My Top 20 for 2008

12-30-08 2008 Top 20

Here’s a list of what I obtained in 2008 that actually got played a fair amount.

ALLISON, MOSE – SINGS, PRESTIGE CD jazz

BAND, THE – MUSIC FROM BIG PINK, CAPITOL US CD re-mastered

BOND ORGANIZATION, GRAHAM – SOUND OF '65, THE / THERE'S A BOND BETWEEN US, BGO UK CD mono

BONZO DOG BAND – DOUGHNUT IN GRANNY'S GREENHOUSE, EMI UK CD re-mastered

BONZO DOG BAND – GORILLA, EMI UK CD re-mastered

BONZO DOG BAND – LET'S MAKE UP AND BE FRIENDLY, EMI UK CD re-mastered

CHANDRA, SHEILA – WEAVING MY ANCESTORS' VOICES, REALWORLD US CD

COASTERS, THE – THERE'S A RIOT GOIN' ON – THE COASTERS ON ATCO, RHINO US CDx4 boxed set

CRESSIDA – s/t, VERTIGO UK LP original

DRIFTWOOD, JIMMIE – AMERICANA, BEAR FAMILY DE 3CD boxed set

DUFFY, STEPHEN / LILAC TIME – RUNOUT GROOVE, FULFILL UK CD

DYLAN, BOB / THE BAND – BASEMENT TAPES, COLUMBIA US 2CD

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, JVC JPN SHM-CD kami sleeve

FITZ-GERALD, G.F. – MOUSEPROOF, SUNBEAM UK CD

GARRICK SEPTET, MICHAEL – BLACK MARIGOLDS, UNIVERSAL JPN SHM-CD kami sleeve

GARRICK TRIO, MICHAEL – COLD MOUNTAIN, UNIVERSAL JPN SHM-CD kami sleeve

HANCOCK, HERBIE – PERFECT MACHINE, COLUMBIA US CD re-mastered

HOLDSWORTH, ALLAN – ROAD GAMES, GLOBE US CD

HOLLMER, LARS – VIANDRA, CUNIEFORM US CD

JETHRO TULL – THIS WAS, CHRYSALIS US 2CD deluxe edition

LINDISFARNE – FOG ON THE TYNE, CHARISMA UK CD re-mastered

LINDISFARNE – LINDISFARNE LIVE – DEFINITIVE EDITION, CHARISMA UK CD re-mastered

LINDISFARNE – NICELY OUT OF TUNE, CHARISMA UK CD re-mastered

NECKS, THE – TOWNSVILLE, ReR US CD

SAKAMOTO, RYUICHI – CHASM, WARNER JPN CD

SCAFFOLD – SOLD OUT, MUSKRAT JPN CD kami sleeve

SYSTEMATICS, THE – WHAT WE DID IN THE AFTERNOONS, DE LPx2

TENPOLE TUDOR – 3 BELLS IN A ROW, STIFF UK 7” W/PS

V.A. – ABBEY ROAD: BEAT, TOSHIBA JPN CD

V.A. – ABBEY ROAD: PSYCHEDELIA, EMI UK CD

V.A. – D.I.Y. – ANARCHY IN THE UK (UK PUNK I '76-'77), RHINO US CD

V.A. – D.I.Y. – MODERN WORLD (UK PUNK II '77-'78), RHINO US CD

V.A. – D.I.Y. – TEENAGE KICKS (UK POP I '76-'79), RHINO US CD

V.A. – STAX / VOLT SINGLES COMPLETE 1959 – 1968, ATLANTIC US 9CD boxed set

WANDERLEY, WALTER – BATUCADA, UNIVERSAL JPN CD

WANDERLEY, WALTER – CHEGANCA, UNIVERSAL JPN CD

WYATT, ROBERT – COMICOPERA, DOMINO US CD

End of the year

12-29-08 End of the year

Well, Christmas is all done with now. Usually, I am not here, the week between Christmas and New Year’s – but I am this year. Why? Because next year, I plan on taking all of these days off and taking a nice vacation!

Was 2008 good for you? Did you buy a lot of music? I ended up with approx. 1,023 new titles. I bought more than that, what with dupes, stuff to re-sell, stuff for friends etc. I’ve more or less stayed out of movie theatres this year, and I’ve only bought a few DVD’s.

