tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61635451011908205742024-02-19T05:14:50.889-05:00Thrift Store Record ReportKeeping you abreast of key discoveries, events, and operations surrounding the thrilling, mildew-riddled world of the burgeoning thrift store record trade.Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-82822565102995227652015-03-01T01:29:00.001-05:002016-06-29T00:32:25.461-04:00Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H4nppnAxi_-DzFlVu7C4wAIioH0nep6kvOG0DZ5GZygTu2zZPvK7jQ7Zfh6yfToUqIXzm_ch1Hgd16iD1iOK-mJnzxru-9WWxlSfNdH7oH6D9BV7EOzfxDWoCzxMUqbGfCnGFuEkVmEF/s1600/mrspock_frontcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H4nppnAxi_-DzFlVu7C4wAIioH0nep6kvOG0DZ5GZygTu2zZPvK7jQ7Zfh6yfToUqIXzm_ch1Hgd16iD1iOK-mJnzxru-9WWxlSfNdH7oH6D9BV7EOzfxDWoCzxMUqbGfCnGFuEkVmEF/s1600/mrspock_frontcover.jpg"></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">A</span>fter learning of the great Leonard Nimoy's passing yesterday I felt compelled to dim the lights, and dust off this special thrift store relic for a spin on the hi-fi. As Vulcan serenades of yesteryear filled the air, I realized it might also be nice to materialize a quick record report tribute to the multi-talented actor and the unforgettable and ever <i>fascinating</i> Star Trek character he so convincingly portrayed.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Backed by some mildly spacey, sometimes surf-rock sounding sixties pop stylings, Mr. Spock soothes our illogical, worried human minds with his smooth and restrained baritone vocalizations.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
At times, the more uptempo musical arrangements remind me of the sort of mainstream "groovy" sounds typically heard during a teen dance party scene as depicted in a sixties TV show. At other times, it sounds like the sort of "space-age," easy listening background orchestrations one might hear while unwinding with an ice blue Andorian ale in the original U.S.S. Enterprise's lounge.</span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ddt4V-CqMvoZ_j-r-AlKBpIlosyXjQ3mjQwZLc0P_DwgRLdM5nBrEMjWiPNOMmvQLQn9SNKZLsff9azxXS53cJhXwUI62jfxBBafHUhWoCgIW-Pk7FwG-DySg2hcuK55wMMb1dBAoYTJ/s1600/mrspock_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ddt4V-CqMvoZ_j-r-AlKBpIlosyXjQ3mjQwZLc0P_DwgRLdM5nBrEMjWiPNOMmvQLQn9SNKZLsff9azxXS53cJhXwUI62jfxBBafHUhWoCgIW-Pk7FwG-DySg2hcuK55wMMb1dBAoYTJ/s1600/mrspock_label.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: #ec4f41; text-align: center;">1967 Dot Records DLP 25794 (stereo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Side One</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Theme from "Star Trek" (2:04)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alien (1:57)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Where is Love (1:50)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Music to Watch Space Girls By (2:17)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Beyond Antares (2:03)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Twinkle, Twinkle Little Earth (2:12)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Side Two</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mission Impossible (1:58)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lost in the Stars (2:25)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Where No Man Has Gone Before (2:24)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You Are Not Alone (2:02)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A Visit to a Sad Planet (2:50)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Star Tracks</span></span></u></span></span></span></h3><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>T</span>he version of the Star Trek theme included on this LP is propelled by a driving bass line and insistent drums along with vibrato-laden "interstellar" guitar runs; and if you close your eyes, the spirited Hammond organ work might just make you feel like you've been transported to a vast roller rink on the outskirts of Alpha 5.<br />
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In the spoken word piece <b><i>Alien</i></b>, Spock describes for us some differences between Earth and Vulcan and the inhabitants of each world. Similarly, <b><i>Twinkle, Twinkle Little Earth</i></b> is also spoken word and tells about Earth and Vulcan.<br />
<i> </i></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXj6IaeHTmpaAhVF33XYtSbQMxf9k7vNtH8QKkC5YKC-inLS2s73WmwEEwr3r6YpKF0nGnOQZm9bqVlWT4VLMJ-WSVITK-IJPW1A1mbbwBHSHl48MK4Vt3le0YmMm7scG7PNdhaTys8osJ/s1600/mrspock_backcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXj6IaeHTmpaAhVF33XYtSbQMxf9k7vNtH8QKkC5YKC-inLS2s73WmwEEwr3r6YpKF0nGnOQZm9bqVlWT4VLMJ-WSVITK-IJPW1A1mbbwBHSHl48MK4Vt3le0YmMm7scG7PNdhaTys8osJ/s1600/mrspock_backcover.jpg"></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Where is Love</i></b> is a gentle ballad of love and longing sung with deep vocals. Spock's human side is definitely showing on this uncharacteristically emotive number from "Oliver!" (Nimoy starred in a <a href="http://www.memoriesofmelodytop.com/oliver.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #71c3fa;">1972 production</span></a> of the play). </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<b><i>You Are Not Alone</i></b> asks: What will we do when finally we meet beings from another planet? Will we "greet them or turn them away?" Will we teach them war, will we teach them hate?"<br />
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The cautionary narrative,<i> <b>A Visit to a Sad Planet</b></i> ends the album on a heavy note. It uses a U.S.S. Enterprise First Officer's log entry (and an ominous backing track) to describe a desolate planet in the Milky Way Galaxy where an apparently advanced civilization has been reduced to a smoldering wasteland of radioactive ruins because the inhabitants could not live in peace and destroyed everything with their fighting. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you Mr. Nimoy for all that you've given our highly illogical, but fascinating world. </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://youtu.be/I1XESPCg6ns" target="_blank"><span style="color: #71c3fa;">Watch Mr. Spock playing the Vulcan Lute as Lieutenant Uhura sings a song about him.</span></a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="goog_2020871722"></span><span id="goog_2020871723"></span> </span> </span></span>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-41502774839852115152014-04-22T22:10:00.001-04:002022-08-26T00:17:23.387-04:00Music Machine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSgNAwaN-wYJvSTyiDxsEyL_pWmKc-8MerOr6lS_kpa1XhtyRfLzeT5RnbD519s44unCxWWUb1P7GERNl24X5BDKPk6RHDH6RWJqpQUjmEALaVmDQAIBQacFj1o8myHj8BiPHkIxmz3GY/s1600/musicmachine_frontcover__1398051238_68.238.224.44.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSgNAwaN-wYJvSTyiDxsEyL_pWmKc-8MerOr6lS_kpa1XhtyRfLzeT5RnbD519s44unCxWWUb1P7GERNl24X5BDKPk6RHDH6RWJqpQUjmEALaVmDQAIBQacFj1o8myHj8BiPHkIxmz3GY/s1600/musicmachine_frontcover__1398051238_68.238.224.44.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The year was 1977; millions were stricken with Saturday Night Fever; plucky prime time duo, Laverne & Shirley, had stolen the hearts of an enthralled (possibly drunken) viewership and merrily skipped to the top of the ratings chart, while The Fonz proved he was still the coolest by jumping a shark. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thousands of Pet Rocks – jettisoned by owners who could no longer care for them – had turned feral, formed aggressive packs and began instigating rockslides and blockading roadways throughout Southern California. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just when it looked as if life in the polyester-paved, 1970s fast lane could get no more dizzying, the gargantuan dancing robots began appearing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first reported sighting was in a strip mall parking lot outside Kalamazoo. Gobsmacked onlookers initially mistook the unsettling scene for a misguided<span style="font-family: inherit;"> (</span>but harmless) radio station promotion. Before long, a massive robo-army began assembling mountains of space-age electronic equipment upon open lawns and flower gardens around the globe.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b-gzOvK824qW5SO_fLSvbuWEKbjxRPoMtYKiZLTMhBtKL3yUz5kCCjCvtj_hq3mEfR0k_PKZ9CcVv9vsuzJosjhMjxiWMmXu2M_ZjJGa5JzTtPACOM4zi4Rkq41c7BnVbQtdwVnjzApj/s1600/musicmachine_label__1398053661_68.238.224.44.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b-gzOvK824qW5SO_fLSvbuWEKbjxRPoMtYKiZLTMhBtKL3yUz5kCCjCvtj_hq3mEfR0k_PKZ9CcVv9vsuzJosjhMjxiWMmXu2M_ZjJGa5JzTtPACOM4zi4Rkq41c7BnVbQtdwVnjzApj/s1600/musicmachine_label__1398053661_68.238.224.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>Condensed, high intensity bursts of often disparate original hits (by the original stars) issued from strategically placed, mega-watt speaker towers. This 'round-the-clock aural assault reached far into the ionosphere, fused with the gamma radiation present there and blanketed the Earth in a powerful, contiguous grid of self-oscillating electromagnetic energy that projected a previously unknown, biologically disruptive frequency; scrambling the minds of the citizenry and stymieing all attempts by law enforcement and the military to intervene.<br />
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Once the ensuing propaganda campaign was launched, it quickly became apparent that the flailing metal behemoths were controlled by sinister corporate conglomerate, K-Tel International, as part of their latest bid to subjugate the minds and pocketbooks of an impressionable populace. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FmQkOVuefaJgapNSRhT_ydq7mpdS5sxaBuphpThKqi-OKyEyob-NvM7weun9I4WptG7xfNMYaDM4sI0CRsUGvhHNJAHWFLoq-HyXXJgMniC7PY5s3oxI1l5jcP08V5l03MexS9p2a2Yj/s1600/musicmachine_backcover__1398053957_68.238.224.44.jpg" style="clear: right; margin: 1em auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FmQkOVuefaJgapNSRhT_ydq7mpdS5sxaBuphpThKqi-OKyEyob-NvM7weun9I4WptG7xfNMYaDM4sI0CRsUGvhHNJAHWFLoq-HyXXJgMniC7PY5s3oxI1l5jcP08V5l03MexS9p2a2Yj/s1600/musicmachine_backcover__1398053957_68.238.224.44.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Music Machine (1977 K-Tel TU 2560)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Kenny Rogers, Wild Cherry, Rose Royce, Abba and David Soul were key elements of K-Tel's nefarious master plan ... and then there was the seductive promise of not one, but <i>two</i> bonus miniposters(!) for all who would willingly relinquish a specified sum of money without resistance.<br />
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Public records of K-Tel's Music Machine operations were swiftly and systematically suppressed by certain government intelligence agencies and remain classified to this day. Most surviving eyewitnesses claim to have "forgotten" everything they saw or will freeze up and blankly stare off into the middle distance as soon as the subject is broached.<br />
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Recently, a piece of damaged broadcast footage surfaced on YouTube via a mysterious private archivist known only by the code name "UFO Cult VHS." This chilling, but historically significant document is the only reliable account we have of those bleak, terrible days.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/GpIsNdV60IA?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><u><b>Additional Data:</b></u></span></div><span id="goog_2007141422"></span><span id="goog_2007141423"></span><span id="goog_2007141427"></span><span id="goog_2007141428"></span> <span id="goog_2007141440"></span><span id="goog_2007141441"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a></div><a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-Machine/release/669525" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">View complete track list at Discogs</span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-Machine/release/1435175" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Canadian pressing with alternate track list</span></a>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-65274486884226854922013-10-06T19:05:00.001-04:002016-06-29T00:33:59.196-04:00Robin Trower - B.L.T.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoc8nG-m8KiiLtwXG-7s5gIk4HHhVn5KNRyn-nxcLspNvNbEZ2VUSE807Ai5UHoDHf35yAUxBVXdeRRjxfmPIoWAzjs4OG7n0NLrYvT0vuRyHumEUQGXGo8VwiMfDRENX-EwCYfIoyw5S8/s1600/trower_blt_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoc8nG-m8KiiLtwXG-7s5gIk4HHhVn5KNRyn-nxcLspNvNbEZ2VUSE807Ai5UHoDHf35yAUxBVXdeRRjxfmPIoWAzjs4OG7n0NLrYvT0vuRyHumEUQGXGo8VwiMfDRENX-EwCYfIoyw5S8/s400/trower_blt_cover.jpg" width="400"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I hope everyone (or anyone) is hungry for more Tales From the Thrift Store because after a<span style="font-size: small;"> long hiatus<span style="font-size: small;">,</span></span> <span style="font-size: small;">this blog is back in town </span>with an all new<span style="font-size: small;">, </span>action-packed<span style="font-size: small;">, </span><b>whopper</b> of a report for you to sink your teeth into!</span></span></span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span> <span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u>Power Lunch Trio</u></span></span></span></h4><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One-time Proc<span style="font-size: small;">o</span>l Harum guitarist and all-around master of the Stratocaster, Robin Trower, </span></span></span><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">brings his</span> impressive song<span style="font-size: small;">writing<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">skills</span></span></span> and </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">soaring, Hendrix-inspired guitar work<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to the table<span style="font-size: small;"> on</span></span> this 1981 collaboration with </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">legendary Cream frontman, Jack Bruce (bass/vocals) and drummer Bill Lordan.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> R</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">ecorded </span></span></span>at Konk Studios in London</span></span></span></span>, <span style="font-size: small;"><i>B.L.T.</i> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">is a <span style="font-size: small;">superb</span> platter of hard-biting rockers and soulful ballads<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Truth be told, I expected a batch of hastily concocted, largely forgettable uptempo jams that would get monotonous by the third track, but I'm happy to report that everything is well written, memorable, and definitely worthy of repeat plays. I particularly liked the ballads<span style="font-size: small;">, </span>which were mostly sandwiched in-between the more rockin' songs and kept things nicely balanced <span style="font-size: small;">—</span> much like the complementary pairing of juicy<span style="font-size: small;">,</span> ripe tomato with strips of salty, smoked bacon.</span></span></span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u>The Art of the Sandwich</u></span></span></span></h4><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eAsuF1rsEZarx1yPQV-NtQlKbhXmlBsOtmf7PclxABu1zIbcDlGrOo1DnnQkpCfyDPrKg967ysBVs-dN75KWlQwLKDEm-EGQ9CzBoJteUNQ5MKi8xFkxAgDnvFHru7X6mxhd4hg9FsNz/s1600/trower_blt_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eAsuF1rsEZarx1yPQV-NtQlKbhXmlBsOtmf7PclxABu1zIbcDlGrOo1DnnQkpCfyDPrKg967ysBVs-dN75KWlQwLKDEm-EGQ9CzBoJteUNQ5MKi8xFkxAgDnvFHru7X6mxhd4hg9FsNz/s200/trower_blt_back.jpg" width="200"></a><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I've accepted it at this point, but I immediately thought the whole "BLT" gimmick with the giant bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich on the cover was an ill-advised (if appetizing) idea, and one that didn't really inspire me to dig right in to the record. As a result, I left it on the back burner for quite a while before finally giving it a chance. I also had some trouble remembering who B. L. and T. were and I kept thinking it was a Bill Bruford album. </span></span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: small;">Strang<span style="font-size: small;">e Days</span></span></u></span></span></span></h4><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span> <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This record was part of my all-time biggest thrift store record haul. That's the good news. The bad news is that after what went down at the store that night, I would have to lay low and stay out of there for quite some time, and just to play it safe, to this day I employ a revolving series of clever disguises and masterfully executed foreign accents to conceal my true identity from the watchful scrutiny of that vigilant thrift store staff: <i>"<b>Vaht?</b> <span style="font-size: small;">Speak in ze ear trumpet eef you please ... <b>Ohhh, nein, nein,</b> my name ist Hans, ja, und I travel all ze vay from Munich only Tuesday zis veek to visit for family und buy ze thrifty polka records, ja..."</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Read on as I attempt to piece together the shattering events of that evening... </span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;">With an eerie orange glow, the moon emerged from the shrouds of a cloud-choked late autumn sky to cast strange shadows as I made my way through deserted, leaf-strewn back streets into town. Though my mood <span style="font-size: small;">was</span> light <span style="font-size: small;">–</span> buoyed by visions of<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>dusty vinyl treasures that might lay at journey's end<span style="font-size: small;"> –</span> it felt like something surprising, shocking, even sinister could be lurking just around the next corner...</span></span></span></i></span></span></span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">[~~~~~cue <span style="font-size: small;">TV show</span> "flashback warp" effect~~~~~]</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></h4><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
After bursting into the store shortly before closing time and toppling the revolving magazine rack near the front door to announce my arrival (as was my custom at the time), I soon found the record section was awash with new arrivals, and not the usual crusty, junk records that so often hang around the store forever, cluttering the place up like the towers of decades-old newspapers and empty food containers at your crazy aunt Edna's house. This was a large<span style="font-size: small;"> collection of</span> clean, well-preserved rock albums — including many less common titles. It was like the whole year's worth of good "finds" sitting there all at once! It was almost more than I wanted to deal with. Almost.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><u>The Time to Hesitate is Through</u></span></span></span></span></h3><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Racing against the clock, with store closing warnings trumpeting from above every few minutes, the air was fraught with tension and an inescapable sense of urgency as I tried to cope with the miles upon miles of LPs that stretched as far as the eye could see (or at least as far as the adjacent book and VHS sections). </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was no time to wallow in the mire ... or even to spend more than a couple seconds assessing each album, and once the dreaded command to <i>"please bring final purchases to the register NOW"</i> came blaring from the overhead loudspeakers I could almost feel the window of opportunity slamming shut on my greedy, grimy fingers ...<i>this is it...the chance of a lifetime...now or never...one day only...do or die...hurry hurry hurry...don't pass this up...must act now...free set of steak knives...<b>go go go, now now now </b>...</i></span></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLynJ9jww4-tReQFAyZwfMJRKV1Ygv2_2v7SSuC0PHi-PIABMkToaOmHKcSDN_-35luqR_tVdsBZ__niHqrePeFx3cO4C8_gQwfXysVYm6dKQ-s_7xqDk7QLxxyJh7skJADdn-mfQ2Bv89/s1600/trower_blt_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLynJ9jww4-tReQFAyZwfMJRKV1Ygv2_2v7SSuC0PHi-PIABMkToaOmHKcSDN_-35luqR_tVdsBZ__niHqrePeFx3cO4C8_gQwfXysVYm6dKQ-s_7xqDk7QLxxyJh7skJADdn-mfQ2Bv89/s320/trower_blt_label.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Robin Trower - B.L.T. / Chrysalis Records CHR 1324</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then it happened: all the years of hustling and grappling for dominance within the high-pressure, low-stakes, dog-eat-dog world of the thrift store record game had finally taken its toll and I cracked like a shellac disc in a Frisbee tournament. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Forget about ever sifting through one more box of malodorous records now; with a newfound sense of purpose and clarity of mind, I dropped the late-era Foghat LP I'd been clutching and zeroed in on the bizarre, life-size amateur painting of a clown that's been holding court over the bric-a-brac department for the past week (and was obviously born of evil). </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That deceitful smirk, that treacherous leer ... that haughty little tutu-clad chihuahua doing a handstand on his shoulder. This horror show needed to be dealt with. Right here and now.<br />
