Daddy's Workshop

They don't fall too far from the tree.  My kids love vinyl.  I couldn't bear for them to get a Crossley or something equally hideous.  

I'm a fan of the Technics SL-D2.  I have two in service at the house.  They're easy to work on and repair if needed.  Great little workhorses.  Knowing they'd break down at some point (hasn't happened yet) I began buying beat up ones for parts.

Cut to the kids.  My oldest moved out on her own a few years ago and wanted to get into vinyl.  Rather than have her spend too much money on something not as good, I committed to build her an SL-D2 from spare parts.  Success.

Now the youngest is moving out and would like to do the same.  I succeeded in building another one for parts.   It's now spinning in Daddy's Test Kitchen as I type.

Below is a photo of Daddy's Workshop.

Upper left is one I have in service.  Top right is the one recently built for kid #2 going through some tests.  Scattered about on lower right are the doner turntables.  Thank you for your service.

If I could come back from the dead, I'd love to watch the kids fight over the vinyl collections.

What Happens When You Set Out to Cut An Entire Record While Blazing on LSD?

That was the plan of George Clinton and Funkadelic when they set out to make their second album in 1970.  Can we pull the whole thing off while tripping through recording and mixing?

Funkadelic  - Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow (1970)

The album is awesome, funky, danceable and incoherent all at the same time.   Bernie Worrell (keyboards) and Eddie Hazel (guitar) dominate the sound.  Lots of phasing, panning and background yelling.  Should be played LOUD.

We'd Better Hurry Up and Build That Stupid Wall!

The white lady may be calling 911 soon.  There's a freshly shaven Mexican with a freshly laundered blanket on the other side of the plywood.   Oh the horror!

I love Record Covers with Pictures of Records on Them - Magoo in Hi-Fi

A Very Belated RIP Series Post - Tony Kinman

Those artists outside the mainstream rarely get a mention in the mainstream press when they pass.  Often I find out about their deaths from the UK music magazines.   I totally missed this one from about a year ago.  

Tony Kinman founded LA Punk band The Dils along with his brother Chip.  They next pioneered the 'cow-punk' genre with their band Rank and File.   Not to rest on their laurels or stick to one type of sound, the brothers later teamed up with a drum machine and called themselves Blackbird.

So here is a faithful reproduction on The Dils second single.

The Dils - 198 Seconds of The Dills (Dangerhouse 1977)

Enjoy the video......

Arthur Lyman at the Port of Los Angeles

Arthur Lyman was most closely associated with Hawaii.  Many artists travel to exotic locations outside their comfort zone to make a live album with local flavor.

Arthur Lyman went to The Port of Los Angeles.

Yes that's right.  The Port of Los Angeles. Liner notes by Sam Yorty - the nasal former mayor of Los Angeles.

In reality it's a compilation album probably given to those who worked on  - or got kickbacks from - the building of the port.

Do You Think This Artist Would Have Gotten a Record Deal If They Didn't Have a Famous Family Member #7 - Julian Lennon

Julian Lennon -  Valotte (Atlantic 1984)

Not talented enough to have a music career.  Too famous to get a real job.  Poor Julian Lennon.