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

Tuesday's Top Three including Brian Setzer, Rolling Stones & ZZ Top

 BRIAN SETZER Best Of The Big Band 2002 Japanese only 18-track  Toy's Factory label promotional sample CD issued to radio stations  and reviewers ahead of the actual release, including the bonus  recordings 'El Diabloe' and 'Scatman Jack'. Custom stamped inner rim  on the disc complete with lyric booklet picture sleeve plus Japanese  insert, fold-out Japanese lyric insert and  unique stickered obi-strip  TFCK-87283

     ROLLING STONES Satisfaction - «l'âge d'or» Vol 4 1973 French-only  12-track black Decca label vinyl LP, unique laminated gatefold picture  sleeve with internal booklet including interview & facts with French  text. The sleeve shows negligable shelfwear with the booklet showing  a tiny area of wear to the top of the back page - the vinyl is in very  near MINT condition making this a great example and superb playing  copy

  ZZ TOP Give It Up 1990 UK limited edition 2-track 7"   SHAPED PICTURE DISC, also including 'Sharp Dressed  Man', issued in the barcode-stickered clear PVC sleeve with  backing insert! W9509P

Top 10 Jazz albums of 2013

Stan Tracey and Wayne Shorter are among Ivan Hewett's pick of the 10 best jazz albums of 2013

Jazz expert Ivan Hewett picks his 10 best albums of the year, including The Flying Pig by the late Stan Tracey

 Aki Takase: My Ellington (Intakt Records)

Pianist Aki Takase’s hommage to Duke Ellington shows the profound insight that only love nurtured over decades can bring. Sometimes she makes Ellington’s original emerge miraculously from angular abstraction. Sometimes she gives us his music ‘neat’, before leading it somewhere new. There are more ideas in a single track than one normally finds in an entire album. So choosing a download track is difficult, but A Little Max (Parfait) captures Takase’s wit and power to move, on the tiniest scale..

 

Read the full article at The Telegraph: 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/worldfolkandjazz/10506104/Top-10-Jazz-albums-of-2013.html

Search the 991.com Jazz Store here: http://991.com/CollectorsStores/Genre/Jazz.aspx

Monday's Top Three including Crosby Stills Nash & Young, The Yardbirds & Blondie

 CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG Déjà Vu Very rare 1970 first  Japanese issue 10-track vinyl LP, manufactured by Nippon  Grammophon on the blue & green Atlantic label, housed in a  heavyweight fully textured gatefold sleeve with pasted front  cover & gold embossed titles. This super rare pressing is  complete with the often missing lyric insert plus the very hard  to find original 'CSN&Y Present' green obi.

 THE YARDBIRDS Five Live Yardbirds 1965 Japanese 10-track  black & silver Odeon label stereo LP, recorded live at the  Marquee Club in London, unique Japanese only textured  picture sleeve with fold-out lyric insert.

 BLONDIE Rapture 1981 Japanese 2-track vinyl 12" single  featuring the Special Disco Mix plus also includes Live It Up -  Special Disco Mix, housed in a picture sleeve with lyric insert  and obi-strip WWS-27002

Saturday's Top Three Including Electric Light Orchestra, Sarah Vaughan, Daft Punk

 ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA PART II World Tour (1996 UK AUTOGRAPHED 16-page tour programme including introduction in five different languages [English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese], biographical information, 1991 to 1996 tour dates with world map and lots of great photographs. The programme has been signed by five band members - Phil Bates, Mik Kaminski, Louis Clark, Eric Troyer and the late Kelly Groucutt - against their individual biographical pages in black marker pen)** Complete With Certificate Of Authenticity **

SARAH VAUGHAN Live From Japan (1986 Japanese 9-track vinyl LP, recorded live at the Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo, Japan on September 24th 1973 with John Gianelli [bass], Carl Schroeder [piano] and Jimmy Cobb [drums]. Pasted glossy picture sleeve withJapanese liner notes/lyrics insert and obi-strip with an image of Sarah 20EL5003)

DAFT PUNK Lose Yourself To Dance (Official 2013 Japanese Sony label 1-track promotional only CD-R, taken from the fourth studio album, Random Access Memories featuring Pharrell Williams. Custom printed disc with a custom title picture insert printed with release details, all text in Japanese)

