Vinyl Junkie

An evolving music blog with its soul in anything people move their bodies to.

[djdenim-blog]

BLOG NOTE:

I discovered a site called lpcoverlover.com.  It’s a marvelous quirky site that I can’t stop checking out.  On the site they were discussing how to repair album/LP covers.  After much thought and introspection, the following came to be...

I believe a cover should be in as close to original condition as possible.  If any repairs are made to a cover they should always be reversible, acid free and archival.  If not the covers may, over time, age faster than if they were left alone.  

Example: I bought a new record but, I peeled the wrap off and the cover was separating.  When I looked, it was a factory mistake and not glued at all on one side.

I could glue it so it looked better and sold at a higher price due to grading higher. The person buying it would think they got something in great condition. But, if cheap glue is used it may turn the cover yellow very quickly over time, likewise it’s value.  If I left it alone, it would be in original condition albeit less than mint due to defect, but original nonetheless.  Anything antique, vintage or collectable is better the closer to original condition it is. I would almost argue that you are detracting from the value of the cover because you are taking it farther away from original condition.

I just feel that repairing covers is not necessarily the best course of action. PLEASE press pause and think if it’s really necessary.  Maybe I am just a dog-eared cover lover, but my final advice…

Be gentle when you repair a cover and make it worth more by doing it right. 

[djdenim-blog]

The One That (sorta) Started the QWEST in 1985

I had records before this one. My addiction took off after this one though.  Maybe because it hit a spot musically for me that I never knew music could be.  From then on all vinyl has been fair game for my NEW needles to caress.  Example: I have listened to “500 Years of the Harp” by Nicanor Zabaleta on Everest Records 1978. Doesn’t even have a cover (must have been pretty cool looking for someone to keep the cover of a harp recording…or maybe the cat got to it….or maybe?).

It’s sad when records lose their covers, a separation of exact twins really. It’s worse when a LOW LIFE collector intentionally does it, as in the case of taking a nice record with a really bad cover and putting it in a similar cover of better condition.  As a collector this destroys the value of both pieces and the ORDER of the universe, since they are not necessarily matched by maker, pressing, date, cover information, etc.  The only exception is when two records are bought simultaneously from the same batch or pressing and all the tail information on both sides of each pressing are identical. Meaning they are from the same master discs (ahhh DJ bliss when you have a pair—the phasing is perfect). There are multiple masters made since they wear out over time and/or several different companies in different states could all have been making the same records for distribution. Never mind the whole ‘re-issue’ issue.

I digressed. I warned you.

All rights reserved by original artists.

[djdenim-blog]

From a Warehouse to My Crates

What's a cut-out record? Well it's lot's of things so it will be hard to answer, but let's try...

A cut-out is commonly an over-run, over-purchase or over-stock of a record.  Example: perhaps a million were pressed but 250K were sold, thus a potential 75% could be marked down in $ and sold if their covers were marked in such a way as to distinguish them from MINT quality, un-played, unmarred stock. Record companies, record stores and warehouses are the usual culprits of the cut-out.

The most obvious physical appearance is, there is a piece of the cover &/or vinyl that has been cut-out/cut-away such as a corner cut off or a hole cut/punched/melted/drilled through cover(s) and record(s). This also includes scratches or black marks over UPC codes (btw: a long drill bit could go through a stack of vinyl quickly so was used on large amounts of overstock, painful just thinking about it),

In the collecting world a cut-out usually has a max value no more than 70%-ish of a MINT piece of vinyl and cover if they are of equal quality except for cut-out mark.  Rarely, a cut-out may become desirable because so few of a MINT version were sold/survived that a MINT quality cut-out record can capture a higher than average value.

Example, an artist records their first album, it doesn't sell and few (100,000) are pressed/made.  Of those, 20,000 were sold (and used by owners-wear and tear), of the remaining 80,000 an additional 60,000 were sold back to record manufacturing for recycling into new records (we can talk about 'virgin vinyl' vs 'recycled' later) leaving 20,000 to be marked as cut-out and sold at discount outlets or stored in warehouses. Years later the artist becomes known and everyone wants the first album. Since there are sooo few copies 40,000 ever originally pressed, even the cut-out copies become desirable.

