Lightening Hopkins - Happy New Year

Happy New Year. May your celebration tonight be safe and may the new year bring happiness, joy and plenty of new music for your ears

Laughing Gravy - Vegetables

My wife would ask why I like this 45 as Veggies are not my favorite thing in the whole world. It would be fairly accurate to say I am somewhat of a picky eater. I do love my veggies in stir fry.  I picked this up in October I believe. It looks a bit rough but played halfway decently considering what it looks like. And what do you want for a quarter. This is a Brian Wilson song and the Laughing Gravy were really Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean and it appear possibly Brian and Marilyn Wilson were involved.

Johnny's Uncalled Four - Please Say

Found a whopping 5 45's at the flea market but we got there really late and I did not get to hit each vendor as my wife can't walk far. We hit a few records stores afterwards (left empty handed) and came home.

I picked up this 45 about 2 months ago. I met this guy having a yard sale last summer and he said he had 45's and every time I ran into him he forgot to bring them. He finally called me and I looked at what he had. He had about 200 45's and most of them were beat to hell. I ended up buying them for $5 bucks and gave most of them to my friend and probably only kept 10. This was one of them and lucky or me it was in really good condition.

Boris- Hully Gully Holiday

Last Saturday I went to the Flea Market for the first time in months. I was pleasantly surprised with how many vendors were selling vinyl and purchased about a dozen 45's. Unfortunately, a lot of the prices were expensive, especially considering the condition. One guy had a box of 45's, mostly 70's and 80's new wave that he said he found in a barn and they looked like it.  There is a possibility that I will hit the flea market tomorrow again so hopefully I will find a few more treasures.

On a more miraculous note, my wife and I, and the "kids" (our cats) had a late Christmas present today. Over a month ago, one of our cats (4 years old) escaped out of the house. He was our "anti-social" cat and barely would let us touch him. I had taken up our dryer vent hose to exchange it and in the process he had gotten out from under our house. We did not know he was missing until the next day as he pretty much hides daily. We searched and searched and could not find him. I crawled all under the house looking for him (not my favorite activity by any means) and he was not under the house. All the cats were upset (especially Momma and brother cat). Periodically over the past month I swore I heard him but my wife thought I was crazy. On Sunday, I heard a noise on our front porch and when I opened the door a gray cat took off. I told my wife I thought it was Ashton but my wife pretty much had given up hope and figured he had frozen to death over the past month. I figured if any of our cats could survive it would be that ornery cuss. Two days ago my wife was outside and came in and said, "It was Ashton, I just saw him and he went under the house." So today, I unhooked the dryer vent and put some cat food out and an hour later the cat is in the spare room. I hooked the dryer vent back so he would not escape. So he's locked in the spare bedroom and I have to catch him so I can take him to the Vet tomorrow for a checkup.

Sonics - Don't Believe in Christmas & Santa Claus

Merry Christmas to All. I'm sitting here drinking some coffee and typing records I have picked up over the past month into my excel database. The family is sleeping, the Christmas tree is blinking and the tele plays in the background. For your enjoyment I have pulled out a double sided classic that should have been. Yes, it is a reissue but what a reissue it is

Steve Lawrence Eydie Gorme - That Holiday Feeling

The plan was to upload last night but my son came into town and I lost track of time, plus had to go to bed early as I had to work at the clinic this morning. There are 2 problems with this 45...one is no Picture Sleeve and two it's not on the promo color vinyl. This is one of those songs that has grown on me....very romantic and sensual...man oh man, should have posted this a few days before the kid came home!!!!

Frankie Lymon- It's Christmas Once Again

Fantastic voice...sad ending.

Dee Irwin & Mamie Galore - All I Want For Christmas Is Your Love

Nice soul Christmas duet

Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa

Ok, this song is wrong on SO many levels but what can I say...I like it

Billy Beau- Santa's Coffee

A novelty Christmas song from a very young Billy Burnette

Freddy King - Christmas Tears

 Christmas blues classic

Lee Rogers - You Won't Have To Wait Till Xmas

Another obscure favorite Christmas song is the play for the day. Picked up this copy a few weeks ago to replace the worn copy I have.

Stax All Stars- Soul A Lujah

Is this a Christmas song? Well it is not Rudolph but who wants to be traditional anyway.' I am calling this Stax All Stars since the artists won't fit on the post title

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Elephant's Memory - Mongoose

I'm back in business. I bought an Acer All In 1 last Sunday. I'm still configuring it and today I scanned some labels and made some MP3's, including a few Christmas songs (which I will start tomorrow night). Here is a find from a few months ago

Well Black Friday was a bust and I am as frustrated as all get out regarding the computer situation. I can't seem to decide what I want. I actually had narrowed it down and made a choice and then the store identified they had 3 in stock but could not find where they were. I would have waited but several of the BEST BUY staff were so incredibly rude I figured I could spend my $ elsewhere.  I'll head out next weekend looking again

