Still here!

Please join me over where I blog is active:

http://1musiclife1.blogspot.com/

- Ron

Sense of Purpose

Pino Daniele

4-29-09 Pino Daniele

CD BELLA 'MBRIANA EMI IT 746793.2 1982 11 TRKS

LP BONNE SOIREE EMI IT 240770.1 1987 10 TRKS

CD CHE DIO TI BENEDICA CGD IT 92258.2 1993 14 TRKS 'DDD'

CD E SONA MO' CGD IT 94253.2 1993 14 TRKS Live

CD FERRY BOAT CGD IT 98378.2 1985 10 TRKS ('94 issue)

CDx2 LIVE - SCIO CGD IT 98381.2 1984 17 TRKS Live ('94 issue)

CD MASCALZONE LATINA EMI IT 793469.2 1989 10 TRKS

CD MUSICA MUSICA EMI IT 746419.2 1986 15 TRK EMI Collection

CD MUSICANTE CGD IT 98380.2 1994 10 TRKS

CDx2 NAPULE E' (Collection) EAST WEST IT 385889.2 2000 34 TRK Collection

CD NERO A META' EMI IT 746804.2 1980 12 TRKS

CD NON CALPESTARE I FIORI NEL... CGD IT 99791.2 1995 13 TRKS 'DDD'

LP PINO DANIELE EMI IT 064-18391 1979 12 TRKS

CD SCHIZZECHEA WITH LOVE EMI IT 790972.2 1988 10 TRKS

CD SOTTO 'O SOLE CGD IT 76095.2 1991 10 TRKS 'DDD'

CD TERRA MIA EMI IT 746791.2 1977 13 TRKS

CD UN UOMO IN BLUES CGD IT 73310.2 1991 10 TRKS 'DDD'

LP VAI MO' EMI IT 064-18550 1981 11 TRKS

CD YES I KNOW MY WAY - BEST OF CGD IT 22818.2 1996 16 TRK Collection

I only wrote about Pino Daniele in 2/08, but I recently found some more of his titles! Of course, I am a big fan of Italian male pop vocals. Daniele is from Naples, I really like his voice and he is a decent guitarist, too. I first heard him in Paris, as I had a charming Italian lunch – the owner of the restaurant kept playing Side 1 of Daniele’s “Bella ‘Mbriana” LP, notably “Tutta Nata Storia” – I was hooked. I wrote the name down on a napkin, found the LP etc. Years later, I even found a CD of it – again, in Paris!

For a while, I was finding his stuff rather easily. It was being imported. I could talk with my Italian music friends about Daniele, Lucio Battisti and Adriano Celentano. At some point, I quit finding any new titles – only “Best Of” titles. Recently, I found 5 used CD’s, most of which were ‘new-to-me’.

I still also love his “Schizzechea With Love” album. There was a while where that was truly my soundtrack; I drove around listening to it a lot at the end of the 80’s. It may take me a while to get to the new CD’s I found, but I fully intend to.

I once found a PAL VHS video of Daniele playing live. Very cool.

Pino Daniele is exactly the kind of artist I like to follow. His discography is extensive, but manage-able. I have yet to hear anything by him that I didn’t like. When I saw the CD’s in the store, I knew exactly right away which ones I didn’t have. If he was ever going to play live in L.A., I wouldn’t hesitate. I wonder if he’s ever played anywhere in the US?

I don’t remember seeing his CD’s in Japan, but I haven’t been to Casa Bianca (the Tokyo Italian CD specialist store) in a while.

The Monochrome Set

4-28-09 The Monochrome Set

Checked my index, couldn’t find a blog about The Monochrome Set! I really got into them a few years back…I was there initially, but lost interest before album #3. I likely totally lost interest when they never came – in the early 80’s. I was pleased as punch when Mr. Bid came and played shows.

7" 405 LINES / GOODBYE JOE DINDISC UK DIN 23

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" ALPHAVILLE / HE'S FRANK IRS US IR 9002

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" ALPHAVILLE / HE'S FRANK ROUGH TR UK RT 005

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" APOCALYPSO / FIASCO BONGO DINDISC UK DIN 26

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD B&W MINSTRELS (Collection) CHERRY RED UK CDMRED 118

1995 16 TRK Collection

7" CAST A LONG SHADOW CHERRY RED UK CHERRY 51

1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD CHARADE CHERRY RED UK CDBRED 102

1993 14 TRKS

LP CHARADE CHERRY RED UK BRED 102

1993 14 TRKS

CD COMPENDIUM 1975-1995 (Collection) CHERRY RED UK CDBRED 128

1996 22 TRK Collection

CD DANTE'S CASINO VINYL JAPAN ASKCD 4

1990 10 TRKS original CD issue

LP DANTE'S CASINO VINYL JAPAN ASKLP 4

1990 10 TRKS autographed

7" EINE SYMPHONIE DES GRAUENS / LESTER LEAPS IN ROUGH TR UK RT 019

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD ELIGIBLE BACHELORS SUMMIT UK SUMCD 4096

1982 11 TRKS re-issue

LP ELIGIBLE BACHELORS CHERRY RED UK BRED 34

1982 11 TRKS

LP FIN CHERRY RED UK ACME 3

1986 19 TRKS Live, autographed

CD5 FOREVER YOUNG CHERRY RED UK CDCHERRY 126

1993 3 TRK CD Single CD5

CD GOOD LIFE, THE RICHMOND UK MONDE 8CD

1992 19 TRKS Live; same as "Fin"

7" HE'S FRANK (SLIGHT RETURN) ROUGH TR UK BL 1

1979 3 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD5 I LOVE LAMBETH CHERRY RED UK CDCHERRY 138

1995 4 TRK CD Single CD5

CD JACK HONEYMOON MONOCD 1

1991 10 TRKS

LP JACK HONEYMOON MONOLP 1

1991 10 TRKS

12" JACOB'S LADDER BLANCO Y NEG NEG 4-T

1984 5 TRKEP; with poster, autographed

7" JACOB'S LADDER BLANCO Y NEG NEG 4

1984 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" JET SET JUNTA / LOVE GOES DOWN THE DRAIN CHERRY RED UK CHERRY 60

1983 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" KILLING DAVE HONEYMOON JAKK 1T

1991 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD5 KILLING DAVE HONEYMOON JAKK 1C

1991 3 TRK CD Single CD5

CD LIVE CODE 90 UK NINETY 4

1993 20 TRKS Live 1990, CD-only release? From a UK TV appearance.

CD LOST WEEKEND, THE WEA JPN WPCR-1461

1985 11 TRKS

LP LOST WEEKEND, THE BLANCO Y NEG BYN 5

1985 11 TRKS

LP LOVE ZOMBIES DINDISC UK DID 8

1980 10 TRKS with art prints

7" MATING GAME, THE / J.D.H.A.N.E.Y. CHERRY RED UK CHERRY 42

1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD MISERE CHERRY RED UK CDBRED 114

1994 11 TRKS CD-only release?

7" MONOCHROME SET, THE / MR. BIZARRO ROUGH TR UK RT 028

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" REACH FOR YOUR GUN (BID solo) EL UK GPO 10T

1986 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP STRANGE BOUTIQUE DINDISC UK DID 4

1980 11 TRKS autographed

7" STRANGE BOUTIQUE, THE / SURFING S.W. 12 DINDISC UK DIN 18

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" TEN DON'TS FOR HONEYMOONERS PRE UK PRE 18

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LONG VIRGIN UK CDOVD 458

1995 21 TRK Collection (1st 2 albums)

CD TRINITY ROAD TOYS FACTORY JPN TFCK-88854

1995 16 TRKS Japanese pressing, CD-only release?

LP VOLUME, CONTRAST, BRILLIANCE Vol. 1 CHERRY RED UK MRED 47

1983 14 TRK Collection

CD VOLUME, CONTRAST, BRILLIANCE Vol. 1 re P-VINE JPN PCD-22072

1983 25 TRK Collection ('04 issue), 9 x bonus tracks

12" WALLFLOWER BLANCO Y NEG NEG 12-T

1985 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD WESTMINSTER AFFAIR (Collection) TOYS FACTORY JPN TFCK-88803

1990 19 TRK Collection, 5 x bonus tracks

LP WESTMINSTER AFFAIR (Collection) EL UK ACME 17

1988 14 TRK Collection

CD WHAT A WHOPPER! (Collection) RICHMOND UK MONDE 2CD

1992 16 TRK Collection

I would love to do the obsessive collector thing with these guys, but it doesn’t appear that the final two initial works by ‘em ever made it to LP format, “Trinity Road” and “Misere”. No, I don’t have all the 7” singles, either.

Mr. Bid came to Los Angeles a few year back, and that explains my autograph collection herein. His current incarnation trades as Scarlet’s Well. Both The Monochrome Set and Scarlet’s Well are popular in Japan. When I got so into them, I wrote to them c/o Cherry Red Records in England, and Mr. Lester Square wrote back!

This band proves to me that it’s possible I could be wrong about dumping / banning a band from my consciousness.

Perfect Collection?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rk-dd/sets/72157594523798330/

I have a set up on Flickr of my "Perfect Collection". Well, it's not perfect, but I thought I'd try to stay within the boundary of the 800 or so photos that Flickr allows per page of a set.

Please take a look at my "Perfect Collection" - I'd love to hear your comments, questions. Yes, I will consider removing some titles to be replaced with others. What's missing? What are you unfamiliar with?

Very soon, I will be taking a short break from blogging. I must change my internet connection at home - my dial-up is now too slow for many internet functions - Flickr among them.

So, what do you think of my "Perfect Collection"?

- Ron

Big LP Boxed Sets

4-27-09 Big LP Boxed Sets

LPx4 CHICAGO CHICAGO AT CARNEGIE HALL COLUMBIA US K4X 30865

1971 34 TRKS Live, booklet + posters

LPx4 GLASS, PHILIP EINSTEIN ON THE BEACH CBS US M4 38875

1979 14 TRKS Boxed set, re-issue

LPx4 OLDFIELD, MIKE BOXED VIRGIN DE 28009-440

1976 14 TRK Collection, booklet

LPx4 TANGERINE DREAM 70 - 80 VIRGIN UK VBOX 2

1980 22 TRK Collection, booklet

LPx4 VARIOUS ARTISTS ELECTRIC MUSE - FOLK INTO ROCK ISLAND/TRANS FOLK 1001

1975 56 TRK Compilation; Traffic, Pentangle etc.

LPx4 YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA SEALED YEN/ALFA JPN YLR-80001-4

1984 35 TRK Collection , booklet

LPx4 ZAPPA, FRANK LATHER pirate EDISON SRZ-4-1500

1979? 25 TRKS 4 LP's; pirate

LPx5 DYLAN, BOB BIOGRAPH CBS NL CBS 66509

1985 53 TRK Collection

LPx5 VARIOUS ARTISTS MAJOR FORCE: ORIGINAL ARTFORM MO' WAX UK MW 082LP

1997 31 TRK Compilation

LPx6 FAITH, PERCY PERCY FAITH TREASURY CBS SPECIAL P6S 5554

1972? 72 TRK Collection EZ

LPx6 VARIOUS ARTISTS WARNER / REPRISE: 20th ANNIVERSARY BOX WARNER US PRO-A-775

1979 88 TRKS promo-only, booklet

These are all of the more-than-three LP boxed sets I keep. The Chicago is notable for being a quadruple live album with many inserts; the Philip Glass is a re-issue, with the original having been on Tomato Records; the Mike Oldfield has some interesting remixes, in a very old-school sense – as well as some otherwise unavailable on LP material; the Tangerine Dream also has some unique material; I eventually found the book that goes with the “Electric Muse” boxed set; Y.M.O. “Sealed” was a big “Best Of” with only one unique track; the Zappa is a pirate boxed set, which eventually got a legit issue; I got the Dylan as an LP box rather than a CD box, but now I think I’d like to find a reasonably-priced CD of it; I only recently found the Mo’ Wax / Major Force box, it’s very groovy – I love the works of Toshio Nakanishi; Percy Faith was a Thrift Store record – but sealed!; I found the Warner / Reprise 20^th Anniversary Box at the Capitol Records parking lot swap meet, over 20 years ago – it’s a really super promo-only collection, with a huge book and a truly decent selection of material from that diverse label.

The Cure

4-24-09 The Cure

I last wrote about The Cure in 2004. I probably like them better now than I did then. Pretty much followed them from their beginnings, up to “17 Seconds”. Then I liked some of their singles, and “The Head On The Door”. I do not have an intense Cure collection, and I sold off some of my early singles at time when it was very profitable to do so. So, no “Cult Hero” 45 for me anymore, alas.

