Easily my most expensive 7" (by a long shot). Just had to have it, no questions asked. This single is for sale for up to EUR 500.00 on a good day. What you get here is Finnish proto Punk released in 1979, so it's a real item from the time when this genre was making waves. I was (and still am) quite interested in this scene, although I was never a Punk myself. The first such LP I bought was "London Calling" (Clash), which turned out to be anything but Punk, but a hell of a Rock album in it's own right.
This has led to a fair few 7"s, LPs and CDs in my collection and to this day, I'd argue you under the table regarding the worth of this kind of music. It's not one and the same bullshit and no, Sir/Madam, it doesn't sound all the same either. The imbeciles (Sid Vicious et al) trying to make a ruckus and proclaiming their "vision" were very few and far between. That's not to say they didn't have a voice, just that they didn't really matter in the big picture. No, friends and neighbours, even the Sex Pistols made a rather small dent in the history of Rock. If it was Rolling Stones or the Beatles, I was always on the Clash side.
I should think, that Punk was alive in Finland as much as in the rest of Europe. Now, crucify me, but Punk, at least to me, was a European thing. Of course I know the claims of mid-60's bands from the States being the Punk types, but frankly, they are Garage and nothing more. Just don't get me started on the subject, I've enough recordings in my collection to cover most angles there. I do like Garage, but don't fly a flag that's not yours. I wouldn't be too surprised if one day Elvis Presley would have the dubious honor, to be named the first Punk ... oh, wait, this has happened already.
Here are four tracks that sound like they were recorded when they were recorded. Typical songs, that seem, at least to me, a bit slow. They must have had someone stomping on the brakes all the time. I wish it would pick up every now and then. Still, if you're one of the folks thinking this is not worthwhile, I'm telling you, you are ... right! No, forget it, you're completely mistaken. This is a period piece and really, I've heard worse. My copy looks mint, but I guess, they've recorded this somewhere near the sea, with the studio doors wide open. The swooshing is like the tide swapping up on a beach. And to my ears, it sounds like the recording is not quite in balance. The drummer is a bit to prominent and the guitar player is to far set back.
Is this "Audiophile Today" or what? This is a bloody Punkrock review and certainly not about sonic qualities. What I'm hearing is like travelling back in time, 35 years in a flash and the soundtrack of some half forgotten era is here again. To me, this is well worth the cash spent, but you might think otherwise. A few years ago, I began to understand people who collect only original Vinyl (no 2nd pressings, reissues and the like), it's as much about owning such a period piece than the music itself.
Now that I read a ton of comments on the web about this reissue and actually having listened to my newly acquired double LP a couple of times, I have to say it out loud:
DO NOT BUY THIS THING!
The nerve they have to issue such a substandard product is awesome. This is by far the worst "new" vinyl I bought, let me see, since ... well ... ever since I started buying LPs. I didn't believe it first, when I read other folks' opinions on this. The LP was sealed, just to put this straight, but then ... fingerprints all over the records itself, dirty like having been buried in a pig sty and forgotten for the last onethousand years and, oh, do not forget the scratches(!) all over the platters. This is supposed to be an item fresh from the factory?
Don't get me started on the way the "super" box set is done (CD only and then it cries cheapo all over). The single LP without the zipper and ... look Stolling Rones, you've proved yourself that you can milk your fans dry and that some blokes swimming in lots of money are in dire need to squeeze the last cash you can get out of your fan's wallets.
It's not youth rebelling here, it's the geriatric unit. Hope you're satisfied with your brilliant marketing ploy. I think I'm going to puke. And before I forget it, the sound is nothing to write home about either. Thin, lifeless, a complete waste of time and money.
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things (Audiophile Vinyl Reissue)
"My Favorite Things" is one of the best known albums with John Coltrane as the leader. I'd name another of his LPs for the top spot, but this one certainly isn't far off. I assume, everyone who is even a tiny bit interested in Mr. Coltrane's work, owns a copy of this release already, be it on Vinyl or on CD (or Tape and Reel to Reel). Every decent household owns one issue at least.
This here is a double LP (just the regular tracklisting, no bonus tracks) at 45RPM, with one track per side. It's a bit like playing 7"s, you're constantly on the move, changing sides. It does take away from the listening pleasure, but ... this is an audiophile pressing from an 1960/1961 album, that's worth the cash. At around EUR 70.00 not a cheapo, but money well spent. Just let me point out, pressed by Pallas Germany and mastered by Bernie Grundman from original analog tapes. I bet, there's not a single digital step in between. This should have you salivating right now.
I admit, buying such a top of the line product is not just about music, it's the whole package. And by package I don't mean fancy packaging with gimmicks galore. It's quality I want in such a case. So, what do you get? The full album, obviously, and it focuses on music and music alone. The gatefold cover is excellent, but there's no extra service points to be awarded.
The 2 LPs (or rather 12" platters) are pressed on 180g Vinyl (not that it matters much, wether 140g or 200g, this is all the same in terms of quality). 180g and 200g is a marketing tool with no real additional value. Nice to have, but that's about it. Both 12"s are flat as can be and the centre hole is not off to any side. You might laugh now, but the sad truth is, this happens quite often and I do understand folks who won't put up with subquality releases anymore.
These 1960 recordings (as mentioned above, released one year later) stem from different sessions and were not really audiophile material in the first place. It's this early 60's recording technique, which doesn't really let the music breathe. There's always a bit of a fog on the soundscape. Not that one is really concerned about it, but it can be heard. Certainly not 21st century HiFi. Where did Bernie Grundman head with this remaster? I don't really know, there's still a layer of grease and grime on the music (so to speak) and you do realise, that it's been recorded more than 50 years ago. The master and the cut has certainly been made to bring out the best in Vinyl and this is the real reason of existence for this LP.
