dolt

What really irked me about the RSD pre-order list is the sheer number of releases with TBD prices. I'm only looking to get 5-6 things, and most of them don't have a price attached, so come that Thursday or Friday when the local shop gives me a call (that's what comes of being pals with the guy for 20 years) to say what's in, I'm bound to get nailed with sticker shock—and because I had to put in requests with him weeks ago, I'm obliged to buy whatever he manages to get of my list now, even if it means I'm broke forever after. To be fair, most of what I want are 45s, but still....

Caroline RSD13 Press Release: New York, New York Monday 25th March 2013. In celebration of this year’s Record Store Day, Caroline have pulled together an incredible and diverse roster of releases. The list includes a whopping 19 titles filled with exclusive, rare, unreleased and special re-issues from the likes of Willie Nelson (Sugar Hill), New Found Glory (Bridge Nine), Silverstein (Hopeless), Moby + Mark Lanegan (Mute), Waylon Jennings & Old 97’s (Omnivore), Buddy Guy (Vanguard), Rodney P (Tru Thoughts), Sarah Jarosz (Sugar Hill) and Big Mama Thorton (Vanguard) amongst others. Each limited edition release will be available on either special vinyl or CD made exclusively for the day. Produced in a limited edition colored vinyl set will be the soundtrack to Nothing Can Hurt Me (Omnivore) -the forthcoming Big Star documentary. Nothing Can Hurt Me, features previously unissued versions of classic Big Star songs. Unreleased demo’s by Willie Nelson (Sugar Hill) will be made available. Recorded between 1960 – 1966 these demos were cut for Ray Price and Hal Smith’s publishing company, Pamper Music and used to pitch songs to artist (including ‘Crazy’ for Patsy Cline) and producers. Junip’s (Mute) eagerly anticipated self-titled album will be made available on vinyl three days before it’s official release. Newly re-mastered from the original tapes will be legendary guitarist Buddy Guy’s (Vanguard) blistering 1979 set Hold That Plane. Moby & Mark Lanegan (Mute) will release a special vinyl 7”entitled The Lonely Night. It is Moby’s first release since 2011’s critically acclaimed Destroyed & Destroyed Remixed and features a rework by none other than beat specialist Photek. Sarah Jorosz (Sugar Hill), the Grammy nominated acoustic wunderkid delivers her debut live recording – Live At The Troubadour for Record Store Day. New Found Glory (Bridge Nine) return to pay tribute to one of punk music’s most important groups of all time – The Ramones - with Mania; a covers EP. Mania will be made available on special colored vinyl with an etched “B” side. Caroline are proud to be a part of Record Store Day, celebrating the culture of independent record stores, Record Store Day takes place on the third Saturday of April each year. For a full list of Caroline’s Record Store Day releases head to http://www.recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases

Bummed that the Duran Duran blue vinyl 7" is apparently UK-only; that Elvis Costello/Roots album that they tweeted about isn't listed either. On the upside, got my fingers crossed to get Lloyd Cole (only 200, but I'm the only LC fan in the US I think) Tommy Keene Marshall Crenshaw Yep Roc 15 (only 300, so I probably won't be able to get it)

Slicing Up Eyeballs site says Echo & The Bunnymen are releasing Crocodiles on 180-gram red vinyl for RSD 13. Presumably UK only.

I went to "We Buy White Albums" the other day and interviewed Chang for my job. 1. Not a jerk. Very nice, sincere guy. He really likes collecting this stuff and is very chatty, actually. 2. Born in Houston, raised in California—even said "totally" and "dude" a few times. Curtness wasn't due to a language barrier; I suspect the Dust & Grooves interview was done via email, hence the brief answers. 3. The dry article I wrote for my job: http://www.prosoundnetwork.com/Default.aspx?tabid=69&EntryId=637 4. The more fun article I wrote for my record collecting blog: http://vinylanswer.tumblr.com/post/43808254770/we-buy-white-albums-the-beatles-vinyl-and-the

I 'hid' the old RSD '13 thread that I started in January, to end confusion with this one. Thanks to Oojavaguru for taking on the task. Sorry everyone - lesson learned.