LP 17 SECONDS FICTION UK FIX 004

1980 10 TRKS original UK issue

CDx2 17 SECONDS (Deluxe edition) RHINO US R2 74682

1980 25 TRKS ('05 issue)(15 x bonus tracks)

CD BOYS DON'T CRY FICTION DE 815011.2

1979 12 TRKS

7" BOYS DON'T CRY (New Version) / PILLBOX TALES VAP JPN 15007-07

1986 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" CATCH, THE / BREATHE FICTION UK FICSP 26

1987 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, clear vinyl

12" CLOSE TO ME / A MAN INSIDE MY MOUTH / STOP DEAD FICTION UK FICSX 23

1985 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD ENTREAT POLYDOR UK 843359.2

1990 8 TRKS Live, Wembley 7/89

CDx2 FAITH (Deluxe edition) RHINO US R2 74683

1981 24 TRKS ('05 issue) (16 x bonus tracks)

CD GALORE - THE SINGLES 1987 - 1997 ELEKTRA US 62117.2

1997 18 TRK Collection

CD HEAD ON THE DOOR, THE ELEKTRA US 60435.2

1985 10 TRKS

LP HEAD ON THE DOOR, THE ELEKTRA US 60435.1

1985 10 TRKS

7" HIGH / THIS TWILIGHT GARDEN FICTION UK FICS 39

1992 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" IN BETWEEN DAYS / EXPLODING BOY, THE VAP JPN 15006-07

1985 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD JAPANESE WHISPERS SIRE US 25076.2

1983 8 TRKS 'The Singles'

LP JAPANESE WHISPERS SIRE US 25076.1

1983 8 TRKS 'The Singles'

CD KISS ME KISS ME KISS ME ELEKTRA US 60737.2

1987 17 TRKS (one less track than the double LP)

LPx2 KISS ME KISS ME KISS ME POLYDOR DE 832130.1

1987 18 TRKS

CD5 LOVE SONG ELEKTRA US 66687.2

1989 4 TRK CD Single CD5

CD MIXED UP ELEKTRA US 60978.2

1990 11 TRKS remixes

CD5 NEVER ENOUGH ELEKTRA US 66604.2

1990 4 TRK CD Single CD5

CD PARIS ELEKTRA CAN CD 61552

1993 12 TRKS Live, Paris 10/92

CD5 PEEL SESSIONS, THE DUTCH EAST US DEI 8341.2

1988 4 TRK CD Single CD5 ('78 recording)

CD STANDING ON A BEACH - THE SINGLES ELEKTRA US 60477.2

1986 17 TRK Collection (4 x bonus tracks)

LP STANDING ON A BEACH - THE SINGLES ELEKTRA US 60477.1

1986 13 TRK Collection

LP THREE IMAGINARY BOYS FICTION UK FIX 1

1979 12 TRKS the version with literally no text on the exterior cover

CDx2 THREE IMAGINARY BOYS (Deluxe edition) RHINO US R2 78895

1979 33 TRKS ('04 issue) (20 x bonus tracks)

LP TOP, THE SIRE US 25086.1

1984 10 TRKS

7" WHY CAN'T I BE YOU? (7" x 2) FICTION UK FICSG 25

1987 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve, 7"x2

12" WHY CAN'T I BE YOU? / A JAPANESE DREAM FICTION UK FICSX 25

1987 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

Boy, do I ever remember a time when I met tons of people that collected ONLY The Cure! That was really a pervasive scene. When I used to sell at the Emeryville swap meet, I really made bank selling the old Cure 45’s (and even that was to another dealer!).

When the re-mastered Deluxe Edition 2CD sets starting walking down the pike, I snapped up a few of them, and I wouldn’t be adverse to a few more, if the price was right.

What really helped my Cure fandom along was all of their music videos. I had the Japanese Beta stereo hi-fi tape of “Tea Party”, which was about 30 minutes long and it had all of the clips of the day, approx. ’85. Later with got a “Live In Japan” (’87) tape that I dubbed.

I never did see them live. I barely missed them once in Paris – during a “Fete De La Musique” day. Or did I miss The The? I don’t remember that day too well, as I sit here typing.

I always rather found it amusing that Robert Smith joined Siouxsie & The Banshees at one point. I never really did them; I didn’t care for their debut LP when it was highly recommended to me, but I am good with some of the singles, like “Hong Kong Garden”. Never heard “The Glove”, their thing with Mr. Smith.

And according to Word Magazine, Robert Smith is now 50 years of age. Hey, so am I!

Recently, I got two different live CD’s by The Cure, “Entreat” and “Paris” – maybe I am trying to make up for never having seen them live? I think the latest thing in my Cure collection is the 7” single called “High”, which was given to me with the batch of Thrift Store Records I recently described.

I definitely didn’t care for the LP after “Faith”, and I wasn’t even all that fond of “Faith”! But I did like the “Charlotte Sometimes” single, so nice to have it again, on the $4 copy of the 2CD “Faith” that I found at a Salvation Army store recently.

E.L.O. / The Move etc.

4-23-09 Electric Light Orchestra, The Move etc.

I last wrote about E.L.O. in 2005. I recently got a 2CD “Best Of”, and decided to do it again, but to expand things a bit. I am not the biggest Move / E.L.O. / Wizzard fan. My favorite thing in the entire body of work is “Looking On” by The Move.

E.L.O.:

LP BALANCE OF POWER CBS ASSOC. FZ 40048
1986 10 TRKS
LP DISCOVERY CBS/JET UK JETLX 500
1979 9 TRKS insert
LP ELDORADO U.A. US US-LA-339G
1974 10 TRKS
LP ELO II EPIC/JET US PZ 35533
1973 5 TRKS re-issue, 2nd album
LP FACE THE MUSIC U.A. US US-LA-546G
1975 8 TRKS
7" I'M ALIVE / DRUM DREAMS MCA US MCA-41246
1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve
LP NEW WORLD RECORD, A U.A. DE UAS 30017 XOT
1976 9 TRKS
LP NIGHT THE LIGHT WENT ON IN LONG BEACH WARNER DE WB 56058
1974 7 TRKS Live
CD NO ANSWER CBS/SONY JPN CSCS 6026
1971 9 TRKS
LP NO ANSWER U.A. US UAS 5573
1972 9 TRKS 1st album
LP OLE ELO U.A. US SP-123
1976 9 TRKS yellow vinyl promo
LP ON THE THIRD DAY U.A. US US-LA-188F
1973 9 TRKS 3rd album
LPx2 OUT OF THE BLUE U.A./JET US JT-LA-823-L2
1977 17 TRKS
LP SECRET MESSAGES EPIC/JET US QZ 38490
1983 10 TRKS
7" SHINE A LITTLE LOVE / JUNGLE JET US ZS8 5057
1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve
CDx2 STRANGE MAGIC: BEST OF EPIC US Z2K 64157
1995 29 TRK Collection
7" SWEET TALKIN' WOMAN / FIRE ON HIGH U.A./JET US JT-XW-1145
1978 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, PURPLE VINYL
7" TELEPHONE LINE / POOR BOY (THE GREENWOOD) U.A. US UA-XW1000
1976 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, green vinyl
LP TIME EPIC/JET US FZ 37371
1981 13 TRKS
7" TURN TO STONE / MISTER KINGDOM U.A./JET UK UP 36313
1977 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

The Move:

7" FLOWERS IN THE RAIN A&M US AM-884
1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
LP FLYBACK (Collection) FLY UK TON 3
1970? 12 TRK Collection
CD LOOKING ON REPERTOIRE DE REP 4281-WY
1970 12 TRKS 5 x bonus tracks
LP LOOKING ON FLY UK FLY 1
1970 7 TRKS UK original issue
CD MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY re HARVEST US 30342.2
2005 18 TRKS ('05 issue) (8 x bonus tracks)
CD MOVE, THE CUBE EU CUCD 15TM
1968 13 TRKS
LP MOVE, THE REGAL ZO UK SLRZ 1002
1968 13 TRKS stereo
CD SHAZAM REPERTOIRE DE REP 4296-WY
1970 11 TRKS (5 x bonus tracks) ('93 issue)
LP SHAZAM A&M US SP-4259
1968? 6 TRKS stereo
LP SPLIT ENDS U.A. US UAS 5666
1972 12 TRK Collection

Roy Wood:

LPx2 ROY WOOD STORY, THE HARVEST UK SHDW 408 1976 25 TRK Collection; The Move, E.L.O., Wizzard etc. – basically suffices as my Roy Wood / Wizzard collection!
LP EDDY AND THE FALCONS WARNER UK K 56029 1974 9 TRKS poster

OK, for Roy Wood, I admit I just have whatever has crossed my path for a good price. I do not necessarily recognize Wizzard’s involvement with the British Glam Rock movement of the mid-70’s.

As a young man hanging out in record stores, people were always talking about The Move. There was a free music ‘magazine’ called “The Phonograph Record Magazine” – and they too were always touting The Move. So, I made it my youthful business to duly seek out and hear The Move. Good thing that the first record I found was the new “Looking On” LP on Fly Records! I could find their “Shazam” LP in the $1 bin, and I eventually drifted into a UK original of their debut LP, with it’s beautiful psychedelic cover.

I watched with baited breath as The Move trans-morphed into The Electric Light Orchestra. I lapped up their debut album, loving “10538 Overture” et al. But 1972 was a hell of a time in rock music – lots of cool stuff was available then, and very quickly, bands like Genesis and Gentle Giant were catching my attention; I never ‘made it’ to “E.L.O. II” – it seemed almost ‘mainstream’ by comparison. And let’s not forget my nascent interest in “Krautrock”!

So, in the mid-70’s, I wasn’t really building on my love of British psychedelic music – I was basking in the warmth of Family, John Entwistle, Traffic, Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come – the music of the day.

When I got to my first hippie record store job in ’76, E.L.O. were going great guns. You couldn’t not hear them. I heard all the singles, and most of the LP’s at the time. I remember the in-store displays. And the silly TV commercials. Ah, it was just pop music. I wanted Italian horror film soundtracks!

2009 is here, and no 70’s UK pop compilation would be complete without at least one E.L.O. cut – hence my need for a 2CD “Best Of”. “Balance Of Power”, anyone?

Thrift Store Records

4-22-09 Thrift Store Records

A woman where I work recently heard that I liked phonograph records. She offered to give me all of “her” old records. The majority of the stuff was what I classify as “Thrift Store Records” – old Christmas LP’s, some easy listening, some beat-up original US Beatles LP’s, Herb Alpert etc. But there must’ve been somebody younger in her household, as there were some unusual records, too.

The keepers were:

BROWN, JAMES – JAMES BROWN MEDLEY, POLYDOR CAN PDSX 2288 12" 985 5 TRKS with pic sleeve, R&B

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – WILLY AND THE POOR BOYS, FANTASY US 8397

LP 1969 10 TRKS

DYLAN, BOB - GREATEST HITS, COLUMBIA US

KCL 2663 LP 1966? 10 TRK Collection, US version, mono

MORRISSEY – SUEDEHEAD, SIRE US 20877-0

12" 1988 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

O.S.T. – EASY RIDER, DUNHILL US DSX 50063

LP 1970 10 TRKS Various Artists

REED, LOU – ROCK AND ROLL HEART, ARISTA US AL 4100

LP 1976 12 TRKS

The most unusual record in the shopping bags of “Thrift Store Records” that I was given: Alien Sex Fiend “Now I’m Feeling Zombified”. I honestly can’t imagine the woman who gave me these records having that played in her home.

I can defend each of the 6 ‘keepers’ – All of the ones I kept were in decent shape. Always been a bit of a fan of James Brown, and a mid-80’s “Medley” could definitely be interesting, as it’s early enough to not be a “techno” remix. I was a fan of CCR at the time, and it’s fairly nostalgic for me to revisit them on vinyl occasionally. Quite unusual to find a mono copy of Bob Dylan “Greatest Hits”, alas – the poster is long gone. If I was only going to own one Morrissey record, it would be “Suedehead”. Always amused to find old soundtracks, and “Easy Rider” is no exception. I recently got a Japanese CD of this title! And finally, dear old Lou Reed…

When I was about 13 or 14, I got the self-titled Lou Reed LP that had the song “Berlin” on it. At the time, I was listening to a lot of David Bowie. I wanted to like the Lou Reed LP, but it didn’t happen. I sold it (and the few V.U. LP’s I had obtained) and never looked back. Once I got my first hippie record store job in 1976, I was being exposed to a lot more “new music”. “Rock And Roll Heart” was one of the ‘new’ LP’s I heard when it came out. It’s probably closest to say “I didn’t hate it” – which isn’t exactly praise. But I have found myself over the years sometimes quoting the song “Rock And Roll Heart” (i.e. “Roll Heart, Roll Heart…”) and not quite knowing why. Well, it somehow got in there (as in “my brain”).

So, this bag of “Thrift Store Records” has really expanded my experience – I now own records by both Morrissey and Lou Reed!

One Night In Paris...

