We should take a walk...

The AntiDC finds herself rather ProDC today (well, for the time being anyway) with a TVD-penned guest blog! And we're hitting the streets and taking a tour of five of DC's record stores. Come along, won't cha?

TVD's Daily Wax | Joe Jackson "Live in New York"

Joe Jackson's at the 9:30 tonight with a similar live line-up to this 2000 release, "Live in New York." It's Joe on keys, Graham Maby on bass, and on this tour it was Gary Burke behind the drum kit. Tonight, original Joe Jackson Band drummer Dave Houghton is your time keeper.

And that's right -- no guitarist. Skeptical? Don't be:
Joe Jackson - Summer in the City (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - Fools In Love (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - Home Town (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - It's Different for Girls (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - One More Time (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | INXS "Shabooh Shoobah"

There's a photo I should have located to accompany this post of Mike Hutchence holding an INXS fan club newsletter whose cover was illustrated by yours truly, age 15. Scanning this cover today and uploading these songs...I get the sense that some things will just keep repeating themselves over and over. Over and over.

INXS - The One Thing (Mp3)
INXS - To Look At You (Mp3)
INXS - Soul Mistake (Mp3)
INXS - Jan's Song (Mp3)
INXS - Don't Change (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Echo and the Bunnymen "Songs To Learn & Sing"

Despite the absence of a traditional TVD theme...this week and for the foreseeable future (although I have a roots reggae week in the works as the weather warms...) I am sensing a theme I think. If Freddie were here, he'd be singing, " Those were the days of our lives/The bad things in life were so few..."

Echo and the Bunnymen - Do It Clean (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - Never Stop (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - Silver (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - The Back Of Love (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - The Cutter (Mp3)

Local record store owners take a spin behind the decks at Beyond in April

Beyond, the weekly downtempo happy hour in Dupont Circle, is celebrating its first anniversary by hosting some of DC’s favorite record store managers. Som Records’ Neal Becton, Red Onion’s Joshua Harkavy, and Crooked Beat’s Holly Tegeler will be taking over Beyond in the month of April. During the month of April, each of these esteemed DJs will have an evening in which to showcase their skills and personal vinyl collections.

Beyond, the Dupont Circle weekly Extended Happy Hour event takes place every Wednesday from 6PM to 11PM in the Upstairs lounge above Skewers and Café Luna restaurants at 1633 P St NW (at the corner of 17th St and P St). More info here. (Via freeformdj.com)
Image courtesy LP Cover Lover!

TVD's Daily Wax | The English Beat "What Is Beat?"

Feel that? It's the reins of a 'theme week' coming loose, lightening the blog load in favor of some old skool freestylin'. And what better way to inaugurate this non-theme theme then a handful from the always appreciated English Beat. I hear quite a few toes tapping in office cubes this morning...

The English Beat - I Confess (Mp3)
The English Beat - Doors Of Your Heart (Mp3)
The English Beat - Save It For Later (Mp3)
The English Beat - Too Nice To Talk To (Mp3)
The English Beat - Can't Get Used To Losing You (Mp3)

(BTW - 300th post. My.)

TVD's Weekend Shots

To wind up Beatles Bootleg week here at TVD, your weekend round o' shots is the entire, complete session from the rooftop at 3 Savile Row on January 30, 1969.

The Beatles - Get Back (Mp3)
The Beatles - Get Back (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down (Mp3)
The Beatles - I've Got A Feeling (Mp3)
The Beatles - One After 909 (Mp3)
The Beatles - Dig A Pony (Mp3)
The Beatles - I've Got A Feeling (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Get Back (Take 3) (Mp3)

The Weekend Shots is where you--yes, you-- the TVD reader get to participate. What are ya waiting for? Got ten tracks and a theme?

TVD Shuffle Bored | April 4, 2008

Five for Friday:
Beirut - Elephant Gun (Mp3)
Small Amp - Sisters and Brothers (Mp3)
Ringo Starr - You're Sixteen (Mp3)
The Grays - Same Thing (Mp3)
Rickie Lee Jones - Chuck E's In Love (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

Despite the odd compilation or two or the recent 'Anthology' releases, I wasn't a member of the buying public when there actually was a NEW Beatles record. It was all out there by the time I got to it. And I chipped away...one LP at a time and largely out of sequence which gives me a broad appreciation for their career--from the Cavern to the Rooftop. The latter era informs today's bootleg 'The Auction Tapes' which are 'Let it Be' and subsequently 'Abby Road' rehearsals. And actually, when I listen to these...I'm truly hearing a few things that really are, well...new.