My new car, Mr. Suzuki, has a CD player – so my emphasis has changed a bit. And interesting phonograph records are becoming more difficult to find! And expensive! And harder to carry, more expensive to mail etc. And I’ve found some of my eternal ‘want list’ items, too. I’m not feeling like I have been deprived.

That said – On Wednesday, I will fly up to San Francisco; I’ll get to go through two Amoeba Music stores, and hopefully several Streetlight stores. I’ve got CD’s to trade-in, so I should be able to do most of it with ‘credit slips’ – but not until January 2009! And whenever we’re going to go up to S.F. Bay Area, there are a ton of food events that we anticipate: T. Rex BBQ in Berkeley, Vik’s in Berkeley Marina, Ti Couz (Valencia / 16^th, downtown), Krung Thai in San Jose…

I’m hangin’ out to go to Coyote Point Park where they are supposed to have a big aviary (San Mateo, CA) – You can bet I’ll be there on Jan. 2, ’09!

So, nothin’ much is bugging me, music-wize. Feeling pretty good about all of my assorted collections. I enjoyed the “Joe’s Garage” musical that we saw last November, so I have been thinking about collecting Frank Zappa some more. Do I keep those un-re-mastered versions of his CD’s? Just keep the preferable editions? Or keep everything, as per my usual collecting M.O.?

In Gnosis, the record-rating website – it would appear that a group I’ve never heard is extremely popular, a Swedish neo-progressive band called Anglagard (in particular, a ’92 album called “Hybris” – almost everyone who rates it, does so highly). I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Anglagard CD in the bargain bin!

And there have been times this year when it becomes very difficult for me to even think about music, record collecting. There are times when “real life” interrupts my record collector utopia, unfortunately. Oh, I thought record collecting (and music) were more important than most things in my life – but…not always true. I’ve had a lot of stuff come up lately, as regards my family. Everything is going to be OK, but not without some “work”.

Thanks for reading my stuff!

Record Collector Nostalgia #3

12-24-08 Record Collector Nostalgia #3

(I’ll be back on Mon. 12/29!)

From reader Ken H.: “I believe Warren had just purchased “Tarkus” (or some other early EL&P album). We spun the LP for the first time on his family's console stereo system and sat in anticipation of tasty tracks. We listened to Keith Emerson's wicked keyboard work for a couple of minutes thinking "Wow, this guy is really a fast keyboard player..." until we realized that the turntable had been set at 45 RPM instead of 33 1/3 RPM. If Greg Lake's vocals had come in he would have sounded like a chipmunk. We promptly set the RPM speed correctly and never spoke of the incident again.”

I remember not being able to tell the album title from the group name (if the group didn’t have more than one LP) – Was “Osanna” the name of the album and “Palepoli” the group name? I certainly first heard Italian rock music on the FM radio, in the early 70’s. I used to stay up all night on Saturday and listen to KPFK-FM (90/7) – sometimes, there was a substitute disc jockey who played really interesting stuff (Hi, Greg!).

My teenaged years are not complete without mention of The Firesign Theatre. Either you know, or you don’t. “Waiting For The Electrician (Or Someone Like Him)”, “How Can You Be In Two Places At Once (When You’re Not Anywhere At All)?”, “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliars” and “I Think We’re All Bozos On This Bus” – records capable of bending your youthful brain in a very special way. I still quote from those records, and you can tell immediately if who you’re quoting to knows or not. For my 50^th birthday, I wore my “Quid Malborg En Plano” T-shirt in Portland. Pappoon for President!

While record collecting has always been my #1 hobby, I was very enthusiastic about film in the 70’s – I will never forget seeing “If…” and “O Lucky Man!” for the first time – at tiny art theatres. Or “Morgan” with David Warner. I love those films! “The Shout”, “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning”, “I’m Alright Jack” – I knew 100% that my current LTR was solid when she really liked “I’m Alright Jack”. Was it possible to separate one’s friends into two camps: ones who knew “Bedazzled” (the Cook & Moore original) and ones who didn’t? “Who wants to go with me to see “Repulsion” and “Cul De Sac” – up in L.A.?”

