Tag Archives: The Police

Now Normal Chronicles or: Outlandos d’Roxanne

02 Monday Nov 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 42nd anniversary of the debut album from The Police, Oultandos d’Amour. I love all the Police albums and this is no exception. This is probably the best-known tune from the album, although there are plenty of deeper cuts to choose from. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I loved you since I knew you. I wouldn’t talk down to ya. I have to tell you just how I feel, I won’t share you with another boy. I know my mind is made up, so put away your make up. Told you once, I won’t tell you again it’s a bad way.” – “Roxanne” (Sting)

Now Normal Chronicles or: A Bouncy Message

05 Monday Oct 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 41st anniversary of The Police’s Regatta de Blanc album. I love The Police and this is one of my favorite songs, not only by The Police but for all time. It contains one of my favorite lyrics, ever… “Seems I’m not alone at being alone.” Genius! Pay close attention to the bouncy keyboard player with his flip phone clipped to his stone washed jeans pocket. Classic. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Just a castaway, an island lost at sea, oh. Another lonely day with no one here but me, oh. More loneliness than any man could bear. Rescue me before I fall into despair.” – “Message in a Bottle” (Sting)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Crazy Spirits

02 Friday Oct 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 39th anniversary of Ghost In The Machine from The Police. I love this album. Actually, I love all The Police’s albums. When I was a kid I didn’t care much for them but now, they’d be top 5, I think in my all-time faves. I love this song and I love this version. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Our so-called leaders speak. With words they try to jail you. They subjugate the meek but it’s the rhetoric of failure. We are spirits in the material world.” – “Spirits in the Material World” (Sting)

Spinning Sunday or: The Listens 4/25/20

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

Dear sweet baby [enter deity here], please let this be over soon. If for no other reason, I want to get back to Underdog Records, see Jonathan and buy vinyl goodness. Amen.

Listen42620

©All the record companies… I don’t own the copyright on these

You know my religion is “non-Prophet” so that was really just symbolic. However, the sentiment is exact and true. I want to get back to Underdog. The good news is Jonathan is doing a lot of deliveries and is still getting in new stock. I don’t buy a lot of new stuff so that throws me behind. I am more about the used stuff and, well, I figured it’s just not as feasible for him to rifle through the used stuff. That’s okay. I have plenty to keep me company here, but there’s nothing like the thrill of bin diving. I love it. Anywhat!

This week, I was home more than usual (usual for the lockdown) and The BCPF had work and conferences via Zoom, so I was under headphones a lot this week. I listened to 23 albums. I should probably try to listen to some podcasts during this downtime but I really want to listen to music. I suppose this is the equivalent of being a chef and having to cook at home, or being a truck driver and having to drive the family to Florida for vacation or per my old job working with the family sand business, why would I go to the beach when I can see sand anytime I want? So, I’m just not in the mood to listen to podcasts on my “downtime.” That’s cleared up.

The criteria for my streaming listening (for this list, anyway) is this: I have to own it on vinyl. I can’t listen to it on vinyl because of the situation, but I want to act like I am. So, I use the Discogs shuffle feature and see what pops up. Oddly enough, on the same day, I had two from The Who and even odder, I had two Yes albums right in a row; one I wish I had drawn after the other started. That worked out for me. Here’s my headphone “haul:”

That was a good listen haul, I think. I enjoyed most of it a lot. I didn’t have that I didn’t like, I just would have preferred something else, I guess.

Then yesterday, The BCPF and I had our listening time and we shuffled through these albums:

collage242620

©The record companies

That’s what we listened to. Follow Underdog Records on Facebook and Instagram, you’ll see what he’s got going on and you can get into the delivery thing and have him bring you some records. Also, visit the website to order new vinyl. Obviously, I use Discogs and even more so this week. There are no TLD/UR specials right now but I still hope you listen to the episodes. Okay, that’s all I have. Have a great week, stay home if you can, wash your damn hands and stay safe!

