Break 4 Love

DJ Jerome Green appreciating deep grooves & related funky music

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 1 (intro)

A DJ friend of mine had been telling me about this crazy massive used vinyl mother lode located in Greenpoint, the northernmost neighborhood in Brooklyn. The Thing. I had always been fascinated by the scene in the movie “Scratch” where DJ Shadow was alone in the basement of a California record store (starting at 3:58 of this Youtube clip). He sits there inside giant piles of vinyl records philosophizing about the musical past and future. If you love vinyl, this is a moment of clarity, purpose, and desire. I love looking for records, but I have never seen a cache this large. I could only dream about it…until I found out about The Thing! Not in California! Not in Chicago! Right close by in New York City! I was hooked. We decided to go, and made a plan for a week late in May to celebrate our recent birthdays. I found an amazing small hotel right near the store through Trip Advisor, The Franklin Guesthouse, and while visiting my friend to research some vocal house mixes, he booked a double room for three nights, May 26 until May 29. A few days before leaving, I packed the essentials for digging in this dusty basement: packs of nitrile gloves, dust masks (if necessary), disinfecting wipes, record flight case and record bags, dried fruits and nuts, high protein bars, water. We were ready.

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 2 (opening chorus)

Thursday, May 26, 2016

We left Boston at 1:30 P.M. and headed to NYC. To get prepared, we started right in listening to classic mix CDs (and yes, we’re on a 2001 vibe for the ride to the city).

First up: Tony Humphries - United DJs Of America Volume 18 (2001), my favorite mix CD, and one that is influential in my musical taste for the last 15 years.

2nd: Deep House Culture - Choice NYC Garage (2001), a crazy 3CD selection of powerful New Jersey House. We heard the first 2 CDs.

3rd: Do You Know House? Volume One (2001), a Dance Tracks mix CD that displays the breadth of Deep House at the turn of the century. Dance Tracks was one of the premier shops for House heads worldwide. It is deeply missed.

Hazy view of the pencil-thin new 432 Park Avenue from the Triborough Bridge

In no time we were in the city. We had just begun to listen to Johnny D’s Disco Jamms when we drove across Greenpoint and pulled up to the hotel. 

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 3 (first verse)

Thursday evening, May 26th, 2016

We got our bags settled in the room, which was perfect.

Viewing the main living area with dining and sleep sofa, and closet room divider.

Bedroom.

Full Kitchen.

Spacious bath…

with open walk-in shower and floor drain.

We also had a turntable setup with laptop & speaker: ESSENTIAL!

We decided to take a walk around Greenpoint to get a lay of the land, see what the neighborhood felt like, and to get dinner.

Greenpoint is incredibly lively and beautiful with people walking on every block. There are small groceries on almost every corner, numerous new bars and restaurants, and many old factories and warehouses being reclaimed as living and working spaces. There is new modern development for living, and people of all ages and backgrounds. As if all that weren’t enough, the views of Manhattan are gorgeous. We had dinner at Thai Cafe, which seems to average 3 stars because it is cash only (otherwise it would be 4 to 5). The yellow curry was fantastic. After dinner, we walked around some more, then hit the bar right on the corner of our block, TBD.

The bartender, Gary, is a character. He finds out everyone’s name and story, but no matter what you tell him, he will spin out an even more fascinating and hard-to-believe yarn than you could ever imagine. The evening over, we walked the 3 doors over to our hotel and got some rest for the big day Friday.

My sofa bed (actually very comfortable; my back prefers this type of surface).

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 4 (main chorus)

Friday, May 27, 2016

The big day! After my quick snack of dried mango, we headed out at 10:20 A.M. The Thing (at 1001 Manhattan Avenue) is not much to look at from the street. It presently has no awning (as was earlier seen in photos), and looks like a used books and collectibles store. It is not readily apparent that this is a used vinyl mine of enormous size.

Even inside, it still seems doubtful.

But once you arrive at the rear of the store, the heart begins to race.