Swinging Blue Jeans - You're No Good

The past few weeks have been filled to the brim with work and studying for one of the licensure tests I need to take. But I did take time to go to Raleigh last weekend and managed to pick up some records, and ran into an unexpected record show at the Duke Coffee house (found a few things- nothing that will make this blog). I did buy a bunch of other cool promo soul and garage 45's at this antique mall I found and some of those should make the blog. There is a record show tomorrow so I plan on hitting it...hopefully my lucky streak will continue as it did today. A friend of mine ran into a horde of riches at a garage sale last week- mint Jazz LP's (Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck) all early ones on Prestige, Impulse, Riverside, Columbia. He does not like Jazz so I traded a bunch of early Country LP's which he loves for the Jazz lp's- Sweet!
I still have a few items left I can post. I need to start spending narrowing down what kind of computer I want to buy. Not sure I need a lap top anymore and I am leaning toward an All in one computer- easily movable around the house.

Rufus Thomas - Itch & Scratch pt 1

I was out and about running Saturday searching for records. I had stumbled upon a person earlier in the week that lived about a 100 miles away that had a pile of 45's and arranged to meet with him. I had known going in that out of the pile of records he had there was only 1 that I wanted but he wanted to sell them all so I was forced to buy them all. But what a purchase it was- a rarity upon magnitudes. I guess I have to be cryptic right now because I can't upload anything new until I purchase a new computer. I also picked up some other cool things and decided that little 100 mile jaunt needs to be revisited again (although not soon as my wife was a bit peeved I was gone so long Saturday). Today, I bought a few things (nothing fantastic) from a woman. I had met her and her husband at a yard sale and he died within the last year. I bought some pretty cool 45's from him and he had some amazing Garage 45's he would not sell me. He told me some fantastic stories about finds over the years..one story he told was finding hundreds of Federal and Chess silver tops 45s and EP's in the sleeves in mint condition at a thrift store for a dime a piece. He said he was riding a bicycle and was so loaded down with 45's he ended up calling his boss to pick him up as he could not ride it. I would have probably called in sick! I asked her about any of his personal records he would not sell (as it sure was not the stuff I looked at today) and she thought he sold all the others as this was all that was left. I guess he had a massive heart attack. So I am sitting here toasting a beer to Bobby and the few hours of stories he told me a year ago.
Speaking of earlier of my continued computer problem, I checked out Best Buy Saturday and it was all I could do to continue waiting but I held off. Black Friday better have some damn deals, that's all I have to say.  Tonight's post is not the cleanest sounding 45 but one that gained attention thanks to DJ Shadow. It took me years to find this and within 2 weeks of finding it I scored a 2nd copy.

The Yeomen My Girl Full Of Happiness

I have been going through the computer trying to come up with some postings and I have to tell you what a pain. Over the past year I recorded 45's to the computer but did not scan the labels, or I scanned labels but .....did not record the 45. Once I get a new computer I have some organizing to do with these pesky files!
Here is a bubblegum 45.....I'll see if I can match up some soul. Speaking of soul, I have over the past month lucked into some fantastic soul 45's, matter of fact I have picked up some fantastic all around 45's.

The Byrds Lady Friend

How about the A side to last weeks post. I included a scan of an import copy I picked up last year. I managed to score some killer soul 45's last week and can't wait till I get a new computer so I can upload the wealth.

Byrds - Old John Robertson

Could not post for some reason over the past few days...nothing has changed with the computer situation but I'm making do. Have plenty of Byrds 45's that I can post..one of my faves...oh hell, most of the Byrds 45's are faves!

 

 

Hoagy Lands - The Next In Line

This limited computer access sucks. I have to be cautious as I've already drained 2 batteries and have had to take them back. It all appears to be a faulty motherboard as I have tried all other remedies. I'd rather save the money on fixing this big paperweight and hope for a good Black Friday Computer sale....I'm leaning toward an all in one with a touch screen. At least all my files are backed up.
On a positive note, I have found some cool 45's lately that will find a home on this blog. I have a few things I believe are ready to go. Here is a classic Laurie Soul 45.

Well I am having computer problems. My computer was dead when we came back from vacation (the battery was drained even though it was off). I replaced that battery and it won't charge and slowly drained. I returned that one for an exchange and have the same problem this time I am taking out the battery when I turn the computer off. Power supply won't power the computer unless the battery is in it. I went looking for another laptop yesterday but was disgusted by the computers and left empty handed (well, did buy an external hard drive so I can back up my computer).  So my plan is to make sure I have all my files off my lap top, and I will start to configure my wife's old lap top (I bought her a new one as she was starting to have problems with hers but at least it wasn't dying). I may be slower on my posts till I can get a new computer and I am hoping to be able to wait until black Friday.....we shall see.

Great Expectations- Welcome To The World

Darn Post office. The records I mailed from Arvada last week arrived at the PO on Saturday but they did not leave me a notice. I went in and asked today If I had received any packages and it was, "Oh, you have 2 big boxes." I was getting nervous that my records I mailed to myself were lost.