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Walked out this morning, don’t believe what I saw. A hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore. Seems I’m not alone at being alone. A hundred billion castaways looking for a home.” – “Message in a Bottle” (Sting)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/4/20

05 Sunday Jan 2020

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Salutations™!!

A fun Saturday that was a little late starting (just like today) but we had breakfast (or lunch) and then went by to see Jonathan at Underdog Records. Good listening, too. Here’s the haul:

  • The Police – Synchronicity — Yep, I found another. This was one of the 2019 reissues, but it had a variant cover that I didn’t have, so I bought it. Someone got it for Christmas and decided they didn’t like it and sold it to Jonathan. One listen through so it’s NM.

    HEAVEN2B-2BBent2B-2Bfront

    ©Columbia/Brighton

  • Touré Kunda – Casamance Au Clair De Lune — According to Wikipedia: “Touré Kunda is a Senegalese band noted for their musical versatility and political activism. Their 40-year career encompasses recordings in over six languages and collaborations with well-known musicians such as Carlos Santana and Talking Heads. They have had considerable success in Africa and Europe and are active in social causes such as Children’s rights and advocates for the homeless.” It’s good stuff. We enjoyed listening to it as we are fans of the world music genres and we have a few. This was a really good listen. VG+.
  • Squeeze – Babylon And On — There were five singles released on this album and I’m not sure if I know any of them. I don’t know if any of them get played on 1st Wave on SiriusXM much. I’m indifferent to Squeeze. I like them, but I really don’t pay a lot of attention to them. The singles are “Hourglass,” “Trust Me to Open My Mouth,” “The Waiting Game,” “853-5937” and “Footprints.” VG+.
  • Graham Parker And The Rumour – The Parkerilla — I think I’ve said this before but Parker reminds me of a mix of the new wavy side of Elvis Costello and the punk aspects of Joe Jackson. This is a live album and it’s actually pretty good, for a live album. VG+.
  • Heaven – Bent — I believe this album has been known as three different things, Heaven, Twilight of Mischief and Bent. The band, as far as I can tell, is Australian and the guitarist, Bradford Kelly, designed the “Kelly” guitar for Jackson, which was probably most famous as being the guitar of choice of Marty Friedman in his Megadeth days. I always loved the design. I don’t know what it sounds like but it sure looks like something that my pal Bobby Richardson, the drummer from Heavens Sake (how coincidental) would love. We always joked that he would go through records (or CDs) just to find some band with a lot of hair. That was his thing. VG.
  • Boston Pops / Arthur Fiedler – Star Dust — An album of “pops” music by the Boston Pops Orchestra and conducted by Arthur Fiedler. VG+.

Yep, a good time in the record shop, snotty weather and all. I wish I had the money but he has a beautiful Kenwood receiver in the store that looks beautiful and he says it sounds beautiful. It’s probably mid-80s and is in pristine condition. Good stuff. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special. Use Discogs to track your music collection, no matter the medium.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“The hourglass has no more grains of sand. My watch has stopped, no more turning hands. The crew have abandoned the ship. The lights are on but no one is in.” – “Hourglass” (Difford/Tilbrook)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 11/23/19

24 Sunday Nov 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was the “Dining Area” phase of Beeman Remodel 2019 in advance of Operation: Beeman Hosts 2020. More on that in another blog down the line. But, that meant that we had to get into Underdog Records and get out so we could start working on stuff. So with that said, here’s the haul:

