Thursday, January 31, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | Thin Lizzy "BBC Live in Concert"


This, from the BBC Radio One Archives, is the last time Thin Lizzy was to take the stage with Phil Lynott as frontman. Try not to tear up at the last playing of " Still In Love With You." Dare 'ya...

Thin Lizzy - Baby Please Don't Go (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy - A Night In The Life Of A Blues Singer (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy - The Sun Goes Down (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy - Rosalie Medley - Rosalie/Dancing In The Moonlight/The Cowgirl Song (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy - Still In Love With You (Mp3)

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | Prefab Sprout "From Langley Park to Memphis"


Sadly, you can hear the wheels coming off the cart on this one; the plot being all but forgotten. (Stevie Wonder and Pete Townsend on a Sprout LP? Naah.) Yet, there WERE a smattering of fine moments...

Prefab Sprout - I Remember That (Mp3)
Prefab Sprout - Nancy (Let Your Hair Down For Me) (Mp3)
Prefab Sprout - The Golden Calf (Mp3)

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | The Replacements "Don't Tell A Soul"


I saw The Replacements on this tour at Lisner Auditorium here in DC. While their live shows were notoriously hit or miss -- that night they were spot-on. Thirty songs in an hour. As it should be.

The Replacements - Talent Show.mp3
The Replacements - Achin' To Be.mp3
The Replacements - They're Blind.mp3
The Replacements - Darlin' One.mp3
The Replacements - Rock 'N' Roll Ghost.mp3

This Was This Is It


Is This It from Goldenfiddle on Vimeo.

So, how to explain the bad acid flashback that was the cover for the US release?

Monday, January 28, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | Nick Heyward "From Monday to Sunday"


Why, I used to listen to "How Do You Live Without Sunshine" 24/7, from Monday to Sunday. (Add red wine, stir.)

Nick Heyward - How Do You Live Without Sunshine (Mp3)
Nick Heyward - Into Your Life (Mp3)
Nick Heyward - January Man (Mp3)
Nick Heyward - Kite (Mp3)
Nick Heyward - Mr. Plain (Mp3)

The Washington Post on Orpheus Records Closing

Rick Carlisle at Orpheus Records in Clarendon. "They're not making any more originals of albums. Vinyl may disappear as baby boomers disappear." (Photo by John Mcdonnell)

Turnarounds Are Tough When You Can Only Go 33-1/3
By Marc Fisher
Middle-aged man walks in to price a first-edition vinyl Bob Dylan album. Young woman collects a John Prine LP for her father. Longtime customer and vinyl enthusiast browses the latest rock reissues. And then, in a busy midday hour at Orpheus Records in Clarendon, the phone rings: It's the landlord, and the news is good -- sort of. Orpheus, already displaced from Georgetown in 1999 after a couple of decades there, is still going to lose its storefront on Wilson Boulevard, but the date of execution may be delayed.

Owner Rick Carlisle greets the news with a shake of the head. He is psychologically prepared for the end; a going-out-of-business sale banner is already waving outside. But the daunting task of somehow unloading 120,000 record albums weighs on him.

Read the full article here.

Friday, January 25, 2008

TVD's Weekend Shots


Guest DJ, John Foster returns with ten more tracks furthering last week's conversation. John is a funny guy who writes depressing songs under the guise of his Sad Crocodile moniker. You may also know him from his design work or various books and web columns.

"I have spent the past week arguing with my significant other of serious "adult" issues and it has reminded me that I married someone not to make me happy (although she is certainly capable of that with very little effort) but rather to keep me on my toes and constantly interested. I am not reliant on forward motion but I refuse to have anything stand pat. I get fidgety when that happens. I am sure the bulk of it is buried in some insecurities that lurk deep inside me so I have decided to embrace that notion and fashion a playlist for your weekend in that mode. 10 songs about being unsure in your relationship (that make me happy anyway.)"

Kristin Hersh - Me and My Charms (Mp3)
Morrissey - Tomorrow (Mp3)
Sharkboy - Razor (Mp3)
The Lucy Show - Part of Me Now (Mp3)
Disco Inferno - I'm Still In Love (Mp3)
The Changes - Her, You and I (Mp3)
Camper Van Beethoven - One of These Days (Mp3)
Belle and Sebastian - Seeing Other People (Mp3)
Clearlake - Wonder if the Snow Will Settle (Mp3)
Daryll-Ann - I Could Never Love You (Mp3)

Want to Guest DJ one week at TVD? Let us know...

TVD's Shuffle Bored | January 25, 2008


Five at random finds the 'pod a bit introspective this morning...
Graham Parker - You Can't Be Too Strong (Mp3)
The Blue Nile - The Days Of Our Lives (Mp3)
The Bathers - Yellow Crombie (Mp3)
Elbow - The Everthere (Mp3)
China Crisis - Christian (Mp3)

Thursday, January 24, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | KISS "Gene Simmons"


Simply put, from a branding perspective, one of the finest LP covers ever. In fact, the complete series of four is outstanding. (No foolin'.) Cover painting; Eraldo Carugati, Design; Howard Marks Advertising, Inc.

