan had been closed on Wednesday and Thursday for the holiday but was open on Friday. Yay us! Here’s the haul:

Ultravox_-_Vienna

©Chrysalis Records

  • Metallica – Metallica — #255 on the RS list, it’s my second favorite Metallica album after Ride the Lightning. On this tour, they did an “In-the-Round” stage setup where they were in the middle and the crowd surrounded them on all sides. During the song “Seek and Destroy” from their debut album, Kill ‘Em All, James Hetfield came down and sang the hook with groups of people. As he walked past me (I was in the second row but we had been moved up to the security railing) and said, “I need one more crazy m*****f***er and I nearly jumped the fence screaming me! me! me! He came over, grabbed my hand and had me dangling over the railing as he went into the line. I was breathing through my nose, inhaling deeply, and he did the “searchin’…” and I yelled, at the top of my voice, “SEEK AND DESTROY!!!” I had friends who watched it from farther back in the arena and they told me later that they couldn’t even hear the music when I did that because it was so loud. “Enter Sandman,” “Sad But True,” “The Unforgiven,” “Wherever I May Roam” and “Nothing Else Matters” were all released as singles. It was a great heavy album. Not as heavy as their previous albums, at least not in the “thrash” way, but it was heavy sonically. 2xLP. New.
  • The Decemberists – Picaresque — The BCPF doesn’t hold back when it comes to The Decemberists. This album was the band’s last on the Kill Rock Stars label and was produced by Chris Walla, guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie. 2xLP. VG++.
  • Judas Priest – Killing Machine — This is a 2015 reissue of what we Americans knew as Hell Bent for Leather. It’s the same album and yes, I have Hell Bent but I wanted one with the albums’ proper name. Why was there a change? When this came out it was around the time of the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego. Brenda Spencer, a 16-year old, shot and killed the principal and a custodian and injured nine others (including eight children) from her house. When a reporter got in touch with her whilst she was holed up in her house and asked why she did it, she said, “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.” That was the inspiration of Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats’ song, “I Don’t Like Mondays.” Anyway, this was an opportunity to have both titles. VG+.
  • Okkervil River – The Stand Ins — The BCPF likes this band and picked out the album. I liked what I heard but I wouldn’t have known to get it. My pal Patrick Ferguson is a big fan of the band as well. This was a follow up to The Stage Names and if you put the prior album above this one, it makes a complete picture. VG++.
  • The Knack – …But The Little Girls Understand — The follow-up to their debut, Get the Knack, which I tout as a gravely underappreciated album. This one charted well, but many critics panned it for its tired misogynistic themes and subject matter. I haven’t listened to it, yet, but again, I loved the previous record. We’ll see how the sophomore effort goes with me. VG+.
  • Arlo Guthrie – Power Of Love — I know nothing about this album other than it was released in 1981. The BCPF likes her folk heroes and well, he is one. VG+.
  • The Shirelles – The Shirelles Greatest Hits — $1 bin find. I’m not really sure why The BCPF wanted this one but it could be that it was a girl group. She usually goes for the more rocking/post-punk/first wave-kind but she picked it up.

Now, the next four I did not buy at Underdog Records, although I would have had I seen them there. Before we knew that Jonathan was open on Friday, we had stopped by Design Archives on Fourth Street and they had vinyl. I thought at first these things were overpriced, but I had Jonathan look at them and he said that was pretty accurate to what he would have charged, so I felt better about getting them at that point. Here’s that mini-haul:

  • Rush – Fly By Night — I added three more albums to my Rush collection through this vinyl stop. This is Rush’s second album and the first with the monster Neil Peart not only on drums but with the lyrics, too. Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee liked that Peart was a bookworm and wrote imaginative lyrics. That way they could concentrate on complex music. VG+.
  • Rush – Power Windows — This was the follow-up to Grace Under Pressure. The album has the songs “The Big Money” (for which there was a somewhat revolutionary video), “Manhattan Project,” “Marathon” and “Mystic Rhythms” among others. VG+.
  • Rush – Hold Your Fire — The mostly forgettable follow-up to Power Windows does at least feature “Time Stand Still” with Aimee Mann singing back up. It was the lowest selling Rush album since Hemispheres. VG+.
  • Ultravox – Vienna — Their fourth album and the first on Chrysalis Records and the first with singer Midge Ure. The singles on this album were “Sleepwalk,” “Passing Strangers,” the title track and “All Stood Still.” VG+.

