The first three Commodores albums are absolute fire. I especially love their second, 'Caught in the Act.' Barely a stadium Ritchie ballad on any of them, just pure soulful funk 'n fun. However, Richie's influence was beginning to shine through in the wonderful "This Is Your Life." There have been many times when I have heaped praise on these albums to friends of mine asking me for funk recs, and they thought I lost it. Ignore what you think you know about Lionel & Co., and you will be blown away by the funk on their early LPs!
There is also an album of late 60s funky instrumentals they recorded before 'Machine Gun' that came out in the 80s (on one of the thinnest slabs of vinyl I own) titled 'Uprising.'
I absolutely agree; even when Lionel got schmaltzy, there was enough funk going on to balance it out. While I still have a soft spot for the Natural High and Midnight Magic LPs, that’s where the balance really shifted in the wrong (if commercially lucrative) direction.
My earliest experiences with "pre-loved" albums was via mail order. Living in rural Kentucky, it was 100 miles in either direction to visit what record stores DID deal in used. I wish I could recall what the first used album I got was, the ol' memory isn't what it used to be. I seem to recall haunting the cutout bins in department stores more than anything. I do recall spending $40 to get the Great Lost Kinks Album, an absolute must-have for me (and a replacement for the 8 track I had) sometime in the late 70s, but I don't believe that's it. Anyway, I guess that removed the stigma for me because I never was afraid I was breaking the law, I just figured that these were surplus, or others had sold them.
Was there a particular mail-order vendor you bought the used records from? I don’t think I bought any records by mail until I discovered the Midnight Records catalog in the late eighties…
Honestly, I don't remember. The Kinks album came from California, I'm sure; they also had a copy of Beefheart's Clear Spot I wanted but they had it priced kinda high too so I never did pull the trigger. I did get a copy years later though.
While Lionel Richie was and is an excellent writer and singer of ballads, his talent in this area tended to overshadow the high level of musicianship the other Commodores possessed. Milan Williams' keyboard work on "Machine Gun" is jaw-dropping.
My used record store experience stories all revolve around me buying ska records that I couldn’t find on tape. This was in the early 90s. Too bad I didn’t have a record player! I still have them somewhere….Two Tone rarities and I think a Madness LP. And I think I still have some that I never listened to. I think we are so dumb as teenagers.
Thanks, Dan, for the generous shout-out to the Zager "Audio Autopsy" Pe and I worked on! I'm glad we could be somewhat inspirational to re-air your radio station "win"! That's a fun story, and it sounds like you reacted the way I would've: Immediate disappointment, reluctance to complain and ask for the right one, as well as hoping for the best from the record "intruder"!
Love this story, Dan! I was going to share some of my own, and then I realized I kind of already did so when iPods were still relatively new. Nowhere near as eloquent as yours, and our (small, in the great scheme of things) age gap shows a bit in terms of the physical media available when disposable income availed itself. But have a gander if you’d like: http://fightingtheyouth.blogspot.com/2007/04/in-defense-of-compact-discs.html
Since I left the country in 2008, most if mine is still in boxes in my mom's basement. I bring back as many as I can with each visit, but last time I couldn't even find the "sleeve books" for sale anymore! She's on the waiting list for a spot at the old folks home, so the clock is ticking!
I still need to sort out my home stereo situation so I can get the turntable up and running again. All the money available went into building the house. I have my old system, but European voltage prevents me from using it... Retirement goals I guess....
The first three Commodores albums are absolute fire. I especially love their second, 'Caught in the Act.' Barely a stadium Ritchie ballad on any of them, just pure soulful funk 'n fun. However, Richie's influence was beginning to shine through in the wonderful "This Is Your Life." There have been many times when I have heaped praise on these albums to friends of mine asking me for funk recs, and they thought I lost it. Ignore what you think you know about Lionel & Co., and you will be blown away by the funk on their early LPs!
There is also an album of late 60s funky instrumentals they recorded before 'Machine Gun' that came out in the 80s (on one of the thinnest slabs of vinyl I own) titled 'Uprising.'
I absolutely agree; even when Lionel got schmaltzy, there was enough funk going on to balance it out. While I still have a soft spot for the Natural High and Midnight Magic LPs, that’s where the balance really shifted in the wrong (if commercially lucrative) direction.
My earliest experiences with "pre-loved" albums was via mail order. Living in rural Kentucky, it was 100 miles in either direction to visit what record stores DID deal in used. I wish I could recall what the first used album I got was, the ol' memory isn't what it used to be. I seem to recall haunting the cutout bins in department stores more than anything. I do recall spending $40 to get the Great Lost Kinks Album, an absolute must-have for me (and a replacement for the 8 track I had) sometime in the late 70s, but I don't believe that's it. Anyway, I guess that removed the stigma for me because I never was afraid I was breaking the law, I just figured that these were surplus, or others had sold them.
Was there a particular mail-order vendor you bought the used records from? I don’t think I bought any records by mail until I discovered the Midnight Records catalog in the late eighties…
Honestly, I don't remember. The Kinks album came from California, I'm sure; they also had a copy of Beefheart's Clear Spot I wanted but they had it priced kinda high too so I never did pull the trigger. I did get a copy years later though.
While Lionel Richie was and is an excellent writer and singer of ballads, his talent in this area tended to overshadow the high level of musicianship the other Commodores possessed. Milan Williams' keyboard work on "Machine Gun" is jaw-dropping.
My used record store experience stories all revolve around me buying ska records that I couldn’t find on tape. This was in the early 90s. Too bad I didn’t have a record player! I still have them somewhere….Two Tone rarities and I think a Madness LP. And I think I still have some that I never listened to. I think we are so dumb as teenagers.
Thanks, Dan, for the generous shout-out to the Zager "Audio Autopsy" Pe and I worked on! I'm glad we could be somewhat inspirational to re-air your radio station "win"! That's a fun story, and it sounds like you reacted the way I would've: Immediate disappointment, reluctance to complain and ask for the right one, as well as hoping for the best from the record "intruder"!
Great story! Love those 'promo only' releases. . .
Love this story, Dan! I was going to share some of my own, and then I realized I kind of already did so when iPods were still relatively new. Nowhere near as eloquent as yours, and our (small, in the great scheme of things) age gap shows a bit in terms of the physical media available when disposable income availed itself. But have a gander if you’d like: http://fightingtheyouth.blogspot.com/2007/04/in-defense-of-compact-discs.html
I still cringe when I think of how much money I spent on CDs from 1993-2003. I sold my entire collection in 2011 and have never regretted it.
Since I left the country in 2008, most if mine is still in boxes in my mom's basement. I bring back as many as I can with each visit, but last time I couldn't even find the "sleeve books" for sale anymore! She's on the waiting list for a spot at the old folks home, so the clock is ticking!
I still need to sort out my home stereo situation so I can get the turntable up and running again. All the money available went into building the house. I have my old system, but European voltage prevents me from using it... Retirement goals I guess....