| Author | Message | ||
     Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1924 Registered: 01-2005 |
After a near eighteen year retirement, my 1974 Dual 701 turntable is back in action! Upgrades include a new cartridge, heavier solid walnut base, gold tip leads and a new ground wire. First vinyl album played: Tom Verlaine - Dreamtime | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 802 Registered: 10-2008 |
sounds great michael. an lp in good condition, played on a decent set up, normally outperforms a cd. after nearly a month i'm still waiting for my new cartridge to arrive. in preparation i picked up very good condition copies of rem's fables of the reconstruction and an orange label copy of bowie's aladdin sane - £10 in total for the two of them. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1928 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kevin, I can't believe how great the sound is. I'm currently listening to Lou's Street Hassle, and it kicks bootay! I've got around 700 or so vinyl albums, so I've got plenty of albums to play even though I stopped buying vinyl albums around 1986. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1503 Registered: 08-2006 |
I salute your first candidate for a play on the reincarnated turntable, Michael. I haven't had a turntable since 1995, and have very little vinyl, but, oddly, I do have LP copies of both "Dreamtime" and "Street Hassle." Weird, eh? | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1931 Registered: 01-2005 |
Rob, Yes, very weird. I find it hard to believe that a decent "Street Hassle" cd has yet to be released. It's easily in my top five favorite post VU Lou albums. The third album I listened to was Marianne Faithfull - "Broken English". | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 815 Registered: 10-2008 |
michael. do you have bowie's aladdin sane on vinyl?this has always been a terrific sounding album even when i had a crap hifi in my teens. played my copy last night on headphones and it just sounded fantastic, it has the stamp of ken scott all over it. he co-produced ,mixed, and engineered it. i think randy is a fan of his work? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2466 Registered: 03-2005 |
Actually, Kevin, I'm not familiar with his work (though I do have Hunky Dory). I thought I associated the name with a mid-60s British Decca engineer but checking Wikipedia I see that is wrong because he worked at Abbey Road rather than Decca. He apparently did some work with the Hollies but I don't know what and most of the artists Wikipedia associates him with are people I wouldn't be likely to listen to. What little of "Alladin Sane" I've heard does sound very open and dynamic. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2467 Registered: 03-2005 |
Oops, misspelled "Aladdin." Is anybody else having problems with the server constantly losing their username and password? It's suddenly happening to me today. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 816 Registered: 10-2008 |
yep, i thought it was just me randy with the password problem. who was the producer you were praising in bowie's early work if not ken scott? | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1936 Registered: 01-2005 |
I'm still having the password problem! Kevin, After checking my A-B record crate, I find that the only Bowie album I have on vinyl is "Scary Monsters". I forgot that I had The Blue Nile's "Walk Across The Rooftops" on vinyl! Also located at the end of the B's in my A-B crate is Bow Wow Wow's "See Jungle", and Black Uhuru's "Red", "Sinsemilla" and "Anathem" albums. I trying to remember what possessed me to buy "The Best of Bread"!! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2469 Registered: 03-2005 |
Kevin, I was talking about Tony Visconti. Shel Talmy also did a little bit of early Bowie but I don't think I mentioned him since his involvement was brief. Michael, I'm not going to disclose some of the dreck I still have in vinyl form. Usually it will be defunct romantic relationships that explains the rubbish. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1506 Registered: 08-2006 |
I'm glad you guys are having this username/password problem, too. I updated my software today and thought that was causing the problem but clearly not. It's been so long since I had to enter my username and password I had to go into the archives to retrieve them. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2048 Registered: 10-2004 |
Funny, I have always had to re-enter my username and password every single time I make a post for the entire time that I've been coming to this board. Is this not normal? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2049 Registered: 10-2004 |
Nice to see people other than me playing vinyl, by the way! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2470 Registered: 03-2005 |
