"Vinyl Junkies: Adventures in Record Collecting" by Brett Milano

Obsessions really tells what a person is, and there is nothing more beautiful than a person who collects books or in this case vinyl.  Not CD's mind you, but the beautifully designed object that is known as a vinyl record.   The anticipation of going to a record store or even a yard sale that has a stack of 12" LP''s or for that matter a pile of 45rpm singles is a series of blissful moments.  Brett Milano's "Vinyl Junkies" covers the actual feeling while profiling the collector and their special needs to locate a certain record, or just to be surrounded by the vinyl scent.

The great thing about this book is not about the objective need to find the perfect recording or issue of an album, but the subjective view point of the collector and what they are looking for.  Money is not an issue here, although one character in the book got burned for $2,000, which sounds like he couldn't afford the price in the first place.  But what got him burned is not really the lost of the funds, but the fact he didn't get the record that he desired.   All the collectors interviewed in this book has a specific aesthetic for a certain type of music.  It could be exotica or bubblegum or sound affects records - but all, pretty much reflects on their personality.   A record collection pretty much defines who and what you are to the world.  And to yourself as well.  Milano is very funny and a witty writer.  But the subject matter is extremely serious, and that's the beauty of collecting vinyl.  The mixture of the high and the low and everything in between.  One can read countless books on the subject, because human nature never gets old, just gets more interesting.

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"Michel Legrand Plays for Dancers" ("Archi-Cordes")

Michel Legrand is well-known in the music world, but the fact is, he's sort of a god, except I don't really believe in Gods, but I do believe in Michel Legrand.   A huge fan of his music that he wrote for Jacques Demy's great films and his jazz piano playing.  Well, he also did an album of Erik Satie's piano music as well.  So, basically he's excellent in whatever he does.  But this is the one album that is essential to and married to my turntable.  "Michel Legrand Plays For Dancers" (or in France it is known as "Archi-Cordes"). 

In ways it sounds like the John Barry Seven produced and recorded by Joe Meek.   Production tricks, and music that is hard to categorize  - the American market tried to sell it as a dance record via the hully-gully, the twist, and the every popular shimmy.  But the truth is ....it's absolutely  nuts and unique.  Totally instrumental, but with back up zoom-zoom vocals and rapid strings.  Or is it an early electronic keyboard or engineering wizardry?  I hear the roots of "Sound and Vision" on Bowie's "Low" on this album.  Well, its a work of unique genius, and like nothing else he has done.  

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Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates' Vinyl album "The Fates"

Vinyl Album design by Rex Ray.  Limited edition of 300 copies

A nice surprise came through the mail the other day, an album by Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates.  The LP is called 'The Fates" and its a collection of beautifully crafted pop pieces - almost baroque-like in its arrangements framed by Matthew Edwards' vocals.  He sings with the most intimate manner, almost whispering, but not. While listening to this album I think of late Zombies for some reason.  There is nothing retro about it, except its taste lies with the classics.  And anyone who names his band after the great British Novelist B.S. Johnson novel can't be possibly be a disappointment!  Nice production work by Eric Drew Feldman, who played with Captain Beefheart and Frank Black/Pixies - a man of great taste and skill.  Fred Frith adds tension on certain tracks.  An album to treasure.  Oh, and the album sleeve is beautifully designed by Rex Ray.  

Cd cover

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My Favorite Albums of 2012 (on vinyl) Part One

Due to time I am only listing three albums at a time.  And keep in mind that not all of these releases are new ones - but more what I listened to in the year 2012.  As  you can gather, I have very little interest in 'new' recordings.  But there are of course, exceptions.   All the albums are on vinyl.

As a kid, my family hung out with architects at their homes and it seems every one of them had this album.   For one, its not wild.  This is music that soothes but with a certain amount of sexual tension.  Miles is very much a sensual player and his trumpet sways like a dancer with the orchestration.  A perfect cocktail type of album where you sipping wine/martini and just floating with the haunted, but somewhat bitter melody.   I bought this at Rockaway, during their Black Friday promotion. Its a newly issued Mono version.  Really beautiful work.

There are records that you can just throw on the turntable and do something else.  Scott Walker's "Bish Bosch" is not such a record.   Once the needle hits the first track you are tied down to a chair or floor in front of the speakers, and you are not going to move an inch, because this is work that demands your full attention.   Hauntingly beautiful, this is music that takes you into today's world - all the ugliness, the bitterness, and a certain amount of beauty (or some version of it) mostly due to Scott Walker's still-incredible vocals.  Rarely do I hear new work that says 2012.   Probably the most un-bullshit album ever.  To say I love it, is like one needs water.  Without a doubt the most essential record released in the 21st Century so far.   The silence on this album is just as important as the music.

Hearing Sparks' "No 1 Song in Heaven"  on vinyl for the first time is a real 'wow' series of moments.  Released in the late 1970's this record is the shot that was heard around the world.  Without a doubt a major influence on future electro-duos like Soft Cell, Associates, Pet Shop Boys, etc.   I had this album on cassette, CD, and eventually MP3 - but the vinyl kicked me in the rear end so hard.  Its an aural masterpiece on the 12th degree.  And not one bad or weak moment.  Very rarely does one come upon such excellence.  Dreamy, hypnotic,  and sensual to the core.  A Ron and Russell masterpiece.  Do get it on vinyl!

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Boris Vian's "Les joyeux bouchers (1955) on vinyl

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Miles Davis' "Porgy and Bess" Vinyl (Mono)

The second of the three albums by Miles Davis and Gil Evans.  Regarding the big band, it melts under the direction of Evans, and Miles sort of pulls the orchestra with him, not against him.  Based on the opera by George Gershwin, this is an reflective piece of work, that grooves but also gives room for introspection.  A beautiful multi-textured layered work that in parts reminds me of Miles great score to Louis Malle's film "Ascenseur Pour L'échafaud."  Did Miles Davis ever, like, failed?