I think this week’s haul was awesome. We’ve already listened to some great stuff and hopefully will get to a bit more today and hopefully, I’ll have time to listen to some throughout the week. Underdog Records will be open all next week and you should listen to The Less Desirables (well, you should anyway) to hear the TLD/UR weekly special. Also, use Discogs to track your music collection, be it vinyl, cassette, CD, or even 8-Track.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Time stand still. I’m not looking back but I want to look around me now. Time stands still. See more of the people and the places that surround me now.” – “Time Stand Still” (Peart/Lee/Lifeson)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/22/19

23 Sunday Jun 2019

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I did a little jumbling around yesterday. We actually started at Underdog Records instead of it being the last stop of the morning. We had a ribbon cutting at Moji Coffee and More at noon and then had breakfast at Mary’s Gourmet Diner, our first time there in about six months. But, I had gone by Underdog on Friday to grab some stuff for The BCPF and me before someone else took off with it. Anywhat! Here’s the haul:

Donald_Fagen_-_The_Nightfly.jpg

©Warner Bros.

  • Bad Books – III — I said on my Instagram post about this album yesterday that one of the joys of having Underdog Records as the official music sponsor of The Less Desirables is making the commercials. It gets me to listen to snippets of new stuff that is highlighted releases. I heard the first song on this and knew right away it is right up The BCPF’s alley so I made sure I picked it up. I was right in thinking she’d love it. The win for me! New.
  • Steve Earle – Guitar Town — #489 on the RS list. I have never really been a fan of his and I think the reason why is “Copperhead Road.” This album is a good album and not a bad listen. I listened to it a few years back now and was surprised that I didn’t hate it. Would I want to listen to it often? Nah. But I was glad to get it in my collection. VG+.
  • Caleb Caudle – Paint Another Layer On My Heart — Caleb is a local dude. He’s been on The Less Desirables and plays around here often. He’s gotten pretty big and does tours. I’m glad to know him. VG++.
  • Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin — One of the ones that I grabbed on Friday because I know how much The BCPF loves Band of Horses. Before we ever started dating, she put a song from this album on a mix-CD for me. It’s a great listen. NM.
  • Band Of Horses – Why Are You Ok — She got not one, but two Band of Horses albums this weekend. She was happy. Both were NM, too.
  • Donald Fagen – The Nightfly — I love Steely Dan and I think most of that is because of Donald Fagen. This had two hits on it but the whole album is fantastic. It seems like he had more fluidity outside of the Steely Dan confines and just had a ball with this album. I told The BCPF, when “New Frontier” came on that I thought the video featured a bomb shelter. So, I looked it up. I was right. This was my favorite listen of the day yesterday. VG+.
  • Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Punch The Clock — Elvis’ eighth studio album. It contains “Everyday I Write the Book” and “Shipbuilding.” VG++.
  • Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Blood & Chocolate — Elvis goes by Napoleon Dynamite (not to be confused with the film, which I loved) on this album. It’s a decent listen. I never realized how creepy “I Want You” is, but I like it anyway. VG++.
  • X – Ain’t Love Grand — First Wave heavy, yet poppy punk. It was a good listen. I hear some of their stuff on SiriusXM sometimes. I like it. Singer Exene Cervenka channels her inner Kate Pearson on this album. VG+.
  • Timbuk 3 – Eden Alley — I never knew the couple had more than their first album and here we are two weeks in a row getting a Timbuk3 album. The BCPF said she had this one when she was a young girl. It’s not epic stuff, or even great for that matter, but it’s a great, fun listen. VG+.
  • U.K. – U.K. — A progressive supergroup with singer/bassist John Wetton (formerly of King Crimson, Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry’s band and Uriah Heep), keyboardist/electric violinist Eddie Jobson (formerly of Curved Air, Roxy Music and Frank Zappa’s band), guitarist Allan Holdsworth (formerly of Tempest, Soft Machine, The New Tony Williams Lifetime and Gong) and drummer Bill Bruford (formerly a full member of Yes and King Crimson, and also a tour drummer for Genesis). It is from 1978 but sounds more 80s-ish. Jonathan played if for me in the store. I liked it so I took it! I mean I paid for it, but I bought it. VG-.
  • Shalamar – Heartbreak — The first Shalamar album after Jodi Whatley and Jeffrey Daniel left. It has the only song I know of by the band, “Dancing in the Sheets.” I may find that I know more, but I don’t know. VG+.
  • Various – A Musical Souvenir Of New York City —  Featuring The David Terry Orchestra, The Cherry Hill Songsters, The Travellers Three and The Troubadors. It’s an album of songs about NYC. It’s from 1964 and the picture is of Manhattan but without the WTC since that wasn’t opened until 1973. A $1 bin find. VG/VG+.
  • America – America — This is the 1972 reissue in which “A Horse with No Name” is included. It was originally released as a single after the debut album was released but it was such a success that Warner Bros. reissued it with the song included. $1 bin find. VG.

