Friday 28 February 2014

Vintage Advertisement - Portable Stereo with Garrard Record Changer chassis



Vinyl Feature: The Boomtown Rats - the fine art of Surfacing



 Irish New Wave band The Boomtown Rats released the fine art of Surfacing on October 9, 1979 under three different labels, depending on the country, but the copy I have was from the UK under the Ensign Records label.

Three of the songs were also released as singles and were all hit sellers namely I Don't Like Mondays, Diamond Smiles and Someone's Looking at You with the first being the biggest hit of the three.



Saturday 22 February 2014

Vintage Advertisement - Zenith Stereo System - 1960's



Vinyl Feature: Cat Stevens - Greatest Hits



Cat Stevens music had a profound impact in the 70's during his short career before spectacularly cutting it short with his conversion to Islam and devoting himself to various charities and non-profits. I for one am a big fan and have always loved his music and the beautiful message contained in the meaningful lyrics. My children have been similarly affected and you can often hear one of them belting out Wild World, or some other Cat Stevens hit, in the kitchen.

This then is a compilation of some of the best of the songs from Cat Stevens and worthy of the title of Greatest Hits.


Friday 21 February 2014

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Vintage Advertisement - Sony HP-210A Stereo System & SS-210 Speakers - 1970s



Vinyl Feature: Shakin' Stevens - Shaky



Shaky was Shakin' Stevens only number one selling UK album and did well for him world wide and it also spawned three top ten hit singles.

The album was released in 1981 and has a very "rock 'n roll" sound, going against the grain of the rest of the early eighties popular music style with music that sounds like it could have come straight from the 50's.

Shaky was released under the Epic label.


Tuesday 18 February 2014

Vinyl Feature: David Bowie - Tonight



Tonight is David Bowie's sixteenth studio album and was released in 1984. I picked this up in mint condition from my new favourite second hand store, which is in Landskrona, for their normal price of 5kr. They have a large selection of LP's available and most Sundays there is a large gathering of vinyl diggers searching for some PVC magic.

The album did really well for Bowie and achieved several gold and platinum sales world wide. Despite this Bowie himself apparently never really liked the album...


Friday 14 February 2014

Vintage Advertisement - Thorens TD-166 Turntable - 1975



Vinyl Feature: Elkie Brooks - Pearls II



Released in 1982 as a sequel to Pearls this album generated no less than three hit singles and featured in the charts for about 25 weeks, and for part of that time Pearls was still on the charts as well.

Pearls II was under the A&M label and was produced by Gus Dudgeon.





Thursday 13 February 2014

Vinyl Feature: The Manhattan Transfer - The Manhattan Transfer



The Manhattan Transfer were known for their wonderful vocal performances and incredible harmonies and this, their second album, doesn't disappoint. Released on April 2nd 1975 it cemented The Manhattan Transfer's style and sound and received many positive reviews from the critics.

The album was released under the Atlantic/WEA label.




Vintage Advertisement - British Industries Corporation hi-fidelity components



Saturday 8 February 2014

Vinyl Feature: Andreas Vollenweider - Down to the Moon



Andreas Vollenweider is a Swiss musician whose main instrument of choice is a self designed electrified harp. His music is dreamy and kinda surreal in a fairytale fantasy land sort of way, quite beautiful and in the right setting can be almost spiritual. It can roughly be described as World and New Age, occasionally Jazz, and even on occasions Classical.

Down To The Moon was released in 1986 and was Vollenweiders fifth studio album.


Vintage Advertisement - Edison Triumph Phonograph - 1906



If music be the food of love... - Vinyl Quote



Tuesday 4 February 2014

Vintage Advertisement - Phillips Radios and Radiograms



Featuring the Phillips Concorde and the Phillips Minstrel in a Mothers Day advertisement.

Vinyl Feature: Eurythmics - Revenge



Revenge by the Eurythmics was their fifth studio album and was a great success for them world wide achieving gold and platinum sales in many countries. It was released on the 30th June 1986 and the song Missionary Man was awarded a Grammy the same year.

The album is a nice blend of pop/rock and new wave music that defined the Eurythmics sound in the mid 80's.




Saturday 1 February 2014

Vintage Advertisement - B&O Beocenter 7007 mid - 80's



Vinyl Feature: Cass Elliot - Cass Elliot


This album was released in February 1972 after being recorded in 1971 and was simply titled "Cass Elliot" as Cass Elliot tried to shed the title of "Mama Cass" that she had gained while a member of The Mamma's and The Pappa's. It was her sixth solo album and she apparently had free reign as to song choice so she tried for a subdued and sophisticated sound.

The album however was not a great success and rightfully so as it sounds a bit too subdued to me and lacks the spirited edge of Cass Elliot's other albums. Never-the-less it makes a good collectors piece for me.