It doesn’t seem possible that there could be this much vinyl stacked floor to ceiling, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

The stairway leads to the basement with three aisles crammed full of records.

It truly is staggering! This deposit is NOT organized in any way. I knew this would be the case, but it is still mind boggling. It takes a few moments to grasp the vastness and calm one’s nerves to focus on the task at hand. We were looking for House Music 12″ singles, preferably Test Pressings or Promotional Singles. I was also looking for any copies of Disco LPs or singles that I coveted. The only way to start is to just pick a spot and begin searching through every crate and shelf. My friend started upstairs where the most recent arrivals are crated. I put on my nitrile gloves and started at the far end of the leftmost aisle. I was finding some great things right away. You can’t bounce around, however; you just need to go through each crate one at a time and restack in a new pile until a section is complete. We spent 6 hours prospecting like this. During this time, many others ventured in but did not last. We met an amazing DJ from London named Livinstone, who has a huge collection in both London & New York (40,000+), but comes to The Thing for the same reason we do. We all were impressed that there were still some desirable 12″s in this stash. We surmised that DJs don’t want to do the work necessary to find the gems; the internet has made this task so easy and unfulfilling.

My friend located the “find” of day 1:

2 perfect copies of the Yellorange Records Test Pressing - “YO-Sampler”

One copy had both the hype sheet and a clean response sheet!

The Thing charges $2 (cash only) per vinyl slab; it really is a great deal for piles of music that give so much joy. We each left with around 80 to 90 records. We had to run up to Bank of America to get cash. After 6 or 7 hours it was time to call it a day.

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 5 (second verse)

Friday evening, May 27, 2016

As we headed back to the hotel with bags & bags of 12″ singles, we took in a few more architectural sights.

The old and majestic Public Bath (1903) on Huron Street.

149 Huron Street has a playful façade.

New modern apartment buildings are being built throughout the neighborhood.

We took a short rest at the hotel to look through our stash and play a few tracks. After a small sampling of amazing Vocal House, we were definitely hungry, but decided to walk around Greenpoint a little more to check out some of the other blocks.

The new, shiny Brooklyn Exposition Center sits at the corner of Huron & Franklin.

A small renovated house is tucked in next to the large brick apartments.

We walked up to the Jungle Cafe on the corner right across from The Thing. Jungle Cafe is a vegan buffet with an incredible selection. Menu ordering is also available, and they have an extensive smoothie and juice lineup.

After dinner, we decided to go back over to TBD to see what kind of fantastical stories Gary had to offer. On the way down Green Street, we noticed a below-street-level indoor pool through the windows of a brand new apartment complex:

110 Green Street. It doesn’t get any better than this for city living.

TBD was as relaxed as usual with the garage doors and beer garden gates open to the night on Green Street:

As we walked out of TBD to head back to the hotel, the next door over was a tiny beautiful restaurant named Anella (looking like a traditional “narrow lunch room” layout). We planned to hit that spot tomorrow.

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 6 (bridge)

We listened to House tracks well into the night. A few notable purchases:

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 7 (main chorus repeat)

Saturday, May 28, 2016

We woke up Saturday, got showered, I had my daily dried mango (need that soluble fiber in the morning), and hit the street at around 10:00 A.M. for Day 2 at The Thing.

The morning sky over Greenpoint was super-sunny, clear, and crystal blue.

We passed a quaint little columned porch on a tiny 1-story house wedged between tall buildings along Huron Street.

Then it was time: Day 2 at The Thing.

I went right downstairs and focused in on attacking the completely crate-packed Aisle 2 right down the middle of the room. This required some heavy lifting and space planning to rearrange all the crates for sorting through, while also clearing access into the stacks.

Nitrile gloves are critical (even though you sweat a ton) to prevent paper cuts, and stop hands from becoming grimy, thereby contaminating all the other vinyl record surfaces when playing the singles on the store’s turntable.

