Mark Smotroff

Consider it like Yes' Going For The One compared to Close To The Edge or Relayer...

Revisiting Nektar's underappreciated 1974 circus concept album "Down To Earth" before digging into a new 4CD expanded reissue. if Nektar's side-long epics like Recycled & Remember The Future were too much for you, this features shorter song structures but is no less good. Consider it like Yes' Going For The One compared to Close To The Edge or Relayer. And yes, this is an original UK pressing.

Revisiting Nektar's 1974 circus concept LP "Down To Earth" (original UK pressing) before digging into a new 4CD expanded reissue. If Nektar's side-long epics Recycled & Remember The Future were too much for you, this features shorter song structures but is no less good. 1of2 #musicsky #music

And it's all utterly terrible and unlistrnable mostly large off key group sing-alongs, old-timey tunes, like an especially bad Mitch Miller record.

But the covers are pure 50s kitsch, an odd moment in time...

But the covers can be quite fascinating and fun so I've collected a bunch of them over the years including "music to break a lease"

I've Long had these lower two here but yesterday I found a additional album of MORE lease breaking music…

Cont'd

Thus a series of purpose oriented records started emerging from most every label… Music for dining, scaring neighbors, cocktails, clearing parties, dancing, dating, doing housework, writing, typing, thinking etc. Some were quite ridiculous and often musically rather bland.

Cont'd

Music For Doing - in the 1950s long before I was born, as long playing records became a cultural phenomenon record companies, sought ways to further ingrain them into peoples daily lives. Thus a series of purpose oriented records started emerging from most every label… Music for dining, scaring neighbors, cocktails, clearing parties, dancing, dating, doing housework, writing, typing, thinking etc. Some were quite ridiculous and often musically rather bland. But the covers can be quite fascinating and fun so I've collected a bunch of them over the years including "music to break a lease" I've Long had these lower two here but yesterday I found a additional album of MORE lease breaking music… And it's all utterly terrible and unlistrnable mostly large off key group sing-alongs, old-timey tunes, like an especially bad Mitch Miller record. But the covers are pure 50s kitsch, an odd moment in time...

Music For Doing - in the 1950s long before I was born, as long playing records became a cultural phenomenon record companies, sought ways to further ingrain them into peoples daily lives. Cont'd.

#musicsky #music #vinyl

Amaryllis Rising: And then there were four flowers...

#Amaryllis Rising: And then there were four #flowers...

YouTube video by Bernardo Vieira S., Jr. Tito Puente - Almendra

Check out this guitar solo... from 1957... sounds like a 12-string electric!
youtu.be/ptyy1bCGG7A?...

Friday night moods while waiting on a friend to arrive. Found this 1957 Tito Puente album in the bargyn bin in nice condition. There is some nice guitar work going on here, notably on opening track "La Ola Marina." Anyone know who that player was in his band at this time?

Friday night moods while waiting on a friend to arrive. Found this 1957 Tito Puente album in the bargain bin in nice condition. There is some nice guitar work here, notably on opening track "La Ola Marina." Anyone know who that player was in his band at this time? #musicsky #jazzsky #music #vinyl

#RIPNeilSedaka #Sedaka #musicsky #music

Another neat white label promo I've always wanted: The Beach Boys' Surf's Up. Vinyl is pretty solid, especially for 5bux (at Groove Merchant). I have a minty original stock copy so I'm good with this messy cover.

Another neat white label promo I've always wanted: The Beach Boys' Surf's Up. #Vinyl is pretty solid, especially for 5bux (at Groove Merchant). I have a minty original stock copy so I'm good with this messy cover. #musicsky #music

I'd forgotten about this handy UK only collection of early Elton John B-sides and non-LP tracks, Lady Samantha. Didn't realize until now that this 1980 LP was its first appearance on vinyl - initially released exclusively on cassette and 8-track in 1974! Thrift shop upgrade.

I'd forgotten about this handy UK only collection of early Elton John B-sides & non-LP tracks, Lady Samantha. Didn't realize until now that this 1980 LP was its first appearance on vinyl - initially released only on #cassette and 8-track in 1974! Thrift shop upgrade. #musicsky #music #vinylcommunity

And of course these are both different than the fabulous "A Rock & Roll Dance Party" with the creepy cut-out kids on the cover which appeared on RPM and Crown Records.

Which Rock & Roll Party would you prefer going to? While I'm not sure of the release dates of these 1950s compilations, I can't help but think one label was inspired by the other: Savoy subsidiary Regent Records in NJ and Ohio's King Records. And of course these are both different than the fabulous "A Rock & Roll Dance Party" with the creepy cut-out kids on the cover which appeared on RPM and Crown Records.

Which Rock & Roll Party would you prefer going to? While I'm not sure of the release dates of these 1950s compilations, I can't help but think one label was inspired by the other: Savoy subsidiary Regent Records in NJ and Ohio's King Records. #vinyl #vinylcomminity #music #musicsky #vinylsky 1of2

Recorded by Jerry Newman on a portable disc recorder -- who co-founded Esoteric/Counterpoint.

I wonder if a comprehensive study/restoration of all his field recordings has been done yet? The 78 is noisy so I'm playing this instead, but you can see what the label looks like here

As far as I know first pressings have the same cover but different labels, probably the same stampers).

The other day I found a 78 RPM disc on Vox of two tracks from this session which were released in 1947 as a 3 disc set.

Cont'd

Just a month before Christian entered hospital for tuberculosis, he died in '42, age 26.