Speaking of Looney Tunes, their website says they're going to release 'something good' for RSD on their Brookvale Records label. Given that Brookvale's TBS EP released last RSD was recorded at the store, I can't help but wonder if they're involved in the Bayside release. In other stuff, I got this press release in this morning: VP RECORDS WILL RELEASE A SERIES OF LIMITED EDITION VINYL PIECES FOR 2013 RECORD STORE DAY ON APRIL 20 VP Records will unleash four vinyl selections for Record Store Day 2013 – a recently complied selection of Barrington Levy classics from 1979 – 1984 entitled Sweet Reggae Music, two reissues of rare dub sessions including Winston Edwards’ Natty Locks Dub and King Tubby & Lee Scratch Perry's King Tubby Meets The Upsetter At The Grass Roots Of Dub and a picture disc single for Little John's Clarks Booty (dye cut in the shape of a Clarks desert boot). These vinyl collectables are set to release for Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20, 2013 issued under the VP Records vintage imprint 17 North Parade and the historic Greensleeves label. LITTLE JOHN'S CLARKS BOOTY (Custom Shaped 10” Disc of Clarks Original Desert Boot Shoe) Clarks Originals is an official partner of Record Store Day this year. Since the iconic British footwear brand has been a staple in Jamaican fashion for over 30 years, Greensleeves Records will pay homage with a special limited edition vinyl pressing, entitled Clarks Booty. In recent years, dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel catapulted the shoe's demand to new heights with his 2010 international hit "Clarks," and the critically acclaimed coffee-table book Clarks in Jamaica by Al Fingers followed in 2012. To expand on Jamaica's long standing love affair with the brand, Greensleeves created a Clarks Desert Boot shaped disc featuring two certified classics from the 1980s dedicated to the island's shoe of choice. Side A unveils Little John's 1985 anthem "Clarks Booty" recorded over the popular Father Jungle Rock rhythm by legendary producer King Jammy, while Side B features Scorcher's "Put On Me Clarks" produced by Junjo Lawes and mixed by Roots Radics. Just like Clarks, these timeless tunes will never go out of style. Track Listing: Side A Little John – Clarks Booty Side B Scorcher – Put On Me Clarks BARRINGTON LEVY'S REGGAE ANTHOLOGY: SWEET REGGAE MUSIC (1979-84) For the very first time on vinyl, 17 North Parade carefully selects 10 of Barrington's most sought after sound system favorites off his full length 40-track album Reggae Anthology: Sweet Reggae Music (1979-84), which was released digitally and on compact disc this past December. Filled with certified classics from beginning to end, this LP covers the early years of Barrington Levy's astonishing career in chronological order. This timeless musical selection gives an in-depth look of the living legend's journey throughout this crucial period when he was proclaimed the "undisputed lord of dancehall" and earned the Best Vocalist Award at the 1984 UK Reggae Awards. Track Listing: Side A Whom Shall I Be Afraid Of Mary Long Tongue Bounty Hunter 21 Girl Salute Hammer Side B Praise His Name The Winner Pon Your Toe Mini Bus Here I Come WINSTON EDWARDS' NATTY LOCKS DUB REISSUE Unavailable since its original 1974 release, VP Records will reissue a limited edition of the Jamaican-born, UK-based reggae aficionado Winston Edwards' Natty Locks Dub. Recorded in Kingston at Lee Perry’s Black Ark Studios and at his cousin Joe Gibbs’ state of the art recording complex on Retirement Crescent, this monumental dub collection was Winston Edwards’ debut LP as a producer. The instrumental set boasts jazzy soft flutes and easy skanking horns with a minimal effect and subtle bass. It is still considered to be one of the holy grails of dub until this day. Track Listing: Side A 1. Natty Dub 2. Big Daddy Amin 3. Jah Shakin Dub 4. Soul Fire Dub 5. Macka Bee Side B 6. Herbman Style From The Ghetto 7. Jah Macka Dub 8. Well Charge 9. Gun Court In Red 10. Lover Dub KING TUBBY & LEE SCRATCH PERRY'S REISSUE KING TUBBY MEETS THE UPSETTER AT THE GRASS ROOTS OF DUB Originally released in 1975, King Tubby Meets The Upsetter At The Grass Roots Of Dub brought together two of the most influential mixing engineers at the time and helped establish dub music to an audience beyond sound system followers. Rightfully acknowledged as the dub clash of the century, Lee Scratch Perry and King Tubby went head to head in this classic horn soaked dub conference - bringing their own original flavor to one side of the record. For the first time since in over a decade, Greensleeves Records will unleash this ultimate dub clash on vinyl and allow fans to rediscover why it was the bestselling reggae album in 1975. Track Listing: Side A 1. King Tubby - Blood Africa 2. King Tubby - African Roots 3. King Tubby - Rain Roots 4. King Tubby - Wood Roots 5. King Tubby - Luke Lane Rock Side B 6. Lee Perry - People From The Grass Roots 7. Lee Perry - Crime Wave 8. Lee Perry - No Justice for the Poor 9. Lee Perry - 300 Years at the Grass Roots 10. Lee Perry - King Tubby & The Upsetter At Spanish Town

