It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new Decca insert. This one, from a 1963 album by Irving Fields Trio features a rather minimal Jazz section, but boasts a hefty sum by both Bing Crosby (titled Bing’s Hollywood) and Al Jolson. The Mood Music section is where I’m going to spend my time cherry picking, but there is plenty for even the novice listener to explore.
Category Archives: Inserts
The Eight Questions Most Often Asked about Stereo Records
The flip side to Thursday’s Full Dimensional Stereo insert from Capitol Records is this beautiful and informative breakdown of Capitol’s Full Dimensional Stereo sound, or as they state, The Eight Questions Most Often Asked about Stereo Records. Have a read, enjoy the mid-century art, and don’t forget to take notes… there will be a quiz at the end of the week.
Full Dimensional Stereo
Pimping the sensuous, splashy stereo sound to a mass of minions mothering mono was a popular venture in the dawn of this new recording and distribution era. Many vibrant inserts painstakingly detailing this new process were produced, such as this from Capitol Records from the late 50s. It’s an interesting feat to fancy a world where this (by today’s standards) common technique was the shiny new toy on the shelf. I’m gratified that so many labels of the time spent so much on promoting this recording method, which now only seem to exist stuffed inside an indiscriminate album jacket at the thrift store. Beauty, is indeed, in the eye (and ear) of the beholder.
The Sound of the ‘Sixties!
Here is a colorful interpretation of The Sound of the Sixties courtesy of Liberty Records. Have a look. These inserts make for great desktop wallpaper, in my humble opinion.
And Now It’s Time for an RCA Victor Catalog
Write for a damn catalog. It’s only 1/4 of a damn dollar! That’s math, dammit! The Pink Panther and Perry Como in the South Pacific are ready for your luscious ordering… you’re welcome.
From Life to the Moon
Was flipping though a November, 1969 issue of Life magazine last night, you know, the one with “The Rough-cut King of Country Music” on the cover, aka Johnny Cash, and I came across this amazing full page ad for Time Life Records’ 6x LP box set, To the Moon. I’d acquired this piece of Americana at my brick and mortar about a year ago (the box set, not the magazine… I have my wonderful folks to thank for that one), and I’ve been a bit obsessed with it after the reissue announcement of the Voyager Golden Record box set (Kickstarter), so let’s just say I was a bit beside myself and had to do a double take upon its random discovery in the Life magazine that had been sitting on our living room table for the better part of three years. Man can step foot on the Moon, but I can’t discover a 47 year old record advertisement sitting beneath my nose. For shame.
Anyway, have a read, then head over to Discogs to nab this essential box set for next to nothing. She’s currently $7.50 for the full set (that’s 6x LPs and a 192 page, hardcover book, kids), and if you’re feeling REALLY interplanetary, back the Voyager Golden Record on Kickstarter. You’ll thank me later.
What Would That Mercury Portable Turntable from 1966 Go for Today?
Let’s play the adjusted for inflation game! A quick bit of internet research nets this advert in the 1966 range, which would bring the “new” AG 4100 model (original price of $39.95) to only $296.98, while the monster, GF 340, with original price of $99.95, to a whopping $743 today. Portable phonographs certainly were a premium during the ol’ British Invasion days, am I right? And I can’t help but think how Smash Records, a company I’ve heard very little about, teamed up with Mercury for this frame-worthy advert. A few clicks back on the ol’ interwebs and as it turns out, Smash Records was a subsidiary of Mercury Records starting in 1961, so, that solves that useless mystery.
Beastie Boys Fan Club
Ok, so it MAY be 30 years old, but below is the address to the License to Ill era Beastie Boys fan club. Pre-Grand Royal, pre-Nathanial Hornblower, this is Brass Monkey drinking ruffians doing the drunk ruffian thing. Take heed.
Beastie Boys Fan Club
298 Elizabeth St.
New York, NY 10012
Flippin’ Floppies
BS 2000’s debut album (same name) is 19 years old… let that sit for a moment. 1997 is 19 years ago. Anyway, to no one’s fault by my own, presented here is one side of BS 2000’s insert sleeve featuring old school 1997 floppies. There is certain beauty in dinosaur technology, kids.