The Beatles - All Things Must Pass/Mean Mr. Mustard/Don't Let Me Down/All Things Must Pass/Fools Like Me/You Can Win Again (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Be Cruel/Costa Del Sol/My One And Only Prayer/My Baby Left Me (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying/Sexy Sadie/Blue Suede Shoes (Mp3)
The Beatles - If Tomorrow Ever Comes/What Do You Wanna Make Those Eyes At Me For (Mp3)
The Beatles - She Came Into The Bathroom Window/Sausages and French Fries/Hi Ho Silver/Stand By Me (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

Aside from the ticks in my head when these tracks deviate from the versions burned in all of our brains, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to add to these -- which makes for some easy blogging. Classics in progress:

The Beatles - I Am The Walrus (Basic Tracks) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Penny Lane (Unedited Rough Mix) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever (Overdub Session) (Mp3)
The Beatles - The Fool On The Hill (Demo Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Aerial Tour Instrumental (Take 8 RM 4) (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

A first few takes at genius:
The Beatles - Day Tripper (Take 3) (Mp3)
The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You (Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (Take 4) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Paperback Writer (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out (Rough Mix) (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

All in all, a pretty interesting vinyl-related weekend at ol' TVD HQ. For starters, in regard to the aforementioned trip to Orpheus records on Saturday, it turns out that Ms. TVD actually purchased more LP's than yours truly. (What th'?) And, after staring down the task for QUITE some time now, TVD HQ today sports a fully alphabetized LP collection--which is far easier typed than done, I assure you. And as such, I realized I had quite a few Beatle Bootlegs among the newly organized archives--and thus, an informal theme week was born...

The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (Take 3) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - If You've Got Trouble (Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Leave My Kitten Alone (Mp3)
The Beatles - One After 909 (Take 2) (Mp3)

The reports of Orpheus Records' demise have been exaggerated.

Rick Carlisle at Orpheus Records in Clarendon. (Photo by John Mcdonnell)

Well, by a month.
Owner Rick Carlisle tells TVD that the lease on the Clarendon location has been extended a month and that they will remain open until the end of April--while the used vinyl is STILL 50% off. We were by yesterday and got our hands on this 30-year Yep Rock reissue...and while this spanking new, 180-gram, 2LP set itself wasn't 50% off, the $20 was well spent for this gem. See ya on April 19th?

TVD's Weekend Shots

A TVD Ten from 1980:
Wah! - Seven Minutes to Midnight (Mp3)
Nightmares in Wax - Birth of a Nation (Mp3)
Woodhead Munro - Mumbo Jumbo (Mp3)
Spizz Energi - Where's Captain Kirk? (Mp3)
Associates - The Affectionate Punch (Mp3)
Frantic Elevators - You Know What You Told Me (Mp3)
Fad Gadget - Ricky's Hand (Mp3)
The Tea Set - Parry Thomas (Mp3)
Swell Maps - Let's Build a Car (Mp3)
The Normil Hawaiians - The Beat Goes On (Mp3)

TVD invites you--the informed TVD reader--to participate and DJ the Weekend Shots each week. What should we be listenin' to?

TVD's Daily Wax | Meat Loaf "Bat Out of Hell"

Well, sure - I grew up on the Jersey Shore...but I was nothing close to a Springsteen fan. It took me until my thirties to actually get The Boss, and much of that is purely nostalgia. (I'm on board now, but still...) This Meat Loaf record...with all of its bluster and blather filled the gap just fine, thank you. Motorcycles belching out from the grave, tenuous moments in the back seats of cars, hot summer nights on the beach...this was the soundtrack to that road map. Smell the ocean? I do.

Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell LP (Mp3)
This is the whole LP...reordered for maximum effect. And the last of the guilty pleasures for now. (Until I can find my Culture Club LP...it's here SOMEplace....)

TVD Shuffle Bored | March 28, 2008

OK, that's it. I'm pitching the Nano. Too many recurring themes among the randomness...but here you have it:
ABC - Date Stamp (Mp3)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy - The Sun Goes Down (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - Aberdeen (Mp3)
The Turtles - Elenore (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Journey "Greatest Hits"

It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? I'm sure a third of you are wondering to what level of depravity TVD will sink this week, another third saw this round-house punch coming since Monday when this sick salad began to be tossed--and the rest of you are making that infamous Lee Harvey Oswald face as TVD loads this morning...But fight it, I can't--these songs kill in their 1970's FM radio, AOR way. (That is, permanently downloaded and cached.)

Once while taking a late night cab from the airport into downtown San Francisco, "Lights" came on the radio in the taxi as I'm looking out the window at the literal lights. The cab driver leaned over the seat to me and said, "Yea, man, great song, huh?" And it was. (And is.)

