Thursday, October 7, 2010

TVD Fall Vinyl Giveaway | Junip 'Rope & Summit EP'


Sure, sure - Junip gave it away free online last May. We know.

But as you know, we're all about something you can hold in your hands and clutch to your chest. And we're really into vinyl!

We've got the second physical release by Junip—the 'Rope and Summit EP'—as our second Fall Giveaway of the year!


Plead your case for a real, live, physical copy of the EP in the comments to this post and the most compelling of the bunch will find a copy in his or her real, live mailbox.

You've got a week! We'll close this one out next Thursday, 10/14. And remember to leave us a contact email address with your response!

Junip - Rope and Summit (Mp3)
Junip - Always (Run Roc Remix) (Mp3)
Approved for download!

TVD | The Box


"There was a time/when everything was fine..." Marc Bolan sang.

And it's true. Maybe I was 7 or 8. Single digits.

My mom and dad, Ruth and Herm, played Scrabble most Saturday nights after a big meal at our home with their best friends, Pat and Howard. Drinking Scotch late into the evening, word challenges settled loudly via the ginormous dictionary more often used to decode the New York Times crossword puzzle that'd keep my mom glued to its magazine section each weekend.

And me? I'd be half asleep attempting to slog it through the Love Boat, then Fantasy Island, then the local news to catch some portion of Saturday Night Live just so I could talk about it the next day. Remember that odd benchmark - having seen what every other kid was buzzing about? Being part of it?

Back then it seems, in retrospect, I was actually buzzing on a warm houseful of food and laughs and well, family.

Pat passed away first in 2000 if memory serves me correctly, leaving the other three simply devastated. I'm not sure if there were any Scrabble nights afterward, really. My dad was next in 2006 and my mom passed away this past August, leaving Howard, the oldest by far of the four, the lone remaining celebrant of those evenings.

Then quietly, Howard passed away this past September 22nd, at 92.

And it was Howard, probably as a referral from my folks, who gifted me Queen's 'News of the World' the first holiday season of its release.

So, once more in 'the box' I have a sealed, first pressing, mint copy. With a sticker.

Queen - Sheer Heart Attack (Mp3)
Queen - All Dead, All Dead (Mp3)
Queen - Spread Your Wings (Mp3)
Queen - Fight From The Inside (Mp3)
Queen - It's Late (Mp3)

TVD's Obscure Alternatives


It's week #4 our semi-new Thursday fix, culled from the rare and (ultra) obscure crates of 80’s vinyl, curated by our pal Gil:


QUINCY - s/t LP

Created in the late 70’s New Jersey new wave skinny tie circles, Quincy was formed by two sets of brothers who met in high school. After playing the local club scene, the group hooked up with the owner of legendary club fixture CBGB, Hilly Kristal, who would then assume the role of band manager. Quincy would go on to play regular gigs at the club for a period of time.

Due to this favorable club exposure, the band was contacted by Columbia records and subsequently signed an album deal. Their debut self titled album was released in 1980 to favorable reviews and enthusiasm at radio stations and in the press. The listener is treated to a fiery blend of Elvis Costello, Roxy Music, and the Cars with consistent UK and US new wave power pop influences.


Shortly after this first album came out, Quincy Jones sued them for using his name. CBS Records did not help the band with the lawsuit, but both parties ended up settling out of court. This was a bad omen and the band could not get things going again.

One of the main leaders left the band so the rest of the guys soldiered on and formed another outfit called Lulu Temple. In addition to a new name, the band took on a new musical direction adding horns and percussion and a more layered approach. Without the support of their label and the lack of press, even the band's loyal fan base didn't know of their new record.

The band dissolved in the mid 80’s with the members drifting into other facets of the music business. Quincy’s first and only full length album is full of infectious new wave tunes that have aged well over these last few decades.

Quincy - Critics Choice (Mp3)
Quincy - Dime Store Lies (Mp3)
Quincy - Don't Knock on My Door (Mp3)

For more obscure and unknown titles, check out Vinyl Obscurity.