The Vinyl Countdown

Noel Crombie, My Voice Keeps Changing On Me [Single] (1983)
I wonder if maybe Noel Crombie is the most underrated/under-valued member of Split Enz. By virtue of his role, or various roles, he helped them achieve such weirdness and within that or around that the stagecraft. You could argue that by costuming the band he was important enough but that might further undervalue his musical contributions. In his solo outings (rare) he got to really explore his role as a kinetic sculptor and sound artist. But he also enjoys just lampooning somewhat. As you see here. Well it’s one of each really – this single a joyous novelty tune. But its b-side is the work of a clever-clogs artist. That’s my take on it anyway. Noel is one of my heroes. I love his work. Read More »

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December 12, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 2

Elton John, Don’t Ya Wanna Play This Game No More (Sartorial Eloquence) [Single] (1980)
When Oscar was about 18 months old and through until he was three or four I guess – Slow Boat Records was one of his favourite places (it probably still is, truth be told). But as a toddler he was allowed to take home singles for free from the 50c bin and he would be very specific in the moment. It would make absolute sense to him. He would have to have that one particular record. Then he’d come home and we’d play it and it might mean nothing to him at all. This was one such example; jettisoned immediately (as far as he was concerned). I’ve held onto this one, I cleaned it up and it plays just fine. I’m slightly more than a fairweather Elton John fan but it’s hard for me to care too much about what he did after 1976. There are some examples of a great song or two sneaking back into the line-up. And the albums from the early 80s are strong in my mind because those were the records my dad had. I’m not sure if he ever had 21 at 33, the parent album for the A- and B-sides here. But I think he possibly had it on cassette tape. At any rate these songs are quite good. Some of Elton’s better material from around this time. He was calling out for help in a lot of his songs around then. As he hit a rock-bottom in his life. And rebounded and worked towards conquering his addictions. And battling back against his trauma rather than just running from it. I’m not saying this is must-have/must-hear stuff by any stretch. But it’s a pretty fucking good 50c single (which we probably got for free actually). Read More »

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December 11, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 3

Bobby Bloom, Montego Bay [Single] (1970)
I’m still working through a batch of singles a retired DJ gifted to me – this is one of them. People consider Bobby Bloom a one-hit-wonder, which he was. It’s further impacted by his sad demise. Depression, and then an accidental shooting. Dead by 28. But he co-wrote a few beauties elsewhere, had been involved in doo-wop groups learning his trade. And one hit is, as they say, or should say, better than no hits; better then than being a no hit wonder. Like I am. And like you probably are. And we probably always will be, right? Montego Bay is one of those songs that you hear in dubious situations and there are many cover versions and so it’s a song rendered meaningless. But I’ll stump for it. And its b-side here too. I like them. Just fine. Clever, catchy, neat songs from a talented writer and musician. So. There.

Sample Track 1: (Side A): Montego Bay

Sample Track 2: (Side B): Try A Little Harder

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown Read More »

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December 10, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 4

Rod McKuen / Anita Kerr / The San Sebastian Strings, The Soft Sea (1970)
I’m a sucker. I go into opp shops and salvation army stores and dig through the weary old cardboard box of the same old classical-lite shite. And I sometimes think I’ve found a gem. And sometimes I have. I don’t revisit – but if it’s a store I haven’t been into I feel like I should have a wee dig, just in case. You see those stores of people finding gems – and you don’t want to be the one that misses out. I knew on this occasion I wasn’t getting a gem – but I wanted it anyway. Rod McKuen was fascinating to me – and formative, an important influence as much for his prolific abilities as his actual talent. I read him at an early age, too early to really know what he was saying but compelled to check his books out from the library. Then I moved on. When he died – about five years ago – I got the urge to revisit some of his poetry and some of his songs and recordings (both spoken word and otherwise). And I was always kinda interested in the work he did with Anita Kerr – without owning any of it as such. So when I saw this I was in. Except I bought an album called The Sea (or thought I had) and arrived home with The Soft Sea – wrong album/wrong cover. I’m a sucker. As often as I’ve bought from opp shops and I’ve been burned a few times too, I never remember to check to see if the record matches the cover. So often they don’t. The store just lining up what’s left and thinking it’ll do – close enough; or the person that donates the item never knowing it was wrong in the first place. Anyway, I won’t be adding this to my collection for good – but for now it’s giving me the weird little McKuen hit I wanted I guess. Lol. Read More »

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December 8, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 5

