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Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 8/8 and Otherwise

09 Sunday Aug 2020

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Salutations™!!

You may be asking what that title means. Well, you also may not, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Remember the last time I did the “Spinning Sunday” (two weeks ago if you don’t remember)? I told you that we had gotten a good start on that TimeLife Great Men of Music series? Well, I decided that wasn’t good enough and that I needed to finish the collection. (insert sigh here)

thebestofbigstar

©Stax

I got on Discogs Marketplace and found the last 13 that I needed to have all 30. Yes, I’m a glutton for punishment. I glutted on, I guess. Now, to be honest, I am missing one, only because it’s not here, yet. The USPS tracking says it’s to be delivered on 8/6 (today is 8/9) but is “delayed.” I know C-19 has the world screwed up and there was a hurricane in the area this week, but this is the only one that had a problem. Anywhat! I’ll leave all the GMoM ones until the end. We got some more TimeLife stuff but I don’t think I’ll go looking to collect all of these. Then again, maybe I will…? Here’s the haul:

  • Lou Reed – When Your Heart Is Made Out Of Ice — A live compilation from Lou Reed, circa 1974 or so. Notes from the album: Side A is in mono, all other sides in stereo. Track C2 notes from back cover: ‘Due to the age of the master tape some restoration & cleaning have not been able to improve a slight tape wobble which runs for a few seconds, only.’ 2xLP. New.
  • Big Star – The Best Of Big Star — I had never heard of Big Star until the day Alex Chilton died. St. Patrick’s Day 2010. Doug Davis (yes, that Doug Davis) and either the Plaids or Mediocre Bad Guys were playing at Finnigan’s Wake prior to them slimming down the SPD festivities and Doug said that Alex Chilton passed away and that it was a kick in the teeth for him. I played it off like I knew what he was talking about but I didn’t know.  Big Star has three entries on the RS list (#449, #434, #405). This is a “greatest hits” album but with some remixes and edits. I hear a lot of Doug’s influences here. Great collection. 2xLP. New.
  • Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues — The BCPF loves Fleet Foxes and it’s right in her wheelhouse. They only have three studio albums and we have them all, plus a 10″ single that we got for RSD Black Friday 2017. Sub-Pop makes her eyes wide and her breath choppy. Sub-Pop is the label in which FF is signed. 2xLP. New.
  • Various – Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack — I know it’s 80s cheese and the soundtrack is even more K-R-A-F-T but I love the crap out of this stuff. I loved the movie and the soundtrack. It was there in EX condition and I wasn’t passing it up!
  • Maxus – Maxus — I know NOTHING about this band. It seems to be AOR or something close. I can find some stuff on some of the members online but I think it’s a situation like Toto where it’s a bunch of studio musicians that actually formed a band, but I don’t think they really got anywhere. This is the extent of their releases, I think. I don’t know. But, I like to hunt down stuff strange to me. It’s a promotional copy. VG++.
  • Big Country – Steeltown — This was the follow-up album to the band’s debut, The Crossing which spawned the hit “In a Big Country.” This album had none of that kind of star power but it wasn’t a bad listen, at all. I will even say I enjoyed it. EX.
  • Julian Lennon – The Secret Value Of Daydreaming — The second album from Julian and while it didn’t have the oomph that Valotte had, it still had a modest hit with “Stick Around” that made it to #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The video featured Michael J. Fox, Joe Piscopo, Martin Kove (the heel sensei from Karate Kid), Playboy playmate Peggy McIntaggart and Jami Gertz. VG+.
  • Cheap Trick – Found All The Parts — A 10″ EP release from 1980. A cover of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” (not live) and three other tunes recorded live. Apparently, there were several versions of this having different members on the labels. I got the “Bun E on both sides” copy. VG+.
  • Tuxedo Junction – Tuxedo Junction — I thought the cover was cool and didn’t know what it was. Think Taco doing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” but about 5-7 years earlier and then take Taco out of it and that’s what you get here. “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and stuff like that. It was a good laugh if nothing else. EX on transparent gold.
  • Various – Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture “Teachers” — Nick Nolte, JoBeth Williams, Ralph Macchio, and Judd Hirsch. That’s who was in the film. .38 Special, Roman Holiday, Night Ranger, Motels, Freddie Mercury, ZZ Top, Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Ian Hunter. That’s who was on the soundtrack. VG+.
  • The Peabody College Madrigalians, Members Of The Nashville Symphony Orchestra – A Psalm Of Joy — Moravian Music. That’s all I got. The BCPF loves her Moravian culture (she worked at Old Salem for many years). VG+.
  • Various – Slavic Traditions — So, here is the start of the other TimeLife collections. As with the GMoM series, these have 4xLP and all three boxes are VG+ condition sleeve and media.
  • Various – The Spanish Style
  • Various – The Story Of Great Music: From The Renaissance