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Long-repressed childhood memories of being menaced by a disgruntled clown at a run-down amusement park suddenly came flooding back as I lunged at the sinister abomination with a great howl of fury, and<span style="font-size: small;"> in</span> one swift motion, it was ripped off the wall and impaled on a nearby "salty old sea captain" table lamp.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fortunately, along the way, I had been able to <span style="font-size: small;">swift</span>ly push to safety the handful of unwitting bystanders mindlessly lingering in the shadow of the ball-nosed fiend — thus saving them from any permanent clown-related psychological trauma. Those poor souls seemed to have no inkling of what was really going on there; so veiled and insidious was the grinning demon's influence. Why was such an unwholesome thing ever given free reign to exude its creepy, malevolent charms in a public area full of wide-eyed children and fragile seniors to begin with? Why did it take this long for someone to do something about it? Where can I find some lighter fluid and a match to finish the job?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span> <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was no time to contemplate the answers to these questions or any others<span style="font-size: small;">,</span> because to my surprise, instead of rushing to reward my heroic deed with a fistful of store coupons or perhaps even that well-use<span style="font-size: small;">d</span> foot spa I'd<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>unsuccessfully haggled over earlie<span style="font-size: small;">r</span> in the<span style="font-size: small;"></span> day, I suddenly had the distinct impression the store employees now cautiously circling, crouched and at-the-ready like gladiators about to pounce on a cornered beast, actually meant to cause me harm!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These people were farther gone than I had thought, and probably suffering from some form of PDCP (post-demonic clown possession) syndrome, so I decided it'd be best to depart by whatever means possible at this point as my presence now seemed to be acting as a trigger mechanism of sorts, enabling everyone in the room to release their previously pent-up negative energies directly onto me. That may be well and good for them to get it out of their systems at last, but there are limits to my humanitarian endeavors and at some point I simply must consider my own welfare.<br />
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Scanning the scene, It only took a split-second to formulate an infallible exit strategy, and springing back into action like an overwound jack-in-the-box, a hail</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseNqhKJxd5JmvcZkTIOvZEYlwAEyYhyphenhyphenIPCB5l311Ni-EbU9zK5k0PHy_-mn1msFka0OnXBKZJd1NidgbibAqupgMf6MS728qOo4oD82CTrK0WhQLfMyYK3zLfl2RUSGbyspz-XK-TcCPW/s1600/dollheads3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseNqhKJxd5JmvcZkTIOvZEYlwAEyYhyphenhyphenIPCB5l311Ni-EbU9zK5k0PHy_-mn1msFka0OnXBKZJd1NidgbibAqupgMf6MS728qOo4oD82CTrK0WhQLfMyYK3zLfl2RUSGbyspz-XK-TcCPW/s320/dollheads3.jpg" width="320"></a></span></span></div><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">of Richard Simmons exercise tapes, used golf balls and Tom Clancy hardbacks filled the air like junk drawer machine gun fire as I cleared the way and took my leave — barrel roll style — through a plate glass display window where an odd assemblage of dolls were apparently engaging<span style="font-size: small;"> in</span> sacrificial rites with a stuffed purple donkey ... or maybe it was just an innocent tea party, I don't know, but those twisted little faces and soulless, staring eyes still haunt my dreams.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, yeah, the record<span style="font-size: small;"> haul ... well, </span></span>when th<span style="font-size: small;">e</span> befuddled store employees began rudely pelting me with albums through the empty window frame as I was still shaking <span style="font-size: small;">off glass fragments and</span> trying to<span style="font-size: small;"> get my bearings</span>, I<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">managed</span></span> to rescue most of th<span style="font-size: small;">ose <span style="font-size: small;">carelessly discarded </span>LPs</span> before hightailing it back to my lair for a spot of tea and well-deserved evening of relaxation and quiet contemplatio<span style="font-size: small;">n.</span> </span></span></span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">[~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~] </span></span></i></span></span></span></h4><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Okay, okay, the dull reality is that I managed to <span style="font-size: x-small;">unobtrusiv<span style="font-size: x-small;">e</span></span>ly rifle through all of the recor<span style="font-size: x-small;">ds</span>, paid for my selections <span style="font-size: x-small;">(a little over 100 LPs) </span>and calmly exited the building the same way I came in: without incident.</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></span></span></div><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.trowerpower.com/" target="_blank">Visit the official Robin Trower website</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.jackbruce.com/" target="_blank">Visit the official Jack Bruce website</a> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://jimmydewar.com/bill-lordan/" target="_blank">Visit Bill Lordan's page on jimmydewar.com</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.insnews.org/health/focus/2006/01/clown.fear.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coulrophobia is no laughing matter</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-53975347562382177952012-08-01T20:56:00.000-04:002017-02-21T21:11:43.602-05:00Summer Movie Soundtracks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHKSzm8K6tiD4CHRi25l9aEyjI0lBd6-uH_a5nrGr9TW2D-CL5wAqgwlfdpWFZdHLpGVv6_GwShfMe4fV_xQdcxH9QaZ_1phZgVlrP-OaZVUo6o1fc58bVr4AHIf3vrGclSN5NMdCo6Zg/s1600/backtofuture_filmstrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHKSzm8K6tiD4CHRi25l9aEyjI0lBd6-uH_a5nrGr9TW2D-CL5wAqgwlfdpWFZdHLpGVv6_GwShfMe4fV_xQdcxH9QaZ_1phZgVlrP-OaZVUo6o1fc58bVr4AHIf3vrGclSN5NMdCo6Zg/s320/backtofuture_filmstrip.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">B</span>e sure to check out our latest <a href="http://recordreport.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-feature-slideshow-corner.html" target="_blank">Slideshow Corner</a> presentation. The theme for this installment is <i>Summer Movie Soundtracks</i>. All of the included soundtracks are from movies released during the summer months (here in the northern hemisphere).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You'll find soundtrack LP cover art for famous blockbusters such as Back to the Future and Jaws, along with some cult classics and obscure titles like Sorcerer, More, Easy Rider, and The Strawberry Statement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Find out which of the listed soundtracks feature the music of Tangerine Dream; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; The Jimi Hendrix Experience; Pink Floyd and other great artists. You'll also find facts such as release dates of the films, record label and catalog number info, plus some quick comments about the films and records.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">J</span>ust click on the slideshow (located in the top-right corner of the sidebar) to access the captions and view each image separately, or click the link below for direct access to the slideshow photo album. Eventually, a new corner slideshow will be put into place, so in the future the link below will be the only way to access this movie soundtrack one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_7Dvm1F2l2a3dJjslYrfOJFrqRz4o38kmA_qMma7Oy1-bzIBHLCHoCgU-Etmolg0MVbzkxXmHeS2lHLr5T-4xRRYYWIi_uo4TvGFUXcF7BX6sRli6l6lDdvZLBFqKpGTSIShj26UxnR/s1600/popcorn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_7Dvm1F2l2a3dJjslYrfOJFrqRz4o38kmA_qMma7Oy1-bzIBHLCHoCgU-Etmolg0MVbzkxXmHeS2lHLr5T-4xRRYYWIi_uo4TvGFUXcF7BX6sRli6l6lDdvZLBFqKpGTSIShj26UxnR/s1600/popcorn.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/6DptLrh8noY1pp1p8" target="_blank">View photo album of Summer Movie Soundtracks</a></span></div>
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Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-73003191653927253662012-07-19T15:08:00.001-04:002016-06-29T00:36:05.623-04:00Jethro Tull - Aqualung (Hecho En Mexico)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt0TcRl2D0udJ_XmkHlh4ChQWLlOdYTsaNtQLeBLrGXc6urgKxv9mTOCgPvKFNnW8XMLfnHo0d1_v3xP-ZDv2eX9RsnsRkNzrnudKEZj17Mbf8ITd9FIUtiHSU7ZCCJFNv6LwWX6shBf-/s1600/aqualung_cover_front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt0TcRl2D0udJ_XmkHlh4ChQWLlOdYTsaNtQLeBLrGXc6urgKxv9mTOCgPvKFNnW8XMLfnHo0d1_v3xP-ZDv2eX9RsnsRkNzrnudKEZj17Mbf8ITd9FIUtiHSU7ZCCJFNv6LwWX6shBf-/s1600/aqualung_cover_front2.jpg" title=""></a></div><div style="color: #339966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">While <i>Aqualung</i> is certainly a worthy thrift store record find, it is also a very common, extremely well-known album you can easily read about at a thousand other places. To keep it interesting, we delved deep into the most remote, cobweb enshrouded passages of our cavernous archives chambers to bring you <b>exclusive</b> details of a rather obscure pressing of this popular record. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This particular copy is something of a curiosity owing to the fact that it's a Mexican release with the song titles printed in Spanish. What's more, the back cover layout is completely different from the US (and probably all other) versions. It lacks the usual gatefold style cover and accompanying interior artwork as well.</span></div><div style="color: #339966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUnY8uMRCOQP0O81LT8K9pAsP7lpzgUBW2x9wVMpLIrM2S42mYCzGBtDcOcMR0I2MF0SmAzRQlKg0oXJ1tmrIPGMK3psdpid_ySdMf1HgxV8m87nDwkCK8bcWQr6EhMWkddqgawZ4NR07/s1600/aqualung_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="label from Jethro Tull - Aqualung (1971 Reprise/Gamma GX 01-459)" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUnY8uMRCOQP0O81LT8K9pAsP7lpzgUBW2x9wVMpLIrM2S42mYCzGBtDcOcMR0I2MF0SmAzRQlKg0oXJ1tmrIPGMK3psdpid_ySdMf1HgxV8m87nDwkCK8bcWQr6EhMWkddqgawZ4NR07/s320/aqualung_label.jpg" title="Jethro Tull - Aqualung (Mexican pressing)" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: lime;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jethro Tull - <i>Aqualung</i> (Mexican pressing)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1971 Reprise/Gamma GX 01-459</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">An early pressing on the Reprise label, it was manufactured and distributed in Mexico by Gamma Records. Also worth noting is that it features the old, original "tricolor steamboat" label design supposedly retired by Reprise at least two years before <i>Aqualung's</i> release.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #339966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recorded with new bass player Jeffrey Hammond, and with <i>Benefit</i> LP session keyboardist John Evan now contributing as a full-time member, <i>Aqualung</i> hit the shelves in 1971 to mostly favorable reviews. It would go on to become Jethro Tull's best-selling album and is often regarded as their finest hour by critics and fans alike.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl5jNnhRsw20r4iNe8J3r-1-NZHbZTzIb-vRTyqsCnOv-GPxoduq8IAN0zAeIEttVaBXar406NNpsPaHQdde9oyuBTQ8EPZ4S7nV3NPF5QuB31cQQMcGAmZrgO5dyHjor84Y74h8STUzF/s1600/aqualung_backcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jethro Tull - Aqualung (1971 Reprise/Gamma GX 01-459)" border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl5jNnhRsw20r4iNe8J3r-1-NZHbZTzIb-vRTyqsCnOv-GPxoduq8IAN0zAeIEttVaBXar406NNpsPaHQdde9oyuBTQ8EPZ4S7nV3NPF5QuB31cQQMcGAmZrgO5dyHjor84Y74h8STUzF/s200/aqualung_backcover.jpg" title="Jethro Tull - Aqualung back cover of Mexican pressing" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: lime; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Back cover of <i>Aqualung</i>, Mexican pressing</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(click to enlarge)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">"Hymn 43" was the only song from <i>Aqualung</i> offered up as a single. But the evocative title track, with its distinctive main guitar riff and haunting acoustic interludes, along with the hard-driving "Locomotive Breath" (aka "El Aliento De La Locomotora") emerged as the most popular cuts from the album, and perhaps from the entire Jethro Tull discography — at least if how much a song has been beaten into the ground... er, I mean <i>chosen for airplay</i> by big "classic rock" radio stations is any way to judge its overall popularity. </span></div><br />
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<div style="color: #009966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Metal Confusion</u></b></span></div><div style="color: #339966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More jeers than cheers, along with confusion and disbelief filled the air in 1989 when Jethro Tull shockingly eclipsed widely projected winners, and shining stars of metal, Metallica, and took home the first ever Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance with their admittedly un-metal, not-so-hard rockin' <i>Crest of a Knave</i> album. Well, they would have taken home the award that night had they actually been at the ceremony to accept. Figuring there was no chance they could actually win, the band's record company told them not to bother making the trip out to LA. In <a href="http://www.powerlinemag.com/2012/02/11/tulls-ian-anderson-reflects-on-his-metal-grammy-win/" target="_blank">this</a> recent interview, Ian Anderson reflects on those heady, tumultuous days when he and his band became the reigning kings of metal.</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: #339966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZoLEQLzvlyhDCxaJGe-684QCnPG7waozz2bTF899g1G-r5AApFn5iTh0X9zrW33-8kvvrVHNkX5gurT_pHAM9-GkhyphenhyphenGBybWUGmktLrNNQyg1KMgg6JfTTZnUDybKuFjSRJePm5-nV-_L/s1600/aqualung_coversticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sticker on cover of Mexican pressing of Jethro Tull - Aqualung" border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZoLEQLzvlyhDCxaJGe-684QCnPG7waozz2bTF899g1G-r5AApFn5iTh0X9zrW33-8kvvrVHNkX5gurT_pHAM9-GkhyphenhyphenGBybWUGmktLrNNQyg1KMgg6JfTTZnUDybKuFjSRJePm5-nV-_L/s200/aqualung_coversticker.jpg" title="Jethro Tull - Aqualung cover sticker" width="200"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Jethro Tull may not have been the best choice for that particular award, but their music has undoubtedly inspired more than a few metal musicians over the years. Iron Maiden bassist, founder, mastermind and longtime Jethro Tull fan, Steve Harris, for one, cites them as an early favorite and an important influence on his songwriting style.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #339966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hebZV0l0Lng" target="_blank">Check out Iron Maiden's cover of "Cross-Eyed Mary," which appeared as the B-side of their 1983 single <i>The Trooper</i>.</a></span></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-83160491097861832152012-05-13T13:02:00.000-04:002016-06-28T23:54:34.786-04:00Tip for Restoring White Record Covers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Sc4C_qsEhQvczD5aAhCmiapzHcVjAA8K88AFcNYA9OkLJxiAOrnQ5-au6zMEe30Mhgb7-LwyecUv-pIbePpc8bpYJ1xb0xkx8YvMzjUVsjFQuKLBUM5da-d0KkcRvHU-1lmtCyoBCCLq/s1600/wishyouwerehere_top_before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Sc4C_qsEhQvczD5aAhCmiapzHcVjAA8K88AFcNYA9OkLJxiAOrnQ5-au6zMEe30Mhgb7-LwyecUv-pIbePpc8bpYJ1xb0xkx8YvMzjUVsjFQuKLBUM5da-d0KkcRvHU-1lmtCyoBCCLq/s1600/wishyouwerehere_top_before.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Are some of your favorite white LP covers looking shabby and dull?</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: small;">You've tried washing them. You've tried bleaching them. You've tried throwing things at them. You have even tried putting them in a hermetically sealed, gold plated energy pyramid suspended betwixt a triumvirate of old-growth sacred cedar trees on the eve of a total lunar eclipse—all to no avail!<br />
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Are you at your wits' end with nowhere to turn? Have you been told the situation is hopeless? Take heart, friends, you are not alone. Even the finest albums from the most well-kept collections can end up severely blighted in time. I am here to tell you help is just around the corner. No longer do you need to live with the frustration and woe of black ring marks, marring, and blotchy discoloration.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs1JDqxW2DuhdXLPSYSaoIrQy9k1W2GpXbQbRbcW-pm9CCcntvS90ksmW9QvbFHMHWfBTKsjsAC1C6giC0o7FWu_pvfsXd0xl_xQI4OULNsGyffTGXGzamfqO2lJ6hPMdBMTsMlSTaWU1/s1600/wishyouwerehere_before_afte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs1JDqxW2DuhdXLPSYSaoIrQy9k1W2GpXbQbRbcW-pm9CCcntvS90ksmW9QvbFHMHWfBTKsjsAC1C6giC0o7FWu_pvfsXd0xl_xQI4OULNsGyffTGXGzamfqO2lJ6hPMdBMTsMlSTaWU1/s400/wishyouwerehere_before_afte.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #eeeeee;">Even the severest cases of ring-around-the-cover are speedily cured!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Read on and you will see that a quick, easy, and cheap solution is well within reach. Also be sure to check out the included video where you will witness two classic album covers regain the luster of yesteryear before your very eyes.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #eeeeee; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rubbing Off and Shining On</span></span></u></b></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you've probably already gathered from the photo below, our great white record cover revitalizer is simply a common pencil or pen eraser.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjuC0n1_ZvD9JSwiGGSrWN1_PkxpUgylJpl3q1M1T2uJPpRwDkGCOmlMqe5FgYqgApIc34J73tHIHzXoJ4npRLuPqNPTEjK7y2-s4OS_TXZRTRzcLkv6fE18ydz9AthaiR7WlO8XxyXvW/s1600/wishuwerehere_eraser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin: 1em auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjuC0n1_ZvD9JSwiGGSrWN1_PkxpUgylJpl3q1M1T2uJPpRwDkGCOmlMqe5FgYqgApIc34J73tHIHzXoJ4npRLuPqNPTEjK7y2-s4OS_TXZRTRzcLkv6fE18ydz9AthaiR7WlO8XxyXvW/s320/wishuwerehere_eraser.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;">Eraser used on the <i>Wish You Were Here</i> cover</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, there are many types and brands of erasers to try. Some are more abrasive than others and also will be more or less effective on different surfaces. So far, I've worked with three erasers: the classic pink/red pencil eraser we are all familiar with, a Papermate brand ink/pencil combo eraser, and a "kneadable rubber eraser" made by Prang. Ideally, you would assemble an arsenal of different ones and experiment on some records borrowed from a friend before attempting to restore your own prized covers. Just kidding about that last part. The great thing about thrift store records is, they are so inexpensive, you don't have to worry so much about damaging them and you can always pick up a few you don't care about at all if you just need a guinea pig for cleaning experiments.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #eeeeee; text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">White, White, White is the Color of Our Cover</span></b></u></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With very little preparation or planning, I grabbed two very popular, very common, and in this case, very shabby looking records: Pink Floyd - <i>Wish You Were Here</i> and The Beatles' self-titled "White Album" and (rather haphazardly) went right to town on them with two of the erasers (see video).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/gdT0AVSEZ40?rel=0" width="460"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Some observations and findings:</u></b><br />
The Papermate eraser worked exceptionally well on the Pink Floyd cover, but had trouble gripping the surface of the Beatles jacket (which has a distinctly different sort of glossy surface). For that cover, the Prang rubber eraser did the trick.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I noticed very fine, light scuff marks were left on the Pink Floyd cover by the Papermate eraser. The scuffing is not very noticeable unless you are really looking for it and holding the cover at an angle under a light. I'd say it's not a bad tradeoff when you recall how the cover looked before the eraser was used on it. I think both the pencil and ink sides of the eraser worked fine, but I might have noticed the ink side working a little better (it may have been more abrasive too?)</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVOuW33FZdkvw3b-8ie6oYruIvtJ1ILUWqzFLeM0_Ur2CFifwZdjPO4cgHhyphenhyphenbyKh7RO7-HfMPOaI0RVyb6CvI0PxrbODO15kzE7UVYkxp8J14dECHbAH3PTxnTUFsS8DArdoLdgEcvUhZ/s1600/wishuwerehere_before_after1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVOuW33FZdkvw3b-8ie6oYruIvtJ1ILUWqzFLeM0_Ur2CFifwZdjPO4cgHhyphenhyphenbyKh7RO7-HfMPOaI0RVyb6CvI0PxrbODO15kzE7UVYkxp8J14dECHbAH3PTxnTUFsS8DArdoLdgEcvUhZ/s400/wishuwerehere_before_after1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: white;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Before and after shots of Pink Floyd - <i>Wish You Were Here</i> cover</span></td></tr>
