The temptations of a (former) vinyl-cd-maniac
In my house there are two bookcases, one opposite the other, full of 33 rpm vinyl records. There are approximately 100 one meter shelves, each of which contains approximately 200 vinyl records. The overall calculation, although spannometric, is around 20,000 vinyl records in total (I’m only talking about the 33 laps; the 45 laps, which are housed in a special drawer, are around the same number). I won’t even tell you about the CDs, but if there aren’t another 20,000 I’m barely wrong.
My collection has been around for a while – I’m not talking about a collection, fortunately for me I don’t have that virus; I’m simply someone who likes to keep what I’ve purchased over time (in the fifty years since I started buying records) – it’s basically stopped, partly for space reasons, partly because for some time now I haven’t been so passionate about an artist or a band that I want to own their record productions.
(And no, if you’re wondering, I don’t listen to liquid music, on Spotify or other distributors; I remain attached to the physical medium)
However, I find myself browsing record sales sites quite often; so, to see the effect they have on me and to understand that if I wanted to take home what intrigues me I would face a certain financial difficulty – I like the box sets, the deluxe editions and some hard-to-find records – and with the objective lack of space at home.
Since the last time (quite recently) that I browsed some sales sites – like a diabetic gluing his nose to the window of a pastry shop – I have been left unsatisfied by some temptations, relating to artists and bands that I have greatly appreciated in the past. I’ll reveal them to you, in case some Santa Claus or some Befana ever wants to leave me something under the fireplace (which I don’t have).
The Velvet Underground
The Boston Tea Party 1968-1969 (8 CDs)
Label: Room On Fire
Sold by Papermoon
An eight-CD box set collects four legendary performances given by the Velvet Underground at the Boston Tea Party: in one of Lou Reed’s favorite clubs, the New York band performed on December 12, 1968 and then on January 10, March 13 and July 11, 1969. Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Moe Tucker lengthen, abuse and rework their early classics such as ‘Heroin’, ‘I’m Waiting For The Man’, ‘Candy Says’, ‘White Light – White Heat’, ‘Sister Ray’ and ‘Pale Blue Eyes’ and other songs from their first three albums with a ferocity and intensity that leave you astonished, developing tight guitar dialogues and a wall of sound that make these concerts an extreme sonic experience and exciting even fifty years later.
DECEMBER 12TH 1968
Disc 1 1. Heroin 2. I m Gonna Move Right In 3. I m Waiting For The Man 4. I m Set Free 5. Foggy Notion 6. Beginning To See The Light 7. Candy Says
Disc 2 1. White Light > White Heat 2. Jesus 3. Sister Ray 4. Pale Blue Eyes
JANUARY 10TH 1969
Disc 3 1. Heroin 2. I m Gonna Move Right In 3. I m Set Free 4. Run Run Run 5. Waiting For The Man 6. What Goes On 7. I Can t Stand It 8. Candy Says
Disc 4 1. Beginning To See The Light 2. White Light > White Heat 3. Pale Blue Eyes 4. Sister Ray
MARCH 13TH 1969
Disc 5 1. Heroin 2. Candy Says 3. Ferryboat Bill 4. I m Waiting For The Man 5. I m Set Free 6. What Goes On 7. I Can t Stand It
Disc 6 1. Beginning To See The Light 2. That s The Story Of My Life 3. White Light > White Heat 4. Jesus 5. Sister Ray
JULY 11TH 1969
Disc 7 1. I m Waiting For The Man 2. Jesus 3. Run Run Run 4. I m Set Free
Disc 8 1. White Light > White Heat 2. Candy Says 3. Pale Blue Eyes 4. Beginning To See The Light 5. Sister Ray > The Murder Mystery
I have to
Recombo DNA (4LP, Colored Vinyl + Mini CD)
Label: Rhino
Sold by Discoteca Laziale – 95 euros
For decades Devo have worked tirelessly at Recombo DNA Laboratories on their musical research into the mutant world around us. This tireless research has resulted in an unmissable collection of studio demos and rare, unreleased songs that span Devo’s entire recording career, from their original days in the cellar to the unused demos from their latest studio album.
• 4xLP
• Mini 3” CD
• Limited edition color vinyl
• Unreleased bonus material
• Large doubled sided poster
• Color inner sleeves
• Liner notes by Gerald V Casale
1. “Recombo DNA (Demo)”
2. “The Words Get Stuck in My Throat (Live)”
3. “Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin’) (Demo)”
4. “Be Stiff (Alternate Mix)”
5. “Pink Pussycat (Demo)”
6. “Goo Goo Itch (Alternate Version)”
7. “Strange Pursuit (Demo)”
8. “The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprise (Demo)”
9. “Bushwhacked (Prosthetic Version)”
10. “Girl U Want (Demo Alternate Version)”
11. “Turn Around (Demo Alternate Version)”
12. “Snowball (Demo Alternate Version)”
13. “Luv & Such”
14. “Gates of Steel (Demo Alternate Version)”
15. “Planet Earth (Demo Alternate Version)”
16. “Whip It (Demo Alternate Version)”
17. “Cold War (Demo Alternate Version)”
18. “Time Bomb”
19. “That’s Pep (Demo Alternate Version)”
20. “Make Me Dance” (labelled “Make Me Move”)
21. “Gotta Serve Somebody (Live)”
22. “I Saw Jesus”
23. “Psychology of Desire (Demo)”
24. “Pity You (Demo)” (labelled “You Say You Gotta Problem”)
25. “Beautiful World (Demo)”
26. “Race of Doom (Demo)”
27. “I Desire (Demo)”
28. “Big Mess (Demo)”
29. “The 4th Dimension (Alternate Version Rough Mix)”
30. “Here to Go (Alternate Version Rough Mix)”
31. “Some Things Don’t Change (Rough Mix)”
32. “Big Adventure (Rough Mix)”
33. “No Noise (Rough Mix)”
34. “Love Is Stronger Than Dirt”
35. “Faster and Faster”
36. “Modern Life”
37. “The Only One (Demo)”
38. “Baby Doll (Demo)”
39. “Some Things Never Change (Demo)”
40. “Plain Truth (Demo)”
41. “Happy Guy (Demo)”
42. “Somewhere With Devo (Studio Version Demo)” Suite featuring “Somewhere”, “Shout”, “Social Fools” and “Disco Dancer”
T. Rex – The Studio Albums 1970-1977
sold by Rough Trade – 105 euros on CD, 290 euros on vinyl
Every T. Rex album from T. Rex to Dandy In The Underworld in a Super Deluxe box set with bonus independent singles (CD only) and complete lyrics.
After recording as Tyrannosaurus Rex since the mid-’60s, frontman, lyricist, poet and guitarist Marc Bolan entered the new decade with a new sound, a new band and a shortened name – “T. Rex.” In the process, he became the first new British superstar of the Seventies, ushering in a remarkable run of hit singles and studio albums that showcased his restless inspiration and constant genre-defying creativity.
- 1970 – T. Rex
- 1971 – Electric Warrior
- 1972 – The Slider
- 1973 – Tanx
- 1974 – Zinc Alloy
- 1975 – Bolan’s Zip Gun
- 1976 – Futuristic Dragon
- 1977 – Dandy In The Underworld
8LP
All 8 albums in the collection are contained in an external cardboard box set, reproduced with original covers and inner sleeves, including the lyrics. Bolan’s Zip Gun And Dandy In The Underworld they appear with their original die-cut covers restored. Each album is pressed on half-black, half-colored vinyl, with a different color for each.
8CD
All 8 CDs in this graphically curated collection are contained in two four-pocket cases, with reproductions of the original covers and a booklet with complete lyrics.