Was a great day yesterday and the store was jumping. I love seeing Underdog Records busy. If you’ve not listened to the latest episode of The Less Desirables, you should. Each episode we mention the TLD/UR special of the week. I also use Discogs to keep up with my collection so when someone asks, “how many records do you have?” I can blurt out we have XXXX amount and they’re always amazed that I know that. I know that because of Discogs. “Do you have this record?” Why yes. Or, not yet!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“It’s looking like a limb torn off or all together just taken apart. We’re reeling through an endless fall. We are the ever-living ghost of what once was. But no one is ever gonna love you more than I do.” – “No One’s Gonna Love You” (Bridwell/Hampton/Barrett)

Spinning Monday or: The Haul 6/15/19

17 Monday Jun 2019

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Salutations™!!

Since yesterday was Father’s Day, we did our grocery shopping on Saturday after breakfast before running over to Underdog Records before we had to be in Greensboro for a Cobras game Saturday night. So, here’s the haul:

Greetings_From_Timbuk_3

©IRS Records

  • Calexico / Iron & Wine – Years To Burn — The BCPF is a huge fan of both acts and having albums (there have been others) with both on at the same time means ecstasy for her. It came out just this week and is in lime green vinyl. New.
  • Supertramp – Supertramp — This is a reissue of the debut album by Supertramp. They were a little more subdued back then. I am glad to have this in my collection but I like their late-70s/early-80s stuff best. It is also one of two Supertramp albums we got on Saturday. VG+.
  • Dokken – Beast From The East — Live 2xLP set recorded in Japan. I know Dokken is one of those love ’em or hate ’em bands, but I’m really in the middle with them. I like their stuff but I don’t go crazy for it. However, I loved this when I had it on CD. They left off some stuff because it was long from the CD. This will be fun, I think. VG.
  • Cyndi Lauper – True Colors — One of two Cyndi albums I got this weekend. The other was in the $1 bin. We like those 80s pop staples and I felt she was one of those. VG+.
  • Joe Walsh – The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get — 1980 reissue of this album. I like “Rocky Mountain Way” so, let’s do it. VG+.
  • Roy Orbison – Mystery Girl — Roy Orbison was a unique talent both in songwriting and singing technique. He was a great one. This album had a lot of input from Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty as well as a tune from Bono and The Edge. It was completed a mere month before Orbison died at the age of 52. I was 18 when this came out and I thought he was so old. I’m less than four years from being 52. That’s crazy. This is a slight bit warped but plays awesomely and is still VG+.
  • Cheap Trick – Next Position Please — I don’t know how I feel about this album. I like “I Can’t Take It,” but the rest of it is weird to me. I know Todd Rundgren produced it. Jon Brandt is the bass player. I thought he was on only two CT albums but he was on like four, I think. Anywhat. It’s okay. VG+.
  • Neil Young & The Shocking Pinks – Everybody’s Rockin’ — The Shocking Pinks was a band made up just for this album and features a selection of rockabilly songs (both covers and original material). It’s only 25 minutes and is Young’s shortest album. Everybody’s Rockin’ is typical of his 1980s period in that it bears little or no resemblance to the album released before it nor the one released after it. I’m worried about it because I’m hit-or-miss with him. The BCPF wanted it, though.
  • Was (Not Was) – What Up, Dog? — This is a weird and quirky album but it was so fun to listen to. The biggest hits of the band’s career were on this album: “Spy in the House of Love” and “Walk the Dinosaur.” VG+.
  • The Michael Schenker Group – MSG — The former Scorpions and UFO guitarist’s band’s second album. It featured Cozy Powell on drums and Gary Barden on vocals. Stephen Stills of CSN actually did some background vocals. VG++.
  • Don Henley – The End Of The Innocence — Don Henley was part of one of the more polarizing bands ever, The Eagles. I never cared for Glenn Frey’s contributions to vocals, but he was a partner of Henley’s. I don’t care much for Frey’s solo stuff, but I really like Henley, especially this and Building the Perfect Beast. I just love Henley’s vocals. VG+.
  • Timbuk 3 – Greetings From Timbuk 3 — Yeah, their most famous track, “The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades” is on here, but the album has some great spots. “Future” got a little cliche in 1986 but after a while, it got better and the story is funny. I liked listening to this. It was a great listen. VG+.
  • Supertramp – Crisis? What Crisis? — The fourth album overall from Supertramp and the second on this day’s collection. Again, it’s not Breakfast In America but I like it. VG+.
  • Vivaldi- – Max Goberman, The New York Sinfonietta – Three Concertos For Viola D’Amore / Two Concertos For Mandolin — It’s a classical jam. The interesting thing is that the album came out in 1968 and it was still sealed at Underdog. I opened it, but I didn’t look at the vinyl. It’s 51-year-old vinyl in there that hasn’t seen light since 1968. NM.
  • Cyndi Lauper – A Night To Remember — $1 bin find. Second Lauper this list update, too. To my knowledge, the only song on this album that I remember is “I Drove All Night.” I liked the album. VG+.
  • The Babys – Broken Heart  — This was the highlight of my purchase day, even though I didn’t know it until last night. The BCPF was alphabetizing our collection (the first time in almost a year) and it was my turn to pick an album. It was a great listen and if you haven’t listened to it, you absolutely should. Front-to-back, it’s awesome! VG.
  • Haydn, The Prague City Quartet – String Quartets Opus 76, No.4/Opus 20, No.4 — VG+.

