Last Sunday I posted photos of my day’s listening on social media. It was an odd experience; noticing how my choices were influenced by an awareness of that sharing. The variety of delivery methods was pure theatre (and fun).
Here are the pictures.
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Terje Rypdal & The Chasers — Blue [ECM 1987]
Excellent album from the delicately piercing Norwegian jazz guitarist.
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Steve Hackett — Voyage of the Acolyte [Charisma 1975]
First solo outing for the Genesis guitarist. Lovely progressive rock LP.
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Brand X — Is there anything about? [Vertigo, 1982]
Funky fusion from Britain’s Brand X (with Phil Collins on drums). This later LP isn’t as exciting as the early material, but still most enjoyable.
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Passport — Second Passport [Atlantic 1972, Japanese 'facsimile' CD re-issue 2006]
Brief outing to get essential oils (petrol, milk and black PVC, if you must know), accompanied by Klaus Doldinger’s progressive jazz-rock group. ‘Up’ music.
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Marvin Gaye — What's Going On? [Tamla 1971, re-issue 2007]
I know there is no question mark on the cover, but I can’t help myself. And it remains a damn relevant question.
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Eberhard Schoener — Meditation [Ariola 1974]
Minimal ambient music from the German composer/arranger/musician. I meditated to it. Not snoozing, meditating, OK?
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Kraftwerk — The Mix [EMI cassette, 1991]
Revitalised after an effective meditation session, I dusted off the cassette deck. Some unexpected wowing leads me to suspect it needs new belts. Fascinating remix of Kraftwerk by Kraftwerk that fortunately resides in the CD shelves as well.
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Mahavishnu Orchestra — Between Nothingness & Eternity [CBS 1973]
What a great album. What an incredible group: John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman and Rick Laird.
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Tool — Fear Inoculum [RCA 2019, CD has a built-in video screen for the visual content]
Quick (as in brief rather than rapid) exercise walk between rain showers. I’ve struggled with Tool’s earlier releases, but this one is exceptional. Dense, complex, engrossing and a phenomenal CD package. (For those interested, I wrote about it for Discrepancy Records here).
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VARIOUS — Forbidden Planets: Music from the Pioneers of Electronic Sound [Chrome Dreams, 2009]
Fascinating and educational 2-CD collection of early/innovative electronic music. Has both kinds: weird and wonderful.
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If you are listening as you read this, share what is in your ears…
vinylconnection.com.au 
When it comes to topics like “Psychedelia” or “Krautrock”, I’m quickly come the end. But I already listened to the Klaus Doldinger’s Passport as a 16-year-old jazz rock fan. And even today is his music for me quite contemporary in the guise of a jazz, thats based on rhythmic rock improvisations.
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Agreed re Passport, hf. Interestingly, Klaus’s band has been getting some attention in the FB Prog Collector’s group I belong to. Nice to see.
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Interesting selection of music playing devices there. Strangely, although I’m familiar with most of the artists I don’t know any of those particular albums. I didn’t even know Brand X had made Is There Anything About? (!)
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Is There Anything..? was the seventh and final LP before they broke up. Or rather, before a 10 year hiatus then a series of reunions. 🙂
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Interesting assortment: jazz, prog rock, funky fusion, prog jazz-rock, immortal (Mr. Gaye), ambient, Krautrock, jazz fusion, Tool (not sure how best to define them), electronic. Is every day that eclectic? Do you ever construct a day of theme listening? An interesting note re: that missing question mark in Gaye’s masterpiece: in preparing my own post about it last month, I read that the lack of a question mark was intentional, i.e. that What’s Going On was a *statement* and the songs went on to tell us exactly *what* was going on in the ghettos, on the streets, in the environment, etc. FYI: I took a listen to the Mahavishnu Orchestra on YouTube and was amused to see a comment posted by a guy who was present at the concert and seated, with his friends, very close to one of the mics that had been set up. He decided he would yell something, in an attempt to be captured for posterity on the album, but figuring the sound engineers would probably edit it out. But sure enough, at 0:47, there he is: “Yeah!!” 🙂
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Re eclecticism: Often, across a day where there is space for a number of spins, the genres will change. I think I was seeking a range that day. No, I don’t often spin by theme, though it is a fine idea. Occasionally I’ll follow links between artists, so Brian Eno might lead to Phil Manzanera to Roxy Music, etc.
Thank you so much for adding that correction/context for ‘What’s Going On’. He is saying THIS is what is going on… Brilliant and an insight that adds to the enjoyment of the work. I’ll let you in on a little secret, JDB, I’ve already started looking at “71 from ’71’ and without spilling the beans (completely) I can tell you that WGO is Top Ten for sure.
The Mahavishnu story is funny but I wouldn’t want to endorse that kind of behaviour. (Looks sniffily into the middle distance, contemplate the masses from his high moral ground). 🙄
Footnote: I reckon I might do another Lockdown Playlist another day, with a theme: one album each for a bunch of VC’s most loyal readers. Will they pick what was their album…?
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Love the idea of another lockdown playlist compiled by VC’s most loyal readers!
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Great stuff Bruce. I can definitely get behind a few of those. Mahavishnu Orchestra is just some of the best.
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Sure is, CB.
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Cassettes! Mine are long gone, but it’s good to see one along with a fine-looking Technics deck to boot. Genesis freak that I am, for some reason I never ventured into the Brand X realm in all of my side-adventures from the band (perhaps “Wot Gorilla” was enough for me?). I should investigate while I still have the time. – Marty
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If you enjoy Return To Forever, Marty, definitely check out Brand X, who are a genuine jazz-rock fusion outfit.
(I haven’t kept many cassettes myself – only a dozen or so for nostalgic reasons!)
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Hello. The other night I heard the title song from the What’s Going On album. And I said to my wife: “I bet that this is the favorite song ever of millions of people.” Maybe more people would choose Yesterday as their favorite song. But I can’t offhand think of many others that would get more votes than WGO. What do you think?
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If you slosh about in social media, sometimes it seems there are more ‘favourite songs’ than people! Suffice to say, Mr Gaye’s contribution, both in earlier soul-pop and in socially aware material like this peerless album, is agreed by most music fans to be outstanding.
Thanks for joining in, Y,AB.
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My Dishlexia makes me want to comment on misreading about the immortal Mr Gaye. But my Rectitudinus won’t let me explain that. . My Regretalis makes me want to get my old car back so I have a CD player for driving to. My Gratitudium makes me want to thank VC for planting the idea that grew into playing each new album on at least four different sound systems…and for more leads to music to explore.
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Obviously I am still struggling to grow up despite the opportunity of a second lockdown.
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PS Marvin Gaye’s father never approved of his son’s career in music.
(Fool of a man!)
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Fathers? Harrumph.
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I think it locks us down into a childhood regression.
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That’s a whole periodic table of essences, DD.
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((If you are listening as you read this, share what is in your ears…))
Kansas: The Absence of Presence on Spotify thru computer speakers
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😩
Having said that, always good to hear from you Mr VotF.
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