Pontiak – Sun On Sun LP (Thrill Jockey 206)

I thought I had this record sold quickly after posting it a couple months back. But the buyer flaked and, well, it’s still here. Forgot about it until I read a piece about the band’s upcoming release and their current tour back east with the mighty White Hills. Knew nothing about the band when I purchased it, but I’ll generally buy pretty much anything on Thrill Jockey, where vinyl runs remain pretty tight and stuff can go out-of-print fairly quickly. Especially when you consistently release as much good stuff as TJ does.

And, like many Thrill Jockey-distributed releases, musically kinda tough to pin the band down, which is an attribute more times than it’s not. Made up of three brothers from Virginia, they can be all Blue Cheer-y one minute, and drop a lovely ambient soundscape on you the next. They’re a power-trio, but play in the most open-ended part of the pool. The title track is akin to pastoral Sabbath. So yeah, also like many TJ releases, the word “druggy” comes to mind.

This is the band’s second record, originally self-released on Fireproof Records in a run of 500 copies. TJ then picked up the band and reissued it in another small run of 500. And that is the copy we have here, sealed & housed in a heavy plastic zippered sleeve with  custom sticker. I will note that there is some sticker residue on the, umm, sticker. (Bay Area chain music retailers love to wrap up their records in tape and don’t give much of a damn what they tape over in doing so). The bag is a twee dingy, but the jacket remains in great shape, albeit with a top spine corner ding. Oh, I have my doubts about t download code still being valid. Okay? Okay. $30. Oh, and for the moment, only on Discogs (as I forgot to report everywhere else after said buyer bailed).

Discogs…http://www.discogs.com/buy/Vinyl/Pontiak-Sun-On-Sun/48117636?ev=bp_titl

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December 9, 2011

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Phish – Party Time, White Tape Sealed Vinyl Record Store Day Black Friday Exclusives (Jemp)

So, the Black Friday Record Store Day thing felt kinda underwhelming. Just didn’t have the same verve as Record Store day did earlier this year. And not that it was intended to, really. But it just felt a little flat. At least for me, didn’t seem that there was anything all that exciting this time around. That is, except for the Brendan Benson 12″ that I couldn’t find anywhere here. And honestly, the only thing I truly wanted for myself. Check that, I did pick up the Nick Lowe 7″ that features two previously unreleased covers. (I know…I’m old) But I gotta chase down that Brendan 12″, with covers of Bowie, Elvis Costello, Kinks and Randy Newman. Dude has some killer taste in tunes. But if you’re a fan, you probably suspected that.

A couple of the more interesting Black Friday items were Phish pieces, both of which seemed to have been issued in some pretty small runs. Well, small for Phish, that is. But both were comprised of previously released material, rendering neither truly essential. The double-abum “Party Time” was originally included in the band’s 2009 “Joy Box”, and then was initially made available on vinyl at this past summer’s Superball IX Phish fest. I believe the record store day copies came from this same run. Two discs in a single pocket jacket.

And then we have the vinyl release of the legendary 1986 “White Tape”, which was also initially released at Superball IX. The release contains a bunch of pre-Elektra four-track demos that the band used to shop for both gigs and a label deal. This has since been released on compact disc and made available for download, but I believe this is the first time it has been issued on vinyl, and in this specific case, on 180gm white vinyl.

Both are $50 and can be found at the usual graypunk outlets – Discogs, Musicstack and Gemm. No eBay for these two. At least, not yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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November 29, 2011

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Now Playing: Albert Mangelsdorff Quartet – Never Let It End (MPS Japan ULS-1723)

Now playing. Anyone else hip to this recording? Or this combo? Might be a Japanese-only issue. Anyhoo, discovered this record a couple of years ago, and it’s a killer if you’re down with the avant jazz thing. Dude played trombone and was one of the progenitors of polyphonics in jazz. Just love to see recording dates on old jazz records from back in the day – these guys knocked out this album over one day in 1970. Take that, major label studio squatters.

Trombone, tenor sax, bass & drums. Freaking amazing. Somewhat esoteric, but essential, listening. I mean, it’s a bit out there, but it swings. Hard. I really must take the time and seek out more of this guy’s stuff. Oh, and love the artwork as well!

