Monthly Archives: November 2011

WTF Album Covers: The Brothers Johnson

WTF?, , , , ,

Phil’s Vinyl Addiction rightfully draws attention to this ultra craptacular album cover by the otherwise talented Brothers Johnson–definitely not the WORST album cover in the world, but definitely one of the cheesiest.

The Brothers Johnson, in case you didn’t know, were the gents responsible for that fine-ass cover of Strawberry Letter 23 by the mighty Shuggie Otis.

The Brothers Johnson version is heard in Jackie Brown right before poor old Chris Tucker gets his face shot off by Samuel L. Jackson. Behold:



WTF Book Update

editorial, Media

There has been a LOT of progress on WTF Records: The Turntabling.net Guide To Weird and Wonderful Vinyl.

The goal of reviewing 101 wtf vinyl records is complete today with the review of the 101st record, and the project moves into a new phase starting next week with a lot of photography and editing.

It’s been a great journey so far, and once the photography is done there’s a big dilemma to consider–for a long time I’ve been thinking that I’d have the book published as the very first title for Turntabling Press, but as of late I’ve found three established indie/underground publishing houses that might be a very good fit for the book and now I’m torn between starting my own or going with one of them.

The main issue is with the artwork–a full color book is more expensive to produce, and even if you outsource it to China, the costs are still a bit high for a first-time publisher…but a company like Fab Press, Soft Skull, or another worthy indie has built-in distribution in addition to the hyper-aggressive book promotion tour I want to do with it. That’s a huge plus, so I’m weighing the options carefully.

It’s really exciting to be turning a new corner on the WTF Records book. I can’t wait to get it into the hands of Turntabling readers and vinyl junkies, it’s only a matter of time now as most of the written material, pending some interviews that still need to happen and be edited, is finished. There will be some sneak previews coming to Turntabling after Vinyl Road Rage four is done (just before Christmas).

WTF Records is the very first book put out by Turntabling.net and is chock full of weirdness on vinyl, plus interviews with musicians, record store owners, vinyl collectors and music journalists about their favorite WTF record finds.

The Facebook page for WTF Records: The Turntabling.net Guide to Weird and Wonderful Vinyl has fun updates and chatter about weird records. Join us there!

–Joe Wallace

Vinyl Road Rage #4 Tour Itinerary

editorial

Turntabling.net is pleased to announce the itinerary for Vinyl Road Rage #4, the six-state indie record store blogging trip featuring more than twenty record shops from Illinois to Texas and back again.

Vinyl Road Rage begins December 8, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. Turntabling’s Joe Wallace will drive from Chicago to Bloomington Indiana, Nashville, Tennessee, Memphis Tennessee, Little Rock Arkansas, Norman Oklahoma, Dallas Texas, plus destinations in Fort Worth and Denton Texas before heading back north to Tulsa Oklahoma, Kansas City Missouri, Springfield Illinois and back home to Chicago.

Vinyl Road Rage is Turntabling’s annual blogging road trip in search of the coolest record stores along the way. Every day features blog posts and highlights from the road. This trip features some additional content–in addition to the daily updates, there will be video coverage and reviews of the best/weirdest vinyl finds from the road, making this the most elaborately covered Vinyl Road Rage yet.

The six-state road trip schedule runs from December 8 to December 21 and the itinerary below is subject to change based on weather, delays or other unavoidable factors. Vinyl Road Rage will visit a wide range of indie record shops along the way, including but not definitely no limited to:

TD’s CDs and LPs Bloomington, IN

Grimey’s Nashville, TN

The Groove Nashville, TN

Goner Records Memphis, TN

Shangri-La Records, Memphis, TN

Arkansas Record-CD Exchange Little Rock, AR

Guestroom Records Norman, OK

Bill’s Records Dallas, TX

Good Records Dallas, TX

Recycled Books Records CDs Denton, TX

Starship Records and Tapes Tulsa, OK

Zebedee’s RPM Kansas City, MO

Vinyl Renaissance Kansas City, MO

Recycled Records Springfield, IL

Turntabling welcomes suggestions for other indie record shops to visit along the way–just drop us a line to jwallace (at) turntabling (dot) net.

This year’s trip is also unique as a tour diary will be kept for publication in a book project to be announced at the end of Vinyl Road Rage #4. Stay tuned for details on that project.

Vinyl Road Rage began in 2008 and has run at least once per year ever since. This year’s trip is the most elaborate and longest one to date. For more information, or to schedule interviews or media opportunities about Vinyl Road Rage #4, contact Joe Wallace at jwallace (at) turntabling (dot) net.