4-21-09 One night in Paris is like a year in any other place…

September 28, 1979, I was visiting Paris for the first time, with my friend Cameron. I think we had found a super-cheap hotel, somewhere in the Latin Quarter. 21 years old, we were mostly about drinking beer and chasing the skirt. I remember that we had been in England, and when we got to France, we were unaware that there was a 1 hour time difference. We kept arriving late / early to everything: museums, movies, meetings with people etc.

One night in particular stands out. There was some sort of funniness about having to change hotel rooms, I think. So, that meant we went to a Lene Lovich concert at the Gibus club! Ah, a nightclub with live music! And drinks! I do not remember the concert too much, must’ve really been knocking back the Pelforths. What I do remember: I had a Sony TC-300 cassette recorder (I don’t think it was the TCS-310 just yet), and I recorded the concert (ostensibly for my future brother-in-law), and a whole side of our misadventures that evening in the fall of 1979. And I remember Cameron successfully chatting a nice girl up, then complaining that she was too short for him (Frederique B., he got her number!) I had no suck luck.

Very hazy, 30 years hence, but – we stole a HEAVY ash tray from somewhere, for my sister – so I had that in my pocket. And the not-featherweight cassette recorder. I think we were accosted by a ‘fire eater’ (us no French, him no English). Crepes were being made on the street, and either Cameron or I didn’t know what they were. We decided to drink in a bar that we didn’t know well, with the idea that we could each steal a large (Pelforth?) beer stein. Well, I remember taking them – but we were both too drunk, and I think Cameron dropped his stein right outside of the bar, and mine didn’t even make it all the back to the hotel (that we weren’t even sure would even let us in etc.)

We also had some pretty intense sleep deprivation exercises. We were going to go to an Urban Sax concert with the band, and it meant meeting them at a fountain near our hotel at 5 o’clock in the morning, then driving all day – a great Urban Sax show in Caen – a lengthy dinner with the band afterwards, and barely crashing in the (full) bus back to Paris. We were shamed because we were not carrying a corkscrew – they all had ‘em! “We are three and a dog, can you take us to Noisy-Le-Sec?” is what Cameron said Gilbert said. We were staying with Gilbert Artman (of Urban Sax and Lard Free), at his mysterious home in Noisy-Le-Sec. Slept all day, I think.

Did we misbehave in the Louvre? I don’t remember. Did we engage the ‘fire eaters’ outside of the Centre Georges Pompidou? Yes, but I do not remember if words were actually exchanged. Someone cheated us, when we changed money. “Faux bille!”, we were told. I think we eventually used the “faux bille” to pay for drinks somewhere. Some Metro stations had an indescribable smell (garlic?). Now that I know more about cheese, I wonder what we were given (or ordered) that was so funny-smelling? I don’t remember any cheese tasting bad, even if it was not “Pasteur-ized”. My bags were getting heavy, I was finding lots of 45’s.

My French didn’t get better for a couple more years. Both Roland Bocquet and Gilles Yepremian were very gracious to Cameron and I. In ’79, I had no idea who Serge Gainsbourg was, I just saw the posters everywhere for his newest LP, “Mauvais Nouvelles Des Etoiles”.

Lene Lovich

4-20-09 Lene Lovich

10" 1980 GLOBAL ASSAULT (10") STIFF/EPIC US AS 769
1980 6 TRKS Live, London & Boston, promo-only

LP FLEX STIFF UK SEEZ 19
1979 10 TRKS

CD FLEX...PLUS RHINO US R2 70521
1979 18 TRKS 8 x bonus tracks

12" NEW TOY STIFF/EPIC US 5E 37452
1981 6 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

12" NEW TOY pic label STIFF JPN VIP-5908
1981 6 TRK EP; with large pic labels, insert

LP RADIO PROMO ALBUM STIFF UK LENE 1
1979 21 TRKS interview, promo-only

LP STATELESS STIFF/EPIC US JE 36102
1979 11 TRKS autographed

LP STATELESS STIFF UK SEEZ 7
1979 11 TRKS red vinyl, UK version

CD STATELESS...PLUS RHINO US R2 70520
1978 17 TRKS 6 x bonus tracks

I did not start out as much of a Lene Lovich fan. When her stuff made it’s debut, she was one of several acts on Stiff that I only had a sideways glance at. It was probably that she was older than I was, and I didn’t totally ‘get’ the thrift store look or wound-up (fake?) hair. At the time, she was ‘typical’ of what KROQ-FM would blindly play (as in, they’d even play album cuts – if the artist was “new wave” enough). I didn’t understand her feverish fans, and it certainly didn’t help when “New Toy” got to be such a big hit – around here anyway. That should’ve been her entrance into eth mainstream, but…never on an album at the time, and never really ‘followed-up’. Then, >> poof << - she was gone!

The years come and go, and I now find “Stateless” to be a rather charming collection of songs. I believe there is involvement from an old mate of Peter Hammill, Chris Judge Smith. I was amused to find an autographed copy of “Stateless” in a $1 bin in Oakland / Berkeley. Also amused to find her Japanese 12” with large picture labels, as well as the promo-only records “1980 Global Assault” and “Radio Promo Album”. Both of those would’ve gone for some big bucks, in their day – but I got both of those titles inexpensively, somewhat recently!

And she has some nice music videos on “Stiff’s Greatest Hits” – “Lucky Number” and “Say When” being particularly memorable. I’d love to find 45’s of those two songs. Both of the Rhino CD’s I have on her came from the bargain bin. And I’m no longer so totally “Anti-Stiff”, recently converting to Jona Lewie!

I last wrote about her in 2005, before I found some of the records:

“And what about her appearance in “Cha Cha”, the Dutch movie with Nina Hagen and the late Herman Brood? I didn’t care about any of them at the time, but I have since become a huge Herman Brood fan – good thing I have a nice copy it on videotape!”

Rachel Sweet

4-17-09 Rachel Sweet

LP AND THEN HE KISSED ME COLUMBIA US ARC 37077

1981 9 TRKS

7" B-A-B-Y / SUSPENDED ANIMATION STIFF JPN VIP-2710

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve (BUY 39)

7" B-A-B-Y / WILDWOOD SALOON STIFF US 1-11100

1978 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" BABY, LET'S PLAY HOUSE / WILDWOOD SALOON (LIVE) STIFF DE 6.12658

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve (BUY 55)

LP BLAME IT ON LOVE COLUMBIA US FC 38342

1982 10 TRKS

LP FOOL AROUND STIFF JPN VIP-6612

1979 11 TRKS insert (UK version)

LP FOOL AROUND STIFF/EPIC US JC 36101

1979 11 TRKS U.S. version

LP FOOL AROUND STIFF UK SEEZ 12

1979 11 TRKS white vinyl

CD FOOL AROUND - THE BEST OF RHINO US R2 70313

1992 20 TRK Collection

CD FOOL AROUND kami JVC JPN VICP-63349

1979 16 TRKS ('06 issue) kami sleeve (5 x bonus tracks)

7" FOOL'S GOLD / I'VE GOT A REASON STIFF UK BUY 67

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" HAIRSPRAY promo MCA US L33-17513

1988 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

7" I GO TO PIECES / SUSPENDED ANIMATION STIFF US 1-11052

1978 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" I GO TO PIECES / WHO DOES LISA LIKE STIFF UK BUY 44

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP PROTECT THE INNOCENT STIFF UK SEEZ 18

1980 12 TRKS

7" SPELLBOUND / LOVER'S LANE STIFF UK BUY 80

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

She was born in 1962, so roughly 4 years younger than me, and 17 years old when her debut album “Fool Around” came out. I did not immediately warm to many Stiff label acts, at that time. But I liked the writing (a bit like Lene Lovich, but a little more ‘fun’). When a show got scheduled at The Whisky A-Go-Go, I got tickets and went. I think her band was Fingerprintz. Maybe she was even the opening act for a group I didn’t really want to see…999, perhaps?

I really only ever did “Fool Around”, but I got all of her later releases on LP in the bargain bin. Me & my friends were all delighted when she sang the title song for the John Waters film “Hairspray”! And when I saw that JVC Japan did a little paper album cover CD for the UK version of “Fool Around” (with bonus tracks), I went for it!

My fandom of “Fool Around” remains untarnished, 30 years hence. “It’s So Different Here” is such an amazing song. “Cuckoo Clock” still makes me laugh. Why wasn’t “Who Does Lisa Like?” a big hit? Did they really change the lyrics of it for the US? Two different versions? Why don’t I have a 45 of it?

Thanks for the music, Ms. Sweet. We hope to see you again one day.

1969 (Revisited)

4-16-09 1969 (Revisited)

1969 is already 40 years ago. Moon landing! Woodstock! I was still young enough to listen to the AM radio (as well as the beginning of free form FM radio). I was still in elementary school. None of my obsessions with rock music had yet fully developed. I knew I liked British records, but I probably only had a few of them in 1969 (ones my father bought for me). I remember (and in some cases, can’t forget) every song on this 1969 list:

The Foundations – “Build Me Up Buttercup” (I have a “Best Of” CD, and I prefer “Back On My Feet Again” or “Baby Now That I Found You”.)

Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline” (My mother liked / likes this song, so no need to own it or hear it any more than necessary.)

Steam – “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” (Believe it or not, I actually bought a 45 of this at the Singer Sewing Machine store for 59 cents!)

Spiral Staircase – “More Today Than Yesterday” (I hear this song way too much, on oldies radio in 2009 – way too much.)

Dusty Springfield – “Son of a Preacher Man” (I have a “Best Of” CD with many tracks.)

Frank Sinatra – “My Way” (I have a Reprise label “Best Of” CD with many tracks.)

Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Proud Mary” & “Bad Moon Rising” (Yes, I was a fan, but…boy did these ever get over-played!)

The Beatles – “Something” & “Come Together” (2 x “Abbey Road” singles; I remember riding my bike to the straight record store to get this LP on the day it came out.)

The Archies – “Sugar Sugar” (No comment. Really.)

Tammy Wynette – “Stand By Your Man” (I probably like this better now than I did back then.)

The Doors – “Touch Me” (Decent Doors 45, great sax solo.)

The Rolling Stones – “Honky Tonk Women” (I hear this song way too much, on oldies radio in 2009 – way too much.)

B.J. Thomas – “Hooked On A Feeling” (Not my favorite song, but this is preferable to the – ugh – Blue Swede version.)

The Temptations – “I Can’t Get Next To You” (a fine R&B hit for ’69.)

The Friends of Distinction – “Grazin’ In The Grass” (I prefer the Hugh Masakela version, but this is still a good R&B hit for ’69.)

Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost – “Traces” (I have their “Best Of” CD, but not necessarily for this song – I am more of a fan of “Spooky” or “Stormy”.)

The Ventures – “Hawaii 5-0” (I have a “Best Of” CD with many tracks.)

I was riding my bike everywhere; watching a lot of television; trying to have long hair; spending a lot of time listening to LP’s; in elementary school; If I was listening to this mainstream stuff, the ‘progressive rock’ bug had yet to bite. In an other-worldly universe, the debut King Crimson LP came out, “In The Court of the Crimson King”.

FM radio was playing Crosby, Stills & Nash, Steppenwolf, and Three Dog Night. I was also playing Frank Zappa records – I wanted to “listen and believe”.

