Monday, 16 May 2011

33s and 45s


It's been said that talking about music is like dancing about architecture. That being the case I'd best dig out my tap shoes: a week on Wednesday my local is having a vinyl show and tell evening. With a proper Dansette turntable promised, I've got just over a week to dig out some platters and put forward a case for my choices. On the surface you'd think selecting your favourite records would be like shooting fish in a barrel, but when you've got a collection with hundreds of singles (7" and 12") EPs, albums, double albums, triple albums (step forward Paul McCartney), just getting a shortlist together will probably mean several evenings of burning the midnight oil.

It promises to be a great night and not just because of the top choons which will no doubt be played at full tilt. I'm also looking forward to the stories that go with them. I know that most of my hits and misses will have a back story: how I discovered that artist, have I seen them live, where I bought the record, how much it cost, the label it came out on, the bag it came in (or is that just me!), whether or not it got taken to parties - each record has it's own unique DNA. It's early days to tell you what I'll be taking but I'd be very surprised if there wasn't some early 70s glam rock, some classic 60s 'B' sides (Beatles, Who, Stones, Kinks, Hollies) maybe some Northern Soul. Or it may just be Never Mind The Bollocks. Sides 1 and 2.

I'll report back with my final runners and riders next week.

In the meantime, feel free to let me know what you'd pick - and why.

Wreckless Eric: 33s & 45s

on

24 comments:

  1. Phil Ashcroft16 May 2011 at 20:53

    Very evocative John. I had a Dansette in my bedroom as a teenager. Ah! sitting there in the lotus position listening to early Pink Floyd & the ISB. I never nostalgia to turn out like this.

    Ta for the Green Man Link.

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  2. Löst Jimmy16 May 2011 at 22:18

    Sounds like a fantastic evening; just my cup of tea to sit and give some background to acquiring the vinyl. Enjoy the night

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  3. Gerry Snape16 May 2011 at 22:29

    Ah yes... a Dansette and the Beatles and I'm back in the wee front bedroom in my own world!

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  4. Hawkfall16 May 2011 at 22:53

    "early 70s glam rock, some classic 60s 'B' sides (Beatles, Who, Stones, Kinks, Hollies) maybe some Northern Soul."

    I'm there. What are you drinking?

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  5. John Medd16 May 2011 at 23:44

    Phil/Gerry: Aah, the sanctuary of the teenager's bedroom!

    Jimmy/Thumper: Yes indeed, should be a good night. In answer to your question T - Leeds Best!

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  6. Furtheron17 May 2011 at 09:26

    very few 45s left in the cupboard - they all went years ago I'm afraid... however 33s are more prevalent.... Off the top of my head it would be...

    Jimi Hendrix - Axis Bold as Love (Spanish Castle Magic)
    Supertramp - Crime of the Century - School
    King Crimson - Beat - Heartbeat
    Status Quo - Blue for You - Rain

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  7. Mondo17 May 2011 at 11:16

    How many plays do you get? Working on the Podrophenia units system - my five would possibly be

    The Monkees - Stepping Stone:

    1 from the This is Sue - comp - Jimmy McGriff possibly

    Either The Faces - You're So Rude, Small Faces Song of a Baker, The Stones Monkey Man or one from this lot

    Bowie - Joe The Lion/John I'm Only Dancing (sax version)/See Emily Play

    Ian Dury - Rythm Stick

    You've got a strong opener and closer and mix of singles,styles album cuts,covers bankers and oddities All were made to 'punch through' on trannie radios and sound great on vinyl and budget decks.

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  8. John Medd17 May 2011 at 12:15

    F - You've gone for a chin stroking selection I see? I draw the line at Supertramp - no room to go into it here, but I'd rather John Cage's 4'- 33" of silence.

    M - That's a strong hand, make no mistake. Bowie's definitely getting a run out, but which of his incarnations remains to be seen. Where do you stand on David Live btw?

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  9. Simon17 May 2011 at 12:18

    Tough choices, but I think I'd be going for something like this:

    Iron Maiden - Stranger In A Strange Land (Somewhere In Time or 12" single). First metal I bought.

    The Police - Visions Of The Night (Walking On The Moon B-side).

    Falco - The Sound Of Musik (Rock & Soul Extended Version) (12" single) - purely for length and discussion on who gets namechecked in the song.

    Ozric Tentacles - Kick Muck (Pungent Effulgent album track).

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  10. John Medd17 May 2011 at 12:58

    Mmmm...The Ozric Tentacles; as nothing stronger than a selection of Yorkshire Ales will be taken I'm not sure if The Sun is ready for The Ozrics!

    Thanks to everyone who's got in touch, I knew I could count on you for a genuine scatter-gun collection! If it goes well, and there's no reason why it shouldn't, then I'm hoping it will become a monthly fixture.

