Time Machine #6

1-21-10 Time Machine #6

I have been ‘reading’ the Japanese magazine “Strange Days” for a while now. A regular feature of this magazine has been “Time Machine – 40 Years Ago” – listing many records released in 1969. Last year, I wrote 5 blogs on the releases of 1969. I have another one for you today!

Strange Days 2010.01 lists “November 1969 Albums” as David Bowie “Man Of Music, Man Of Words (Philips UK SBL 7912), Deep Purple “s/t” (Album #3) (Harvest UK SHVL 759), Pink Floyd “Ummagumma” (Harvest UK SHDW 1-2), Kevin Ayers “The Joy Of A Toy” (Harvest SHVL 763), The Moody Blues “To Our Children’s Children’s Children” (Threshold UK THS 1), Manfred Mann’s Chapter 3 “s/t” (Vertigo UK VO 3), Mott The Hoople “s/t” (Island UK ILPS 9108), The Allman Brothers Band “s/t” (Atco / Capricorn US SD 33-308), and Captain Beefheart “Trout Mask Replica” (Straight US STS 1053). An honorable mention appears to go to Juicy Lucy “s/t” (Vertigo VO 2).

Today, I think I actually have all of these, except for the Manfred Mann album! The Bowie album is better known these days as the “Space Oddity” album. The Deep Purple album is known as the album that Warner Brothers never picked up for the US. I remember the Pink Floyd 2LP as being so expensive that I didn’t get a copy for years! I found the Kevin Ayers LP in San Francisco, at a place called “Sea Of Records” (on 8^th St.? 9^th St.?) – and have loved it ever since. And he was in Soft Machine! This isn’t my favorite Moody Blues LP, but I did recently get a 2CD deluxe edition CD / SACD of it – so I guess I’ll try again! I was forever intrigued by the M.C. Escher cover on the debut Mott The Hoople LP. I was fascinated by releases on the Island (UK) label, in the late 60’s / early 70’s. My brother turned me on to The Allman Brothers Band, so I heard this one at the time, but didn’t own a copy of it for decades. I knew about Captain Beefheart – but when I found out (in Rolling Stone?) that “the new album” was being produced by Frank Zappa, I knew I had to get it right away. Despite being a double album, as I recall – it was not super expensive – no more than $4.99 in the hippie record store. And the Juicy Lucy LP had an unclothed woman on the cover – and was on Vertigo! Of course, I was interested!

Another ‘Vertigo memory’ shelved away in my files – being in the hippie record store and hearing them play the debut album from May Blitz. That must’ve been the fall of 1970, however.

I never had the opportunity to buy an original Philips UK copy of the 2^nd David Bowie LP. To be honest, at the time I didn’t even know it existed! By the time anybody got interested in David Bowie, it was long gone. I saw my first UK copy of it in the late 70’s – I watched somebody at the Capitol Records (Hollywood) parking lot swap meet pay $100 for it!

And my original copy of “Trout Mask Replica” is autographed by Captain Beefheart, who I got to meet towards the end of the 70’s / beginning of the 80’s.

Music Week

1-20-10 Music Week

In the mid-80’s, I worked at an importer / exporter. At some point, we started buying records from England; they would send us issues of Music Week, the British equivalent of Billboard magazine – a music business publication. Rather than save entire issues, someone photocopied the release schedules and put them in a binder. I found that binder a few evenings ago!

The one I picked at random was for the week of May 26 – 30, 1986. This is the sheet that is illustrated on today’s blog. The red marks are the titles we were considering to order to sell at our distributor.

Looks like some Edsel Records were released this week:

BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY – Joseph’s Coat (Edsel ED 170)
BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Silver Pistol (Edsel ED 190)

JOHN CALE – The Academy In Peril (Edsel XED 182)

MAD RIVER – Paradise Bar and Grill (Edsel ED 188)

WEST COAST POP ART EXPERIMENTAL BAND – Transparent Days (Edsel ED 180)

And some interesting releases on other labels:

STEPHEN DUFFY – Because We Love You (Ten/Virgin DIX 29) also on cassette

THE YARDBIRDS – Roger The Engineer (Edsel EDCD 116 compact disc)

In 1986, it was still rather undecided about what to do with compact discs. As a distributor, we always tried to be aware of what customers wanted. Compact discs were expensive. Domestic CD’s tended to wholesale for $10.75, whereas a British CD wholesaled for UK pounds 7.29 (in 1986 money). We had to sell them for about $16, in order to make any money on the transaction. This meant a store had to ask at least $20 to make any money. Tight margins. Before too long, we were joking, “The only people making any money on any of this stuff are the freight forwarders!”

