22 Friday Mar 2019
Posted in Life as We Know It, Records
Tags
Salutations™!!
This is going to be super short. A friend of mine sent this to me and I posted it on my Instagram. It’s a great joke and isn’t anywhere near true, but it does make you wonder why people get into vinyl like we do. I’ll write up a good explanation at another time. Until then…
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“I collect vintage vinyl records.” – John Varvatos
11 Sunday Nov 2018
Posted in Records, Spinning Sunday
Tags
Boz Scaggs, Discogs, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Eric Bachmann, Marshall Tucker Band, Mozart, Music, Paul Young, Pink Floyd, Ratt, Record Store Day, Records, Seals & Crofts, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Underdog Records, vinyl
Salutations™!!
The BCPF and I were up and out early yesterday, but, we got to Underdog Records and purchased a pretty good-sized haul. Here’s what we got:
©Atlantic Records
So, it was a big haul yesterday. We got to listen to a lot of it during our listening session, but we have more to hear. Some folks don’t get the vinyl thing, but that’s okay. I just find I can immerse myself in the medium and I don’t mind changing sides. Underdog Records recovered from their anniversary. Jonathan is gearing up for the Black Friday Record Store Day event on the day after Thanksgiving. PLUS!!! If you have loved ones that are either looking for something to get their favorite record collector, or you know someone that is a record collector, Jonathan is doing gift “certificates” right now for the holidays. Be sure to listen to The Less Desirables every week because you’ll get the exclusive TLD/UDR special of the week. It’s good savings for you. But, you have to mention hearing that ad (and know what it is!)…
I use Discogs for cataloging and purchasing.
Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!
—
“Driving that train, high on cocaine, Casey Jones you better watch your speed. Trouble ahead, trouble behind. And you know that notion just crossed my mind.” – “Casey Jones” (Garcia/Hunter)
26 Monday Feb 2018
Posted in Life as We Know It, Records
Tags
3B, Asheville, Jerry Chapman, Mt. Airy, Records, The BCPF, Underdog Records, vinyl
Salutations™!!
I’m almost done with all the video work I’ve been doing, I can see daylight. But, I wanted to talk about something else for a minute.
One of the many, many things that I love about vinyl collecting is the community that it creates. You are doing this with others who share your passion or at least just dig the collectability. I have several friends who I was already friends with that I have been talking vinyl with and enjoying the conversations. 
When I came home on Friday, just before I picked up 3B and before The BCPF and I left for Asheville, there was a package out on my front porch. I was familiar with the shape of the package. It was for vinyl. Had I ordered something? I thought my orders had already been filled. It turns out, they were.
This package had a return address but not a name. It was from Mt. Airy. I only know a few people in Mt. Airy. And, with one, we have had a few conversations about vinyl. I opened it up and there were six albums in there. I was perplexed.
I sent a text to my friend Jerry Chapman. Yes, that Jerry Chapman. I asked if this pile of loveliness was his doing. He sent back, “It is. Wow, that got there fast. I have lots of double of some records, so it’s more fun just to send them to friends.” It was fantastic. It turns out that I have one already but, in the spirit of the occasion, I’m going to trade it to Clay Howard for a record that I was looking for that he had an extra of.
I’m going to hold off on listing them until this weekend when we go to Underdog Records. I’ll do the cleaning thing and cataloging. I’ll include them in the “haul.” So many thanks to Jerry. He’s a real pal and I appreciate him! Not just for the records, but just being a pal. He’s cool.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“It was so exciting to go to the record shop and buy a piece of vinyl and hold it, read the liner notes, look at the pictures. Even the smell of the vinyl.” – Martin Gore
22 Friday Dec 2017
Posted in Life as We Know It, Records
Tags
Alexa, Amazon, Amazon Echo Dot, Amazon Prime, Audio-Technica, Records, The BCPF, vinyl
Salutations™!!
It is a sad day here at the Scorp household. We are staring at a wall of beautiful vinyl gems and are not listening to them. Our turntable is an Audio-Technica AT‑LP60‑USB. Sure, it’s entry level but it has been a great turntable. We have kind of outgrown it but we can’t really afford a new one. Plus, we’re holding out hope about finding a new house with a “listening room” where we can customize a new audio setup or “audio suite” to reflect our vinyl listening habits. But, as any reader of this blog’s Sunday (or heck most other days) edition or viewer of my personal Instagram feed knows, we listen to a shload of records.