Journey - Any Way You Want It (Mp3)
Journey - Lights (Mp3)
Journey - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' (Mp3)
Journey - Wheel In The Sky (Mp3)
Journey - Who's Crying Now (Mp3)

(Yea, that's the face.)

TVD's Daily Wax | Yes "Drama"

Despite the volume of whiskey and other things ingested at the prompting of my high school pal Noel to better "get" Yes -- it just never happened. He became a Yes-aholic, and me? Well, I preferred tunes that weren't 8 minutes long -- or a whole album side long. Sheezus. What torture. Make mine punk or new wave. But a funny thing happened -- Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman left Yes and the Buggles - the f'n BUGGLES - joined! What th'? I was in clover and Noel was in--censed. And you guys get guilty pleasure/embarrassing post #3!

Yes - Machine Messiah (Mp3)
Yes - Does It Really Happen (Mp3)
Yes - Into The Lens (Mp3)
Yes - Run Through The Light (Mp3)
Yes - Tempus Fugit (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Darkness "One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back"

Maybe it's because I miss Queen so much. Or the quality of the Roy Thomas Baker production with those sonic flourishes that have been marinating in my brain since childhood. Or maybe it's the cool--albeit corny--cover art. Or maybe it's because, while waiting with Big Andy for The Darkness to hit the stage at the 9:30, they played nothing but Thin Lizzy to warm up the crowd. Then Dan Hawkins comes out wearing a classic Thin Lizzy t-shirt. That could be it. But I tell you one thing, it's not the falsetto. Certainly not the falsetto.

The Darkness - One Way Ticket (Mp3)
The Darkness - Is It Just Me (Mp3)
The Darkness - Dinner Lady Arms (Mp3)
The Darkness - Bald (Mp3)
The Darkness - Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Genesis "Duke"

It's a tough life over here at TVD, what with having to conjure up some fine, fine music each week--rummaging through the archives to find the killer overlooked tracks and the hidden gems amidst the vinyl stacks. Yet, there's a deep, dark underbelly to this pursuit: the guilty pleasure. They're LP's or bands you might not admit to liking in public conversation, but at home, squirreled away, you're tapping your toe and singing along to some seriously suspect selections. So, in the name of transparency and candor, we'll pull back the curtain a bit and reveal a few dark, dark secrets this week...and we hope you'll forgive us.

Now, I can already hear the gasps of horror and disgust from my blog brethren Mick and Davy - but dammit, this is a fine record. I'm no Genesis or Phil FAN, but from first track to last (and at age 13) I was hooked. Tuneful, NOT ponderous nor fey (Hi Pete!) this release has some fine sequential moments they were to never repeat again. (Abacab has a moment or two - but naah.) Let fly with the barbs!

Genesis - Duchess (Mp3)
Genesis - Misunderstanding (Mp3)
Genesis - Turn It On Again (Mp3)
Genesis - Alone Tonight (Mp3)
Genesis - Please Don't Ask (Mp3)

TVD's Weekend Shots

Marissa over at The Anti DC has been responsible for more morning coffee through the nose than I can count--and this Friday, she's been turned loose here at TVD to DJ your Weekend Shots:

Hello, e-friends! Fancy finding, well, me here! Yes, my slow but
steady takeover of the World Wide Web has finally begun. And you're
welcome.

But enough about my diabolical e-plans! It's time to take care of some
business, and by "business," I mean I will force my musical opinions
on you. Again, you're welcome.

Anyhow, so here we are. I must admit, despite my introductory bravado, I'm a little bit nervous here over at The Vinyl District. See, unlike most of my retardulous musings at The Anti DC, music has always been a very personal thing to me. Not only has it been the basis of many a great friendship, but it's also been a bit of an obsession. At one point, I even toyed with the idea of becoming a rock star myself...

I was living in Moscow, Russia, when a couple of acquaintances
approached me at a party and asked if I'd like to join their new band.
I gladly accepted (as I love making an ass out of myself) and
immediately began preparing for our first gig. After days of outfit
planning, I showed up at our show dressed as my alter ego, Babette the French Whore, which instantly became the name of the band. It was at that point that I knew history was about to be made. However, since I'm largely an idiot, the only history made in this instance was me being kicked out of my namesake band. Yeah.

But I'm not bitter. I mean, I was clearly the Gwen Stefani to their No
Doubt. What band wouldn't get a little jealous over that? So
naturally, they had to squash me before I could blow up and leave them in the proverbial dust, er, borscht (hey, we're talking about the Eastern Bloc here!). Or maybe it was because the only preparation I did for the show was invent an outfit, which took up so much time that I couldn't really learn the lyrics. Moot point, in my opinion.