Beck_-_Hyperspace

©Capitol Records

  • The Police – Regatta de Blanc — They finally got this in Discogs and I got it a few weeks back, so I’m just now getting it in. I included it in that week’s “haul” list. Just to get that out of the way. New.
  • Beck – Hyperspace — We love Beck and every album is righteous. This one took a few steps back to the era of Sea Change, which besides being on the RS list, was a great album. So, Beck is a winner again! New.
  • Steps Ahead – N.Y.C. — Jazz Fusion and that’s really all I know about it. I try to step out of what I already know and this was that opportunity. I haven’t listened to it yet, but I look forward to it. It was still sealed but the cellophane was torn a little so I released it into the wild! Just kidding, I unsealed it. Records are meant to be heard, not shown. New/NM/VG+ (for the cover)
  • Ray Charles – The Genius Of Ray Charles — #263 on the RS list, it is Charles’ sixth album and was released in 1959. It contains 10 selections from the Great American Songbook (a canon of popular songs and American jazz standards of prominent 20th-century tunes). Good stuff. VG++.
  • The Byrds – The Byrds’ Greatest Hits — Their first greatest hits album and the best-selling album from their catalog. A fine collection, indeed. VG+.
  • Bread – The Sound Of Bread- Their 16 Finest Songs — K-Tel loved Bread and their “yacht rock” sounds so much, they gave them their own collection. VG+.
  • Various – The Many Moods Of Christmas: Great Songs By Great Artists Of Our Time — Christmas record. Ella, Frank, Sammy, Babs, Andy, Tony, Doris, and so on. All you need to know. VG+.
  • The New Dixie Zing Kings – The New Dixie Zing Kings — It’s a jazz record, we believe and I can’t find any info about them outside of this album. I don’t know who is part of the ensemble or anything. VG++.
  • Ray Conniff And The Ray Conniff Singers – We Wish You A Merry Christmas — It’s Christmas time and we are looking for more to add to The BCPF’s collection. Ray Conniff is known for his Christmas stuff so… VG++.
  • The Ray Conniff Singers – Christmas With Conniff — All that stuff in the previous mention… ditto. VG++.
  • Bread – Lost Without Your Love — I love yacht rock and this is that, as I mentioned above with the K-Tel entry. VG+.
  • Various – Original Cast Album Chicago A Musical Vaudeville — The original cast album from the musical Chicago. It was released in 1975 and featured Dirty Dancing, Beauty and the Beast and Law & Order’s Jerry Orbach as Roxie Hart’s lawyer, Billy Flynn. $1 bin find. VG.
  • The Babys – Union Jacks — The fourth album by John Waite, Jonathan Cain, Ricky Philips and crew which had the single “Back on My Feet Again.” $1 bin find. VG+.
  • Sonny & Chér – In Case You’re In Love — “Groovy Kind of Love,” “Little Man” and “The Beat Goes On.” $1 bin find. VG.
  • Various – A Very Merry Christmas Vol. 5 — Perry Como, Robert Shaw Chorale, Arthur Fiedler, Henry Mancini, Harry Belafonte, Mario Lanza. Yeah, good stuff. $1 bin find. VG.

Jonathan is preparing for Record Store Day – Black Friday Edition that is happening this Friday (of course), so check out recordstoreday.com to see what is coming out. But, he also has a lot of used audio equipment including some high dollar items on consignment for pennies on the dollar. Lexicon, Carver, etc. Turntables, amps, etc. It’s also gift certificate season and at Underdog Records, those come on old 45s. That’s pretty cool. Get it in any amount you like. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables for the TLD/UR special of the week. Use Discogs to track your music collection.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning!
Scorp out!

—
“Walked out this morning, don’t believe what I saw. A hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore. Seems I’m not alone at being alone. A hundred billion castaways looking for a home.” – “Message In A Bottle” (Sting)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 11/9/19

10 Sunday Nov 2019

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Salutations™!!

We did get to go to Underdog Records yesterday but we didn’t get to listen to any of the loot. We were shopping for fixtures for the upgrades to the house and going to a housewarming party for a friend. We had a great day but it involved little music. Here’s the haul:

Ytblacktiger

©A&M

First, there is Regatta de Blanc from the Police but no one has put this reissue on Discogs yet and I don’t want to be the one that does, so I’m holding out for that. Anyway, A&M or someone is reissuing the whole Police catalog, but only Regatta and the next entry were released this week. Regatta is #New.