Underdog Records is closed on Mondays, but on Tuesday, you should run by and see what used equipment Jonathan has for purchase. Get started in your record collectin’ if you aren’t already one. Then you can join in the madness fun with me! Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the latest UDR/TLD special for that week. I use Discogs to bring you this list each week and to keep straight what I already own before I make purchases.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I know you broke up with him and your heart’s still on the shelf. It’s been over two years for me and I’m still not quite myself. You can’t be with someone new and you can’t go back to him. You’re beginning to realize that it’s sink or swim.” – “Last Worthless Evening” (Corey/Henley/Lynch)

Small Spinning Sunday or: The Haul?

26 Sunday May 2019

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Salutations™!!

This week, like last, was altered because of a Cobras game, which we lost, but the worst part was the loss of our star OL because of a dislocated ankle. But, I did get by Underdog Records for a brief visit on Friday. Mainly because my pal, Clay, purchased a record and left it behind the counter. I had to see what it was and that was my visit. Here’s my “haul:”

51T9T6GXaQL._SY355_

©Infinity

  • Debbie Gibson – Out Of The Blue — I’m a sucker for bubblegum pop. She was in school the same time I was (she’s a year ahead of me) and she writes her own songs. It was definitely cheesy stuff, but I enjoyed it. Couldn’t pass up this one. VG+.
  • Ray Charles – Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music — #105 on the RS List, I enjoyed it. It’s not really C&W music, but it was “modern sounds” for the time. I had to grab it. VG+.
  • TKO – Let It Roll — This is the album that Clay got for me. It was in the $1 bin but was in fantastic condition. I had never heard of the band, but apparently, Clay had done some backups for the singer of TKO, Brad Sensil on a later solo album. This is from 1979 and was good hard rock. Thanks, Clay!

That was the haul. Because of the passing of Danielle’s father last week, there wasn’t a TLD/UR Special of the Week, but if you listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables, you can hear the special for that week. There’s a lot of cool equipment in there and of course, Jonathan puts out newly acquired used vinyl almost every day. Go by and say hey. Tell him that I sent you! Use Discogs to catalog your collection, be it vinyl, CD or even cassettes.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Oh, can’t you see I’m not fooling nobody? Don’t you see the tears are falling down my face? Since you went away. Break my heart, you slipped away. Didn’t know I was wrong. Never meant to hurt you now you’re gone.” – “Foolish Beat” (Gibson)