An absolute score on vinyl. I had a copy that got scooped up, along with several early Italian library comps on Dago Red and Easy Tempo, in a tragic misunderstanding. The Sound Gallery was a bridge for me—moving past Martin Denny towards my growing obsession with 70s porno soundtracks and Eurotrash cinema (it was the 90s and I was working at cult video store at the time). Tried starting a Library Music night, but it didn't catch on. The Sound Gallery comps may have been a decade before their time, I don't know. I love the availability now of so much library music, but my eyes glaze over when I think about grabbing any of those KPM records. Finders Keepers is a great label for this kind of stuff though.
Yeah, I’m really selective about the KPM reissues I buy - the only one I have that’s kind of a dud is The Spirit of Christmas, which has a couple of funky tracks but mostly makes Lawrence Welk sound like Vampyros Lesbos.
This is a fantastic tip - had never heard of this comp, and was equally mesmerized by the opening of Dave Allen. And you getting Duffy to play you that surrealist masterpiece over one snippet of "Ozymandius" was a masterstroke. I'm in awe.
"Most of us music obsessives can point to one particular compilation that initially blew our minds and opened our ears to a whole genre or era, and served as our touchstone and guide as we ventured further into that field."
I love "Nuggets" but already knew many of those songs when it came out - so for me, the record that fits this description is a comp of '40s & '50s jump blues and R&B called "Gabe's Dirty Blues" from 1978. It's on a small label (Gusto), and was fully responsible for turning me on to the great Wynonie Harris, and Little Willie John as well. It shows up in bargain bins these days, and I heartily recommend it - all the tracks are strong.
I enjoy compilation albums in general & will be keeping an eye out for "The Sound Gallery," sounds like a lot of fun!
Oooh — I don’t know Gabe’s Dirty Blues, but wish I would have stumbled across it back in the late 90s, when I was getting seriously into the jump blues and raunchy R&B of the 40s and 50s!!
Such a great comp. I remember going on a real tear buying up all the "easy listening" comps that came out around this time. Being in London I was also able to listen to Jonny Trunk's radio show on Resonance FM that had an absurd number of deep cuts hidden within the selections. I'll admit now that because I used to also do a show on Resonance I mildly abused my privilege by getting a copy of one of the shows that just had too many killer selections on it. I'm sure you have already but if not, be sure to check Trunk Records that reissued anything from The Wicker Man soundtrack to even more obscure gems like Psychomania. All are incredible.
You're so right on that last amazing era of rock, etc. - the too-brief golden age of CD reissues done right after that first horrible wave of CD transfers, Mojo was indispensable!
Love it
An absolute score on vinyl. I had a copy that got scooped up, along with several early Italian library comps on Dago Red and Easy Tempo, in a tragic misunderstanding. The Sound Gallery was a bridge for me—moving past Martin Denny towards my growing obsession with 70s porno soundtracks and Eurotrash cinema (it was the 90s and I was working at cult video store at the time). Tried starting a Library Music night, but it didn't catch on. The Sound Gallery comps may have been a decade before their time, I don't know. I love the availability now of so much library music, but my eyes glaze over when I think about grabbing any of those KPM records. Finders Keepers is a great label for this kind of stuff though.
Yeah, I’m really selective about the KPM reissues I buy - the only one I have that’s kind of a dud is The Spirit of Christmas, which has a couple of funky tracks but mostly makes Lawrence Welk sound like Vampyros Lesbos.
This is a fantastic tip - had never heard of this comp, and was equally mesmerized by the opening of Dave Allen. And you getting Duffy to play you that surrealist masterpiece over one snippet of "Ozymandius" was a masterstroke. I'm in awe.
"I said I'm JEALOUS of your ant."
“Look on my feelers, termites, and despair!”
What a wonderful post! I love this observation:
"Most of us music obsessives can point to one particular compilation that initially blew our minds and opened our ears to a whole genre or era, and served as our touchstone and guide as we ventured further into that field."
I love "Nuggets" but already knew many of those songs when it came out - so for me, the record that fits this description is a comp of '40s & '50s jump blues and R&B called "Gabe's Dirty Blues" from 1978. It's on a small label (Gusto), and was fully responsible for turning me on to the great Wynonie Harris, and Little Willie John as well. It shows up in bargain bins these days, and I heartily recommend it - all the tracks are strong.
I enjoy compilation albums in general & will be keeping an eye out for "The Sound Gallery," sounds like a lot of fun!
Oooh — I don’t know Gabe’s Dirty Blues, but wish I would have stumbled across it back in the late 90s, when I was getting seriously into the jump blues and raunchy R&B of the 40s and 50s!!
Such a great comp. I remember going on a real tear buying up all the "easy listening" comps that came out around this time. Being in London I was also able to listen to Jonny Trunk's radio show on Resonance FM that had an absurd number of deep cuts hidden within the selections. I'll admit now that because I used to also do a show on Resonance I mildly abused my privilege by getting a copy of one of the shows that just had too many killer selections on it. I'm sure you have already but if not, be sure to check Trunk Records that reissued anything from The Wicker Man soundtrack to even more obscure gems like Psychomania. All are incredible.
You're so right on that last amazing era of rock, etc. - the too-brief golden age of CD reissues done right after that first horrible wave of CD transfers, Mojo was indispensable!