KISS/Gene Simmons - Radioactive (Mp3)
KISS/Gene Simmons - See You Tonight (Mp3)
KISS/Gene Simmons - Mr. Make Believe (Mp3)
KISS/Gene Simmons - Always Near You_Nowhere To Hide (Mp3)
KISS/Gene Simmons - When You Wish Upon A Star (Mp3)

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | The Jimi Hendrix Experience "Electric Ladyland"


Simply put, one of the finest LP covers ever. Art Direction; Ed Thrasher, photography; Karl Ferris. Known as "the Innovator of Psychedelic Photography," Ferris was the personal photographer to Jimi Hendrix and Donovan, and shot the cover of Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced” album and Donovan’s “A Gift From a Flower to a Garden.” He took some of the most unforgettable photographs of the 1960’s and was commissioned to do a multitude of prominent concert posters. He also received the compliment of a lifetime when Hendrix remarked to him on seeing his portfolio, “You‘re doing with photography what I’m doing with music - going far out beyond the limits.".

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower (Mp3)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Crosstown Traffic (Mp3)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Long Hot Summer Night (Mp3)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Rainy Day, Dream Away (Mp3)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Mp3)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

TVD Upgrades to the ION USB Turntable...

Some quick first impressions:
"Huh, this box is LIGHT."
"Ah, I see...it's plastic. (Drag.)"
"Hey, it took me only a half hour to get from this...



...to this. And I'm no technophile..."

Next up, getting familiar with the Audacity software that comes with the ION -- which seems to be where the learning curve actually comes into play...

TVD's Daily Wax | T-Rex "The Slider"


Simply put, one of the finest LP covers ever. Photography; Ringo Starr.

T-Rex - Metal Guru (Mp3)
T-Rex - The Slider (Mp3)
T-Rex - Telegram Sam (Mp3)
T-Rex - Ballrooms Of Mars (Mp3)
T-Rex - Main Man (Mp3)

Monday, January 21, 2008

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Orpheus and Strangeland Records: R.I.P.


Confirmed to TVD this morning is the sad news that Arlington's Orpheus Records, one of that last surviving brick-and-mortar vinyl shops in the area is shutting its doors on April 1. Prices have been slashed 30% on all used records and much of the still-sealed merch will be 30% off as well. A harried employee this morning asked us to visit for details which we'll do over the coming days.

Update: TVD's just back from a few hours of rummaging through the stacks over at Orpheus and the place was wall-to-wall vinyl enthusiasts. My first thought was how sad is this -- all of these customers here NOW that the store is shutting down? Literally there was a line and a significant wait to just check out. (Two guys in front of me bought 45 and 75 LP's respectively. The stuff's going out the door folks.) TVD inquired about the closure to the bearded owner who said it isn't his wish to shutter at all - his lease is up and the landlord refuses to renew. There isn't an option for him but to close. Asked if he'll relocate, his comment was that after the move from Georgetown to Arlington, he vowed to never move again and that seems to be the prevailing notion. Orpheus will indeed shut its doors for good on 4/1.

In other closing news, the City Paper has reported the announced closing of Annandale's metal and industrial niche shop Strangeland Records on March 17. Dan Boyd, a Strangeland employee since 2006 who plays bass for Fairfax metal band the Seventh Gate, admits. “To be completely honest, the metal scene in D.C. just isn’t that great.” Read more here.

Friday, January 18, 2008

TVD's Weekend Shots



This week TVD welcomes a guest DJ for your Weekend Shots: John Foster is a funny guy who writes depressing songs under the guise of his Sad Crocodile moniker. You may also know him from his design work or various books and web columns.

"I have spent the past week arguing with my significant other of serious "adult" issues and it has reminded me that I married someone not to make me happy (although she is certainly capable of that with very little effort) but rather to keep me on my toes and constantly interested. I am not reliant on forward motion but I refuse to have anything stand pat. I get fidgety when that happens. I am sure the bulk of it is buried in some insecurities that lurk deep inside me so I have decided to embrace that notion and fashion a playlist for your weekend in that mode. 10 songs about being unsure in your relationship (that make me happy anyway.)"

The Fall - Frenz (Mp3)
Translator - Everywhere That I'm Not (Mp3)
The Cure - In Between Days (Mp3)
Billy Bragg - Must I Paint You A Picture (Mp3)
Black Kids - Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend to Dance (Mp3)
The Harvest Ministers - You Do My World The World of Good (Mp3)
Prefab Sprout - When Love Breaks Down (Mp3)
The Mountain Goats - See America Right (Mp3)
McLusky - She Will Only Bring You Happiness (Mp3)
Boyracer - He Gets Me So Hard (Mp3)

TVD's Shuffle Bored | January 18, 2008


Simply. At. Random.
David Vandervelde - Murder in Michigan (Mp3)
The Chameleons - Caution (Live) (Mp3)
Blue Ash - Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?) (Mp3)
20/20 - Tell Me Why (Mp3)
Two People - Rescue Me (Mp3)