Jeff, I never had to enter my name & password until this weekend, so my experience is like Rob's. Odd. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1938 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jeff, Maybe I'll start buying some of the new 180g and 200g vinyl albums. I forgot I've got some decent raggae albums on vinyl, although not a heck of a lot by Bob Marley or Peter Tosh: The Abyssinians - Forward Mutaburuka - Check It! Black Slate - Rasta Festival Steel Pulse - True Democracy Eek-A-Mouse - Wa-Do-Dem Thomas Mapfumo - Ndanarino Burnring Spear - Marcus Garvey Toots & the Maytals - Funky Kingston Black Uhuru - Red Black Uhuru - Sinsemilla Black Uhuru - Anthem Peter Tosh - Wanted: Dead or Alive Bob Marley and The Wailers - Live | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 828 Registered: 10-2008 |
finally! my new cartridge arrived today. what a difference its made to the performance of my deck, although the last cartridge was a budget model which did the job but seemed a bit bright for my tastes. read some stuff on the 'net that reckons that styluses have a burn in period and sound better with repeated spins. i would have thought by their very nature it would be deterioration from day one. anybody got a theory on this? been playing bowie - lodger culture - africa stand alone bowie - station to station electronic - electronic gregory issacs - cool ruler joy division - unknown pleasures rem - fables of the reconstruction | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2056 Registered: 10-2004 |
Some great records there. What kind of cartridge did you get, Kevin? | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 829 Registered: 10-2008 |
a goldring 1006. cost £120. small beer to serious audiophiles i guess, but would probably make non music enthusiasts shake their head in disbelief :-) my last cartridge was a budget £35 goldring elian, the cartridge before that came with the turntable and was a reson aciore. i bought the turntable in the mid 90's and the guy told me the cartridge was worth about the same price as the turntable. this was pre internet so i had no idea if he was telling the truth. just done a search on the aciore just now, it cost £360!! jesus, for a needle to skim over a piece of plastic! what cartridge you got yourself jeff? just playing aladdin sane just now. the detail is amazing, the title track just sounds crazy. the bass and piano section out of this world. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2057 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin, I've got an Audio Technica AT-440MLa (affixed to both of my turntables), which I absolutely love. It's a microline stylus, which reaches deeper into the grooves (without damaging them), so it picks up tons of detail, and it tracks really well. So well that it eliminates inner groove distortion and sibilance. These things run about $150. I'll never buy a different cart for as long as they're making these things. I've heard good things about Goldrings, though I've never owned or heard one. I've got a clean, 70s pressing of Aladdin Sane, and yeah, it sounds amazing. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 830 Registered: 10-2008 |
thats interesting jeff. i noticed that some albums i was playing last night sounded less crackly in places(especially between tracks, and in the quiet passages) than i remembered and thought i must be imagining it. so a decent cartridge/stylus can do that? can you recommend any cleaning kits for vinyl and the stylus? its years since i played vinyl seriously but i definetely have the bug again so i guess i should do things properly :-) its just a pity new vinyl is so expensive. i was in hmv the other week, and what little vinyl they had was between £15-20. at the wilco gig on thursday the merchandise stall was selling the latest album for £20.if an album was £10-12 i would go down the vinyl route 9 times out of 10. | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 476 Registered: 01-2007 |
Managed to create some space in a chest in the lounge which had childrens toys but now is home to my vinyl, going to go through what we both have ahve as there are a lot of 80's indie duplicates.Might even treat myself to some vimyl later probably Grindermen ( if it has MP3 downloads with it) | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1948 Registered: 01-2005 |
I've got six of the first seven Eno albums on vinyl (I'm missing Airports) from way back when that I'm listening to today. Currently playing (as I compose this) "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)". Of course George Bush might have said it was "By Strategery", however I doubt if he ever listened to or even knows who Brian Eno is! | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 831 Registered: 10-2008 |
