Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Pink Floyd solo albums


6-30-09 Pink Floyd solo albums


CD BARRETT, SYD BARRETT

HARVEST UK CDSHSP 4007 1970 12 TRKS

LP BARRETT, SYD BARRETT

HARVEST UK SHSP 4007 1970 11 TRKS

LP BARRETT, SYD LAUGHING pirate

IMPOSSIBLE IMP 1-03 1978? 13 TRKS pirate

LP BARRETT, SYD MADCAP LAUGHS, THE

HARVEST UK SHVL 765 1969 13 TRKS

CD BARRETT, SYD MADCAP LAUGHS, THE (kami sleeve)

TOSHIBA JPN TOCP-65783 1969 13 TRKS ('01 issue) kami sleeve

7" BARRETT, SYD OCTOPUS / GOLDEN HAIR

HARVEST UK HAR 5009 1969 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD BARRETT, SYD OPEL

HARVEST UK CDP 791206.2 1988 14 TRK Collection (late 60's/early 70's recordings)

LP BARRETT, SYD OPEL

HARVEST UK SHSP 4126 1988 14 TRK Collection (late 60's/early 70's recordings)

CD5 BARRETT, SYD PEEL SESSIONS, THE

STRANGE FR UK SFPSCD 043 1988 5 TRK CD EP CD5


CD GILMOUR, DAVID ABOUT FACE

HARVEST UK CDP 746031.2 1984 10 TRKS

LP GILMOUR, DAVID ABOUT FACE

CBS/SONY JPN 28AP 2826 1984 10 TRKS

7" GILMOUR, DAVID ARNOLD LAYNE

EMI UK 384878.7 2006 3 TRKS with pic sleeve; David Bowie

CD5 GILMOUR, DAVID ARNOLD LAYNE

EMI UK CDEM 717 2006 3 TRK CD Single CD5 David Bowie

12" GILMOUR, DAVID BLUE LIGHT

COLUMBIA US 44-04983 1984 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD GILMOUR, DAVID DAVID GILMOUR

COLUMBIA US CK 35388 1978 9 TRKS

LP GILMOUR, DAVID DAVID GILMOUR

CBS/SONY JPN 25AP 1077 1978 9 TRKS

CD5 GILMOUR, DAVID ON AN ISLAND

EMI UK CDEM 688 2006 2 TRK CD Single CD5


CD MASON, NICK FICTITIOUS SPORTS

SONY MSP A 37307 1981 8 TRKS Robert Wyatt

LP MASON, NICK FICTITIOUS SPORTS

COLUMBIA US FC 37307 1981 8 TRKS Robert Wyatt

12" MASON, NICK HOT RIVER / CAN'T GET MY MOTOR TO START

COLUMBIA US AS 964 1981 2 TRKS clear vinyl, promo

12" MASON, NICK / RICK FENN LIE FOR A LIE

HARVEST UK 12HAR 5238 1985 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD MASON, NICK / RICK FENN PROFILES

COLUMBIA US CK 40142 1985 11 TRKS

LP MASON, NICK / RICK FENN PROFILES

COLUMBIA US PC 40142 1985 11 TRKS


LP WATERS, ROGER PROS AND CONS OF HITCH HIKING, THE

CBS/SONY JPN 28AP 2875 1984 12 TRKS

7" WATERS, ROGER SUNSET STRIP / MONEY

COLUMBIA US 38-07364 1987 2 TRKS with pic sleeve


CD WRIGHT, RICHARD BROKEN CHINA

GUARDIAN 853645.2 1996 16 TRKS with Anthony Moore

CD WRIGHT, RICHARD WET DREAM

ONE WAY US A 24090 1978 10 TRKS


I’m a big fan of Pink Floyd solo albums. My collection seems to go from 1969 – 2006. I did a lot of this in real time.


As a teenager, I saw Syd Barrett “The Madcap Laughs” in a hippie record store, and knew I had to have it. This was maybe a year or so after it came out. I guess I waited to see if it would come out in the US, so a domestic copy would be a dollar or two cheaper than an import. I must be honest, it was so long ago, I do not remember the circumstances of when / where I bought my first SHVL copy of “The Madcap Laughs”.


There were so many Pink Floyd albums around – I think the debut Dave Gilmour album was a little under the radar. As a result, it was never “over-played” by FM radio – and I can still listen to it in 2009. However, I am a bigger fan of his 2nd album, “About Face” – with it’s Pete Townshend co-writes. And I bought a few modern day singles, being covers of “Arnold Layne”.