French 45rpm record cover

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Miles Davis' "Sketches of Spain"

An amazing beautiful piece of record-making. I just purchased this the other day, and its in Mono, and the sound is so fantastic.  But then again, the music is incredible on many fronts.  The Gil Evans arrangements are superb, knows when to be quiet, and knows how to raise the temperature in a room. 

Miles just glides over the melody - goes in and goes out like a wave hitting the beach.  In essence its being on the sand and letting the water hit you and one can feel the pull into the ocean, and it will bring you back in place and time.  "Sketches of Spain" does that to me.  Overly romantic, but the mood is a combination of dark and plain reflective. 

I remember this album when I went off with my parents as a child to visit other people.  They were architects, and I always think of architecture when I hear this album.   Very mid-century type of sound - more geared towards the professional than say the bopster in a coffee house or club.  I imagine this album had a huge affect on people like Bryan Ferry - due to its orchestration and effortless perfection.  

Also this album is very hard to categorize.  I think it belongs to another world that only exists in one's head.   Which is my favorite type of album.  

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"Belles Chansons" by Antoine (Vogue Records, France, Vinyl 1967)

Antonine, to my ears is the French Donovan.  Both were making music around the same time, and like the Scottish pop/folk singer, there is a tinge of quietness but with a great deal of spunk and style.  Very tastefully arranged, Antonine draws me into his world, which seems reflective but youthful.  There is even a version of "Hey Joe" (Jeremie et L'existence de dieu) that is up there with The Leaves/Love.   The album has a bigger production on the first side -with baroque like string arrangements with a tad of garage rock, and the flip side is very much acoustic guitar and voice, and maybe a stand-up bass.  Very 1967 like, quiet, and really fits the mood for those who are into the Psych-folk thing.  But I sense that Antonine has a bite, and this is a very cool album.  In other words I love it.

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"Crazy Rhythms" by The Feelies (vinyl)

"Crazy Rhythms" by The Feelies is one of those unique recordings that caught my attention, like a cat seeing a bird in front of him/her.  I was working at Moby Disc (for only a week or so, and that's another story) when this album came out.  I was struck by the cover of four geeky guys.  At the time the only other geeky band was Talking Heads - but this band took 'geeky' to another level.  What I found on their L.P. was a guitar band that deals with dynamics of sound and textures. And the percussion work is excellent through out the album.  A combination of Television's first album and the first three solo Eno releases.  I am also impressed with the silence between the tracks on this album.  The quiet is just as important as the Yardbirds like - but still geeky - rave-up.  Remarkable album.  

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Vinyl Collecting

The beauty of record collecting.  This beautiful obsession....



Music Room Part 1


Music Room Part 2


My Record Room


Vinyl Collecting as a Hobby (he has incredible taste!)


Record Room Tour


Record Room & Audio Gear Tour


Current Record Count


Warehouse packed with vinyl records

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Paul Mawhinney's vinyl record collection

A very impressive little short documentary on record collecting and a man's record collection. Paul Mawhinney is the real deal.  Vinyl is sort of like heroin.


POV - The Archive . Watch strongemThe Archive/em/strong Online | PBS

Also Mawhinney tells an impressive tale on one of my favorite recording artists:

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Frank Sinatra's "Swing Easy" on Vinyl

For the obvious reason I am always interested in works that came out in 1954, the year of my birth.  Elvis' Sun recordings as well that year.  Its interesting to compare both Frank Sinatra's "Swing Easy" with Elvis and what they were doing at the time.  One was a weird hybrid of popular music filtered through the genius of Sam Phillips via the voice of Elvis and his remarkable band.   Sinatra on the other hand was making one-theme  albums - in a way his recordings for Capital were like narratives that was separated by side one and side two. "Swing Easy" is basically all up-beat pieces arrangement wise as well as for its lyrics.  There is always a dark cloud roaming somewhere around Sinatra's neighborhood, but overall he's fighting that down feeling with being forcefully upbeat.  So there is tension in the recordings.  

Also I am curious to know if he was listening to Sun Recordings.  "Lean Baby" reminds me of Elvis. Now having Sam Phillips behind the recording board for Sinatra....that would have been interesting.  

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Kenny Dorham Quintet on Vinyl

More vinyl listening pleasure with what many feel is a classic recording by the Kenny Dorham Quintet.   Originally on Debut Records (now part of the Fantasy empire) this recording was done in New York on December 1953.  It conveys a certain amount of elegance that makes the afternoon go slower.  It's very graceful and tasteful and it is sort of a strong cocktail, where you have to dip into it with a certain amount of style.

The label Debut, was started by Charles Mingus with the help of the great drummer Max Roach.  Sort of the do-it-yourself aesthetic, but every release had a killer cover. 

Kenny Dorham

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Jackie McLean's "Lights Out!" on Vinyl

I went back to vinyl because it doesn't make sense, it takes too much space, its too heavy, its.....perfect. MP3's are great when you are in a shitty town in an even more shitty hotel room.  But for the big sound, the real loud sound, vinyl is it.  Especially jazz. The whole graphics of jazz makes sense on a 12 inch record sleeve.  It is not only real, but it makes a stand against the blah.  And blah is something to avoid like crazy.  

What i love about this album besides the music is Ira Gitler's liner notes on the back of this album.  He mentioned that the musicians played in the dark.  The only light (photographed during the recording sessions) was coming from another room.   So yeah, the mood is already set.  Its a beautiful thing.

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