  • The Police – Zenyattà Mondatta — 2019 rerelease of The Police’s third album. New.
  • Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman — #263 on the RS list. This album is an amazing piece of work. There is much more to the album than just “Fast Car.” Some have called it a bit political but I think she passes that off as being subjective. Great album, again. VG+.
  • Y & T – Black Tiger — This was featured in the Eugeology series from 2017. It was entry #21. You can read my then commentary here. I haven’t listened since but I like to have things that could be musically important. This is the Japanese release and is in immaculate condition. NM.
  • David Bowie – Never Let Me Down — Released in 1987, this was the last solo album from Bowie until 1993. In between, he formed Tin Machine and still toured although he retired his back catalog. I don’t know what he was thinking there, really. I think he just wanted to recharge and reinvent. I don’t really know much about this album, but it was there and I grabbed it. VG++.
  • John Lennon – Walls And Bridges — Original cover with die-cut flaps. This was Lennon’s fifth solo record and had the hits “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” and “#9 Dream.” VG++.
  • Jethro Tull – Stand Up — I’ve never been a big fan of Tull, outside of a few songs here and there. I don’t know how I feel about this album, either, but I do like “A New Day Yesterday,” which I performed with Vagabond Saints Society when they did a night of Jethro Tull. EX/VG++.
  • George Harrison – Extra Texture (Read All About It) — Harrison’s sixth solo album, it was his final album under his contract with Apple Records and EMI, and the last studio album issued by Apple. There were a lot of superstar guest musicians and the album didn’t do very well. But, it is what it is. EX/VG++.
  • Faces – A Nod Is As Good As A Wink…To A Blind Horse — Faces’ third album and probably their defining moment. They were riding a high from Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” solo hit and were ready to go. They shuffled up some of the lead vocal duties and that made some of the members frustrated, especially bassist Ronnie Lane.  Found this is the $1 bin and there are two more $1 albums that for whatever reason didn’t get into my Discogs collection. Well, one I know was because it wasn’t in Discogs and the other I must have just skipped. G+.

A good day and I hope to listen to these things soon. Jonathan was in a good mood and we had a few minutes to laugh and talk. I always love that. He has some new-to-the-store electronics for sale and he’s always adding new stock to the “freshly new” bins. Listen to the latest episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection and bring this “haul” to you.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Poets, priests, and politicians have words to thank for their positions. Words that scream for your submission. And no one’s jamming their transmission. Because when their eloquence escapes you, their logic ties you up and rapes you.” – “De Do Do Do De Da Da Da” (Sting)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Outlandish Outlandos

02 Saturday Nov 2019

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 41st anniversary of The Police’s debut album Outlandos d’Amour. Not my favorite of all their albums but it is tied for second with all the other Police albums that aren’t Synchronicity. You probably would have expected “Roxanne” as my song for this, but, nope. I found this heavier ska/punk band to do a cover of this tune. I generally don’t like that kind of music, but it just sounds like a harder, heavier version of The Police. I like their energy. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I called you so many times today and I guess it’s all true, what your girlfriends say. That you don’t ever want to see me again and your brother’s gonna kill me and he’s six feet ten. I guess you’d call it cowardice but I’m not prepared to go on like this” – “Can’t Stand Losing You” (Sting)

The Po-Po is Back or: What the Heck Does That Mean?

03 Thursday Oct 2019

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 39th anniversary of The Police’s Zenyatta Mondatta album. The title of this album doesn’t really mean anything. Just something that rolls of the tongue. And, yes, this is 364 days before the album I featured yesterday, Ghost in the Machine. I like the original better but I also think the re-recording of it in 1986 was a cool version, too. This is Sting on tour back before 1986, I believe. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Loose talk in the classroom. To hurt they try and try. Strong words in the staffroom, the accusations fly. It’s no use. He sees her. He starts to shake he starts to cough. Just like the old man in that famous book by Nabakov.” – “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” (Sting)

Spirits in the Blogging World or: Call the Police

02 Wednesday Oct 2019

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 38th anniversary of The Police’s Ghost in the Machine album. I love The Police and I love this album. I found some interesting covers but none that I liked so I went with the original. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Our so-called leaders speak. With words they try to jail you. They subjugate the meek. But, it’s the rhetoric of failure.” – “Spirits in the Material World” (Sting)