Seriously, these release sheets are like a time machine. Detailed UK release information from ’84 – ’86! I wonder what other sort of oddities I will discover by examining these release sheets in 2010? I’ll probably be adding some titles to my “Want List”!

I don’t actually have any of those Edsel titles, but I do have CD’s for both Stephen Duffy and The Yardbirds – but different editions.

So if I run out of topics in the near future, I may just randomly pick a Music Week release schedule and discuss it. Is there anything you’d like me to look out for, in this kind of release sheet?

Mystic Moods Orchestra

1-19-10 Mystic Moods Orchestra

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA ONE STORMY NIGHT PHILIPS US PHS-600-205

1964? 10 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA NIGHTTIDE PHILIPS US PHS-600-213

1965? 12 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA MORE THAN MUSIC PHILIPS US PHS-600-231

1966? 10 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA MEXICAN TRIP PHILIPS US PHS-600-250

1967? 11 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA MYSTIC MOODS OF LOVE PHILIPS US PHS-600-260

1967? 10 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA EMOTIONS PHILIPS US PHS-600-277

1967? 11 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA EXTENSIONS PHILIPS US PHS-600-301

1967? 10 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA LOVE TOKEN PHILIPS US PHS-600-321

1968? 9 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA STORMY WEEKEND PHILIPS US PHS-600-342

1968? 12 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA ENGLISH MUFFINS PHILIPS US PHS-600-349

1969? 11 TRKS stereo

MYSTIC MOODS ORCHESTRA COUNTRY LOVIN' FOLK PHILIPS US PHS-600-351

1969? 10 TRKS stereo

Years before I became a record collector, I heard about “One Stormy Night” by the Mystic Moods Orchestra. I think someone told my mother about this record, and she mentioned it to me: Easy listening orchestra music with sound effects – a freak thunderstorm!

Sorry all my release dates have question marks – I don’t honest know when these were first released, just guessing. Sometimes, you can tell by the cover versions, other times not.

The name one will recognize here is Brad Miller, the gentleman behind Mobile Fidelity Records. He’s who recorded the thunderstorms and train sounds.

After this successful run on the Philips label, Mystic Moods signed with Warner Brothers Records – some of these titles got re-issued (to a wider market). After WB, some of this catalogue ended up on the Bainbridge label, an indie label if ever there was one! The final incarnation of the Mystic Moods were on Miller’s own Mobile Fidelity Records, as ½ speed mastered audiophile LP’s.

As they say, they don’t make ‘em like this anymore: big budget orchestra records with sound effects. I suspect that “One Stormy Night” started life as a train freak / SFX record, hot on the heels of the audiophile boom of the late 50’s. Of course it was all in stereo!

I might have missed a few of the original run of the Philips label LP’s, but…seems like I have ‘em all here. 11 albums in about 5 years? Sounds right for 60’s easy listening LP’s.

Bert Kaempfert

1-18-10 Bert Kaempfert (1923 – 1980)

LP 6 PLUS 6 DECCA US DL 75322

1972 10 TRKS

CDx2 BERT KAEMPFERT STORY - A MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY POLYDOR DE 583784.2

2002 42 TRK Collection, V.A.