Donovan

4-15-09 Donovan

I’ve been a fan for over 40 years. My friend Cameron has tons of Donovan albums, 45’s etc. I got to see him live once, in the 80’s. I only have a small cross-section, mostly 60’s & 70’s stuff:

LP 7-TEASE EPIC US PE 33245

1974 12 TRKS

7" ATLANTIS / TO SUSAN ON THE WEST COAST WAITING CBS/SONY JPN SONG 80063

1968? 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD BARABAJAGAL EMI UK 830871.2

1969 10 TRKS ('94 issue) from UK CD boxed set

LP BARABAJAGAL EPIC DE BN 26481

1969 10 TRKS with the Jeff Beck Group

7" CELIA OF THE SEALS / SONG OF THE WANDERING AENGUS EPIC US 5-10694

1971 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" COLOURS (EP) PYE NZ NEP 24229

1965 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

CD COSMIC WHEELS EPIC UK 477378.2

1973 10 TRKS

LP COSMIC WHEELS EPIC UK EPC 65450

1973 10 TRKS single-sleeve cover; US version is a fold-out and has a large poster

7" DARE TO BE DIFFERENT (Mono) / (Stereo) promo ARISTA UK AS 0280

1977 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP DONOVAN (Discofon) DISCOFO NL 6957 106

1970? 12 TRKS Collection, early material

CD DONOVAN (RAK) BGO UK BGOCD 375

1977 10 TRKS

LP DONOVAN (RAK) EMI/RAK UK SRAK 528

1977 10 TRKS

LP DONOVAN IN CONCERT mono PYE UK NPL 18237

1968? 14 TRKS Live, Anaheim, California – I was too young for this show, but my friend Tom R. went

LP DONOVAN'S GREATEST HITS EPIC US BXN 26439

1969? 11 TRK Collection, booklet

CD EARLY YEARS, THE (Collection) DOJO UK EARL D 13

1993 15 TRK Collection (60's recordings), early material

7" EPISTLE TO DIPPY / PREACHIN' LOVE promo EPIC US 5-10127

1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP ESSENCE TO ESSENCE EPIC UK EPC 69050

1973 11 TRKS UK original

CD FAIRYTALE CASTLE UK CLACD 226

1965 12 TRKS

LP FAIRYTALE mono PYE UK NPL 18128

1965 12 TRKS UK original, mono

LP FAIRYTALE re-issue MARBLE ARCH UK MAL 867

1969 10 TRKS re-issue, different cover

LP FOR LITTLE ONES EPIC US BN 26350

1967? 12 TRKS stereo

LPx2 GIFT FROM A FLOWER TO A GARDEN, A EPIC US B2N 171

1967? 22 TRKS boxed set, inserts

LP GOLDEN HOUR GOLDEN HOUR UK GH 506

1970's 20 TRK collection, 60’s material

LP GREATEST HITS EPIC/SONY JPN 28.3P-387

1986? 14 TRK collection, insert; Japan-only – excellent cover

LPx2 H.M.S. DONOVAN DAWN UK DNLD 4001

1971 28 TRKS

CD HURDY GURDY MAN EMI UK 830869.2

1968 13 TRKS ('94 issue) UK CD boxed set

LP HURDY GURDY MAN EPIC NL BN 26420

1968 13 TRKS

7" JENNIFER JUNIPER / POOR COW PYE UK 7N 17457

1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" LAY DOWN LASSIE / LOVE IS ONLY FEELING INTERFUS NZ K 8607

1981 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP LIVE IN JAPAN: SPRING TOUR 1973 EPIC/SONY JPN ECPM 25

1973 14 TRKS Live, inserts – AMAZING!

7" MARIA MAGENTA (Mono) / (Stereo) promo EPIC US 5-11023

1973 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

7" MELLOW YELLOW EPIC US 5-10098

1966 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD MELLOW YELLOW EMI UK 830870.2

1967 10 TRKS ('94 issue) UK CD boxed set

LP MELLOW YELLOW EPIC US BN 26239

1967 10 TRKS stereo

LP OPEN ROAD EPIC NL BN 26278

1970 12 TRKS

7" SAILING HOMEWARD / YELLOW STAR EPIC FR EPC 1960

1973 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP SLOW DOWN WORLD EPIC US PE 33945

1976 9 TRKS promo

CD SUNSHINE SUPERMAN (US) EMI UK 830868.2

1966 10 TRKS ('94 issue) UK CD boxed set, US vers.

LP SUNSHINE SUPERMAN (US) EPIC US BN 26217

1967 10 TRKS US vers.

7" SUNSHINE SUPERMAN / MELLOW YELLOW re-issue EMI UK G45 45

1985 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, re-issue

7" SUNSHINE SUPERMAN / TRIP, THE promo EPIC US 5-10045

1967 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

LP SUNSHINE SUPERMAN mono PYE UK NPL 18181

1967 12 TRKS UK version, mono

LPx2 THIS IS DONOVAN (Collection) EPIC NL S 66251

1974 24 TRK Collection (60's recordings)

CDx2 TROUBADOR - DEFINITIVE COLLECTION EPIC US E2K 46986

1992 44 TRK Collection (60's & 70's recordings), some previously unreleased tracks

LP UNIVERSAL SOLDIER MARBLE ARCH UK MAL 718

1967 10 TRKS

7" UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (EP) PYE UK NEP 24219

1965 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

LP WEAR YOUR LOVE LIKE HEAVEN EPIC US BN 26349

1967? 10 TRKS stereo

7" WEAR YOUR LOVE LIKE HEAVEN / OH GOSH EPIC US 5-10253

1967? 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP WHAT'S BIN DID AND WHAT'S BIN HID PYE NZ NPL 18117

1965 12 TRKS mono

LP WHAT'S BIN HID AND WHAT'S BIN DID re-issue MARBLE ARCH UK MAL 795

1968 10 TRKS re-issue, different cover

LPx2 WORLD OF DONOVAN, THE (Collection) (Epic) EPIC NL EPC 66289

1972 20 TRK Collection

LP WORLD OF DONOVAN, THE (Collection) (Marble Arch) MARBLE ARCH UK MAL 1168

1969? 10 TRK Collection

I also liked his book! “Epistle To Dippy” is one of my all-time favorite songs. If you’ve never heard it, I highly recommend his “Donovan” album on RAK / Arista from 1977, it’s great. As is “Cosmic Wheels” etc. Thank you for the music, Donovan. I feel like I’ve known you for most of my life.

Sensational Alex Harvey Band

4-14-09 The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

I am a late-comer to the S.A.H.B., as they are also known.

7" AMOS MOSES / SATCHEL AND THE SCALP HUNTER MOUNTAIN UK TOP 19

1976 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

7" BOSTON TEA PARTY / SULTAN'S CHOICE MOUNTAIN UK TOP 12

1976 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP FOUR PLAY (without Alex) MOUNTAIN UK TOPC 5006

1977 8 TRKS

CDx2 FRAMED / NEXT… MERCURY UK 586696.2

1973 16 TRKS ('02 issue)

LP IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, THE VERTIGO US VEL-2000

1974 10 TRKS

CDx2 IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, THE / TOMORROW BELONGS TO ME MERCURY UK 586697.2

1974/5 20 TRKS ('02 issue)

LP LIVE ATLANTIC US SD 18148

1975 7 TRKS Live

CDx2 LIVE / PENTHOUSE TAPES, THE MERCURY UK 586698.2

1975/8 17 TRKS ('02 issue)

LP NEXT… VERTIGO DE 6360 103

1974? 7 TRKS

LP ROCK DRILL MOUNTAIN UK TOPS 114

1978 9 TRKS Original UK issue

LP S.A.H.B. STORIES MOUNTAIN UK TOPS 112

1976 8 TRKS Original UK issue

CDx2 S.A.H.B. STORIES / ROCK DRILL MERCURY UK 586699.2

1976/8 17 TRKS ('02 issue)

7" SERGEANT FURY / TOMAHAWK KID VERTIGO US VE-200

1974 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

7" SWAMPSNAKE / GANG BANG VERTIGO US VE-113

1973 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP TOMORROW BELONGS TO ME VERTIGO US VEL-2004

1975 10 TRKS

I think that I first heard of the S.A.H.B. when my brother lived in Germany in the early 70’s – he wrote and told me that he had seen them, and that it was a really good show. For certain, the first record I ever heard by the S.A.H.B. was the “S.A.H.B. Stories” LP, particularly Side 2 – by that time, I was already working in my first hippie record store job.

30+ years hence, I am sorry I was too young to have seen them when they played L.A. – friends of mine saw them, and have described it as “quite a show”. Of course, I was also a fan of the Tear Gas LP, and they are the band that essentially became the S.A.H.B. (with the addition of Alex Harvey).

Alas, too young. If I was only a few years older, I would’ve seen the S.A.H.B. and Streetwalkers and…and…and…can’t really sit around all day thinking about which bands I missed when they all came to L.A. to play live.

That said, I got to see Magazine, Ultravox (with John Foxx), Athletico Spizz 80, Rachel Sweet, The Stranglers, XTC, John Otway, John Cale et al. I must be happy about ‘my time’, the stuff I did get to see. But I do still lament that I was too young for the S.A.H.B.! Anyway, I was busy listening to German music when they were happening.

Tenpole Tudor

4-13-09 Tenpole Tudor

7" 3 BELLS IN A ROW STIFF UK BUY 98

1980 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP EDDIE, OLD BOB, DICK & GARY STIFF UK SEEZ 31

1981 13 TRKS

CDx2 EDDIE, OLD BOB, DICK & GARY / LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW STIFF UK CDSEEZ 31

2007 40 TRKS '80 - '81 original issue

7" LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW STIFF UK BUY 137

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" SWORDS OF A THOUSAND MEN, THE STIFF UK BUY 109

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" THROWING MY BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER STIFF UK BUY 129

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

I certainly didn’t pay too much attention to Tenpole Tudor while they were active as a band. I was aware of them, but didn’t care. 1981 was all about New Zealand artists for me!

But it’s the new century, and I can have a good laugh at their amusing ‘Stiff label’ brand of “punk”. “3 Bells In A Row” is a fantastic single, and I now really like their ‘hits’ “The Swords Of A Thousand Men” and “Wunderbar”. And I have all of their Stiff 45’s except “Wunderbar”! I doubt I will easily find their Korova label single, however.

When I was “Mr. Music Video” in the 80’s, I mail-ordered a PAL VHS tape of “Stiff’s Greatest Hits”, which has some of their videos on it. I don’t remember how I started down their path, perhaps it was a music video on “Rage”?

I think Eddie Tudor-Pole went into acting, after this band. He’s in several films I’ve seen (uh, even “The Great Rock & Roll Swindle”). Didn’t he have something to do with the Comic Strip folks?

Well, when I was interested, I found myself in San Francisco’s Amoeba Music, armed with a credit slip – and I think the 2CD set of their almost entire recorded output was something like $10.98. We had a lot of fun driving around listening to their two albums and assorted singles on this 2CD set.

= =

Hope everybody had a pleasant Easter. I was at home and got a lot of stuff done, always a good feeling. Always accepting requests for topics to write about!

- Ron

Spike Jones

4-10-09 Spike Jones

I recently found some 50’s 7” 45rpm EP’s by Spike Jones, so it got me thinking about trying to compose a discography for him. I am really out of my depth; I know almost nothing about 78’s! (And I certainly don’t own any!).

LP 60 YEARS OF MUSIC AMERICA HATES BEST LIBERTY US LST 7154 1964? 11 TRKS stereo

LP BEST OF RCA DE LPM 10013 1960? 8 TRK Collection, mono

10" BOTTOMS UP (10") RCA US LPM 3054 1952 8 TRK EP

LPx2 CAN'T STOP MURDERIN' (Collection) RCA DE NL 89349 (2) 1974 23 TRK Collection

7" CARMEN MURDERED! (EP) RCA US EPA 440 1954 4 TRKS with pic sleeve, EP

7" CHARLESTON, THE / CHARLESTONO-MIO RCA US 47-3198 1953? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP DEPRECIATION REVUE SILVER SWAN LP 1002 1980? 16 TRK Collection (40's recordings)

CD DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY RHINO US R2 70261 1957? 17 TRKS mono

LP DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY VERVE US MGV-4005 1957? 17 TRKS mono

LP DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY VERVE JPN MV 2119 1957? 17 TRKS re-issue, insert, mono

7" FAVORITES (EP) RCA US EPA 288 1951 4 TRKS with pic sleeve, EP

LP I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING (Collection) RCA INT'L UK INTS 5052 1980 12 TRK Collection (50's recordings)

7" KIDS THE CLASSICS (EP) RCA US EPA 415 1953 4 TRKS with pic sleeve, EP

7" MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE (EP) RCA US EPA-5080 1959 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

LPx2 MURDERS AGAIN (Collection) RCA DE NL 89354 (2) 1973 20 TRK Collection

LPx2 MURDERS THEM ALL (Collection) RCA DE NL 89044 (2) 1973 17 TRK Collection

LP OMNIBUST LIBERTY US LST 7140 1960? 8 TRKS stereo

LP ON THE AIR! SANDY HOOK SH 20731983 17 TRK Collection ('43 + '44 recordings)

LP SPIKE JONES IN STEREO WARNER US WS 13321959 10 TRKS stereo, re-issue

LP THANK YOU, MUSIC LOVERS (Collection) RCA US LPM 2224 1960 12 TRK Collection, mono

LP THANK YOU, MUSIC LOVERS (Collection) RCA DE NL 89057 1960 12 TRK Collection, re-issue, mono

LP VERY BEST OF U.A. US UA-LA-439-E 1975 9 TRK Collection

CD WACKY WORLD OF SPIKE JONES (Collection) GOOD MUSIC DMC1-0570/SJK 1982 18 TRK Collection (50's recordings)

LP XMAS SPECTACULAR VERVE US MGV 20211959? 21 TRKS Xmas, mono

My dad was who first played me Spike Jones, in the early 60’s. He had taped part of “Dinner Music For Those Who Aren’t Very Hungry” off of the FM radio. When we went to Wallach’s Music City, the only LP in print was “Thank You, Music Lovers”, which is what we ordered and got. Hooked for life, as it were.

So, with several decades of record collecting under my belt, I confront myself with trying to assemble a discography for Spike Jones. Tough assignment! I know almost nothing about 78’s – no idea at all what originated as 78’s and later became 7” singles or EP’s.