 

 

Friday's Top Three Including Paul & Linda McCartney, Boney M, Blondie

 PAUL & LINDA MCCARTNEY Ram: Archive Collection - Advance Release (2012 US advance promotional Deluxe Edition 3-Disc set [2-CD/DVD]. Ram forms one part of the Paul McCartney archive collection, personally supervised by Paul and newly remasteredat Abbey Road Studios. Originally released in May of 1971, this is the only album to be credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney. The album topped the charts hitting number one in the UK and number two in the US, which gave Paul his first post-Beatles US number one single with 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey'. The second disc features 8 bonus audio tracks including remixes, whilst the NTSC DVD includes Ramming, an 11-minute documentary on the making of the album, along with music videos, live recording and behing the scenes footage from the 1972 European Tour. Each disc is clearly custom printed 'Advance Release' and 'Promotional Use Only', comes in a tri-fold card picture sleeve also printed 'Advance Release' on the spine HRM-33837-00)

BONEY M featuring BOBBY FARRELL Eye Dance (1985 Japanese 10-track Atlantic white title label promo sample LP, picture sleeve with Japanese/English lyric inserts and discography obi-strip. The sleeve has only minimal wear whilst the vinyl is in'near as new' condition P-13243)

BLONDIE Eat To The Beat (Rare 1979 Japanese 14-track vinyl LP, including bonus tracks Heart Of Glass and Sunday Girl, picture sleeve with original picture inner, fold out Japanese text biography/lyric sheet and discography obi-strip WWS-81255)

Overspent at Christmas? Need to raise some cash?

991.com will pay top prices for mint condition records, CDs & music memorabilia

we always want to buy original vinyl LPs, EPs, 45s, CDs, and pop memorabilia
60s pop, 70s rock, prog, psych, blues, folk, punk, metal & jazz

collections large and small and one off rarities all considered

or consign your high end and one off rarities - we'll sell them on your behalf

we can arrange to visit by appointment or bring your items to our offices;

alternatively we can arrange for our courier to collect from you

short of time? no problem, come along with your items to our Buying Days on

Friday & Saturday 10th and 11th January 2014:-

http://991.com/features/buying-open-day-to-sell-us-your-records-in-kent.aspx

call the buying team on 01474-815099, or email for a free quotation: [email protected]

the UK's leading buyers of rare vinyl records, CDs & music memorabilia since 1987

Trying to get in touch with 991.com?

Fortunately, we're not under water like much of the South East of England, but we are still experiencing some intermittent issues with our email. In the meantime, if you need to speak to us, don't hesitate to call us - we're here until 7pm tonight on 01484-815010.

Don't forget you can still get free standard delivery in the UK for eligible formats and reduced overseas shipping!  See what you missed here: http://991.com/Buy/LatestArrivals.aspx

Details of the offer are here: http://991.com/offer/special.aspx

 

 

Thursday's Top Three Including Miller Anderson, Coldplay, Pink Floyd.

MILLER ANDERSON Bright City (Very Rare 1971 UK 7-track stereo LP, front laminated gatefold picture sleeve with lyrics on the reverse. With Mick Weaver of the Keef Hartley Band (which Miller had just left) providing various keyboard treats andMadeline Bell & Liza Strike providing backing vocals, this was a album that was criminally overlooked at the time and now hunted ferociously by collectors the world over as a classic. Apart from a little corner scuffing, the sleeve on this copy remains near 'as new' with no smoke staining or laminate cresing evident. The vinyl too remains near 'as new' with little sign of play. As a nice touch, there are period reviews of the album affixed to the poly lined inner. A fantastic album in fantastic condition - You will not find better than this! SDL3)

COLDPLAY Christmas Lights (Official 2010 UK Parlophone 1-track promotional-only CD-R for the download-only festive single. Custom printed disc + picture insert)

PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (Ultra rare 1973 UK first pressing 10-track LP with SOLID BLUE PRISM Harvest labels with silver lettering, Gramophone Co. perimeter text and has A2/B2 matrices. Housed in the stickered classic prismgatefold picture sleeve with, which differs from later issues in that it has a single right-side pocket opening only and displays a distinct green colour tinge unlike the jet black print of later issues. Complete with a black poly-lined inner,both of the largefold-out posters and two unused stickers SHVL804)
Please see Tracklisting/Additional Information for more details on condition

Wednesday's Top Three Including The Three Tenors, The Beatles, Ashkan

   THE THREE TENORS Halcyon Days Final Design Enameled Box (Way back in 1994, Halcyon Days of London, holder of no fewer than three Royal Warrants, were commissioned to produce some commemorative enameled boxes for the Los Angeles event of 16th July, which saw the Three Tenors perform at Dodger Stadium, with orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta. These were not run-of-the-mill boxes, but were 1½" x 2½" works of art, manufactured using traditional methods of enameling glass onto copper that date back to the eighteenth century. The box was then edged & hinged with 24kt gold and was manufactured with a special commemorative design for the occasion, to be produced in a run of approximately seventy as gifts for VIPs and persons associated with the performance, with a special inscription inside the lid. This is one of those enamel boxes. Manufactured to rigid high standards, this carries the final approved design on the lid and is hinged to open at one of the longer sides. From the personal collection of Martin Goldsmith, responsible for licensing and merchandising for some of the biggest organisations and for many of the worlds iconic events, including this one. This has to rank as one of the ultimate collectibles for The Three Tenors as well as an Investment item in its own right. As a bonus, this box also has a backstage laminate for that event. Needless to say, we will be unlikely to ever be lucky enough to stock another of these at this price, so once it's gone ...)

THE BEATLES Brass Apple Paperweight (Extremely rare original UK promotional-only brass Apple paperweight - one of only 100 believed to have been made and given out as gifts to those attending the opening of Apple Studios at 3 Savile Row. The paperweight measures 5½" high from the base to the top of the stem and 3½" wide. The apple itself is hollow, splits in two around the centre and is machine tooled; the stem is hand made and unscrews from the top - a different design to the morefamiliar taller version. The paperweight shows just a few light scuffs as you would expect, however it remains in wonderful condition with a lovely patina of age - a superb piece of original Apple memorabilia, these very rarely appear for sale)

ASHKAN In From The Cold (Very rare original classic 1969 8-track stereo vinyl LP on the light blue & silver Decca Nova series label, the band's recording debut, & what a progressive rock masterpiece it is! Propelled by singer Steve Bailey's hoarse growl & the band's penchant for frantic driving guitars, harsh vocals & pounding drums, it features the epic 12 minute 'Darkness', & is housed in a beautiful sky blue front laminated sleeve with pinched spine & blue-for-stereo company inner with period review clippings attached. What's more, the condition is truly jawdropping! Coming from a one previous owner archive collection, both the sleeve & vinyl remain in near MINT condition. Unrepeatable. A must have! SDN-R1)

A UPDATE FROM THE WIND BLOWN 991.COM TEAM...

On the back of the wet and windy storms last night, our power has finally been restored, hurah!!

You'll be pleased to know our rare record vaults survived unscathed but we are still experiencing some intermittent problems with our email. Please bear with us.

In the meantime, we wish EVERYONE a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS; thanks for supporting us for another year - we sincerely appreciate it.

From the 991.com team

 

Tuesday's Top Three Including BullDog Breed, The Gods, Humble Pie

 BULLDOG BREED Made In England (Monster rare 1969 first UK issue 14-track stereo vinyl LP on the orange & silver Deram Nova series label, a late summer of love/mod effort here highly prized among British psych collectors, front laminated picture sleeve with pinched spine & mono/stereo hole indicator on the back, with blue-for-stereo company inner. This is a glorious one previous owner copy, secured from a mint archive collection of late sixties, early seventies rarities. Both the sleeve & vinyl are in astonishing near MINT condition. Highly recommended SDN5)

THE GODS Revelation (Very rare 1969 UK second issue of the 1968 10-track stereo vinyl LP on the short-lived one box black & silver Columbia label, the debut longplayer from this legendary British prog psych band, who featured pre-Uriah Heep Ken Hensley &Lee Kerslake in their ranks, front laminated picture sleeve with rounded flipbacks & correct period company inner. This is a one previous owner copy obtained from a mint archive collection of late sixties, early seventies rarities! Thesleeveshows hardly any signs of its age & the vinyl looks barely touched. We guarantee you won't find a better copy! SCX6286)

