A trip to the record store and a few record reviews.

Well, today I made my way over to the record store.  After all, I simply don't have enough albums.  Don't believe me?  Just ask my wife, she'll tell you.  When I get to a record store I always have a checklist in my mind of records that I am looking for.  They start with records that I have been looking for for a long time that I don't own.  Then I am looking for records that will replace ones that are "worn out" or that the pressing just didn't sound very good.  After that, I am just looking for something that looks interesting or that I had heard about but never picked up.

So today's trip was to Tom's Music Trade over in Red Lion, PA.  I love that place and Tom is easily one of the nicest guys that you will ever meet.  Wanna talk vinyl, this is the mecca of vinyl.  Back in high school I lived in Virginia and frequented a place called Penguin Feather.  It was a really great place to hang out, buy records, listen to records and well heck, just talk about records.  Tom's Music Trade is just like that.  He has thousands of records on the floor but I would guess he probably has that many over again in stock that he doesn't have the space to show.  I have gone to some record shops and they may have a couple of thousand records but they never have anything new on the floor.  Tom is always looking for more records.  He is a real record store.

Anyway, enough of the free plug.  So I had 2 targets on my list today and maybe 5 others that were I'd like to have if I find them but since a few of them I haven't found in years I wasn't holding my breath.
I have been looking for a replacement for my Bruce Springsteen The River album for years and while they are actually out there and for the most part readily available, because it was such a popular record and was often handled by kids, most of the copies that are available are really worn and not worth the few bucks that people are asking.  Well less than 2 minutes into my perusal of the record bins what do I find?  Bruce Springsteen's The River, new, unopened first pressing.  WOW!  Successful trip!  I couldn't believe my luck so I am thinking okay I probably won't find anything else that I am looking for.  So then I think, well I am looking for Genesis' Wind & Wuthering and Selling England By The Pound.  What are the chances that I can find both in good shape if at all.  After all, both were released when Genesis was a real progressive band before there pop years; which I think they were brilliant as a pop band too, I just prefer their progressive rock years.  I would have been happy to find just one.  I bought a copy of Selling England By The Pound several years ago and it was an ok buy but the record had been handled quite a bit and you could tell.  So, to my absolute delight I found both!  I paid $12 for just Selling England By The Pound a few years ago but today I picked up both for a grand total of $5.  I was thinking, oh boy.  These are going to sound like I'm playing a pizza on my turntable.  NOPE!  Both are clean and good copies!  Life is good.  Surely I won't find anything else that I have been looking for right?  WRONG!

I am a closet Pete Townsend fan, I think his song writing is brilliant and his musicianship speaks for itself.  One of my top albums of all time is White City, he was pure genius on that record.  So I have a CD of his All Of The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes. I love this CD because of how different it is.  I mean it is a lot different than everything else he has done before.  It is far more pop like.  It is also a CD that I can listen to start to finish not get tired of.  So I always wanted the album but I have never found it anywhere.  Well, Tom had it (of course) for the whopping price of a buck.  Again, I am thinking a dollar record when I haven't been able to find it anywhere else, it is going to sound awful!  Nope, sounds EXCELLENT!  Once again, Tom is golden.

So now I am ready to head out and I get to thinking, my copy of the Moody Blues Days of Future Past is a bit worn.  Wonder if there is a better copy than I have.  So, not to be disappointed there it was and for $2.  I know that he is making money at what he is doing, not sure how because his prices are so low but heck, he seems to be doing ok.  Oh, and I put it on the turntable and it sounds great!  Once again.

