Tag Archives: Record Collecting
SPOOKY MEDITATION
Juilliard trained but restless, clarinetist Tony Scott left New York at the end of the 1950s to travel and absorb musical influences from around the world. After visiting Japan he released Music For Zen Meditation And Other Joys (1965). This album of gentle, spacious music features Shinichi Yuize playing koto and Hozan Yamamoto on shakuhachi. […]
ALBUM COVERS | A BRIDGE 2 FAR
Album cover posts seem to generate great interest and enthusiasm, which is fantastic. They also tend to proliferate as further albums fitting the theme are suggested. Thanks in no small part to the memory-mining efforts of Cincinnati Babyhead (CB to his friends) we are delighted to present a second instalment in the ‘Bridges on Album […]
GET UP, STAND UP
Having celebrated the Bob Marley boxed set just recently, I thought it would be a nice follow-up to share this piece, written for Discrepancy Records. * Singing along to “Is this love” or “I shot the Sheriff”, it’s easy to forget the music of Bob Marley and the Wailers is, at the core, a revolutionary […]
ALL ABOARD THE McCARTNEY EXPRESS
When Paul McCartney released his first post-Beatles album in 1970, he was about to turn twenty-eight years old. The self-titled debut came out half a year after Abbey Road and a month before the Beatles swan song, Let It Be. Since then, McCartney has given us a slew of live recordings and seventeen studio albums, […]
WHO IS NICK LOWE?
RSD 2022 saw a welcome re-issue of power pop legend Nick Lowe’s first solo album, originally released in 1978. Filled with catchy songs evoking all the bands you would hope for—Beatles, Badfinger, Kinks—it is infectiously entertaining and great fun. But why is it called Wireless World? And why does the hype sticker mysteriously refer to 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 […]
FLY ME TO THE MOON
The debut album by Air is soaring towards its twenty-fifth anniversary. A big part of the reason people are still enjoying Moon Safari is its tasteful mash-up of genres. Melding lounge, electronica, chill-out, pop, even trip-hop, this charming album is friendly, accessible, and a sustained delight. The LP opens with the lounge jazz instrumental “La […]
ALBUM COVERS | ARTIST PORTRAITS PART 3
Welcome to the final part of this meandering series of album covers featuring what we will loosely call portraits of the band. Once again we’ll begin in the 1960s, with an all-time favourite. I love the way artist/designer Bernard Yeszin utilised the television image of The Monkees (Davey’s shirt, Mike’s beanie) to create an engaging […]
ALBUM COVERS | 10 MORE ARTIST PORTRAITS
More album cover art with an emphasis on art. Here are ten record covers with portraits of the artist. Some are from the Vinyl Connection collection, a couple were sourced from the internet. Several were suggested in the comments section of the initial post and are gratefully included. Let’s continue the pattern of starting with […]
ALBUM COVERS | 10 ARTIST PORTRAITS
Quintessentially Sixties in its technicolour glory, The Beatles 1968 animated film holds up very well due to the sheer vivacity of the artwork. Directed by George Dunning, Time magazine labelled it “a smash”, observing that the film “delighted adolescents and aesthetes alike”. The album was released in January 1969, by which time it was somewhat […]
1972 COUNTDOWN… FESTIVALS!
GLASTONBURY FAYRE In Vinyl Connection’s 2015 end-of-year report the category of “Most Ridiculous Purchase” was won by the 3 LP set allegedly documenting the 1971 rock festival, Glastonbury Fayre. The following points were offered as explanation. A triple live album (Vinyl Connection’s obsession with these beasts is well documented) The 1972 original is unbelievably rare. (VC […]
1972 COUNTDOWN… #50 — #46
50 PENTANGLE — SOLOMAN’S SEAL The last album in Pentangle’s original run, Solomon’s Seal is not well regarded by critics who, in my opinion, are being too hard by half. Yes, this LP does seem a little light on the bubbling invention and restrained exuberance of earlier works, but it is solid and thoroughly enjoyable. […]
vinylconnection.com.au 