Still haven't seen the movie, but I covered the Sound City Players show in NYC the other night - here's my writeup: http://www.prosoundnetwork.com/article/dave-grohl%E2%80%99s-sound-city-players-rock-nyc/15985

The Speedbox is ok, and like many here, I like it more for not having to change the belt. I got my Debut III used and it didn't come with the belt tool, so I'd been doing it with my greasy, ol' fingers. I didn't really notice much of a change, sound-wise. The turntable seems to spin a little fast, according to the iRPM iPhone app, but not so bad that I'd hear a different--we're talking percents of a revolution off of 33.3. I don't know if the box is the cause, though I'd have thought it would help prevent that. Whatever. While $150 is an insane amount to spend on just a speed changing button, I do admittedly use it a lot because I have a lot of 1980s UK 12" singles, and those were always released at 45 RPM. For the other Speedbox owners, a question: If I happen to be charged up with static electricity, if i touch the box, it sometimes changes to the other speed setting--anyone else have this happen to them? As for the platter, yeah, it's worth it. I am no Golden Ears, and I definitely heard the difference. Not having to deal with the staticky mat is nice too, but you have to remember to brush it off before you play a record--the gray color hides dust, and you won't see it until you flip the record over and find it all stuck to the other side.

Got all three Holiday C+C versions in the mail today here in the NYC suburbs, safe and sound and well-packaged. Nary a dent on the inside!

The Tender Idols - "Distressor" Sugarbomb - "Bully" Owsley - self-titled debut Anything by Splitsville Simple Minds "Neapolis"

The receiver, CD player and EQ are on top. I have a remote for the receiver, so while I can reach up there to turn it on, I don't have to. I rarely play CDs or touch the EQ, but can reach them from the futon couch. Top 2 rows are LPs, except the emptyish one, which is stuff waiting to get listened to. Turntable row - the black box is picture disks, and then there's 10" and magazines that are 12" LPs Next row down is 12" singles. Row after that is (l-r): autographed records; the rest of the 12" singles; soundtracks and comedy; and kiddie records for my kid (mostly vintage Sesame Street) Last row, covered up by the sun and the discard record pile is boxes of 45s. FWIW, I counted about 75 LPs in the full squares/boxes/cubbies, and that with all the records bagged and a fair number of gatefold sleeves.

It really boils down to a lame answer like 'it's on a case-by-case basis because every record is different.' In fact, that is the lame answer. The only record that I kept in the shrink is an original 1989 copy of the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique, for a few reasons: -I have the 20th anniversary edition to listen to, and I'm sure that must sound better on 120mm vinyl than the original fresh out of the sleeve. -The cover is different than the re-release--the photo is more squashed (photo to compare them on my blog: http://bit.ly/W3CT6l ) -What are the odds of finding an unopened copy of such a cratedigger all-time favorite? The shrink wrap makes it more unique; hell, I polybagged it to protect the shrink from getting torn. I don't plan to sell it, but if I ever had to, it would be seriously devalued if I'd opened it. That said, everything else in my 2,000 records is open and ready/meant to be played. Except for the Doors—we use that for skeetshootin' (just kidding - why would I waste money on The Doors?)

Bands seem to use their test pressings as another variant, which kind of boggles my mind. A test press or an acetate is just a by-product of the record-making process. If anything, half the time they sound like crap 'cause they are TESTS. That they are so (comparatively) easy to come by these days devalues the entire category as a whole. Of course, I'm also a cranky old guy. That said, I have a few that fell into my lap for acts I don't care about—Killing Joke, Yoko Ono, Gypsy Kings, Firetown and a few others—and only one or two for bands that I love (Love & Money UK 7" acetate for "Halleluiah Man" and the test pressing got when I made Too Much Joy's "Dr. Seuss Is Dead" EP for the fan club).