So I have saved the best of my finds for last.  For this one we have to go back to 1971.  That was the year that one of my top 3 favorite records was released.  That was the year that the new band called Wings formed and released their debut album called Wild Life.  It was panned by much of the musical establishment.  I don't see how they didn't like it then because here we are 40 years later and I still think it is pure musical genius, and here is the brilliance of not only Paul McCartney but the whole band.  5 of the 8 songs were done on the first take.  It was recorded live in the studio with the best recording engineer to ever grace a studio: none other than Alan Parsons. He put the magic in to the Dark Side of the Moon and I think that he breathed life into Wild Life.  My dad bought Wild Life for me and it was probably the 5th record that I had ever owned.  Somewhere over time it went missing; until today.  I have been sad for probably 20 years that I didn't have that record and every record store that I go into I always take a peek to see if they have it.  So, the record that I have coveted for the past 20 years or so I picked up today for whopping grand total of $3.  I will admit that I came home, went straight to the turntable, put it on and just listened, twice.  I think that I may have to take another listen later, a few more times.  It was Wings at their best and probably least commercial.  How can anyone not listen and marvel at the songwriting?  From the first beat of Mumbo you hear the heart of the Beatles. and Bip Bop sounds like something that could have been recorded in a barn at the end of a dirt road in 1920's Alabama.  Alan Parsons captured the essence of the song and dirtied it up as only he could.  Love Is Strange is one of the coolest swinging grooves of that era or well actually, any era.  Danny Seiwell laid down one of the coolest and funkiest grooves to what is in my opinion one of the songs that is probably one of the toughest to cover because everyone expects to hear Mickey & Sylvia's kind of easy beat.  Denny is far to funky for that and thank heavens for that!  The harmonies on this song are also classic Wings and when you listen to all of their albums it is a hallmark of their brand.  That said, this song was recorded in just one take.  Listen to that song with everything going on in it and you will instantly see why I call it one of the 3 best albums I have ever owned. My dad once said to me, Kevin (because that is my name) you can listen to this record and hear the difference between John Lennon's wife and Paul McCarney's wife.  Linda has talent, Yoko has none.  I challenge everyone to prove me wrong.  Linda was such a strong presence on this record with not just her abilities on keyboards but also her backing vocals.  She doesn't sound like a cat in heat (like Yoko), she just sounds hot.  Dear Friend is in my opinion the greatest song to end an album.  When I listen to that song, it really sums up the band.  Wings was just a bunch of friends having a lot of fun.  This song outlines enduring great friendships.

I guess to round out my trip to the record store I had to pick up an album that is universally loved.  James Taylor's JT called my name as I walked passed it.  I have the record but I bought it in a used bin many many years ago.  It was in pretty heinous shape then and I have never really played it which is a shame because I really love that album.  I saw it today for a dollar and picked it up.  It is in far better condition than the one that I had so I am very happy about that.  It isn't in perfect condition but after a really good cleaning I can play it and be quite satisfied with my $1 purchase.

 So, my trip to the record store today far exceeded my expectations.  If you can't tell, I love Tom's Music Trade.  If you are in the south Central PA, Northern Maryland area please check out his store.  You will not be disappointed.  If you are outside of our area, he is on the web at www.tomesmusictrade.com.  If you have a record that you are really looking hard for give him a call.  He will take a look to see if he has it, 717-246-5712.  Finding quality record dealers that truly understand records is so hard to find.  Lots of people sell them few can actually talk about them.  Tom can. 

Dunnys Music Blog: Move Like This by The Cars - Groovetown

Dunnys Music Blog: Move Like This by The Cars - Groovetown: "Move Like This by The Cars - Groovetown Okay so I waited for25 years for the Cars to release a new album and here it is! The best part is..."

Move Like This by The Cars - Groovetown

Move Like This by The Cars - Groovetown

Okay so I waited for25 years for the Cars to release a new album and here it is!  The best part is that it is available on FLAC, CD and Vinyl!  Yep, you heard right, Vinyl.  Contrary to popular belief you can still get a lot of new releases on that black plasticy delicate form of media from days gone by.  As you will learn by reading my blog over time, I love the sound of analog.  CD's while convenient sound far to sterile to me.  The fullness of analog is lost in the "precision" of digital.  Don't believe me?  Take a listen to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon an pop on The Great Gig In The Sky.  The CD sounds over processed and lacking any warmth or depth while the album sounds full and lifelike.  Better yet, put on John Mayer's Room For Squares and take a listen to no Such Thing.  The acoustic guitar that starts the song is full of tone and you can actually hear the warmth of the body of the guitar on vinyl.  The CD and download versions are theoretically dynamically better.  Theoretically the Baltimore Orioles could win the World Series this year.  Sure you have to be a little more careful with your music when you are playing records but they aren't delicate flowers either.  Norah Jones released Her album the Fall in 2009.  I bought it on CD and was immediately disappointed.  Everything sounded so compressed and over produced.  Her voice didn't have that wonderful smokiness that was evident on her other albums.  So, I bought the vinyl version and WHAM! There it was, everything in her beautiful voice was back.  The album sounds so full and clear with no compression.  Chasing Pirates gave my Fisher #66 speakers from 1969 a workout like I have never heard before.  The low end of that song reminded me of what a CD or any other electronic form of music can never do.  Reproduce full detail at low frequencies with a fullness and clarity that can only be accomplished by a diamond needle moving across a groove on a record.  Death Cab For Cutie Just released their new album on vinyl and I hope to get a copy soon.  As for the above mention Cars record, well fathers days is rapidly approaching (hint hint).  I have listened to Move Like This on Napster and I have to say that anyone that was a Cars fan back in the 70s and 80s will absolutely love this record.  Isn't amazing how a band that spent so much time away from each other can almost effortlessly produce something that sounds as good as this album does?  Perhaps it is because they  aren't a band assembled to write hit songs and sell records for the short term.  The Cars were and are a great band of musicians that perform music that they have ownership of.  They aren't a manufactured band that is filling a nice for a record label.  If you have Napster (which I highly recommend) then take a listen to the album all the way through.  If not, well I recommend that you get it and then listen to the album.  I love this album, let me know what you think of it.  I think the ultimate though would be to pull out your record players, buy the album on vinyl and hear the Cars the way they were 25 years ago, in analog with a wonderfully full sound!

