It's 6:43A.M. in New Orleans as I write this at 7:43A.M. from my office in Queens, New York. I should have been walking up Ursuline towards Royal for some coffee at CC's, and then having a nice leisurely breakfast overlooking the French Quarter from my balcony. But alas, a medical emergency on Thursday got in the way of my belated birthday celebration in the Crescent City.
New Orleans, I will see you soon enough.
Now the good news.
•Everyone is okay.
•No money was lost on the trip, save the cost of one pair of tickets to see Stanton Moore.
•A van arrived on Friday night at 9PM with 1200 records and I bought them all with my New Orleans food and beverage money.
I spent most of the weekend rifling through the vinyl, cleaning, pricing and listing. If I can't be in New Orleans, this is the next best thing.
I saw a Chet Atkins record called "It's A Guitar World." I knew what to expect from a Chet Atkins record, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. There are killer versions of "For No One" and "Cast Your Fate To the Wind," the latter you can check out on Today's Cover Version to the right.
There were half a dozen Kiss records in this collection, and so I went on a mini Kiss binge. "Hotter Than Hell" was the first one I purchased upon release in 1974. I always thought it was one of the worst sounding records in recorded history. At least a half dozen great songs, with one of the most godawful mixes I had ever heard. I listened to this record for the first time in 25 years or more. It sounded pretty damn good. The mix wasn't bothering me, for some reason. It also triggered a memory of me singing "Mainline" in my bedroom and my mother bursting through the door screaming, "MAINLINE? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SINGING?"
Another record I discovered is one I almost tossed. The cover was shredded and shabbily repaired with silver gaffer's tape. (What's wrong with people?) It turned out to be a Jamaican pressing of a 1975 record by Sonya Spence. Further inspection showed me the legendary Ansel Collins was involved, so I pulled the record out, and was shocked to see a very solid VG+ slab of wax. So I played it and I loved it. It was a perfect, upbeat rock steady reggae record that is also apparently so rare, even with a trashed cover, still fetches between $75-100.
There was an original French press of Jimi Hendrix "War Heroes." This is one of too many posthumous Jimi records, but happens to be my favorite of them all. The first time I heard "War Heroes" was after finding a copy at Titus-Oaks Records in Flatbush almost 50 years ago and it blew my mind.
Anyway, no New Orleans this week. But I got a truckful of vinyl to keep me busy.
That's the way it goes. You know me, always positive.
😳
If you're interested in the haul, check the link here. I will be adding to it all week.
Finally, I hope you dig today's selections.
14 comments:
I am glad everything is ok Sal. I, of course, will keep a close watch on your discogs page. joe
"Hotter Than Hell" still sounds terrible to me after all these years. What were they thinking?
But I still love it, too.
Hope you get your trip rescheduled as soon as possible. Clearly, you DO know what it means to miss New Orleans. Glad the health is ok and the vinyl is plentiful. I'm seriously tempted on that Dire Straits 'Alchemy'...
Have a good week ahead.
Glad to hear everything is OK Sal.
To paraphrase Bogey, you'll always have New Orleans.
OMG -- that Chet Atkins cover of "Cast Your Fate" is absolutely wonderful! Thanks so much for posting.
Good luck on your next travels Sal.
I second Steve Simels' emotion ...
... that Chet Atkins in wonderful!
i used to keep the short instrumental that closes one side of War Heroes as my answering machine music.
I'm getting whiplash from this past. Sad! Bummer! Cool! Sounds great! But overall,glad you can make the best of a missed trip. Hopeful the medical crisis is over permanently or not chronic!
Wow! So many good albums I'm jonesing for. Need to break into my piggy bank!
Lots to comment on!
Saw the Today's Cover Version pic and thought, "I wonder if it's 'Cast Your Fate'?" and it is! Haven't cued it up yet, but looking forward to it.
Glad the troubled health turned an aborted trip to a vinyl windfall -- that's making lemonade!
And, finally, I was shocked to see '12 Dreams' in your S.O.T.D., as I've not heard boo out of this blog re Spirit and what has been one of my all-time-favorite albums since a year or two following its release (I had four older sibs). The only song on it I didn't care for as a kid (I was about 9 when it came out) was 'Space Child', but I got smarter in the following decade and now everything works on it for me.
And like Buzz, I can see Shout It Out Loud again, for whatever reason.
C in California
@C In California
"Sardonicus" is an all time fave. This is what I said over on the "Now Playing" blog.
Spirit- Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
(This one always delivers. I tend to forget about it. Then I hear "Nature's Way," "Animal Zoo," "Life Has Just Begun," and "Mr. Skin" and I want to listen again...right away.)
You, sir, have excellent taste! :)
C in California
Excuse me while I sound like a hoodlum, but F**king Jimi! Love the sound! I love Sonya's voice, and I will be listening to "Hotter than Hell" today.
Sorry about New Orleans. It will miss you too, I'm sure.
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