It’s a boogie woogie blues rock kind of day, and who better to Boogie With than Canned Heat? 1968 was, arguably, the best year for genre-bending creative output… let’s keep that fire roaring.
Monthly Archives: February 2017
Golden Hits
I’m almost certain this is how records are made, or at the very least, it’s how they should be made. In classic 1967 style, swingbeat tycoon Ace Cannon delivers a collection of ferocious hits on Hi Records’ Memphis Golden Hits. I Walk the Line, Raunchy, Wooly Bully, In the Midnight Hour, and Green Onions stand out, but overall, these 12 tracks are, most certainly, a worthy, loopy listen.
Question #24
Hypothetical question for you lovely spinners of analog entertainment. How many skips are acceptable on a $1 record? A handful? Two hands full? There is a certain, unmentioned understanding between the seller of the $1 record, and that of the potential buyer. But, what number is that unmentioned understanding? I counted three skips on this Banda del Arma de Aviacion, Madrid record. To me, that’s an acceptable amount for the price. Now, say El Toro here was listed for $5 and had the same amount of skips. Would THAT then be acceptable? I’d side with no, again going back to that “unmentioned understanding.” I have a lot of $1 records, and a lot of them skip, but to me, the blemishes are worth the ridiculously low price of discovering new entertainment.
Persuasive
Ladies and gentlemen, the complete set of Enoch Light’s Persuasive Percussion series (only on Command Records… or ABC Records after the buy out). Have a Spaced-out weekend, kids!
RIP MTM
A little late to the game here, but honestly, respect is never not on time. Rest in peace, Mary Tyler Moore.
Sutton
I haven’t found Sutton Records, or this particular release, to be “The World’s Finest Quality Record.” BUT, the unicorn logo is pretty damn-near bad ass.
Far Away Places Volume 2
I’ve taken to listening to records in the morning, now. To hell with exercising and the healthy lifestyle that comes with it, am I right?! More on that at another time. INSTEAD, let’s travel to Far Away Places Volume 2 by Mr. Enoch Light and His Orchestra. This 1963 Command Records release reinvents some distinguished classics with the sensible sophistication only this master of Space Age Pop can manage. Some cuts include, but are not limited to: Istanbul (yes, that one), Flying Down to Rio, Colonel Bogey, The White Cliffs of Dover, and The Moon of Manakoora. I (stupidly) hesitated to secure this release as I knew it would require the hunting and bagging of its sister, Volume 1. Fair enough. Challenge accepted.
3 Year Anniversary Celebration – Venice Open Mic Night
For your upcoming, insatiable, mid-week evening of debaucherous enlightenment, look no further than Larry’s in Venice, CA, tomorrow evening. Not mentioned on the enigmatic flyer to the left is 3-year veteran, and Venice Open Mic Night originator / evening entertainer / Soviet Monica philanthropist, Isaac Irvin. The living myth (and connoisseur of German motor engineering) celebrates 3 years of open mic history, and the city of Los Angeles is invited. Also slated for your skirt-grabbing, live art pleasure is famed West Los Angeles painter / entrepreneur, Al Torres. So, let’s face it. Thursday be damned, and for damned good reason. See y’all at Larry’s tomorrow night!
Simply BS
Time for the ol’ car CD swap out. This happens every three or so months and, let me tell you, going from a 160gb iPod to a single-disc stereo take a bit of getting used to. Presented here is 1997’s vinyl-only self-titled BS 2000 (custom made… only two in existence) and the follow-up, 2000’s Simply Mortified. These were the only “studio” releases by the Beastie Boys side project BS 2000, and we’re about to rediscover them for about the fifth time.
Phobos
I’ve been waiting for 8 months to showcase an amazing analysis of Monolith of Phobos, the spectacular debut release from The Claypool Lennon Delirium (Les Claypool and Sean Lennon… no joke), and this post is (clearly) not said analysis. I’ll have to circle back when 1) I have more time and 2) well, there is no 2). If you haven’t already, and I’m sure you have, CHECK. OUT. THE. CLAYPOOL. LENNON. DELIRIUM.