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<div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've since tested the Prang kneadable rubber eraser on the back of the Pink Floyd cover and could not detect any scuff marks from it. I also tried it on a non-gloss white cover (Aerosmith's <i>Draw the Line</i>) and it proved both effective and non-damaging. I would say that the kneadable rubber eraser was maybe all-around best, as it seems to be the least abrasive/damaging while still being effective on a variety of surfaces. The worst thing about it was its tendency to crumble and shed relatively large bits of itself. The standard pink/red pencil eraser was the worst performer. It required some extra rubbing and pressure for it to work, and at the same time, I think it could wear away more of the cover's surface in an uneven, damaging manner. It was more difficult to control the action and outcome with that one.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhA3cXYjFUMkyo-PXGKYW2wIA2u4EWP4fnJeYvJc_dZa_4IPiSNIqos5J_Nj7EzzXIMdM0c9QDiSSqohXnpz6QFUwu-Isd4aKVfHBlz_d7lv1kezt0Kg511JjENTZ0R9_nW_nuBkqGxmd/s1600/whitealbum_erasers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhA3cXYjFUMkyo-PXGKYW2wIA2u4EWP4fnJeYvJc_dZa_4IPiSNIqos5J_Nj7EzzXIMdM0c9QDiSSqohXnpz6QFUwu-Isd4aKVfHBlz_d7lv1kezt0Kg511JjENTZ0R9_nW_nuBkqGxmd/s320/whitealbum_erasers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: white;">"Kneadable rubber eraser" at top</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">F</span><span style="font-size: small;">or this demonstration, I just gathered some erasers I already had around, but if I were looking to buy another one expressly for cleaning covers, I think this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sanford-Magic-Rub%C2%AE-Non-Abrasive-Vinyl-Erasers/dp/B003VKSNSC/ref=pd_sbs_op_3" rel="nofollow" style="color: white;" target="_blank">Sanford Magic Rub Non-Abrasive Vinyl Eraser</a> might be a good prospect. My Prang rubber eraser is about 20 years old, but it looks like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prang-Kneadable-Rubber-Erasers-12222/dp/B0050A6BMQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" rel="nofollow" style="color: white;" target="_blank">the same kind</a> is still available. <b>Update:</b> I have now also tested a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sanford-73030-ARTGUM-Non-Abrasive-Eraser/dp/B004E3LKB2/ref=pd_sbs_ac_41" rel="nofollow" style="color: white;" target="_blank">Sanford Design Artgum</a> eraser and while it was non-damaging, as described, it also did not really work so well for this purpose.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Y</span><span style="font-size: small;">ou'll generally want to stay on the white background and avoid rubbing over—and consequentially erasing—any printed areas of a cover. But with a light and careful enough touch, using the right eraser, it may be possible in some cases to also safely reduce or remove some marks without causing great harm to the underlying artwork. Just be very careful and choose your battles wisely. Once that ink is erased, it's gone forever.</span></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">F</span><span style="font-size: small;">or the final buff & shine, I just used a solution of white vinegar and water, wiped off with a paper towel. Some might tell you to never apply liquid directly onto a cover, and that may not be bad advice, but spraying a mild cleaning solution (typically in a fine mist) and immediately wiping dry has not caused me any trouble. Use extra caution when dealing with older non-glossy covers.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSpjCr61hKnGkoycjWM3guUYUr4eeQzA9zeKxOOISMMSgBW5ZH5gB14V5n0ahE0-pWmpg5DmAHe_fsUgfUah0tOnpsirAaRfHAiuKC_6d3ykyGgmKOeG7sdhqFxnQYoQhOFdWsTGZi7nB/s1600/whitealbum_before_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSpjCr61hKnGkoycjWM3guUYUr4eeQzA9zeKxOOISMMSgBW5ZH5gB14V5n0ahE0-pWmpg5DmAHe_fsUgfUah0tOnpsirAaRfHAiuKC_6d3ykyGgmKOeG7sdhqFxnQYoQhOFdWsTGZi7nB/s400/whitealbum_before_after.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;">This thrift store sourced 1968 pressing of The Beatles' "White Album" will<br />
remain in the "poor" grading category due to the torn section along the bottom,<br />
but it now shines a whole lot brighter and whiter after getting the eraser treatment</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div></div></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-31954219789347666402012-04-22T21:03:00.001-04:002016-06-29T00:36:45.862-04:00The Red Flower of Tachai Blossoms Everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIMcaUrLkU5_1LBavLd2atQ7splu4mxOJf5u3WizSaF-wFExvFGyOZP2VRxqVMbqomTDThZRwzt7_wnXdWjPurPtBmPXIcgSD2Y_MsnmS4EMYuQpN2X52a-SlCIjgPTjdDpFpM-5h1gvD/s1600/redflower_tachai_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIMcaUrLkU5_1LBavLd2atQ7splu4mxOJf5u3WizSaF-wFExvFGyOZP2VRxqVMbqomTDThZRwzt7_wnXdWjPurPtBmPXIcgSD2Y_MsnmS4EMYuQpN2X52a-SlCIjgPTjdDpFpM-5h1gvD/s1600/redflower_tachai_cover.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><br />
</u></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>China Record Company have done it again! This is the one to acquire! All the big hits on one record! From the smash single that burned up the charts and warmed our hearts: </b><i><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>A Long, Long Life to Chairman Mao</b></span><b>,</b></i><b> to the song we were all humming in that magical and productive summer of '67:</b><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b> </b></span><i><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>Delivering Public-Grain to the State</b></span></i><b>. Yes, they are all here in one glorious collection!</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The inspirational <i><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Conquering the Typhoon</span></i> will have your foot tapping as your spirits soar. Then, let the gentle, relaxing sounds of <i><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Spring Comes to Yiho River</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #c27ba0;">The Flower of Tachai Blooms at the Foot of Kunlun</span></i> wash over you and be transported to a place of majestic, ancient landscapes and time-honored traditions ... or, as the cover art depicts: a place of modern concrete dam projects, well organized farm plots, and efficient workers. Finally, you'll want to put the pedal to the metal and increase the volume level because the closing song <i><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Galloping Across the Vast Grasslands</span></i> is the perfect soundtrack for cruising the open road; wind in your hair, sun at your back, and best girl by your side.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~*~</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seriously, I've long enjoyed hearing traditional Chinese music (but never owned any), and was very pleased to find this record and add it to the collection. Now, not only can I create a more enchanting atmosphere for sipping fragrant tea on those quiet evenings at home, but the next time a boisterous party guest shouts a request for <i>"Delivering Public-Grain to the State,"</i> I'll be ready!</span></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kyBmiC5SUfzH9BbjEjLuY1TJdV6CDRVzi0A78U5WF9ij5CE-OCUaVSHE0bcyO0cDruANPHWdtXw286Qh5UXcSvibrAgwla3jtNluHfgPQ5EB95FuI8pscgUYL496tr5CVkcrJV8L90ed/s1600/redflower_tachai_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kyBmiC5SUfzH9BbjEjLuY1TJdV6CDRVzi0A78U5WF9ij5CE-OCUaVSHE0bcyO0cDruANPHWdtXw286Qh5UXcSvibrAgwla3jtNluHfgPQ5EB95FuI8pscgUYL496tr5CVkcrJV8L90ed/s320/redflower_tachai_label.jpg" width="307"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: #a64d79; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Red Flower of Tachai Blossoms Everywhere</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">China Record Company M-1019</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">Released on the state-owned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Record_Corporation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">China Record Company</span></a> label, this is a ten inch record that plays at 33⅓ rpm. Exact release date is unknown, but I think sometime between 1965 - 1975 would be a very safe guess.</span></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/118267.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Here is an interesting article</span></a> about a Chinese record collector and the history of the record industry in China. I like the early name given to records there: <i>chang pian</i>, or "<i>singing disc</i>." The piece ends with a really nice quote from the collector about his love of music and records.</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Former <b>Genesis</b> lead guitarist, </span><b style="color: #ea9999;">Steve Hackett</b><span style="color: #ea9999;"> salutes traditional Chinese music with the song </span><i style="color: #ea9999;">The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere</i><span style="color: #ea9999;">. While his song's name is nearly identical to the title track of the record featured in this report, it isn't a note for note cover version. Released on his </span><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_Mornings" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Spectral Mornings</span></a></i><span style="color: #ea9999;"> LP, as well as on the </span><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Lapse" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Time Lapse</span></a></i><span style="color: #ea9999;"> live album, it is a brilliantly done tribute composition that displays the guitarist's appreciation of this beautiful music.</span> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JULnO3tVV64" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Hear the studio version of Steve Hackett's </span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere</span></i><span style="color: #e06666;"> at YouTube</span></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQE2W-_rvR4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Watch a YouTube video of Steve Hackett and his band performing </span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere</span></i><span style="color: #e06666;"> in 1980</span></a></span></div><br />
Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-43267553474944859732012-03-07T22:26:00.002-05:002016-06-29T00:39:20.672-04:00Led Zeppelin - Live in Seattle, '73 Tour<div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVwd1vkY6Ju-TAWHuHcCUiK8RVbQwllFwl-Us9LKMRcO_6asrZ2LpFocpI7zwLHipIvubyrDDW8YYGumt8b48DB5PJnXPDwNHKWC4f5fRuTUF39BZuM71xjTcqvIaHLFnV7mCLzWXkZUT/s1600/ledzeppelinlive_seattle73+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVwd1vkY6Ju-TAWHuHcCUiK8RVbQwllFwl-Us9LKMRcO_6asrZ2LpFocpI7zwLHipIvubyrDDW8YYGumt8b48DB5PJnXPDwNHKWC4f5fRuTUF39BZuM71xjTcqvIaHLFnV7mCLzWXkZUT/s1600/ledzeppelinlive_seattle73+copy.jpg"></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>n 1999 the Anti-Piracy Unit of the British Phonographic Industry (that's the APU of the BPI to you and me) released a list of the most bootlegged rock recording artists. Led Zeppelin landed in the number one position with 384 titles. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan trailed behind with 320, 317, and 301 titles, respectively. I was surprised to see Prince next on the chart with 270 titles to his name ... whatever that name (or symbol) might be these days. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/422948.stm" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">This 1999 BBC News article</a> notes that the bootleg chart was compiled by the BPI using their own archive of approximately 10,000 illegal recordings confiscated between about 1974 - 1999. Quite a nice record collection they've put together there!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">According to another source (link at bottom of page) there are over 4,000 Led Zeppelin bootleg titles out there, spread across the vinyl, CD, and DVD formats! I guess the odds would have it that the first, and one of only two bootlegs I've found at the thrift store so far would be one of theirs. The other one being the previously posted <a href="http://recordreport.blogspot.com/2011/05/neil-young-young-mans-fancy.html" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Neil Young - Young Man's Fancy</a>.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #ffcc00;"><u>Hammer of the Managers</u></b><br />
</span></div></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">A</span>pparently, even the determined efforts of (Led Zeppelin's notoriously aggressive manager) Peter Grant to squelch the bootleggers did little to stem the tide of illegal recordings of his band that flooded the market. Known to confiscate illicit Led Zeppelin albums he'd find in the English record shops, one well-known story has Grant, and Zeppelin's equally imposing tour manager Richard Cole, paying a little visit to a man who had just been named in a <b><i>Melody Maker</i></b> article as the distributor of a new double live Led Zeppelin bootleg. Grant put a closed sign on the unfortunate bootlegger's shop door while Cole threatened him with his life until he handed over his stock of prohibited Zeppelin LPs. </span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Richard Cole mentions in his book <b><i>Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin Uncensored</i></b>, that while on tour, they would often <i>"rough up bootleggers when we caught them at work."</i> A story documented both in Cole's book as well as in Stephen Davis' <i><b>Hammer of the Gods - The Led Zeppelin Saga</b></i> describes an incident in Vancouver during their fifth North American tour, when Peter Grant spotted a man in the audience blatantly wielding a large shotgun microphone attached to what looked like a sophisticated tape recorder. Grant pointed <i>"that bastard"</i> out to Cole, who stormed over with some roadies to confront the audacious bootlegger. It wasn't until after a physical assault and the smashing of expensive equipment that it was learned from a stagehand the man was actually a government official sent by the city to measure the decibel levels during the concert! Vancouver police arrived before the show ended, but luckily for Cole and crew, after they were questioned for an hour and agreed to pay for the recorder, the matter was dropped.</span> </div><br />
<div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffcc00; font-size: medium;"><b><u>Tale of Two Bootleggers </u></b></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span>his particular album was put out by the <b>Trade Mark of Quality</b> label. The owners of which are said to be the biggest bootleggers in music history and have been credited with kicking off the modern American bootlegging industry. Briefly, "TMQ" was started sometime around 1968-'69 by a couple of young guys in Los Angeles named Ken and Dub. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEloVqeabMpbc2S4-lD0eNe7JNIZBIwzi_nX-bW6aXRztVE5JhFiYlWxfXT0pD9_iQx1S9h6kgXuAV3XAsmVLYdJmI7l4JEG_mCM2kEw3M1kiinQPw18SySjeY5qvkkipt5aHsKcC3UI-/s1600/trademark_quality_logo__1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEloVqeabMpbc2S4-lD0eNe7JNIZBIwzi_nX-bW6aXRztVE5JhFiYlWxfXT0pD9_iQx1S9h6kgXuAV3XAsmVLYdJmI7l4JEG_mCM2kEw3M1kiinQPw18SySjeY5qvkkipt5aHsKcC3UI-/s200/trademark_quality_logo__1.jpg" width="197"></a>Their first release, a collection of Bob Dylan songs known as <i>Great White Wonder</i>, is widely noted as the first significant rock bootleg and it swiftly got the pair up and running. <br />
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Using high quality materials such as colored, virgin vinyl and printed, color covers they earned a reputation as purveyors of fine unauthorized audio artifacts. However, the partnership ended after a few short years. Allegedly, Ken was fired by Dub's father who had now joined his son's lucrative venture. Dub kept the label going, continuing to use the realistic looking "farm style" pig logo while Ken started his own rival "Trade Mark of Quality" label with the cigar smoking "Pig Daddy" logo as seen on this Led Zeppelin cover insert.</div></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the help of someone at the pressing plant, Ken began copying all of his former partner's releases by routinely having his own set of vinyl stamping plates made from Dub's mother plates. Whenever the original TMQ label would put out something new, Ken's TMQ would follow with a less expensive duplicate release on black vinyl and with a cheaper cover.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvE-s9sO2gfjlylzOYwo6dI9tV-wvt_F1ouMZ5Ap9S3W-ea2YmWVy-dBeaRprosUnKfkNt6cZRuDi_PHnKkDuBgKynsY_wRvsnR9cyL71tDMljq78-JvbTUihj_OACHY3vOFr9WAqKuXd/s1600/ledzeppelin_live73seattle_tracklist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvE-s9sO2gfjlylzOYwo6dI9tV-wvt_F1ouMZ5Ap9S3W-ea2YmWVy-dBeaRprosUnKfkNt6cZRuDi_PHnKkDuBgKynsY_wRvsnR9cyL71tDMljq78-JvbTUihj_OACHY3vOFr9WAqKuXd/s1600/ledzeppelin_live73seattle_tracklist.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Led Zeppelin - Live in Seattle, '73 Tour</i> bootleg album track list</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">D</span>efinitely a no-frills affair, this particular two record set came in a generic, white, single slot cardboard jacket with a one color, plain paper cover insert (which had been sloppily Scotch taped onto the jacket at some point). The record labels are blank except for a small "SIDE ONE" / "SIDE TWO" etc... printed in plain text just below the spindle hole. Record one has an off-white label. Record two's label is a yellowish color. The matrix numbers stamped in the runoff groove areas match those in the listing for this album at the <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Led-Zeppelin-Live-In-Seattle-73-Tour/release/3010255" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Discogs</a> site and they are: Side 1: <i>Z820-A</i> / Side 2: <i>Z820-B</i> / Side 3: <i>Z820-C</i> / Side 4: <i>Z820-D</i>.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffcc00; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u>Further Reading</u></b></span></span></div><br />
<div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">For a great, detailed list of Led Zeppelin bootlegs and lots of info about the labels and bootlegs in general, visit <a href="http://www.argenteumastrum.com/bootlegs.htm" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">argenteumastrum.com</a> </span></div><br />
<div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">See the book <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=h905B3S78ocC" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Bootleg! The Rise & Fall of the Secret Recording Industry</a> by Clinton Heylin for additional info about the TMQ label and much more</span></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-33700518331600060222012-01-01T19:50:00.003-05:002020-04-18T04:29:38.090-04:001940s Voice Letter to Uncle Bob<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Jqizr7fqWU_FNF0-Fx5kYqCyKai_Tcx35QCkZm924Cxc1B6vxEvD_wNHb6gVFacnixd0L-Rryx079PR-Ng4b1nvaL68Ja4N0EbeFCKcgxcX-tBg4oMgFTBH1Tl5TdpbFxZCXNfaTA3ev/s1600/voiceograph1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Jqizr7fqWU_FNF0-Fx5kYqCyKai_Tcx35QCkZm924Cxc1B6vxEvD_wNHb6gVFacnixd0L-Rryx079PR-Ng4b1nvaL68Ja4N0EbeFCKcgxcX-tBg4oMgFTBH1Tl5TdpbFxZCXNfaTA3ev/s1600/voiceograph1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is another one-of-a-kind amateur recording from the 1940s. This one was made in a recording booth at <b>Woodside Park</b> in Philadelphia. It was recorded on July 12 for "Uncle Bob" (and family) by a nervous, somewhat befuddled woman named Betty and her coolheaded sidekick, Dorothy (who brings to mind Aunt Bea from the Andy Griffith show every time I hear this record). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Woodside Park was open for visitors from 1897 until 1955. <a href="http://www.sideshowworld.com/13-TGOD/Walt-H/WSP-1/tgodWoodsideAP.html" style="color: #ff6600;" target="_blank">Here</a> is a photo of the park's entrance, along with an autobiographical story written by a man who once performed a sideshow routine there.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1Ru9SDaD6J_J1aYcP7x5fCP6dPPDQ21amWP2QjoW1JFd0DPOh_LWjFw7JIiC5CbERk18FyDP8fl1MISbmRnJoqkIxOrJ7X31VZtXI6Egwk-fHnIwgIJ8JX6OoFUtD-9JDeEZJdmS5Z_B/s1600/voiceograph_envelope2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1Ru9SDaD6J_J1aYcP7x5fCP6dPPDQ21amWP2QjoW1JFd0DPOh_LWjFw7JIiC5CbERk18FyDP8fl1MISbmRnJoqkIxOrJ7X31VZtXI6Egwk-fHnIwgIJ8JX6OoFUtD-9JDeEZJdmS5Z_B/s1600/voiceograph_envelope2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Voice-O-Graph record mailing envelope</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Voice-O-Graph</b> "automatic recording studio" booths were made by <b>International Mutoscope Corporation</b> and as far as I can tell, were fairly common from about the early forties to the late sixties in amusement parks, arcades, and many other popular destinations such as New York's Times Square. To see some cool Voice-O-Graph advertisements and photos, visit <a href="http://www.pinrepair.com/arcade/voice.htm" style="color: #ff6600;" target="_blank">PinRepair.com</a>. I like the first ad, which shows a woman using the machine who doesn't look quite sure if she's anxious, astonished, or annoyed, and the text reads: <b><i>"Like talking on the phone ... but a thousand times more thrilling!"</i></b> </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk6G3MjLvNkBn93snsFEZu-5nli3-SbmdxwSmvMGm3UBXuFfFsyrnO5kqgqeKArpdgJv6vltmydRTin-NKp9e9GGn-3ltHks7irb5Z9vwaDzbz_WdD6C7rXgEeZkUtvKNxChMMZu91N_C/s1600/voiceograph_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk6G3MjLvNkBn93snsFEZu-5nli3-SbmdxwSmvMGm3UBXuFfFsyrnO5kqgqeKArpdgJv6vltmydRTin-NKp9e9GGn-3ltHks7irb5Z9vwaDzbz_WdD6C7rXgEeZkUtvKNxChMMZu91N_C/s1600/voiceograph_label.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1940s Voice-O-Graph record label</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and text from envelope flap</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A very handy "labelography" at the <a href="http://tenwatts.blogspot.com/2011/09/voice-o-graph-labelography-part-7.html" style="color: #ff6600;" target="_blank">TenWatts blog</a> compiles a good number of Voice-O-Graph label designs that were used over the years. With this guide, I could determine that our "Uncle Bob" record was most likely from the 1940s, but the exact period associated with this particular label variant is still in question. If you have a Voice-O-Graph record with a label that is not listed in the timeline, you might want to consider contacting that blog's owner and contributing to the project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I really like playing these little mystery time capsule records for the first time. It's fun not knowing, and anticipating, what you are going to hear. Using clues found on the packaging and in the audio itself, they can also lead you to some interesting historical details you might otherwise never have uncovered. Check out the video clip below if you would like to hear this one for yourself.</span></div>
