Reason #242 why I keep the shrink wrap affixed to my records, this 2015 Kinks promo sticker from the Dedicated Kinks reissue 7″. Exciting it is not, but potentially interesting some years down the road? Absolutely. Happy holidays, kids!
Author Archives: The Prudent Groove
Fat Finger Discount
Ukulele Hiro was introduced to me and my chap during intermissions of last Friday’s punk rock parley at the Viper Room, and let me say that this was, without question, the highlight of the evening. No disrespect to The Briggs or Pulley, but Ukulele Hiro made this evening. PBRs all around!
Muswell 8-Billies
I’m so absolutely beside myself to finally own a working copy of Muswell on 8-track that I’m thoroughly on board with the complete reworking of the playlist for this bass-heavy medium. Have a Cuppa Tea, followed by Skin and Bone, wait… TO CLOSE OUT THE ALBUM?! I continue to tell myself how fortunate I am to have finally found this 12-song, 8-track cartridge of perfection, and will, obviously, welcome it into the family with open, outstretched arms despite its, lets say, unorthodox and creative reordering. I now own Muswell a total of four times, but really, who’s counting?
Music for Time Travel Cooking Baking Night
Just a few of the holiday records that kicked off time travel cookie baking night at the homestead. We started with Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper (Rudolph, Blue Christmas, White Christmas, etc.), then on to the immensely depressing, The Christmas Spirit by Johnny Cash (Here Was A Man, The Gifts They Gave, The Ballad of Harp Weaver), then we finally got the funky, funky party going with Merry, Merry Christmas by New Kids on the Block (Funky, Funky, Xmas, This One’s for the Children, I Still Believe in Santa Claus). It was certainly a merry evening, at least the parts I can recall…
White Riot
Back in 2008, Asian Man Records released their 2nd pressing of Alkaline Trio’s 2nd (and last great) album, 1999’s Maybe I’ll Catch Fire. Released on clear red / black swirl, orange / black swirl, 180 gram black and this, white / red swirl, the 2nd pressing contained 3000 records in total and I, of course, felt the need to purchase every variant. Add an original orange vinyl from the first pressing, and I think my Maybe I’ll Catch Fire collection is damn near maxed out.
Without a Key
In order to open a door of dreams, one must prominently present their hopes and aspirations in the most whimsical of ways. And, let’s thank Joe Reisman and his Orchestra for his 1957 pop jazz lullaby, for both producing the door, and the seminal key.
Great, Great, Great
I know what I’ll be doing Saturday, February 27th, if all goes according to plan. I had no idea I’d pocketed this flyer at The Briggs / Pulley show last night, let alone the fact that Reagan Youth was still alive and kicking. Thank you, Punx Not Dead Productions!
Ole
As generic as this statement is, it was a major selling point, or at least that’s what I can assume by its plastering in large print on the back of Bravo Records’ “Ole” Music of the Bull Ring from The Madrid Festival De Matadors’ Orchestra. There’s nothing quite like intrepid ballads of bloody, charging bulls to bring the whole family together, am I right? As the holidays approach and the kids are acting up, consider 10 tracks of mischievous animal cruelty.
The 1969 Warner-Reprise Record Show
In 1969, Warner-Reprise released a pretty badass 2-LP comp titled, The 1969 Warner-Reprise Record Show. The Kinks, The Mothers of Invention, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Fugs, The Dead, Tull, Neil Young, and Fats Domino all make their prominent appearance. It’s a pretty solid comp; mixing well-known with mysterious obscurity. We paid $0.33 for this double LP, and she’s well worth every last dime.
Gypsy Fire
It’s a random Wednesday in December, so let’s celebrate the mundane doldrums of mid-week mediocrity with Boris Sarbek and His Orchestra’s 19?? Gypsy Fire. This enticing, bongo-hugging, ethnically-charged, gas-fireplace-raging, not-so-subtle-hint of sexual emotion is, by all intents and purposes, the perfect mid-week ear snack.