I don't mind cut-outs, in fact I like them because they are often in very good shape, and because others look down on them they are generally much cheaper.

I often imagine these lost vinyl treasures sitting in a warehouse for years or left in a record store back-room back-stock stacks, unused and unloved until I find them. Many times I have found them sealed too, which means the vinyl inside (the tasty part) still has it's glossy glow.

[djdenim-blog]

The First Time Is Always the Hardest

Today I embarked on something completely new.  My life and the Universe have demanded it of me, so as a concession, this is my new forum.  I hope to post daily, but I am not a ‘daily’ kind of personality.  Artist and musicians rarely are.  I am an artist (aka jack of all trades master of none), but sadly I am not a musician.  I am also but a lowly DJ… forever condemned to roam the darkest corners of clubs, bars, dives and everything in between.  And WORSE, I am a DJ who is a vinyl junkie.  I LOVE VINYL RECORDS.  The feel, the smell, the taste (you’re not a true vinyl DJ unless you’ve desperately held a piece of vinyl in your lips NEVER WITH TEETH!), the texture, the look, and ultimately the sound.  I did, coincidentally, get a new android phone yesterday (still today to me even tho it is 1:34 a.m….it’s not ‘tomorrow’ until you go to sleep and wake up…or someone tells you so sometime in the pastel lights of a new day… of course if it’s Chicago, Seattle or London, then it’s more than likely a grey new day). What should you expect from this site? Music, maybe art and my opinions (hazy and irrellevant though they are).

[djdenim-blog]

...And So It Goes...

Yeah, yeah I missed a few days; but ya gotta give me a little break. It was the holiday after all.  I was lucky enough to go on a road trip, and as you know, road trips are ripe for hearing old, new, strange and familiar music. So a short list of marvelous moments goes as follows: Dr. Demento’s 20th Anniversary Collection incuding Purple People Eater getting stuck in our heads and The Scotsman gave us both a shared silly moment.  Reba McEntire’s live broadcast on a randomly found country station was a pleasant surprise. Joe Jonas, Justin Bieber and a new pop song that sounded suspiciously like the theme from the Phantom Of the Opera; so much so that the first time I heard it, I became obsessed with matching it to a song in my head (Phantom) also found their way to our speakers.  Unexpected surprises all around. On a side note I’m thinking about trying to post a mix on here, wish me luck as it’s new territory for me. Cya

[djdenim-blog]

Back in the groove

I have a follower which suddenly gives me reason to try another post. Less than a week ago I picked up some discs @ Jazz Record Mart in Chicago and surprised my friends when I pulled a few 12” 80’s out of the bag.

I got Mtume “Juicy Fruit” (a downtempo r+b ext vocal); Stephanie Mills “Pilot Error” (club mix -circa 1983); and to round it out Patrick Cowley on Megatone Records. Now Patrick I bought for the b-side “Tech-no-logical World” (7:27 inst. version). Not a true instrumental since there r chorus vocals it’s more of a dub in my book, and the a-side btw is “Goin’ Home” by Cowley also 1983.

I also picked up a sound fx vinyl which I enjoy sampling in my mixes from time to time. I always take chances and did buy one dud that will get donated back… I want this to be positive so no names please. Besides if I say it sux you wouldn’t give it a listen (or maybe u would?)

That’s all for now. Remember kids….all vinyl is fun til someone loses an eye.

[djdenim-blog]

Shame...

...Evelyn Champagne King.  It's a shame I haven't posted in a while, and I really don't care to post any excuses.  My apologies, but such is my life and my penchant. Much has transpired and music has been my salve.  I donated some stuff to a local charity and while I was there did a little vinyl digging.  Obsession soothed my savage beast and found me some tasty bits.

NO LAUGHING! I am a vinyl junkie and all vinyl is fair game to me.  For me: John Schneider's of 'Dukes of Hazzard' fame on a Digital original vinyl pressing of, "You Ain't Seen the Last Of Me!" is golden especially since the vinyl (the good stuff inside a cover) was in such pristine shape. Next up: 'Richard Chamberlain sings (TV's DR. KILDARE)' on MGM, this one is rough around the edges, but again for me, this was another fun find.

