More Random Vinyl

In Sydney on a working holiday, managed to snaffle a Record Store Day copy of the mono 'Saucerful Of Secrets' that I missed out on in my local shop. Thanks Hum in Newtown, Sydney.

Random Vinyl post # 2, Kraut, Eno and related and more.

I've collected a whole bunch of vinyl over the past few weeks, mainly 2nd hand and all pretty good stuff.

One afternoon week before last, after a particularly tiring teaching day and needing to kill a bit of time before I picked up my son up from school, I ventured into a neighbourhood antique and collectables store that has a large selection of old vinyl. I'd been through the racks maybe 3 or 4 months ago and didn't find a whole lot. Couldn't believe my luck this time. I walked out with 12 albums and paid probably way too much, but it was one of those days…I don't drink or do drugs…so…

Firstly here are the Krautrock band/solo and related records I managed to find:

Klaus Schulze (Germ pressing), Kraftwerk (Aus pressing), Tangerine Dream's Edgar Froese (Aus pressing), Cluster (Germ pressing), Robert Schröder (Germ pressing on Klaus Schulze's label) and Neu's Michael Rother (Germ pressing)

Next up we have Rick Wright's first solo album 'Wet Dream'. It's an Aus pressing, but as can be seen it is a gold stamped promo copy. Long time Floyd fan, but hadn't managed to ever hear Rick's first album, it was out of print for a long time. It's pretty literally "yacht rock" for much of it, kind of the more mellow end of mid 70s Floyd, with more saxophone. It's not without it's charm, but a tad too easy-listening. I do love Rick's soothing voice. 

Some Eno and related up next.

Eno's 'Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)' which is a really nice mid 70s German pressing. Eno's 'Another Green World' (Aus pressing). Then we have a couple of Eno produced gems from the 70s; Harold Budd's 'The Pavilion Of Dreams' (Jap pressing) and Laraaji's 'Day of Radiance' which is the 3rd in Eno's Ambient series.

Finally, the loser of the bunch, SPK's 'Gold and Poison'. SPK were an Australian/UK outfit from the late 70s/early 80s, creating influential post-punk industrial and electronics. Their first 3 or so albums are essential records in that area of music, but this one from 1988 seems like a blatant attempt at commercial dance-infused pop. It's rather horrible, but I must admit to not listening to side 2. Founder member Graham Revelle was soon to move to the US and is now a successful score composer in Hollywood. Oh well, 11 out of 12 is not bad and they were all in fantastic shape.

This last Friday, again after teaching I went into the record store that I work in sometimes to check out what new pressings and second hand stuff the boss had got in. First thing I saw in 2nd hand rack was Nina Hagen's 3rd album which has been a long time favourite via friends records and cassette dubs, but I've never actually had my own copy. Now I do.

Nerdy I know, but this KISS album is my favourite from them (sue me). Now, I still have an original pressing that I bought back in the mid 90s with the mini poster, to replace my original copy I got upon release in 1981, but parted with with most of my KISS collection for some dough when I was a struggling student. However I wanted to get a complete copy with all the inserts which includes a KISS Army application form. This one had that form and I didn't notice until I got it home, but it had 2 mini posters in it. It's a sale bin copy as it's been hole punched (both posters have a hole), but everything is intact and in not bad shape. 

I bought some new vinyl too, the Broadcast/The Focus Group collaboration on Warp records. Beautiful stuff, RIP Trish Keenan.

Finally yesterday, the family went on an outing to a little town about 1/2 hour drive away that has a great bunch of 2nd hand shops and a weekly street market.

I couldn't believe my luck with getting the original 1973 Ohr Records, quadraphonic copy of Tangerine Dream's 'Atem'. It was in a rack without a price on it, I took it up to the counter and asked, the guy umm and ahh-d about it, because going by some of the other overpriced records, I figured the guy did his 'research'. I was expecting a big price, but he gave it to me for $15. Was well chuffed.

 Another Antique/collectable shop on the other side of town has had this one for a while, overpriced, but I wanted it. Interestingly I think the reason it was not sold is that it was placed in the W section for 'Why' rather than D for 'Discharge'. Original print/pressing. Amazing punk record.

Phew.