So the purchase of the 7″ singles last time around did lead to a renewed period of vinyl purchase. I have to confess that this month, aside from spending a little on the reissued first two albums by the then entitled “Yesterday & Today” (now residing on a single disc, tho’ sadly sleeve-note lacking set entitled “OneTwo”) it’s been vinyl all the way with some very welcome additions.
Ironically, aside from a single private purchase last week all of these have come from my local second hand vinyl dealer based in Ammanford. My first post payday trip to Gwlad Deg strengthens the case for not visiting a single place too often as there was a good deal of new stock in this time, with apparently a newly purchased collection to search through offering the following five additions for an all-in amount of £27.
Def Leppard – Rocks Off EP… a relic from the age when Leppard were “Heavy Metal” and not reluctant to admit it! The excellent three track, début EP albeit in yellow label third issue guise ie. minus that distinctive picture sleeve the original few had. Cost me about £10 as I recall but worth having all the same as its a piece of history and “Overture”, “Getcha Rocks Off” and “Ride Like The Sun” are all nwobhm classics.
Man – All’s Well That Ends Well… been after this one for a while. The final offering from the Welsh rock band until they reformed some six years or so later.
A good live album given that it was basically a contractual filler with some of my favourite Manband songs on it such as “The Ride And The View”, “Born With A Future” and of course “Spunk Rock”.
Aerosmith – Toys In The Attic… ironic that I should pick this up just before all the Tyler’s quit/Tyler hasn’t quit nonsense started. This is proper Aerosmith, before all the big ballad, MTV dominating sameness of the 80s and 90s. Still looking for good vinyl copies of s/t, “Get Your Wings” and “Rocks” but this’ll do for now!
Cheap Trick – Dream Police… another CP title to the steadily growing collection. The new studio album “The Latest” has lead me down the route of needing to hearing a lot more of this band and I haven’t been disappointed yet. Fortunately there’s plenty to check out.
Hawkwind – Space Ritual… there’s plenty to check out in the Hawkwind catalogue too. Probably too much given that there are at least 100 albums out under either the bands name or credited to acts with close associations. This one is an essential though, with it huge fold out sleeve and excellence within the grooves. It usually goes for a higher price that the £4 I got it for. The vinyl is in VG condition, the sleeve though looks like someone has struggled at some point folding it back the way it originally came. Not to worry – I’ll keep this in a pvc sleeve to stop it falling apart any more!
Doesn’t it always happen? You’re searching through boxes, spot an album that looks interesting but a little pricey. Give it a miss on this occasion then get back to the computer, look for reviews and find nothing but good things said about it (but sadly no link to at least download a test copy to see if they’re right). You then have to spend the week worrying that no one else has had the same thought and gone in and bought the damn thing… perhaps that last bit is just me but the next album fits that whole story.
Alcatraz – Doing A Moonlight… £7 with a label that announcing ex-Man guitarist Will Youatt as part of the band, this is the said album that caught my
eye. I’d never heard it before, couldn’t find anything on mp3 (it’s not out on CD I think) and consequently was back at Gwlad Deg the Friday after the Saturday before to snaffle my copy. Not disappointed either as its an accomplished album of 70s rock that anyone who appreciates the Manband will enjoy.
Of course, spending £7 is not an option in a record shop. You might as well round it up to a tenner if you can find something for the balance. Well I found three £1 buys!
The Byrds – The Original Singles Vol.1 and Vol2… I wanted these as I was at the time reading an account of the music scene in 1967 entitled “The Act You’ve Known For All These Years”. Looking at the impact not only of “Sgt. Pepper” and the likes of Dylan, The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd around this time another band heavily mentioned were The Byrds so this pairing at a pound each made sense to purchase.
B.T.O. – Street Action… I wrote about “Not Fragile” a few weeks ago and quite honestly its another album I have enjoyed listening too so much its lead me
to look out for further titles in the bands history. I’ve already added the début album and “Head On” previously but this was intriguing as it was post Randy Bachman’s (original) involvement in the band and was unsuccessful at the time… yet again though I’ve found a couple of gems on it.
Finally then, another £12 in the same shop a week or two later. This time though it was merely an excuse to get out of the wander around town in and out of shops looking for shoes for the kids or something. Again the book mentioned above was the reason behind buying the first title.
The Moody Blues – In Search Of The Lost Chord… another big impact album but a fairly small price for an original mono copy (£6 iirc) which plays exceptionally well. Some mug writing track times on the cover being the reason why this was so reasonable I think. I’ve never really heard much past the obvious big hits by the Moodies before but quite liked this.
Grand Funk Railroad – Grand Funk… another album with a cover in need of attention but with vinyl which after the PVA glue treatment (daub on the kids glue taking care to get the grooves only not the label, leave it to dry then peel it off and it lifts all the age-old dirt out of the grooves) plays a treat opening up another band that I really should own more of.
Nazareth – No Mean City… the quest for a decent sized Nazareth collection continues (with past comments about what to avoid
or at least leave until its collection filler time noted with thanks) and this one is an essential purchase from the Scots band who by this point boasted SAHB’s Zal Cleminson amongst their ranks. Got to be one of the best covers of the era as well. My “Warhammer” loving son certainly appreciates the “Ork-ness” of the front cover, Rodney Matthews drawn character.
Oh yes, that single none local purchase came by way of a mail out from Joe Geesin. Seems Joe is selling off some of his vinyl and there was one title that immediately caught my eye….
Bruce Dickinson – Accident Of Birth… to be honest I wasn’t even aware that this was out on vinyl. I’ve had the CD since its release and quite honestly its my favourite solo album of Dickinson’s by some way. The cover art, a spoof on Maiden’s Eddie surely, is excellent in full size format and the quality within the grooves I’ve written about before.
But why, if you already have it on CD did need to spend £9.50 including postage to get it again on vinyl you may ask? Well, things are just better on vinyl aren’t they? It’s not logical I know but then that is why this piece is called “Confessions Of A Vinyl Collector”. I can’t justify it, merely report that once again I’ve bought something twice!
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BL
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