For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one here. Sorry for the delay in getting this installment published. I’ll be getting back on my normal schedule now.
I’ve talked to a lot of record buyers over the years, many of whom are not audiophiles at all, and just like getting records. In those discussions I often get pushback on things like proper record washing systems and procedures (see Part 5 for more on that topic), and record handling. Somehow to a lot non-audiophiles who buy records, the idea of keeping their fingers off the grooves and the lead-in area is tantamount to fanaticism. Anything beyond that isn’t even part of the discussion, as I figure if someone can’t keep their fingers off the groves or worry about keeping their records clean, then most likely talking about turntables, arms, cartridges or proper equipment setup will be falling on deaf ears too.
A couple years ago a non-audiophile friend who shares some musical interest with me, messaged me that he read that replacing the stock mat on his table with a cork mat would sound better. He wanted to know if a $50 cork mat would be worth it. When I asked what table he had, I was surprised that it was a $45 Crosley with a built-in speaker and Bluetooth. I suggested he not spend money on the cork mat.
Another time, some of my son’s friends who were really into music were over and as often happened we sat down to play some records. The biggest surprise for them seemed to be the dead silent background noise when I played LPs on my Linn LP12. They were sure I was using some kind of digital noise reduction system. I explained that a quality table and arm combo, with high-quality bearings and a properly aligned cartridge playing a clean record sounded nice and quiet like that. All that “record noise” that non-audiophiles expect to hear was mostly an aspect of the poor-quality turntables, arms and cartridges used to play otherwise dirty records. One joked, but explained that the digital recording and processing software he used to make EDM tracks actually had a “vinyl” filter that added that very noise to the tracks, to supposedly make it sound like you were playing a record. I suggested it wasn’t so much a “vinyl” filter but rather a “cheap, crappy, turntable” filter.
It can be difficult to get someone to understand that a quality table doesn’t just sound better in some way they might not fully understand, but it also protects their records and allows them to last for years with little degradation in sound quality.
If you are given a chance to help a non-audiophile friend buy a new turntable, it helps to know what the decent low cost tables are. Telling them to spend a couple thousand dollars or more will just reinforce in their minds that audiophiles are crazy. Instead, point them in the direction of a decent Pro-Ject, Music Hall, Fluance, U-Turn, Rega or even stretching it to a Technics SL-50C. They and their records will thank you for it.
And don’t forget to remind them about getting a real record cleaner!
Gentle Giant, Acquiring The Taste
Label: Vertigo – VEL-1005, Vertigo – VEL 1005
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Terre Haute Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
Gentle Giant’s second album showed their first was not just a one-off fluke. The band just got better and more daring. I've had this record since 1976. The six band members are listed as playing forty-five different instruments, here with five also shown handling vocals. Who else could list electric piano, organ, harpsichord, cello, tympani, xylophone, Moog, clarinet, drums, gong, bass, violin, and Spanish guitar played by four of the members in one under-four-minute song, and still credit that their guitarist didn't play on the track.
Tracklist
A1 - Pantagruel's Nativity 6:49
A2 - Edge Of Twilight 3:48
A3 - The House, The Street, The Room 6:04
A4 - Acquiring The Taste 1:36
B1 - Wreck 4:37
B2 - The Moon Is Down 4:45
B3 - Black Cat 3:53
B4 - Plain Truth 7:42
https://open.qobuz.com/album/kd5lkwbwagvaa
Timbuk 3, Eden Alley
Label: I.R.S. Records – IRS-42124
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gloversville Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Southern Rock, Pop Rock
A clever mix of country tinged folk/pop/synth. Fun tunes and clever song writing. I guess when the couple that comprises the band split up, the band does too. Too bad, I really like what they did on this record.
