Time Records and their Series 2000 collection is a great partner (or competitor) to the early Command Record albums. This self-proclaimed “demonstration record” is a perfect introduction to the series and contains choice selects from Jim Tyler, Hugo Montenegro, Maury Laws, Al Caiola, and Kermit Leslie (among others). If you’re looking to expand your Space Age Pop chops (and who among you isn’t?), check out Music with Sound.
Tag Archives: music
Ping-Pong
1961’s Ping Pong Percussion by Chuck Sagle and His Orchestra is branded as a jazzy, Space Age Pop-like competitor to the famed Persuasive Percussion series. I’ve found it to be a bit too dixieland, and less percussion-savvy as the glowing cover suggests. Still not a bad listen for $4, just two pennies over the original retail price.
SALE * SALE
We went in looking for a receiver, and came out with a bootleg copy of The Beatles Christmas Album. It was, in fact, on sale, so there’s that, but the Sherwood S-7100A receiver had been sold earlier in the day. The search continues for the perfect, vintage receiver.
Roughin’ It ’18 (March Edition)
When spending three nights within the confines of a rented studio apartment on wheels, a proper entertainment set-up isn’t just key, it’s borderline survival basics. The PG clan (consisting solely of my wife and me) each hand-picked 10 albums for our excursion… of which we’re down to about 12 after just one half day. But wait! Grady’s Record Refuge is just a quick Uber / Lyft ride away, so after the Tim Hardins and the Les Baxters are laid to rest, unknown gems from Ventura’s finest will get their spinning debut… inside a studio apartment on wheels.
Jerry Reed Sings Jim Croce
Back in 1980, Jerry Reed released a 10-track collection of classic Jim Croce songs titled, Jerry Reed Sings Jim Croce. Staying fairly close to the original inceptions of Croce’s compositions, Reed pays well-deserving respect to one of the best pop songwriters of the 1970’s (or otherwise). Reed’s twang and grit offer only a tinge of dirt-riddled flair to Croce’s already rough-around-the-edges approach, but all-in-all, Reed Sings Croce is a delightfully pleasant spin, and should be heard by any fan of either prestigious artist. From The Avalanches to Jerry Reed… that’s how we do it here at The Groove.
Flowers of the Manic Persuasion
As a follow-up to “yesterday’s” post, Wildflower is the second (of two) albums by sample-maniacs The Avalanches. Receiving its worldwide birth in July of 2016, singles from the album include Frank Sinatra, Colours, and Subways. This isn’t your mother’s electro hip-hop, but if you’ve had any eyes, ears, fingers, or tongues outside of standard radio garbage for the past (nearly) two decades, you’re already well aware of this group’s global influence, and can easily understand how essential this good-time Charlie band has been.
Back in Blue
Oh, the subtle luxury of the limited colored vinyl reissue. This time around it’s the “legendary” debut album by Australia’s The Avalanches. Since I Left You was originally released, mainly in Australia, back in 2000 (with copies going for well over the $350 mark), so the frugal side of me held out for this 2017 translucent blue double LP reissue. Hype sticker on the front quotes Pitchfork as saying, “Quite possibly the best sample record ever made” and though I’m partial to Paul’s Boutique, they may not be wrong.
Tamboo!
Latin, jazz, pop, space-age, and easy listening are just a few terms to describe Les Baxter and His Chorus and Orchestra’s 1955 classic, Tamboo!. If songs like Cuchibamba, Zambezi, Mozambique, and Oasis of Dakhla aren’t enough for you, the mid-century exotic cover should do the trick. A deal at $2.99, a steal as a free gift. Thanks, choch.
From: Space To: Digital
SLOWLY beginning the much anticipated digitizing process of our Space Age Pop collection. The plan was to ingest all four volumes of Persuasive Percussion… I managed to gather only the first. This painstaking process will yield countless hours of road trip entertainment. I encourage all of you to digitize your collection. A 160gb iPod comes in handy.
Temptation
Though the cover may suggest some sort of exotic, space age pop-ery, Roger Williams’ 1960 album, Temptation is straightforward orchestral easy listening, and although I can usually get down with some R. Williams, the Temptation is certainly not worth the risk.
