Satan, Rock Music, and Born Again Christians

WTF?, , , ,

In the 1980s, America was gripped in such a wave of conservative nonsense that any idiot could write a book about Satan, rock music, and witchcraft and it would somehow sell. Brain-dead religious right charlatans and/or nutters like Bob Larson, Jacob Aranza, and the infamous Peters Brothers were doing a brisk business in books about Satanic messages hidden in that evil rock and roll music.

The Devils Disciples The Truth About Rock

The best part about all of these books–and the most telling–are their sections about “backwards masking”. This delightfully hysterical non-crisis was generated by preachers who spent a good deal of time turning records backwards on their turntables, listening for the Devil’s messages.

Satan Music Peters Brothers Why Knock Rock

Even better-the right wing hysteria made bands get into the act and perpetrate their own actual, for-real backwards masking messages. Did they do it just to screw with the Christies? ELO not once, but TWICE threw a bone to the Bob Larsons of the world with the albums Eldorado and Secret Messages. Kiss’s Gene Simmons–then seemingly eager to bait Christians into some new madness– recorded some backwards messages on his solo record. There were plenty of others, to be sure.

Backwards Masking UnmaskedWell, now that I’ve purchased an Audio-Technica AT LP 120 USB turntable, I’ve taken to revisiting some of these hilariously wrong-headed books. (I was all about them when I was in high school for vastly different reasons–caught up in my own small town religious kookiness–don’t worry, I got better).

See, the Audio Technica AT LP120 turntable has a delightful function–it plays in reverse, no finger-turning needed to uncover those Satanic messages. I plan to go through the whole of my catalog to listen for the Devil’s commands…I thought I’d start off by listening to Eno’s Music For Airports and work my way to the first Air LP.

Yeah, those records are all instrumentals. But Satan is a TRICKSTER, you see. He could have hidden messages in there backwards ANYWAY. And that’s the same kind of logic you’ll find waiting for you in ANY of those book titles displayed here.

If you’ve never read these books, I strongly urge you to do so…if for no other reason than to see the minds at work behind yesterday’s goofy right wing thinking. Which is pretty much the SAME thinking at work in TODAY’S goofy right wing thinking.

Don’t believe me? Check THIS crap out:

This website is called Dial-the-Truth Ministries. In addition to being grossed out by their anti-Obama hysteria and general Bronze Age fire and brimstone stupidity, can I REALLY be the only person who sees the disconnect in a WEBSITE called DIAL the Truth? I think not. But it never occurred to THEM, apparently.

Here’s a total howler of a site with a page called Satan’s Music. Prince, Queen, and apparently for some reason the Dixie Chicks are all apparently in service of Our Dark Lord Lucifer. Even the cute one.

Did you know that Emo is unethical for born againers to listen to? Oh yes, kiddies. You are all going to kill yourselves now.

Those are only three examples. Share your own in the comments section, and don’t forget kids…YANKEE ROSE.

Chicago Record Stores: Groovin High

Record Shops, vinyl road rage,

Groovin High Inc Chicago Record Stores

Having been inside this Chicago record store at 1047 W Belmont Avenue in Chicago, it’s possible to write up a decent review of a place even when you go out of your way to give the shop a proper once-over only to be confronted with this:

Groovin High Records Chicago Illinois Record Store

Frustrating, to say the least. But what can you do? Since I’ve already been inside, I can relate that this shop features a good mix of the vintage stuff with new releases. There’s the requisite (and ever-shrinking, it seems from shop to shop) island of CDs, but vinyl is the name of the game here.

My experience at the shop was OK–a friendly presence behind the counter, a lot of records to peer over–especially in the modern rock department. The frustrating thing for me was the massive pile of albums and other items positioned directly in front of the Soundtracks section for MONTHS ON END.

I visited the shop several times hoping this towering monolith of stuff would be gone so I could have a proper browse, but no luck. The detritus has been there for what seems like half a year now. I finally gave in and made a pretzel out of my spine so I could have a look.

Those into music books–not tablature but biographies and such–will do well to give Groovin High a look as there are a  lot of titles positioned in easy reach (thank you) and plenty to browse. In fact, I’d say my liking of this shop is a 50/50 split between the modern rock selection and the books. If only the hours were a bit more dependable! My advice–check this store out, but phone first for best results.

Is the Record Store Dead?

Record Shops, , , ,

vinyl1by Joe Wallace

I’m throwing this question out because I’d really like to know what Turntabling readers think (there’s a hint–post your opinions in the comments section!) about the state of indie record stores in America. In the last two years we’ve lost a LOT of good ones, but the ones that have survived seem to be in it for the long haul.

One of my favorite indie record shops, Laurie’s Planet of Sound in my Lincoln Square, Chicago neighborhood, is a good example of what I’m talking about. Recently Laurie’s revamped the store setup–once upon a time CDs were the main event judging from the placement and display of the compact discs. But now the shiny disc has been almost marginalized and vinyl is front and center.

It was a brilliant move and one that was long needed–CDs aren’t totally extinct, but they’re really for people with old car stereos and people resistant to going all-digital. There are enough digi-resistant folks out there that the compact disc will probably limp along for a decade or so more, but the writing is on the wall.

Laurie’s will survive if the local vinyl junkies come out and support. I’m one and I do. But what about the record store in general? Do you think it’s an endangered species? Chicago has more vinyl shops than I can name here-literally. In or near Lincoln Square alone we have Laurie’s Planet of Sound, Deadwax, and until only recently, Metal Haven which died in spring of 2010. Elsewhere in Chicago there is the local chain of Reckless Records shops, Dave’s Records, Dusty Groove America, and the recently-opened Leland Hardware Records.

Are they all running uphill here? I personally think not, partly because of changing business tactics (bravo, Laurie’s Planet of Sound) and partly because of a (painfully slow) economic recovery which keeps trying to happen. And then there’s US. The few, the rabid, the vinyl junkies.


CORE Conspiracy International Project LP

Vinyl Finds, , , , ,

CORE Conspiracy International Chris and Cosey Coil Nettwerk Records

Here’s a rarity: a Chris and Cosey project on Nettwerk featuring Monte Cazazza, Boyd Rice, Lustmord, Robert Wyatt, and Coil. CORE, a Conspiracy International Project, has of the guests working with Chris and Cosey on a single track each (by remote with tapes and pre-recorded material delivered to theThrobbing Gristle duo, according to the liner notes) on this seven-cut LP. By far the most intriguing and listenable of the seven is the Coil cut, Feeder.

CTI-Core-Conspiracy-Interna

The Boyd Rice track is easily the weakest entry; Lustmord and the Robert Wyatt collaborations are well done but good as they are, none of the seven cuts truly lives up to the power of Feeder. Nuff respect to the other contributors, but damn…

I scored this recently in excellent condition and am pleased to have found it–anything featuring Coil on vinyl is an especially rare treasure these days. Have a listen to the Coil track from CORE via YouTube…a nice find there, I must say–I didn’t expect to find it lurking, but there it was.

P.S.–This 1988 vinyl LP edition of CORE, a Conspiracy International Project is not for sale per se, but I am open to offers. It’s going for around $40 elsewhere and the COMPACT DISC version sells on eBay for $36. Send an offer to jwallace (at) turntabling dot net if you’re interested.