The process of collecting vinyl goes one of two ways. Either you're a hunter or a gatherer. The hunters know what they want, flipping through stacks of milk crates at yard sales and setting up Ebay alerts for certain records, certain pressings, certain limited releases. This is ultimately an engaging and satisfying pursuit - you identify what you're after, and pursue it like a treasure hunter, every once and a while getting surprised by a find or grabbing that missing piece. The gatherers, on the other hand, have completely different aims. Driven by curiosity and intreigue and an undercurrent of "what IS that?", they are the ones passing over well-known works for the weird stuff. Sometimes gatherers manifest in just picking out what they like, ignoring the value or condition or rarity and keeping what they find just for their own personal enjoyment. Others just have a hard time saying 'no' when collections are foisted upon them. "Do you want these? I'm just going to throw them out otherwise..." I am a gatherer.
Mac Davis – Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me
Right out of the gate, this album is a treat. I think you could probably put this into "Yacht Rock" category, but generally, it's some pretty mellow easy listening 70s rock and roll. The songwriting is catchy, and the melodies are well put together.
Wizzard – Introducing Eddy and the Falcons
So I pulled this out of the 'e' section, where I had filed it, thinking that this was an album by 'Eddy and the Falcons' but it turns out it is in fact a studio album by Wizzard.
Nelson Eddy – Til the end of time
Somehow, in my musical experiences, I'd never heard of Nelson Eddy. For shame, because his voice is a beautifully buttery baritone, with strength and a depth that's impressive. Much more well known in the 1940s, Eddy is a trained opera singer that also crossed over into pop culture, including starring in several movies.
Big Brother & The Holding Company – Be a Brother
Though I was excited to listen to this because of the relationship between Big Brother and the Holding Company and Janis Joplin, this is the first album that they put out after her departure from the band (and subsequent death later in the year that it was released).
Ray Conniff / I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing
I was surprised how many of these tracks I recognized. Ray himself fronts only a few of the songs, most are carried by the chorus. The songs are bright, glowing songs about love and uplifting spirit, with tracks like “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” and “Old Fashioned Love Song.”
Larry Coryell – The Real Great Escape
The front of this album features a double-exposed picture of someone in Buddy Holly glasses running down an alleyway. The back of this album features one of the band members in a sweater that has planned, stitched in holes on the top half, exposing bare skin through what looks like it could have been a grandmother sweater. Gotta love 1973 fashion. Admittedly is unclear to me what genre this will fall under, and apparently this is also difficult even when listening to the album.
Melaine – Born to Be (aka My First Album)
With a creamy cover and sepia photograph of a shy looking woman on the front, this album could have been anything. Melanie is a cute name. I expected girl folk, maybe? Oh, I had no idea what I was in for.
Mark Murphy – Mark II
Not sure what this could be since its just an acrylic or oil painting of Mr. Murphy on the front. I have to admit I like the color scheme, but I threw it on to see what it was about. The first track came across as a soft jazz with a pretty groovy beat. The lyrics were a sarcastic or backhanded song about life in Missouri. Up there on the list of strangest opening lines ever is “Once I got a splinter in the joint of my little toe…”
Dave Grusin – Mountain Dance
Alright ladies and gentlemen, its time to Name That Genre! This album features a comfortable, friendly looking man sporting southwestern fashions of a bolero, turquoise ring and belt, leather pants and cowboy hat. He leans back against a stucco wall (floor?). Any guesses from the audience? Country? Western? Folk? Nope. Its groovy jazz piano. Yep, I was fooled... Continue Reading →
Odd Vinyl 