VC#2 – It’s Good To Be The King

I sat down with a bottle of Chardonnay last night and reached into the vinyl abyss.  The wine was crisp and went down easy for $8.99 but that’s a tale for another time…and another category. (I do eventually plan on documenting my favorite/most hated wines here on the blog.  Thanks Mike S. for the idea!)

Anyways I slid my fingers across the top of the records, pinched, and pulled out…

King Crimson – “USA”

Now I’m a HUGE Robert Fripp fan…his guitar crosspicking has always blown me away…but I’ve never delved as deep as I probably should have into the English band King Crimson.  The band was founded in London, 1969 and went through numerous lineup changes.  Fripp was basically the only constant in King Crimson up until things got more stable in the 80′s.

My copy of the album (pictured above) is in mediocre condition.  The actual record sleeve is warped and has some obvious damage.  This is most likely from lying flat for years underneath the weight of a million other things my uncle stacked on top of it.

I put the needle to it and instantly am transported to the 70′s.  USA features tracks recorded live during the band’s final US tour (what a coincidence!)  Hearing that crowd cheering through a vinyl crackle while King Crimsons progressive, at times psychadelic, sounds blare is a great way to spend a Thursday night.  By the time I flip to side-b and “Asbury Park” plays (recorded in summer of 1974 at the Casino, Asbury Park) I realize how influential King Crimson was to a wide range of other bands.

Another glass of wine…I need more mellotron…

VC#1 – Hello New Category & Genesis Loves You

This being the first of what I hope to be many posts under the “Vinyl Countdown” category…let me preface by saying: I am not trying to be a music snob.

Recently I acquired a collection of vinyl records in an estate sale. Some classical, some KISS, a veritable “ass-load” of Bad Company and Kansas in there. Before this my record player didn’t get much use…maybe once or twice a month. I’m hoping to change that by delving into my new acquisitions and listening to one or two every couple of days. This may be the spark I need to actually start growing my own collection, which shall be documented here.

That is all…on with the show!

Genesis “Nursery Cryme”

Recorded and released in 1971, Nursery Cryme is the 3rd studio album released by Genesis and the first to include the now legendary lineup of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins and Steve Hackett.

My copy (pictured above) sounded great through my speakers, though did crackle a bit loudly at points.  The cover is a little…dingy.  Yeah, dingy is a good word.  Not mint but not in bad shape really.  Surprisingly in good condition is the paper insert that holds the actual record.  I should have taken a better picture of it, but the album was distributed by Buddha Records and on it are a bunch of other albums that were also out at the time.  Some classics by the Charlie Daniels Band on there as well as “Dy-no-mite!” by of course James “Jimmie” Walker.

I’ll try to start taking better pictures for the next update…I guess one just isnt enough.  For instance, you can barely make out the great Alice In Wonderland illustration that graces the…”circle area” in the middle of the record. (Guess I could work on my lingo as well…use the comments to let me know what that is called!)

MORE TO COME, STAY TUNED!