We both remained downstairs digging for most of the day, while I took numerous trips upstairs with stacks of vinyl to listen to possible purchases. A number of people, who were out shopping, came down to search for 10 or 20 minutes. I had to explain to a few people over and over that there is NO organization. They just would not accept the truth. They quickly went upstairs looking afraid. We decided to not leave for brunch or lunch, so I had my protein bar & water, and we forged onward. After 7 hours, we decided we were done. We’d sifted through approximately 25% of the total vinyl stored in this cache! That’s an admirable accomplishment. We headed back to the hotel with another 80-90 slabs apiece.

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 8 (break)

Saturday evening, May 28, 2016

We were worn out from 2 days in the dusty cellar of The Thing. I just wanted to lie on that sofa, listen to tracks, and never move again. However, there was an issue…HUNGER! We headed the few steps over to Anella.

View of the restaurant with TBD next door.

The front room did have that narrow lunch room aesthetic, however…

We sat out in the back patio! Crazy comfort in urban Brooklyn.

Everyone gets a tall farmhouse bread (baked in a flowerpot?) with salted butter.

We had a fried calamari appetizer.

He had ricotta gnocchi, and I had the fettucini with fava beans, ramps, and brown butter.

Dessert was ricotta panna cotta, raspberry sorbet and blueberries, and warm chocolate cake with dulce de leche, pecans, and vanilla ice cream. Classic espresso was the finisher.

We stopped back at the hotel to listen to tracks and catch some NBA action: Warriors vs. Thunder, Game 7.

Franklin Guesthouse in the early evening after dinner.

We thought we might try a different bar tonight, so we walked over to The Moonlight Mile. The atmosphere was fine, and the selection of spirits and local beers was fascinating. It was very welcoming, but super loud, with a very young 20-something crowd, and all so Portlandia. The beer (Peekskill Simple Sour 4.5%) was excellent, but we went over to TBD again to watch the end of the game. Valerie made me a Negroni (Gary declined on Friday), and we watched as Brooklynites cheered wildly for Steph Curry. Surreal!

[break4love]

Greenpoint Vinyl Sojourn 9 (outro)

Sunday, May 29, 2016

I woke up Sunday a little down because I don’t like trips to end. Thinking about all the music we scored helped, so we packed up and headed out on the road. The drive through Queens again up 31st Street under the elevated N & Q Astoria Line is a fascinating reminder of the real New York. It feels like a live version of the French Connection train chase scene.

We listened to more music during the trip back to Boston. We needed music to soothe disappointment over leaving NYC:

Danny Krivit - Nite:Life 011 - Expansions

DJ Sprinkles - Where Dancefloors Stand Still

The trip was a total success! Overall, we accomplished what we set out to do. Greenpoint was nicer and more perfect than I could ever imagine. The Thing turned out to be everything I want in a lost vinyl mine. The accommodations were fabulous and the food was delicious. There were no mishaps; it’s hard to remember any trip I’ve been on that didn’t have one mishap along the way. It’s safe to say we’ll be back to tackle more of that store in the future, and to savor everything Greenpoint has to offer vinyl enthusiasts and Deep House heads.

[break4love]

A Letter to Madonna

Dear Madonna,

Congratulations! I hear you’re performing a tribute 2 Prince 4 The Billboard Music Awards. We couldn’t ask 4 a more experienced, accomplished, creative, talented, and professional colleague than U.

I look up 2 only a few musical artists 4 inspiration: David Bowie, Prince, and U.

David Bowie is the reason I am who I am today. He’s the reason I don’t think in terms of gender. He’s the reason I am always searching 4 something new in music as well as in all the arts.

U r the reason I love underground dance and house music 2 this day. I still remember the joy and exhilaration I felt when I first heard ‘Holiday’, and also when I saw U looking at me across the record store from the cover of your first album. There was no turning back!

