Introduction: For decades, I had a pretty casual relationship with record cleaning. I own a lot of records, bought my first vacuum record cleaning machine in the mid-80’s and didn’t give record cleaning much thought: I’d use one brand or another of commercially available fluid (there were fewer options in those days and occasionally I’d mix up some home brew), apply it, vacuum it using the “cleaning machine” and done. Clean is clean, right? What started me down the path of exploring vinyl record cleaning in more depth over the past couple years was... Read More
Entering the World of the Vertigo Swirl
I will be devoting some attention to the records released on this label during its heyday- starting in late 1969 and ending in 1973. Some are extremely expensive now owing to their rarity, but others can be had for a reasonable price if you are willing to do a little digging. Rather than start in sequence, with the first release, or pick a well-known record, it makes sense to take advantage of the Vertigo sampler that was released in 1970 as an introduction to the label. It contains a number of noteworthy tracks, including some that appear on the extremely collectible records; as this two... Read More
Trixie Whitley- I’d Rather Go Blind 45rpm 10″ single- Belgian pressing
Not to be confused with the famous Etta James song, Trixie Whitley (daughter of legendary Texas blueman, Chris Whitley) cut this track early on in her career. Produced by Daniel Lanois, with Brian Blade on drums, the opening drum beats suck you in immediately. Ms. Whitley has the same quality that her father did- an utterly authentic, very musical voice that is the opposite of stylized; instead there is a ‘rip’ in her voice that just grabs you. Do not confuse this with her EP that contains several tracks including this song- find the 45 containing just this one track- it... Read More
James Gang, Best of-
This old ABC Dunhill compilation (look for the ‘children’s blocks’ logo on the label) sounds great, gives you the hits from the first three albums; some copies even contain the Ravel Bolero passage (in the song ‘The Bomber’) that was excised from later pressings although it is not easy to tell whether it is included in a given copy based on the deadwax or other indicia. Pretty low-rent album art that just adds to the gestalt. Start your Harleys! ... Read More
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