 

HUMBLE PIE Humble Pie (Beautiful archive quality 1970 first UK issue 8-track stereo vinyl LP on the tan A&M label with A1/B1 matrices, featuring the gentle Earth & Water Song [by Peter Frampton] buttressed between the ultra heavy numbers, 'OneEyed Trouser Snake Rumba' & a blinding cover of Willie Dixon's 'I'm Ready', housed in a textured gatefold sleeve with magnificent artwork illustrations front & back! The plain company inner even has period review clippings attached. This is aone previous owner copy & has not seen daylight since release. Both the sleeve & vinyl remain in spectacular near MINT condition AMLS986)

Pop's best & worst moments of 2013

From David Bowie's comeback to Miley Cyrus's twerking, here are the best and worst happenings in pop in 2013

1. French duo tapped into disco memories to make the most purely joyous dance blockbuster of the year, reviving the career of the legendary Nile Rodgers to boot.

 

Lorde's single Royals has amassed 20 million YouTube views.

2. Precocious New Zealand teenager whose smart, bittersweet lyrics and minimalist groove created a new pop template

Read the full list here at The Telegraph

 

 

 

 

MADONNA X-STATIC at 991.com

We have a copy of the RARE and AUTOGRAPHED Italian hand-bound 'X-Static Proc=ess' art book. A limited edition of 1000 copies, it features 260 stunning images printed on customized delicate tissue-like textured paperand presented in a unique flock effect paper slipcase.

This is a presentation of the 10-hour photo shoot by famed photographer Steven Klein of Madonna as featured on the Re-Invention Tour introduction video montage and on Madonna's 'I'm GoingToTell You A Secret' tour documentary. Due to the nature of how fragile this book is, a smalll number of the pages in the middle have started to come away from the binding, however all pages are present and correct. The slipcase of this copy has been boldly signed in silver by Steven Klein and hand numbered. Extremely rare and fragile

http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=348670

Monday's Top Three including Galliard, Status Quo & Free

 GALLIARD Strange Pleasure (Extremely rare 1970 first UK issue 10-track stereo vinyl LP on the orange & silver Deram Nova label, a wonderful progressive rock/jazz effort by this obscure British group that is now highly regarded by collectors, front laminated picture sleeve with pinched spine & mono/stereo hole indicator on the back with blue-for-stereo company inner featuring a couple of rare press clippings attached. This is a one previous owner copy from an archive collection of latesixties, early seventies rarities. The sleeve is tape reinforced along the bottom but there is no split. The condition is otherwise astonishing. The sleeve is near mint & the vinyl looks barely touched SDN4)

STATUS QUO Spare Parts (Rare 1969 first UK issue 12-track stereo vinyl LP on the powder blue Pye label, the second album by the legendary English rockers & the final one in the psychedelic vein, fully laminated picture sleeve with stereo catalogue sticker affixed on reverse. This is a beautiful one previous owner copy from a jawdropping archive collection of late sixties to early seventies rarities. The sleeve shows very little of its age & the vinyl looks barely touched. The first copy we've ever stocked! NSPL18301)

FREE Highway (Rare 1970 UK first issue pink rimmed 'palm tree' label 9-track vinyl LP, the fourth studio album by the English rock band, featuring Ride On Pony & the brilliant The Stealer, picture sleeve with embossed band member image on theback. The sleeve shows only one or two faint spots of foxing but is otherwise in beautiful condition with hardly any other signs of its age. The vinyl looks barely touched! ILPS9138)

 

 

The latest Japanese shipment arrives at 991.com

We've had a shipment from our Japanese buyer arrive just in time for Christmas!

Here are a few highlights... and you can see the rest being added via our latest arrivals page.