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November 28, 2011

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Ryan Adams – Orion Sealed LP (Pax-Am 006)

With the release of Ryan’s recent “Ashes And Fire” release, the accompanying press onslaught made much to do about the fact that this was Ryan’s first record in three years, after taking some time off to address a nasty inner ear issue, get married, get sober and stop smoking. Not necessarily in that order. And not necessarily everything.

However, Adams did manage to sneak out a full-length release on his own Pax-Am imprint, albeit maybe not the record – musically speaking – that fans would have expected. That is, unless one knew that he would eventually take his love of all things metal and channel that fandom into a heavily rocking record of his very own making. And that is exactly what he did in 2010 with the release of “Orion”, his self-referenced “sci-fi metal record”. He certainly kept it real with the artwork, commissioning Voivod drummer Away (is there a more sci-fi metal band ever than Voivod?) to create the album graphics. And yes, it is, more or less, “metal”.

The record was originally released in a smallish run of 1000 copies on clear vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. A really nice package and one that I sadly found out about well after the fact. Adams then reissued the album in a non-colored wax, non-gatefold sleeve, a version which is now also unavailable. And this is the copy that I have available for sale. It’s still sealed, still sci-fi metal, still sports the Away cover art and is, well, still vinyl-only. The one still it is not, is still clear vinyl. Rather, “none more black ” black vinyl. $50.

Discogs…http://www.discogs.com/sell/list?release_id=2934728&ev=rb

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/207780570

eBay…http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380385340731&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT#ht_748wt_1114

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November 28, 2011

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Brad Miller – Twilight Of Steam: Volume 2, Sealed Stereo LP (Mobile Fidelity; MF 15)

I often dream of trains. And when I do, the sound I hear is, oddly, audiophile quality. I suspect this is due to half-speed mastering. But alas, like so many times before, I’d be wrong. But just by a couple of decades.

All the way back in the 50’s – 1958 to be exact – a 19-year-old by the name of Brad Miller released an album of sounds compiled from recording Southern Pacific steam locomotives in California with his dad’s Ampro mono tape recorder with a crystal microphone. The title of the album was Memories In Steam” and the label he founded to release the record was, wait for it, Mobile Fidelity Records. It was instantly successful enough that Miller released two more volumes before the end of the year. A legacy – and an imprint – was born.

Shortly after that initial trio of mono releases, Miller bought an Ampex 601-2 tape recorder and a pair of Electro-Voice microphones, a battery and an ATR converter. Stereo, here we come. The early to mid 60’s saw Miller release several Train records, including a three-volume series entitled “Twilight Of Steam”. The first of the series was actually a companion piece to a book of the same title, and at one point was actually available as a stand-alone title or packaged with the book. Synergy!

It was still a good ten years before Mobile Fidelity Records morphed into the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs that we knew and loved in the 70’s and is still an active entity today. And still releasing half-speed mastered vinyl records, though not quite up to the high-quality standards of that imprint back in the day when Japanese virgin vinyl was being employed for all the pressings. But still likely better than the sound one would get from what kept Mobile Fidelity going between the death and rebirth of vinyl – gold compact discs.

Anyhoo, what we have here is a sealed copy of “Twilight Of Steam, Volume 2” (MF-15). Stereo steam, recorded all over the country, with text on the back jacket framing the “scene” for each recording. The 45-year-old jacket is in pretty nice shape, with just minor corner issues, including a small bottom right corner crease. Whatever appears a wear in the scan appears to be isolated to the shrink. $40.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/214189491

Gemm…https://www.gemm.com/item/MILLER-c-BRAD/TWILIGHT–OF–STEAM-c—VOLUME–2/GML1887457079/

 

 

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November 18, 2011

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T Bone Burnett – Proof Through The Night And Complete Trap Door CD (Rhino Handmade 7729)

Another nice little rarity from the archives – sealed 2007 two-disc set from Rhino Handmade, collecting Burnett’s 1984 lone full-length for Warner Brothers – “Proof Through The Night” – and the two Trap Door EP’s that bookended that release. I’m pretty sure that this was the first, and likely last, time we’ll this material issued on CD. And this set was limited to 5000 copies. It’s easier to find the original vinyl issues than it is this to lay hands on this piece. So, pretty dang scarce. $75.

PS – No slouch whatsoever on guitar, “Proof…” gathers up an absolutely stunning coffee klatch of contributing guitarists. I mean, Pete Townshend, Richard Thompson, Mick Ronson and Ry Cooder? On the same record?

