Hello Y'all,
"My name is Pat, and I'm a vinyl junky."
I know this to be true. I also know that there are a lot worse things to be addicted to. While driving recently we passed a house obviously occupied by a hoarder. In contrast my records are organized, individually bagged and stored on shelving and in boxes. There are no dead cats or any animals in, on or around the records. I love, play and share every record I own. I have never purchased a record to keep it hermetically sealed in a case so no one can ever hear it again. I recently acquired a record that was in my top five wants for almost 20 years. The 7-inch of "Mama Soul" by Harold Alexander. I will play it tonight. It will only be the second or third time I have ever played it.
The Hi-Fidelity Prayer
OMFG, grant me the Serenity to acquire
the records I cannot seem to uncover.
Courage to appreciate the records I own,
and wisdom to know the difference (between an original and a reissue).
Listening one day at a time;
Enjoying one side at a time.
Accepting dead wax as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Columbia Records did,
this sinful fragility of 78's as it is,
not satisfied and improved upon it.
Trusting that we will make all right selections,
and surrender to our musical tastes and mis-cues,
so that we may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with all DJs mixes,
forever and the next.
Amen Brother!
Sadly this past weekend Gil Scott-Heron left us. There is not much I can say about Gil Scott-Heron that has not already been said. I have loved his music and words for as long as I can remember. I especially remember hearing "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," and "The Bottle" long before I committed it to memory who the artist was. Because of the "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" I always knew I never wanted a case of the nubs. I always think of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" in the same world as "Compared To What," "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," and "My Generation." Brilliant songs that force us to look around us as well as at ourselves but ultimately are music and entertainment. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
- pat.
Primitive Sound System
VINYL RULES!
"Audio Visual Triumphs and Disasters" - http://primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com
Thursday, June 2nd - 10:30PM to Closing
D.C.'s Tavern
505 8th Street
Between Jefferson and Madison
BACK IN BACK
Hoboken, New Jersey
PH: 201-792-5550
http://www.dcstavern.com
http://myspace.com/dcstavern
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hoboken-NJ/DCs-Tavern/89733686005 <- Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dcs-Tavern/111745052195139 <- Facebook Local Business Listing
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27386563721 <- Facebook Group
http://foursquare.com/venue/34395 <- On Foursquare
"Welcome to Vinyl Junkies Anonymous. This is a closed VJA meeting. Closed meetings are limited to persons who have a desire to never stop acquiring vinyl records. If you think you have a problem with vinyl records, you are welcome to attend this meeting to discover you are not alone. In keeping with our Primary Purpose, we ask that all who share limit their discussions to problems and solutions related to record collecting."
Syl Johnson - Mythological 45s (Numero Group cat. NUM-ESBOX003)
I recently mentioned to a friend that I bought the Syl Johnson "Complete Mythology" box set. His quick and only reply was, "Isn't that way more Syl Johnson than anyone will ever need?" I explained that I already have the Twinight / Twilight LPs as reissues and all the original 7-inches, all the original Hi LP release (except one) and a couple of the 7-inches, a few odds and ends 7-inches and even the Collectables Records Greatest hits CD… and I STILL couldn't wait to get a copy of the box set. So, NO! My answer is, there can NEVER be too much Syl Johnson. Luckily the good folks at Numero Group think the same way I do (or they just want my money) because they recently released a companion 45 box set called "Mytholoical 45s." Basically this is a Greatest Hits on 45 of the Complete Mythology box. The tracks are well chosen and really show off the vast number of Soulful styles Mr. Johnson claimed as his own. Whether it be R&B, Soul or Funk, Syl Johnson is always the best there is. Myth confirmed!
Harold Alexander - "Mama Soul" b/w "Sunshine Man" (Flying Dutchman cat. FD 26016 (Promotional Copy / Not For Sale))
WOW! I have been looking for a copy of this since 1994. This is one off my top five wants. A true Holy Grail record for me if there ever was. I don't even recall ever hearing the 7-inch version. I just knew it existed. I became obsessed with Harold "Jazzbo" Alexander from his side work with Big John Patton. I loved the Patton LPs "Understanding" and "Accent On The Blues." There was a sound to those LPs like no other. That sound was made that much greater on "Understanding" by the incredible and explosive flute work of Harold Alexander. In the 90's Blue Note began one of their best and most extensive reissue series to date. One of the "unreleased" sessions they put out was "Boogaloo" by John Patton (as well as "Memphis To New York Spirit"). "Boogaloo" featured Harold Alexander and was the perfect compliment for the "Understanding" LP. I tracked down stone mint copies of Alexander's LPs as a leader on Flying Dutchman "Sunshine Man" and the live "Are you Ready?" Side one of "Sunshine Man" was everything I could have hoped for and my obsession not only was warranted but it grew. BUT, when I dropped the needle on the opening cut of side two I was floored. That cut was "Mama Soul." For the next 5:50 I was captivated. This is one of the finest, raw, sweat drenched Soul / Jazz FUNK tunes you will ever hear. Alexander doesn't just make his flute talk or even talk while playing flute; he screams, and wails. The band POUNDS the hell out of their instruments but you should expect nothing less from Neal Creque, Richard Landrum, Richard Davis and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. I picture Alexander's performance being similar to David Yow or Iggy Pop at their best but without the nudity. I picture "Jazzbo" contorting and flailing himself about the stage, screaming into and at the flute in a love / hate relationship. When people say they are giving 110% you want to say, fuck you idiot, this is what 100% looks like and there is NO WAY you can do more than that.
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