$1.98
Hey, kids. Remember when records cost only $1.98? Nah, me neither. That Westminster Hi-Fi logo, though! Naturally balanced and nationally advertised. Well, hot damn!
Dokken Bay, 85
Ladies and gentlemen, connoisseurs of Los Angeles-based glam rock (circa: 1985), the one, the only… Dokken. Glamour Shots rock never looked so good.
Rich Memories
My first “official” introduction to Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (outside a small font credit to a sample used on the Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication), was this $4 purchase from good ol’ Half Price Books, 1977’s Richard Pryor’s Greatest Hits. I knew little to nothing of the man prior (or should I say Pryor… no) to this album, forgetting completely that this was the same Wonder Wheel-wielding genius from the slightly racist The Toy film (1982), so let me put it lightly by stating that my feeble mind was completely blown into some previously unknown realm of human consciousness upon first spin. Everyone I knew who cared to listen heard this album, with a slightly obnoxious and giddy introduction by me, and to this day, Richard Pryor’s Greatest Hits is still, by far, one of my all-time favorite records. It doesn’t hurt that it was probably one of my first 20 records purchased, but the content certainly (and quite vulgarly… let’s say “honestly”) speaks for itself.
Donde?
I could have sworn that this Gossip / Har Mar Superstar show was in Madison, but alas, good times were had in Milwaukee. Circa: 2000? That would be my educated guess. Anyway, it’s fun to revisit these old fliers from time to time. Carry on.
3000
As the self proclaimed “extraterrestrial surgeon from Jupiter,” Dr. Octagon broke into the mid 90’s hardcore hip-hip scene with a few unforgettable singles. 1995’s Earth People, and this, 1996’s 3000. The third single (in no particular order) is Blue Flowers. All tracks were played the other night in downtown Los Angeles, and the event was something of interplanetary amazement.
Trashed
Broke into some much-needed Lagwagon this weekend. Still in the hunt for the reissued Coke bottle clear pressing, but the marble and blue transparent versions work just fine.
35
Now, this is what I’m talking about when I go on and on (and on) about a successful, yet casual dinner party. Guests bring albums to explore (in addition to genuine Cuban rum and cigars), and the house is filled to the brim with the love that only a social family can muster. T’was a good evening. Anyway, Calibro 35… I’m about to hunt you down…
Freebee for Me, B
I’m looking forward to spinning the freebee record I acquired via means of a recent bunked Discogs order. 2015’s Tough Love, Hard Feelings by Loud Boyz is “labeled” as punk, but I’ve never heard of them. Apparently, this blank vinyl pressing is limited to only 400 copies. Groovy. Free music, however, should never be scoffed at… unless it’s modern country… or anything Madonna related. Send that shit straight back!
Time to Forget
It’s rather interesting, and a bit scary, how well time can erase memories. This flier is to the Metro in Chicago, circa: 2001, and it was preserved because our music-hoarding clan jotted down to the windy city to attend the August 23rd Please for Peace tour featuring Hot Water Music and Alkaline Trio, among others. Chicago was only a hop, skip, and a jump away from our humble dwellings off Lake Michigan in brew city, Milwaukee. I can’t say as that I remember much (anything) from this show, but it must have been good enough to keep the flyer. Other notable additions to the Metro in the summer of 2001 include Jimmy Eat World, Pedro the Lion, Good Riddance w/ Death by Stereo, and Rilo Kiley. Sometimes, and they’re not often, I miss the Midwest.
74/82-3
Pre-orders of the latest single from Lead Into Gold (aka Paul Ion Barker) came with this numbered and signed screen printing. It’s good to see the 30+ year old logo is prominently showcased front and center. According to my online sources (Paul Barker’s Facebook page), there are three sets of 82 prints. Mine reads 74/82-3, which means it’s 74 of 82 from the third set. Little pleases me more than to see a 59-year-old Industrial rock icon rehashing an obscure handle which now spans three decades. I look forward to more from this legendary musician.
The Prudent Groove 