This past Saturday I had a little free time in the afternoon so I thought, hey, why not paw my way through some used records? Off to the local used vinyl emporium I went.
Second only to the smell of books in a used bookstore, the vinyl greeted me with a scrumptious eau-de-Black Circle. Over the years I've spent a ton of time flipping my way through records...and there's something about the smell of 'em that dredges up memories of my youth. Anyway, enough with the nostalgia stuff. Lemme get on to the loot.
Close To The Edge - Yes
I've never owned this before, either on CD or vinyl. Though I usually prefer live versions of things, it's nice to hear Siberian Khatru in its original form. Oh yea, and the sound is so much better than the digital versions I've heard.
In And Out Of Focus - Focus
70's Dutch progressive rock at it's finest (hmmm, doesn't that sound like a car commericial? "...and a rear passenger space with the most foot room in its class") Everybody remembers them for the 'hit' song "Hocus Pocus" (which reminds me of that tune by The Darkness). They sort of disappeared after that.
Sunburst Finish - BeBop Deluxe
Bill Nelson (did he make the Rolling Stone list?) played some fantastic guitar way back when. If you can find a copy of this (big 'if' there) check out the song "Crying To The Sky", which reminds me of Prince's "Purple Rain" by way of Jimi Hendrix.
8:30 - Weather Report
Easily my favorite Weather Report record. The live "Birdland" kills.
It Takes A Year - Will Ackerman
Can't get enough of the three amigos of "New Age" guitar: Michael Hedges, Alex DeGrassi and Will Ackerman.
Expectations - Keith Jarrett
Jarrett in a modern jazz setting. You can't go wrong with Charlie Haden and Dewey Redman either.
Les Chants Magnetiques - Jean Michel Jarre
Jarre's first recording using digital synthesizers. Not as good as Oxygene, Equinoxe or Zoolook...but nothing beats those records.
Just As I Thought - Davis Sancious
Keyboard and piano player on the early Springsteen records. I've got another solo piano record of his and it's mighty fine. Being the Springsteen completist that I am, just hadta pick this one up.
Body Meta - Ornette Coleman
Score! Any Ornette release on vinyl is a cause for celebration in my book. This one features Prime Time at their funkiest. Guitarist Bern Nix really mixes it up with scratchy rhythms and tangled leads.
Encore - Tangerine Dream
These guys have, like, a million records out there. I've always wondered what a group like this would do in a live setting. I guess I'll find out.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
What a great haul! classic BeBop Deluxe, maybe their best - grotesquely under-known and -appreciated. Nice Mark, thanks!
2 - Mark Saleski
yesiree, i was very happy with that trip.
while listening to Sunburst Finish i did wonder why those cuys werent' more popular.
3 - Eric Olsen
I love Nelson's later, ambient stuff as well.
The rest of your haul is also excellent.