Now, as promised, the “rest” of the TimeLife Great Men of Music series. These are in the order I received them, not in their serial numbers the ratings are “media” and “sleeve”:

The reason I noted that they are closer to Near Mint is that with Discogs, most of the sellers keep their ratings slightly lower than what they are. Why? If they rate it NM and you feel it’s really only VG+ then they feel you’ve cheated them. If you list it VG+ and it’s really closer to NM, they are generally happy that it was better than expected. Most of them had listed any defects or blemishes and I saw no need to detract from the near-pristine state most of them were in. This genre of music tends to be collected by more discerning and responsible record owners. Not saying rock people don’t take care of their records, many do, but I know what crappy condition my albums were in when I was a kid, for sure. Now, I take very good care of my stuff, even using a vinyl brush and cleaning them after so many uses. Also, anything that wasn’t from the $1 bin gets a plastic sleeve.

Of course, all the non-classical stuff (and the three collections and Moravian music) all come from Underdog Records. Jonathan is ramping up for Record Store Day(s) 2020. It’s a little different this year and will NOT involve camping out. To learn more about the RSD events and how you can be part of them (it is very different this year), visit the Underdog Records website. We missed Underdog Records and Jonathan last week. We made up for it this week. Obviously, I use Discogs to track my collection and to purchase things I can’t find otherwise.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Now all the masters know that you need the glow. You need the glow, the glow to grow. If you love to live, you live to love. Hah, you got to move to the upper level. Cause when you got the glow, there ain’t no stopping what you want to do. Hah oh! To reach that upper level, your mind, body and soul must be one. It’s a sacrifice. It takes hard work. It’s a way of life.” – “The Glow” (Hutch)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 7/18/20

19 Sunday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was kind of rushed for The BCPF and me. I have new studio stuff and things aren’t going right with it so I was expecting a call from Sweetwater (which never happened). We ran to Underdog Records, grabbed lunch at BLL Rotisserie Factory, and came home to a big “nothing burger.” But, we got some listening in. Here’s the haul:

  • Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters — Fiona’s new album and the first one I bought from her since When the Pawn… (and yeah, I used the short form because otherwise, it would have been a shload of words used that you wouldn’t have wanted to read and it was ridiculous that she named an album thatlongofatitleanywayand…) sorry about that… She’s still her very talented and very weird self. I liked listening to this. I was pleased. New.
  • Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane — I remember when this album came out. Well, at least a few months after. The band that I was in was going to cover “Harder to Breathe” but we didn’t. I know Adam Levine gets touted as a “pretty boy” (because he is) and people think because he’s on a talent show he’s cheese. I don’t think so. Maroon 5 is a good band. They write good songs and Adam is a great singer. I loved this album then. I love this album now. Get over it. New.
  • Rolling Blackouts C.F. – Sideways To New Italy — The band’s full name is Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. I don’t know why they only abbreviate part of it? Oh well. This is right up The BCPF’s alley. Jonathan was playing it in the store and I asked about it. I heard two words and that was all the convincing I needed to pick it up: “Sub Pop.” My wife jumps at anything from that label. Them and Merge. It’s very much her and we enjoyed listening to it. New.
  • Cat Power – You Are Free — The BCPF jumps at all things Cat Power, which incidentally is the stage name and eponymous band name of Chan Marshall, which is also a nickname for Charlyn Marshall. I guess one alias wasn’t enough. And an alias for your alias is even better. I dunno. The album features guest appearances by Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, and Warren Ellis of the Dirty Three. It’s typical Cat Power and it’s pretty awesome. New.
  • Giacomo Puccini – Manon Lescaut — I want to get more opera in my collection. Puccini is great, so we can expand this way. In the used section but still sealed. It’s also a cut-out but still sealed. 3xLP. New?
  • Rachmaninoff – Great Men Of Music — I love these Great Men of Music collections. I have the Verdi one that I talked about a few weeks back and now this one. Sundays are our classical days. Yay us! Where The BCPF is more orchestral, I’m more piano, although I think Sergei did both, so I’m pretty sure we’ll dig it. Also “used” but still sealed. So I’m going with new. 4xLP.
  • Bandola – ‘Til Tuesday EP — All either The BCPF or I know about this is that my friend Mitch Easter played on this and produced all but one of the tracks. It’s power-pop and Mitch is on it, circa 1992. Bingo! VG+.