ATN3600L
The turntable was a gift from The BCPF four Christmases ago. The needle on this thing is original, so it has gotten a good bit of wear and tear. We’re over 1200 albums and we’ve listened to about 70% of them, many of them more than once. Again, a shload of listening. We’ve noticed over the last little bit that many of our older records (meaning mostly older than me) have started getting really distorted and distant when we play them, especially in certain tonal registers. New records don’t sound as pristine as they used to, either.
It sounded like the records needed cleaning. Well, again, if you read this blog, I do a lot to clean my records, either with the washing system I have or by using the solution that I make with a painter’s edging tool and microfiber cloth. I took the record one record we were listening to off the platter and cleaned it, again, but it still sounded distorted and distant. So, not that.
I considered it may be the speakers. Perhaps I had blown one? I mean, my hearing isn’t the best anymore and I have to turn it up to hear them. I switched to another input and had Alexa play the same record I was listening to on my Amazon Echo Dot. The music sounded perfectly clear. So, not that (thankfully).
New records, as I said, don’t sound as pristine but they do sound better, so I’m pretty sure it’s not wiring. That just leaves the needle in our minds. Luckily, the cartridge can be changed on the AT‑LP60‑USB and Amazon carries the replacement for under $18. It is Christmas season and we risked getting it with any kind of expediency, but according to Amazon, we should have it tomorrow. That would be great. And, hopefully, that will be what fixes it. But, today, vacation is going to be [mostly] record free. I don’t want to have a dull needle eating into my records. I know, technically, every time you listen you’re basically damaging the record, but I’d rather do it while hearing it as cleanly as possible instead of destroying it.
So, here’s hoping that delivery is right on time because we purchased a few “rekkids” yesterday that we haven’t gotten a chance to listen to, yet. And, tomorrow is, in fact, Saturday and that is our traditional “listening day.” I may freak out if we don’t get to do our “thang.” I’m kidding about that, but I won’t be happy about it.
Until tomorrow, happy listening (if you can)…
Scorp out!
—
“I miss the experience of walking into a record store and find old stuff without expecting to.” – Mark Hoppus
16 Thursday Nov 2017
Posted in Music Review
Tags
Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Edward Van Halen, Eugene B Sims, Eugeology, Fair Warning, Jon Lowder, Michael Anthony, Van Halen, vinyl, Wolfgang Van Halen
Salutations™!!
Last week was a bit difficult for me to put my finger on. Good? Yes. My thing? No. But, that’s okay. Eugene doesn’t expect me to like everything, but he does expect me to give it a fair shake. That, I did. Jon is in the ether somewhere. Let’s do this week…
#45 – Fair Warning by Van Halen.
©Warner Bros.
Eugene says this is his favorite Van Halen album. I can see that. It is not my favorite Van Halen album, however, I do believe it is better than both its immediate predecessor and successor. Women and Children First was a decent album but kind of a departure from the same quality as the first two VH albums. Diver Down, to me, was David Lee Roth’s cover album; an appeasement. Both good but neither fall on my favorite list. This, however, is one that I can listen to over and over. The songs are inventive for Eddie and a good showcase for DLR. And, it was still “raw” for a Van Halen album. That, you will find, is low on my priority list but for this album, it really works.
One thing I noticed is that part of the outro from “Hear About It Later” is, at the very least, an inspiration to the intro to 1984‘s “Girl Gone Bad.” And, time signatures? Don’t get me started. Well, actually, it’s not about the time signatures themselves, generally, it’s the fact that the band syncopates the living shite out of it. “Unchained” is a perfect example. Try counting that bad boy in 4/4 time. You can’t really until you get to the part where the drums and bass come in. And, going back after you find that time, you see that Eddie starts on the “four and” beat and alternates back and forth between the “four and” and the “one.” Sorry to geek out on the music theory there, but EVH is one that takes theory and rewrites it. It’s always an exercise in “suspending the musical theory disbelief.”
Another interesting and important thing in VH lore is the opening track, “Mean Street.” Eddie uses the intro to this tune in his solos, even if they don’t play the whole song. It’s innovative because it’s his famed tapping but in an even more percussive manner. Yes, technically tapping is percussive but this is more slapping the fretboard that gently tapping it.
This whole album is a bit of a departure from the “fun” that the first three had. I don’t mean that it doesn’t have its humorous moments. I mean, David Lee Roth is involved. It just doesn’t have that “party” atmosphere that, up until this point, was evident with VH records. It’s darker, for sure.
One thing that is an absolute is that if you are familiar with the first three VH albums and you didn’t know what you were about to listen to, you’d know right away that this is a VH album upon the first listen. Part of it is that you know Eddie’s playing and you know Ted Templeman’s production.