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Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-38717485465820894752011-11-30T23:29:00.019-05:002016-06-29T00:47:48.402-04:00East of Eden (1971 LP)<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u5gfZ7j3YwfacGvqYUiN7h9vQRx12ICYZ1FQEbw9GAUulD0ha392NXCf7gmTQfosqYumezUluae2Q6Ctm6KnEWzYBV9_fRd6cY7K9xsZGlteoRLGAtWA7KbTbo92iNbnAZU0q-oov1tm/s1600/eastofeden_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u5gfZ7j3YwfacGvqYUiN7h9vQRx12ICYZ1FQEbw9GAUulD0ha392NXCf7gmTQfosqYumezUluae2Q6Ctm6KnEWzYBV9_fRd6cY7K9xsZGlteoRLGAtWA7KbTbo92iNbnAZU0q-oov1tm/s320/eastofeden_cover.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br />
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<u style="color: #6aa84f;">Side 1</u><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <i style="color: #6aa84f;">Wonderful Feeling</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (6:10)</span><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <i style="color: #6aa84f;">Goodbye</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (6:00)</span><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <i style="color: #6aa84f;">Crazy Daisy</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (6:54)</span><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <u style="color: #6aa84f;">Side 2</u><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <i style="color: #6aa84f;">Here Comes The Day</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (4:34)</span><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <i style="color: #6aa84f;">Take What You Need</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (5:00)</span><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <i style="color: #6aa84f;">No Time</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (6:01)</span><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> <i style="color: #6aa84f;">To Mrs. V</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (5:10)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Discovery</b></u></span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;">At first glance this record with the rather ordinary cover and vague title (was it the name of the band or the album?) struck me as a possible Christian-rock record or perhaps something an ambitious (but bland) local act had once unleashed upon an unsuspecting tri-state area. After pulling it out for a closer look, it still took a while to get a handle on what sort of record it was. Turning to the back of the jacket, none of the musicians' names rang a bell and the little descriptive blurb that followed didn't help a whole lot either: <i>"They are from the United Kingdom and play rock. Their music knows how to make people happy."</i> OK. I guess the fact that they play rock was encouraging, and I wouldn't complain if they made me happy, but I was still skeptical. Only when I finally saw that the label was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_Records_discography" style="color: lime;" target="_blank">Harvest</a> and the cover photo and design was credited to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipgnosis" style="color: lime;" target="_blank">Hipgnosis</a> was it promptly whisked off to the checkout counter without further ado. Harvest and Hipgnosis are both associated with a laundry list of great, iconic albums by artists such as Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, Led Zeppelin, and Iron Maiden to name just a few. This was suddenly a very promising and intriguing thrift store record find... </span></div><br />
<div style="color: #339933; text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brief History</span></b></u></div><span style="font-size: small;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7O6O6j_v82eRoeFrydWZthVnGeTbXc3KfR2wWwXjSquNPuk5VFPS3Yxh-_8cb_ChOHEez8z8Zg9AuDLvcDxIukS0Kub6l7IYRumsk9Q1nd2znvVSMqB5fOE8yLt8AVUemoa3_smNj39-4/s1600/eastofeden_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7O6O6j_v82eRoeFrydWZthVnGeTbXc3KfR2wWwXjSquNPuk5VFPS3Yxh-_8cb_ChOHEez8z8Zg9AuDLvcDxIukS0Kub6l7IYRumsk9Q1nd2znvVSMqB5fOE8yLt8AVUemoa3_smNj39-4/s200/eastofeden_label.jpg" width="197"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #009966; font-size: x-small;">1971 Harvest Records SW-806</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I found out that East of Eden was formed in Bristol, England in 1967 and the band relocated to London the following year where they were signed to the Deram label. In 1969 they released their first album </span><i style="color: #6aa84f;">Mercator Projected</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">. In March of that same year they also appeared at the </span><a href="http://wiki.killuglyradio.com/wiki/Actuel_Festival" style="color: lime;" target="_blank">Actuel Festival</a><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> — apparently playing after (Noel Redding's) </span><b style="color: #6aa84f;">Fat Mattress</b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> and before </span><b style="color: #6aa84f;">Captain Beefheart</b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> and </span><b style="color: #6aa84f;">Soft Machine</b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">. This 1971 self-titled LP is their third studio album, and the first they recorded for Harvest.</span><br style="color: #6aa84f;" /> </span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="color: #339933; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b><u><b>Sounds Like</b></u></span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"> East of Eden sound like they have firm blues-rock roots from which they branch off into more eclectic prog-rock terrain. Side one starts off reminding me of American West Coast bands like <b>Quicksilver Messenger Service</b> or <b>Jefferson Airplane's</b> more earthbound moments. But before long, their UK progressive pedigree becomes more apparent as the gritty (and abundant) blues riffing gives way to jazzier bursts of tightly played early King Crimsonesque passages — replete with saxophones and flutes. They sometimes play in a gentler English folk-rock style (to good effect) as well. Even though the main verse/chorus parts tend to sound more like the sort of blues-based, rocking numbers that might be found on a Rory Gallagher or Robin Trower LP (especially the vocal delivery), the busier, more experimental parts somehow never seem contrived or out of place as they easily flow in and out of these skillfully constructed compositions.<br />
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<span style="color: #339933;"><b><u>Trivia:</u></b></span> Founding member Dave Arbus performs the violin solo at the end of The Who's classic rock radio staple <i>Baba O'Riley</i>.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.eastofedentheband.com/" target="_blank">Visit East of Eden's official website</a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://youtu.be/DiC4JWsNrqM" target="_blank">Listen to a song from this LP on YouTube.com</a></span></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-29670627620249101352011-10-24T01:53:00.006-04:002016-06-29T00:51:05.253-04:00An Evening with Boris Karloff and His Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHtjArP5eTy1dbqMFD6ANxx0uatIV1DtAOuuuMCcrmZR9eZ-FztgkoCfcMih5_t57WVRJWkzGXzCUDCUDHCIflFwQoMo_DwoV7mimYP5iC1z7WHMXwFeQbn3ieisXjSB0IdQejTzfj8cm/s1600/boriskarloff_cover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHtjArP5eTy1dbqMFD6ANxx0uatIV1DtAOuuuMCcrmZR9eZ-FztgkoCfcMih5_t57WVRJWkzGXzCUDCUDHCIflFwQoMo_DwoV7mimYP5iC1z7WHMXwFeQbn3ieisXjSB0IdQejTzfj8cm/s1600/boriskarloff_cover3.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Side 1</u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Introduction (1:44)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Dracula (2:59)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All About the Monster (1:53)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Frankenstein (3:22)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Mummy (1:57)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Side 2</u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Bride of Frankenstein (3:03)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Son of Frankenstein (3:37)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Wolf Man (2:09)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The House of Frankenstein (1:24)</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Finale (1:24)</i></span></div><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1095701990"></span><span id="goog_1095701991"></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">'Twas a dark and dismal day back in the year 2010 when I unearthed this relic from that forbidding, haunted corner of the planet where insatiable shadow-beings feed upon the wretched, dust-shrouded leavings of bygone days (aka the thrift store record department). For many moons, since falling into my possession, this artifact has lain undisturbed, quietly resting in peace, touched not by human hand nor diamond stylus ... until now.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZktFA2cOymCHNX3_-Oo2uJlyQGNOkzfuPoaGIqoQwWfzKYwweIE6HVjTs6xxZnFYfLMmUatEsZpblnCZqRjGTpRpDAo-cYLEsoPY1MF17vlMuIy5-YagwDDej4OUETabnpHZNPh6NI1f4/s1600/skull.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZktFA2cOymCHNX3_-Oo2uJlyQGNOkzfuPoaGIqoQwWfzKYwweIE6HVjTs6xxZnFYfLMmUatEsZpblnCZqRjGTpRpDAo-cYLEsoPY1MF17vlMuIy5-YagwDDej4OUETabnpHZNPh6NI1f4/s1600/skull.gif"></a></div>With Halloween drawing near, I figured this would be a perfect record to post, so I gave it a long overdue spin and dug up some info on it. The cover is a bit worn, but surprisingly, the inner sleeve and disc are virtually flawless and the sound is excellent. I would have loved to own this one as a child—when I was heavily into monster movies and other assorted monster-related paraphernalia. Judging by the scuff and fingerprint-free playing surface, I'd wager this particular copy never made it into the hands of any very young monster movie fans.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jkUjOOGW337_d4ZffG4VSzi0vAowEhdsfMoVAxShUYb9u3-RYV0txNxRcYiPEX6hlzn72fc-9WHcrY_BhuV1npnUgfH2jYArVTlIYaxGb7j4A63Vz2DNL0KRcBVJkJViIW7eXc6wRJRP/s1600/boriskarloff_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jkUjOOGW337_d4ZffG4VSzi0vAowEhdsfMoVAxShUYb9u3-RYV0txNxRcYiPEX6hlzn72fc-9WHcrY_BhuV1npnUgfH2jYArVTlIYaxGb7j4A63Vz2DNL0KRcBVJkJViIW7eXc6wRJRP/s320/boriskarloff_label.jpg" width="294"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #8e7cc3;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">An Evening with Boris Karloff and His Friends<br />
</span></span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1967 Decca Records DL 74833 (stereo)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The subtitle on the cover and label reads: <b><i>Original Soundtracks from Universal's Greatest Monster Movies Narrated by Boris Karloff</i></b>, meaning that we get to hear scenes from the original movies interspersed with Boris Karloff talking about the films (over a bed of great, spooky incidental music).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boris Karloff (real name William Henry Pratt), as you may know, was an English actor who made his way to Hollywood, where he appeared in scores of films over a period of about 12 years before eventually finding fame when he took on the role of Frankenstein's Monster in 1931. He acted in more than a dozen films released in 1931 alone! Best remembered for his extensive work in the horror/monster movie genre, he also played in other types of films, but typically still portrayed characters who had rather sinister personalities: an Irish gangster in <i>Scarface</i> (1932); a maniacal doctor in the comedy/drama <i>The Secret Life of Walter Mitty</i> (1947); and the voice of the Grinch (as well as the narrator) in the animated TV special <i>How the Grinch Stole Christmas</i> (1966), among others.</span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The credits specify that this record was written and produced by <a href="http://www.vernelangdon.com/Bio.html" style="color: orange;" target="_blank">Verne Langdon</a>, <a href="http://miltlarsen.com/" style="color: orange;" target="_blank">Milt Larsen</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_J_Ackerman" style="color: orange;" target="_blank">Forrest J. Ackerman</a>. Ackerman, who wrote the script that Karloff reads, has been credited with coining the term "sci-fi" in the 1950s and was also the original editor and primary writer for <i style="color: orange;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Monsters_of_Filmland" style="color: orange;" target="_blank">Famous Monsters of Filmland</a></i><span style="color: orange;"> </span>magazine, which is probably familiar to many of you who grew up in the 1960s, '70s, or '80s. Often referred to as sci-fi's number one fan, he spent a lifetime amassing what was possibly the world's largest personal collection of science-fiction, horror, and fantasy memorabilia. In <a href="http://youtu.be/5WFRsm0-PTc" style="color: orange;" target="_blank">this video</a> on YouTube, the man himself gives a mini-tour of his creature-laden home/museum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In <a href="http://www.rubberroom101.com/boxofmonsters/page3.htm" style="color: orange;" target="_blank">this interview</a>, Verne Langdon mentions how the record was pulled from the market by Decca/Universal (sometime around or before 1972) due to a lawsuit, which, among other things, prohibited the use of Bela Lugosi's voice on the recording. As far as I can tell, it is still out of print, but an alternate "original" (demo?) version containing different music and editing was made available recently as an mp3 download or CD-R. It can be purchased at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Original-Evening-Boris-Karloff-Friends/dp/B002YA86BE" style="color: orange;" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> where you can also read a couple informative reviews of it.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZktFA2cOymCHNX3_-Oo2uJlyQGNOkzfuPoaGIqoQwWfzKYwweIE6HVjTs6xxZnFYfLMmUatEsZpblnCZqRjGTpRpDAo-cYLEsoPY1MF17vlMuIy5-YagwDDej4OUETabnpHZNPh6NI1f4/s1600/skull.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZktFA2cOymCHNX3_-Oo2uJlyQGNOkzfuPoaGIqoQwWfzKYwweIE6HVjTs6xxZnFYfLMmUatEsZpblnCZqRjGTpRpDAo-cYLEsoPY1MF17vlMuIy5-YagwDDej4OUETabnpHZNPh6NI1f4/s1600/skull.gif"></a></div></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-88350713869992699272011-09-28T23:27:00.004-04:002016-10-02T17:09:22.343-04:00New Feature: Slideshow Corner!<div style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If you would kindly divert your eyes to the right and gaze upon the top of the sidebar portion of this blog, you should now notice a pint-sized slideshow in progress. This will be an ongoing, regularly updated feature here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">On display will be things like our latest thrift store record acquisitions or selections from the archives which share a certain cover art theme or go together in some other fun and/or interesting way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hovering your cursor over the slideshow will make a control bar appear, allowing you to pause/advance/reverse the photos. Click on any of the pictures and a new window will open in which the photos can be viewed at your own pace, along with any captions that may have been added. Most captions will at least identify the name of the artist, album title, year of release, record label, and catalog number for that specific pressing. You might also find some additional comments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As always, thank you for visiting <b>Thrift Store Record Report</b> and please stop back again. We hope to become the number one destination for all of your thumbnail-size, super low resolution, record-related, sidebar slideshow needs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Update - October 2016: Unfortunately Google has now discontinued the Blogger sidebar slideshow gadget. Until I find a good replacement, all slideshow photos and captions can still be viewed by clicking the link provided in the posts for each slideshow (e.g. <a href="http://recordreport.blogspot.com/2012/08/summer-movie-soundtracks.html" target="_blank">"Summer Movie Soundtracks"</a>).</i></span></span></div>
Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-29337462575381134482011-08-31T00:28:00.001-04:002016-06-29T00:45:32.792-04:001945 Voice Letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqp4fB3NuD-p_fcFn7pFXvgYD7lfSD85zu1NzoCpCPEsVY3782XvyF3sLaFK-CrIdMGzJ79kZwf1gKIl6i2FBDqLadMzW2sd36K-NR_AQCMfzrp00CCV_mNjwKUKSCIgOr_Ehx9Nkz7D7/s1600/uso_record1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqp4fB3NuD-p_fcFn7pFXvgYD7lfSD85zu1NzoCpCPEsVY3782XvyF3sLaFK-CrIdMGzJ79kZwf1gKIl6i2FBDqLadMzW2sd36K-NR_AQCMfzrp00CCV_mNjwKUKSCIgOr_Ehx9Nkz7D7/s1600/uso_record1.jpg"></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This unique recording was made just before the end of World War II at a USO club in Boston, Massachusetts. The voice heard on the record is that of a U.S. Navy seaman serving aboard a destroyer called the <b>USS MacKenzie</b>. According to <a href="http://collectinghistory.net/dd614/navy2.html" target="_blank">this article</a> the ship had returned from Mediterranean waters to Boston for a 30 day overhaul in July of 1945. Apparently, it was during this time that Machinist's Mate 3rd class Jorgensen had the opportunity to record this "voice letter" for his wife back home in Philadelphia. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kXlFPbyDW2JWy2pCZJaJfs81T71eD46TfbCbeJ_lKEc4jycvZKN4Cz6JbHY8dN0Uo9_hCp5olvxcDcb4ybJOP2aHHM0-p2eiQgqCTAPL6iOqIwTikv_F7RWHL-l_FC3fjsnMBj3MSMoD/s1600/uso_record_postmark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kXlFPbyDW2JWy2pCZJaJfs81T71eD46TfbCbeJ_lKEc4jycvZKN4Cz6JbHY8dN0Uo9_hCp5olvxcDcb4ybJOP2aHHM0-p2eiQgqCTAPL6iOqIwTikv_F7RWHL-l_FC3fjsnMBj3MSMoD/s320/uso_record_postmark.jpg" height="288" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #006666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">August 9, 1945 postmark on Voice Letter envelope</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The MacKenzie left Boston on August 13 (four days after the record's envelope was postmarked) for training near Cuba to prepare for duty in the Pacific. However, the surrender of Japan two days later prompted a change of plans and after two weeks training, the destroyer was ordered back to the U.S. for duty with the aircraft carrier Lake Champlain. Then on November 3, 1945 the MacKenzie headed to Charleston, South Carolina for decommissioning.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2alxQS9J7R3nlK-VRGpCbStcshyphenhyphenczusO8Wf_55zJ_iYrMIZHwa-BynExyGKWo1D-6qYh72MGKrNGVJuAW5So3ciaUaXSt8-zf0R4Urrfd9q053ChCTagEEI4kA8JbIWoDVYeTyosZIBZ/s1600/uso_recordlabel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2alxQS9J7R3nlK-VRGpCbStcshyphenhyphenczusO8Wf_55zJ_iYrMIZHwa-BynExyGKWo1D-6qYh72MGKrNGVJuAW5So3ciaUaXSt8-zf0R4Urrfd9q053ChCTagEEI4kA8JbIWoDVYeTyosZIBZ/s1600/uso_recordlabel.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #006666;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Label of 1945 Voice Letter record</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"> An <a href="http://www.archive.org/stream/audiorecord4552newyrich#page/18/mode/2up" target="_blank">article</a> printed in the January, 1946 installment of <i>Audio Record</i>—a newsletter/magazine for recording enthusiasts, published by Audio Devices Inc. (a manufacturer of blank discs)—states that some 350 USO clubs in major cities were equipped with voice recording equipment and that the USO Central Purchasing Dept. had sent out 301,059 blank discs over the past two years, all of which were donated to service personnel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One amusing story in the same article told of a young man who made a record for his family and after his mother wrote back to tell him how his dog "sent up great bays of delight" upon hearing his voice, the man went back and made another entire recording just for the dog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The USO still provides a modern day equivalent of this recording service through programs such as <a href="http://www.unitedthroughreading.org/military/news.php" target="_blank">United Through Reading,</a> where military parents are videotaped reading a storybook to their child. Also used are special books containing a digital device that records the voice of the parent as they read the story aloud. Volunteers then mail the books and videos to the families back home.