I love Prince. There is no way in my remaining life that I can ever begin 2 explain how much his music means 2 me. Prince is my sexual heart. Listening 2 his music makes me feel alive. I don’t ever rank his records because when I listen 2 any Prince track, it’s like I’m listening 2 my soul, especially the erotic portion (which is most of it). I am, therefore, very wary when I see people honoring or covering him. I can sense fairly accurately the depth or shallowness of their feeling and understanding.

Tributes r difficult. The ones that r spontaneous tend 2 feel right. Your ‘Rebel Rebel’ Bowie tribute was perfect. U felt something powerful and heartbreaking; U responded from the heart. Some tributes r more problematic. As far as I can tell, everyone in the music and entertainment industries has learned from Lady Gaga’s mistake, when she scrambled around onstage spewing a Bowie medley that looked like a 2nd grade science fair presentation (my apologies 2 2nd-graders with high-quality projects that I may have demeaned). In fact, overall, there have been many tasteful Bowie tributes (yours included) that comforted us.

Most of the Prince tributes have been, as expected, covers of the song ‘Purple Rain’. But I think people would benefit, and their lives would be enriched, by hearing some of his other music interpreted by a beautiful artist like U. This would demonstrate your knowledge of his deep catalog. For an exemplary display of this concept, take a look at D'Angelo feat. Princess ‘Sometimes It Snows In April’, and you’ll see what I mean. The possibilities are numerous.

I have a few ideas.

In the short time U have available on the BMAs, U could perform just a heartfelt song or 2. U could, 4 instance, start with 'So Blue’ (from his first LP, For You), which speaks perfectly 4 this sad time, then segue into 'Stare’ (from his latest album HITnRUN Phase Two) 2 ramp up the party atmosphere he would’ve loved. That would be a stunning alpha-omega view of his wondrous career.

If U chose 'Diamonds And Pearls’ (from Diamonds And Pearls obviously), U could invite Rosie Gaines 2 sing. That would be a nice touch 2 honor Prince’s beautiful arrangement.

I think U could really grab hold of the audience with the intensity of a track like 'Mountains’ (from Parade).

'Still Would Stand All Time’ (from Graffiti Bridge) would be very intense and emotional. Perhaps U could follow with another upbeat killer track: 'Chelsea Rodgers’ (from Planet Earth).

Another powerful track based on the situation is 'I Wish U Heaven’ (from Lovesexy. U could really work this song and build up the vibe perfectly 2 give us chills.

1 of his most underrated tracks, 'Free’ (from 1999) would be a testament to his career; maybe U might then add 'Dance 4 Me’ (from MPLSound) to get everyone moving.

Summer is coming, so U might risk singing 'Sex In The Summer’ (from Emancipation) as an alternative, and place it after a sweet ballad like 'Extraordinary’ (from The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale). Girl, U could pull it off, and it would still be a heartfelt tribute, because we all know how Prince makes us feel.

Any of these ideas will show us how important Prince was 2 U. U may even come up with your own ideas. Remember, please don’t do a 'medley’; just perform 1 or 2 songs in your beautiful way as a tribute and we will all feel what U feel. The unity is what makes a tribute special.

Yours lovingly ☔️☮💜,

Jerome

[break4love]

Remembering Prince by listening to Prince

I’ve been pretty sad the last few months from thinking about the loss of David Bowie, and now Prince has passed. The two artists who influenced me most are now gone; I finally feel older. This is crushing, and there are no words to express how devastated I feel.