Underdog Records is open Thursday through Saturday, 11a-7p. Jonathan said he is still doing deliveries but it seems the demand isn’t too high for that right now. Do you follow Underdog Records on Instagram and Facebook? You see something he posts that you like? Contact him and you can pay virtually and he can deliver or you can do curbside on off-days or come by the store during store hours. You can shop for new vinyl, anytime, day or night by visiting the website. Tell him that I sent you!! Also, I use Discogs to track my collection and it has a really cool “shuffle” feature when you can’t figure what you’re in the mood for.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Tap on my window, knock on my door, I want to make you feel beautiful. I know I tend to get so insecure. It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies. It’s compromise that moves us along yeah. My heart is full, and my door’s always open. You can come anytime you want yeah.” – “She Will Be Loved” (Levine/Valentine)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 7/11/20

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

The usual Saturday routine, The BCPF and I got up, ran to Underdog Records, had lunch, listened to records, had dinner, watched a movie (Bohemian Rhapsody, by the way).

GnR--UseYourIllusion1

©Geffen

Here’s the haul:

  • Andrew Bird – My Finest Work Yet — The BCPF and I saw Andrew Bird open for Belle and Sebastian two years ago. He was great. This is, like most of his work, experimental, ethereal and kind of laid back. I dug it. New.
  • Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion I — This album and its twin were overplayed in 1991. Not nearly as much as Appetite for Destruction was and still is, but it was. But, no matter, I loved them then and I love them now. I only got #I (because that’s all that was at Underdog Records) but I’m sure I’ll find #II soon. I was at the infamous Greensboro concert when they were 2-3 hours late and played until 3am. They played these albums, to the best of my knowledge, in their entirety and I was in awe. Then again, I hadn’t been going to concerts that often but this was amazing. The first time I heard their version of “Live and Let Die” was at this show and I nearly cried. I love that tune. Great album. I need to listen to #II again to see which I like better. 2xLP. New.
  • Queen – A Night At The Opera — The Queen album, at least to most. I don’t know that I fit in that category because I have others I like better, but I guess this is like Queen’s Destroyer, considered their quintessential masterpiece, even if it wasn’t really. We watched Bohemian Rhapsody last night and it was amazing. Then when we finish watching, I check my phone and see that the video of me doing “Bicycle Race” was posted yesterday (that song is not on this album). A coinkidink for sure. This album is really fantastic. New.
  • Billy Joel – Streetlife Serenade — Billy’s third album. I really, really, love old Billy Joel. I say old. Isn’t all of it old now? How about earlier BJ? And even with that, I’m good through most of his career. Listening to the recurring Joel channel on SiriusXM opened me up to a lot of cool stuff I hadn’t heard. This has “Root Beer Rag” and “The Entertainer” on it. Those are prominent but the whole album is a great listen. EX.
  • Billy Joel – Songs In The Attic — This was BJ’s first live album. It had a bit from his debut album, which at the time wasn’t readily available. Most importantly to me, on this album is the version of “She’s Got a Way” that I’m most used to hearing. It was a great representation of his early stuff and we loved listening to it. VG+.