Not that Michael Anthony needed any “highlight time” but “‘Dirty Movies'” does get to showcase his bass abilities and man, no matter how good Wolfie (Van Halen, the current bassist for the band) is, he’ll not be able to emulate those backing vocals the same way that Michael does. His chops could almost rival EVH’s as he has to play the same riffs in places and he hangs the whole time. The whole album is splattered with his awesomeness.
What can be said about Alex Van Halen that hasn’t already been said? Nothing much. He is a showman, a wildman, and one of the finest drummers you’ll find. He’s flash. He’s definitely flash, but he can back it up. For most drummers, this could be chaos. But, he still keeps it all classy and it all fits no matter how much flash he displays. It’s always thunderous. I guess he’s the storm of the band.
And DLR, as much as I have my eye-rolling moments with him, he’s still one of the greatest frontmen, especially at this time, in rock and roll. Not the greatest voice, but definitely a distinct and unique voice. Not many people can break their voice in two like he could. He could harmonize with himself on the shrieks.
My favorite tunes on this album are “Mean Street,” Hear About It Later,” “Unchained” and “So is This Love?” Sure, they’re the main tunes on the album, but as I said, it’s not my favorite VH album, so I like the hits. Incidentally, my top 5 VH albums (in order)? 1984, 5150, Van Halen, Fair Warning, OU812. Don’t hate, I like what I like.
One last note, I got to listen to this on vinyl because I own it. I enjoy the ones that I have on vinyl. I never got to listen to most of this as a kid, at least in this way. Thank you Eug for having this one on the list. It was comforting to me to have something at least familiar. I know that’s not the point of this exercise, but it was still welcomed. Jon…
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“Hey, you remember when that girl was prom queen?” – “‘Dirty Movies'” (Van Halen/Van Halen/Anthony/Roth)
01 Sunday Oct 2017
Posted in Beer, Food, Records, Silent Sunday
Tags
Charles Mingus, Dan Fogelberg, Discogs, Dolly Parton, Duke Ellington, Emmylou Harris, Eurythmics, Gipsy Kings, Henry Mancini, Hoots Roller Bar, Jefferson Airplane, Johnny Cash, Laura Branigan, Linda Ronstadt, Mary's Gourmet Diner, Miles Davis, Music, Philip Bailey, Pink Floyd, Ravel, Records, Rosemary Clooney, The BCPF, The Monkees, The War On Drugs, Tom Jones, Underdog Records, Van Halen, vinyl, WFDD
Salutations™!!
Before we went to Hoots Beer Company‘s anniversary/Oktoberfest release, The BCPF and I still made our routine morning happen, including walking, farmers’ market, Mary’s Gourmet Diner and, yes! Underdog Records. We got some good stuff, too. Here’s what we picked up!
©Columbia Records
So, yeah, a good haul. We didn’t get to listen to as much as we usually do on Saturday, but we didn’t have a lot to wash because most of the used stuff was in really good shape, and Jonathan had cleaned some to gauge his pricing. While we were there, a young lady came in and asked Jonathan about getting into vinyl. I get excited about that. She was probably early- to mid-twenties. Jonathan is great for that kind of guidance. And, when you get into the collecting aspect, use Discogs to archive, and chronicle your collection.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“Here comes the rain again, falling on my head like a memory. Falling on my head like a new emotion. I want to walk in the open wind. I want to talk like lovers do. I want to dive into your ocean, Is it raining with you?” – “Here Comes the Rain Again” (Lennox/Stewart)
16 Sunday Apr 2017
Posted in Silent Sunday
Tags
Bette Midler, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Cheap Trick, Chicago, Christopher Plummer, Discogs, Genesis, Heatmiser, Henry Mancini, J Geils Band, Joan Baez, Julie Andrews, KISS, Linda Ronstadt, Paul Davis, Peter Paul and Mary, Records, Richard Rodgers, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Tchaikovsky, The BCPF, The Ventures, Underdog Records, Vic Damone, vinyl
Salutations™!!
The BCPF had Friday off so we made two trips to Underdog Records this weekend. We 
made off with a ton of stuff, mostly from the $1 bin – you’ll maneuver a plethora of great finds there, so don’t be afraid of the $1 bin. So, here’s the rundown for this week:
From The BCPFs choices:
From my choices:
So, I think that was a great haul. Do you have any of these on vinyl, Dear Reader? I’d love to talk vinyl collecting with you. Meet me at Underdog Records some day and let’s talk. Even if you don’t meet me, go see Jonathan and buy some records. Listen to The Less Desirables each week to find out what the TLD/Underdog special is for that week. Also, if you are a collector of music and you’re not logging your vinyl, and even your CDs, then you’re totally missing out on a true collecting experience. Have a great Sunday (or Easter if you are so inclined).