Tracklist
A1 - Tarzan Was A Bluesman 1:26
A2 - Easy 4:26
A3 - Reckless Driver 5:44
A4 - Dance Fever 2:43
A5 - Sample The Dog 3:18
A6 - Too Much Sex, Not Enough Affection 3:15
B1 - Welcome To The Human Race 3:17
B2 - Eden Alley 3:29
B3 - Rev. Jack & His Roamin' Cadillac Church 4:13
B4 - A Sinful Life 3:36
B5 - Little People Make Big Mistakes 2:07
B6 - Reprise (Don't Stop Now) 0:55
https://open.qobuz.com/album/5099969566158
Gryphon, Red Queen To Gryphon Three
Label: Transatlantic Records – TRA 287
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Orlake Pressing, Beefy Cut
Country: UK
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Prog Rock
When I saw this in the import section at House of Guitars way back in my college days, I couldn't resist. Cool album cover, only four tracks, a bassoonist with purple hair, krumhorn and recorders as listed instruments. Like a moth to a flame for a died-hard prog head like me.
What a great album. Two of the members of the band (Brian Gulland and Richard Harvey were trained classical musicians, and the talent in this band is exceptional. Hints of classical, old English melodies, with modern prog/rock/jazz all mixed in together. Very well recorded too.
Tracklist
A1 - Opening Move 9:42
A2 - Second Spasm 8:15
B1 - Lament 10:45
B2 - Checkmate 9:50
https://open.qobuz.com/album/r33ynbyxsw6ge
Belle & Sebastian, 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds Of Light
Label: Jeepster Recordings – JPR12003
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP
Country: UK
Released: Oct 13, 1997
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Indie Rock, Indie Pop
I bought this EP used sometime around 1999 or 2000. Though many bands fell into whatever this style might be called, as far as I knew, they led the way. Their gentle demeanor, acoustic instrumentation, chamber-pop arrangements, and lush strings, drew inspiration from 1960s folk, baroque pop, and classic British indie acts, though in many articles and comments about them they were described as twee and smug.
Regardless, I really liked them.
Tracklist
A1 - A Century Of Fakers 4:30
A2 - Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie 3:10
B1 - Beautiful 5:13
B2a - Put The Book Back On The Shelf 3:33
B2b - Songs For Children 2:51
Note - Four of the five songs from this EP are in this compilation)
https://open.qobuz.com/album/cuneymv3inzwa
Belle And Sebastian, Lazy Line Painter Jane
Label: Jeepster Recordings – JPR12002, Jeepster Recordings – JPR 12 002
Format: Vinyl, 12", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Misprint
Country: UK
Released: Jul 28, 1997
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Indie Rock, Indie Pop
This EP actually came out before the one mentioned above, but tends towards the same style and overall feel. This band was just really good at this! I bought both of these Belle and Sebastian EPs at the same time.
Tracklist
A - Lazy Line Painter Jane 5:50
B1 - You Made Me Forget My Dreams 3:52
B2 - Photo Jenny 3:15
B3 - A Century Of Elvis 4:29
Note - Three of the four songs on this EP are on this, the last is on the previous link
https://open.qobuz.com/album/da96jqmeyy7ea
Prokofiev, Symphonic Suite Of Waltzes, Gypsy Fantasy From "Stone Flower" Ballet,
Label: Cisco Music – CLP 7002
Format: Vinyl, LP, 180 Gram
Country: US
Released: 2001
Genre: Classical
Style: Modern
I'm not as familiar with Prokofiev's music as I should be (Lt. Kije and a few others are about it). Time to explore, listen and learn...
Tracklist
Symphonic Suite Of Waltzes
A1 - The Meeting
A2 - Cinderella At The Castle
A3 - Mephisto Waltz
A4 - The End Of The Tale
B1 - New Year's Ball
B2 - Happy Ending
B3 - Gypsy Fantasy Introduction, Gypsy Dance, Severin's Dance, Dance Of The Gypsy Girl, Mass Dance
Qobuz does have this available.
Steve Miller Band, Fly Like An Eagle
Label: Capitol Records – ST-11497
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Los Angeles Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
Another 99 cent thrift store find, and even after a few runs through the record cleaner it's still a little crunchy sounding. Sure, not as fun as his earlier albums (I still have to find a good, clean copy of Sailor) but Miller can write a decent song, and this is a good album overall.