Not a huge haul today but fun. And, we did something we don’t always do. We listened to all of our haul on the day we got it. Jonathan was talking with some folks about purchasing some used stuff to resell. I love hearing that. Distribution has been rough because of C-19 but he keeps getting stuff and is still doing deliveries early in the week. Watch Underdog Records’ Instagram and Facebook pages to see what he is getting in, new and used, and even equipment and supplies. You can DM for something (first come first served) you see. Jonathan can try to special order things for you as well. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection and am able to share it with my friends.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“You suck my blood like a leech, you break the law and you breach. Screw my brain till it hurts, you’ve taken all my money. And you want more. Misguided old mule with your pigheaded rules. With your narrow-minded cronies who are fools of the first division.” – “Death on Two Legs” (Mercury)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/6/20

07 Sunday Jun 2020

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday, The BCPF and I got to go back to Underdog Records for the second straight week. We also ate inside a restaurant, albeit briefly. So, we tried to get some normalcy. We got another good haul this week and a few imports. I don’t usually go for that kind of thing but, these were things we couldn’t pass up. Anywhat! Here’s the haul:

Greetings_from_Asbury_Park_NJ

©Columbia

  • The Smiths – Absolute Panic! — I know that The Smiths, or more accurately, Morrissey is polarizing to many folks. You either love him or hate him. Don’t feel bad, I think he hates himself. I am actually in the middle. I neither love nor hate him. I enjoy the work, believe it or not. This was an import and is a great quality sounding live show. I don’t know where it was, though. The album comes from Germany, though. It’s notable that obviously there were some folks fighting in the crowd and Morrissey keeps calling them out. New?
  • Bruce Springsteen – Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. — Springsteen’s debut album which has his version of “Blinded By The Light” which makes no sense whatsoever and one of my favorite performances from VSS that I’ve done, “Spirit in the Night.” This is a really good listen and I enjoyed it. New.
  • Morrissey – At The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, December 22nd, 1988 — This is, according to Jonathan, Morrissey’s first solo show after he left The Smiths. It’s right before Christmas 1988. I had just turned 18 a few weeks prior. It’s an import. We’ll hear it soon. New.
  • They Might Be Giants – Flood — A picture disc. I don’t buy picture discs as they usually suck, quality-wise, are noisy, and eat the crap out of your needle. That being said, The BCPF wanted it and I offered little resistance. New.
  • Caleb Caudle – Better Hurry Up — Local WSNC musician. I’d call him a friend. He’s been on The Less Desirables, I believe, more than once. I know he’s at least been played on more than one occasion. This is his new release and Jonathan says it’s the best thing he’s put out, which is saying something. New.
  • The Jesus And Mary Chain – Send Me Away – Early Demos — The BCPF is a fan of the band, it’s an import, it’s “unofficial,” it’s in our collection. Funny thing, I bought it without asking her. I knew better. New.
  • Queen – Sheer Heart Attack — Early Queen, their third album. Released 12 days before my fourth birthday. Dang, this is old. The biggest hits from this album are “Killer Queen,” “Now I’m Here” and “Stone Cold Crazy” although the whole album is, well, “killer.” New.
  • Nicole Atkins – Italian Ice — I have no idea what this is. The BCPF put it in my hand. It’s a pretty red/ruby color vinyl, though. New.
  • The Sisters Of Mercy – Gimme Shelter — Another import with a flimsy cover. I think these are BBC recordings of their tunes. This is also one that I picked up without conferring with The BCPF and I know she digs them and their goth sounds. New.
  • Accept – Midnight Highway — It’s a compilation album from 1983, which is pre-“Balls to the Wall” for the band, that song and album was released in December 1983. I just wanted to check it out. VG+.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Neville Marriner, Academy Of St. Martin-In-the-Fields – Amadeus (Original Soundtrack Recording) — I loved the movie (which won Best Picture in 1984. I am a big fan of Mozart, too. And, Tom Hulce, who played Wolfgang in the film went to UNCSA. So there. VG+.
  • Servant – Swimming In A Human Ocean — Turns out this is a Canadian Christian Rock band. I don’t know if I’ll like it since my religion is “non-prophet,” but we’ll see. It’s still sealed but I will probably open it. I may or may not keep it, either. I don’t know. As far as I can tell, this is the last album from the band. It’s from 1985. New?
  • Nik Kershaw – The Riddle — All I know from Kershaw is the hit, “Wouldn’t It Be Good?” It’s on this copy of the album but it is really from his debut album called Human Racing. The US version of this album (which this obviously is) had the song listed. I guess they couldn’t release it enough times. I love the original of the song and really dig the Jerry Chapman (yes, that Jerry Chapman) version. The rest of this album is early- to mid-80s pop fare. Mark King from Level 42 does play bass on one track, though, so that’s a plus.