The 12"s are quiet and there's no background noise to be heard and no clicks and pops either. Side 1 "My Favorite Things" (13:41), side 3 "Summertime" (11:31) and side 4 "But Not For Me" (9:35) leave you perfectly happy. Crisp bass, well defined piano and drums and a leader with a saxophone that let's it shine through, why John Coltrane is even today a name you have to check, when talking about Jazz in the latter half of the 20th century.
That's side one, three and four taken care of. Initially I thought there's something wrong with side 2. "Everytime We Say Goodbye" (5:39) seemed to have been plagued by distortion. Either a bad pressing or dust being dragged along by the needle. Of course, that was bullshit, since I had cleaned the needle, made sure there wasn't a speck of dust on the platter and yet, the piano and the bass both suffered. The piano and the bass sounded like they were badly tuned and the strings much to loose, resulting in a "dirty" overall reception to the ears. I mean, you'd have to be tonedeaf not to hear this. The drums fell out a bit as well, interference being the word of the day. The saxophone seemed o.k., more or less. Looked like I had bought a 25 % bad copy (which is deadly for an audiophile record).
I didn't think it was my set up (Ortofon OM 20, Technics SL-1210M3D, Denon PMA-1500R and Infinity RSM), especially since the equipment played 3 sides without a fault. However, I did remember that I have an old test record where my cartridge/tonearm combination barely made it through. Considering that this is the shortest track, I assume Bernie Grundman had the least worries cutting this side at extreme physical levels. I believe, my equipment was just shown its limits. So, you better make sure your HiFi is up to scratch when you decide to buy this legendary LP in this edition. Well worth every Euro.
I don't really have a top ten (or top onehundred) of my favourite songs. There's too many good songs and I happen to forget a lot of them after a while. Of course, when I kind of rediscover them, I know exactly why this certain track is in my spotlight. Hank Ray's "Everybody's Into Rock'n'Roll" is different. Either I can't remember the guy's name or I can't find the CD and have to do with a clip on YouTube.
The video should be widescreen viewing, though. Cheeky bit of footage, excellent transformation of the song. "Everybody's Into Rock'n'Roll" has me kind of dancing through the flat every time I hear it and since I happened to find the CD in my collection quite accidentally today, this song has been playing a couple of times.
There's a few things to be said about this track. First, Hank Ray sounds like a Johnny Cash on half mast and second, this is no Rock'n'Roll at all. If I'm not completely mistaken, this is more of a Waltz. I think I get the joke. If you want to buy this one, it can be found on "Mainstream Death Country", a CD that's a couple of years old. You might have to do some searching. And there's some more excellent songwiting to be found on this album.
Utrecht Mega Record & CD Fair November 2014 - Part 2 Here are two more remarkable items I've found at the Utrecht Mega Record & CD Fair this year. I already had a beat up copy of the original U.K. release, plus an original German Vertigo copy and the Repertoire release (and the CD version, of course). This is a first release U.K. copy that comes as close to mint as possible. It didn't come cheap though. First thing I did upon returning home, getting rid of the thrashed U.K. sleeve I had already in my collection and turning the German original Vertigo platter into a frisbee. So, now, I have this m/m first release U.K. copy, a m-/m- Repertoire release and a strange first release U.K. vinyl matched to a first release German Vertigo sleeve (and the CD of course)
And this here: I've been looking for this LP for forever and a day. I have my uncensored playing copy, a stone mint archive copy and the CD of course. The censored version eluded me for decades. All that ever seemed for sale were vg/vg copies at best. This here is as mint as can be and an excellent companion to my regular archive copy. The price was o.k. too, in fact, quite a bargain at EUR 120.00
In case you're wondering what the censoring bit is here, below is the original version.
Utrecht Mega Record & CD Fair November 2014 - Part 1
Just back from this event. Bought a ton of LPs and 7"s, including some beauties. As usual at record fairs, the Dr. Feelgood/Wilko Johnson related stuff was a bit thin on the ground. This is not just the Utrecht Mega Record & CD Fair, but at about every other event as well, you come up empty handed each and every time. Just goes to prove my theory, that Dr. Feelgood/Wilko Johnson is not a "collectable" band/artist. Do I care about this? I mean, except for the fact that there is never really anything on offer? Not really, I'm a lucky guy not collecting the likes of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones (or Queen etc.), thus avoiding getting into an infight with collectors worldwide about a "rare" record (sutch as the butcher cover, of which there are thousands upon thousands out there). I'm baking smaller bread.
This one, I don't know what it is and what Wilko Johnson is doing here. Sounds like announcements at a rally (I remember there was a handwritten sticker on the outer sleeve saying Amnesty). Whatever, I have no clue. Information is very much appreciated, if anyone knows more about this 7". I do guess it's a bootleg though.
I paid dearly for this one, just to find later, that I owned it already. Dutch release. Although it's in better condition than my other copy. And just to think I checked my collection on the smartphone before buying this ...
This one didn't come cheap either, but the actual 7" is a stock copy (which I already own), so there's not a lot to cheer, because of one self made radio station sleeve. Don't know where my head was, when I shelled the cash out for this one.
Just saw a rerelease of this CD today in a shop nearby. It's on Jungle FREUDCD026, "Made In The EC", comes with a clear inner tray and the inlay (the part facing you when you open the jewel case, shows Wilko holding a guitar and a barbed wire running on the left side. The rest is the same as previously issued and I should think, that the songs are a one to one copy of what we've got before. There's probably no new mastering, which is fine with me. I don't need to adjust my hearing aid just because some sound engineer took artistic liberties with the album.