DOOBIE BROTHERS Japan Tour '81

Rare 1981 Japanese Warner 'Special DJ Copy' 10-track white title label promotional only LP, featuring a compilation of material from 1972 to 1981 including Listen To The Music, Long Train Runnin', Takin' It To The Streets, Echoes Of Love and Can't Let It Get Away. Unique custom picture sleeve with tracklisting, Japanese biography text and picture discography on the the reverse. The sleeve on this copy has some minor storage wear mostly on the edges,whilst the vinyl is in 'near as new' condition - a great copy of this rarity! PS-194

 

ROLLING STONES Volume 2

1968 Japanese black & silver London label 'Stereo Elite' series 4-track 7" vinyl EP playing at 33rpm, featuring Bye Bye Johnny, Money, You Better Move On and Poison Ivy, housed in a unique card picture sleeve with scalloped flipbacks and Japanese text notes printed on the reverse, complete with lyric insert. Despite being nearly 40 years old, the sleeve shows barely any wear and the vinyl is 'near as new' condition, retaining a beautiful shine with only a few spindlewear on the labels indicating little play - a gem! LS133)

 

JUDAS PRIEST Special DJ Copy

Mega rare 1984 Japanese 13-track promotional-only vinyl LP, housed in a unique gatefold picture sleeve with live photos from the Hammersmith Odeon, London show from December 1983, also including a Japanese text insert. Apart from some minor foxing the sleeve has only light storage wear, whilst the vinyl is in beautiful 'near as new' condition QY.3P-90068)

 

A Vinyl Collection to trump all Vinyl Collections at 991.com NOW

Last week, our Head Buyer acquired a relatively small but incredible collection of Vinyl Albums and 7" singles. Almost every other LP is a rare jewel in astonishing condition. Not necessarily pricey, but as near new as you could possibly expect to see some forty years on. A one owner collection who obviously cared deeply; these items are ready to go to a new home.

Here are some of the artists included:-

Wynder K, Humble Pie, The Kinks, Galliard, Andwella, Black Cat Bones, The Elastic Band, Ashkan, Rare Amber, Aardvark, Tintern Abbey, Miller Anderson, Keef Hartley, Bronco, Mick Abrahams, Bee Gees, Quatermass, Pot Licker, Velvet Opera, The Who, Hookfoot, Alan Brown, Bulldog Breed, The Gods, The Elastic Band... 

And that's just for starters. 

Where they've not already been snapped up, you will find these gems in our Blue Chip Store, on our latest arrivals or simply search by artist.

Rare, Obscure & Investment Grade Collectable Records & CDs at 991.com

We have had some amazing collections arrive in just the last week.  Not least, we are proud to be handling the personal collection of Martin Goldsmith; responsible for the licensing and merchandising for some of the biggest organisations and for many of the worlds iconic events. Over the coming months we will be cataloguing for sale his collection which features some wonderful one off and incredibly rare pieces.

Keep your eyes feasted on the latest arrivals page - items from this collection will refer to Martin Goldsmith.

A few examples to whet your appetite!

BOB DYLAN The Picnic At Blackbushe Aerodrome - Rare vintage 1978 UK decorative
mirror commissioned by the legendary concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith. Issued to commemorate the one day festival at Blackbushe Aerodrome in Camberley, Surrey on the 15th July. Also on the bill were Eric Clapton & His Band, Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Lake and [although not listed on the mirror] Merger. The design replicates that used on the concert programme & poster with added ticket price details. From the personal collection of Martin Goldsmith, responsible for licensing & merchandising for some of the biggest organisations and for many of the worlds iconic events. 

 

DAVID BOWIE Friends Fan Club Pack (From the personal collection of Martin Goldsmith, responsible for licensing and merchandising for some of the biggest organisations and for many of the worlds iconic events. Cast your mind back to the beginning of the 1980s, Bowie decided to start a fan club with a little help from Martin Goldsmith and his Promotions company. The club didn't last long and only two issues of the fanzine were issued before Bowie decided to cancel the whole thing. What we have here is a copy of the first fan pack issued circa 1981, includes the first magazine with membership form, merchandise insert/form, two different A4 sized 'Bowie Friends' card photo prints with facsimile signature at the bottom, a 10" x 8" black & white publicity photograph and two identical enamel pin badges featuring a head image of David wearing a pink pointed hat. As a bonus this also comes with a rare copy of the Japanese 'Odd Story Vol.II' fan magazine. All housed in a fold-out black & white card folder with a face image of Bowie on the front. Apart from some minor storage wear to the folder all contents are in an excellent condition. Stunning and unlikely to see again)     LED ZEPPELIN It Is A Great Life This Life Of Music... Rare official 2007 UK 52-page concert programme, produced for the reunion concert at The O2 in London on the 10th December 2007 in aid of the Ahmet Ertegün education fund, this was only available at the venue and not available online or anywhere else. Featuring details about Ahmet along with photographs and details about the people performing, includes an NTSC all region DVD with a running time of 114 minutes [attached to the inside back cover], featuring exclusive interviews and different band performance snippets. ** we have various sizes of this, check the site for info **