Well, that’s this week’s haul. We got several of these listened to yesterday but not as much as we’d like. But, it’s a start. I believe that Underdog Records will be closed next Saturday as Jonathan is attending a wedding. Jonathan is still doing deliveries during the week and the store is only open on Friday and Saturday (except, of course, for this Saturday coming) for the time being. You should watch his Instagram and Facebook pages for things he’s just gotten in, used and new and you can order from him directly. You can shop new vinyl, anytime, day or night, by visiting the UR website. I use Discogs to track my collection, pick randoms and share my collection with friends. You should too!

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Well now Wild young Billy was a crazy cat and he shook some dust out of his coonskin cap. He said, ‘Try some of this it’ll show you where you’re at, or at least it’ll help you really feel it.’ By the time we made it up to Greasy Lake, I had my head out the window and Janey’s fingers were in my cake. I think I really dug her cause I was too loose to fake. I said, ‘I’m hurt,’ she said, ‘Honey, let me heal it.’ And we danced all night to a soul fairy band and she kissed me just right like only a lonely angel can.” – “Spirit in the Night” (Springsteen)

The Monday Recap or: The Listens 5/31/20

01 Monday Jun 2020

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Salutations™!!

So, as I said yesterday, I’m going to attempt to write my Monday blog post about the week of “my” listening. Per usual, this week’s streaming listens comes from Discogs’ shuffle feature and it has to be an album that I own on vinyl (outside of peripheral things like Beeswax Vinyl & More listens), that way it’s like listening to my vinyl but with headphones from my computer whilst The BCPF works 10 feet away. Here’s the list (this is in order of listens):

Collage16120

So, all the records that I had in Discogs for this, I believe they all came from Underdog Records. 99% of my records came from there.

Again, check out Underdog Records’ social and web stuffs. Buy records. Use Discogs to keep track of your collection and use it’s groovy (see what I did there) shuffle feature.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“I am standing up at the water’s edge in my dream. I cannot make a single sound as you scream. It can’t be that cold, the ground is still warm to touch. We touch, this place is so quiet, sensing that storm.” – “Red Rain” (Gabriel)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 5/30/20

31 Sunday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

RHCP-BSSM

©Warner Bros

YES! You read that correctly. The “haul” and not the “listen.” I haven’t decided yet if I’ll put what I’ve listened to in the last week. You’ll know by the time the end of this blog post happens. So, back to what this means. It means that Underdog Records is back open! It also means that there are a lot of new restrictions that you have to abide by to enter the store. Only five customers are allowed in at a time and each must wear a mask and you get a squirt of hand sanitizer when you walk in and other than cash, all forms of payment are “touchless.” I’m good with all of that.

As I’ve said on the podcasts, I’m not sure that I’m ready to reinsert myself into society just yet. I know Jonathan really didn’t want to open this early but, the need kind of superseded his “want.” When we were there (just after 11am), there was one guy in the store. He left and one of my friends walked in. Soon after that, one more person came, got what was being held for them, and walked out. A gentleman and his son came in and we talked about my Pittsburgh Steelers mask and that was it. Jonathan has spaced the “freshly used” section so the rows that aren’t right up against each other. It was a great “first experience back.” To tell the truth, other than smothering in my mask, it was so great to be back. Now that that was more long-winded than I expected. Let’s do this haul!