The beautifully complete-looking double albums that RCA Germany did doesn’t have discography information – but so far, they’ve had all of the tracks I’ve read about, but didn’t know where to find (“Pop Corn Sack” etc.)

A friend in New Zealand said to me, “Yeah, shame people don’t take Spike more seriously. An artist like Billie Holiday has intricately prepared discographies, but Mr. Jones…?”

John Lennon etc.

4-9-09 John Lennon etc.

Uh, ex-Beatle…John & Yoko…The Plastic Ono Band!

7" COLD TURKEY / DON'T WORRY KYOKO APPLE US 1813

1969? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, my 2^nd favorite John Lennon 45.

LP DOUBLE FANTASY GEFFEN US GHS 2001

1980 14 TRKS U.S. pressing; I was working in the music business when this came out, so my view of it will forever be influenced thereof. Let’s just say it’s not my favorite John Lennon album (that would be “Plastic Ono Band”).

7" GIVE PEACE A CHANCE / REMEMBER LOVE APPLE US 1809

1969 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, another non-LP 45!

7" HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) APPLE US 1842

1972? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, green vinyl

CD5 HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) EMI UK CDR 6627

2003 3 TRK CD Single CD5

CD IMAGINE CAPITOL US CDP 746641.2

1971 10 TRKS original version

LP IMAGINE APPLE US SW-3379

1971 10 TRKS poster, postcard

7" IMAGINE / WORKING CLASS HERO APPLE UK R 6009

1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve; are the lyrics of “WCH” edited on this 45?

CD IMAGINE TOSHIBA JPN TOCP-70392

1971 10 TRKS ('00 master) ('07 issue) kami sleeve, inserts (poster & postcard)

7" INSTANT KARMA / WHO HAS SEEN THE WIND? APPLE US 1818

1970 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, still my favorite John Lennon 45!!

CDx4 JOHN LENNON (Collection) (4CD boxed set) TOSHIBA JPN TOCP-6281-4

1990 73 TRK Collection, booklet (70's recordings) found very inexpensively

CD LEGEND (Collection) EMI CANADA 21854.2

1997 20 TRK Collection, purchased for $1 – still trying to get all of the ‘single versions’ on CD

LP LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY CAPITOL US SV-12451

1986 11 TRKS Live, 1972

CD LIVE PEACE IN TORONTO 1969 CAPITOL US 90428.2

1970 8 TRKS Live, 1969

LP LIVE PEACE IN TORONTO 1969 APPLE UK CORE 2001

1970 8 TRKS Live, 1969 – a UK original, sadly, no calendar for me! Eric Clapton! Alan White!

CD MIND GAMES CAPITOL US CDP 746769.2

1973 12 TRKS

LP MIND GAMES APPLE US SW-3414

1973 12 TRKS

7" MIND GAMES / MEAT CITY APPLE US 1868

1973 2 TRKS with pic sleeve; “Meat City” is sure a great track…

7" NOBODY TOLD ME / YOUR HANDS POLYDOR JPN 7DM 0100

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD PLASTIC ONO BAND PARLOPHONE UK CDP 746770.2

1970 11 TRKS

LP PLASTIC ONO BAND APPLE NL 5C 062-04703

1970 11 TRKS Dutch pressing

CD PLASTIC ONO BAND TOSHIBA JPN TOCP-70391

1970 13 TRKS ('00 master) ('07 issue) (2 x bonus tracks)

7" POWER TO THE PEOPLE / OPEN YOUR BOX APPLE UK R 5892

1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, I think “Open Your Box” is the same song as “Touch Me”…

7" POWER TO THE PEOPLE / TOUCH ME APPLE US 1830

1971 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD ROCK 'N' ROLL TOSHIBA JPN CP32-5452

1975 13 TRKS ('88 issue)

LP ROCK 'N' ROLL APPLE US SK-3419

1975 13 TRKS original issue

CDx2 SOME TIME IN NEW YORK CITY TOSHIBA JPN CP25-5466/7

1972 16 TRKS Live, with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

LPx2 SOME TIME IN NEW YORK CITY APPLE UK PCSP 716

1972 16 TRKS Live, with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, which is why I always took an interest in this title. The FZ material also appears on some Zappa CD’s…I’ve never ‘compared’ the differing versions, however.

7" STAND BY ME / MOVE OVER MRS. L APPLE US 1881

1975 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP TWO VIRGINS APPLE US T-5001

1968 2 TRKS with paper wrapper; no, I probably don’t need / want a CD of this title!

CD U.S. VS. JOHN LENNON, THE (O.S.T.) CAPITOL US 74912.2

2006 21 TRK Collection O.S.T.; the music seems remixed, to me. Still, good sound!

CD UNFINISHED MUSIC No. 2: LIFE WITH THE LIONS RYKODISC US RCD 10412

1968 7 TRKS ('97 issue) (2 x bonus tracks) Purchased for the bonus tracks, honest!

CD WALLS AND BRIDGES CAPITOL US CDP 746768.2

1974 12 TRKS original CD issue

LP WALLS AND BRIDGES APPLE US SW-3416

1974 12 TRKS ‘gimmicks’ cover, insert

CD WEDDING ALBUM RYKODISC US RCD 10413

1969 5 TRKS ('97 issue) (3 x bonus tracks) Purchased for the bonus tracks, honest!

7" WHATEVER GETS YOU THROUGH THE NIGHT APPLE US 1874

1974 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" WOMAN IS THE NI**ER OF THE WORLD APPLE US 1848

1972 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

I recently found CD’s of the “Wedding Album” and “Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions” – I never knew they had bonus tracks (B-sides!). Man, both are right up there with George Harrison’s “Electronic Sound” album (BTW, that’s the only album we ever played at my GF’s house that made the cat look up!) – also on the “Zapple” label. Was the “Zapple” imprint the label designated for the overly self-indulgent releases by Beatles members?

“Plastic Ono Band” pleased and shocked. Where were the recent 45’s? They remained 45’s for a number of years. I remember reading that book of interviews with Mr. Lennon, by the guy from Rolling Stone. Dang. And who can forget the National Lampoon parody – “Genius Is Pain” on “Radio Dinner” – thank you, Christopher Guest!

Never really ‘got’ the “Mind Games” LP, and I’ve tried again, in the CD age. Same is true for everything by Mr. Lennon thereafter, as far as I am concerned.

Oh, I do have a Yoko Ono collection:

MIDSUMMER NEW YORK / MRS. LENNON APPLE US 1839 7" 1972? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

I never got the Rykodisc Yoko Ono CD box set. A friend of mine said to me, “Yeah, that boxed set has GREAT sound…but it’s Yoko Ono!”. I do like the 1 x Yoko Ono 45 that I have kept for all these years. Ever heard it?

The Next 50 albums in my collection...

4-8-09 The Next 50 albums in my collection (by age)

LP ATKINS, CHET FINGER-STYLE GUITAR RCA US
LPM 1383 1957 12 TRKS
LP BAXTER, LES CONFETTI CAPITOL US
T-1029 1957? 12 TRKS EZ
LP BAXTER, LES JEWELS OF THE SEA CAPITOL US
T-1537 1957? 12 TRKS EZ
LP BELAFONTE, HARRY EVENING WITH BELAFONTE, AN RCA US
LPM 1402 1957 11 TRKS
LP BELAFONTE, HARRY SINGS OF THE CARIBBEAN RCA US
LSP 2388 (e) 1957 11 TRKS 'electronic stereo'
LP BONDS, RALPH AND BUDDY AT THE TWIN ORGANS VOCALION US
VL 3627 1957? 12 TRKS
CD BRYANT TRIO, RAY RAY BRYANT TRIO VICTOR JPN
VICJ-23513 1957 8 TRKS ('91 issue) jazz
LP BUGS BUNNY BUGS BUNNY AND HIS FRIENDS CAPITOL AUS
ENC 9418 1957? 6 TRKS Mel Blanc, re-issue
LP CAROSONE, RENATO CAROSONE CARAVAN COLUMBIA US
WL 148 1957? 12 TRKS Italian artist
LP CARROLL, DAVID / ORCH. DANCER'S DELIGHT MERCURY US
MG 20109 1957? 12 TRKS
LP CHACKSFIELD, FRANK BROADWAY MELODY DECCA UK
LK 4151 1957 12 TRKS EZ
CD CLARK, SONNY DIAL 'S' FOR SONNY TOSHIBA JPN
TOCJ-1570 1957 6 TRKS ('96 issue) jazz,
CD CLARK, SONNY SONNY CLARK TRIO BLUE NOTE US
CDP 746547.2 1957 9 TRKS ('87 issue) jazz,
CD CLARK, SONNY SONNY'S CRIB BLUE NOTE US
CDP 746819.2 1957 8 TRKS ('87 issue) (3 x bonus tracks)
LP COBLA BARCELONA etc. HOLIDAY IN BARCELONA BRUNSWICK UK
LAT 81136 1957 17 TRKS EZ
LP COHEN, LEONARD / V.A. SIX MONTREAL POETS FOLKWAYS US
FL 9805 1957 6 TRKS spoken word
LP DENNY, MARTIN EXOTICA LIBERTY US
LRP 3034 1957? 12 TRKS
LP DeVOL, FRANK PORTRAITS COLUMBIA US
CL 1108 1957? 12 TRKS EZ
LP FOUR PREPS, THE EARLY IN THE MORNING CAPITOL US
T-1291 1957? 12 TRKS
LP GLEASON, JACKIE MERRY CHRISTMAS CAPITOL US
DW-758 1957? 14 TRKS "Duophonic" Xmas
LP GUCKENHEIMER SOUR KRAUT BAND OOM-PAH-PAH IN HI-FI TALKING MACH
TM 5 1957 15 TRKS
LP GUCKENHEIMER SOUR KRAUT BAND SOUR KRAUT IN HI-FI RCA US
LPM 1453 1957 16 TRKS
LP HAMLIN QUARTET, JOHNNY POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS RCA US
LPM 1379 1957 12 TRKS
LP HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD CATS AROUND THE HORN, THE WING US
MGW 12216 1957? 12 TRKS mono, Ralph Marterie Orch.
LP HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD CATS MEOW, THE MERCURY US
MG 20136 1957? 12 TRKS
LP HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD COMMAND PERFORMANCE MERCURY US
MG 20122 1957? 12 TRKS
LP HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD HARMONICALLY YOURS MERCURY US
MG 20485 1957? 12 TRKS
LP HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD SOUTH AMERICAN NIGHTS WING US
MGW 12163 1957? 12 TRKS
LP HOMER & JETHRO BAREFOOT BALLADS RCA US
LPM 1412 1957 12 TRKS
LP INGMAN, JORGEN SWINGING GUITAR MERCURY US
MG 20200 1957? 12 TRKS
LP JONES, SPIKE DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY VERVE US MGV-4005 1957? 17 TRKS
LP LAINE, FRANKIE GREATEST HITS COLUMBIA US
CL 1231 1957? 12 TRK Collection
LP MARTIN, RAY MELODIES D'AMOUR POLYDOR NZ
237 503 1957? 12 TRKS EZ
LP McGUIRE SISTERS 57 CORAL JPN
LPCM 01008 1957 12 TRKS Japanese 50's pressing!
LP MITCHUM, ROBERT CALYPSO IS LIKE SO CAPITOL FR
154779.1 1957 12 TRKS '84 re-issue
LP NORDINE, KEN WORD JAZZ DOT US
DLP 3075 1957 8 TRKS spoken word
LP O.S.T. HOT ROD RUMBLE LIBERTY ES
LRP-3048 1957 14 TRKS ALEXANDER COURAGE, re-issue
LP O.S.T. MIKE HAMMER RCA ES
NL 45986 1957? 12 TRKS DAVE KAHN, M. LENARD, re-issue
CD O.S.T. WEST SIDE STORY (O.C.) COLUMBIA US
CK 32603 1957? 16 TRKS
LP PRADO, PEREZ LATIN SATIN RCA US
LPM 1459 1957 12 TRKS
LP PRADO, PEREZ PATRICIA RCA MEXICO
MKL-1159 1957? 12 TRKS (LPM-1556)
CD PRADO, PEREZ PREZ RCA EU
26052.2 1957/8 16 TRKS ('95 issue) stereo
10" PRESLEY, ELVIS LOVING YOU (10") RCA FR
130251 1957 8 TRK EP 80's re-issue
LP REEVES, JIM BIMBO RCA US
LPM 1410 1957 12 TRKS
LP REEVES, JIM JIM REEVES RCA US
LPM 1576 1957 12 TRKS
LP SANDBURG, CARL GREAT CARL SANDBURG, THE LYRICHORD
LL 66 1957? 18 TRKS Spoken Word
CD SILVER, HORACE STYLINGS OF SILVER, THE TOSHIBA JPN
TOCJ-9113 1957 6 TRKS ('99 issue) jazz, kami sleeve
LP SMITH, KEELY POLITELY! CAPITOL US
T-1073 1957? 12 TRKS
LP WESTON, PAUL SOUND STAGE HI-FI MUSIC FROM HOLLYWOOD PHILIPS UK
BBL 7039 1957? 12 TRKS
LP WOODY WOODPECKER PRESENTS HOLLYWOOD
HLP 101 1957 12 TRKS Walter Lantz

Most of these are from 1957; almost all in still in mono! Again, can’t confirm the dates exactly, in some cases. And, of course, many of these are re-issues. And, unless I am mistaken – they’re all still released before I was born!