Blur: The Band That Defined Britpop

Blur are one of the most instantly recognisable band to have emerged from the 90's Britpop scene. Their youthful anthems inspired a whole generation of late-teens and early twenty-somethings, and also their rivalry with a certain mancunian band was well documented in every music publication at the time, even to a point when both bands were playing in Portsmouth the same night, there was fear of a "Mod's Vs Rockers" style gang war (which never materialised. 

Their style progressed through the years, with the band all growing as musicians and creating more somber offerings such as 13, and Think Tank which were a far cry from Parklife or Girls and Boys. Their Avid fanbase stuck with them though, and have remained one of the revered bands in British music.

We recently picked up a fantastic collection of Blur, featuring a large portion of their back catalogue and some rare vinyl pressings that we almost never see. Some of the highlights are below.

Coca Cola Planet Live - Ultra rare official 1996 Austrian/European Austereo/MCM syndicated double CD radio show. Features 23 exclusive live tracks recorded at Wembley Stadium in London and includes Popscene, She's So High, Sunday Sunday, Charmless Man and interview segments. Running time over 120 minutes. A must for any real Blur collection!

 

 

 

13 - 1999 UK Food label <b>limited edition</b> 13-track double LP including Tender and Coffee & TV, housed in a stickered gatefold picture sleeve complete with original embossed artwork inners. An album that saw Blurs first major shift in musical direction, but one that was a welcome change showing both a more somber and mature songwriting ability. A must for any Blur fan that sounds stunning on vinyl!

Blur - Rare original 1997 pressing UK 14-track double vinyl LP which includes the massive hit singles Beetlebum and Song 2, housed in gatefold picture with embossed artwork inners. Heralded by many as Blur's greatest effort, and the first original pressing we have ever seen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wassailing Song - Ultra Rare 1992 UK single sided 7" vinyl single, which was available only at a
Salvation Army venue gig and limited to just 500 copies. Credited on the label as 'Presented And Arranged By Gold Frankincense And Blur', this is without doubt one of the biggest indie rarities ever and is almost impossible to find. The vinyl is in excellent condition with just a few light scuffs - The ultimate Blur vinyl collectable!

To see our full catalogue of Blur Rarities and Collectables head to 991.com and take a look

Friday's Top Three including ZZ Top, Sandie Shaw & Agnetha Faltskog

 ZZ TOP The Complete Studio Album 1970-1990 2013 UK 100-track 10-CD box set, features the original mixes of the first ten classic albums, including for the first time on CD ZZ Top's First Album, Rio Grande Mud and Tejas, each disc in a card wallet picture sleeve featuring the original artwork, housed in a clamshell style card picture box which is still sealed in the hype stickered shrink

  SANDIE SHAW The Sandie Shaw Supplement 2013 UK 23-track Collector's Edition CD, the fourth studio album from the English pop singer originally released in 1968 including eleven bonus recordings all digitally remastered, digipak picture sleevewith 16-page booklet featuring new sleevenotes by Keith Altham, still sealed in the original stickered shrink

  AGNETHA FALTSKOG When You Really Loved Someone 2013 UK limited edition single sided vinyl 7" Picture Disc single, taken from the new album, the b-side having the lyrics to the song, custom stickered clear PVC sleeve

991.com brings you excerpts from this weeks R.C. Weekly Newsletter

991.com brings you excerpts from this weeks R.C. Weekly Newsletter. If you want to receive the full unedited version with news, reviews and special offers please email [email protected]