  • The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs — Although I skipped most of the compilation albums on the RS list, I stated in my review that I “broke my own rule” and listened to it. The BCPF is huge on the Smiths and my views on them have changed since then, too. I enjoy them… at least in small doses. This is #369 on that list. 2xLP. New.
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik — #310 on the RS list, this is my favorite (and to most extents the only one I like) RHCP album. The first time I ever played and “slap bass” in front of anyone was on “Suck My Kiss.” I still love that song. It’s 2xLP and is probably about 5 songs too long, but I don’t mind it. New.
  • R.E.M. – Document — #462 on the RS list, this has some really good stuff on it: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” “Finest Worksong,” “Oddfellows Local 151” and “The One I Love.” The latter being one of the most misunderstood “love songs” I know of along with “Every Breath You Take” from the Police and “You’re All I Need” from Motley Crue. These songs are not love songs, people. New.
  • Yo La Tengo – Summer Sun — Yo La Tengo is one of The BCPF’s bands. I can’t tell you much about them except that they scatter their styles and I don’t mean just album to album. They are basically all over the place on each album, too. She digs them, so there. 2xLP. New.
  • Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass — Same as before. She said this was one of her faves in college. 2xLP. New.
  • Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See — I know nothing about Mazzy Star. This is another of The BCPF’s doing. I know they are a California band and a female lead singer. That’s all I know. This is a reissue and new.
  • Bauhaus – In The Flat Field — Yet another fave of The BCPF. I knew the name of the band when I met her and heard “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and their cover of “Ziggy Stardust,” and knew of Peter Murphy and more intently Love and Rockets (all from SiriusXM’s 1st Wave) before I met The BCPF. So, basically, you take Peter Murphy and David J from the band and you have Tones On Tail. Insert David J back and you get Love and Rockets. This was their (Bauhaus) debut album. Reissue. New.
  • Bauhaus – Mask —  Their second album and ditto on the previous entry. New.
  • Def Leppard – On Through The Night — The debut album from Def Leppard. I know this is the favorite DL album of several of my friends. I don’t get that. It’s good. But, even The BCPF (who admittedly doesn’t listen to this kind of music) asked after it was played, “that was Def Leppard? That didn’t sound like them.” I liked the more polished, hit-driven Def Leppard better. New.
  • Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head — The sophomore effort from Martin & Co. which is the follow-up to one of my all-time favorite albums, Parachutes. This has some great stuff on it but isn’t its predecessor by any means. That doesn’t excuse the fact that this album is on the RS list at #466. New.
  • Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters — I will admit that I am not a huge FF fan but I respect the heck out of them. I want to like them and love watching documentaries and specials about the band. Songs from this album, though, I really do like. I have it on CD and now I have it on vinyl. Yay me! New.
  • Superchunk – Here’s Where The Strings Come In — Another fave of The BCPF and one that I have actually seen (I think twice) live with my girl. They put on a good live show. It’s not flashy as I’d prefer but it is high energy. I don’t know about this album but she saw it and wanted it. ‘Nuff said. New.
  • Verdi – Great Men Of Music — It was in the used section but it was still in shrink wrap and is in NM condition so I’m going to say it’s new. It’s a box set with 4xLP.
  • The Coup – Coup De Grace — There is nothing that I can find about this band online. This is a cut-out but sealed copy. It’s listed as “classic rock” on Discogs. That’s what I know. I’ll report when I know more. NM.
  • Patty Smyth – Never Enough — Smyth’s debut solo album after leaving Scandal. NM/EX.
  • Eric Carmen – Boats Against The Current — This album is chock-full of big-name guests from the 70s/80s. Ollie Brown, Andrew Gold, Jeff Porcaro, Bobby Keys, Brian Wilson and Bruce Johnson from the Beach Boys, etc. It’s a sealed cut-out and is listed in NM/VG++.
  • Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper – The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper — Another I know nothing about but according to Wikipedia: “The performances, recordings and production cannot be described as flawless; in his sleeve notes, Kooper describes the difficulties of finding rehearsal space, Bloomfield’s insomnia,[1] and the failure of a vocal microphone during “Dear Mr Fantasy”; the track “I Wonder Who” is faded during a Bloomfield solo for no apparent reason. Nevertheless, the album remains an important, if raw, document of a live blues-rock performance of the period and, apart from its intrinsic qualities, is notable not only for one of the earliest live recordings by Carlos Santana but also for Bloomfield’s debut as a vocalist.” It’s kind of beat up and is listed as VG.
  • Commodores – In The Pocket — It is the last Commodores album to feature Lionel Richie, as he left the band to start a solo career the following year. I wish I had blue jeans with The Less Desirables logo embroidered on it like on this cover of this album. NM/EX.
  • Saint-Saëns / Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No. 3 Organ — I love Camille Saint-Saëns. I don’t know how I feel about the organ part, but I love his work. We’ll see how this goes. It’s NM/EX.
  • Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells — This album celebrated its 47th anniversary on Monday. I have heard about it but don’t know much about it. The vinyl is VG+, the cover is VG.