I really love the Nick Mason albums. Totally out of left field! Carla Bley, Robert Wyatt – there’s a lot to love on “Fictitious Sports”. And “Profiles” isn’t too shabby either! Rick Fenn is from 10cc, and David Gilmour guests on “Lie For A Lie” – really excellent stuff! Thank goodness there are CD’s of these albums!


Then we get to Mr. Waters…I have a small Roger Waters collection. I see that I forgot to include his album made with Ron Geesin – “Music from ‘The Body’”. And I do have a few Roger Waters on MiniDisc! Don’t get me started on “The Final Cut”!


Last, but certainly not least – keyboard player Rick Wright. I’m listening to “Wet Dreams” (1978) in my car today, and that’s what inspired today’s post. I’m sure I’m not the only person who misses Rick Wright. It always seemed ‘not right’; the way he got ‘slighted’ in the latter days of Pink Floyd. The keyboards were always such an integrated part of Pink Floyd’s sound. At least he got to participate in the one-time re-union at Live 8. R.I.P., Richard Wright.


So, we all agree that Pink Floyd gets a bit over-played – especially by the FM radio. It will be a long while until I ‘have’ to hear “Dark Side Of The Moon” again. But I am enjoying the heck out of Rick Wright’s “Wet Dreams” CD and can’t wait to re-visit his 2nd solo album, “Broken China” – where he works with the brilliant Anthony Moore! (Moore also contributed to Pink Floyd’s fine album “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason”).


Playlist


Vinyl:


KERSHAW, DOUG – Rita, Put Your Black Shoes On

LOVE SCULPTURE – In the Land of the Few

OLDFIELD, MIKE – Foreign Affair

TRAFFIC – Freedom Rider

MYSTERY BAND – Hell on a Handcart

SVT – Modern Living (Jack Casady)

LINGO, LAURIE – Rock is Dead

PINK FLOYD – Not Now John (Album vers.)

STRANGLERS, THE – Cruel Garden

DAMNED, THE – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

HAZLEWOOD, LEE / WOODCHUCKS – Muchacho

LENNON, JOHN / PLASTIC ONO BAND – Power To The People

SELECTER, THE – Selecter, The

LEYTON, JOHN – I’ll Cut Your Tail Off

McKENZIE, SCOTT – Look In Your Eyes (pre-“San Francisco”)

COCHRAN, WAYNE – Some-A’ Your Sweet Love

JONES, GRACE – I Need A Man (1977)

YELLO – Jungle Bill

SCRITTI POLITTI – Hypnotize (Version)

GRAPEFRUIT – Deep Water

THE THE – Mental Healing Process


Monday, June 29, 2009

National Recording Registry


6-29-09 National Recording Registry


http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/


Did you know that there was such as thing as a U.S. “National Recording Registry”? Sounds like something your parents would ‘approve’ of – as opposed to that garbage you’re listening to. I think I’d heard about it briefly, but…recently I took a look at what they were ‘preserving’. Looks like they started functioning in 2002, and they nominate 50 or so titles per year; the oldest thing in the registry are Thomas Edison cylinders – the newest title is Nirvana “Never Mind” (which I do not agree with it being in any sort of ‘national registry’).


Some titles from the registry:


From 2002, we get Miles Davis “Kind Of Blue”, Bob Dylan “Freewheelin’” and Grandmaster Flash “The Message”; from ’03 – Charles Mingus “Mingus Ah Um”, The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper”, Johnny Cash “At Folsom Prison” and Carole King “Tapestry”; from ’04 titles among the titles added were Getz / Gilberto “Girl From Ipanema”, James Brown “Live At The Apollo” and the Allman Brothers “Fillmore East”; ’05 – Dave Brubeck “Time Out”, The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Are You Experienced?”, Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention “We’re Only In It For The Money”, W. Carlos “Switched On Bach” and The Firesign Theatre “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliars”; ’06 – a scant year of additions for me, my only 100% agreement was them adding the song “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones!; ’07 wasn’t much better – Herbie Hancock “Head Hunters” and Michael Jackson “Thriller”; don’t know about what they’re going to add in ’09, but only ’08 is posted as yet – Link Wray “Rumble” and The Who “Sing My Generation”.