*****

Merry Christmas! At this time of the year that our thoughts turn to previous Christmases (Christmi?), and past loves, and where life has led us. And being a record collector, in my case those past loves are records. It was at Christmas that my cousin in Harlow with the long hair, Michael, took me up to his room that was painted a groovy colour – mauve I think – and showed me a copy of Deep Purple’s Fireball. There was the band as a meteor, aglow, travelling through an infinitely black (well, blue-black) cosmos. It looked exciting to my newly 13-year-old eyes. “You should get this,” Michael advised. “It’s good.” He was so definite about it that I did. And he was right, even though the band disowned it later (bands disown everything, then later grudgingly admit that it was actually OK, if flawed: it’s part of the job description). Now I don’t want to come on with that old tosh that the TV companies love, where everything is a journey in which the participant Learns Something Important, most probably never to be in a reality TV show again, but being into music is a journey. Sometimes literally. I’ve found myself being told to go away (in stronger terms) by a crack dealer in a New York housing scheme, being hustled by kids (and I do me kid, maybe about 10) in a Jamaican yard who ran off like a shot when the police pulled up, and most weirdly, finding a Mint copy of Maceo & All the King’s Men’s Southwick 45 on House Of The Fox in a scruffy London room I was lucky enough to be able to kip in when I had nowhere to live.

Most of the time, the journey has been a more personal one, developing my taste in music record by record. Hence, what started with a casual recommendation from a cousin one Christmas has wound up with my DJing a reggae set at a birthday party last Monday: we don’t know where music is going to take us. I enjoyed Monday night: I did it for fun. I was the warm-up and finished my set at 9, so I figured that I might as well play what I like as nobody would be drunk enough to dance yet (although a few did, including mine host, The Mirror’s music writer Gavin Martin, who is not one of those notorious rock critics who wouldn’t shake a leg if they were standing during an earth tremor). DJing is a peculiar thing: you never know what you’ll be asked for. One person came up and wanted to hear Curly Locks or Tenement Yard, neither of which I had with me. Someone else asked for Phyllis Dillon on Treasure Isle, which I’d just cued up to play. I suppose if I played MP3s, I would have anything anyone wanted, but then they might as well DJ themselves.

As for what happened to my copy of Fireball, maybe you own it. I’ve got a feeling it has the initials “MM” on the Harvest label because my brother took it to a party and wanted to prove ownership (not that he did own it!). It was stored at someone’s house when I had nowhere to live, and that someone sold it at Camden Lock one weekend, around 1983 I think. They later handed me their tenancy when they emigrated, so I can hardly complain. Don’t worry, I don’t want ti back! I bought the album again later, with the all-important lyric sheet, and it still sounds good to me, an opinion heavily clouded by nostalgia, I’d imagine. Past love? And present.

On a less wistful note, here’s why you should support your local record store, not steal from it: Youtube

Got to say that I’m fed up with all these people (Costa Coffee, various radio stations) jumping on the bandwagon to ban Cliff. I’m not much of a Cliff fan – I own three records, The Young Ones, Cliff Sings No 2 EP in stereo, and Ease Along, originally like this, which I really like. But banning Cliff is such a cliché that it only makes the one calling for the ban look way more out of touch than Cliff himself. Saddoes.
We’ve been working on the new issue: the saving of Eric Clapton; Frankie Goes To Hollywood, pop’s forgotten revolution; Bob Lind, the poetic troubadour; the deliciously savoury Humble Pie; Blue Magoos, the psychedelic kid; Bigfoot, P-Funk’s king of the beats; and punk from South Africa. Plus the best of 2013 and all the usual nutty collector stuff that other mags are too up themselves to be seen with. It’s out on 2 January 2014 and I wish you a happy new year to go with it.

That’s it for the newsletter until next year. A new one will pop into your inbox on 9 January. Thank you for reading my ramblings and for supporting Record Collector through 2013. I promise you lots of amazing stories to read in the coming 12 months. I can hardly wait to start working on them.

Hope you have a wonderful and deeply musical Christmas. Best wishes as ever,

Ian McCann

Editor, Record Collector