So, this is a huge haul. It was necessary, at least to me. I needed that. My spirit raised exponentially. To see and talk with Jonathan was amazing, even if I couldn’t and didn’t shake his hand. Being able to rummage the bins was therapeutic. Jonathan will still be doing deliveries and the store will only be open a few days a week but when it is, it will be regular store hours. You can follow him on the social channels and you can always purchase new vinyl any time, day or night, by visiting the Underdog Records website. We haven’t quite gotten back to the TLD/UR special of the week but we are hoping to, soon. Thank you, Jonathan, for keeping it going. I loved my visit to the candy store. Also, I use Discogs to track my collection and it has come in handy for random listening.

To that, I think I have decided that as long as I am working mostly from home that I will continue to use the random method that I have been using and will use Monday’s post for reporting that. I know my blog has become more music-based with anniversaries and such, but music is and has always been such a bit part of my life that I think it fits. Speaking of music and what I do, I have a couple of podcast projects in the works that are music-focused. I’ll certainly talk about it here. You know I will.

So, until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!

—
“So, if there’s something you’d like to try… If there’s something you’d like to try, ask me, I won’t say no, how could I?” – “Ask” (Marr/Morrissey)

 

 

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: Now Normal Chronicle Edition

05 Sunday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

You’d think in this time of “self-isolation” and “stay-at-home” and being surrounded by a lot of vinyl dreaminess that I’d have a lot of time to catch up on some listening. Yeah, you’d think that. But you’d be incorrect.

donovan

©Epic

See, the thing is, while I am home working, so is The BCPF. We work no more than 12 feet from each other. She and I work with different music strategies. She’s more the indie folk/rock stuff from the early 90s on and I’m all over the place. So, while I do listen to music during this (when I’m not in the studio, alone mind you), it’s usually under headphones and listening to streaming.

Since we are both home and working, it’s less practical to put on a record or be mindful of what to listen to next. If we listen to something collectively, it’s Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM because we both dig that.

Plus, on top of this, I have been busier than I was before the lockdown. That food and beverage list has kept me steady for the last three weeks. It’s going great and getting a lot of traction but it is a lot of work. There are other lists that may have as much as we have on our list but they are using the Ron Popeil method of “Set It and Forget It.” They put the list up and don’t update it. They have erroneous information and… well, that’s not what this post is about. This post is about records and vinyl and listening and stuff.

I realized, too, that not only have we had limited listening chances but also that I haven’t posted a record-listening post since early March. Almost a month, actually. So, I’m going to make up for it today. This is what we have listened to since March 7.