Einstein on the Couch
When Einstein on the Beach makes a late night appearance, one can be certain that one of the following two things are present. 1) an over-tired listener and 2) whiskey has been consumed. Both were the case in last night’s presentation of Philip Glass’ mind-melting masterpiece.
Vinyl Me, Insert
Ok, so I may not love this insert simply because it’s reminiscent of inserts 50 years its junior, although that helps, but what really stands out is its simplistic, yet effective layout, not to mention its frame worthy design. This modern takes on vintage art, recently discovered last night, is just one of the things that makes this shameless collector secretly grin.
Share the Adventure!
It’s a Dog, It’s a Cat, It’s a Fan Club! Either it wasn’t important enough at the time to file away into the manila folders of my memory, or I’d just discovered an amazing insert inside the soundtrack to my Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade LP! This was mentioned here before, but when we play Fireball Island (only the best board game in the history of board games), we listen Indiana Jones soundtracks. This past Sunday, we were on our tiebreaker game, our third, and that’s when this little gem, now 27 years old, was discovered. The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine, as you well know, became the Star Wars Insider magazine with issue #23, and has, in its tenure, and as of June 14th, seen its 166th issue. Share the adventure!The Lyric Spiral
A nifty way to display an album’s lyrics (double LP, mind you). Hats off to Money Mark on his 2nd studio effort, Push the Button, one of today’s “Summer spins.”
R O C K
It’s crazy to imagine a world where Led Zeppelin’s IV was not only new, but was also featured alongside Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara’s Laugh When You Like. I think I found this sleeve tucked inside Rich Grech’s The Last Five Years (from ’73) which is, an amazing blues / classic rock collection. Had some free time this past weekend and dug through some of the lesser spun albs. You’ll recognize Rich Grech from Traffic, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, and Blind Faith if the name escapes you. Short story shorter, it’s well worth the $1.70 a seller over at Discogs is asking.
Dot Cakes
It’s been a while since we’ve showcased a legitimate insert. They’re hard to come by, I’ll have you know, but this one, with its magnificent 50’s inks, is something to squawk over.
Pigs Will Pay
This comical insert to Propagandhi’s 7″ from Fat Wreck Chords once hung prominently on my bedroom wall some 18 years ago (yes, I’m that old). Now, it rests, tucked away inside the rarely played 7″ which is filed inside a shoe box on the office room floor. I can’t look at this and not think of innocent times nearly two decades ago. They don’t make ’em like they used to.
15 Years Ago…
It’s sad, but just over 15 years ago, BS 2000 dropped their 2nd, and last LP, Simply Mortified. Grand Royal Records would, months later, cease to exist, and receptive ears of the world would never again hear the bubblegum grunge of BS 2000. One can only imagine what they’d sound like today, given the almost two decades of maturity (or utter lack there of), but there’s something peaceful about this short-lived outing that demands incessant spins on random Tuesday evenings. Nobody beats BS 2000, kids.
World Leader in Recorded Sound
Ask yourself, was Command Records the, quote, unquote, World Leader in Recorded Sound? By 1963, the label certainly had its hands in the modern design pie, and the ink-wealth to produce brilliantly displayed, throwaway inserts for its lavish releases. Featured here is an insert to Dick Hyman’s Electrodynamics, an album I could swear I touched upon in my previous 1111 (days) posts… but apparently not. Anyway, dig this layout, and more importantly, dig Command Records and their proclamation of the World Leader in Recorded Sound.
Fit to Print
Often forgotten in today’s new vinyl purchases is a label’s catalog. So often the printed word is given way to a link to a well polished website with all pertinent information, but as a consumer of the physical, analog medium, it’s comforting to find a catalog every now and again. Kudos to you, Alternative Tentacles!
Listening in Depth Part II aka Sound at its Noblest
You have to go way back to July 17, 2013 for the first Groove post on fine quality Columbia Phonograph ad-serts. As you’ll recall, “Listening in Depth” is a buzz term used by Columbia sound laboratories to promote their seemingly revolutionary Directed Electromotive Power (D.E.P.) phonograph console. Featured here is Model 535 which boasts and brags about all the same cabinet wood finish variations as Model 532, but ups the ante in overall power and sound quality (if only marginally). This beautiful piece of 1958 machinery would go perfectly in any (or every) room in my house, and I’ll personally shake the hand of the first person to send me one. Email me for shipping address.
The Prudent Groove 