991.com Sleevenotes : A Blog about Collecting Rare Vinyl 7", 12" & LP Records, CDs, Memorabilia & Music

Folk me!

Driving home last Wednesday evening I happened to catch on the radio the last 15 minutes of The Mike Harding Show.  Mostly I remember Mike Harding as a comedian but it turns out he’s a bit of a folk legend. Coincidentally he’s also Lancastrian and I was actually driving back from Manchester so there could have been some kind of weird folk cosmic waves in play.  Anyhow, I’m not usually one to listen to folk music whilst driving – it’s a bit too soporific, and I didn’t have a bale of hay in the back of the van - but before I could channel-hop to something less fiddle-de-dee the Rochdale cowboy cued up The Lazy Boy Chant by an Orkney band called The Chair.  And a right good stomping tune it was too.  So I bought their album ‘Huinka’ and have now played it three times in as many days - and there was not a beer festival in sight (more’s the pity) - I think this means I’m becoming a bit of a folker.

 

Eric Clapton vs the local police

Last week’s announcement that Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck will finally play together at London’s O2 arena had some of my fellow office-dwellers all hot & bothered and ready to raid their piggy banks for the requisite £100+ per ticket, plus parking, plus £25 tee-shirt, not to mention the over-priced burger-du-rat and warm beer from a plastic cup.  Really, I cannot be bothered.  Much closer to home, however, I can recommend the Police Squad who will be playing again this week (Thursday October 1^st) at one of my local pubs, The Walnut Tree in East Farleigh.  The gig is free, along with the parking, and I can confirm that the Shepherd Neame beer is cellar-cool, with plastic pints entirely absent.  For an even more relaxed night out I am looking forward to wining & dining at Pizza Express Maidstone’s music room.  Many a great singer & band have played there and on 6^th December the uniquely talented Thea Gilmore will be presenting Wintertide, a special set of seasonal songs, and no turkeys. And, all for a mere fifteen quid - count me in, two, three, four.

You too

If you missed U2’s recent 360° Tour concerts, or if the reported sound problems spoiled your fun, you could rewind a few years – actually it’s an unbelievable 12 years – and relive the live extravaganza that was their Popmart Tour, filmed on 3^rd December 1997 in Mexico City.  For, in the deep, dark recesses of this office-cum-tardis I have found a secret stash of brand new, unplayed, still sealed ‘Special Edition’ DVDs, resplendent in their holographic packaging. Remixed in 5.1 surround sound and digitally regraded (whatever that means) this double DVD set features previously unreleased material, alongside all the usual suspects & favourites.  And, now that this set is out-of-print, we have them available for less that you’d pay for a Wembley burger & a can of pop.  Some say it’s even better than the real thing…

Now & Then

When you’ve sold more than 100 million records you can well afford to indulge yourself in a one of Maranello’s finest.  Indeed, I believe it’s compulsory. So, I was interested to see this little beauty recently advertised in Classic & Sports Car magazine.  Now if the Carpenters are your artist of choice you certainly cannot say your collection is complete without this in your garage.  I reckon a couple of hundred large might just secure it - a small price to pay for a glorious Daytona - then you can cruise down to the Riviera playing ‘Yesterday Once More’ on your 8-Track. Rainy days and Mondays just a distant memory...

Up the Tempo

Our first copy of this genuinely rare original 1957 In London Vol. 2 UK 'microgroove' vinyl LP, on the highly collectable Tempo Records label (TAP12), has recently landed. Beautifully evoking the post-war gloom of mid-fifties London and a historic slice of jazz in Britain at the time, it stars Victor Feldman's Big Band, Nine-tet and Quintet recorded in December ‘56 and January '57 with notable performances from Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Jimmy Deuchar, Dizzy Reece, Kenny Napper, Phil Seamen and more.  Pressed in small quantities, the 'rough' textured white & purple Tempo labels are spotless with no spindle wear, indicating very little play, if any.  In terms of condition this is one of the best examples of an early Tempo record to surface on the collectors market and possibly the best original copy you are likely to find of this particular album. A superb jazz rarity to be treasured and an investment item for the future.  If I look this good at 52 years old I’ll be extremely pleased, not to mention very surprised!