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/212826258

Gemm…https://www.gemm.com/item/BURNETT-c-T-d-BONE/PROOF–THROUGH–THE–NIGHT/GML1898955024/

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November 15, 2011

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Thin Lizzy – The Peel Sessions CD (Strange Fruit / Dutch East India; DEI 8136)

So, I’ve been spending some time sorting through a few boxes of the thousands of CD’s that are housed in, ummm, my house. And man, there’s some good stuff laying around here. Felt it was time to beef up the digital music-encoded software product line and this Thin Lizzy disc is definitely a highlight, an original 1994 issue from Strange Fruit, the imprint that used to license all this BBC stuff back in the day and ran the distribution through Dutch East India.

I would say that the Peel recordings, generally speaking, are pretty damn good across the board. I mean, who would go in and half-step it through a Peel performance. In front of Peel. This collects 15-tracks, spread across seven different sessions (according to the liner notes, written by Peel, and I think one of the few, if not only, liners he actually wrote for one of these discs, they did a total of eleven), all recorded between 1972-1977 and all pretty exceptional. I would argue many, if not most versions, better their studio counterparts. Again, for the devout Lynott fan, it’s pretty essential.

Disc & insert are in near mint condition. More or less, brand new. Ish. Punch hole through barcode on back tray card. Otherwise, Lizzy-licious. Okay, sorry about that. $40.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/212826262

 

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/THIN–LIZZY/PEEL–SESSIONS/GML1898955028/

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November 14, 2011

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For Those Needing To Fill Holes In His/Her White Hills Music Collection, I’m Here For You

Just uploaded a bunch of currently out-of-print items, across an array of software mediums, from the mighty prolific, mighty heavy and mighty psych-y White Hills. There are some excellent super rockin’ space rock bands out there at the moment, and White Hills are one of the best. They also truly do release a ton of stuff, and in some cases said stuff disappears literally overnight. So, a brief summary of what’s available, all of which is new and unplayed.

Heads On Fire LP (Thrill Jockey 217)…White Hills rocks out courtesy of, and actually, with, Julian Cope. The band’s very first recording was issued on Cope’s own Fuck Off & Di imprint (nice!), the tracks from which were taken, extended and tweaked by the band and Cope and issued by Thrill Jockey in 2007 via this limited run of 1000 copies. Long out-of-print. $60.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/207780565

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/WHITE–HILLS/HEADS–ON–FIRE/GML1898955009/

 

Dead 12″ (Thrill Jockey 12.36)…2009 four-track 12″ feat a remix of “Head On Fire” track “Oceans Of Sound” plus three new (at the time) tracks. Housed in an all-black jacket w/ spot UV gloss varnish and a posted-on art card and, again, limited to 1000 copies. $40

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/207780564

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/WHITE–HILLS/DEAD/GML1898955008/

White Hills LP (Thrill Jockey 232)…I suppose it’s not a lazy reference if it’s true, or if the same line is drawn in every review of every White Hills record you’ll read, but yeah, the band does come off as a contemporary version of Hawkwind. Actually, they sound like a 70’s version of Hawkwind. I don’t think its possible to listen to the band without slipping into the metal head-bob. Kid Millions from Oneida takes the drum seat and it’s a great fit. A little less pummeling and a twee more spaciness. I’ll make that trade. This copy is from the original issue of 1000. There was eventually a repress of 500 and I don’t think you can tell the difference. But I swear this is from the first pressing. Also has one of the best embossed jackets I have ever seen. Killer. $60.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/207780563

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/WHITE–HILLS/WHITE–HILLS/GML1898955007/

Live On WFMU (Who Can You Trust 07)…Okay, moving on to cassette (!). Super rare German issue of 50 pro-dubbed cassettes, featuring two separate on-air throw-downs. Side one was recorded on May 4, 2010 while the side two performance is from April 10, 2007. They are who you think they are. $35.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/207780566

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/WHITE–HILLS/LIVE–ON–WFMU/GML1898955010/

Black Valleys: Live At Aquarius (Aquarius 001)…This one was released earlier this year in conjunction with Record Store Day and the content was take from a half-hour plus instore the band did at Aquarius last year as a drummerless two-some. Oddly, tho very nicely, packaged in a slimline DVD case with art, hand-numbered 48/300. Yep, that’s it. $60.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/207780568