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“I try to sleep, they’re wide awake. They won’t let me alone. They don’t get paid to take vacations or let me alone. They spy on me, I try to hide, they won’t let me alone. They persecute me. They’re the judge and jury all in one.” – “Dream Police” (Nielsen)
04 Wednesday Jan 2017
Posted in Life as We Know It
Tags
Cass McCombs, City Beverage, Dr. Dre, Elton John, Eugene B Sims, John Mellencamp, Peter Gabriel, Robert Johnson, The Conqueror, The Less Desirables, Underdog Records, vinyl
Salutations™!!
First let me say the title here “…Slacker’s Day Off” is not mine. I borrowed it from Eugene who used to make fantastically themed mix tapes that were really great and I really wish he had the wont (and want) and time to do them again. I will say my favorite one, ever, was for the wonderfully awful John Wayne picture, The Conqueror (1956), where Wayne plays Timujin who later becomes Genghis Khan. Yes, imagine that and then realize how bad it could be and then realize that it was so bad it was beautiful! I rated it 5 stars out of 5. Okay, Eug, get back to making those mix tapes, dangit! 
So, I had a meeting today with some local musician types that have a really cool idea coming that I and The Less Desirables will be part of, but that’s not what this is about, so more on that later. After lunch and this meeting, I ran down to see my pal, Jonathan, at Underdog Records (TLD’s official vinyl sponsor) and grabbed a few records to add to my ever-growing collection. I grabbed four used and two new discs. And by new, I mean one new album and one reissue. But, that reissue may surprise you. Let’s start with the used vinyl, first, though.
Well, I’ve got a thing for some Peter Garbiel and there was a really good copy of Peter Gabriel (Melt), ripe for the taking and I grabbed that as soon as I saw it. That album has “Games Without Frontiers,” “Biko” and “Family Snapshot” on it, among others. I do really dig me some PG. In fact, you may recall that I have stated that my favorite album of all time is So (1986), so there you have it…
John Mellencamp’s American Fool (when he was still known as John Cougar) was next up and it has two of my favorite Johnny Cougars tunes, “Jack and Diane” and “Hurts So Good.” Yay!
I’m an Elton John fan, too, and there was a decent price on Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, so, of course, I snatched it. This is the album with “Daniel” and “Crocodile Rock.” I don’t really like that latter song but it’s a decent album.
When I was doing the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time, I will admit, there wasn’t a lot of rap/hip hop that I liked. But, one of the rap albums I did like was Dr. Dre’s Chronic. I had to purchase it from Amazon so that I could listen to it. Dre’s other albums were available on Napster but not this one, for whatever reason. I really did like it and decided that I’d look for it on vinyl. Jonathan found it for me and put it back. I picked it up today. I can’t wait to hear it on vinyl. That’s the used stuff…
When I was putting together the commercial from Underdog Records last week, Jonathan had mentioned Cass McCombs in that as one of the albums of the year.I liked what I heard when I was picking music to be background, so I just had to go with it. I haven’t listened to anymore than that, but I trust his opinion and will be giving it a spin, soon.
So, that leaves the one that may surprise you. Again, leading back to the RS Top 500 Albums of All Time, I skipped the compilations. At least I did after one of the earlier segments when I had to squeak through a few of them, including Loretta Lynn and 100 Merle Haggard songs, back-to-back and a few others in the next few segments. One that I left off was The Complete Recordings by Robert Johnson. Turns out that yes, while it was, technically, a compilation, it wasn’t a greatest hits record as most of them were. I still count it as a comp, but I did say, promised even, to go back and listen to some of the stuff that I skipped and that this would definitely be on the list. Well, I was in the record store on Saturday and there it was, a reissue in glorious 180g black vinyl. Yeah, I grabbed it. It’s not really my thing, but it’s not “cringe-worthy” and doesn’t suck. I figured if I was going to listen to it, if I were going to be a collector, that is, why not have it in this lovely package? So, that’s what I did. I have listened to the first of the two records, so far. I can’t understand anything he’s saying as the recordings are pretty bad, and he’s not really playing anything that a 11-year old, first time guitar student couldn’t play, but that’s not important. It’s influential, not only to the overrated Eric Clapton, but to even guitarists and songwriters that are in my wheelhouse. I’m not at all knocking it, so while it may seem like I’m taking a shot, there, I’m not. Back then, that was a big deal. I appreciate that.