Thursday, January 17, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | Crowded House "Together Alone"


The late Tower Records' self-published magazine 'Pulse' crossed my mind the other day. If there ever was a publication with less discerning taste, I've yet to see it. Each CD or artist interview was positively fawning. "Well honey, here we are RIGHT in the Tower Records ready to purchase this new Insane Clown Posse CD but Tower themselves says it's a boatload of crap - so why bother?!" That'd be self-defeating, right? So, every review spoke to SOMETHING redeeming for ANY CD, and let's face it, Insane Clown Posse? (Shite.) What 'Pulse' did have as a feature was something called "Desert Island Discs" -- the ten or so LPs or what have you that you'd want to turn your new pal Friday onto while stranded on the aforementioned desert island -- and just listen to forever. And it was a pretty decent monthly feature. You could tell basically who you'd want to immediately hang out with given their taste in music versus the guy you'd wanna whack with a bat. Which brings me to today's selection: "Together Alone" by Crowded House. I'd turn to Friday and he'd be singing "Well, I've been locked out/ I've been locked in..." and we'd laaaaaugh. He makes great Mojitos too, that Friday.

Crowded House - Kare Kare (Mp3)
Crowded House - Black And White Boy (Mp3)
Crowded House - Walking On The Spot (Mp3)
Crowded House - Skin Feeling (Mp3)
Crowded House - Together Alone (Mp3)

Mojito Recipe
3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz light rum
club soda

In a tall thin glass, crush part of the mint with a fork to coat the inside. Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly. Top with ice. Add rum and mix. Top off with *chilled* club soda (or seltzer). Add a lime slice and the remaining mint, and serve. Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | The Plimsouls Debate


I'd like to postulate that there are some bands who should never enter a studio and simply play live - forever. Like, just never record. Producers most often simply don't know how to harness the energy and power of a killer live act. The results are too clean, glossy, and well, commercial. Case in point (no pun) are The Plimsouls -- a band I first heard live for the most part via a cassette of the LP right up there. "One Night In America" is a much better example of how the band really sounded, with swagger to its rhythms, grit in the vocals, and spectacularly honed and inventive vocals from Peter Case, who also gets some good duel guitar action with Eddie Munoz on every track. Not only doesn't the band sound slick, like their one Geffen album does, it sounds dangerous, in the best rock 'n' roll tradition.

So, today, a little TVD experiment: The Plimsouls live from 1981 at The Whiskey A Go Go -vs- The Plimsouls' 1983 Geffen release "Everywhere at Once" produced by Jeff Eyrich -- who for today's purposes I'll dub "The Cleaner." (I guess my leanings are uh, rather apparent...)


From 1983's "Everywhere at Once":

The Plimsouls - A Million Miles Away (Mp3)
The Plimsouls - I'll Get Lucky (Mp3)
The Plimsouls - Inch By Inch (Mp3)
The Plimsouls - Shaky City (Mp3)

Live at the Whiskey, 1981:
The Plimsouls - A Million Miles Away (Live) (Mp3)
The Plimsouls - I'll Get Lucky (Live) (Mp3)
The Plimsouls - Inch By Inch (Live) (Mp3)
The Plimsouls - Shaky City (Live) (Mp3)

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Monday, January 14, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | Blondie "Eat to the Beat"


"Here at TVD, we're all about breaking new bands. So let us introduce you to a wonderful 6-piece combo from NYC who have big things ahead of them..."

Nothing like being right in retrospect, huh? Seriously, this is one release I've owned in every format -- vinyl, CD, even cassette. (Sadly, not 8-track.) And is "Union City Blue" one of the best rock songs EVER?! Well, yes.


Blondie - Dreaming (Mp3)
Blondie - Union City Blue (Mp3)
Blondie - Accidents Never Happen (Mp3)
Blondie - Slow Motion (Mp3)
Blondie - Atomic (Mp3)

BONUS:
Radiohead - Union City Blue (Live) (Mp3)

Thursday, January 10, 2008

TVD's Daily Wax | Arnold "The Barn Tapes"


Mark Saxby, Phil Morris and Phil Payne WERE (we think?) Arnold - initially signed to Alan McGee's Creation Records and later on his Poptones imprint. These tracks come from their demos (recorded over 12 days in a medieval barn in Kent) which impressed McGee so much he released them -- as is. Some of these tracks later appeared on Arnold's wonderful debut "Hillside" which was followed by "Bahama" and subsequently a self-titled EP of new (fantastic) material. Then well, Saxby and Payne now record as Little Massive. So, Arnold - where are you? (Yes, we're big fans...)

Arnold - Float My Boat (Mp3)
Arnold - Face (Mp3)
Arnold - Windsor Park (Mp3)
Arnold - Medication Time (Mp3)

Monday, January 7, 2008

TVD: Twee'd Off

We're delighted to have been invited to contribute to the interesting international collective known as Fun and Heartbreak. Come join us, won't you?