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/WHITE–HILLS/BLACK–VALLEYS/GML1898955012/

Measured Energy 7″ (Trensmat 024)…A fairly recent release from  this highly regarded Irish imprint. Nonetheless, extremely limited translucent purple vinyl. These went away in a hurry. A little bit of a different thing for the band, though you knew it was coming – less on the heavy, more on the droney. A kinda ambient soundscape-y vibe, but certainly not a piece of background chill.  Also includes a download card that allows owner to access a bonus 10-minute plus track and two videos. Yes, these guys are infatigable. $25.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/207780567

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/WHITE–HILLS/MEASURED–ENERGY/GML1898955011/

Oh, and I think everything here is also on Discogs. And there ya have it.

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November 10, 2011

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Meet The Beatles (ST 2047), Beatles Second Album (ST 2080) – Sealed Gold Record LP’s

Okay, posted a handful of sealed Beatles records to the eBay a couple nights back, but have failed to note that here. Ah, another failure to add to the, ummm, failure pile. Three feet high…and rising.

Beatles. Sealed. Vinyl. Five went up Sunday night, and one came down today as the first pressing of “Magical Mystery Tour” is now gone. (Sorry!). Of the four that remain, two are “Gold Record Award” editions of the band’s first two records for Capitol. Either late 60’s or early 70’s pressings. Both have promo or cut-out holes on the top right hand corner of the jacket, and based on the period that these were issued, they could be either. But more commonly associated with promos when it comes to Capitol.

Each has it’s own subset of minor jacket issues, which you can check out for yourself by clicking on the links found below. Sorry, I’m trying to find an easy way to simply drop the auction details into WordPress, but as I use WordPress.com rather than WordPress.org, and don’t have an actual site of my own to host (yet), WordPress says I can’t play with their plug-ins. Whatever, WordPress. If anyone knows of a workaround, or just a way that I can easily “drag & drop” eBay auctions here, please lemme know.

If you wanna peep ’em, or better yet, buy ’em, you can do either by clicking on the links. $100 each.

Meet The Beatles…http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380383378386&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT#ht_1253wt_1111

Beatles Second Album…http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380383379125&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT#ht_1326wt_1111

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November 9, 2011

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Quicksilver Messenger Service – Shady Grove, Sealed LP (Capitol; SKAO 391)

Man, the whole “streaming thing”, as in the ability to fire up a music portal and listen to anything I want to, just continues to be a real disappointment. I swear that more than half the things I look for just aren’t there. I’d like to hear for myself how bad the Metallica/Lou Reed record is, but I ain’t throwing $13 at iTunes for the opportunity. After that, I decided to dial up this Quicksilver record on Spotify as I have a sealed copy and, honestly, have never listened to this band. Frankly, pretty much the entirety of what came of that 60’s Haight-Ashbury scene is a huge blind spot with me.

I was born in ’61,  grew up with Aerosmith, Kiss and Elton John. Had no time for hippies. I mean, was eight when this QMS record dropped. Then again, at the time, I could not have cared less about Neil Young. I self-corrected that oversight fairly early in adulthood. Way down with the Canyon Rock hippies. But have never taken the time, or really had the will, to connect with this particular period or brand of psychedelia. That said, I was interesting in hearing this record just because Nicky Hopkins plays on it. And it overlaps with a period in which that scene was getting a little twangier, which I’m generally cool with.

But yeah, not gonna happen. But that’s also not gonna change the fact that I have a sealed copy of this record to sell. And the sealed thing makes it a little tricky, as this record as issued with two different labels, the first being the very short-lived lime green target label before rolling over to an orange issue. But both were/are housed in the same heavy gatefold jacket with the same catalog number. I am convinced that this is a first pressing simply due to the heaviness of the package, weighing in a hefty 12oz. I bought a sealed copy of Dire Straits’ “Alchemy” at the same time and that two-record gatefold set came in at 14oz.

So there you go, it’s a no-brainer. Okay, not so. But again, I’m almost certain it’s a first pressing. With a clean cut-out hole. And a breathe hole. And some minor shrink tears. And some very light wear as a result of those tears. I think that’s it. Seriously, a nice copy and rare to find one sealed. $60.

Musicstack…http://www.musicstack.com/item/199116808

Gemm…http://www.gemm.com/item/QUICKSILVER/SHADY–GROVE/GML1896630095/

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November 2, 2011

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