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsN_5xpSv-29v4JhzPagF8OzMaD_V-Z_oFKyLSdZclBLz2TtUoUyHfuQNPs1OJkIOUYfewKHxUQjEzxIrB68897ICxF_DYZnMNas6HiF3WMwTKoiBbv_ecjDI58dJel3el3vveB0gzQ14/s1600/uso_record_flaptext.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsN_5xpSv-29v4JhzPagF8OzMaD_V-Z_oFKyLSdZclBLz2TtUoUyHfuQNPs1OJkIOUYfewKHxUQjEzxIrB68897ICxF_DYZnMNas6HiF3WMwTKoiBbv_ecjDI58dJel3el3vveB0gzQ14/s1600/uso_record_flaptext.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #006666;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Text printed on flap of 1945 Voice Letter record mailing envelope</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShWgXTdV737IzpSN4uf7UxLqwgcRLso3pkBGLLs_hB1RrlgbE1t9skfa_m2MvnAbFgag638qNNmjD1Exkehl0Y-JNeHvsqtDsHEbpVA5VckNHNXU-R9o0BOInRKRQa0Bd4LXSRmg4D14_/s1600/uso_record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShWgXTdV737IzpSN4uf7UxLqwgcRLso3pkBGLLs_hB1RrlgbE1t9skfa_m2MvnAbFgag638qNNmjD1Exkehl0Y-JNeHvsqtDsHEbpVA5VckNHNXU-R9o0BOInRKRQa0Bd4LXSRmg4D14_/s320/uso_record.jpg" height="308" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #006666;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1945 Voice Letter record (plays at 78 rpm)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">Developed in the 1930s, this particular type of recording disc, sometimes called an "instantaneous disc," is also often referred to as an "acetate" even though they do not actually contain acetate. They usually consist of a coating of nitrocellulose lacquer on a substrate of metal, glass, or cardboard. It appears (and makes the most sense) that this particular record is made with a cardboard core. I can't imagine that fragile glass would ever be used in discs meant for purposes such as this USO voice letter, and at this time in history when everyone was urged to turn in metal for the war effort, I'm guessing metal would not have been used for manufacturing record blanks. In fact, I've read that even thousands of pre-existing metal-based discs containing unique recordings, such as from radio performance archives were unfortunately lost to the U.S. scrap metal drives during World War II.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDLjUkc0I2ylpfmMrYpMMEIrYHPgtWaTyaSi5KjssCcen2CblRMsAdzwrUTuPllbaThr6CgXrfb9Jc44LIOe_nJZehSLzwZ2BpKamR0MQ-YJ5g2tUmADLfZJgqrJi7lHS5XylhaYNE33w/s1600/uso_record_envelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDLjUkc0I2ylpfmMrYpMMEIrYHPgtWaTyaSi5KjssCcen2CblRMsAdzwrUTuPllbaThr6CgXrfb9Jc44LIOe_nJZehSLzwZ2BpKamR0MQ-YJ5g2tUmADLfZJgqrJi7lHS5XylhaYNE33w/s200/uso_record_envelope.jpg" height="200" width="198"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #006666; font-size: xx-small;">1945 Voice Letter mailing envelope</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"> Instantaneous/lacquer recording discs are not exactly known for their great durability and longevity. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I would say this record and its packaging has held up very well these past 65 years and must have been kept in a safe place prior to turning up at the thrift store. <br />
It's fun stumbling upon these amateur recordings, never knowing what random voices from the past you will find waiting in the grooves to fill the air with sound once more...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="299" width="359"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/-8aZ2-7h4Gg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/-8aZ2-7h4Gg?&border=1&color1=006666&color2=0x006666version%3D3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="359" height="299" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Visit <a href="http://collectinghistory.net/dd614/" target="_blank">collectinghistory.net</a> for photos and more information about the USS MacKenzie</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunYLZtcxZ2au28H-hCi3nDZaTAlE5wvjw22WMJkHMrcBGVNJEc8_mgGUefyndaD8_hGFbV3ezaXc-jpeEey6P07x0ikenyJq6qbef9hP3uKD-4aTp1vRyZiPBhDPfnjRuK15sDosokNIC/s1600/handpoint5.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">A 324 pg. collection of <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/audiorecord4552newyrich" target="_blank">Audio Record</a> magazine is available to view online or download at Archive.org</span></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-77436239627365089452011-07-19T00:48:00.015-04:002016-07-04T00:13:25.970-04:00Meet The Brady Bunch<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLFKsZ4O5-XHhH0fALZyDyAhUNj53W0YXv67S9WJRWey6rpOVTfUh0IRAJyO5WIDmg1WWPmdOXiEMaPBDC96zBL5CE_e7B1zh_yNo1WN0XPSragxzWzouFa-D520-mnDCytWZpUPjS2AS/s1600/meet_bradybunch_cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLFKsZ4O5-XHhH0fALZyDyAhUNj53W0YXv67S9WJRWey6rpOVTfUh0IRAJyO5WIDmg1WWPmdOXiEMaPBDC96zBL5CE_e7B1zh_yNo1WN0XPSragxzWzouFa-D520-mnDCytWZpUPjS2AS/s320/meet_bradybunch_cover2.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: orange;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">1972 <b>Meet the Brady Bunch</b> LP cover</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Side One</u></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>1. We'll Always Be Friends (2:37)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>2. Day After Day (3:09)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>3. Baby, I'm-A Want You (2:42)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>4. I Believe In You (1:56)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>5. American Pie (3:39)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>6. Time To Change (2:08)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Side Two</u></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>1. Me And You And A Dog Named Boo (3:00)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>2. I Just Want To Be Your Friend (2:33)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>3. Love My Life Away (2:38)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>4. Come Run With Me (2:43)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>5. Ain't It Crazy (2:07)</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>6. We Can Make The World A Whole Lot Brighter (2:25)</i></span></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I found this record at the thrift store about a month ago, and while there was never any doubt that an artifact of such great historical and cultural significance would be featured here, the question of <i>when</i> it would happen was totally up in the air... until news of Brady Bunch creator, <a href="http://www.bradyworld.com/cover/schwartz.htm" target="_blank">Sherwood Schwartz's</a> recent passing prompted us to immediately stop the presses and get busy writing about The Brady Bunch. This report is dedicated to the man most responsible for bringing the Brady family into our living rooms and our lives.</span></div><div style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Brady Cool</u></span></b><br />
</span></div></div><div style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This cool Brady Bunch LP was released in 1972 by Paramount Records and was the sec... wait, what do you mean the words "Brady Bunch" and "cool" can't exist in the same sentence? Perhaps you're forgetting this is the show that introduced to the world, that hot new recording sensation <b style="color: #f1c232;">Johnny Bravo</b>? Come on, he had <span style="color: #f1c232;">"all the platter jockeys waiting to freak out"</span> over his new album (and he hadn't even recorded it yet). And how about that time Bobby rescued a classmate's kitten from an abandoned house and messed up his safety monitor uniform... OK, maybe we should just forget about that one, with the whole safety monitor thing and all...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM5N6EtXPkGTVbT0Chno8893dep60W09PpsODOHRfG8AF3TL81eVzbR9b0UM24UY745hivPywlDDvrCUbxZLVwPQnDHgJESuuhkoRJ8YrsqmGT9P0CTzUA_Yu8MvHxYeKEck__RGf4CVy/s1600/marsha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM5N6EtXPkGTVbT0Chno8893dep60W09PpsODOHRfG8AF3TL81eVzbR9b0UM24UY745hivPywlDDvrCUbxZLVwPQnDHgJESuuhkoRJ8YrsqmGT9P0CTzUA_Yu8MvHxYeKEck__RGf4CVy/s200/marsha.jpg" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: magenta;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cool or not, I've always liked the Bradys (even if I didn't always want to admit it). There is something comforting about the Brady World, where a fair and amusing solution to all of life's problems is just an emergency family meeting away. Sure, they will always be scoffed at by the self-styled too cool for school crowd, but deep down, aren't we all just a little jealous that our own families never erected a giant house of cards to settle a trading stamp dispute? And who among us has ever built an actual working volcano, complete with smoke that comes out ... and real molten lava that oozes all over the place? Uh-huh, that's what I thought. Remember <i>that</i> the next time you think about calling a Brady "square."</span></div></div><div style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<div style="color: #ffd966; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Songs</u></b></span></div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am pleasantly surprised at how much I'm actually enjoying many of these songs. The album is off to a strong start with the first three tracks: <i></i><i style="color: #ffd966;">We'll Always Be Friends</i><span style="color: #ffd966;"> is a really nice opener, and dare I say, is even a bit touching </span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-small;">*sniff*</span><span style="color: #ffd966;"> (no, I am </span><i style="color: #ffd966;"><b>not</b></i><span style="color: #ffd966;"> crying ... I just got done chopping some onions!). It sounds like all six of the kids are singing in unison, but with a mix that emphasizes the girls' voices. I can definitely recognize Marcia and Greg's voices when I listen closely, but it's more difficult for me to separate and pick out the others.</span> </span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGdLOz3FuoR_3viviN0wpFv677OwVC-D2wU4UAi5Gi3XjKgIW5E4N_V6oSn1HJa_9Thcm_7m4kek5GsORIXykMMghqR06gIrYfgq5zSsTdlZwvnyRy8ezR6Ai35O6B8JnWonT4z82ZCu5/s1600/meet_the_bradybunch_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGdLOz3FuoR_3viviN0wpFv677OwVC-D2wU4UAi5Gi3XjKgIW5E4N_V6oSn1HJa_9Thcm_7m4kek5GsORIXykMMghqR06gIrYfgq5zSsTdlZwvnyRy8ezR6Ai35O6B8JnWonT4z82ZCu5/s200/meet_the_bradybunch_label.jpg" width="214"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: orange;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1972 Paramount Records PAS-6032</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">The vocal mix sounds much the same on the <b>Badfinger</b> song <i>Day After Day</i>. The musical accompaniment is well done, and overall, it's a good and faithful rendition of the song, but with more sugary sweet vocals, naturally. </span></div><br />
<div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">I find the <b>Bread</b> song <i>Baby, I'm-A Want You</i> to be enjoyable, as well. The verse beginning with the line <i>"used to be my life was just emotions passing by"</i> sounds especially good. I think there is a key change there and the vocal mix seems to change up from the previous part.</span></div></div><div style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="color: #ffd966;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things go decidedly downhill from there with the upbeat and cheesy <i>I Believe in You. </i>Conjuring images of an embarrassingly choreographed, awkward song and dance routine, complete with spangled bell-bottomed jumpsuits, I find myself abruptly jolted from my relaxing, Marcia hair brushing daydreams, and into television variety show hell. </span></div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Their inappropriately chipper version of <b>Don McClean's</b> <i>American Pie</i> offers no respite for this listener. I don't much care even for the original recording, to be honest, and this brassy, uptempo version does nothing to win me over to the song. In his book <i>Growing Up Brady</i>, Barry Williams even writes: <i style="color: #f1c232;">"Worst of all, though, was our extraordinarily awful rendition of 'American Pie.' Ouch!"</i><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span> </span></div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Side one ends with </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Time to Change</i>;</span><span style="font-size: small;"> a song originally heard on an episode of the TV series. Absent from this recording are the lines Peter sings with his cracking, out of tune voice so prominently featured on the TV show version. This song also has less full-on, layered chorus vocals and more solo singing parts than any song heard thus far and I actually enjoyed it much more than the previous two tracks.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkHNnatEiQiJ7nebUcrdDxSI_CcPqgHw-3_ncQvROar23doxmHxEDeXv9-BLFTCrEtQ8uJEPChb1s1nfIQ4C3tZrInfemuOwHYIX8saRRhRhCXgiBhynMdyPZwp-GJ04mk3MpQjPk4EdB/s1600/meet_bradybunch_backcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkHNnatEiQiJ7nebUcrdDxSI_CcPqgHw-3_ncQvROar23doxmHxEDeXv9-BLFTCrEtQ8uJEPChb1s1nfIQ4C3tZrInfemuOwHYIX8saRRhRhCXgiBhynMdyPZwp-GJ04mk3MpQjPk4EdB/s320/meet_bradybunch_backcover.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: orange;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Back of 1972 <b>Meet the Brady Bunch</b> cover</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">For some reason, as soon as I saw the title on the back of the cover, I pictured Bobby singing lead on the <b>Lobo</b> song <i>Me and You and a Dog Named Boo</i>, but it's another one with what sounds like all of the kids singing in unison.</span></div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next bunch of songs are not really grabbing me at all. The unrelenting, layered vocal mix/sound with its minimal dynamic changes starts to wear thin and become tiresome by now. I would also say the song selections on this side could have been better. </span></div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We Can Make the World a Whole Lot Brighter</i> closes the album on a positive note, and while I do enjoy this track, it sounds strangely subdued and melancholic, especially considering the optimistic title. It is no <a href="http://youtu.be/NaCCG7QkM_c" target="_blank">Sunshine Day</a>, for sure, but I do agree that the Brady Bunch can (and do) make the world a whole lot brighter! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D-2V6iBbcX-z8NXXX6-nJbGwbJImrL4lSXofkXNs5_aTwE2472bZc6SxkgiRETR45SID5GunJYpWspNDt7pU3Bd8qi09vQ-3mnV3ZoLTqNUx17SYxETIJRq54R407xlcphNtQnJ6E6Qw/s1600/icon_sunny.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D-2V6iBbcX-z8NXXX6-nJbGwbJImrL4lSXofkXNs5_aTwE2472bZc6SxkgiRETR45SID5GunJYpWspNDt7pU3Bd8qi09vQ-3mnV3ZoLTqNUx17SYxETIJRq54R407xlcphNtQnJ6E6Qw/s1600/icon_sunny.gif"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: small;">Click <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thebradybunchofficial/music/songs/we-ll-always-be-friends-12401" target="_blank">here</a> to listen to <i>We'll Always Be Friends</i> at Myspace.com</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a></div><div style="color: #ff6600;"><span style="font-size: small;">Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUtNUBCWkiw" target="_blank">here</a> to watch a segment of the Johnny Bravo episode on YouTube</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-69648213903565135472011-06-25T22:50:00.005-04:002016-07-04T00:15:13.309-04:00Black Sabbath - Paranoid EP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fD3ZwWzRDgu3TfpBI3Oxf6Kvtufgt2kiuFVWmUZiYkNlRUFSUGRIOSt7UJEGxzzIH-PRWcjzxkF-Y6xmnFWKmJST6fj65KDCKc7mIM6Lfhm_MbUDyyd1BliRSpVvxLUxQGbYDwp2ldcI/s1600/paranoid_ep_label1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fD3ZwWzRDgu3TfpBI3Oxf6Kvtufgt2kiuFVWmUZiYkNlRUFSUGRIOSt7UJEGxzzIH-PRWcjzxkF-Y6xmnFWKmJST6fj65KDCKc7mIM6Lfhm_MbUDyyd1BliRSpVvxLUxQGbYDwp2ldcI/s320/paranoid_ep_label1.jpg" width="310"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black Sabbath - Paranoid EP</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1982 Nems 12NEX01</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the past few weeks, not only has the thrift store record department once again become a virtual wasteland, littered with a stagnant collection of deteriorating boxes, jam-packed with moldy LPs only a dumpster could love, but my timing has been frustratingly out of sync, as well. I always seem to arrive on the scene just in time to witness someone clearing out with the few worthwhile new records that may have actually trickled in. And so it went once again today. But this time, as I was left in the dust to watch another more fortunate record hunter waltz off with his well-timed finds, something surprising happened. </span></div></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhWY0q5fsmGecx5wRotHy6eZw_eOpH-U7wUQGm4ZSbzqVVqgUG04Vshhf2C0Ygd86PYiXLKGEMd7Kt9glAx6YP7YbsXlsThl5A7uXYnq4f0UQbeyMmQuJfrHgU1rTSVncUe6bIoQKKwER/s1600/blacksabbath_paranoid_ep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhWY0q5fsmGecx5wRotHy6eZw_eOpH-U7wUQGm4ZSbzqVVqgUG04Vshhf2C0Ygd86PYiXLKGEMd7Kt9glAx6YP7YbsXlsThl5A7uXYnq4f0UQbeyMmQuJfrHgU1rTSVncUe6bIoQKKwER/s320/blacksabbath_paranoid_ep.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black Sabbath - Paranoid EP</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Limited edition UK release on clear vinyl</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the temperature outside hitting 100˚F, I wasn't in a big rush to leave the air conditioned store only two minutes after arriving by bicycle. So, just to appear busy and not simply be standing around feeling awkward while soaking up the chilled air, I turned to a bin of familiar records I have already examined a few times in the recent past, ran a hand along the top, and picked a spot near the middle of the row to start flipping. I didn't expect to actually find anything good, but when the records were parted, a surprising sight was revealed. A clear vinyl record? Now, that surely wasn't here before and definitely warrants a closer look. Figuring it would probably be a soundtrack for a Broadway musical or one of the many (and ever-present) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_Strings" target="_blank">101 Strings</a> LPs that had gotten separated from its jacket, I coolly lifted it up to examine the label and ... <i>whoah, it's a Black Sabbath record!</i> One of my very favorite bands! And I never even heard of this particular release before! Spurred on by the miraculous discovery, I quickly rifled through the rest of that bin in search of a cover for it, but found none. I started thinking, since it was an EP/single release, that maybe it originally only came with a generic, white, die-cut, promo type of jacket with a sticker on it or something, so I didn't look too thoroughly in the other bins and boxes and was suddenly struck by an urge to just slip away with my prize. Casting paranoid glances all around and clutching the precious to our chest, we hastily skulked off to the checkout counter, and out into the hot, glaring sunlight that burns and hurts our poor eyes.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU_xS_eGvtlbI8WWVDHLx8DJ8OL0LM_mdH1ffI2seTolUj8A4p31kH3pqTo2MmYhyphenhypheno8WNubOo9aeAydbKtKztZyAHrj2vq78bE6Ktbja37vDT5qj5m6Phl1JUI9pW7R_oT3_R5JIBfJTo/s1600/paranoid_ep_label2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU_xS_eGvtlbI8WWVDHLx8DJ8OL0LM_mdH1ffI2seTolUj8A4p31kH3pqTo2MmYhyphenhypheno8WNubOo9aeAydbKtKztZyAHrj2vq78bE6Ktbja37vDT5qj5m6Phl1JUI9pW7R_oT3_R5JIBfJTo/s320/paranoid_ep_label2.jpg" width="311"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black Sabbath - Paranoid EP</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1982 Nems 12NEX01</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;">After returning to headquarters and pulling up all relevant data on the item, I found it definitely did have a <a href="http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1550017" target="_blank">very cool cover</a> at one time. This now called for an all-out search and rescue mission. At the next possible opportunity, I returned to the store, and after completing an exhaustive search of the estimated 1,500 or so LPs <span style="font-size: small;">there</span>, I was able to determine the following:</span></div></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. The Black Sabbath cover definitely was not present.</span></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2. You would have to pay me to take any of those terrible records.</span></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">3. I really needed to wash my hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Despite the missing cover and the fact that three of the most familiar and overplayed songs in the Black Sabbath discography make up the bulk of the material here, I still consider this to be a triumphant thrift store record find and a very welcome and important edition to the TSRR Archives' Black Sabbath section.