Creedence Country while like, in the country, living in a nylon fort with sprocket-hungry leg-vehicles is, without hesitation, some of the best “get-away” music anyone could possibly ask for. Dirty hands, analogue ear candy, and natural sound machines were the necessary elements for a relaxing and rewarding few days. Focus on the little things, kids.
Tag Archives: wax
The Doctor, Walter, and a Rebel’s Yell
When the sun goes down out past Santa Paula on a wonderful Valentine’s Day with the fiancée, the Doctor tends to emerge, and with him, a bottle of cheap whiskey, and Walter Light. Happy Sunday, kids.
My, My Such A Sweet Thing
It’s Friday, and it’s getting late. So what better time for some damn fantastic Tommy James & The Shondells? On the list of artists whose discography need completing, I’ll temporarially settle for this Best of comp. Crystal Blue Persuasion and Crimson & Clover… mainly Crimson & Clover. Have a good night, kids.
Teenage Wasteland Blues
When Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues gets a spin at midnight with the fiancee asleep on the couch, it’s fairly evident that whiskey is involved. Here’s to sponge-like subconscious absorption.
Living Mono
Hugo Winterhalter Goes… Latin, and we here are thankful that he did, since, as far as I can recollect, we can all benefit from this throwaway, yet strikingly beautiful 1959 design layout nonchalantly strewn across his majestic cover… or some type shit. You, my friend, exist, within “Living Stereo.” Manufactured in 1958, the Living Stereo logo is both synonymous with quality, and visual brilliance… not to mention it’s 58 years old. Respect the history of graphic design, 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!
Getting Ready
2/28 can’t come fast enough!
Sunday, Feb 28
Feb. 28 is gonna be a busy one. Punk Rock BBQ at Liquid Kitty followed by Drive Like Jehu at The Echoplex. Sleep, a secondary notion, may very well be optional. Muddy details notwithstanding, if you’re in the West Los Angels area and you can stomach quality music… LIQUID KITTY.
Music’s Leading Man
Meet Andre Kostelanetz is a fascinating compilation of easy listening classical jazz from 1955. Made up of a handpicked selection of Kostelanetz’s earlier Columbia Records recordings, Meet Andre Kostelanetz features, among others, cuts from Carmen, The Nutcracker Suite, and classic Gershwin, while beautifully offering hi-res (albeit small), full color images of his previous Columbia Records releases. A great companion for early evening ambient noise while prepping for dinner or cleaning out the fishtank, Meet Andre Kostelanetz is a perfect introduction to this brilliant and hard working Russian conductor.
(Less Than) Mystery Sticker
Not much of a mystery after all, especially considering the last track, but the lack of band reference on this promotional sticker is slightly interesting, if at the very least moderately comical. Although this sticker has (clearly) seen better days, the music within this (not-so) cryptic album remains as timeless as hypocrisy itself. Stay angry, my friends.
The Hiatus is Bag Off, Again
I can’t say I remember acquiring this plastic CD bag on or around June 15th, 2004, and I’d forgotten all about it until it jumped out at me this morning while searching for my birth certificate. Birth certificate… nowhere to be found, but the hiatus is back off as far as this nifty bag is concerned. (Notice the Brooklyn Dust Music logo at the bottom. Classic.)
Hornet Infested Tire Swings
I’ve been an avid listener of The Statler Brothers, long before I knew who they were. WXRO, Dodge County’s home to early 80s country (my grandparents’ favorite channel), blew out boom-chicka tune after boom-chicka tune of earnest, earworm, country ballads. Often heard filling the warm, rural walls of the busy farm house were the elegant harmonies of this magnificent quartet. Listening to them now takes me back to a much more simple time. One filled with Miller Lite pull tabs, and hornet infested tire swings.
Unforgiven Rants… One Should Get What They Pay For
Finishing up my Tim Hardin discography has been a frustrating and bitter experience. Having paid handsomely for his last album, Unforgiven, only to have it mysteriously disappear without a trace or explanation from USPS has left me to question online orders altogether. I could care less about my $40… but I’ll be damned if I’ll pay another $40 ($80 in total) for another copy… on principle alone, dammit!! Sure, I may be slow to let the anger subside, (truthfully, aren’t we all?) but with time, and a Discogs.com Wantlist, I’ve logically returned to my senses. This, a recent online order, was a domestic shipment of a Russian pressed record. It came perfectly packaged, and was adequately and promptly delivered (meaning I got something I paid for). USPS is still on my shit list, as, I imagine, it is for the bulk of you, but with hostile acceptance for wrongful treatment aside, and however described, this household is able to enjoy the subtle genius of yet another Tim Hardin pressing.
Bat Adapted
While supplies last, or so I’m led to believe based on the discounted price, one, such as you, could adapt your large hole 45s with these stylish, slightly non-conformist plastic adapters. Featuring the classic Alternative Tentacles logo we all know and love, this set of three comes in translucent red, reflective silver, and reflective gold. I ordered two sets myself, because for $3 per set, why the hell not? Adapt your baby records with style, courtesy of Alternative Tentacles Records.
Leftovers
In all its unorganized, selfishly-inept misery, here is the overflow of miscellaneous tomfoolery, that which I have no Earthly idea what to do with, aka, the byproduct of one’s collection. 10″s, 78s, 7″s, 45s, slipmats, random inserts, vacant sleeves / covers… all of these random orphans make up the corner of the office, whose permanent location needs severe and well-planned consideration.
Re(issue)
Finally, coming home, Dubnobasswithmyheadman, on full display, in my (our) home. So, it’s mechanical (read: a reissue), but who in their right mind is willing to fork out overseas shipping… am I right?! Anyway, OBVIOUSLY, a must have for anyone with good taste.
‘S Marvelous
A precursor to 1958’s ‘S Awful Nice, 1957’s ‘S Marvelous features another pack of serenaded love woos, and another “girl tells hilarious joke while pack of horny lapdogs rigidly struggle to bury their bones” cover. It’s 1957 sweet as candy living room music by Ray Conniff and His Orchestra, and it’s spectacular.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.
Cheeky Brilliance
Arthur Lyman just made my list of musically most wanted. His otherworldly album covers from the late 50s are something heavily deserving of frameable art, while his music carries a luscious, easy listening, space-age brilliance rarely found in today’s dollar bin. Hawaiian Sunset, released in 1959, was the followup to his 1958 debut Taboo, another captivating package necessary for any cocktail lounger on a budget. His album covers start to tame-out in the early 60s, but man, these late 50s covers are something of sheer, cheeky brilliance!
The Prudent Groove 