LP BYE BYE BLUES DECCA US DL 4693

1965? 12 TRKS mono

LP FABULOUS FIFTIES…AND NEW DELIGHTS MCA US MCA-314

1973 12 TRKS

LP FREE AND EASY DECCA US DL 75234

1970 12 TRKS

LP GALLERY MCA US MCA-447

1974 12 TRKS

LP GOLDEN MEMORIES MCA US MCA-466

1975 12 TRKS

LP GREATEST HITS DECCA US DL 74810

1967? 12 TRKS Collection

LP HOLD ME POLYDOR DE 184 072

1965? 12 TRKS stereo

LP HOLD ME DECCA US DL 4860

1966? 12 TRKS mono

LP LIVING IT UP! DECCA US DL 74374

1964? 12 TRKS stereo

LP LOVE FOR LOVE POLYDOR JPN SLPM-1361

1967 12 TRKS

LP MAGIC MUSIC, THE DECCA US DL 74616

1966? 12 TRKS stereo

LP MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL, THE MCA US MCA-402

1974 12 TRKS

LP MY WAY OF LIFE DECCA US DL 75059

1969? 12 TRKS stereo

LP NOW! DECCA US DL 75305

1970? 12 TRKS

LP STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT POLYDOR UK 184 053

1966 12 TRKS stereo

LP STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT DECCA US DL 4795

1966? 12 TRKS mono

LP SWINGIN' SAFARI, A POLYDOR UK 237 584

1962? 12 TRKS

LP THAT HAPPY FEELING DECCA US DL 74305

1963? 12 TRKS stereo

LP THAT HAPPY FEELING DECCA US DL 4305

1963? 12 TRKS mono

LP THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING DECCA US DL 4670

1965? 12 TRKS mono

LP TO THE GOOD LIFE MCA US MCA-368

1973 12 TRKS

LP TRACES OF LOVE DECCA US DL 75140

1970? 12 TRKS

LP WARM AND WONDERFUL DECCA US DL 75089

1970? 11 TRKS stereo

LP WORLD WE KNEW, THE POLYDOR JPN SLPM-1380

1968 11 TRKS

LP WORLD WE KNEW, THE DECCA US DL 4925

1968 11 TRKS mono

I pick up as many Bert Kaempfert LP’s as I can find, trying to stick to non-US pressings or stereo copies. “Swingin’ Safari”, anyone? Ladi Geisler!!!

Hi Records

1-15-10 Hi Records

For most Americans, Hi Records (“The Memphis Sound”) means Al Green. I recently read the obituary for Willie Mitchell, a Hi Records stalwart that helped make some memorable Al Green Records, who had hits on his own. Rumor has it that Willie Mitchell recorded the first ever “live-in-the-studio” album in 1962. I have also started picking up another Hi Records artists’ records: Ace Cannon (who, unless I am mistaken) is still alive. Both Willie Mitchell and Ace Cannon have dozens of albums. And I think nearly all of them were released as 8-track tapes!

I remember gazing at the cases of 8-track tapes in places like White Front or Cal Store or The Treasury or Gemco – there were always tons of Hi Records’ artists on 8-track tape, with the distinctive ‘spine’, title sticking out. In the 60’s I wouldn’t have known who any of these people were – I just knew that like Al Hirt, there were 8-track tapes of all of ‘em.

But where do I go ‘mental’ with Hi Records? You guessed it. The Bill Black Combo. The late Bill Black was Elvis Presley’s bass player – the “Bill” in the phrase “Elvis, Scotty & Bill”. Which goes some to explain why Mr. Black is held in such high regard in England – the only place where nearly all of the original Hi Records B.B.C. (as they are affectionately known by their fans) albums are re-issued on CD (sadly, I only have 3 or 4 of these excellent 2-on-1 CD’s). But I have about a thousand LP’s and 45’s by ‘em. Instrumentals. Love it.

Hi Records (US) were distributed by London Records (US) in the 1960’s – all of my Ace Cannon and B.B.C. LP’s are nice heavy pressings, in thick cardboard covers – I bet they weigh a ton!

Being London Records, the Hi Records inner-sleeves all had album covers pictured – other titles released by Hi Records. The one that always got me was The Hi-Tones “Raunchy Sounds” (Hi SHL/HL 12011) – a record I’ve never seen. What was this LP? Faux-Bill Black Combo? And what about the Jumpin’ Gene Simmons LP? (Hi SHL/HL 12018). Never saw that either. Or Bobby Emmons “Blues With A Beat With an Organ” (Hi SHL/HL 12024). Where’s that one? Never seen it.