</span></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-49599676180855651042011-05-24T20:51:00.006-04:002016-07-04T00:16:30.173-04:00Neil Young - Young Man's Fancy<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYDCE4oMiYgT5Mn8ltt_2VqJ8-Uz1Fb01fcfumg7NCU0b5E_5PxLTjZNxwozLQl-9ME5Jt_Vg_H8hLCMummw13BqQ3_OgnduICPtUA-e-QezXCTekZoOtjWsC_iXP9dhnzo8ijSrv3G6O/s1600/neilyoung_youngmansfancy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: auto; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYDCE4oMiYgT5Mn8ltt_2VqJ8-Uz1Fb01fcfumg7NCU0b5E_5PxLTjZNxwozLQl-9ME5Jt_Vg_H8hLCMummw13BqQ3_OgnduICPtUA-e-QezXCTekZoOtjWsC_iXP9dhnzo8ijSrv3G6O/s400/neilyoung_youngmansfancy.jpg" height="391" width="400"></a></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Side 1</u></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>1. On the Way Home</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>2. Tell Me Why</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>3. Old Man</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>4. Journey Through the Past</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>5. Cowgirl in the Sand</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>6. Heart of Gold</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>7. A Man Needs a Maid</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Side 2</u></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>1. Sugar Mountain</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>2. Don't Let It Bring You Down </i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>3. Love in Mind</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>4. The Needle and the Damage Done</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>5. Ohio</i></span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>6. See the Sky About to Rain</i> </span></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In my experience, the live bootleg is one of the rarer varieties of thrift store records. But happily, the couple I have managed to find were by favorite artists of mine. I'm a big Neil Young fan and have been really enjoying the string of classic live recordings released in recent years (<b>The Neil Young Archives Performance Series</b>). Of the three I've heard, I think <i>Live at Massey Hall 1971</i> is my favorite. Comparatively shoddy sound quality aside, this unofficial "Young Man's Fancy" live LP is similar in several ways to that recently released Massey Hall 1971 recording.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy65JI5ZF9o1_JWBnqXBguJ97KcFCu7W_yMriB0qUVRHEexUDgA79dB_wEbXYDXd_nds69BWFmyMTycMmiyQrP58Ty5GaJQgPLbHnELU54JrRxlOoNOODOJqDrxvyLhFSW5EHmq6rMTosK/s1600/neilyoung_label1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy65JI5ZF9o1_JWBnqXBguJ97KcFCu7W_yMriB0qUVRHEexUDgA79dB_wEbXYDXd_nds69BWFmyMTycMmiyQrP58Ty5GaJQgPLbHnELU54JrRxlOoNOODOJqDrxvyLhFSW5EHmq6rMTosK/s320/neilyoung_label1.jpg" height="315" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Label from unofficial 1971 Neil Young live LP:</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Young Man's Fancy/Live on Sugar Mountain</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">Very little information was included with this record. The only writing to be found was on the title page insert posted above. By utilizing powerful, modern investigational techniques (ie Google search) and noting Young's own between-song banter, however, we can piece together the basic facts: It was an audience recording, made on <b>Feb. 1, 1971</b> at the <b>Los Angeles Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion</b>. This means it took place just ten days after the Massey Hall performance/recording, and the set list and performance is similar (and similarly great!). It was the last night of his early 1971 solo tour. Before playing <i>Sugar Mountain </i>(which is the only song on this LP not found on the Massey Hall release), Neil says: <i>"...tonight's the night when the tour ends for me..."</i> (then it sounds like he makes a sad little sniffle and everyone laughs). He goes on to say: <i>"this is my twenty fourth show since January fifth."</i> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6HBpkXa5SAtx42mp3a2gG8Dh3-_Tey6YXavTgS7ZAEeQEHZSBbRrJoswrAakpPdlff4pTFPYIrMgABcSuZoshl4P2uJ8j9eSNypXgCFa1471Ah_aeSPF-rbAtvClqDwskVeEI_RWOXjU/s1600/neilyoung_label2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6HBpkXa5SAtx42mp3a2gG8Dh3-_Tey6YXavTgS7ZAEeQEHZSBbRrJoswrAakpPdlff4pTFPYIrMgABcSuZoshl4P2uJ8j9eSNypXgCFa1471Ah_aeSPF-rbAtvClqDwskVeEI_RWOXjU/s320/neilyoung_label2.jpg" height="315" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Label from unofficial 1971 Neil Young live LP:</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Young Man's Fancy/Live on Sugar Mountain</b><br />
<br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">This recording must have been an extra exciting find back when it first showed up (reportedly, only weeks after the show), as it contains several songs that had not yet been released. It would be another year (Feb. '72) before future classics <i>Heart of Gold</i>, <i>A Man Needs a Maid</i>, <i>The Needle and the Damage Done</i>, and <i>Old Man</i> would be available on the <b>Harvest</b><i> </i>LP.<i> Journey Through the Past</i> and <i>Love in Mind</i> didn't come out until October, 1973, on the <b>Time Fades Away</b> live album. <i>See the Sky About to Rain</i> would not get an official release until 1974's <b>On the Beach</b>.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I mainly read about two versions of this recording that have been circulating on vinyl: A two record set containing 15 songs, which has been called "Young Man's Fancy," or alternatively: "I'm Happy That Y'all Came Down." There is also a single LP version with 10 songs, called "Live on Sugar Mountain." The one I own seems to be a hybrid of the two. It has 13 songs on a single disc, with both the Young Man's Fancy, as well as Live on Sugar Mountain titles printed on the insert. <br />
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My copy has a small warp that causes a rhythmic whooshing sound during the first song; there are scratches that occasionally add a steady ticking; the needle sticks in one spot; and there is a light & zesty crackle throughout, but it is still a pleasure to hear this performance. The extraneous noises aren't actually too distracting (except when the needle sticks) and, in a way, they even sort of add to the sparse, (mostly) mournful atmosphere created by Young's heartfelt vocals and lone guitar (or piano) accompaniment.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Click </span><a href="http://youtu.be/kFSwjFPyJ6A" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> to listen to a YouTube clip of <i>Don't Let It Bring You Down</i></span></span>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-56902929571618563412011-05-18T01:53:00.015-04:002017-10-27T16:49:19.673-04:00Fixing Unstable Turntable Speed<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ6HIF5XF3G8prsDn77syvIR6YWYyqIi0_lOT84bXoih2zpkNaicM0-UKuk4BIfoLEKafBa-H75GmqA0xhojEGmNwrVQ-3D8qbaxGv751wI0iHVpdvsxT-IQJMWx0W6IH5W6E5Zg9Xp0o/s1600/sl1300_closed_lid2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ6HIF5XF3G8prsDn77syvIR6YWYyqIi0_lOT84bXoih2zpkNaicM0-UKuk4BIfoLEKafBa-H75GmqA0xhojEGmNwrVQ-3D8qbaxGv751wI0iHVpdvsxT-IQJMWx0W6IH5W6E5Zg9Xp0o/s320/sl1300_closed_lid2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Technics SL-1300 direct-drive automatic turntable</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Am I the only one who finds it odd that in 35 years, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">no one ever removed that giant vinyl decal?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The thrift store can be a good place to buy turntables as well as records. You might have to be patient and keep checking, but it's not unusual to find a nice, vintage workhorse capable of outperforming many of the new turntables available today, and for a fraction of the cost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I once found a beautifully kept<b> Technics SL-D2</b> that barely needed so much as a light dusting. But most of the time there has been at least one or two things wrong with the thrift store turntables I have encountered. This <b>Technics SL-1300</b>, which I recently picked up, was missing the headshell/cartridge/stylus assembly, and while the sticker on the dust cover states that it has been tested and the "turntable spins," I could see by the wildly fluctuating strobe pattern, when I tried it out in the store, that the sound was going to be wobbly, to say the least. But for the low, low price of only $3.00, it didn't take long for me to decide to grab it. I reasoned that if it couldn't easily be fixed, it was still well worth buying just for the platter mat alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Symptoms</b></u></span><br />
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<object height="250" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 0.5em;" width="300"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/q2QWAY7z0y8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param>
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<embed src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/q2QWAY7z0y8?&border=1&color1=ff6600&color2=0xffff33fs%3D1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="250" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><span style="color: #ff9900; font-size: small;">The video at right demonstrates the erratic strobe pattern and sound. The speed adjustment controls were extremely touchy. I only had to lightly tap them to make the platter spazz out even worse. There was no way you could stabilize the speed, and the turntable was unusable in this condition—unless you wanted to play background music in a funhouse. Watch the bottom row of dots. Those are the ones that should be appearing stationary.</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Diagnosis</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What can happen is, the components that allow you to control the speed get dust and crud gunking up their internal contacts, causing them to work erratically. It's the same thing that causes crackly, touchy, volume controls. Eventually, the potentiometers ("pots") and switches need to be cleaned with a good electronic parts cleaning fluid. Often, this is all that is necessary to get things working properly again. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I was able to fix this problem without buying or installing anything. The only tools needed were basic Phillips-head and flat-head screwdrivers.</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Solution</span></b></u></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqZOLiwqlVDzx3tt0AlVU5AacfB2v6W5HxmqZWToqarNq_8XEj90YCK13tKfBSWjpxtoTO4_ZRsPHPRGAGKxYt1It87oSe7zLoZf9qSQrTXQ7gPGPQ695UNWnaFvhVIHYSYK1TNdwMCC3/s1600/partcleaner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqZOLiwqlVDzx3tt0AlVU5AacfB2v6W5HxmqZWToqarNq_8XEj90YCK13tKfBSWjpxtoTO4_ZRsPHPRGAGKxYt1It87oSe7zLoZf9qSQrTXQ7gPGPQ695UNWnaFvhVIHYSYK1TNdwMCC3/s200/partcleaner.jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">CRC QD Electronic Cleaner</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ff9900; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are several brands of cleaning fluids available that should do the trick. </span><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-Deoxit-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00006LVEU" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">DeoxIT®</a></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> by <b>Caig Laboratories</b> has a very good reputation, and is pretty much universally endorsed. I already had this can of <b>CRC QD Electronic Cleaner</b> hanging around, so that is what I used. Make sure whatever you use, that the label states it is safe on plastics. I should mention that a lubricant is recommended (if not essential) when/after cleaning potentiometers to keep them operating smoothly and to protect against premature wear. DeoxIT® already has a lubricant mixed with the cleaner. The CRC is a very effective cleaner, but contains no lubricant. Now that this turntable is spinning properly again, I plan to replace its audio cables. At that time, I'll probably go ahead and lubricate the pots I just cleaned.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7HN7SE3apck5GJ54kUnylN1LOdCYAvQVSvkdOEIaJpuNq3K9kjVCjVCZaKQXVzTF3wFu_6D-Z2UJZxsQ3jsEizYiec3PuTTvP62fctPSqtKNr7QdK19LMa7EPGpnT_UxKxrbXStr64qC/s1600/warningsticker_turntable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7HN7SE3apck5GJ54kUnylN1LOdCYAvQVSvkdOEIaJpuNq3K9kjVCjVCZaKQXVzTF3wFu_6D-Z2UJZxsQ3jsEizYiec3PuTTvP62fctPSqtKNr7QdK19LMa7EPGpnT_UxKxrbXStr64qC/s320/warningsticker_turntable.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBVZrWdumWBPDDPHEWapc43fYtRfqQndm245RaPvbIjDQmWa75fPX2SbpIQiM5eeRvcE8bQzIVJzAZGLC9q8J2jp3G-SbCghTzONSSIKFqOW7iRDXhAfxL-tWDk7ixQcjghBbbgrp72Lc/s1600/lightningflash.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 7em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBVZrWdumWBPDDPHEWapc43fYtRfqQndm245RaPvbIjDQmWa75fPX2SbpIQiM5eeRvcE8bQzIVJzAZGLC9q8J2jp3G-SbCghTzONSSIKFqOW7iRDXhAfxL-tWDk7ixQcjghBbbgrp72Lc/s1600/lightningflash.gif" /></a><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;">CAUTION: </span></b><span style="color: #ff6600;"><span style="font-size: small;">Always be sure the power plug of any electrical device is disconnected from power source before working inside device. Always follow standard <a href="http://repairfaq.cis.upenn.edu/sam/appfaq.htm#afsgui" target="_blank">safety guidelines</a> for working with electrical devices. </span></span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><span style="font-size: small;">We at Thrift Store Record Report are not responsible for any damage to persons or property that may arise as a result of unqualified service personnel attempting turntable repairs after viewing the materials posted to this site.</span></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Disassembly</span></b></u></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XmumIoy7V9lT1He68uftYvB3e7sAtkGOJXOBa3VCEPJAYh16G1Buiszle5MrBVeVKPt-avFq4qeGKjyhnLlpJ8GP6dxsQmSiufOCYv_5epfzjHp7gVfqncA6uKRlpDjmi8ul3FhPGaJ4/s1600/removedplatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XmumIoy7V9lT1He68uftYvB3e7sAtkGOJXOBa3VCEPJAYh16G1Buiszle5MrBVeVKPt-avFq4qeGKjyhnLlpJ8GP6dxsQmSiufOCYv_5epfzjHp7gVfqncA6uKRlpDjmi8ul3FhPGaJ4/s320/removedplatter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tonearm locked and platter removed</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Before turning the unit over, lock down the tonearm, remove the mat, and carefully remove the platter. Some turntables may have screws on the platter, or a retaining ring or clip of some sort around the spindle that will need to be removed first. With this Technics, and many of the other turntables I have encountered, you only need to lift the platter. It might be a little stuck at first. You can lock your thumbs in the holes and push downward with your fingers on the base if you need a little extra leverage. Try to pull up with equal pressure on each side. You have to be especially careful not to damage the magnet assembly attached to the underside of the platter on these direct-drive turntables.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugW7FzN73BUTmel0-3FNf8O74IvTvgpRtGR1ckhBAIxcSbBjr44lKQb2FX9ih2Q5-JYh-iQksDSUmhqtwsvwnw7RO3YYlOCvlc3na-tnXTlJrjbE1Anb4PzWK1AIvICZM8xDdPBdu7Eve/s1600/sl1300inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugW7FzN73BUTmel0-3FNf8O74IvTvgpRtGR1ckhBAIxcSbBjr44lKQb2FX9ih2Q5-JYh-iQksDSUmhqtwsvwnw7RO3YYlOCvlc3na-tnXTlJrjbE1Anb4PzWK1AIvICZM8xDdPBdu7Eve/s320/sl1300inside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inside view of Technics SL-1300 turntable</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The main speed pots and speed selector switch</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">are in the upper-left corner</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I left the dust cover on and flipped the unit upside down on a large, folded bath towel. I know this leaves a chance of cracking the dust cover, but I've not broken one yet, and it is easier for me this way, so I continue to take my chances. If you rig something up to support it without the dustcover, just make sure it is stable enough and that nothing can touch the tonearm assembly. Next, I removed the screws from the base. The feet did not need to come off, as on some turntables. There were two screw lengths. The shorter ones went around the perimeter; the longer ones closer to the middle. I pulled all the screws out (a magnetic tip screwdriver comes in handy here) and put them aside where they wouldn't get lost. Some people like to only loosen them, so they lift out with the base, still sitting in their respective holes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Getting Down to Business</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The primary targets are the main speed/pitch adjustment pots. I cleaned only those at first, then did a quick test, and found that the speed looked greatly stabilized just from those parts getting cleaned. However, to be thorough, I went ahead and cleaned the speed selector switch and the more hidden set of speed control trimpots. I also oiled the motor shaft while I was at it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The video above illustrates, step-by-step, all of the work that was done, and is a live-motion companion to this written article. It even has a pretty snappy soundtrack—so check it out!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUPXvLvwcE5cQz_SDGvyrA_fnFFdz2VmFjoK38-9woReFPsKx6JYQN28ESo0fHwe41QoBGCfLpf5Cbl_IC2B4iNLOVI27glfr6H3e3CS5-LZLhJXhyphenhyphenkjnrAM8sjxzVWqpzv4sFNJdGAU3/s1600/turntable_pots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUPXvLvwcE5cQz_SDGvyrA_fnFFdz2VmFjoK38-9woReFPsKx6JYQN28ESo0fHwe41QoBGCfLpf5Cbl_IC2B4iNLOVI27glfr6H3e3CS5-LZLhJXhyphenhyphenkjnrAM8sjxzVWqpzv4sFNJdGAU3/s1600/turntable_pots.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The main speed control potentiometers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Spray the cleaner in any openings you find in the components. The pots should have sizable openings where the three connection tabs are attached, as well as another small one around the outside of the case. After spraying fluid inside the housing, the pot shafts need to be fully rotated back and forth many times, then repeat the spray/rotation procedure at least once or twice more.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglw56aYGYB1nNQmYqB_fF9o-i_bnV3m_FS4PpR8UnXz4PjmuY0eTTTnSMdnzP73bfjhp8xfD5AhUgEjdU5IWDbQFkqHufH0kqw6aymU_ClBVVrrPokeeYDzBvLGkurwX0fpH4vOfAo8f3Q/s1600/speedswitch_spraying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglw56aYGYB1nNQmYqB_fF9o-i_bnV3m_FS4PpR8UnXz4PjmuY0eTTTnSMdnzP73bfjhp8xfD5AhUgEjdU5IWDbQFkqHufH0kqw6aymU_ClBVVrrPokeeYDzBvLGkurwX0fpH4vOfAo8f3Q/s200/speedswitch_spraying.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Spraying speed selector switch</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Next, I cleaned the speed selector switch by spraying into the cracks where the plastic plunger piece comes out of the housing, and in some adjacent slots, as well. The switch should then also be worked back and forth several times and sprayed again. This fluid dries very quickly and doesn't seem to harm anything it gets on, so I don't usually worry too much about over-spray, but you can always surround the parts you're spraying with a rag or paper towel to catch the excess.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8dTjOk0iQIOFEivHE9QpcJr9ixRi-I6k8TaL-bUA2olq8SZkOsZ2fCMTEZHl-i2-CcohEJ2VFXpKes-50wNSWQbMYAXyLFZu9_b6clnEwRiolT9asitwMSQf_TAAGSaUS3iL0nUL5Tpw/s1600/pcbpins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8dTjOk0iQIOFEivHE9QpcJr9ixRi-I6k8TaL-bUA2olq8SZkOsZ2fCMTEZHl-i2-CcohEJ2VFXpKes-50wNSWQbMYAXyLFZu9_b6clnEwRiolT9asitwMSQf_TAAGSaUS3iL0nUL5Tpw/s200/pcbpins.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To get at the second, less accessible set of speed controls, the circuit board located next to the main speed pots must be removed. It was only a matter of taking out three Phillips-head screws and then lifting the board straight up while wiggling it a little bit to free its connecting pins from the holes they mate with on the motor board. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekikKQHY1-xHktXeBsvhm2T_qKTJipctxdr2ZB3aAtTLXe1KA-xms2GmPEGDsQRIFjoeSF1F2oUW-_KKM01QY37kdDnKsvv8ZirYwykoXqRs4BbMYoouIixr9nbiAPZNnbTBV21jdV4E7/s1600/trimpots_sl1300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekikKQHY1-xHktXeBsvhm2T_qKTJipctxdr2ZB3aAtTLXe1KA-xms2GmPEGDsQRIFjoeSF1F2oUW-_KKM01QY37kdDnKsvv8ZirYwykoXqRs4BbMYoouIixr9nbiAPZNnbTBV21jdV4E7/s200/trimpots_sl1300.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Variable resistors 1 & 2</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">aka VR1 & VR2</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Once the circuit board is unscrewed and flipped over, it's an easy job cleaning these parts, as they are not sealed in housings and their track and wiper contacts are more exposed. Spray, fully rotate shaft back and forth, and repeat the cycle, just like with the first pots. After everything is reassembled, these trimpots will need to be adjusted first, to give the topside speed controls the range necessary to get the platter rotating at the right speed.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s4qsHge1A58GejbaEivzx_cd1mmQAyzO600Jnn35H_Uu4XZaaooVn789_KRKrD-tJKbYWyxcD5pHMLm_7s4iG_B_lECSbHoKwV_WU1o3oQUj_8MjRBF6cVe5rR5F29c35pAl_cHbYE7S/s1600/oiling_spindle_sl1300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s4qsHge1A58GejbaEivzx_cd1mmQAyzO600Jnn35H_Uu4XZaaooVn789_KRKrD-tJKbYWyxcD5pHMLm_7s4iG_B_lECSbHoKwV_WU1o3oQUj_8MjRBF6cVe5rR5F29c35pAl_cHbYE7S/s320/oiling_spindle_sl1300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oiling motor shaft on Technics SL-1300</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As long as the platter was off, I figured it was a good idea to also oil the motor shaft—especially since this is something else that can affect the speed. Technics recommends doing this after every 2,000 hours of service. Since I bought this turntable used, several decades after it was made (and while it's in pretty good shape, it doesn't exactly look like it's been babied), I think it is probably overdue by now. The owner's manual and the sticker on the platter insist you use only the specially formulated Technics oil, but I doubt it is necessary. I would certainly use it if I had some, but since I don't, I'm inclined to just make-do with an acceptable substitute when working on a broken-down, three dollar turntable. I think a good light oil, such as sewing machine oil is fine for this task. If you would like to get the official Technics oil, you can find some available for purchase at the <a href="http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/" target="_blank">Kab Electro Acoustics</a> website. I used something called <a href="https://www.fluoramics.com/wp-content/uploads/Lubit-8-TDS.pdf" target="_blank">Lubit-8</a>. I like the precision needlepoint applicator and the fact that it is supposed to be compatible with all oils and greases, so it should mix well with any other oil that has been applied in the past. No matter what kind you use, you are only supposed to apply two to three drops.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizn-ygQMcpFojL46ad3r37uWR16zgMw8JYVmqQz719h8EnMnVZZzNU1yVytvSSgSHoPkeKe_cp71yYNfixyq202AP-LURAe9U2Wilqx63cok2NsoKYLLawgZxkKtKGLmTUSoVy45Ea63zT/s1600/trimmers_sl1300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizn-ygQMcpFojL46ad3r37uWR16zgMw8JYVmqQz719h8EnMnVZZzNU1yVytvSSgSHoPkeKe_cp71yYNfixyq202AP-LURAe9U2Wilqx63cok2NsoKYLLawgZxkKtKGLmTUSoVy45Ea63zT/s320/trimmers_sl1300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ff6600;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These are basically "set and forget" trimpots</span></span></td></tr>
