Recording on 35 MM - Evidently this was a thing

The idea of recording on 35MM film was an actual thing.  Technology was developed by Everest Records to record on 35MM film stock coated with magnetic tape.  The stock was then run through a projector type mechanism with sprocket holes.  

This was state of the art stuff.

I have a few records recorded this way.

Frank Sinatra - The Concert Sinatra (Reprise xxxx) 

And this thing.....

Here's someone who can explain it much better than I

http://store.acousticsounds.com//s/58/Everest_from_Classic_Records

Vintage Dead, Historic Dead and Sunflower Records.

In 1966, before The Grateful Dead was signed to Warner Brothers, upstart San Franscisco based label Together Records cleared the rights to record some live shows at the Avalon Ballroom.  One such show was performed by The Grateful Dead.

Together Records soon folded.  MGM stepped in, paid the remaining debt and took possession of the tapes.   Well within their rights, they released two albums of live Dead material in 1970 on their subsidiary Sunflower imprint.

Sunflower was started by songwriter Mack David - the genius who gave us the Casper The Friendly Ghost Theme.  Their only hit single was Chick-A-Boom by one hit wonder Daddy Dewdrop.

How the Dead ended up here, I'll never know.

So here are the releases

First up

Vintage Dead (Sunflower 1970)

Since The Dead were riding high with American Beauty at the time featuring the song 'Ripple,' It's only fitting that there would be a bottle of cheap wine on the cover.  Complete with screw top.   That solved the mystery to me.  I always thought the song was about a higher power and took influence from Taoism and The Book of Psalms.  I guess it was about cheap Gallo wine all along.

And on the back we get photos of the band circa 1970

Next Up

Historic Dead (Sunflower 1970)

One good hit (or money grab) deserves another.

On the back we get some ghost-like figures that are supposed to be the band.  See if you can guess who is who.  I can't.

MGM only had enough material for two LP's.  That didn't stop them from releasing a third.

The History Of The Grateful Dead (Pride 1970)

What do you do when the material runs out? You make another LP with one side from the first relase and the other side from the second.  You release it on yet another subsidiary so the consumer is less inclined to think it's a reissue.

Pete Townshend - Angie - Peppermint Lump

Angie - Peppermint Lump b/w Breakfast in Naples  (Stiff 1979)

I know nothing about this 45 other than Pete Townshend was involved.   So says the cover which wasn't shy about using his involvement to sell the record.

What we get is a typical sounding Who production from the era (think Who Are You) with a child singing.   A true curio at best, but then again, what are 45's for?

More Dirty Old Broads

"I get broads come in here, they sit in front of me and they stare at me. Everything I do, they stare at me. Then they walk out saying, 'She's so dirrr-ty!' If they're so refined how come they understand what I'm saying?"

So says Pearl Williams.  One of many 'Dirty Old Broad' comediennes from the early 60's

.

Led Zeppelin - Do What Thou Wilt

Led Zeppelin released very few 45's during their tenure.   Even rarer, was the non-LP B-side.  The band only released one - The Immigrant Song b/w Hey, Hey What Can I Do in 1970.

I have a gold label 'oldies' pressing of this on Atlantic which I bought new in the late '70's.  Recently, I came across a hacked up original Orange pressing.   This is the first run as it has the message in the runout groove.

Graced in the runout are the words:

Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be the Whole of the Law

This disappeared in 1971.  This title was still in print well into the '80's.  The proverb was not.

Eno - Before and After Science

Brian Eno - Before and After Science (Polydor 1977)


Eno's last vocal album for some time.  He wouldn't release another until his collaboration with John Cale in the '90's.



This is the first time he used first name on a release.

The album is divided onto a loud side and a quiet side.  As with Eno's previous 'rock' records, a varied cast of characters help out.  Robert Fripp, Phil Manzanera, Phil Collins and Fred Frith,

Since I was a big fan at the time, I picked this up in the import bin (probably at Zed in Long Beach, CA) as soon as it was available.  As a result, I got the color prints that only came with the first limited pressings.

See below......

The Road to the Crater

The Other House

Look at September, Look at October

Forty Years

The Boxes of 45's Are Finally Getting Organized

For those of you who have been following my adventures (I think there are about 6 of you), you know my habit of blindly buying boxes of 45's.   Below is a picture of the keepers so far.  I've managed to catalog and alphabetize them.

Those you see above are the result of three major purchases of 200-300 each. Usually for between $25-$50 each time.    I still have a ton to go through.  I've gotten many duplicates.  Some were unplayable.  Some are valuable rarities.  Lots of tossers.  Some would go for about 25 cents on the collectors market.


Some of the rarities.....

Original Capitol Records pressings of Gene Vincent 45's in company sleeves.
Original Brunswick Records pressings of Buddy Holly 45's in company sleeves.
Some Vee-Jay and Swan Beatles 45's.  (one of them valued at $600 in the Goldmine guide)
Original version of Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison on Fury Records.

Most of the final keepers are late '60's pop hits, such as...

Build Me Up Buttercup
Lots of Grassroots, Tommy James, Hollies, Dave Clark Five and Box Tops
Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes.  (I often wondered if inspiration on this is from the writer walking his dog named Rosemary).


Oh, and company sleeves abound.  Trying to mix and match the best I can.  Most will probably be matched with items in the regular collection - not pictured here.


Company sleeves get to wear plastic sheaths.   Since most of these came without sleeves at all, the others should be perfectly happy wearing paper. I consider that a big step up as most of them were destined for the trash or a craft project.   I gave them a happy home where they can be played without fear of turning into a novelty coaster.

Bernie

I have never ever in my life made a political contribution.  I always make sure to un check the box on my tax return that asks for a mere dollar.  Why then would I give $27 to Bernie Sanders?

For a record of course

Thurston Moore and Bernie Sanders - Feel It In Your Guts (2016 Joyful Noise Records)

With a $27 contribution you get this record.

Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth fame playing an acoustic guitar with Bernie Sanders sound bytes thrown in.  It's a flexi disc.

My particular copy has an off center spindle hole.  It makes the guitar sound a bit wobbly.  For some reason, Bernie sounds OK.  Perhaps the wobble fixed his cadence a bit.

As an extra added bonus, you get about three emails per day asking for more money.