Generals - For What More Could I Ask

I think I need a vacation to recover from my vacation. We flew to Colorado for a week (high school reunion and parents 50th wedding anniversary). I managed to see an old acquaintance and picked up some 45's (thanks Cliff). I rounded out the trip with 45's and lp's from antique stores and record stores. The old record shops just weren't the same, especially in Boulder which was down right atrocious. Had to ship them back home so needless to say I am still waiting for them. Another of my wonderful Pyramid finds

Ascots - I Need You

Cool cover of the Kinks song.

Roy Lee Johnson - Take Me Back And Try Me

Time for a little soul on the Philips label.

 

Emitt Rhodes - With My Face On The Floor

I never understood why Emitt Rhodes was never a superstar. What a brilliant 45 that received no attention. Emitt was definitely a record label casualty. Matter of fact, the record store where I first bought a mint UK copy of his debut for a buck was also a casualty. Maybe it's a conspiracy?

Chosen Few - Baby Don't Do It

Another nice North Carolina find. Divishare seems to be working again and I think I will bounce around using different sites.

Lou Donaldson - Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky

What a stressful week this has been. I came home with a headache that was slowly going away after 3 Excedrin an hour before I came home. I was greeted with Burritos and Chile Relanos for dinner. I still have the headache but dinner was grand!
Picked this one earlier this year

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Paxton's Back Street Carnival

An enjoyable Monday outing.

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles- If You Can Want

Had a busy week that took me away from the blog. My wife's car broke down and of course it was pouring rain as I was trying to get it going. Turns out Saturns were notorious for having ignition cylinder problems. Yesterday I retiled the bathroom floor and 12 hours later I finished and trust me when I say my body and fingers are feeling it today. Thought I had better upload now while I feel up to it.
Here is a Smokey Robinson and The Miracles 45 released after I Second That Emotion. I had never heard this song before I found the 45. It was a hit reaching #11 and just goes to show that unless it was a smash hit radio all but has forgotten gems like this.

Lightnin' Slim - I'm Tired Waitin Baby

Well I found another site for media sharing that I am going to give a try. This 45 is nothing pretty to look at but it plays better than it looks

Divishare issues

I have had posts ready the past 3 days but due to divishare issues of freezing when I upload a song I am a bit flustered so bear with me. I am not sure if there are any other "free" sites out there but due to my budget that is what it must be. If anyone knows of any other sites that offer the ability to upload a and store an mp3, with the ability to embed a player in a blog I would appreciate the info.

On a more positive note, I had a pretty good Friday and Saturday of finding a bunch of lp's and 45s. Tons of weird unknown 1970's promos. Not sure if anything will eventually make this blog but it was fun finding stuff cheap. Also found a bunch of Hank Williams lp's and Ventures lp's that I did not have.

Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders - Please Mr. Postman

A nice relaxing Saturday that began with 2 miles on the treadmill at the Y, struck out at a few yard sales. When the rain storm started I went home and listened to some 45's and puttered around the house. The day was topped off with Fajitas.

Freddy Cannon - 20th Century Fox

Now here is a crazy one. I would have never guessed this would have worked. I mean, really! But we have a very worthwhile cover version. Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon covering a song off the Doors debut. Freddy really wanted to do a note by note cover of THE END but Warner Brother's nixed that idea (ok, that was a lie, but a could you imagine Freddy singing, "Ride The Snake, To The Lake" or, "Father, I want to Kill you, Mother, I want to...all night long". 

Dion - Let It Be

Dion has such a soulful voice. He makes this song his own.

The Blues Project - Catch The Wind

Once upon a time I did a "cover version" Thursday. Here is the newest addition.

Frankie & The Damons - Everybody's Time

It is a sad day when you find out an old favorite record shop closed. I was thinking about this shop I frequented when at CSU in Ft. Collins in the late 80's. After I moved to North Carolina, I would check out their record/CD auctions and bid occasionally. Overtime, I forgot all about the shop until a fleeting memory came to me today.  I went on line to check them out and found they closed 4 years ago. They used to have this yearly parking lot sale and would have thousands of lp's and they would charge by the pound. I can remember picking up brand new lp's for 1.99...a Graham Parker lp's comes to mind. I remember picking up a slew of Bruce Cockburn lp's for 3 bucks a pop, oh and the Robyn Hitchcock promo 12" on blue vinyl for a couple of bucks. They never had a ton of 45's but I always found something like the import U2 Out of Control for a buck. At least I have my memories....

Eartha Kitt- St. Louis Blues

I  like the temporary new found freedom from studying. I say temporary because here shortly I need to start studying for two licensure tests.
When I was in my 20's I was sick and out of work for a month. While at home on the couch, I watched the movie St. Louis Blues and loved it. I searched for years for the soundtrack. Recently, I came across this EP and bought it in a heartbeat. What a voice!

 

The Rascals A Ray Of Hope

I have been enjoying the Rascals lately. Would love to see their new Broadway show.