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<div style="color: #cccc00;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I didn't note the positions of VR1 & 2 before commencing to vigorously rotate them, so I reset them to the midway/twelve o'clock position. After trying out the turntable, I found they needed to be moved to the one o'clock position. VR1 and VR2 must be set correctly before the topside controls will have the range needed to get the platter spinning at the right speed.</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Results</span></span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The video below shows how the turntable is running very smoothly now.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A nice Technics turntable database can be found at <a href="http://www.vintagetechnics.info/turntables.htm" target="_blank">Vintage Technics</a> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A great library of free turntable user manuals, service manuals, schematics, brochures, and technical documents is located at </span><a href="http://www.vinylengine.com/library.shtml" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b>Vinyl</b>engine</a></span>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-14100378014077383602011-05-04T21:49:00.005-04:002016-06-29T00:28:46.072-04:00A Cautionary Tale<div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>The Incident:</b></u></span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There I was, on a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon, performing routine record cleaning duties (when I probably should have been outside playing stickball or frolicking with a puppy or something), and as I get to work on the final disc, I start to think: <i>tee-hee I like that funny parrot on this label</i>. Then I realize that none of the records I picked out to clean were on the <b>Parrot Records</b> label ... in fact, I don't think I've ever owned a record on the Parrot label...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufLgWntJFUIakdO38FcOQGbggLSW3t32vLrAhkveF9-ZZOmwLaAaUf6LNkJ1jdhpwpDiyBEMpjAfttGW2VdF4oF4TuZz-FxnznQC72TtYBns-FHKIM8sFPgYchdqcI3PnaUEzBM1TuNm2/s1600/parrot_label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 2em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufLgWntJFUIakdO38FcOQGbggLSW3t32vLrAhkveF9-ZZOmwLaAaUf6LNkJ1jdhpwpDiyBEMpjAfttGW2VdF4oF4TuZz-FxnznQC72TtYBns-FHKIM8sFPgYchdqcI3PnaUEzBM1TuNm2/s200/parrot_label.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Continuing to spread the cleaning solution, I start scanning the text on the label... <i><b>Egads man, you're cleaning an Engelbert Humperdinck album!</b></i></span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This can only mean that a wanted record which I thought I bought has been displaced by this perennial thrift bin dweller that is of no use to me. Quickly suppressing the sinking feeling that begins to take hold, I remain calm, and like a mindless automaton, finish cleaning it—though it left me feeling somewhat like the hapless sparrow caring for a cuckoo bird's egg, covertly deposited in its nest. </span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>The Investigation:</b></u></span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After looking through the stack of covers that were in the other room, I found that the interloper had been concealed inside this Bee Gees jacket. </span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFJ9AhkLKzBPGP3wsDGoHD22MEig2tJBY29BNHS0QQgxWhtO0GDcUzkx2uM27KgPLM_tgsI3V6boruPgIGudbT5kLpUs2K3z0Y4-ht66Oo2lGqhrDJx9r3NCUyaPM7bFKbabaj1mfZsNg/s1600/beegees_cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFJ9AhkLKzBPGP3wsDGoHD22MEig2tJBY29BNHS0QQgxWhtO0GDcUzkx2uM27KgPLM_tgsI3V6boruPgIGudbT5kLpUs2K3z0Y4-ht66Oo2lGqhrDJx9r3NCUyaPM7bFKbabaj1mfZsNg/s200/beegees_cover1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bee Gees</b> - Peace of Mind</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"Circa '64 Australian Sessions"</i></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1978 Pickwick Records BAN-90041</span></span> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taking a closer look, I now notice some clues, which, </span><span style="font-size: small;">had I been more alert during my pre-purchase inspection,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> may have raised a red flag or two...</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7voEswRBaZ3-O4MTlaf0qBevGVXkI8nbP5QeQETvuEUkB1zJ9n26it8zDekgqrfR6TC3R44rPmk4978bi-eDBMtTa3S01k3MxHyAw2nZunEhfSs2KBAcuUu_nYTi6dxChuk75yjFpTkq/s1600/beegees_engelbert.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7voEswRBaZ3-O4MTlaf0qBevGVXkI8nbP5QeQETvuEUkB1zJ9n26it8zDekgqrfR6TC3R44rPmk4978bi-eDBMtTa3S01k3MxHyAw2nZunEhfSs2KBAcuUu_nYTi6dxChuk75yjFpTkq/s400/beegees_engelbert.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sure, in hindsight, it might be obvious what is going on here, but if you only give it a cursory glance (as one is apt to do in the heat of a fast-paced thrift-binge), it just sort of looks like a former owner has signed their name on the front cover, as people often do (sigh). And even if I had read the name, well, there must be thousands of Engelberts out there who own Bee Gees records, right? And the scribble marks could have simply been a testament to this Engelbert's changing tastes and was a way of expressing his newfound dislike of the Bee Gees. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Take Heed:</b></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lame excuses for my own carelessness aside, I write these words now, as a simple cautionary tale to remind you all (and myself), to be ever vigilant in checking the labels on those thrift store records to make sure the covers and discs definitely match up. Usually, it is the records with missing inner sleeves you really have to watch out for, but this disc had been stowed away inside a good condition inner sleeve that was placed neatly inside of the jacket; lulling me into a false sense of security, and I got sloppy. Don't let this happen to you.</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>It Gets Worse:</b></u></span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After I started on this article, I remembered there was another, similar LP of early Bee Gees material sitting on the shelf that probably came from the same lot. I go have a look at it to find...</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiELfHGem0_UBcJKA8ZMOsME6Rlb9WbH5LFcqq0Io48cBflwun86XHtapFy28ITNSipPMhHD5TARfmj4AtYC_VcClAzcWslLIpQ-C8XT9ylfxeKDQDPqk47bmVf-zfJQOPPRffqRIBpoWc/s1600/beegeesanimation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiELfHGem0_UBcJKA8ZMOsME6Rlb9WbH5LFcqq0Io48cBflwun86XHtapFy28ITNSipPMhHD5TARfmj4AtYC_VcClAzcWslLIpQ-C8XT9ylfxeKDQDPqk47bmVf-zfJQOPPRffqRIBpoWc/s1600/beegeesanimation.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #9fc5e8;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Suspicion confirmed: a second defaced Bee Gees cover, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">complete with Engelbert Humperdinck stowaway.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now that's just pure evil! What kind of maniac repeatedly does something like this to protect scuffed-up Engelbert Humperdinck vinyl? I wonder if the Bee Gees LPs were taken out and discarded just to make room for the E.H. discs? </span><span style="font-size: small;">I realize the Bee Gees are no strangers to the thrift bins, and not everone's cup of tea either, but in my book, they deserve better than this. What next, using Jethro Tull covers to store your precious, scratchy, <i>Sing Along with Mitch</i> LPs? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I</span><span style="font-size: small;"> still like that funny parrot, anyway. I only wish it was attached to something in the <a href="http://rateyourmusic.com/label/parrot_records/" target="_blank">Parrot discography</a> I might have liked better, such as <b>The Zombies</b> or <b>Them</b>.</span></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-42463539812141298582011-04-25T21:48:00.027-04:002016-07-04T00:18:37.975-04:00The Smoke - My Friend Jack<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oDgdZY1u_Izu-WyQ1oA5Uhc17sIcQ6QnLUNkDxJe5m4JmglaV_Y-W61bIK-QROSw8VmrnMG3n3n8XCN3Gsb6Am9Rydn34ngppUISeRGTYdKZGPaOyewJ6d75921GhB4pGF00UHwnxtgJ/s1600/thesmoke_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oDgdZY1u_Izu-WyQ1oA5Uhc17sIcQ6QnLUNkDxJe5m4JmglaV_Y-W61bIK-QROSw8VmrnMG3n3n8XCN3Gsb6Am9Rydn34ngppUISeRGTYdKZGPaOyewJ6d75921GhB4pGF00UHwnxtgJ/s320/thesmoke_cover.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1976 Intercord - INT 128.301 (stereo)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <u>Side 1</u></span></i></div><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. My Friend Jack (3:04)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Waterfall (2:37)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. You Can't Catch Me (3:13)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. High In A Room (2:56)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. Wake Up Cherylina (2:15)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> 6. Don't Lead Me On (2:12)</span> </span></i><br />
<ol style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></ol><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <u>Side 2</u></span></i></div><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. We Can Take It (2:40)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. If The Weather's Sunny (2:50)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. I Wanna Make It With You (3:04)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. It's Getting Closer (2:37)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. It's Just Your Way Of Loving (2:23)</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. I Would If I Could But I Can't (2:10)</span></i><br />
<ol style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></ol><br />
<ol></ol><div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know April is not quite over yet, but I'm going to go ahead and declare this record the official <i>Thrift Store Record Report <b>Find of the Month</b></i>.</span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let me tell you, it has been a very slow month down at the thrift mines. Day after day of picking at the same stagnating (but always reshuffled) crates of junk LPs had taken its toll on me. I was losing faith in the system and began growing paranoid. The large as life, grimacing cover shots of Manilow and Streisand were mocking me. Tormented by thoughts of an inside man intercepting the good stuff before it could hit the floor, or of one of the local record dealers being tipped off about new arrivals, it was high time I take action to counter these threats to the supply chain ... yes, I'm sure they are all working against me now, and <b>something needs to be done about it</b>... but then, finally, before I had a chance to do anything drastic that could've ultimately caused the thrift store workers to speak of me in hushed tones (and possibly giggle) whenever I showed up, I caught a lucky break that ended the maddening dry spell...</span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Immediately upon entering the store, cat-like senses on high alert, I detected a grocery bag full of records someone had just dropped off near the checkout counter. Now, being the first to root through an untouched, freshly donated batch of records is always an exciting prospect, full of wondrous possibilities, but when a bunch of Statler Brothers, a Kenny Rogers, and a battered John Philip Souza record were the first to come out, the excitement began to wane. Then, amazingly, this rather obscure, garage-psych-pop gem by <b>The Smoke</b> revealed itself—and in excellent condition! Although, appropriately enough, it does reek badly of (cigarette) smoke residue. Some other decent finds were LPs by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Ventures, a 1958 Elvis compilation, and a couple other interesting, oddball records that will be the subject of their own reports at a later date. It turned out to be a very strange mix of records in that bag.</span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had previously heard just two songs by this band: <i>High in a Room</i>, and <i>My Friend Jack</i>, but after reading an article on them in the <a href="http://www.recordcollectormag.com/issues/issue-detail/386" target="_blank">March issue</a> of Record Collector magazine a couple weeks ago, I started thinking about them again and wanted to hear more, so it was perfect timing finding this right now.</span></div><div><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTsjrnKBis0F0TVSoGwVjjZplpEmn9GqnWxW36RGnZSXpClcGqPq8jatqEPRMEpYfL4XYnL4skKHQGt8797PYeG0WQWwBK_56qVorzdF4aIqxd8Pr-Y1hsakyX0e4j4nhastSjXbB6CrU/s1600/the_smoke_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTsjrnKBis0F0TVSoGwVjjZplpEmn9GqnWxW36RGnZSXpClcGqPq8jatqEPRMEpYfL4XYnL4skKHQGt8797PYeG0WQWwBK_56qVorzdF4aIqxd8Pr-Y1hsakyX0e4j4nhastSjXbB6CrU/s320/the_smoke_label.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The record has a Gull label, but note the Intercord</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">catalog number. The back of the cover states:</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(c)(p)1966 Morgan Music Productions</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Manufactured by Intercord Ton GmbH from master</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">recordings owned or controlled by Gull Records</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is a German release from 1976, put out by Intercord Records, as part of their "Star Power" series of reissues and compilations. It has the same track listing as the band's first and only long player: <i>...It's Smoke Time</i> (1967), which was a German-only pressing that wasn't distributed in the UK until the Gull label reissued it with a different cover in 1975. </span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though hailing from Yorkshire, England, the band was most successful on the European mainland.<i> My Friend Jack</i>, their biggest single, reached the top 50, but stalled at number 45 in the UK charts. This was likely due, in no small part, to the lyrics about how friend Jack "eats sugar lumps" and "travels everywhere." These references to LSD earned the song some bad press and it was banned from BBC airwaves in the UK before it had a chance to ride the charts for very long. The single became a chart-topping hit in places like Germany, France, and Switzerland—securing the band an appearance alongside The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Who on Germany's Beat-Club TV show, as well as a tour with The Beach Boys and The Small Faces. </span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><object height="250" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 50px; margin-left: 10px;" width="300"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/NUCVfA51Gdg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/NUCVfA51Gdg?&border=1&color1=0x6699&color2=0x54abd6fs%3D1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="300" height="250"></embed></object><span style="font-size: small;">I believe <i>High in a Room</i> and <i>My Friend Jack</i> are often considered to be the best songs by The Smoke, and they are indeed good ones, but my new favorites are: <i>Waterfall</i>, which is a beautifully dreamy, melancholy ballad that reminds me of something Peter & Gordon might have recorded, and <i>Wake Up Cherylina</i>, another slower, less acid-tinged, pop ballad. Both songs have more of a timeless quality about them than some of their others, and I don't think it would really be a stretch if they were mentioned in the same breath as songs by The Zombies or The Beatles.</span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Click </span><a href="http://youtu.be/h1JIqm_PpEs" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> to see The Smoke perform My Friend Jack on Beat-Club</span></span> </div></div>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-68036634195750751732011-04-17T18:32:00.008-04:002016-07-04T00:20:13.705-04:00Schubert - Symphonies No. 1 & 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmd_GCZ5YoVohPUsYz7Za-vXEgRhokyZk2QaNLxGbiNIGBllff_UzldVU6b5WxiI3QyibF13wdlav19h4HRzXiauoHlSeFcilujTCfd6lSqoFo7lnsgNMieo8eHzjtvgVJQIXcZkXBGPn/s1600/schubert_psych_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmd_GCZ5YoVohPUsYz7Za-vXEgRhokyZk2QaNLxGbiNIGBllff_UzldVU6b5WxiI3QyibF13wdlav19h4HRzXiauoHlSeFcilujTCfd6lSqoFo7lnsgNMieo8eHzjtvgVJQIXcZkXBGPn/s400/schubert_psych_cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: #674ea7; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nonesuch Records H-71230 (stereo)</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Side One (31:14)</span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><u>SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN D, D. 82</u> </span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">1. Adagio–Allegro vivace (10:36)</span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">2. Andante (8:59)</span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">3. Allegro (5:06)</span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">4. Allegro vivace (6:20)</span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Side Two (28:35) </span></span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">SYMPHONY NO. 2 IN B FLAT, D. 125</span></span></span></u></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Largo–Allegro vivace (11:08)</span></span></span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Andante (7:46)</span></span></span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Allegro vivace (3:31)</span></span></span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Presto (6:04)</span></span></span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">STUTTGART SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA</span></span></span></i></div><div style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>KARL RISTENPART, conductor</i> </span></span></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, apart from sniffing their jackets like wine corks, exactly how <i>does</i> a discriminating connoisseur of fine music, such as myself, determine which thrift store classical records are worthy of my hard-earned pocket change? </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Simple... I grab the ones with really neat-o covers, of course! Seriously, the groovy, psychedelic artwork is mainly why I bought this particular classical LP, and its cover will be the primary focus of the following report. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I didn't yet own any Schubert records and had actually just started thinking how I'd like one when I spotted this LP. However, if not for the far-out cover I may have passed on it because I generally prefer solo piano, guitar, or violin pieces to symphonies, and I was really hoping to find some of his piano works. I'm glad I did pick it up or I might never have learned the interesting stories behind the Nonesuch record label, the cover art (and the artist who created it), or the unexpected connection to a birthday gift I received in the early '80s and still have stowed away in a trunk...</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73JoV2USFF0hFXSANcy6bZwdJ7wxKa85XoFg-xLb5QVKuvMYo0vz1GzchdtitPu-ZgqW__uUt-kyhoefzztu86oHYtUmYHhHvbb-UF-EZRc5ciuO1LNLX_B2UTQnZaHh1boVHIq1aDCMV/s1600/schubert_label3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73JoV2USFF0hFXSANcy6bZwdJ7wxKa85XoFg-xLb5QVKuvMYo0vz1GzchdtitPu-ZgqW__uUt-kyhoefzztu86oHYtUmYHhHvbb-UF-EZRc5ciuO1LNLX_B2UTQnZaHh1boVHIq1aDCMV/s320/schubert_label3.jpg" height="317" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">I'm not sure when this LP was released, but the original owner<br />