Cloudy Tuesday
Coffee and records, the Sun Records way. Happy Tuesday, kids. Don’t forget to take that much needed morning recess, any, and every damn day!
Goodbye, Hank Williams, My Friend
Ever’ so once in a blue moon, it’s Johnny Cash time, and on those rare instances where substance outweighs initial flair, it’s Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams time. Now, more than ever, is that time. Take stock, kids… stock in the honest things that make you what you are. The rest is dispensable rhetoric, disguised as irreplaceable necessity. Weed through the muck. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow.
Ellis in Wonderland
Minimal set dressing with scantily clad vixens looks an awful lot like my company holiday party, so let’s just say that Ray Ellis knew what the hell he was doing for his 1957 album, Ellis in Wonderland.
(Prudent) Gruve Gard
The Stack
So, I’ve got this stack of records, see. It’s a stack of “unlistened” if that were a word. RSD Black Friday did a number on me, and I’m ingesting much faster than I’m listening these past few months, which is a shame for many reasons. Anyway, my goal is to have this stack spun and shelved by Monday 9am. God willing, this dream will become a reality. Happy Friday, kids.
San Francisco’s Elite
The back sleeve to Ernie Heckscher’s At the Fabulous Fairmont boasts and brags about the social elite swilling it night after night in the coveted Venetian Room of San Francisco’s prominent Fabulous Fairmont high atop Nob Hill. 1960 would have been an interesting year to experience. I’d happily trade say, 2002 for it. Anyway, yet another easy listening treat for you this third Thursday before Christmas. I’ve been in a bit of a vintage mood as of late, if you haven’t noticed. Ernie Heckscher At the Fabulous Fairmont makes for great background music to just about any activity, save maybe for watching The Good Wife on Netflix. Tomorrow is Friday. This makes us happy.
Greatest!
The first compilation / greatest hits album Johnny Cash released (or rather, the label released for him) was 1959’s appropriately titled, Greatest! 12 cuts, all from the Sun Records library, Greatest! is a breath of fresh, country air even 56 years after its initial release. I have no idea what LPs sold for back in 1959, but this one set me back only $3 just last weekend. Inflation be damned, am I right? Anyway, Greatest! contains some classic, early Cash greats such as Get Rhythm, Luther’s Boogie, a few Hank Williams numbers (Hey, Good Lookin’, You Win Again), and some lesser known classics to round out a full, pertinent collection of tragic songs. Greatest! may not be Cash’s greatest, but it’s worth seeking out.
‘S
Former supporting member to significant heads of the 1940’s pop-jazz sound (Bob Crosby, Artie Shaw, and Harry James respectively), singer-composer Ray Conniff follows his first two “‘S” releases with 1958’s ‘S Awful Nice. ‘S Awful Nice is, in fact, awful nice. It’s tame, late 50s swell music for late evening lovers and their romantic cocktails. It’s, what I imagine to be, the last in a flood of easy listening releases that would be properly dammed by the rockabilly and rock n’ roll sound some few short years later. The word “innocence” comes to mind, often, when listening to Mr. Conniff and His Orchestra, and although on any given day of any given week of any given year I’d prefer both rockabilly and early rock to this easy listening bubble, it sure is a pleasant vacation every once in a while. Diversity, kids.
Reminiscing
I knew absolutely nothing about this album when I purchased it (for $0.33.3) on Black Friday, but with a promising cover and an illustrious title like, Reminiscing with the Moms and Dads, the unknown was something certainly well deserving of the nominal asking price. Still sealed, this 43-year-old virgin gets her first spin tonight. I’m both apprehensive, and completely terrified of the results…
CP
This Citizens Patrol 7″ was mysteriously packaged in a recent purchase off Discogs, and I’m not quite sure if it was a “thanks for your order, enjoy this complimentary record,” or if it was some oversight. An email is out to the seller, but I’m curious to see if this guy is in fact “mine” just yet. I’m even more curious to hear what it sounds like, but am hesitant to spin it just in case I fall in love, then have to give it back. Spike Lee says, “Do the Right Thing.” He’s a smart man.
The Prudent Groove 