Tracklist
A1 - Space Intro 1:15
A2 - Fly Like An Eagle 4:42
A3 - Wild Mountain Honey 4:50
A4 - Serenade 3:10
A5 - Dance, Dance, Dance 2:16
A6 - Mercury Blues 3:43
B1 - Take The Money And Run 2:48
B2 - Rock 'N Me 3:05
B3 - You Send Me 2:40
B4 - Blue Odyssey 1:00
B5 - Sweet Maree 4:16
B6 - The Window 4:19
https://open.qobuz.com/album/katnsbw7l7ezb
Kostars, Klassics With A "K"
Label: Grand Royal - GR025
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Folk Rock, Pop Rock, Downtempo, Indie Rock
Many years ago someone mentioned this band to me and said I’d probably like them. They were certainly right. A side effort from the two main members of Luscious Jackson, this album is a little mellower, a little more intimate, and probably the best album the duo ever made. I've had the CD for years, but found this LP in mint condition on eBay. A friend said it sounded like a demo disk, not a finished product, but I think the sound fits the songs perfectly.
Tracklist:
A1 - Never So Lonely
A2 – Jacqueline
A3 - Red Umbrella
A4 - Jolene On The Freeway
A5 - One Sunny Day
B1 - Hey Cowboy
B2 – Reverend
B3 - Mama Never Said
B4 - Don't Know Why
B5 - French Kiss
Qobuz doesn’t have this, so here is a link to Spotify for it.
https://open.spotify.com/album/68SMoj7l6Gh7YAVVH4CAOx?si=iRXpW8FOQ-ehK1vHdxijYA
Gong, You
Label: Virgin – V 2019
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1975
Genre: Rock
Style: Space Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock
The last of the original Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy LPs, and the last with Daevid Allen (at least for a long while). Still a great album. Though they were based in France, Gong was still very much a Canterbury Scene band at heart, though they had more of a sense of humor than most of the other bands from scene. What amazing talent this band had, even through all their lineup changes. If you like Space or Psychedelic Rock, and Gliss Guitar, you have to give this a try.
Tracklist
A1 - Thought For Naught 1:30
A2 - A P.H.P.'s Advice 1:37
A3 - Magick Mother Invocation 2:11
A4 - Master Builder 6:09
A5 - A Sprinkling Of Clouds 8:42
B1 - Perfect Mystery 2:25
B2 - The Isle Of Everywhere 10:21
B3 - You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever 11:24
https://open.qobuz.com/album/yvp06btklo0lb
Robert Fripp, Exposure
Label: EG – PD 1- 6201, Polydor – PD 1- 6201, EG – EGLP 101
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Monarch Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Rock
Style: Experimental
I've been a big fan of Fripp's music since my early high school days. Exposure is one of his more accessible solo albums. Part of a trilogy of sorts with Peter Gabriel's 2nd solo album and Daryl Hall's Sacred Songs, though it doesn't sound like either of those albums. Great guest performances from the likes of Gabriel, Peter Hammill, Terre Roche, Phil Collins, Brian Eno, and Tony Levin.
Tracklist
A1 - Preface 1:20
A2 - You Burn Me Up I'm A Cigarette 2:23
A3 - Breathless 4:41
A4 - Disengage 2:46
A5 - North Star 3:06
A6 - Chicago 2:12
A7 - NY3 2:16
A8 - Mary 2:06
B1 - Exposure 4:25
B2 - Häaden Two 2:53
B3 - Urban Landscape 2:35
B4 - I May Not Have Had Enough Of Me But I've Had Enough Of You 3:50
B5 - First Inaugural Address To The I.A.C.E. Sherborne House 0:03
B6 - Water Music I 1:27
B7 - Here Comes The Flood 4:01
B8 - Water Music II 4:16
B9 - Postscript 0:37