50 oldest titles in my collection

4-7-09 The 50 oldest titles in my collection

LP BAXTER, LES CARIBBEAN MOONLIGHT CAPITOL US

T-733 1955? 12 TRKS EZ

LP BAXTER, LES TAMBOO CAPITOL US

T-655 1956? 12 TRKS EZ

LP BELAFONTE, HARRY BELAFONTE RCA DE

LPM 1150-C 1956 11 TRKS

LP BELAFONTE, HARRY CALYPSO RCA NZ

LPM 1248 1956? 11 TRKS

LP BELAFONTE, HARRY MARK TWAIN AND OTHER FOLK FAVORITES RCA US

LPM 1022 1954 12 TRKS

10" BELAFONTE, HARRY VERSATILE MR. BELAFONTE (10") HMV UK

DLP 1147 1955? 9 TRK EP

LP COASTERS, THE COASTERS, THE ATCO US

33-101 1956? 14 TRKS

LP COWARD, NOEL AT LAS VEGAS CBS UK

62426 1956? 12 TRKS

LP CRISS, SONNY GO MAN! KING JPN

K18P-9254 1956 12 TRKS '83 re-issue, insert

CD CRISS, SONNY JAZZ U.S.A. TOSHIBA JPN

TOCJ-5329 1956 12 TRKS ('90 issue) jazz

10" CUGAT, XAVIER DANCE PARADE COLUMBIA US

CL 6077 1953? 8 TRKS

CD DAVIS, MILES / QUINTET RELAXIN' WITH… PRESTIGE US

OJCCD-190.2 1956 6 TRKS ('87 issue) jazz

CD FRUSCELLA, TONY TONY FRUSCELLA ATLANTIC DE

75354.2 1955 9 TRKS ('98 issue) jazz

LP GELLER, HARRY NEW YORK, NEW YORK RCA US

LPM 1032 1955 12 TRKS center-fold cover

LP GROFE, FERDE GRAND CANYON SUITE RCA RED SEAL

LM-1004 1950? 5 TRKS Arturo Toscanini

10" HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD HARMONICA HITS MERCURY US

MG 25128 1955? 8 TRK EP

LP HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD HARMONICATS RKO US

LP-131 1956? 13 TRKS

CD HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD HARMONICATS' SELECTED FAVORITES UNIVERSAL JPN

UCCU-9032 1956? 12 TRKS ('03 issue) kami sleeve

10" HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD JERRY MURAD'S HARMONICATS MERCURY US

MG 25061 1955? 8 TRK EP

CD JAZZ MESSENGERS AT THE CAFÉ BOHEMIA Vol. 1 BLUE NOTE US

CDP 746521.2 1955 8 TRKS ('87 issue) (3 x bonus tracks) jazz

CD JAZZ MESSENGERS AT THE CAFÉ BOHEMIA Vol. 2 BLUE NOTE US

CDP 746522.2 1955 8 TRKS ('87 issue) (3 x bonus tracks) jazz

LP JONES QUARTET, JONAH SWINGIN' AT THE CINEMA CAPITOL US

T-1082 1956? 12 TRKS

10" JONES, SPIKE BOTTOMS UP RCA US

LPM 3054 1952 8 TRK EP

LP KAWOHI, PRINCE / LUAU BOYS AT THE LUAU RCA US

LPM 1043 1955 12 TRKS

LP KOSTELANETZ, ANDRE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS COLUMBIA M US

ML 4355 1950 15 TRKS Noel Coward

10" LAINE, FRANKIE LOVER'S LANE COLUMBIA US

CL 2504 1955? 6 TRKS

LP LEGRAND, MICHEL BONJOUR PARIS COLUMBIA US

CL 947 1956? 13 TRKS EZ

10" LEHRER, TOM SONGS BY TOM LEHRER LEHRER US

TLP-1 1953 12 TRK EP

LP MELEE, GIL GIL MELEE QUINTET & SEXTET BLUE NOTE JPN

K18P-9275 1953? 14 TRKS '83 re-issue; Blue Note

CD MELEE, GIL PATTERNS IN JAZZ TOSHIBA JPN

TOCJ-1517 1956 6 TRKS ('95 issue) jazz

CD MORALES, HUMBERTO & NORO MAMBO BY MORALES SONY JPN

MHCP 1098 1950/1 23 TRKS ('06 issue)

LP O.S.T. FIVE THOUSAND FINGERS OF DR. T, THE GSF USA

GSF 1007 1953 23 TRKS DR. SEUSS, F. HOLLANDER

LP O.S.T. MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, THE DECCA US

DL 8257 1956? 11 TRKS Elmer Bernstein, Shorty Rogers

CD O.S.T. MY FAIR LADY (O.C.) COLUMBIA US

SK 89997 1956 18 TRKS ('02 issue) (2 x bonus tracks) O.C. b'way

LP POPP, ANDRE PRESENTING POPP! COLUMBIA US

WL 130 1955? 12 TRKS

CD POWELL, BUD AMAZING BUD POWELL Vol. 1, THE BLUE NOTE US

CDP 781503.2 1949/51 15 TRKS ('89 issue) jazz

CD POWELL, BUD BUD POWELL TRIO, THE TOSHIBA JPN

TOCJ-5954 1953/1947 16 TRKS ('95 issue) jazz

LP PRADO, PEREZ HAVANA, 3 A.M. RCA US

LPM 1257 1956 12 TRKS

LP PRADO, PEREZ MAMBO BY THE KING RCA US

LPM 1196 1956 12 TRKS

LP PRADO, PEREZ MAMBO MANIA RCA US

LPM 1075 1955 12 TRKS

10" PRADO, PEREZ PLAYS MUCHO MAMBO RCA US

LPM 21 1950 6 TRK EP

LP PRADO, PEREZ VOODOO SUITE RCA US

LPM 1101 1955 7 TRKS

CD PRESLEY, ELVIS ELVIS PRESLEY (1st album) re RCA US

66058.2 1956 18 TRKS ('06 issue) (6 x bonus tracks)

LP PRIMA, LOUIS / KEELY SMITH LAS VEGAS PRIMA STYLE CAPITOL US

T-1010 1956? 9 TRKS

LP ROBBINS, MARTY SONG OF THE ISLANDS COLUMBIA US

CL 1087 1955? 12 TRKS

CD ROLLINS, SONNY SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS JVC JPN

VICJ-23501 1956 5 TRKS ('85 issue) jazz

CD SILVER, HORACE HORACE SILVER & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS BLUE NOTE US

CDP 746140.2 1955 8 TRKS ('87 issue) jazz

CD SILVER, HORACE HORACE SILVER TRIO BLUE NOTE US

80906.2 1953 16 TRKS ('03 issue) jazz; RVG edition

10" SUMAC, YMA VOICE OF THE XTABAY CAPITOL US

H 244 1953? 8 TRKS

CD TJADER, CAL LATIN KICK FANTASY US

OJCCD-642.2 1956 11 TRKS ('91 issue) jazz

Lots of jazz, and a smattering of easy listening and some soundtracks. These titles are all older than I am! Some of them I got from my parents, some I’ve only obtained recently. As I look at this list,. I know I have some re-issues of good old stuff that do not appear on this list, for some reason (Slim Gaillard “Smorgasbord” comes to mind, which I got in the 80’s, when it was already 30 years old!). But these are the 50 titles that turned up, when I sorted by database by year (this list does not include singles, however). There are also some classical LP’s I have that I am sure are as old as this, if not older (Bidu Sayao, for example). And I have some 20’s/30’s/40’s stuff that I got on re-issue LP’s from the late 60’s / early 70’s…but for argument’s sake, here are what I readily acknowledge as my ‘roots’. Also throw in some Bill Haley & The Comets, I suppose. Sorry I do not have confirmed dates on everything – they didn’t always say in those days…

The Boo Radleys

4-6-09 The Boo Radleys

CD C'MON KIDS CREATION UK CRECD 194 1996 13 TRKS

CD KINGSIZE EPIC/SONY JPN ESCA 7384 1998 15 TRKS (1 x bonus track)

CD5 LAZARUS COLUMBIA US CSK 5327 1993 6 TRK CD Single CD5 promo

CD5 WAKE UP BOO! EPIC/SONY JPN ESCA 6252 1997 6 TRK CD EP CD5

CD WAKE UP! COLUMBIA US CK 67249 1995 12 TRKS

CD5 WHAT'S IN THE BOX? #1 CREATION UK CRESCD 220 1996 4 TRK CD Single CD5

CD5 WHAT'S IN THE BOX? #2 CREATION UK CRESCD 220X 1996 4 TRK CD Single CD5

The first thing I ever heard by the Boo Radleys was a ‘blind listen’ to the “What’s In The Box” CD single, about 1996/7. It was at a ‘music listening party’ and we were all drinking / relaxing. They wouldn’t tell me who it was, and it was played loud. “He’ll never guess this!”, I could hear them say.

They were right. I thought it sounded like…The Who (or something like it, obviously with a different vocalist). “What’s in the box, see what you got…” etc.

Well, my entire Boo Radleys collection was obtained on the strength of that one song. Seriously. I am not particularly a “Creation Records” fan, so there really wasn’t any pre-disposition that I would investigate them more, upon finding out what label they were on. Only thing that was obvious from first listen – they’re British.

I didn’t really do a lot of the mid-90’s wave of Blur / Oasis “Britpop”. I saw the videos on videotape from Australia or the UK, and I heard a few of the more omnipresent singles, such as Blur’s “Boys & Girls”. But I don’t really consider then B-R to be part of that. Certainly, they were around before the 90’s. But I never heard (or saw) their late 80’s stuff at all. Ever.

But 3 x full-length CD’s and 4 x CD singles, on the strength of one song? I sure don’t do that very often! The newest thing by them I got was “Kingsize”, about 1998. I’ve kept all of these for over a decade without adding to this collection. And I have no vinyl on them. If I ever were to try and cut down on the sheer numbers of my CD collection, I would likely get rid of everything except for 1 of the 2 x CD singles of “What’s In The Box?”. No point in that really, as their stuff seems to be value-less, in terms of ‘trade’ at, say, Amoeba Hollywood (I might do better trading them in somewhere where they see less imported CD’s, like Las Vegas, San Diego, Berkeley or San Luis Obispo).

So – thumbs up or down on the Boo Radleys? Am I missing something by not investigating them deeper? Maybe I would feel more strongly about them if I could find either a 7” or 12” of “What’s In The Box?” – but I guess I should quit being so fixated on that one song. I never even saw a video for it.

Memories...

4-3-09 Memories

As we glide into spring, I am reminded of my dad. He’s been gone since ’89 or so. Likely in the spring / summer of 1972, it was apparent that I was listening to a lot of music. Dad got a new car (probably some kind of green Ford – we had several) and he made sure to get a stereo for his car. Near our home, several new freeways had opened, so there was a ‘loop’ one could drive – the 405 to the 710 to the 91 to the 605, back to the 405.

There were quite a few times that spring that he & I made that drive, once the days got a little longer. We listened to music in the car, but we had to find stuff that both of us could stomach. Likely, it was albums by Blood Sweat & Tears, Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, Chicago…that kind of stuff. I wanted to listen to The Groundhogs or Frank Zappa. Alas, it was the time of the wonderful Flo & Eddie era for Mr. Zappa & Co. I might’ve tried “Billy The Mountain” on my dad, but I doubt whether or not he would’ve dug “Fillmore East – June 1971”.

Because some of the music I wanted to hear was a bit more…extreme – or, in the case of Zappa, profane – I was definitely a pre-Walkman era headphone wearer, at home. I got a small receiver (amplifier with a radio in it) for my bedroom, that I did not have to share with anyone. I discovered the late night delights of KPFK-FM (90.7) – with The Firesign Theatre. I had a few friends at school that I could discuss The Firesign Theatre with, but…not many. At 12/13/14 – did we really get all of the jokes? Uh, probably not. There are still some references in their work I do not ‘get’.