Eventually, I got around to some US films, too. “The Sweet Smell Of Success”, “The Loved One”, “Diary Of A Mad Housewife”, “Real Life” (Albert Brooks)…

Record collecting seemed to be a fairly good barometer, when it came to friends, community – Was I at home with the King Crimson fans? Yeah, mostly. I didn’t do ‘glam rock’ the first time through – but I am super OK with it now (Slade, Suzi Quatro, Sweet et al). I remember re-thinking a high school GF when she was too into Queen!

And I can’t seem to escape the female Elvis Costello fans!~

Happy Xmas. Thanks for reading my stuff.

Record Collector Nostalgia #2

12-23-08 Record Collector Nostalgia #2

I first traveled abroad in 1979. I had been given the names of several record stores in London – but I hadn’t been smart enough to have made a hotel / bed & breakfast reservation. The first place I went was full, but they took pity on me, and soon I was off to a tiny B&B in Goldhawk Road (West London), practically walking distance from The Record & Tape Exchange – Notting Hill Gate. I knew about the HMV and Virgin Megastore on Oxford Street, and I soon discovered that there were tons of record stores, as I walked around Soho for the first time.

I only had 1 or 2 guys I could ask about record stores in London – I only knew 1 or 2 guys who had ever been! At the end of the 70’s, it was fairly exotic that I had looked for records anywhere outside of Los Angeles (as in the “SF Bay Area”). But – in London, everybody seemed to speak English – and the stores were full of stuff I had never seen before. Private Eye flexi-discs? British Frank Zappa records? Loads of promo 45’s for 25p? All present and accounted for, sir.

I walked all over London. After that, I walked all over Paris. The only record store I knew about there was on the Champs-Elysees (my mother bought me a Lard Free LP there, “Lido Musique”) – I think it was gone by the time I got there. Crocodisc! My friend Cameron and I took the train, took the metro – but mostly we walked. What this meant was that sometimes I left records at a store when it was raining – to my eternal shame! Cameron and I looked people up in the phone book – Roland Bocquet, Gilles Yepremian etc. I still know Gilles, but I’m out of touch with Roland. Both of them were very kind to Cameron and I.

And then there’s the miracle of Amsterdam. Boudisque, Concerto…great record stores. And nearly everyone spoke English! We walked those canals, let me tell you. I eventually spent two winters in Holland, but that wasn’t until the early 90’s.

Stockholm, Helsinki, Koln (“Saturn Musik”!) Brussels (stuff near Blvd Adolphe Max)…did we even get off of the train in Copenhagen? I remember we couldn’t wait to get back on the train in Irun, Spain – after seeing the cops with machine guns, and not caring much for the available food.

I asked another friend to take home a 25-count LP carton that would’ve been too expensive to mail. He complied, then promptly left it in a phone box in Victoria Station. When Cameron & I got back to London, there were messages for us all over town (at the AmEx office, at the B&B etc.) – I tried to send him an offensive telegram, but they wouldn’t let. I settled for calling him “Plankton!” (we were such Cook & Moore fans!). Yes, I eventually got my box of record back safely (after going to, like, five different weird places in London).

I still mostly have the records I bought on my first trip to Europe. I managed 4 or 5 good trips to Europe, before I started in on New Zealand / Australia.

Record Collector Nostalgia #1

12-22-08 Record Collector Nostalgia #1

Christmas-time always reminds me of my record collector behavior, when I was young. At the beginning of the 70’s, it seemed like I was always waiting for an LP boxed set from George Harrison. I distinctly remember hunting for my presents, and discovering “All Things Must Pass” (1970?) in a drawer, back in my parents bedroom. I don’t remember the details – but “Bangla Desh” (1972?), George’s big charity boxed set was another Xmas present, later on.

I think when I started to ask for LP’s as birthday presents – I started being given money for my birthday. “Let him pick it out!”, was their thinking, I’m certain. I remember being taken to Disneyland for my birthday – perhaps 1968 or 1969 – and finding a $10 bill on the ground! In the early 70’s, I was taken to Hollywood Blvd. for my birthday, with one of my friends. I don’t remember how much I would’ve had – enough for maybe two LP’s and a 45?