Since I can’t get by Underdog Records (he’s not open), then we have to rely on our back catalog of vinyl. That’s a shame, right? We only have slightly less than 2500, I mean we’ll run out. I kid. Underdog Records has been selling still. Jonathan is posting on social media and people have been buying from there, the website, which he’s spent a lot of time updating, or from Discogs. He ships flat rate of like $4 or something (check the site) and if you live within 10 miles of downtown, he’ll hand-deliver your items to your door with “no contact” delivery.

There hasn’t been much TLD to talk about so there are not any TLD/UR specials right now. We’ll get back to that when we get back to life. Watch Underdog Records on social media or visit the website and buy some records, would ya?

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m so sorry you have just reached my answering machine. I’m not in at present, I’m sure you know this whole routine. Leave your name and number and I’ll try and get back to you. You have thirty seconds to talk to me before you’re through.” – “Answering Machine” (Holmes)

The Pops and Cracks or: My Vinyl Life

22 Friday Mar 2019

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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…

0vinyl

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I collect vintage vinyl records.” – John Varvatos

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 11/10/18

11 Sunday Nov 2018

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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:

220px-RattInvasion

©Atlantic  Records

  • Various – The Wall (Redux) — So, this is quite interesting. It’s Pink Floyd’s The Wall reimagined by a number of stoner/doom rock bands. It’s heavy, jazzy, light, dark, it’s a bit of everything. The Wall is my favorite Floyd album and it was cool to hear. New.
  • The Grateful Dead – Workingman’s Dead — #264 on the RS list. I haven’t ever been a fan of the Dead but this album is pretty good. The Dead were friends with CSN and those guys taught the Dead harmonies. Good stuff. New.
  • Eric Bachmann – No Recover — Our second album from the former frontman for Archers of Loaf. Laid back indie rock at its finest. This was an easy listen. Bachmann has a great voice. New.
  • Ratt – Invasion Of Your Privacy — One of my favorite hard rock albums of the 80s and has what I consider the best song intro ever, “Lay It Down.” I reviewed this album on the Eugeology list last year. It is in VG condition but plays quite nicely.
  • Mozart, Orchestre De La Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire Dir. Hans Rosbaud – Don Giovanni (Excerpts-Extraits-Auszüge) — VG++.
  • The Marshall Tucker Band – Carolina Dreams — I’m not a fan of southern rock but I’ve liked a few MTB songs that I’ve heard and they’re from South Carolina. The rest of the albums (along with this one) that I’m going to list were $1 bin finds. VG.
  • Seals & Crofts – Summer Breeze — I got three Seals & Crofts albums. All were at least VG but could actually be slightly better.
  • Seals & Crofts – Diamond Girl — Ditto.
  • Seals & Crofts – Get Closer — Ditto again.
  • Emmylou Harris – Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town — Emmylou Harris has such an amazing voice. I’m not much on the country aspect but her voice makes up for the twangy country overtones. VG.
  • The Rolling Stones – Black And Blue — The funky/disco vibe on this album is weird for the Stones, at least at this time. Some Girls which came out after this (and my favorite Stones album) was firmly in that mode. But, at the time this was freaking some folks out. I didn’t really care for it, but it is a notch in my collection. That’s a plus. VG.
  • Boz Scaggs – Silk Degrees — I like Boz Scaggs more than I thought I would. I haven’t heard this yet, but I know I like “Lido Shuffle” which is on here. VG.
  • Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road — I love EJ and this album is one of my faves. I thought I was getting it from a Discogs Marketplace seller but I kind of got screwed on that. It wasn’t Discogs’ fault, though. The whole transaction was screwed up because it was supposed to be for another album but after I paid for it, he didn’t have it so I picked this one. He says he shipped it and it never showed up. I had accidentally rated this before I got it (I found the one I ordered through another seller) and now I can’t complain about it. The seller says there’s nothing either of us can do, as it’s a shipping thing. Oh well, this was $1. But, we have to try to find another copy as this is very scratchy. It’s listenable but it could be cleaner. VG.
  • Paul Young – The Secret Of Association — His breakout album, it’s the one that had Daryl Hall’s “Everytime You Go Away” on it. The rest of the album is pretty good. Not great, but good. VG.

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)