In addition to pop music, they also have lots of historical audio recordings, famous speeches etc. But if this is squaresville U.S. guys choosing the stuff – I agree with almost every title listed above! See? I’m not the only guy making lists! And what’s up with sometimes they only include a song, and not an album?


If I was adding titles to the National Recording Registry, I’d plump for Horace Silver “Song For My Father”, Traffic “John Barleycorn Must Die”, Procol Harum “A Salty Dog”, John Cage / David Tudor “Indeterminacy”, King Crimson “In The Court Of The Crimson King”, N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton”, Ken Nordine “Word Jazz”, Stan Freberg “Presents The United States of America”, William S. Burroughs “Call Me Burroughs”, Frank Zappa “Lumpy Gravy”, Cream “Disraeli Gears”, Blood Sweat & Tears “Child Is Father To The Man”, Bob Dylan “Blonde On Blonde”, The Band “Music From Big Pink” etc.


Must remember to keep my eyes peeled for lists of new additions to the National Recording Registry. Will I continue to agree with them? Of my list of suggestions posted above, I would think they might actually go for the Stan Freberg album… especially if N.P.R. continues to do radio shows on titles actually in the National Recording Registry. And what’s the most outré title I suggest? Burroughs? Cage?


Friday, June 26, 2009

How...


6-26-09 Yesterday was where – Today is “How”


I have always suspected that San Francisco and Las Vegas record stores went to L.A. to source inventory. 40 years ago, there was a formidable record industry presence in San Francisco, but I’m not so sure it exists there anymore. As a youngster, I remember cruising the San Francisco telephone book, in search of record stores – and seeing that there was an office for Apple Records in S.F.!


And these days, I believe I am starting to see the phenomena – particularly in Las Vegas – of people obviously buying stuff off of the internet, but fencing it at a local store, once they’ve put it on their iPod. It’s one thing to see some progressive rock in a used CD bin – but where did it come from? If nowhere in L.V. is selling prog rock…did somebody mail-order it and not like it? Or did they mail-order it and just load it onto a digital music device and jettison the artifact?


Loads of cool music turn up at amoeba Hollywood because it’s in Hollywood – what’s left of the music business is nearby. ‘Reps’ fence promos, publishers fence promos, low-lifes fence their collections when rent is due – or when they need a drink / fix.


Once upon a time, there was cool stuff in L.A. record stores because there were people who knew what they were doing – doing the ordering. Much love to Dana Madore (Moby Disc, Aron’s etc.), and Tom Recchion (Poo Bah Record Shop, Pasadena). These days? IO think it’s just the sheer numbers – there are so many people in L.A., the stuff just flows into Amoeba Hollywood. I can see that it is obvious to me that there isn’t a buyer there stocking the store with the expertise of Dana or Tom. I guess you do end up with some cool stuff, when you buy “one of everything”.


I really hate that on-line music sales (both mail-order and downloads) have cut into the brick and mortar record store business – at least on the west coast. But if I want to see a really well-done comprehensive list of new releases these days, I must rely on internet retailers – or Japanese websites! And I ‘read’ Japanese magazines (“Strange Days” and “Record Collector”)


Dang, I sure have a lot of stuff. I can sometimes wander in my own collection for days, weeks…but that ‘force of nature’ always seems to encourage me to go look for more. What don’t I already have? What am I interested in today? I will always love going out and looking through record stores – yet, I also do sometimes buy via internet (Wayside Music, eBay, Amazon.co.uk etc.)


I wish everyone a peaceful summer weekend looking for records / CD’s. I am also attending the Los Angeles Film Festival on Saturday. At the Hammer Museum, I’m going to see an old favorite of mine: “Hot Rods To Hell” starring Dana Andrews. Ever seen it? It’s a groovy slice of 1967 big screen hot rod buffoonery – with lot of unlikely characters, some amazing dialogue and some ‘groovy chicks’.


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Playlist

All vinyl Playlist, finished last night...

McCARTNEY, PAUL – I Lie Around

SOFT CELL – Memorabilia (12”)

ZAPPA, FRANK – Ancient Armaments

MULLINS, CAM – Lady Madonna

BIRDSONGS OF THE MESOZOIC – Theme from 'Rocky & Bullwinkle'

GRUPPO SPORTIVO – The Single

GENESIS – Feeding The Fire

PROCOL HARUM – About To Die

SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine, The

ASSOCIATION – Six Man Band

LINDISFARNE – Don’t Ask Me

IT BITES – Midnight

WAITS, TOM – 16 Shells from a 30.6

McCARTNEY, PAUL – Silly Love Songs (“Broad Street” Vers.)