The store of choice was called “Lewin’s Record Paradise” – a shop that specialized in British imports (LP’s, 45’s & EP’s). In the late 60’s, the LP’s were $4.99, EP’s were $2.99 and British import singles were $1.75. Probably trying to spend all of my money, I remember selecting The Rolling Stones “Come On” 45 – it had two songs that I did not have! (I still have that 45).

Both of my parents took me places to look at records, perhaps my dad more so than my mom. My mom would’ve taken me to places like the record department at May Company, a department store of the day. Up on the 3^rd floor, as I recall. Of course, we went to the ‘discount stores’ near our home – Cal Store, White Front, Zody’s – all of whom had records.

I don’t remember fretting over single LP’s – it was the multiple LP’s / boxed sets that posed a problem for me. With trading in an old LP at Wallach’s Music City, it was possible to get a new release very inexpensively. The deal was approx.: $4.98 list, $2.00 off when it was a “new release”, then a $1 off certificate (obtained when you traded in an old LP) = new release for $1.99 plus tax. Then LP’s started being $5.98 list or $6.98 list (The Beatles “Abbey Road”, for instance – I came to the Wallach’s a dollar or two short, not having anticipated the higher list price! Dad took mercy, and I took home an “Abbey Road” LP).

Then there was the “Woodstock” problem. The triple LP set was $8.98; the movie was rated “R” (i.e. one of my parents had to go with me to see it). Mom was the lucky one – and I remember her going out into the lobby to have a cigarette, while I thrilled to Joe Cocker or Alvin Lee. We went to a smaller movie theatre that mom liked. As I recall, she was also who took me to see “200 Motels”, the Frank Zappa movie. Back to the lobby, for more cigarettes.

I wonder what my dad thought when I started looking up record stores in the yellow pages? We drove to Downey (“Wenzel’s House Of Music”); we went ‘downtown’ to places we would not have gone otherwise (sorry, I don’t remember the name). I dragged my dad into hippie record stores – Licorice Pizza (5^th Street, downtown Long Beach), Platterpuss (E. 7^th Street) etc. Because Frank Zappa talked about them, I needed “records by The Coasters” (as he sung about in “Status Back Baby” on “Absolutely Free”). I do not remember the ‘how & why’, but my “Coasters Greatest Hits” LP on Atco came from a store on Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles! (That one must’ve been my mom – she liked to drive to Farmer’s Market on 3^rd & Fairfax in Los Angeles – and that wasn’t far from there).

I remember a family vacation that I took with my dad and my grandmother – we went to San Francisco (by car) in the summer of 1968. That trip yielded the double LP “Electric Ladyland” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Tower Records, Columbus Street). I definitely remember my dad taking me to other record stores in San Francisco. On another visit, our family stayed at the Jack Tar Hotel (at Geary & Van Ness) – my parents were going to go ‘out to dinner’, so in the lobby of the hotel, I guess my dad bought me a copy of National Lampoon humor magazine (the summer of ’72? Nixon on the cover).

When I was 19, 20…21 (?) I developed my theory of driving to cities where they had colleges – as there were usually record stores near colleges. I was driving from L.A. to visit my friend Cameron, who lived in Berkeley – somehow, I stopped in Santa Cruz, California – I saw the guy playing a vibraphone on Pacific Ave. I discovered Logos, a bookstore on Pacific Street that had a big record department. Oh, there must be a college near here! I remember telling Cameron that I found a new place to look for records – and I don’t remember if he knew Santa Cruz or not. This was before I theorized that one merely follows the population (as opposed to colleges) to find places that sold phonograph records (a theory I still hold!).

It was definitely the summer of ’72 that I started riding my 10-Speed bike around – to record stores. How did I carry my LP’s back home? In a paper bag, under my arm? Or was it strapped to the rear of the bike? I don’t remember. These days, the only time I ever even think about bicycles is when I go to Holland.

I cannot over-emphasize how important it was to find inexpensive records (i.e. used records). New records were $3 and up – used LP’s could be as inexpensive as 10 cents. 99 cents was a typical price for used LP’s – often in new condition (but with a cut corner or promo stamp). “Hey, all these say ‘Not For Sale’ – can I still buy them?”.

