All This and World War II

All This and World War II (20th Century Fox Records 1976)

What a disaster.  I was intrigued with this title from the get-go as it contained tracks by Bryan Ferry and Peter Gabriel.  Too many people I couldn't stand a the time prevented me from shelling out big bucks for just two tracks.   The Ferry track ended up as a B-Side to a contemporary single, so I was Ok on passing.

Fast forward to years later.   I found a beat up copy at a thrift store.   I picked it up.  The cover was a wreck, but the vinyl was pristine.  Seems those who bought it never played it more than once.

What a useless piece of vinyl.

Someone had the brilliant idea of combining Beatles songs with and orchestra sung by current pop stars.  The only one that really worked was the Ferry track (She's Leaving Home) as the Beatles version was from the same ilk.

Do I really need The Brothers Johnson doing Hey Jude with an orchestra?  Maybe in alternate novelty world.

I pulled it out recently as I recalled there were two Roy Wood tracks that I don't believe I ever played.

Two letter review of the whole thing.   P.U.

Not quite as bad as the Bee Gees/Peter Frampton effort.  An album that has the distinction of shipping triple platinum and returned double platinum as retailers couldn't sell it.  All This and World War II was a bomb from the get go.  Now it's a UXB as people find it in thrift stores and expect to hear tracks by their favorite stars.



 

Donovan - Sunshine Superman

The other day I was killing some time at The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles and came across an original mono copy of....

Donovan - Sunshine Superman (Epic 1966)

One of my favorite Donovan albums.   There is no stereo mix.  The 'electronically rechanneled to simulate stereo' version was the only one available since the late '60's.   Someone used to think that shifting channels out of phase and EQing each side differently made it sound better.

(for those of you who care about such things, the fake stereo version has the Epic logo on top with the blurb about 'electronically rechanneled.')

Wrong - it takes away the punch.  Now we hear the bongos right up front where they belong.

Contains Season of the Witch, Sunshine Superman, The Trip and Fat Angel.  The latter name checked and was later covered by Jefferson Airplane.

Their Satanic Majesties Request

The Rolling Stones - Their Satanic Majesties Request (London 1967)

The original of this title came out with a 3D cover.  Due to the expense and lackluster sales, it was soon replaced by a 2D version.   I came across an original in a thrift store.   There were markings and what appeared to be grease on the 3D panel.  A bit of 409 and a soft cloth worked wonders.

This one's for looking only (my UK pressing from the '70's is for playing)

In addition, this one came with the original inner sleeve. 

This album is considered a detour for The Stones.  They're certainly operating outside their comfort zone.   The result is a combination of dogs and gems.   Given the personal and personnel issues they were having at the time, it's a wonder anything was released at all.

Dylan Live 66

Bob Dylan toured the UK with The Band in 1966.  The tour was considered controversial  - although it remains a milestone in rock and roll history.  Folkies couldn't stand that Dylan changed.  It wouldn't be the first time.

Anyway, Blonde on Blonde had a single pulled from it around that time

Bob Dylan - I Want You b/w Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (Live in Liverpool 1966) (Columbia 1966)

A side from the album and one of Dylan's 'hits'

But the B-Side is why this is such a cool single

For years, there was a widely circulated recording from this tour labeled Royal Albert Hall '66.  In reality, the recording was from Manchester Free Trade Hall.   The real Royal Albert Hall set was released  - finally - in 2016.  This single features a track from another gig entirely - from Liverpool.

And yes - the band was loose enough to where this sounds different from the other two gigs.

Worth checking out, but beware.  Columbia pressed 45's on styrene.  Finding one that isn't hacked to death by heavy tone arms can prove difficult.

The Go-Go's

Those adorable little cutie pies from Taft High School who took their watered down post punk sound right to the top of the charts.

The Go-Go's!

Oh wait wrong group.

Here is Swim With The Go-Go's (RCA 1964)

Novelty surf songs!

The Color of Your Lawn Can't Match the Color of Your Pants

A thrift store find.  

Roy Drusky - My Grass is Green

Sure Bud.  You got yourself a nice lawn, but that's not my focus here.   A couple of things popped right out!

1.  Your Pants!
2.  The two young gardeners you hired. 
3.  Your wife training the living lawn jockey
4.  Your Pants!

The Greater Orange County Record Show

The Greater Orange County Record show has been going on for years in Buena Park, California.   Buena Park is in the heart of North Orange County (not as red as the rest of it to the south).

I used to live in Whittier - which is a two towns over from Buena Park.   I have since moved to The San Fernando Valley - a good hour and half from Buena Park.

I hadn't been down to The Greater Orange County Record Swap in years.  The last time I was there was the day it got busted in the 80's.    That would be when Columbia Records sent their goons down to bust the bootleggers.  This was during the 'protection gap' and bootlegs were eating into record company profits.  They claimed it violated the integrity of the artists.  In reality, they needed to recoup all the money the industry put up Fleetwood Mac's collective noses.

So down to the swap I went today on a whim....

Glad I did.     Free parking.   Freeway close.  Spent a good long time there.

Note the guy in the reddish shirt in front.  He had his collection in a notebook for protection against buying things twice.  I do the same, except mine is on a database that syncs with my phone.

Here's my haul for the day.