Category Records
ROUND LIKE A RECORD
During the 1970s “Sampler” LPs were a staple of record company marketing. Compiling a variety of tracks from various artists on their roster, these albums usually sold for much less than the prevailing price point of a new record. In fact, a number of companies called them, with disarming candour, “Loss Leaders”. There are a number […]
TORN BETWEEN TWO COVERS
When the Vinyl Connection collection finally moved into its new post-renovation space I was certain there was room enough to house at least five years of acquisitions. After all I was periodically doing a little weeding and pruning and the rate of purchasing had dropped substantially from an average of five LPs per week to […]
1972: ALBUM COVER EXTRA
THE ART OF THE LP — 1972 Here are three albums that didn’t make it onto the 72 FROM ’72 list. If, however, the ranking had been about cover art and design they would have polled very well indeed. * This LP by Family is a delightful conception, beautifully realised. The retro bakelite TV offers […]
1972 COUNTDOWN: #10 — #8
10 DEEP PURPLE — MACHINE HEAD 1970’s Deep Purple In Rock and 1971’s Fireball set the bar high for British heavy rock. Yet Deep Purple managed to top those two fine records with their seventh long-player, Machine Head. Prosaically named after the metal gear arrangement that adjusts the tension on guitar strings, the music is […]
1972 COUNTDOWN — #30 – 26
30 GENTLE GIANT — OCTOPUS There’s no doubt that some progressive bands (or albums) require effort to get into. England’s Gentle Giant are one of those. With scintillating playing, complex compositional structures (featuring changes of time, key, and instrumentation) and melody lines that puzzle on first acquaintance, this is not a band that gives up […]
IMAGINE NO IMAGINE
It is difficult to imagine a world without John’s song “Imagine”. From the time it appeared on the album of the same name in September 1971—and then as a single a month later—it has become an anthem and a lullaby, a protest and a non-religious prayer, a campfire sing-along and a manifesto for dreamers. It […]
BOWIE BLACKOUT
Live albums often spark discussion amongst rock fans. Are they a fascinating insight into the artist as experienced in concert? A contractual filler for the record company? Sometimes both? Maybe it depends on how big a fan you are. Being a huge David Bowie fan, I was excited by the release (originally RSD 2018) of […]
STARFISH
The 1980s are often remembered as the time of synth pop, but—in Australia, at least—this is misleading. The land Downunder brought forth excellent, world class guitar based bands… the maturing sound of Midnight Oil, the power pop exuberance of Hoodoo Gurus and the introspective guitar rock of The Church. Formed in Sydney, The Church released […]
COVER ART | ON THE CHAIR II
Sharing some of the spins that have been enjoyed at Vinyl Connection HQ over the past little while. Any favourites amongst these? The third LP in the ‘trilogy’ of this particular period of King Crimson. While not as startling as Discipline, it remains an under-rated album from Robert Fripp’s Jedi knights. Rick Wakeman’s solo debut […]
BOND SONGS | THE TOP 007
Here is the article written for Discrepancy Records, reproduced by kind permission. The competition is open until 12 midnight, Thursday 18 November 2021 AEST. * * * When Monty Norman took ideas from one of his earlier compositions and created the “James Bond Theme”, he could not have foreseen how the piece would take on […]
“THE NAME’S BOND” | EVERY JAMES BOND SONG RANKED
From 1962 to 2021, films featuring Ian Fleming’s super spy have been entertaining millions as the suave martini-drinking agent saves the world from yet another crazed megalomaniac. When Paul from Discrepancy Records suggested that ranking the best Bond songs was one way to review the new 3 LP set The Best of Bond… James Bond, […]
1971 COUNTDOWN: #55 — #50
55 ROY HARPER — Stormcock Roy Harper could aptly be described as a poet-troubadour, a storyteller and wordsmith who uses music as the carrier wave for his images, thoughts, and observations. This fascinating album consists of four extended songs in the progressive folk style and is considered amongst his best works. Listeners may hear connections […]
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