Widely reissued/pirated, some years back I got close to the source on this original 1957-era Counterpoint Records LP (part of Esoteric Records)

Cont'd

One of the first jazz albums I ever purchased with my own money was on budget label Upfront Records featuring audience recordings of electric guitar legend Charlie Christian with Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk from May 1941. Just a month before Christian entered hospital for tuberculosis, he died in '42, age 26. Widely reissued and pirated, some years back I got close to the source on this original 1957-era Counterpoint Records LP (part of Esoteric Records; as far as I know first pressings have the same cover but Esoteric labels, probably the same stampers). The other day I found a 78 RPM disc on Vox of two tracks from this session which were released in 1947 as a 3 disc set. Recorded by Jerry Newman on a portable disc recorder -- who co-founded Esoteric/Counterpoint. I wonder if a comprehensive study/restoration of all his field recordings has been done yet? The 78 is noisy so I'm playing this instead, but you can see what the label looks like as it is my current profile image.

One of the first jazz albums I ever purchased with my own money was on budget label Upfront Records featuring audience recordings of electric guitar legend Charlie Christian with Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk from May 1941. Cont'd #jazzsky #jazz #vinyl #musicsky #music #vinylcommunity

Yes!

Only Thick as a Brick remains for me to find and I'll have all original UK LPs of the classic run thru A Passion Play.

I broke down & traded some things in so I could get this 1969-era UK pressing of Jethro Tull's 2nd LP, Stand Up, at Groove Merchant. This doesn't show up often in the US. In very nice shape for a fair 40bux. Only Thick as a Brick remains for me to find and I'll have all original UK LPs of the classic run thru A Passion Play.

I broke down & traded some things in so I could get this 1969-era UK pressing of #JethroTull 's2nd LP, Stand Up, at Groove Merchant. This doesn't show up often in the US. In very nice shape for a fair 40bux. 1of2 #musicsky #music #vinyl #vinylcommunity #nowplaying

Giving another spin to the recent one-step pressed vinyl master of McCoy Tyner's 1991 superstar reunion session on the Chesky Records label. My review of this 180-gram pink vinyl reissue is on eCoustics (dot com).

Giving another spin to the recent one-step pressed vinyl master of McCoy Tyner's 1991 superstar reunion session on the Chesky Records label. My review of this 180-gram pink vinyl reissue is on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #jazzsky #vinylsky #vinylcommunity #nowplaying #jazz

FYI.

I didn't know I needed to know this but I just learned that this woman's mother was a yodeling harpist, according to the wiki. I did not know that was a thing. This is Minnie Marx, mother of Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo. She played harp as well. But as far as I can tell, didn't yodel (at the same time at least).

File Under: Useless Information: Just learned this woman's mother was a yodeling harpist (per the wiki). I did not know that was a thing. This is Minnie Marx, mother of Groucho, Harpo, Chico & Zeppo. She played harp as well but didn't yodel (simultaneously, at least). #musicsky #music #marxbrothers

Stretched, showered, scrubbed, laundry up and sipping my first cuppa tea diving into a cloudy humpday. First up is Bob Marley's Exodus, UMe's outstanding new Vinylphyle remaster. My listening report on this and The Band's Northern Lights-Southern Cross (reissue also in that series) is now on Analog Planet (dot com).

Stretched, showered, scrubbed, laundry up & sipping my 1st cuppa tea on a cloudy humpday w/ #BobMarley 's Exodus, UMe's outstanding new Vinylphyle remaster. My listening report w/ The Band's Northern Lights-Southern Cross (also remastered) on AnalogPlanet (dot com). #musicsky #vinylsky #music #vinyl

Stopped in to Groove Merchant enroute to the supermarket and had to practice severe restraint. Many interesting LPs in stock there now! Narrowed it down to this rare white label promo of Joni Mitchell’s Blue, vinyl in lovely condition for just 25bux. Cover wear is typical from being stored in a collection. I have a mint stock original anyhow, so I’m not worried. This sounds wonderful! May go back for one more tomorrow… so tempted… Need to purge some things soon…

Stopped in to Groove Merchant and had to practice severe restraint. Many interesting LPs in stock now! Narrowed it down to this rare white label promo of #Joni Mitchell’s Blue, vinyl in lovely condition for just 25$. Sounds wonderful! #vinylsky #vinyl #musicsky #music #vinylcommunity

YouTube video by ChannelDeLux Sutton Mutton by Carl Kress

youtu.be/JJD-jdU6DTw

They gave me the cover free. Maybe someday I'll find the discs for it.

I have some of the tracks on Yazoo Records' excellent compilation "Fun On The Frets," which is where I first heard Carl's playing (as well as Dick McDonough). Have a few later CK LPs but not much out there.

Sometimes you can't leave behind a great cover. This 1940 78 RPM collection by jazz guitar pioneer Carl Kress is quite rare. First time I've ever seen a copy, but alas there were no discs. I checked through all the records they had in this particular thrift. They gave me the cover free. Maybe someday I'll find the discs for it. I have some of the tracks on Yazoo Records' excellent compilation "Fun On The Frets," which is where I first heard Carl's playing (as well as Dick McDonough). Have a few later CK LPs but not much out there.

Sometimes you can't leave behind a great cover. This 1940 78 RPM collection by #jazz guitar pioneer Carl Kress is quite rare. First time I've ever seen a copy, but alas there were no discs. I checked through all the records they had in this particular thrift. 1of2 #musicsky #jazzsky #vinylsky