Reader Ken H. says: “It was around '72 or so that Warren and I started getting into YES as we also experimented with ELP and Warren also liked some Italian prog band (PFM?) Anyway, the first time I heard “And You and I” was in a department store I think in West Covina in the stereo/HI-FI dept. The radio was on, they played “And You and I” and I was blown away by the layered guitar sound. The stereo was one of those consoles; you know, when stereos were pieces of furniture.”

Frank zappa

12-19-08 It’s Frank Zappa’s birthday on 12/21!

I do not usually blog on weekends – so today I mention that this coming Sunday, American composer Frank Zappa would’ve been 67 (68?) years old. He passed away 15 years ago, as several friends reminded me.

I continue to be a fan of Mr. Zappa’s music. Some of his early records are defining moments in my own life. Records that helped make me who I am – whoever that is! I cannot over-state how influential records like “Absolutely Free”, “We’re Only In It For The Money” and “Lumpy Gravy” were to me. Those records helped ‘open my ears’. I heard them all when I was so young – it was a time when just about anything still could’ve entered my consciousness – on the deepest possible level.

I listened to all of those LP’s so extensively and deeply – every word, every nuance is permanently etched in my brain / heart / soul. Yep, I can hear the differences between the mono and stereo versions of “We’re Only In It For The Money” quite easily. I once sat down and wrote out what I could determine were all of the points of difference, between the two versions – it ran to something 140 points! I grew up with the first three Zappa LP’s in mono, and that’s how I know them best. So far, none of the mono versions have ever appeared on CD, legit. You can hear a pretty good version of “Freak Out” in the 4CD “MOFO – Making of Freak Out” boxed set; “Absolutely Free” always sounds ‘processed” (echo / reverb?) on CD; the MFSL gold disc of “We’re Only In It For The Money” sounds good, but it’s the (slightly) edited stereo version. “Lumpy Gravy” sounds good on the re-mastered CD; there is no CD of the LP version of “Cruisin’ With Ruben & The Jets” (also no CD of the LP version of “Hot Rats”).

Perhaps you have records like this in your collection – records you know completely, which are part of your ‘experience’. Records that helped ‘define you’. Maybe they’re not Frank Zappa records – but those are definitely mine. Some records are nostalgia, others remain relevant in your everyday life. In my instance, I grew ever more fond of the early Zappa records, as the years moved on – I ‘agreed’ with most of what was said and how it was said, I clearly understood the author’s intention etc. Let’s say I have interpreted those early Frank Zappa albums as “truth” – in my book.

So, I hope to help everybody remember the works of Mr. Zappa. The majority of his works are superlative musical efforts, in my opinion. In most cases, it is not what I would call “Popular music” – but rather music that is for individuals. Your experience with Zappa’s music can be very personal. I have several friends I can really discuss Frank Zappa with – but most people tend to be dismissive towards his work, as though all of it was atonal, and filled with objectionable language (and / or ideas).

Thanks for reading my words about Mr. Frank Zappa. If you’re a fan – what are your favorite works of Mr. Zappa? If you’re not a fan – why not?

Split Enz

12-18-08 Split Enz – “Mental Notes”

When Split Enz made the transition from Australasia to England, someone decided to re-use their debut album title, “Mental Notes” for their new recorded-in-England album (the album that is called “Second Thoughts” in Australasia). No idea if it was the band or producer Phil Manzanera – but the decision to use the name twice has caused innumerable mix-ups over the last 30+ years!

The album that caught my imagination was called “Mental Notes” and was recorded in Australia in 1975. It was issued on the Mushroom label in Australia and the White Cloud label in New Zealand (via Pye Records). This initial version of “Mental Notes” has never been released in the northern hemisphere!

I did as many ‘fan things’ as I could for this LP; I went to “the road hedged with roses”; I looked up former band members; I told all my friends about this wonderful LP! I have a number of friends that met me / know me because of this album. I collect all the variants (numerous Australasian editions). I’ve admired the Phil Judd cover art over an extended period of time. It’s simply one of my favorite English-language rock music records.

Of course, when I talk about “Mental Notes” – this is the version I have in mind – not the pink-bordered cover that’s on Chrysalis, produced by Phil Manzanera. Ah, Chrysalis Records in Los Angeles, circa ’76-’77! I got so into Split Enz because the label offered not only free tickets to see them (at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, CA), but – as I recall – an unlimited bar tab, too!