In 1972/3, I was still in junior high school (now known as middle school). I did not start working until after I graduated from high school, so cash was hard to come by. I knew how to shop for music cheaply – the “cut-out” bin! Dad liked the cut-out bin, too. Oddly, we both liked the cut-out bin at Thrifty Drug Store. We’re talking LP’s with holes punched in the cover, or spines cut – for 50 cents - $1.98. There were also “cut-out” 8-track tapes and cassettes…but mostly, we were about LP’s.

Before I drove, my dad was who took me to record stores all over southern California, in the early 70’s. When my brother came home on leave from being in the Air Force, he would take me (as well as one of my cousins). I knew where the record stores were. For a young teenager, my scope was surprisingly wide. I can acknowledge my dad’s patience with me, at this point. I sure didn’t think he was patient at the time!

Years later, in the nascent CD era, I went to Los Angeles with my dad, and we went to what was then ONLY “CD Store” in Los Angeles – “CD Banzai” on 3^rd Street, near the Beverly Center. At that time, the only other CD only store I knew of was “Boston Compact Disc” in San Francisco.

But dad never made it to CD. He actually quit listening to music at some time in the 70’s – or I quit noticing if he was listening (what with having my own stereo, and not particularly paying attention to whatever it was he was doing). But he definitely never had a CD player.

The Smothers Brothers

4-2-09 The Smothers Brothers

LP AESOP'S FABLES MERCURY US SR 60989

1965? 15 TRKS stereo

LP AESOP'S FABLES mono MERCURY US MG 20989

1965? 15 TRKS mono

LP AT THE PURPLE ONION MERCURY US SR 60611

1963? 9 TRKS stereo

LP AT THE PURPLE ONION mono MERCURY US MG 20611

1962? 9 TRKS mono

CD BEST OF - SIBLING RIVALRY RHINO US R2 75235

1998 18 TRK Collection (60's recordings)

LP CURB YOUR TONGUE, KNAVE! (8) MERCURY US SR 60862

1964? 8 TRKS stereo

LP GOLDEN HITS Vol. 2 MERCURY UK 20099 MCL

1966? 8 TRK Collection, mono

LP IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING I SAID! MERCURY US SR 60904

1965? 11 TRKS stereo

LP IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING I SAID! mono MERCURY US MG 20904

1965? 11 TRKS mono

LP MOM ALWAYS LIKED YOU BEST! (11) MERCURY US SR 61051

1963? 11 TRKS stereo, re-issue

LP MOM ALWAYS LIKED YOU BEST! (13) mono MERCURY US MG 21051

1963? 13 TRKS mono

LP PLAY IT STRAIGHT mono MERCURY US MG 21064

1965? 13 TRKS mono

LP SMOTHERS COMEDY BROTHERS HOUR MERCURY US SR 61193

1969? 12 TRKS stereo

LP THINK ETHNIC (11) MERCURY US SR 60777

1964? 11 TRKS stereo

LP TOUR DE FARCE / AMERICAN HISTORY… MERCURY US SR 60948

1965? 13 TRKS stereo

LP TOUR DE FARCE / AMERICAN HISTORY… mono MERCURY US MG 20948

1965? 13 TRKS mono

7" TOY SONG, THE / LITTLE SACKA SUGAR MERCURY US 72519

1966? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP TWO SIDES OF THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS MERCURY US SR 60675

1967? 12 TRKS stereo

LP TWO SIDES OF THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS mono MERCURY US MG 20675

1967? 12 TRKS mono

My brother had all of these LP’s. I do not remember how, but I discovered that some versions of the albums have more tracks than others. None of them have ever been particularly expensive, but it is confusing – as the LP’s with different tracks tend to have the exact same serial numbers!

I’ve been them live in Las Vegas. I’ve only ever seen 1 x 45. I have not yet obtained any of the Laugh.com re-issue CD’s (I just have the Rhino ‘best of’ CD). Does everybody remember Tommy Smothers as “The Yo-Yo Man”? I think there was a home video for that – in the 80’s? Their TV show was really great, lots of great musical guests…and Pat Paulsen!

Thanks, Tom & Dick!

Private Eye flexidiscs

4-1-09 Private Eye – Flexidiscs

This is part of my “UK Special Collection” – some British comedy flexidiscs from the late 60’s / early 70’s. Typically, they came with the Christmas issue of the British satirical magazine “Private Eye”, and feature people like Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Barry Humphries etc.

7" ABOMINABLE RADIO GNOME LYNTONE LYN 1354

1967 1 TRK flexidisc, no pic sleeve

7" B.B.C. GNOME SERVICE LYNTONE LYN 1138

1966 1 TRK flexidisc, no pic sleeve

7" DEAR SIR, IS THIS A RECORD? LYNTONE LYN 1962

1969 1 TRK flexidisc, no pic sleeve

7" FARGINSON LYNTONE LYN 3034

1975 1 TRK flexidisc, no pic sleeve

7" HULLO SAILOR LYNTONE LYN 2558

1972 1 TRK flexidisc, no pic sleeve

7" JUST FOR THE RECORD LYNTONE LYN 2140

1970 1 TRK flexidisc, no pic sleeve

7" LONELINESS OF THE LONG PLAYING RECORD LYNTONE LYN 1677

1969 1 TRK flexidisc, no pic sleeve

LP PRIVATE EYE BLUE RECORD TRANSATLANTIC UK TRA 131

1965? 12 TRKS

LP PRIVATE EYE GOLDEN SATIRICALS ISLAND/SPRING HAHA 6002

1981 10 TRKS

The flexidiscs are collected on the “Private Eye Golden Satiricals” LP (together with some ones I do not have, the first few – there are 9 or 10 all together, I believe). I found the ones that I have in London (Record & Tape Exchange, Notting Hill Gate), towards the end of the 70’s – I am certain they were inexpensive, as I bought them not really knowing what they were! (Did I think that the use of the word ‘gnome’ meant it possibly had involvement of the French-Anglo band Gong? Or did the sleeve they were in say “Private Eye”? I do not remember!) – I was delighted to discover Cook & Moore on those flexidiscs! The “Private Eye Golden Satiricals” LP even gives some sort of description of the contents of the flexidiscs.

The “Private Eye Blue Record” is another story altogether! I got it so long ago, that I do not remember where (maybe at a soundtrack store?). I certainly did not totally know what it was, I would’ve bought it solely because it was a British pressing from eth 60’s – and it sort of looked like a comedy LP. It’s possible the first place I ever heard Barry Humphries. Please remember, in the 70’s – when I was most interested in material of this nature, there was NOTHING written about it, no internet – and nobody for me to ask “What the heck is this stuff?”. I was merely a Peter Cook fan in the wild, picking up vinyl as it crossed my path – the “Bedazzled” O.S.T, LP, for instance. As a young man, I knew I wanted British comedy records, which were few and far inbetween!

I also punked my friend Warren about the “Golden Satiricals” LP – “Oh, dude, you’ve got to let me have this LP! It’s missing from my collection, I need it etc?” – he duly gave it to me, I took it home…OOPS! I’VE ALREADY GOT ONE…

Big Brother and The Holding Company

3-31-09 Big Brother & The Holding Company

Couldn’t find a Big Brother or Janis Joplin blog, so here goes…

LP BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN MAINSTREAM US S/6099

1966 10 TRKS stereo, original issue

LP BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN CBS/SONY JPN 25AP 1242

1966 12 TRKS re-issue (2 x bonus tracks)

CD BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN SONY JPN SICP-1665

1966 14 TRKS ('07 issue) (4 x bonus tracks) kami sleeve

CD BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN COLUMBIA US CK 66425

1966 14 TRKS ('99 issue) (4 x bonus tracks)

LP CHEAP THRILLS CBS UK 63382

1968 7 TRKS U.K. pressing

CD CHEAP THRILLS SONY JPN SICP-1666

1968 11 TRKS (4 x bonus tracks) ('07 issue) kami sleeve

CD CHEAP THRILLS COLUMBIA US CK 65784

1968 11 TRKS re-mastered (4 x bonus tracks)

7" DOWN ON ME / CALL ON ME MAINSTREAM US 662

1967? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" LAST TIME, THE / COO COO MAINSTREAM US 678

1966? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD LIVE AT WINTERLAND '68 COLUMBIA US CK 64869

1998 14 TRKS Live 4/12/68

Janis solo:

CD I GOT DEM OL' KOZMIC BLUES re COLUMBIA US CK 65785

1969 11 TRKS re-mastered

LP PEARL COLUMBIA US KC 30322

1970 10 TRKS original issue

CD PEARL re COLUMBIA US CK 65786

1970 14 TRKS re-mastered (4 x bonus tracks)

CD RARE PEARLS (Collection) COLUMBIA US CK 65936

1999 5 TRK EP Collection

I believe my older sister Marilyn let me hear “Cheap Thrills” by Big Brother, probably towards the end of 1968. Straight-forward San Francisco rock music. I loved the Robert Crumb cover art on “Cheap Thrills” I think my brother had their debut LP, and I really liked that one – “Blind Man”, “Down On Me” etc.

I thought enough of these two albums to get Japanese kami sleeve (paper sleeve) CD’s of them. I was always pleased that they added the “Last Time” b/w “Coo Coo” 45 to this CD. Never so fond of the live songs or out-takes that usually grace Janis Joplin releases. The best stuff usually made the original LP.

I was about 12 when she died. I knew it had been a ‘drug death’. I felt a sense of loss, but I got over it. But I always kept my Big Brother 45’s & LP’s. I am less fond of her two solo albums, “Pearl” and “I Got Dem Ol’…” – Big Brother were sure good in the “Monterey Pop” film. And I really enjoyed the “Live At Winterland” CD. I read a few of the books, too.

I remain a fan, if only for the two Big Brother LP’s / CD’s.

The Doors

3-30-09 The Doors

I checked my “Index” and couldn’t find a blog on “The Doors”…

LP 13 (Collection) ELEKTRA US EKS-74079
1970 13 TRK Collection
CD AMERICAN PRAYER, AN ELEKTRA US 61812.2
1978 23 TRKS
LP AMERICAN PRAYER, AN ELEKTRA JPN P-10504E
1978 13 TRKS booklet
LP BEST OF quad ELEKTRA US EQ-5035
1973 11 TRK Collection, Quad LP
CD DOORS, THE ELEKTRA US 74007.2
1967 11 TRKS
LP DOORS, THE ELEKTRA JPN P-10334E
1967 11 TRKS insert
7" HELLO, I LOVE YOU / LOVE STREET ELEKTRA US EK-45635
1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve - stereo 45
CD L.A. WOMAN ELEKTRA US 75011.2
1971 10 TRKS
LP L.A. WOMAN ELEKTRA US EKS-75011
1971 10 TRKS transparency cover
7" LIGHT MY FIRE / CRYSTAL SHIP ELEKTRA US EK-45615
1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
7" LOVE HER MADLY / (YOU NEED MEAT) DON'T GO… ELEKTRA US EK-45726
1970? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
CD MORRISON HOTEL ELEKTRA US 75007.2
1970 11 TRKS
LP MORRISON HOTEL ELEKTRA UK EKS-75007
1968? 11 TRKS
LP OTHER VOICES ELEKTRA US EKS-75017
1971 8 TRKS no Jim Morrison
7" RIDERS ON THE STORM / CHANGELING ELEKTRA US EK-45738
1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
7" ROADHOUSE BLUES / YOU MAKE ME REAL ELEKTRA US EK-45685
1969 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
CD SOFT PARADE, THE ELEKTRA US 75005.2
1969? 9 TRKS
LP SOFT PARADE, THE ELEKTRA US EKS-75005
1969? 9 TRKS U.S. original issue
CD STRANGE DAYS ELEKTRA US 74014.2
1967 10 TRKS
LP STRANGE DAYS ELEKTRA US EKS-74014
1967 10 TRKS U.S. original issue
7" TIGHTROPE RIDE / VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE ELEKTRA US EK-45757
1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
CD WAITING FOR THE SUN ELEKTRA US 74024.2
1968 11 TRKS
LP WAITING FOR THE SUN ELEKTRA US EKS-74024
1968 11 TRKS U.S. original issue
LPx2 WEIRD SCENES INSIDE THE GOLD MINE (Collection) ELEKTRA US 8E-6001
1972 22 TRK Collection

I have a bit of an odd Doors collection – I bought some of as new releases.

I think the first Doors record I got was a 45 of “Wishful Sinful”, their newest 45 at the time. That was so long ago, I believe my 45 got broken while ‘rough-housing’! I also remember getting my first copies of albums #1 and #2 in white paper sleeves without covers. How did that happen in 1969? There was a hippie record store in (I think) Seal Beach, CA – typical store of the day, had bootleg 4-track / 8-track tapes, incense, a ‘store dog’, and used LP’s. Nice condition (as opposed to ‘beat up’) copies of the first two Doors LP’s were there, probably for 50 cents each. You can’t argue with the music, it’s good stuff. And do the economics of 1969: Ron is 11 years old, with little or no money.