DEE, KIKI – Super Cool

INDIAN SUMMER – Black Sunshine

STEVENS, CAT – Bitterblue

ELECTRIC FLAG – Soul Searchin’

FRAZIER CHORUS – Never Wake Up

CHARLATANS (UK) – Everything Changed

MODELS – Stormy Tonight


Worked on this one for a week, hence the 2 x McCartney choices...usually I try not to repeat artists within a single playlist, unless there is some point I am trying to make...


RK



Places and Inventories


6-25-09 Places & Inventories


Over the course of this summer, I have a few more places to visit. We’ve already been to Las Vegas, which didn’t yield a lot of new titles for me (it was hot, and I only visited two stores – of the same chain, Zia Records).


I am looking forward to visiting the San Francisco bay area – two Amoeba stores, as well as some friends other local stores. Those places always turn up stuff! Before I get to S.F., I will have a separate visit to Santa Cruz and San Jose – down in that neck of the woods, it’s all about Streetlight Records. I even plan on trading in some stuff at the Streetlight Records on Bascom Avenue in San Jose. That’s been a cool store for decades – I remember when it used to be across the street in a small house!


On the Santa Cruz / San Jose trip, we may even stop in San Luis Obispo – and check out Cheap thrills and Boo Boo Records. The last time we were in S.L.O., it was interesting.


It’s really all about having different selections of vinyl / CD’s to look through. Yes, Amoeba Hollywood changes all the time, but…it’s very cool to look at new-to-me inventories.


In August, I plan on checking out the KUSF Rock’n’Swap at S.F.S.U. It’s a record collector swap meet that I’ve known about for years, but somehow I’ve never visited it before. For SF bay area swap meets, I always used to go to the one in Emeryville and sometimes the KFJC show, near Palo Alto.


Last summer, we went to Portland – and three mighty Everyday Music stores! Portland is a great city, I love the food & drink, too. I always think that Phoenix should be the next place we go to check out LP / CD inventories. After all, there are some famous vinyl stores there, as well as six Zia Record Exchange stores!


It’s always a ‘follow the population’ kind of thing. Where are the people? That’s where the records / CD’s will be! This rule has certainly proved true for San Diego! Very different stuff down there.


I remember not buying records in Paris, because it was raining too hard. I didn’t even look at records last weekend in Las Vegas because it was too hot – I wasn’t sure I could get any records I would’ve found even back to the hotel safely! And then there’s always the “don’t buy too much stuff, you have to carry it back to the hotel” syndrome of Tokyo. I will never forget lugging that carton of LP’s all the way from Kichijoji to Hiroo


Where do you go looking for music? Can you drive there, walk there? (There are three record stores within walking distance of my GF’s place) How far do you usually have to go? Have you ever driven 500+ miles to check out a record store? Or flown to a foreign country for the record stores? Anywhere you wouldn’t go to look for records?


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Motorhead


6-24-09 Motorhead


Things have been sort of noisy here this week, so today I’ll do Motorhead!


12" ACE OF SPADES BRONZE UK BROX 106

CD5 ACE OF SPADES WGAF UK CDWGAF 101

LP ACE OF SPADES BRONZE UK BRON 531

CD ACE OF SPADES (kami sleeve) BMG JPN BVCM-37962

12" BEER DRINKERS BIG BEAT UK SWT 61

CD BOMBER (kami sleeve) BMG JPN BVCM-37961

CD EAT THE RICH (V.A. - O.S.T.) FILMTRAX MOMENTCD 108

12" GOLDEN YEARS - LIVE E.P. BRONZE UK 12BRO 92

CD IRON FIST (kami sleeve) BMG JPN BVCM-37964

CD5 LEAVING HERE / WHITE LINE FEVER RECEIVER RRSCD 1009

12" MOTORHEAD CHISWICK UK S 13

CD MOTORHEAD (1st) ROADRACER RRD 9357

12" MOTORSCHOOL BRONZE JPN VIP-5910

LP OVERKILL BRONZE DE 200.435

CD OVERKILL (kami sleeve) BMG JPN BVCM-37960

10" ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE (w/Girlschool) BRONZE UK BROX 116

LPx2 ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE pirate PIRATE JPN MH 81


I’ve seen ‘em live, I have autographs by the ‘classic 3-piece’ line-up. I like this band! I’ve even read Lemmy’s autobiography. You probably already know he was – at one time – the bass player for Hawkwind, who I wrote about yesterday. When I lived in England, I realized that Hawkwind were sort of a British “Grateful Dead” – their fans follow them around in a similar fashion to ‘Dead fans. Motorhead fans are not entirely dissimilar.