wrote on the inner sleeve that it was purchased Dec. 21, 1975.</span> </span></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Nonesuch Records</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> was created in 1964 by Jac Holzman, who also founded Elektra Records fourteen years earlier. The initial idea behind Nonesuch was to release high quality, but low priced classical music. Holzman, recalling his student days, and how frustrated he always felt at having to pick just one of the much desired LPs he'd find at the record shop, wanted to make Nonesuch's releases available for about the price of a high quality paperback book—which was $2.50 in 1963-64. At the time, classical records were typically priced at twice that amount. Another part of the plan was to package the "unusual, baroque-oriented" selections he was licensing from European labels, with cover art and liner notes that would appeal to a younger generation of listeners. Sales income from the first year of Nonesuch releases turned out to be substantial enough to help fund the pop side of Elektra; allowing Holzman to sign now legendary bands such as The Doors and Love to that label. In 1967 Nonesuch launched their groundbreaking Explorer Series—which provided the first exposure many listeners would have to authentic, traditional music of other cultures. Holzman sold Nonesuch to Warner Communications in 1970 and the label continued to release an impressive and diverse range of music from jazz, to world music, to alternative and pop. Recent Nonesuch releases include recordings by Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, David Byrne, Wilco, and The Magnetic Fields. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Artist </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Bob Pepper</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> created the colorful cover art for this Schubert album. Even if you have not heard of Pepper, chances are, you have seen something he has created—such as the cover of the classic </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Forever Changes</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> album by the aforementioned Los Angeles band </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Love,</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> or maybe the art he did for a series of novels by acclaimed sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick. An illustrator since 1962, Pepper's work also appears on a host of other sci-fi/fantasy book covers. Click <a href="http://fantasticflipout.blogspot.com/2009/10/bob-pepper-introduction.html" target="_blank">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> to view a very nice collection of Bob Pepper's art at the <b>Fa</b><b>ntastic Flipout</b> art blog.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Pepper has stated that two of the most rewarding projects he ever worked on were the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Dragonmaster</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> and </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Dark Tower</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> games for Milton Bradley. While Dragonmaster was his favorite of the two projects (due to MB allowing him complete freedom in inventing the characters and style), it is his connection to Dark Tower that struck a chord with me.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfE6xeQnWDjuraesjYFW7pKfdLJATg0sdP8miQG-xd037Ebx9yxltze-xzM0CrpN7vrf_fS_KM1HhPbn42qbcK4XwJXC2moHkiQ_clCqGa1yWlRmXuTMPKtj5FJpwaFXwfXhto_I_Lbu5/s1600/darktower_boxfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfE6xeQnWDjuraesjYFW7pKfdLJATg0sdP8miQG-xd037Ebx9yxltze-xzM0CrpN7vrf_fS_KM1HhPbn42qbcK4XwJXC2moHkiQ_clCqGa1yWlRmXuTMPKtj5FJpwaFXwfXhto_I_Lbu5/s320/darktower_boxfront.jpg" height="320" width="222"></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxrY7MWEkwE" target="_blank">This Dark Tower commercial</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> (starring Orson Welles!) worked its marketing magic and left me wanting the game. But alas, this sort of cutting-edge, electronic board game technology did not come cheap in 1981 and it was as financially out of my league as one of those fashionable Members Only jackets, or sneakers that didn't come from a big wire bin at the grocery store. That is, until one fateful day, while carrying out the happy task of selecting a birthday gift at a toy & hobby shop, when I suddenly found myself standing before a majestic Dark Tower box with an attached paper sign stating a deeply discounted price...</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGd3PhnbKDKfKDNSsATlQ1B9jcsTKkKNcpZfmFUIEmCrSZsjT95tYUfzuMbo6qOsrDI5s6qlGFjS2teVX8vV9H7fSZsL0FqV4OnI_sQU4nbQc9M9kywZjtHQCaPA2JdLYE8r_sqYCLbNtb/s1600/darktower_board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGd3PhnbKDKfKDNSsATlQ1B9jcsTKkKNcpZfmFUIEmCrSZsjT95tYUfzuMbo6qOsrDI5s6qlGFjS2teVX8vV9H7fSZsL0FqV4OnI_sQU4nbQc9M9kywZjtHQCaPA2JdLYE8r_sqYCLbNtb/s320/darktower_board.jpg" height="236" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Section of Dark Tower board and some of the game pieces</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Evidently, a lawsuit was filed by two designers who claimed Milton Bradley based Dark Tower on a game they had unsuccessfully tried selling to MB in the late 1970s. There is some controversy over the fairness of the final judgement, but the game giant was forced to pay out money to the plaintiffs, and as part of the settlement, they also had to pull Dark Tower off the market. It seems this lawsuit was behind the sudden, steep drop in price. This surely was bad news for Milton Bradley, but good news for young, cash-strapped nerds longing for<i> <b>a fantasy adventure born of electronic wizardry</b></i>. Unfortunately, I had such a hard time keeping the tower furnished with costly batteries, that I was unable to play the game as much as I'd have liked. On the bright side, it's still in excellent condition from spending so much downtime safely sleeping inside the box.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTa1Q5nv97hpFIwCAJSLy5b81-Dkp6awknYsLbGW1RTvYYwFyvBRX-ffMGig_nZlfZYKv0Ae19RkqeMPyjHW23wH_oqVOHE2gUsSe0aR52ffuKb9IZx-YaGH0AL01tFlIQKf3hSgDpyCP/s1600/darktower_boxside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTa1Q5nv97hpFIwCAJSLy5b81-Dkp6awknYsLbGW1RTvYYwFyvBRX-ffMGig_nZlfZYKv0Ae19RkqeMPyjHW23wH_oqVOHE2gUsSe0aR52ffuKb9IZx-YaGH0AL01tFlIQKf3hSgDpyCP/s320/darktower_boxside.jpg" height="98" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Illustration found along edge of Dark Tower box</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">You may recall that this article began as a report on a record album of symphonies composed by Franz Schubert. Even though I warned there wouldn't be much written here about the actual music or recording, I think it might be a good idea to wrap things up with a few quick thoughts on the sounds... as I sit here listening to the record right now, I think the performance is very good, and the recording sounds decent, but perhaps somewhat dull or flat. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">I most enjoy the more subdued, slower, instrumentally sparser moments found in both symphonies—but particularly in the first one (which Schubert finished when he was only 16). These parts sometimes remind me of the music you might find in a well produced, dramatic movie of the 1930s or 40s. At times, the music seems very familiar, but I am not sure if that's due to my hearing these exact pieces somewhere before or if it is because the young Schubert is employing ideas/motifs that are derivative of, and bringing to mind, earlier works by composers such as Beethoven and Mozart which I may have previously heard.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Click <a href="http://well-of-souls.com/tower/dt_pepper.htm" target="_blank">here</a> for more info on the Dark Tower game, and to read an interview with artist Bob Pepper at the great </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Well of Souls / Dark Tower</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> fansite.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hBwwqyPtal-ZU4vwUctXuDHJHKiTYzYPMn9sqwF8uIuEcvwakQel5uebOMIEEkb-8-42Sp3IUhrPajnB7n4dRn3TZK9WaUeOQgAtJQRGaCO4wtl7YhsFTi9NpZLmSs213BZre_xWw6ef/s1600/handpoint5.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Click <a href="http://www.followthemusic.com/none.html" target="_blank">here</a> to read an excerpt from the book <b>Follow the Music</b>, where Jac Holzman himself tells the story about starting Nonesuch Records.</span></span></span></span></span>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6163545101190820574.post-28995914447414678792011-04-09T22:39:00.014-04:002016-07-04T00:23:04.613-04:00Singlemania!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIGRv3LdgBQ9EnsWEfLZeYwNr0EdE9bFmeqDkndfOI-Q1BlJF7Gu7T1xFB_6yfRjaUpJhkrhxnakczBxzNBUmGxXT-dXAkuAQSqRPTIgBWMm9sp7XjVxIa904154bofshuv7dNeUrWu26/s1600/singlemania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIGRv3LdgBQ9EnsWEfLZeYwNr0EdE9bFmeqDkndfOI-Q1BlJF7Gu7T1xFB_6yfRjaUpJhkrhxnakczBxzNBUmGxXT-dXAkuAQSqRPTIgBWMm9sp7XjVxIa904154bofshuv7dNeUrWu26/s400/singlemania.jpg" width="400"></a></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Picked up a nice selection of classic 7" singles this week:</span></div><ol style="color: orange;"><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Contenders</b> - <i>The Clock / Look At Me</i> (196? Java 101 /red label)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Box Tops</b> - <i>Cry Like A Baby / The Door You Closed To Me</i> (1968 Mala 593)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Cream</b> - <i>Sunshine Of Your Love / SWLABR</i> (1968 Atco 6544)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Deep Purple</b> - <i>Smoke On The Water (Edited Version)</i> (1973 Warner Bros. 7710)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Stylistics</b> - <i>Betcha By Golly, Wow / Ebony Eyes</i> (1972 Avco 4591)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Stylistics</b> - <i>You Are Everything / Country Living</i> (1971 Avco 4581)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Chordettes</b> - <i>No Other Arms, No Other Lips / We Should Be Together</i> (1959 Cadence 1361)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Bubble Puppy</b> - <i>Hot Smoke & Sasafrass / Lonely</i> (1969 International Artists 128)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Orlons</b> - <i>South Street / Them Terrible Boots</i> (1963 Cameo 243)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Raspberries </b>- <i>Go All The Way / With You In My Life</i> (1972 Capitol 3348)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Zombies</b> - <i>Time Of The Season - Friends Of Mine</i> (1968 Date 1628)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Animals</b> - <i>The House Of The Rising Sun / Talkin' About You</i> (1965 Parlophone 60230)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Angels</b> - <i>Til / A Moment Ago</i> (1968 reissue - Eric 106 - originally released in 1961 on the Caprice label)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Angels</b> - <i>My Boyfriend's Back / (Love Me) Now</i> (1963 Smash 1834) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Chantels</b> - <i>Maybe / I Can't Take It</i> (19?? Roulette GG-22)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>1910 Fruitgum Co.</b> - <i>Simon Says / Reflections From The Looking Glass</i> (1968 Buddah 24)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>1910 Fruitgum Co.</b> - <i>Special Delivery / No Good Annie </i>(1969 Buddah 114) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Tremeloes</b> - <i>Here Comes My Baby / Gentleman Of Pleasure</i> (1967 Epic 10139)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Spiral Staircase</b> - <i>More Today Than Yesterday / Broken Hearted Man</i> (1969 Columbia 44741)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Beatles</b> - <i>The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe</i> (1969 Apple 2531 original: w/small Capitol logo on bottom of B-side)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Santana</b> - <i>Black Magic Woman / Hope You're Feeling Better</i> (1970 Columbia 45270)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Tommy James And The Shondells</b> - <i>Hanky Panky / Thunderbolt</i> (1966 Roulette 4686)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Tommy James And The Shondells</b> - <i>Mony Mony / One Two Three And I Fell</i> (1968 Roulette 7008)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Paris Sisters</b> - <i>I Love How You Love Me / He Knows I Love Him Too Much</i> (1968 reissue Eric 101 -songs originally released separately in 1961/1962 on the Gregmark label)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Arrows</b> - <i>Blue's Theme / Bongo Party</i> (1967 Tower 295)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Chuck Berry</b> - <i>Johnny B. Goode / Around & Around</i> (1958 Chess 1691)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Grand Funk Railroad</b> - <i>We're An American Band / Creepin'</i> (1973 Capitol 3660, gold vinyl)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Buddy Holly</b> - <i>Peggy Sue / Everyday</i> (1957 Coral 61885, orange label)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Blue Cheer</b> - <i>Summertime Blues / Out Of Focus</i> (1968 Philips 40516)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Creedence Clearwater Revival</b> - <i>Proud Mary / Born On The Bayou</i> (1969 Fantasy 619)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Shelley Fabares</b> - <i>Johnny Angel / Johnny Loves Me</i> (1968 reissue, Eric 115 -songs originally released separately in 1962 0n Colpix label) </span></li>
</ol><div style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Like most singles sourced from the thrift store, this batch looks thoroughly scuffed and in dire need of a good old-fashioned wash up at the kitchen sink. Despite initial outward appearances, I am often pleasantly surprised at how well these things will still play though, with much of the damage being superficial. Only the Chuck Berry one—</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">with a deep gouge on the Johnny B. Goode side—</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">looks too damaged to play properly. I don't plan on subjecting my stylus to that punishment for such a familiar song, but I wanted to buy the record anyway because it was an original on the Chess label, which is something I don't see every day and thought was pretty cool, and the flip-side looks fine. These records only set me back nineteen cents a piece, so at that price, if something looks interesting, I'm likely to just grab it without too much deliberation. </span></div><br />
<div style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">A few of the groups, such as The Contenders, The Arrows, and The Paris Sisters, are completely new to me and I'm really looking forward to checking them out.<b> </b></span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br />
<div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Judging by what I've been reading, the record by <b>The Arrows</b> seems like it will be quite good... </span><br />
<div><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">C</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">redited with pushing guitar distortion to new extremes and innovating the ultra buzzy "fuzz guitar" sound, Arrows main man Davie Allan has been called <i>"High priest of the fuzz guitar"</i> and </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">is known for his heavy and noisy, but focused and proficient guitar work that is said to be like the missing link between surf music and psychedelia. </span></div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The music of Davie Allan & the Arrows has been used in over two dozen movie soundtracks. Apparently, a good deal of those films are of the late sixties outlaw biker B-movie variety, such as </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0ORCMAIzic" target="new">The Wild Angels</a>, starring Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Nancy Sinatra, and Diane Ladd,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uan2X1LoQV4" target="new">The Glory Stompers</a>, featuring Dennis Hopper, and </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mlSyNZrmFY" target="new">Born Losers</a> (with special guest star, Jane Russell)</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">. Click the film titles to view the trailers in all their depraved, unl<i>awful</i> glory at YouTube.</span></div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am surprised I never managed to hear of Davie Allan or The Arrows sooner. It seems likely I may have been exposed to his/their music in a movie or someplace else without realizing it though.</span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9js-RWVHrl7lGeRbIBeWDFEiqrZP4zaXFh2xpy3oQ-byN-BMWsrL1KoWbZXsj-2vVd4FQZc_2cKeh5vuPEBrqv17UsYz_6RA3wbgyctFiI9PVrf5_D-LphNWsx55zqj_WRfjE8BEp9Dil/s1600/thearrows_single.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9js-RWVHrl7lGeRbIBeWDFEiqrZP4zaXFh2xpy3oQ-byN-BMWsrL1KoWbZXsj-2vVd4FQZc_2cKeh5vuPEBrqv17UsYz_6RA3wbgyctFiI9PVrf5_D-LphNWsx55zqj_WRfjE8BEp9Dil/s1600/thearrows_single.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #b45f06;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"> What immediately attracted me to this record is that it is on the Tower label—which released the very first Pink Floyd records (of which I'm a big fan).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjLrbnnYk6yJGdMxgKxIUSPZ4W8ePMhsowqARkW6N7-gfg2xBMoR6SX5wtStbMC7TQAtWJaT-i26lIBKDGhOgd1OXFj_K1F45M1YA3raxQe1Oh1N57jskG77NKK1JQoU3JiJZDR6Npv2E/s1600/orlons_single.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjLrbnnYk6yJGdMxgKxIUSPZ4W8ePMhsowqARkW6N7-gfg2xBMoR6SX5wtStbMC7TQAtWJaT-i26lIBKDGhOgd1OXFj_K1F45M1YA3raxQe1Oh1N57jskG77NKK1JQoU3JiJZDR6Npv2E/s320/orlons_single.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #cc0000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I've heard <i>the song South Street</i> before, but I never knew who recorded it. Now that I know, I have to admit that I am not familiar with <b>The Orlons</b> name at all, but I am happy to have found this single and can't wait to hear the B-side song with the intriguing title of <i>Them Terrible Boots</i>. I think there must be a special story waiting to be heard there.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW607vxOU78oQT_76z3BzFVHnmbid6GmrutacT7S0XWcR4TUdmnoXjAhphRG6d9dWtr-pzzgrIWmb0rpEbR07MLf8DqvaovJ5cCJWVmIYtG7wxhG9GLz21fXAbshCZv90byWu-Zu8IIPwg/s1600/grandfunksingle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW607vxOU78oQT_76z3BzFVHnmbid6GmrutacT7S0XWcR4TUdmnoXjAhphRG6d9dWtr-pzzgrIWmb0rpEbR07MLf8DqvaovJ5cCJWVmIYtG7wxhG9GLz21fXAbshCZv90byWu-Zu8IIPwg/s320/grandfunksingle2.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">They may be Homer Simpson's favorite band, but to be honest, I picked this single by <b>Grand Funk Railroad</b>, more for the fact that I couldn't resist the shiny, translucent, gold vinyl, than for the radio rockin' hit single contained therein. </span></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_Qpt1FgQpv_OoegyxmoU6wHnvnf_1tehRt4C_DDo281zV1DEzcKGXWY5r8_CdgudaU38HAUhdAsSOvjAesmJmiyN0QOX0GrEkDNu1UYCvTPCTeQLVBucBQ74L_ONPqQSa_mGsnOWK33m/s1600/sunshineoflove_single.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_Qpt1FgQpv_OoegyxmoU6wHnvnf_1tehRt4C_DDo281zV1DEzcKGXWY5r8_CdgudaU38HAUhdAsSOvjAesmJmiyN0QOX0GrEkDNu1UYCvTPCTeQLVBucBQ74L_ONPqQSa_mGsnOWK33m/s320/sunshineoflove_single.jpg" width="314"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">This one is extra beat-up—possibly from enduring much hard use at one too many acid parties—but I liked how Cream are credited here as "The Cream." I also never before found a Cream single, and since they are such a great band, I grabbed it. In case you are wondering, the letters that form the title of the B-side song "SWLABR" stand for:</span> </span><i><span style="color: magenta;">She</span> <span style="color: orange;">Was</span> <span style="color: lime;">Like</span> <span style="color: red;">A</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Bearded</span> <span style="color: yellow;">Rainbow</span></i><span style="color: #fff2cc;">.<span style="color: #ffe599;"> <span style="color: #ffd966;">And with that, I leave you with these enigmatic words to reflect upon:</span> <i><span style="color: yellow;">"You've got that rainbow feel, but the rainbow has a beard"</span> </i><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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</span></span></span></span>Record Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444628003546086657noreply@blogger.com0