Excited about “Love Her Madly” as a new release, I got a ‘window pane’ “L.A. Woman” LP as a new release. Great album, adult rock music – a good early 70’s U.S. LP. Jim Morrison always gets lumped in with Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix – an artist over-shadowed by an early death. I was bummed. I liked that Doors LP a lot. And I seem to recall a printed interview with one of ‘em saying, “If you like L.A. Woman – wait ‘till you hear what we’re gonna do next!” (which, of course – never happened, as it were).

Never got to see ‘em live, too young. I believe they were popular in my home, my brother certainly had all of their LP’s (maybe not the live album?) and both of my sisters liked them, too.

Towards the end of the 70’s, their stuff started to get re-issued. I remember getting a double 45 from England. I was blown away by “An American Prayer”, just loved it. I had a promo poster for it up in my young adult bedroom. There was a party at my house once, long ago (‘round that time), and some young woman wandered into my room, saw the poster and said, “He’s cute!”. I likely replied with “He’s also dead.”

In 1979, I went to France for the first time. All of the record stores had all of The Doors LP’s, like they were a new act. In L.A., you would’ve been lucky to find more than 1 copy of any of their albums regularly stocked (possible exception, their ‘best of’). I met Gilles Yepremian, who managed my favorite band of the day, Lard Free. His English is / was pretty good; he had met The Doors, right before Mr. Morrison expired. When I read the Danny Sugerman book, I saw Gilles’ name in it – I couldn’t believe it was the same guy I knew in Paris! (It was.)

I bought the CD’s of The Doors, probably the 2nd batch. The ones I got all say, “Re-mastered by Paul A. Rothchild”, so that’s good enough for me, at this time. No plans to buy ‘em all again. I do not really need alternate takes of their songs. The LP’s all sounded really good, really produced, like good ‘finished’ product. I do not need the stuff from the cutting room floor.

I was invited by a member of The Doors fan club to see the taping of the VH-1 “Storytellers” Doors episode, in Hollywood. This was before Ian Astbury of The Cult fronted the re-formed 90’s Doors. As I recall, Mr. Astbury was the best singer there that night.

The Doors have now had numerous re-mastered / best of / re-packaged CD’s. Jim Morrison lives on, in the 21st century.

= =

H.B. = K.K.

Bob Dylan

3-27-09 Bob Dylan

CD ANOTHER SIDE OF BOB DYLAN COLUMBIA US CK 8993

1964 11 TRKS stereo

CDx2 BASEMENT TAPES, THE (with The Band) COLUMBIA US C2K 33682

1975 24 TRKS ('67 recording)

LPx2 BASEMENT TAPES, THE (with The Band) COLUMBIA US C2 33682

1975 24 TRKS ('67 recording)

CDx2 BEFORE THE FLOOD (with The Band) COLUMBIA US C2K 37661

1974 21 TRKS Live

LPx5 BIOGRAPH (Collection) (5LP boxed set) CBS NL CBS 66509

1985 53 TRK Collection, boxed set

LPx2 BLONDE ON BLONDE mono COLUMBIA US C2L 41

1966 14 TRKS mono, original issue

CDx2 BLONDE ON BLONDE re COLUMBIA US C2H 90325

1966 14 TRKS ('03 re-master) SACD

CD BOB DYLAN (1st) SONY JPN SRCS 9239

1962 13 TRKS ('97 issue) Japanese pressing

CDx3 BOOTLEG SERIES, Vols. 1 - 3 (3CD Boxed Set) COLUMBIA US C3K 65302

1991 58 TRK Collection '61 - '91 reordings

LP BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME CBS UK 62515

1965 11 TRKS

LP DYLAN COLUMBIA US PC 32747

1973 9 TRKS

7" DYLAN (EP) CBS UK EP 6051

1963 4 TRKS with pic sleeve / EP, mono

CD FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN, THE COLUMBIA US CK 8786

1963 13 TRKS

LP FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN, THE CBS UK 62193

1963 13 TRKS

LP FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN, THE COLUMBIA US CS 8786

1963 13 TRKS stereo

7" GEORGE JACKSON (Acoustic) / (Big Band) COLUMBIA US 4-45516

1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP GREATEST HITS CBS UK 62847

1966? 12 TRK Collection, UK version

LP HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED COLUMBIA US CS 9189

1966 9 TRKS original U.S. LP

LP HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED AGAIN pirate PIRATE BD-1

1975? 6 TRKS pirate

CD HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED re COLUMBIA US CH 90324

1965 9 TRKS ('03 issue) SACD

7" I THREW IT ALL AWAY / DRIFTER'S ESCAPE COLUMBIA US 4-44826

1968? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY BLUES pirate PIRATE 411

1970? 12 TRKS Pirate

CD JOHN WESLEY HARDING COLUMBIA US CK 9604

1968 12 TRKS

LP JOHN WESLEY HARDING CBS DE CBS 63252

1968 12 TRKS stereo

7" LIKE A ROLLING STONE / RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & #35 COLUMBIA US 13-33100

1980? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, re-issue

CDx2 LIVE 1966 (Bootleg Series No. 4) COLUMBIA US C2K 65759

1998 15 TRKS Live 5/66

CD NASHVILLE SKYLINE COLUMBIA US CK 9825

1970 10 TRKS

LP NASHVILLE SKYLINE CBS UK 63601

1969 10 TRKS

CDx2 NO DIRECTION HOME (Bootleg Series No. 7) COLUMBIA US C2K 93937

2005 28 TRKS collection (mostly 60's recordings) I also have the DVD of this film

LP PLANET WAVES ISLAND UK ILPS 9261

1974 11 TRKS UK original issue

7" POSITIVELY 4th STREET / FROM A BUICK 6 CBS UK 201824

1965 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & #35 COLUMBIA US 4-43592

1966 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD SELF PORTRAIT COLUMBIA US CGK 30050

1970? 24 TRKS

LPx2 SELF PORTRAIT COLUMBIA US C2X 30050

1970? 24 TRKS

CD SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK BLUES CBS EUROPE CDCBS 62515

1965 11 TRKS aka Bringing It All Back Home

CD TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN', THE re COLUMBIA US CK 92240

1964 10 TRKS ('05 issue)

7" WIGWAM / COPPER KETTLE (THE PALE MOONLIGHT) COLUMBIA US 4-45199

1970? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

Been thinking a lot about Bob Dylan again lately. If I were to write the “Definitive 60’s Collection” down, it would contain at least 4 albums by Bob Dylan. After “Self Portrait”, I really lost track of his work, and I never fully ever regained – until the last few years, when I have found myself very pre-disposed unto Bob’s work (uh, up to & including “Self Portrait”).

So, was “Bringing It All Back Home” the first important rock album to feature “session musicians”? I have been very surprised to see how highly-regarded Bob is to the Japanese fans – seems they just love “Blonde On Blonde” and “Highway 61 Revisited”.

I got “John Wesley Harding” when it was a new LP – and I was totally unaware that he had been hanging out and playing with The Band…I just took it at face value. And I bought my 2LP of “Blonde On Blonde” so long ago…that an inexpensive (new, sealed) mono copy was available to me, in a long-gone hippie record store. Just got under my skin, that one. But I guess I am not alone, there.

I only ever got to see Mr. Dylan perform once – his “Jesus Show” @ the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, where he didn’t play anything but his new album (the first of the religious ones). I am too young to have seen his 1966 tour, which would’ve been a hoot – as the 2CD set attests.

I recommend the DVD “No Direction Home”, directed by Martin Scorsese.

= = =

Oh, I just got the SACD of “John Wesley Harding”, too. Now I just have to find an SACD of “Bringing It All Back Home”! At least the Dylan SACD’s are hybrid discs which will play in CD players!

Devo

3-26-09 Devo

DAY MY BABY GAVE ME A SURPRISE VIRGIN UK VS 265 7"
1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve US
DUTY NOW FOR THE FUTURE INFINITE ZERO 14501.2 CD
1979 15 TRKS (2 x bonus tracks) ('94 issue) US
DUTY NOW FOR THE FUTURE WARNER US BSK 3337 LP
1979 13 TRKS 2nd US
FREEDOM OF CHOICE WARNER US BSK 3435 LP
1980 12 TRKS 3rd US
MECHANICAL MAN (EP) ELEVATOR UK NICE 1 7"
1978 4 TRK EP; pirate? US
NEW TRADITIONALISTS WARNER US BSK 3595 LP
1981 10 TRKS poster US
OH, NO! IT'S DEVO WARNER US 23741.1 LP
1982 11 TRKS easel back cover US
PEEK-A-BOO WARNER US 29906-0 12"
1982 3 TRKS with pic sleeve US
POST POST-MODERN MAN ENIGMA US 75551-0 12"
1990 7 TRK EP; with pic sleeve US
Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? WARNER US BSK 3239 LP
1978 11 TRKS 1st US
Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO! WARNER US 3239.2 CD
1978 11 TRKS US
SATISFACTION / SLOPPY BOOJI BOY US 72843 7"
1977 2 TRKS with pic sleeve US
SMOOTH NOODLE MAPS ENIGMA US 73526.2 CD
1990 11 TRKS US
UNCONTROLLABLE URGE / SATISFACTION WARNER US WBS 8675 7"
1978 2 TRKS no pic sleeve US
WORKING IN THE COAL MINE / PLANET EARTH ASYLUM US E-47204 7"
1981 2 TRKS no pic sleeve US


Seems like Devo has been in my “to be gotten to” stack for about 30 years now…


Odd, I’ve met and talked with Mark Mothersbaugh; he was kind enough to ‘introduce’ me to Hajime Tachibana (when I went and interviewed Tachibana in Tokyo). I love Mothersbaugh’s “Muzik For Insomniaks” CD set.


But Devo never were my thing at the time – maybe I felt competitive with them? When my band’s first album was being pressed in 1978, the same pressing plant was also working on Devo’s first album – and you could definitely tell who was getting more attention (i.e. it wasn’t us!). And when we took our record into KROQ, they were more interested in the test pressing of the first Devo album that our manager brought with him (I think they played “Praying Hands” instead of anything by us). So maybe that’s what killed it for me…


And then they got so popular…with those hats etc. Too popular – it seemed like every idiot in the world had a Devo T-shirt or button. Yuck, yuck, yuck – I’m going to stick with British acts!


But three decades hence, I have some time for Devo. I recently obtained their first two albums on CD, which means that I will get to listen to them in my car real soon.

= = =

Thanks for the almost-a-whole-month of topics, Jim-san!

Most expensive music purchases

3-25-09 Most expensive music purchases

Everything’s relative. In Japan, even normal CD’s in shops are $30+! But please understand, I didn’t get to be known as Mr. Mega-Collector by sheer tonnage of spenditure. I bought all those $200+ LP’s when they were still $4.99! But I can certainly spill the beans on some of my youthful folly.

I’d only been working for a few days, maybe didn’t even have my first paycheck (If I didn’t already have it, it was imminent). A friend took me to a long-gone South Bay record store where the erratic owner was selling his ‘rare records’ ostensibly to fund a drug binge. I paid US$50 cash for the 45 “La Tua Casa Comoda” by the Italian progressive rock band Il Balletto Di Bronzo. “$50!”, you say. I’ve still got the only copy of it I’ve ever seen – I got mine in the summer of ’76. Both songs are now ‘bonus tracks’ on re-issues of their “Ys.” album.

I believe I paid US$60 for a German pressing of “Sort Of” by Slapphappy, towards the end of the 70’s. Another one you don’t see everyday. Took ages for it to get issued on CD, which thankfully it has (in Japan, as a kami sleeve CD).

In Udagawa-cho in Tokyo, I was once in a tiny record store (that no longer exists) that had three of the “Major Force” (Toshio Nakanishi) Japanese 12” singles that I was after, for about US$60 each – I bought all three.

My white label mono promo “We’re Only In It For The Money” LP by Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention set me back about US$30, when they was a heck-of-a-lot to pay, even for a rare rock LP (a friend spotted it at a swap meet in the mid-70’s, and called me, woke me up, and asked my permission to buy it on my behalf. I’m still glad he did. Thanks, Ed!). I’ve passed by more “too expensive for me” Zappa records that I care to recount ($500 promo 45’s etc.)

I impulsed The Who “Ready Steady Who” original EP, when I saw it on the wall of a collectible record store (no longer there, of course) – mint mint mint, and US$50. I bought many original British EP’s from this dealer, but most of them were in the $8 - $15 range (at that time, the early 80’s).

I recently paid US$25 for the 2nd Heebeegeebees LP, “20 Big No. 2’s”. In fact, another spoken word / comedy LP, Barry Humphries “Sandy Agonistes” set me back about US$35…on eBay. Not many big buck purchases on eBay, however. Too much chance of it getting squashed / crushed in transit. Crazy Casey “The Beast & I” ($40), the first