Fiona Apple, Fetch The Bolt Cutters (2020)
Lockdown Records. There were a few. This was one of them. An album that arrived while we weren’t going anywhere – beyond daily walks. And an album I spent a lot of time with, since I was inside for most of each day and the stereo was always on and I moved between streaming platforms and video services to get music and concerts and movies and to consumer media – which, come to think of it, is mostly what I’ve always done anyway but yeah, lockdown, it was definitely stepped up a gear. And so into that fray came the new one by Fiona Apple. And I’d be lying if I said I was a Day One Fiona Apple fan. I didn’t quite see the fuss at first but did love some of her songs. And then I got hooked, worked it all out, or listened a bit closer, read some interviews, got the worldview and saw behind the songs and hear the fragility that was in the songs, that drove them and that drove the person making the songs. I swore I wouldn’t review Bolt Cutters – because everyone was gushing instantly. And rightly too I say. But I didn’t need to be part of that – was happy just cheerleading from the side. I feel the same about the new Dylan album and one or two others; I like leaving a couple of the ‘big’ albums each year unreviewed. I realise the world doesn’t need my thoughts on them too. And if I don’t review them I feel like I get to somehow keep the albums for myself. That’s been the plan with the Apple. Which I’ve only just bought on vinyl. An end of year treat. Didn’t buy many brand new 2020-released albums. This is one of two or three only I’d say. But had to have it eventually. And glad to have bought this lockdown album in the lockdown year. I really think it’s going to reveal more and more through the coming years. A deep record. So much in it. Read More »

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December 6, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 6

Little Stevie Wonder, The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie (1962)
Stevie Wonder hated being called “Little Stevie” (and then “Little Stevie Wonder”) but he was 11 and 12 and 13 years old. He was little, and new on the scene – little literally and figuratively. And though he was a wonder – a genius – his label didn’t really know what to do with him. He was the little kid on the Motown revue and the label-boss (big bad Berry Gordy) hated his voice. So he was into Stevie playing harmonica particularly, as well as bongos and drums and of course some piano. There are only two albums in Wonder’s towering career and catalogue that don’t feature him singing at all; this is one of them – his very first. It contains the studio version of Fingertips (which would go on to be a hit and to this day a concert-favourite in the live rendition). I’ve always really liked the very early Stevie stuff (the “Little Stevie” stuff). Of course I love most the run of extraordinary 1970s albums but I had an iPod packed with everything he’d ever done and I loved his early 60s soul-jazz groovin’. It was nice to finally get this on vinyl – I eyed it up, thought about it, but chose a Billie Holiday record instead. Got that home, it had the wrong record in the sleeve, or was the wrong sleeve for the record inside, so I returned it and grabbed the Little Stevie instead. Happy to finally own it. Read More »

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December 5, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 7

Sleaford Mods, Mork N Mindy [Single] (2020)
I wasn’t a Day One Sleaford Mods Fan. I know that. I didn’t hate them. But I think it probably wasn’t going to be for me to rate them. Then I listened properly. A couple of albums into their career, not even sure what it was that made me want to go to them but I was then instantly hooked. And as I eagerly await anything new from them now (and I’ve caught up on the doco and some past interviews and all the old music) I decided to treat myself to the brand new single. I hardly ever buy brand new singles on vinyl – and this is absolutely the first and only one for 2020. But I love this new tune, Mork N Mindy. Its b-side is strong too, great little instrumental. Shows that it’s not just the anger and humanity in the poetry; those same things shine through in the music that it is married up to. Great band. My new favourite group of recent years I’d say. Read More »

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December 3, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 8

Bee Gees, Night Fever [Single] (1978)
Maybe this has always been one of my favourite Bee Gees songs? Quite likely. And among the first I would have heard and though I’ve gone back to their pre-disco pop and I like almost everything up to Saturday Night Fever – I still do have love for that record too. That was the introduction to this band for me. I own a few more Bee Gees singles than albums – probably because I simply don’t want to fall down the rabbit-hole of buying up the albums. I have that classic early best-of and a couple of other key 70s releases and then some singles from across their catalogue. Great pop music. Sometimes it’s the very best. Sometimes it isn’t. But there’s more than half a dozen songs by this band that I absolutely adore. And the A-Side here is among them. The B-side is a fine song too and I used to own the live album it’s taken from. Read More »

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December 1, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 9

