Tag Archives: vinyl

Blacula Soundtrack: Awesome 70s Funk

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You can laugh all you want, but I am totally digging the Blacula soundtrack. It’s been on the speakers practically non-stop since I found it. This is a hell of an album–massively funky, and totally 70s. It features some outstanding work by Gene Page, but also has three tracks by a pre “Rock the Boat” Hues Corporation. Another group called 21st Century Ltd. also makes a showing. Gene Page absolutely tears it up with “Stalkwalk”, check the YouTube clip below to hear this…fantastic.

Blacula as a movie was a hell of a lot of fun. This movie wanted very badly to be a corny piece of crap at times, but William Marshall stole the movie back as the head vampire. Marshall, a Shakeaspear vet with  huge screen  presence, managed to inject some actual humanity into the part. Thalmus Rasulala is great as a reluctant, the inner-city Van Helsing-type. But back to the music. There aren’t many clinkers on this album–only one, really. That’s saying a lot for a soundtrack album.  If you have Tarantino-retro damage or genuinely love the old 60s and 70s styles, grab this one and fast. It’s hard to find on vinyl, but you can still score it on a big round platter if you look hard enough.


Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols Vinyl Album

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Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols LP

The one and only. Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols really should be heard in its vinyl glory. Mind you, this is NOT the original pressing, so before you start salivating all over your tartan bondage trousers, know that according to Amazon, this is a 2008 repressing. That said, vinyl really IS the best way to listen to this record.

All the classics are here and no mucking about with “bonus tracks” or “remixes”. On other releases, that would be a good thing, but for this, give us the original Pistols and their very very very snotty record, please.

And now for your viewing pleasure, the full force of the Sex Pistols as unleashed on their television debut for none other than the late, great Tony Wilson–who sought them out after having his head completely done in by a legendary, but underattended Pistols gig at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall. This clip has Glen Matlock on bass, none of that cartoony Sid Vicious crap that would come later. Best part of this vid is the semi-chaos that happens as some doofus tosses furniture onstage. According to Tony Wilson, the applause was dubbed in, the original stark silence Lydon was staring into at the end was far more powerful. You be the judge.


Crosley CR49 Traveler Portable Turntable

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I knew about Crosley turntables, but I never spotted anyone using them until I paid a visit to my friends in Hyperbubble. There, perched on the bathroom counter next to a pile of great old vinyl was a Crosley, clearly intended to be used for bathtub chillout time after a long day of recording and producing new music. 

Not this particular Crosley, mind you, but this Crosley CR49 Traveler is perfect for bath time anywhere you care to roam; hotels, guest houses, crashing at a fellow DJ’s house…anywhere you might want to bring the vinyl equivalent of a boom box. Aspiring rappers and sound system-ers, here’s a concept for you—take your turntabling on the busking circuit! This is uber-portable and only requires a power supply. The built-in speakers make this the ultimate retro accessory. Buy two of em and do the world’s most lo-tech portable DJ set. What’s that, you say? Crazy? Not if you’re playing small intimate spaces like a tiny art gallery or somebody’s front room. Hell, I’m tempted!

Criminal Records, Atlanta Georgia

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Ahh, Criminal Records…I haven’t been there since the mid 90s when I was kicking around that part of the country on and off, but I am quite pleased to see they are not only alive and kicking but have also branched out and gotten even cooler. Criminal Records is in the alt-culture magnet known as Little Five Points, arguably the coolest part of Georgia, hands down.

I remember visiting family in Atlanta at the time and hearing them talk derisively of Little Five Points as “the place where all the freaks hang out”. I knew that meant good things for me and bad things for them…I forced ’em to show me Little Five Points and laughed inwardly at the obvious discomfort of those not really used to cool record shops. What did they expect, Gershwin tunes on the overhead and posters advertising another run of 42nd Street? If you’re in the area, I strongly urge you to go to 1154-A Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. The store has moved from when I knew it, but the rave reviews Criminal Records gets indicates they are still the coolest shop on the block.