Claudja Barry's "Secret Affair" 12" on Epic; Alicia Bridges' "Not Ready Yet / Under the Cover Of Darkness" 12" on Second Wave; a Stephanie Mills promo 12"; Herb Alpert & Janet Jackson & Lisa Keith doin', "Diamonds" are all gems (Rihanna I like your Diamonds too).

More goodies were bought, but I'm not telling.

[djdenim-blog]

Clean House Music

Ok so be jealous.  I found this import DJ 12" house music box set at the 2nd hand store. It has so many house tracks that I can hardly contain myself. I am currently in the process of cleaning and repairing them.

"Repairing them you say?  I am a non believer. You cannot fix skips on records.  Impossible!"

Nay! I say. I have repaired quite a few skips on vinyl records thru my years of vinyl consumption.  The really old shellac records are difficult if not impossible to fix...so I will grant you that. But if it's true vinyl, many times the dirt and ____ INSERT ANY FOREIGN SUBSTANCE FOUND IN A BAR YOU CAN THINK OF HERE ____ is just a matter of cleaning with a proper wet solution. The true skips due to needle and abuse damage are different.

I play a record backwards by hand and it begins the 'deflaking' process that occurs with skips and pops.  I then address each skip/pop by using the DJ technique of scratching over the skips, essentially regrooving them deeper and minimizing the sound of the skip. Works nicely. For professional equipment, needles, turntablists only.

[djdenim-blog]

And You Call Yourself A Blogger?

A real blogger would have posted something a while back, but you mistake me for someone else.

I had a DJ gig since last I blogged, so I guess I should share.  The venue was multipurpose, a bar, a restaurant, and an event space.  Several times I had to direct traffic to the Friday night fish fry. My group was fun.  When a DJ gets a request they use it as a gauge of where the crowds heads are at (taken with a grain of salt of course).  Parliament and Lynyrd Skynyrd were my two requests.  Since I had planned on a Christmas party, I was short on both and my wifi wasn't wifi-ing thus my computer was a deck of cards for the rest of the night.  In case you were wondering I did not bring vinyl.  I had my 'old school' cd mixer and a cache of cds.

So instead they got AC/DC's, 'TNT' and T.S.O.P. by MFSB and the special main request of the night, 'This Is How We Do It' by Montell Jordan. My personal favorites were Rihanna's, 'Diamonds' and a mashup of Psy and LMFAO.

Maybe next time will be sooner than this one...you know you miss me.

[djdenim-blog]

Left To My Own Devices

So every now and then I go 'random digging'...that means I reach ino my vinyl collection at some random point and play what my hand grabs.... so today my first track is an obscure Italian 12" from 1983 by a group called Gazebo.  The song is titled, "I Like Chopin" and although the vocals are dated the instrumental on the b-side is mighty fine.

My next pull is Maria Verano on a 1980 Holland EMI 12" release. 'Get Up' is horn heavy and jazzy enough for the horn lover in you.  Her vocals are better than the cover photo leads you to believe.

Ok, so I'm diggin deep here as I haven't logged these tracks yet, but that's half the fun of having an archive...you never know where the road will lead you.  Speaking of leading...my next vinyl track is 'Don't Hang Up' by Elly Brown from 1984 on Emergency Records.  Gaga and telephone anyone? anyone? I love Accapella, Instrumental and Dub mixes of songs, so the dub side of this 1984 artsy cover vinyl is right up my alley. Ciao.

[djdenim-blog]

I Told You So

I warned you, but did you listen? No, you didn't.  I did not get a post out yesterday, so I've already broken my write something every day rule.  Go figure.  Today a friend came by.  I was lucky enough to get some of her time and attention.  We talked about music and what she liked.  I pulled out Vangelis, Mannheim Steamroller, Ray Lynch and Tomita.  Celestial Soda Pop by Ray Lynch brought back great memories for us both.

In my diggings I found the cd to Celestine Prophecies.  I had read the book and a friend later on gave me the music cd companion.  I have enjoyed it many years, but alas I am trying to thin down my collection a little, so in a moment of friendship I gave the cd to her.  She looked at it and asked, "Is this related to the book?" I was surprised she knew of it and said yes. Also I thought she might like it. She then said it was one of her favorite books.  I told her it was meant to be.

I dug through vinyl, cds and books with her, it was a delicious experience.  Vinyl Junkies love to talk/share/live music and all it's connections.