I’m from the second wave of Prince fans. I read a review of the album 1999 late in 1982 before winter break in college, was mesmerized, and rushed to the mall to grab this thing. I don’t think I put it down for weeks. I quickly bought up all his earlier albums and wondered how I had missed them all. Being a fan of Bowie, I latched on to Prince’s androgyny and overall strangeness. Bowie had left a gap between 1980 & 1983, so Prince was perfect for me. He was my secret; I was always looking for something new, funky, different, strange, & electronic. Then he hit big in ‘84 with Purple Rain and the third wave of fans (the largest) joined. I remember seeing the movie with my high school friends over summer break. Total joy! I just kept buying his albums and loving them. I had all his LP vinyl from ‘78 to ‘87 as well as a number of 12"s from ‘81 to ‘89. I gave my Prince vinyl to my sister in the 90s. I confess I lost a little interest sometime after the sublime & gorgeous Sign “O” The Times, but I never stopped paying attention. He is the reason I became interested in Chicago House Music in the mid to late 1980s, and Detroit Techno & New Jersey Garage in the 1990s. Thank you, Prince, for inspiring me to never stop my search for new underground music.

There will never be another Prince.

Prince is music!

Instead of trying to find out more about him through interviews, books, and gossip, why not learn more about him through his music. There is incredible variety and depth throughout his recorded work. There is beauty in all of it.

I choose to remember him and honor him by simply listening to all his studio albums (Three Notes: 1. Yes, I now have all the studio albums in either CD form or digital files; 2. I’m not listening to or commenting on the gigantic catalog of Prince's unreleased tracks at this moment (I have much of this material, but it is far too great and delicate an adventure to delve into these beautiful treasures right now; in time, I will make an attempt); 3. Yes, I know all his live shows are being posted daily on Youtube, but that’s a radically different and separate monumental topic to discuss). I’m not ranking the albums, and I’m only putting in 1 or 2 comments. I did not listen to the 39 studio albums in chronological order (I just listened to whatever I felt like). Here are the albums* in the order I listened on the days listed:

*all albums by ‘Prince’ unless noted - when he was known by an unpronounceable symbol, I use: O(+>

Friday, April 22nd

1999 (1982) - My favorite album ever. I was always amazed how the beginning of the track ‘1999′ has Jill Jones & Lisa Coleman singing the first line, then Dez Dickerson singing the second line, followed by Prince on the third line. This is the same pattern Stevie Wonder uses on ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life‘ with Jim Gilstrap 1st, Gloria Barley 2nd, and Stevie coming in 3rd! Killer! Prince just schooled everyone right at the start of the LP!

Art Official Age (2014)

Lovesexy (1988)

For You (1978)

Come (1994)

Saturday, April 23rd

3121 (2006)

Controversy (1981)

Sunday, April 24th

Diamonds And Pearls (1991) by Prince & The New Power Generation

O(+> (or: Love Symbol) (1992) by Prince And The New Power Generation

The Black Album (1987 cancelled, 1994 official release)

Monday, April 25th

Dirty Mind (1980)

Crystal Ball (1998) by O(+> (finished listening April 27th)

Parade (1986) by Prince And The Revolution

Tuesday, April 26th

Musicology (2004)

Wednesday, April 27th

The Gold Experience (1995) by O(+>

Thursday, April 28th

Emancipation (1996) by O(+> (finished on April 28th)

Friday, April 29th

The Rainbow Children (2001)

The Truth (1998) by O(+>

Prince (1979)

Graffiti Bridge (1990)

Saturday, April 30th

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (1999) by O(+>

20Ten (2010)

Xpectation (2003)

N.E.W.S (2003)

The Chocolate Invasion (2004)

Sunday, May 1st

The Slaughterhouse (2004)

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999) (finished on May 2nd)

Monday, May 2nd

Chaos And Disorder (1996) by O(+>

One Nite Alone… (2002)

Plectrumelectrum (2014) by Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL

Planet Earth (2007)

Batman (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1989)

Purple Rain (1984) by Prince And The Revolution

Tuesday, May 3rd

HITnRUN Phase Two (2015)

Lotusflow3r (2009)

MPLSound (2009)

Wednesday, May 4th

Around The World In A Day (1985) by Prince And The Revolution

Sign “O” The Times (1987) - My 2nd favorite album; perhaps his best work.

HITnRUN Phase One (2015)

I hope everyone gets a chance to hear all this powerful music.

Just listen.

I will always love Prince (R.I.P.), and I will never stop listening.