Anyway, the point is, I love music. Singing it, dancing to it,
listening to it, and yes, sometimes even dressing for it. And while
I've finally come to accept that I'll never be a rock star (I'm
apparently not enough of a multi-tasker for that), I still love great
music and those who make it.

And so, without further ado (i.e., me telling any more ridiculous
stories about my equally ridiculous past), I invite you to take a
listen to some of the most influential, inspiring, fun, irreverent,
beautiful, sentimental, memorable, dance-worthy and/or just plain
awesome songs that I would put on any mixtape for a good friend or, in this case, e-friend. Enjoy!

The Faint - I Disappeaer (Mp3)
Bams - Please, Tends L'oreille (Mp3)
Elliott Smith - Let's Get Lost (Mp3)
Fugazi - Merchandise (Mp3)
Thom Yorke - The Clock (Mp3)
At The Drive-In - Initiation (Mp3)
Dismemberment Plan - You Are Invited (Mp3)
Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp (Mp3)
Blonde Redhead - Water (Mp3)
Bright Eyes - Pull My Hair (Mp3)

One last one...

...for my pop. In a "hey you got your rock in my classical/no you got your classical in my rock" way, dad and I always found common ground with ELO and this LP in particular when it was new...blasting 'Mr. Blue Sky' on the car radio, tooling around the town while coming up with weirder and funnier band names than Electric Light Orchestra.

Mr. Blue Sky, I'll remember you this way.

ELO - Mr. Blue Sky (Mp3)

New Costello Album: Vinyl, Digital, No CD

Elvis Costello's next solo studio album, curiously dubbed "Momofuku," will arrive April 22 via Lost Highway. For the time being, the set will be released only on vinyl, with a digital download code included in the package.

No other details have been released about the follow-up to 2004's "The Delivery Man," Costello's Lost Highway debut with his band the Imposters. Since then, Costello recorded "The River in Reverse" with pianist Allen Toussaint and supervised the first wave of his back catalog reissues through Universal. The most recent of those, "This Year's Model," arrived March 4. (Via billboard.com)

TVD Shuffle Bored | March 21, 2008

Good Friday fodder:
Radiohead - Nude (Mp3)
KISS - Black Diamond (Mp3)
The Auteurs - Lenny Valentino (Mp3)
Stereophonics - Last Of The Big Time Drinkers (Mp3)
The Faces - Devotion (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Aztec Camera "High Land, Hard Rain"

...reminds me that the smallest, most innocuous of events--in this case, a rainy afternoon, mid-Fall trip to another record store (Record World in Seaview Square Mall--where yours truly would ultimately find employment)...could pay the largest dividends many years on. So, you parents out there, pull your kids away from Guitar Hero for one afternoon and take them to an honest-to-goodness, brick-and-mortar record store. Many years down the line they might find themselves eternally grateful--and who knows--they may even blog about it some day...

Aztec Camera - Back On Board (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - Down The Dip (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - Haywire (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - Orchid Girl (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - We Could Send Letters (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Pretenders "Pretenders"

Talking with Ms. TVD last night, I was reminded that my dad once toured with the Ringling Brothers Circus -- not as a performer but as someone hired to film the goings-on from the performances to the backstage stuff. She was kinda surprised to hear that and I guess I hadn't thought about it in quite a while. But often when I was a kid, the rough, uncut footage would come out and dad would narrate through the soundless portions. I had seen the footage pretty darn often and became pretty disinterested when he'd roll through the nostalgia AGAIN after setting up the projector and the slide screen for the umpteenth time.

So, it was in June 1980 when my folks thought they'd throw me a surprise birthday party. Of course I didn't know that at the time and I'm sure I jumped at the offer to again hit the Two Guys for a record (that Pretenders LP up there...) and other stops along the way to keep me out of the house while the invited classmates and friends came over. Standard stuff - I'm out on a mini-shopping birthday spree, distracted and return to the house and everyone whoops and hollers. Pretty surprising and a rather cool memory until my dad thought the timing would be juuust right to break out the circus footage AGAIN. Kinda mortified in a 13-year old way.

Twenty-seven years on from that, I reconnected with a friend who was actually at that surprise birthday party and, as we were reminiscing about this and that, the party came up and he's all about "the awesomely cool circus footage" he recalls from that day. And now--who knew?--I'm all about it too.

Pretenders - Kid (Mp3)
Pretenders - Mystery Achievement (Mp3)
Pretenders - Precious (Mp3)
Pretenders - Stop Your Sobbing (Mp3)
Pretenders - The Wait (Mp3)