Veteran LP collectors might regard what follows as overkill, or even contrary to their practice or experience. So I offer this photo-essay of various ways to handle, package and manage LPs after they have been properly cleaned, along with some cautionary notes and guidelines, recognizing that there are many ways to approach the subject and a few “absolutes,” mainly having to do with the fact that some plastics used for outer jacket and inner sleeves, particularly PVC, are known to interact with vinyl records, and should be avoided. You can pick and choose your own method... Read More
Chris Whitley- A Brief Retrospective
I’m haunted by Chris Whitley. We’ve had our share of gifted musicians— far too many to recount here– who died young, leaving a legacy of recordings that are honored today through reissues, deluxe boxed sets and retrospectives (in word and film). Labels can effectively mine a catalog, make a profit where little was had at the time of original release and in the process, keep the music alive for new generations of fans. For various reasons, Chris Whitley doesn’t yet benefit from that kind of visibility. His work really deserves greater recognition and a revival. There have been... Read More
Collectability, Sonics and “Essential” Records- Comparing Notes with Jeff Gold, Owner of Recordmecca
I originally reached out to Jeff Gold, the owner of Recordmecca, to talk about label histories; Jeff began his career as the first employee at the legendary Rhino Records store in Los Angeles, was at A&M from 1981 through 1990 and later, at Warner Brothers for nine years. He’s also had more than a few moments of fame: he’s the guy who found those early Bob Dylan acetates from the late ‘60s- a discovery that not only proved to be of enormous value as artifacts, but provided an inside look at Dylan’s creative process during one of the artist’s many “transitional” periods-... Read More
National Recording Registry -Are You Experienced
I recently received an invitation to contribute an essay to the National Recording Registry. The Registry, maintained by the National Recording Preservation Board of the U.S. Library of Congress, chooses certain recordings each year that reflect the richness of the American recorded sound heritage, to preserve that legacy for future generations. There were many great […]
Jethro Tull-Aqualung- Vinyl Shoot-Out
In my lead-up to this piece, I mentioned that I often accumulate more vinyl pressings of problematic recordings in search of a good sounding copy; Jethro Tull’s Aqualung is a good example. Some of the quirks in this recording were deliberate, e.g. the “Tannoy” effect (a/k/a the “telephone burble”) on the vocal parts of title track, which is a clever effect; but most copies seem to lack clarity or bass and there is considerable track to track variability in the sound quality. Some of it apparently had to do with adjusting to the acoustics of the large room the band recorded... Read More
LISTENING TO RECORDED MUSIC: A RUMINATION
The Internet has democratized many things, including the ready availability of music and information about it. It has also changed how we listen to music: from hardware to software to new formats and delivery platforms. Despite my preference for things analog, I support these changes if only because they give artists (performers and songwriters) the ability to reach more audiences and hopefully, in the process, to make some return on their work. One of the chief complaints about mass-market music delivery is that as technology has improved, sound quality (and consumer’s... Read More
Warner Records-The “Green Label” Era (and Beyond)
Although it did not have the historical legacy of Columbia or RCA, by the late 60’s and early 70’s, Warner was a significant force in popular music. Its roster of talent was impressive and many of the recordings sound great. This “golden era” seemed to coalesce around several key figures and events: Mo Ostin, once Frank Sinatra’s executive and numbers guy at Reprise (Ostin majored in economics at UCLA), was put into place after Warner acquired Reprise Records in the early 60’s; Ostin, who developed the reputation of being very artist “friendly,” brought Lenny Waronker on... Read More
Island Records- The “Pink Label” Era
People seldom buy albums according to the record label on which the music was released. In retrospect, certain “labels” have come to be associated with great music from a specific era, for stellar sound quality (and occasionally, for both the music and sonics) and achieve a certain “collector’s” status as a result. There were, to my knowledge, only a few labels that enjoyed this kind of reputation during their heyday- and Island Records- during the era of the so-called “pink label” is one such label. It was a significant independent label (perhaps the most significant... Read More
Buying Used Records-A Primer
My interview with Robert Croydon of EIL-Esprit, a well-known UK record dealer inspired me to create a set of tips for buying used records. Some of this is common sense, basic knowledge to anybody who collects, so please accept this as nothing more than “blithering insights into the obvious” if you are already an experienced buyer of used vinyl. Consider The Source: Are you buying from a dealer or an individual? The level of knowledge among record sellers varies widely, regardless of whether they are established dealers, individuals trying to unload vinyl that they accumulated or... Read More
The True Adventures of Stanley Booth: Dancing with the Devil
Rock music has always been dangerous; its precursors, from secular black music and the blues in the decades before WWII, to rockabilly and rock and roll of the 1950’s- music that spoke to the travails of the world, of carnality, crime and pain, and all those indecent thoughts and pleasures of life- posed an obvious threat to social conventions. It wasn’t just a battle between the sacred and profane; it was the fear that the sex, drugs, politics and other uncomfortable subjects would influence and seduce the young. That fear is certainly nothing new- it can be traced to the dawn... Read More
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