A good haul, I feel. I’m digging my collection and since I’m done with the big lists, for now, I may talk about my collecting over the next bit. I have to slow down, though, I spent a good bit of cash on those. I only have a monthly stipend to spend on vinyl and need to pull back. But, that’s a lesson to be learned at another time. You can check out what’s happening at Underdog Records by watching their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds. Be sure to listen to each episode of The Less Desirables to hear what the weekly TLD promotion is at Underdog. They’re located at 835 Burke Street! Oh, and yes, Wednesdays are usually the beer of the week but this week, we didn’t do a show. Just go in and tell Spencer, at City Beverage, you want some TLD beer and get your 5% off.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“Jeux sans frontieres…” – “Games Without Frontiers” (Gabriel)
15 Thursday Dec 2016
Posted in Life as We Know It, Podcasting
Salutations™!!
Yesterday, The Less Desirables gained a new sponsor! We are very proud and excited to announce that Underdog Records will be out new Official Vinyl Store. I’m sure I’ll come up with some fancy schmancy name like I always do. I know what you’re asking, but don’t you already have a music sponsor? Well, yes. The Garage is still our Official Music Sponsor. But, 
this is different.
With the music section of TLD, we talk about what is happening at The Garage and then what’s coming out on CD and digital download. That’s been the case since The Garage signed on with us several years back. That won’t change. We also play a song by a band or artist that will be playing The Garage that week. It’s all still the same.
What Underdog Records is bringing is a bit different. Jonathan Hodges, owner, will be submitting a report every week of what will be coming out new, or reissued, on vinyl. Vinyl releases do not necessarily correlate with the CD and digital releases. Plus, with the revival of vinyl, a lot of older albums are being re-released. So, he tells us what is coming out that week and what he’s gotten in used. Last week he took in over 1000 used albums.
Underdog Records doesn’t stop there. They do sell a few CDs. They also have live events in the store. It could be a European-style DJ, acoustic artists and so on. They also have turntables and other audio equipment for sale right there, including amps and speakers.
I’ve recently, well in the last two years, gotten back into vinyl. When I was a kid, I had a lot of records, mostly KISS. I didn’t know what I was doing. I scratched them, I left indention on the covers by tracing the pictures, slung the discs around like they were nothing and so on. I treated them very roughly, to say the least. Then, because I was constantly on the go, it was easier and better to have cassettes so my buddies and I could listen to stuff up on the mountain or in the woods, then when I moved to WSNC, I needed cassettes for my vehicles. Then came CDs and that was even better. While still delicate, they’re more durable than cassettes and vinyl. Then digital. It was a good to not mess anything up, but the compression takes away the sonic quality and makes it murky. It took me a while to figure that out.
The BCPF got me a turntable (or as we sometimes still call it, a record player) for Christmas a couple of years back and I’ve been collecting since. Almost all of my vinyl has come, exclusively, from Underdog Records. In the 150 that I’ve amassed over the last year or so (I didn’t start right away), I’d say 90% of the collection has come from Underdog. Jonathan keeps the new stuff but there’s wealth of the old stuff in there. You should go in just to see it.
I’m still not completely happy with my vinyl set up now. I’m playing the records through a home theater set up. While it has good sound and is great for surround sound movies, I want an amp and speakers that are dedicated to that warm gooey sound quality that only vinyl can produce. So, when The BCPF and I move (it’s probably coming in the moderately near future), we’re hoping to find a home where we can turn one room into a music/listening/entertainment room, that has nothing to do with the home theater system. I’ve already told Jonathan that I’d be coming to him to see what we could put in the listening room.
So, again, I’m very excited to have Underdog Records on board CrewTLD and TLD Family. If you like old school record stores, have an affinity for vinyl, want to sell your old vinyl or want to discover (or re-discover) the joys of vinyl, you should head straight for Underdog Records, located at 835 Burke Street in WSNC. It’s awesome! And listen to TLD every Wednesday night/Thursday morning to hear about the new releases and new treasures in the store. Follow Underdog Records on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Thanks Jonathan and Underdog Records!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“Underdog Records is an independent brick & mortar record store located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina which carries new and used LPs & 45s, new and used turntables and stereo equipment, and also vinyl accessories (LP sleeves, LP cleaner, etc.). Underdog also purchases your gently used LPs, 45s, and stereo equipment. Please refer to our used buying page for more information on selling or trading your items to Underdog.” – Underdog Records
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