a visit to the loft today found a small horde of albums that i had forgotten i had up there. some classics, some obscure, all interesting in their own way. pauline murray and the invisible girls - self titled (bizarrely i have 2 copies!!) the associates - perhaps big audio dynamite - tighten up vol 88 david bowie - golden years ( i have no recollection of buying this comp of mostly mid 70's to 1980 album tracks, with the exception of fashion and ashes to ashes) husker du - warehouse songs and stories propaganda - a secret wish bob dylan - the freewheelin bob dylan david sylvian - brilliant trees cabaret voltaire - code eyeless in gaza - drumming the beating heart wire - a bell is a cup the fall - wonderful and frightening world of throwing muses - the real ramona new order - brotherhood psychedelic furs - self titled a bunch of smiths 12" singles | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 835 Registered: 10-2008 |
that cabaret voltaire album (code) is excellent. i've always rated this band, but had forgotten how ahead of time they were in the 80's. you can hear their influence everywhere these days in electronica music. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1950 Registered: 01-2005 |
I've always wanted to check out cabaret voltaire. Is "Code" a good starting point? | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 836 Registered: 10-2008 |
its an easy way in michael, and certainly amongst the most accessible albums they made. my favourites are red mecca and 2x45. the crackdown is another of their more accessible albums, and if i remember right their first on a major label. allmusic.com is a good reference point. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2061 Registered: 10-2004 |
My favorite Cabaret Voltaire album is the Crackdown. It's definitely more song oriented, but not commercial sounding. It was originally released on indie label Some Bizarre. I also quite like Micro-Phonies. I actually haven't heard Code, I'll have to check it out. Earlier work like Red Mecca is definitely more experimental. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1951 Registered: 01-2005 |
I'll try Crackdown. I had a nasty virus and Dell had to strip my notebook back to factory settings. What a royal pain, but everything is back to normal finally. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2474 Registered: 03-2005 |
I have one single Caberet Voltaire album. I can't remember the name but none of these mentioned is ringing a bell. I listened a few times but it never took off for me. I'm not much of an electronica type though. I'll have to see what it is when I get home. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3660 Registered: 05-2005 |
Today I bought a 6 song 7" by Billy Paul which plays at 33 1/3! I've never previously seen such a thing! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1953 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jeff, Trouser Press agrees with you on Crackdown as their review states that it is "Probably their strongest album". They also have high praise for Kevin's two favorites (red mecca and 2x45). | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 846 Registered: 10-2008 |
michael, dont know if you've sprung for any of the cv albums yet, but i'm finding that micro-phonies is getting big licks on my cd player this last few days. its amazing to think this album is nearly 27 years old, it doesnt sound it. it includes a good few singles as well - sensoria, james brown and blue heat. my version of the crackdown is on virgin, i wish it had been on some bizarre(like jeff mentions above), that was such a cool label. i can only think it was virgin for uk (and europe?), and some bizarre for america. this band is due a serious reappraisal. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1960 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kevin, I ended up getting 2x45, and it should be arriving today. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2479 Registered: 03-2005 |
Kevin, Jeff: The Cab Voltaire album I have is "The Covenant, the Sword & the Arm of the Lord" from 1985. I don't remember it making much of an impression on me though I promise to play it soon. Is it too late a release? | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 854 Registered: 10-2008 |
randy, to the best of my knowledge i havent heard this album. i would guess though that it continues in the same vein as micro-phonies which is great. michael, thats a brave introduction to cabaret voltaire. the cabs of the crackdown and microphonies have a totally different sound. more song based, less use of tapes, songs actually have more conventional choruses. 2x45 is still great in a totally different way mind you. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2068 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin, I pulled out my Crackdown LP, which is a UK import, and it lists Some Bizarre in larger type, and Virgin (only on the LP label) in smaller lettering. I suspect the album was first released by Some Bizarre and then quickly picked up by Virgin for all subsequent pressings. Either that or somehow CV convinced Virgin to release it jointly with Some Bizarre so as to retain some of their indie cred. Or else they might have had some prior contractual obligation to Some Bizarre. Who knows? Randy, I haven't heard that album either. In fact, I haven't heard anything that came out after Micro-phones, which is from '84. I don't know if Covenant is too late of a release because I'm just not sure of CV's expiration date. If Micro-phones is any indication of where they'd go next stylistically, I'd guess that "Covenant" is even more straight-forward and song-oriented. Michael - 2 X 4 *is* a bit of a brave intro, but it's deemed one of their better works by a lot of fans. It's the last of their more experimental sounding albums. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2069 Registered: 10-2004 |