Unhuman
Nothing, I repeat NOTHING works better for passing the time on 6+ hour road trip than MOTOR. She’ll make you want to drive 30 miles over the legal limit, but she’ll make sure you get there on time. #drugbeat
Plastic Stacks
When I purged my 600+ compact disc collection (I shudder to think of maintaining that now), I kept a handful (a rather LARGE handful) of essentials, that, upon just recently, I’d forgotten completely about. Some of the survivors are obvious heroes, but others…
The Third Dimension
Don’t take my word for it (no, please don’t. I’m still wrapping my head around this “astonishing new achievement in stereo recording.”) Ladies and gentlemen, taken straight from the inner sleeve of Enoch Light and the Light Brigade’s 1964 classic, Dimension – 3 – .
Remember when you first discovered stereo recording? Remember the excitement of finding that a single groove on a record could actually carry two separate channels of sound? Remember the revelation that the solid mass of sound which was what you were accustomed to in phonographic reproduction could actually have directional values? And that this sense of direction could also provide a sense of perspective and depth? What a tremendous change this made in the pleasures and excitement that could be provided by a phonograph! Suddenly you were in a completely different world of sound! Remember? You can experience that same sense of discovery again.
Dimension – 3 – is one of the most unusual records that has ever been made. On it you hear for the first time the perfection and an extra dimension in stereo reproduction that engineers have been striving for ever since stereophonic recording was introduced.
Dimension – 3 – the amazing new recording technique revealed on this disc, makes it possible to achieve triple presence in sound reproduction! This means that you actually hear sound coming from three sources – even though you are only using the customary two speakers!
(Truncated… for more on the mysterious and marvelous Dimension – 3 – sound, check your local record retailer, or visit us again at The Prudent Groove.)
The Egg
I don’t know much (if anything) about Main Source, this month’s selection via Vinyl Me, Please, but I’m intrigued by the egg-like vinyl pattern. Originally released in 1991, Breaking Atoms appears to be Main Source’s debut album. When exploring new acts, I prefer (as I assume many, if not all of you do) to start at the beginning. Eagerly anticipating unscrambling this salty spin, for sure.
Fire
Excited to spin the newest from Death Waltz Recording Company (a division of mondotees.com), Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. With subtle cover that’s similar in design to the 2016 release of the show soundtrack also by Death Waltz Recording Company (you see, for those of you who are anti-cherry pie and black coffee, Fire Walk With Me is the feature film that followed the cancellation of the famed TV series). Lots of new and exciting records hitting our doorstop these days. Happy spinning!
Electric Eclectics
By far the best late 60s Moog record I’ve ever heard, Dick Hyman’s 1969 insta-classic Moog – The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman offers two parts satisfying melody, equal parts goofball, and a twist of the unexpected. I imagine the Moog to be like the zither for those who aren’t keen on the distinct sound, but for those in the mood (the Moog mood?) for a cheerful listening adventure, The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman are just a needle drop away.
Quiet Village
We expanded the Martin Denny collection this weekend, tripled it actually, with the help of his 1959 album, Quiet Village – The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny. Passed up Volume III of Exotica (stupidly), but managed to secure another 1959 classic of Mr. Denny’s, Afro-Desia. I don’t know what the hell was going on in the late 50s, early 60s, but things are getting out of control in a hurry!
Hotel Room Essentials
When staying out of town for a hot second, we didn’t forget to bring our room essentials. Though the neighbors may not be happy, it’s 3rd floor Space Age Pop with an ocean view and in-room fireplace at this makeshift lounge. Don’t forget to tip your bartender.
Can We Be Digitized?
Now the (very) proud owner of The Dismemberment Plan’s first 7″, Can We Be Mature?, we couldn’t help but to put everything (read: the world) on hold and digitize it as soon as humanly possible. This is a digitizing “action shot” so, there you go.
Event 2
The possibility of a Dr. Octagon show next month has gotten me 1) a little excited and 2) in the mood for Dan the Automator. Presented here is The Instrumentals version of Deltron 3030’s 2013 sophomore effort, Event 2, but, you know, like I said, the instrumental version of it. Be it Wanna Buy a Monkey?, his work on the video game 2K7, Lovage, or Handsome Boy Modeling School, one can very seldom (read: never) go wrong with a little Dan the Automator.
The Prudent Groove 