If you don't know where to buy your albums just ask me.  I have dozens of sites that I'll share with you.  If you have committed the sin of getting rid of your turntable, just click the Amazon link at the bottom of my blog and you can buy one there.

So where has the music I love gone?

Well, I'm not going to hide it, not gonna run from it.  In fact, I am going to stand up and be proud of it.  I love the pop music from the 80s!  Huey Lewis and the News, the Go-Gos, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Toto, Tears for Fears, the Cars, Journey, the Bangles, INXS, Howard Jones, Richard Marx, Duran Duran (my wife's favorite band), Men at Work and Christopher Cross to name a very few are bands that were fun to listen to but it seems that in an era of get out new records (yes I said records and will talk about that in another post) and CDs that the music has suffered.  Now I am not going to say that there hasn't been any good music since the 80s.  That would be assinine to even suggest but in my opinion music has for the most part been watered down.  I think that there are some great pop artists out there now, Jason Mraz, Freshlyground (they will get their own blog post later), Bruno Mars, the Plain White T's and Sara Bareilles are a few current artists that I really like and think are pop.  But it seems like the pop genre is or has died.  To me pop music is for the most part non political, doesn't pick a side in social issues of if it does it is an issue that when you see it it is obvious what the right point is.  It also has really good musicianship, the song writing is outstanding and the performers are so good that you just can't wait to see them perform live.  To me that is pop music.  Not degrading any one person, group or segment of society.  I mean when I listen to Toto's Make Believe I don't think of calling a woman a "ho" or when I listen to Tears for Fears Everybody Wants to Rule the World I don't think about shooting a police officer.  When I hear Lionel Richie sing about Dancing On the Ceiling I don't think of smoking crack and getting fall down drunk.  Maybe it is just old man in me but it just seems to me that our societal ills can be traced back to the very music that the music industry says has no influence on.  Really?  Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, Richie Havens, Joan Baez, County Joe and the Fish and other popular 70s anti war artists helped to bring an end to the Vietnam war.  Music doesn't influence popular culture?  I mean Really?  Well, pop music to me isn't Lady Gaga (I honestly have no idea what she is),  Adele, Katy Perry, New Boyz, Cee Lo Green, Kenny Chesney, Lil Wayne or the Black Eyed Peas.  They all have their genres but they aren't pop music to me.  Certainly not the type of pop music that I enjoyed when I was a kid and definitely not the kind I listen to now.  Truth be told, radio lost me years ago, thank heavens for Napster and their music service (that will probably be its own blog post later too).

So, while it may seem like a long winded ramble and diatribe against everything that some may find popular now, it is MY long winded ramble and diatribe.  I don't care what you may think about it.  Like it or not, they are my opinions.  Anyway, I intend to always offer a playlist for every post and so below is my playlist for this one.  Thanks for taking a minute to read this and well, listen to good music, not the stuff record labels and radio programmers tell you is good stuff.  Explore for yourself and find bands that inspire you.

Huey Lewis & the News - Do You Believe In Love
Hall & Oates - Out of Touch
Toto - Make Believe
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
the Cars - Drive
Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling
Men at Work - Down Under
the Bangles - Manic Monday
Christopher Cross - Ride Like the Wind
Howard Jones - Life in One Day
INXS - What You Need
Duran Duran - Rio
Rod Steward - Love Touch
Kenny Loggins - Don't Fight It
Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom
Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al
Squeeze - Tempted
the Pretenders - Brass In Pocket

So what is my blog page about you ask? Well read it and find out.

So my whole life I have loved music.  As an army brat, the one constant that I had as a kid was music.  No matter where our next duty station took us, when I had to make all new friends every 3 years or so music was always there.  Always my friend.  So, my blog will be about that music that I grew up with, what I liked, music that saw me through good times and bad, the music of my memories.  You may not like my view but frankly I don't care.  Start your own blog.  I'm talk my opinions here not yours.  SO, there it is.  Dunny's Music Blog is just that, MY music blog.  I hope to get people to think about music is different terms.  Give you some ideas and hopefully some humor, what you get out of my blog is up to you. 

Well, enjoy my posts (or not) and let me know what you think (I have thick skin).  I wasn't an english major and my wife is to busy to edit my posts so just deal with it.  Oh, and smile.  It ticks off the angry people of the world and makes everyone else wonder what you have been up to!