Ben E. King, Spanish Harlem [Single] (1962)
Obviously these are both great songs – and I used to play the B-Side quite a lot as part of DJ sets. I’m not a massive Ben E. King fan by any stretch, which is to say I don’t know any deep cuts, I only know the hits. I had a greatest hits CD and I don’t own any of his original albums and pretty sure this is the only thing of his I have on vinyl (apart from a killer album he did with the Average White Band). But I marked his passing because King had a couple of signature songs. Maybe three (or even four). And that’s more than most people get. Don’t get me wrong – I like everything about him that I’ve heard. But I can’t say I’m curious to dig any deeper. There’s just too much music in the world. But I’m pleased to have this – it’s a nice little reminder of his talent, of a couple of the songs that he really made stick. Read More »

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November 28, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 10

David Bowie, Rosalyn / Where Have All The Good Times Gone! [Single] (1973)
Pinups was the first David Bowie album I bought – the first on vinyl; perhaps it was one of the very first original albums of his I heard too. And I dug it straight away – and still do. It’s such a great re-set after the Ziggy-era and a throwback to the mod-years that first made him as well. Somewhere along the way I started collecting up many of the singles from this era of Bowie’s work – noticing, too, that Pinups was a source for b-sides for other non-album related singles. I’ve ditched a few of them now – but this one I’ve hung on to. Not because these are favourites from the album – just because it’s good enough to have. And I started to get rid of a few of the Bowie albums and particularly the singles; because it’s a slippery slope and I’m trying to not be a collector. I’m not wanting to go any further down the anorak-route. But some things are meant to stick around and though neither of these tracks are my absolute favourites from the record I like having them on this single as well. I’ve played this a lot. It’s a fun wee one-two from Bowie in covers-mode. Always liked Bowie in covers-mode. He was always so keen to show us what he’d been listening to and that he was always listening. He was forever a fan of music and put that across without trying too hard. You don’t always believe that with other musicians. It should be the first requirement.

Sample Track 1: (Side A): Rosalyn

Sample Track 2: (Side B): Where Have All The Good Times Gone! Read More »

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November 26, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 11

Tori Amos, Under The Pink (1994)
It’s been a pretty good year for reappraising Tori Amos. I’ve been back through most of the catalogue, I talked about her live on air (RNZ), I loved her memoirand I got hooked on the old stuff all over again. Someone kindly gave me a copy of Boys For Pele on vinylwhich is one of my absolute favourites. And as much as I love the debut record maybe, maybe Under The Pink is better? Well, now I have that on vinyl too. The same kind soul from the Pele-gifting messaged me the other day, he was cleaning out his cupboards and noticed two copies of Pink. He didn’t need both. He asked if I had it and/or was interested. I said ‘Yes please!’ And of course I asked how much he wanted for it. I’ve been selling a few of my records this year to help keep the wolves from the door, but not only that – to make some room, to move on some things I just don’t listen to. His reply was extraordinary and summed up his generosity. He said, “All good. It’s been a rubbish year for most of us, so if I can do something nice for someone then that’s great.” He did. And my ears are filled with the glorious sound of this marvellous record. Oh, and there’s something in my eye too… Read More »

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November 23, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 12

Phil Collins, In The Air Tonight [Single] (1981)
I used to own the reissued 12” single and I regret selling it off. But that’s the nature of record-collecting, of owning, trading and of fading in and out of interest with certain acts. When I bought it Phil Collins was almost entirely thought of as not cool. There was no new wave of re-appreciation. Now the vote is split. People of a certain age are really quick to point out how dreadful they are sure he is (without really listening, of course – they’re bugged by his big radio singles and by his mugging, his smugness). But there are open-minded and younger music listeners enjoying the use of Collins rhythms in hip-hop or just digging the songs – or at the least acknowledging him as a pioneer of drum-programming. My son got really into Phil Collins which re-sparked my interest. I come and go with any of these things – a fan for years. And then one day I decide it’s over, at least for a bit. I need a break. Anyway, all of this is to say that Collins has been on my stereo a bit in the last few years – and the reissue of his debut album was a chance for me to stretch out a bit and try to consider his importance (and certainly the importance or at least the brilliance of that album). Sometime around that time I found this 7” single and bought it – just to have. I like the album opener from his debut, its ubiquity means I’m never in a rush to hear it but I like it when I do. And I dig the b-side as well. Again, I’m never hanging out to hear it but I like it when it happens. And so now I have this cheap 7” single. A little souvenir. Artefact. Read More »