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  11. Mondo17 May 2011 at 14:00

    David Live - patchy and not what it wants to be. But love the Cracked Actor doco. Have you heard Dodo, an out-take from Diamond Dogs? Beauty and The Beast, Stay - Scary Monsters even, an overlooked corker. Anything but the 80s and beyond and you're safe.

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  12. Anonymous18 May 2011 at 10:26

    That sounds like a great night out!, be sure to let us know how it goes.
    I think I would throw some crooners into the mix, marry up lovely with the crackly sound of the Dansette.

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  13. Furtheron18 May 2011 at 12:01

    nothing like and eclectic selection.... what's wrong with Supertramp? I meet this resistance a lot. Okay crappy lyrics and times and pappy tunes at others (mostly on the Rick Davis numbers) but some of their stuff I thought brilliant. Still it takes all sorts doesn't it

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  14. John Medd19 May 2011 at 10:01

    Furtheron: 'Crappy lyrics and pappy tunes.' Is that a case for the prosecution or the defence?

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  15. Kolley Kibber20 May 2011 at 14:53

    I'd take my cherished copy of 'Violence Grows' by the Fatal Microbes, just to see if anyone would have a go at dancing to it.

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  16. Coop20 May 2011 at 23:14

    1. Hot Burrito #1 - Flying Burrito Brothers
    2. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais - The Clash
    3. Pay To Cum - Bad Brains
    4. Debris - The Faces
    5. Sweet Gene Vincent - Ian Dury

    They could be completely different tomorrow but that's what I'd pick tonight. No explanation really they're just brilliant songs that I never get bored of listening to.

    New podcast live today featuring some more fantastic vinyl, get in quick, we'll all be victims of the rapture by tomorrow.

    http://polyvinylcraftsmen.blogspot.com/2011/05/transmission-12.html

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  17. Do You Do Any Wings?23 May 2011 at 12:13

    I know this, as I did a vinyl night at our local a few years ago. Simple Minds 'Love Song', Green on Red 'Time Ain't Nothing', Robert Palmer 'No, Not Much' and The Beat Farmers 'Gun Sale at The Church' and 'Sonic Boom Boy' by Westworld (12" version). They ceased the experiment shortly after that for some reason and put on a quiz night.

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  18. Captain Sketchy26 May 2011 at 15:43

    Ooh, tricky... let's see...
    Up the Junction - Squeeze
    Magnetic Fields pt 2 - Jean-Michel Jarre (much better than the album mix)
    Telephone Operator 12" - Pete Shelley

    Those were three which were played to death but, blimey, I could list about 200, they all meant/still mean so much to me.

    Incidentally my little mono turntable had 4 settings - 78, 45, 33 and 16 rpm. 16? WTF? (I used to play stuff like Oxygene and the Dr Who theme at 16, probably what gave me a taste for Eno in later life!)

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  19. John Medd26 May 2011 at 17:01

    Didn't Stiff Records have a strap line back in the day that went: In '78 everyone born in '45 will be 33.

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  20. Stephen Morris27 May 2011 at 12:20

    Hi John, thanks for the comment. Enjoying your blog too and have linked to it from This River Never Will Run Dry. Would be great if you could link back.

    Looking forward to hear about your choices for vinyl show-and-tell.

    All the best, Stephen.

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  21. John Medd27 May 2011 at 17:33

    Just to round this post off - the night was a resounding success. Nearly everyone who came to the pub on Wednesday had a bag full of records under their arm. There was stuff from most genres and most decades, though the 70s probably shaded it (not surprisingly).

    So these are the platters the Medds were spinning (I was joined by the current Mrs M, The Number One Son and his Fair Maiden):

    The Who: I Can't Explain
    Stephen Stills: Old Times Good Times
    Oscar Peterson: C Jam Blues
    Dr Feelgood: Milk & Alcohol
    Some Chicken: Arabian Daze
    Paul McCartney: C Moon
    The Beatles: I Should Have Known Better

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  22. Toast29 May 2011 at 09:45

    I've only heard two of 'em! I've no doubt they are all good though.
    No vinyl nights in this one horse town and as a misanthrope I wont be startiing one.
    However...

    T-Rex - Metal Guru
    Slade - Cum on feel the noise
    Glitter Band - Angel Face
    Sweet - Hellraiser
    Gary Glitter - I love you love me love

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  23. John Medd29 May 2011 at 12:54

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. John Medd29 May 2011 at 12:58

    Toast Boy - Funnily enough Metal Guru was played within the first hour. And I'd brought Rock and Roll Pts 1 & 2, but we ran out of time. Blockbuster will feature next month, for sure.

    The 70s were well represented (as I said earlier) and glam will always feature heavily if I've got anything to do with it!

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