Bill Black died in 1965, but mysteriously there were 3 or 4 B.B.C. LP’s released each year for the entire rest of the 60’s. And after Bill Black was gone, the ‘sound’ of those records didn’t change appreciably. Eventually, Hi Records went on to be distributed by smaller and smaller labels – until being revived with the R&B fortunes of Al Green (“Let’s Stay Together” etc.) in the 70’s. The Bill Black Combo eventually even signed with Columbia Records!

Flash forward 25+ years. I got hot to get all the Bill Black Combo LP’s. Mono copies, stereo copies, 1^st cover, 2^nd cover; 45’s – promo, juke box EP’s etc. And most everything was inexpensive. Took a few turns of the wheel, but I eventually got a nearly full set, at least of B.B.C. 60’s releases on Hi. I wish I could find more of those 2-on-1 B.B.C. CD’s – they’re typically filed in “Oldies”…in stores that still have “Oldies” sections…

Playlist

Playlist #120 1/13/10 vinyl

JOHN, ELTON – Rock and Roll Madonna

HOLLY & THE ITALIANS – Tell That Girl To Shut Up

QUEEN – Flick Of The Wrist

DEEP PURPLE – Smoke On The Water (45 edit)

DEE, KIKI – I’ve Got The Music In Me

GABRIEL, PETER – Solsbury Hill (mono)

CITY BOY – I’ve Been Spun

HACKETT, STEVE – Narnia (mono)

ORANGE COLORED SKY – Sweet Potato

ORANGE COLORED SKY – Sun and I, The

FUN AND GAMES, THE – We

ATWOOD THE ELECTRIC ICEMAN – Michoacan

ATWOOD THE ELECTRIC ICEMAN – Bossier City

FOWLEY, KIM – Space Odyssey

FOWLEY, KIM – Fresno, 1963

MEPHISTOPHELES – Do Not Expect A Garden

McKENZIE, SCOTT – Twelve-Thirty

MAMAS & PAPAS – Somebody Groovy (mono)

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE – Rejoyce (mono)

HENDRIX, JIMI – Highway Chile (mono)

WHO, THE – Call Me Lightning

TRAFFIC – Coloured Rain

SPIRIT – Mr. Skin

Where did my hobby go?

1-14-10 Where did my hobby go?

…it was here just a minute ago!

I recently visited Singapore and Malaysia. In Kuala Lumpur, I went to Low Yat Plaza, the electronics mall. I did not see any CD players for sale. Looked to me like all the vendors wanted you to buy cell phones and lap tops – only.

There were lots of people in Ameoba Music in Hollywood, last time I was there. I am not the only one buying LP’s / CD’s, folks. It’s the usual equation: I have nearly 24,000 titles, yet have been on Earth less than 18,980 days. I do not plan on being around for another 18,980 days, much less 24,000 days. How to do this? (By “this”, I mean – life).

People are obviously still interested in, and enthusiastic about recorded music. So why is it so difficult to find a CD player for sale now? Has everyone really been duped into going the MP3 / MP4 route? And people used to complain to me about the “lossy compression” of Sony’s Minidisc!

I turned the TV off in ’98. Best decision I ever made. I have a DVD recorder with a massive hard disk, so that’s covered, if push came to shove. Oh, it doesn’t have a digital tuner, so I have to get broadcast signal from a small box. What about all those cartons of VHS / Betas / LD’s out in the garage?

I need to move some of this stuff onwards. Need to sell off some vinyl, CD’s. Need to get rid of my storage space (what’s in there, anyway?) I want to write a book, but the exact topic is still as yet undecided. I no longer want to open a brick ‘n’ mortar record store. I wouldn’t mind having an internet music store, selling physical product; not interested in the download business. eBay is tiresome, after you do enough of it.

Ticket prices to concerts seems unrealistic to me, at times. I will not argue over it, a live show is an excellent way for an artist to communicate with their audience. I haven’t been able to do any loud shows in some years now, unfortunately. For a guy who has seen John Cale a dozen or more times, this is profound. I simply can’t do “loud” anymore.

So, let me get this straight: I want to hear more music, but I want to own less music. I want to be able to record (recorded) music, in the format(s) of my choice – not be locked in to digital / MP3 / MP4. I want to see live music, but it can’t be too loud (who was it that said, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old”?)