Hey - got the other video up online finally at my blog; here's the link http://vinylanswer.tumblr.com/post/40032864783/if-you-saw-yesterdays-video-i-was-trying-to-make

Hi - "That guy" here. Thanks for checking out the video. A few things: Yeah, looks tacky. While I wanted to see what it would look like, I wasn't much for the result, and have realized the platter's better off unlit, even though like I mentioned on the site, I came up with a different solution. To me, doing this project was more of a 'proof of concept' thing for me. My wife nearly fell over laughing watching me cut cardboard and so on— "Oh my God, you're crafting!" The noise you heard in the video wasn't static; it was a corner of the cardboard touching the belt drive spindle. I didn't have the system on when I made the video, just the turntable. I did play a record later (and I adjusted the cardboard) and there wasn't any electrical buzz that I could hear. Overall, it doesn't really work with anything other than a lightly colored, translucent record. Darker colors like green, red and purple didn't light up much at all, just orange and yellow vinyl. To me, it's more interesting when light from above passes through colored vinyl and changes the color of the platter. YMMV. Lastly, I too wanted a way to make the whole platter glow with lights that rotated with the platter itself—and I figured out out to do it. I will humbly say that the results look like the platter fell out of Tron. Best of all, it costs a lot less than $5—try 32 cents. You can see it in tomorrow's video.

I did it and shot video - you can check it out on my vinyl blog: http://vinylanswer.tumblr.com/post/39916069547/last-week-i-got-an-acrylic-platter-for-my

This was pretty useful, actually. I got a Music Hall 12" acrylic platter for my Debut III, replacing the old 10" metal one, and since the new one's a bit heavier, I was a little concerned about it maintaining speed, despite the fact I have a Speedbox II. Comparing the two, the MH 12" did 33.4 and 45.2, while the stock 10" did 33.5-ish and 45.4. Just another (much-needed) justification to myself that it was worth it to spend the money on the new platter.

No rekkids, just vinyl-related goodies: an Amazon gift card turned paid for most of an acrylic platter for my turntable, and the big deal was that I bought myself a present--a used VPI HW-17 record cleaning machine from a used record store for a fraction of the real cost (they're $1400 new). It's huge and noisy as hell, but I'm psyched to have it.

I have an acrylic platter coming via mail order for my (red) Debut III and I've pretty much wanted to jam some lights under it since the first time I saw one online. There's not a lot of clearance under the metal platter - maybe 1/8 of an inch between the platter and the deck - so if the acrylic platter is a similar height, I suspect putting LED lights under there will be next to impossible. On the other hand, the craft chain store Michael's sells these packs of cheapo glow-stick bracelets for $1 for 8 or 10, and they would just about fit. It's a temporary solution to the problem, but I guess it'd be worth a try. Another possibility would be to paint the underside of the platter with luminous/glow-in-the-dark paint, so that it would get 'powered up' by light through the acrylic and then make the platter glow from beneath, even when regular black vinyl was put on top. Personally, I'm not going to try that one (the platter ain't cheap!) but it's fun to think about.

I have a black Taking Back Sunday available if anyone wants.

Looking for the UK Morrissey 10" pic disk remixed by Sparks. FWIW, while I'm a relative noob here, I have a long history at Record Collectors Guild and ebay (though this is for ME), so I'm not some scammer. I have a regular TBS RSD EP for trade if yer interested.

They have a ton of them at Utopia on Long Island. I was there an hour ago; can't go back today though or I'd snag one for you.

Hey UK—I have the TBS up for trade; I need the Morrissey 10". Anyone?

Believe it or not, actually picked up almost everything I wanted today. I've known the local shop owner for years, from well before he even ever had the idea to open a CD store (and that was the late 90s), so he special ordered some stuff for me that he'd otherwise never order for tomorrow. Couldn't get the Carolina Chocolate Drops/Run-DMC split though, so I'll still be out hunting, and I'm still tempted to go to Looney Tunes for the afore bitched-about Blue Vinyl release. But overall, very happy to score these early. The Foster The People 7" is yellow vinyl--that was a surprise to me; I don't think they mentioned that in the lists. The Knack splatter is white and tan/pink; really unusual but nice. Great rendition of "My Sharona" too.