I remember going to the Golden Bear, and seeing someone lugging a mellotron around.

What an unforgettable show! We had no way of anticipating what we saw that evening. I’ve been a big fan ever since. “Big fan?” Uh, I wrote the discography for the first book by Enz bassist Mike Chunn. I went to New Zealand 7 times, because of “Mental Notes”. I may not have the most complete Split Enz collection (I gave some of mine to Brian W.), but I think it’s safe to say that I helped most people I know understand a Split Enz discography; I made sure everybody knew the big differences between the two differing LP versions both called “Mental Notes”. And I shook loose with one of the first Split Enz NZ discographies – there weren’t any reference books, when I did that for the first time! It was interesting to me, and – if one went to NZ at the time – surprisingly obtainable.

Yes, there is a re-mastered CD out now. There still isn’t a northern hemisphere edition of “Mental Notes” on LP or CD – there’s just that Chrysalis LP (and there isn’t even a Chrysalis CD of it – that I know of!) – the now-infamous Chrysalis “Mental Notes” (known as “Second Thoughts” in Australasia…and at my house).

Thank you: Phil Judd, Tim Finn, Mike Chunn, Paul Crowther, Eddie Raynor, Wally Wilkinson; Michael Gudinski, Gary Steel, Murray Cammick, Peter Green; Brian Ware, Bob Gaulke, Allen Pasternak etc. – “make a mental note of it!”

King Crimson

12-17-08 The first King Crimson album

Interesting to me, my involvement with this iconic album. It was by noticing it that I became aware of King Crimson. I believe it was at a Wallach’s Music City – a store where you could ‘audition’ records in little booths. It must not’ve been long after it’s release (in the US), perhaps 1970?

“What’s that?”, I asked. A woman (who would’ve been all of perhaps 20 years of age, to my 12) says to me, “That’s so ugly!”. “Will you sell it to me?”, I innocently ask. It got marked “99 cents”, and was put out in what was known as the “bargain bin”. And I’ve never looked back.

I remember offending someone at my school (one of the college students who watched the kids at lunchtime?) by referring to the debut K.C. LP (or indeed to any pop music) in superlative terms, such as “That’s the best record!” or maybe “That’s my favorite record!”. “Why talk about music like that?” – or thereabouts. What? The sourpuss must’ve only liked Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell!

I first saw K.C. live in 1973, on the “Larks’ Tongues” tour. At that point, I think they were trying to distance themselves from the iconic nature of the debut K.C. album. Were they even selling shirts, at that point? I doubt it, otherwise I would have a very old T-shirt of it in my stuff! I think at that point, it was all about “moving on” – and not “dwelling on the past”. Took a few years for pop culture nostalgia to really rake in the attention / bucks.

I seem to recall Mr. Fripp speaking about the cover of the LP, that it had been hanging in the offices of the management company that he had been working with, not being cared for. The outcome of that is that the painting of it is in Mr. Fripp’s possession, apparently. Fair enough. And it’s rather fitting that the man who created K.C.’s image only ever did one LP cover (then he passed away).

In summer of 2007, I went to Tokyo – as I like to do. We were in a suburban mall, and way down at the end of the hall, I could see the mighty K.C. cover peeking out at me. “I know what’s going on down there!”, I told my GF. She acknowledged the iconic cover, without being overly familiar with it’s music. When I had my 50^th birthday party this past summer, I insisted on a huge blow-up of the cover for decoration at my festivities. It was the first poster that was purloined, when we went to ‘take everything down’ (after finishing with our event). I think it went to an old friend – a worthy home.

And lately, we’ve seen that the debut K.C. album ranks very highly in Japan – appearing in both the critics and reader’s polls in the “Rock 100 Best Albums” book, as published by Record Collector Magazine (Japan). I would’ve pegged it for ‘cult status’, but Top 4 in both lists? Does that mean that people in Japan actually listen to this record?

I have 6 or 7 variants on it – US & UK pressings, Japanese pressings – LP’s, CD’s, little paper album cover CD’s, re-masterings etc. I even have several singles taken from this LP! I would refer you to a King Crimson CD boxed set, “Epitaph Vols. 1 – 4” for more information about this album. This set has a ton of live K.C., circa 1969.