Best thing I’ve heard lately: The Impressions, specifically the albums “This Is My Country (Curtom, 1968) and “Young Mods’ Forgotten Story” (Curtom, 1969). I bought a CD of these two albums (a nice Sequel UK 2-on-1 CD) and played it on my CD player. Curtis Mayfield sounded great. Makes me want to go out and find some more Impressions LP’s / CD’s.

My 2009 Music Purchases

1-13-10 My 2009 Music Purchases

What did I learn from my 1,505 ‘09 music purchases in 2009?

There are a lot of 10cc B-sides I didn’t know about (“Gismo My Way”). Still can’t find A Certain Ratio’s ’08 CD “Mind Made Up”. Aksak Maboul “Onze Danses…” Japanese CD re-issue has different bonus tracks than the original CD issue. I wish I had found more of the Amon Duul II re-mastered CD’s before SPV went bust. Anglagard isn’t as good as “everybody” said they were. I never really listened to The Band “Music From Big Pink” until it was ranked highly in a Japanese magazine. I wish I could find more Barron-Knights material. Delaney Bramlett had a 45 produced by Leon Russell over 45 years ago (“Guess I Must Be Dreamin’”). Joe Cocker “Complete Fillmore Concerts” 6CD boxed set was worth pursuing. Hugh Cornwell “Hoover Dam” (CD + DVD) was pretty good. Glad I purchased all 4 x new re-issue SHM-CD’s by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. Donovan EMI UK re-mastered CD’s have some interesting bonus material, and over-all good sound. Hux Records in England finally correctly re-mastered “Kip Of The Serenes” by Dr. Strangely Strange (I’m thanked in the CD booklet, but they got my name wrong!). I bought 11 x Bob Dylan SACD in 2009 (22 x Dylan titles over-all in ’09). I developed an interest in the Bill Evans Trio in ’09 (I already had the CD’s that interested me! I got a good book about him, too). I never thought I would see the Goodthunder album issued on CD (Wounded Bird did the honors). Really happy to have found a 45 of “Roses & Rainbows” by Danny Hutton. The Impressions sounded pretty good to me in ’09, but I didn’t go for the 2CD UK collection that I saw for $27. Really liked the ’08 release by Grace Jones “Hurricane” (she was very good on stage, too). Will I ever assemble a ‘complete’ Spike Jones RCA discography? How many of the 40^th Anniversary edition King Crimson CD packages will I buy? I wish Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk would hurry up with the re-releases of the first three albums on CD. I really re-discovered Jona Lewie in ’09. Glad to see Magazine back in action in ’09. I don’t remember the 2 x Robert Musso CD’s I found in ’09 from the 80’s – I guess they must’ve existed then, but… Loved seeing The Necks play live @ the Redcat, and being able to buy 4 or 5 CD’s from them directly. Rather amused that I found 3 x used Alan Price CD’s in ’09. I bought 8 x Rolling Stones SACD’s in ’09 (15 x Stones titles over-all in ’09). Had a bit of interest in Santana last year (debut album 2CD deluxe version, “Amigos” with it’s Tadanori Yokoo artwork etc). Happy to see a new 2CD volume of soundtrack material from Irmin Schmidt. I never knew that “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” by David Seville & The Chipmunks was in true stereo. Nice to finally get Jeff Simmons “Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up” on CD, via CCM. I never knew there was a Japanese LP pressing of the UK version of “Mental Notes” by Split Enz. Pleased to be tightening up my Stranglers collection in ’09 (thanks, Big Mark!). Stump “Complete Anthology” 3CD set isn’t – where are “The Peel Sessions” on CD? Why can’t I find any Telex CD’s other than “Looney Tunes”? I liked Tortoise “Beacons Of Ancestorship” and I waited to get the Japanese CD of it, with an extra track. Pleased to finally get a CD of Darryl Way “Concerto for Electric Violin”. I got 4 x paper sleeve CD’s by The Who in ’09. I enjoyed the “Around Robert Wyatt” 2CD. I got 4 x Yes paper sleeve CD’s in ’09. I got 17 new Frank Zappa titles in ’09, 4 of which were paper sleeve CD’s.