Not too long ago, I got Japanese paper sleeve CD’s (aka kami sleeves) for the 4 x Bronze label Motorhead albums that I like best. They were expensive, but it caught up all of the B-sides – with a few alternate takes thrown in for good measure. I can make a killer Motorhead collection from these 4 x CD’s (“Ace Of Spades”, “Bomber”, “Overkill” and “Iron Fist”).


The Japanese 2LP bootleg “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” is a real oddity – I remember it was quite pricey when I got it 25+ years ago. It’s some very good quality live material from both Motorhead and Girlschool, the group to whom they were always ‘linked’. Girlschool actually deserve their own individual blog, and as soon as I get any new Girlschool pieces, I’ll see to it.


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Hawkwind


6-23-09 Hawkwind


CD ASTOUNDING SOUNDS, AMAZING MUSIC CHARISMA UK CDSCD 4004

1976 7 TRKS ('89 issue)

LP ASTOUNDING SOUNDS, AMAZING MUSIC CHARISMA UK CDS 4004

1976 7 TRKS I like this much better now than I did when it was released

CDx2 ATOMHENGE '76 VOICEPRINT UK HAWKVP5CD

2000 14 TRKS Live '76 – I suppose this is technically “Hawklords”, but the CD booklet says Hawkwind

LP DOREMI FASOL LATIDO KING JPN K22P-246

1972 8 TRKS re-issue, insert – of the early albums, this is probably my favorite

CD DOREMI FASOL LATIDO re EMI UK 30031.2

1972 11 TRKS ('01 issue) (4 x bonus tracks)

LP HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL U.A. US UA-LA-328-G

1974 9 TRKS

CD HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL re EMI UK 30035.2

1974 13 TRKS (4 x bonus tracks) ('01 issue)

LP HAWKWIND U.A. US UAS 5519

1971 7 TRKS

CD HAWKWIND re EMI UK 30028.2

1971 11 TRKS (3 x bonus tracks) ('01 issue)

CD IN SEARCH OF SPACE re EMI UK 30030.2

1971 9 TRKS ('01 issue) (3 x bonus tracks)

CD LEVITATION CASTLE UK CLACD 129

1980 9 TRKS ('87 issue)

CD LIVE SEVENTY NINE GRIFFIN US GCD 229.2

1994 7 TRKS Live '79 ('94 issue)

CD PXR5 CHARISMA UK CDSCD 4016

1979 8 TRKS ('89 issue)

LP PXR5 CHARISMA UK CDS 4016

1979 8 TRKS

CD QUARK, STRANGENESS & CHARM CHARISMA UK CDSCD 4008

1978? 8 TRKS

LP QUARK, STRANGENESS & CHARM SIRE US SRK 6047

1977? 8 TRKS Always my favorite Hawkwind title

CD STASIS - THE U.A. YEARS (Collection) EMI UK CZ 297

1990 15 TRK Collection (70's recordings) A rather good collection of U.A.-era singles

CD WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME DOJO UK DOJOCD 084

1975 12 TRKS (1 x bonus track)

LP WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME ATCO US SD 36-115

1975 11 TRKS promo


I really do think I have about all of the Hawkwind I am going to buy. What many Hawkwind fans would think I am missing is “Space Rituals”, their double live LP – I’ve owned it before, and I am not overly enchanted from live recordings from the early 70’s, especially if the sound quality isn’t amazing. Yes, I would like to find an original US or UK die-cut LP for “In Search of Space” (with the booklet, of course).


This list notably doesn’t have my Hawklords collection on it. For today, let’s consider that a relatively different band / artist – even though they’re the same guys, essentially. All praise to the late Robert Calvert. I’d like to find inexpensive recent re-issues of the Calvert-era Hawkwind CD titles “Astounding Sounds…” and “Quark, Strangeness and Charm” – but they’ve been rather expensive whenever I’ve seen them for sale, locally.