Last night I listened to some of my Smiths 12"s, like "Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before," "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," and "Shoplifters." God those sound beautiful! The nice deep and wide 12" single grooves are the perfect way to hear the Smiths. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2481 Registered: 03-2005 |
I did listen to it last night, Jeff, and frankly found it boring. I can see why I nearly never played it. I know that's not a very articulate description. It did not seem particularly song-oriented to me but I suppose that's a relative term when it comes to techno. It was just all about samples and not very interesting ones, as far as I'm concerned. Earlier Cab Voltaire would have to be massively different or else I have no space for them. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 855 Registered: 10-2008 |
jeff, i think you could be right with your take on things regarding cabaret voltaire and some bizarre. they probably signed to some bizarre with virgin providing the "muscle", making my "territorial" theory incorrect. a quick search on the web finds a few snippets that seem to back this up. "Cabaret Voltaire left Rough Trade for a new record contract with Some Bizarre, a division of Virgin Records known for its eccentric music groups. Kirk and Mallinder came out with The Crackdown in 1983 on Some Bizarre/Virgin...." or "Chris Watson left the group in October 1981 on the eve of an international tour to pursue a career in television sound recording. This departure left Kirk and Mallinder free to commit to a long-term struggle with the ‘pop music’ industry under the protection of Stevo’s Some Bizarre label, via a Virgin Records distribution deal" randy, like i say i havent heard the sole cabaret voltaire album you have, but i wasnt surprised to hear you didnt rate it. they just dont seem like the kind of band i would imagine you listening to based on previous posts over the years. i could be doing you a disservice of course! | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 105 Registered: 10-2005 |
skulldisco: pauline murray and the invisible girls is a wonderful album. My latest 12" albums are: The Sexual Objects: Cucumber Hans Chew: Tennessee & Other Stories Bill Callahan: Rough Travel For A Rare Thing (a double live lp - wow ...) | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2070 Registered: 10-2004 |
Some live Cabaret Voltaire videos on youtube of songs from Crackdown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z9BEUL00 5Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUG4GpsU3 RI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBFvNPckq SE Very cool guitar tone on these! Randy, I agree with Kevin, I wouldn't think that Cabaret Voltaire would be your cup of tea, but these clips are a good example of music by them that I like. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 856 Registered: 10-2008 |
matsrep - the sexual objects sounds intriguing - thats davy henderson (ex fire engines, win, nectarine no9) isnt it? any reviews ive read all reckon he hasnt got over his t rex obsession yet :-) i see napster have it so i'll give it a listen, do you rate it? | ||
| Andreas Severins Member Username: Andreas_severins Post Number: 174 Registered: 11-2007 |
thx jeff for those links. they make me think of earlier time and hear some of this stuff again! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2485 Registered: 03-2005 |
Well gee, Jeff, these are actual songs. The record I have has relatively little of that. And it's very heavy on samples. And as I said, not terribly interesting samples. I thought it was really anonymous sounding. Hip hop producers were doing much better things at the time. Believe it or not I was a big fan of industrial-era Ministry for a handful of years during their heyday. (By sheer weird coincidence I already had their dance-oriented album with "Work for Love" from their previous incarnation, when they took off on the industrial track). I just need the music to have some pop form, which Ministry's always did and certainly the first two of these do as well. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1962 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jeff, I wanted to get 2x45 as the Sunday night radio program Dimensions on WDET 101.9 from Wayne State University in Detroit (that introduced me to the Go-Betweens in 1988) had Yashar mixed with another tune as it's theme song that opended and closed each show. |