The Vinyl Countdown

Beethoven: Herbert von Karajan conducting The Philharmonia Orchestra, Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral (1961)
I reckon I was massively into Beethoven above any other classical composers for two obvious and superficial reasons: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and the way they talked about “Beeth Oven” and the more serious Immortal Beloved biopic (and its volumes of soundtrack CDs). When I arrived in Wellington I had some of my grandfather’s classical LPs, including this. I loved them. As I got to know them. When I got my first job in a music store I bought a Herbert von Karajan boxset of CDs; the Beethoven symphonies. A goldmine. It was because of this record. And my grandfather. And Immortal Beloved. And Bill. And Ted. (And probably a few other movie soundtracks along the way…) Read More »

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July 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 283

Hall & Oates, X-Static (1979)
I’m revisiting Hall & Oates – not only that I’m learning on the job. This album is a bridge between the end of their soul (and rock) days and the start of their full-onslaught 80s pop. (That’s the stuff I grew up with). Here we have them stopping over at the new wave of the time – so some of this is great, some of it is very dated. I admire their songwriting chops and the players they used. Not every album is a classic, not every song is a banger – but it’s a dangerous world this revisitation-fandom, you’re suddenly in for discovering a whole lot of things you maybe don’t need. Oh well. There are worse hobbies. I’m sure? Read More »

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July 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 284

The Swingers, One Good Reason [Single] (1979/1980)
I’ve taken to TradeMe and scouring the bins as my Phil Judd research/quest continues and with The Swingers I’m hoping to get all five singles. They’re out there. At least as far as I know. I have a couple anyway. Now I have this – which is great because One Good Reason is a great song, the band’s first released single. What a wonderful pop-noise they made across just three years and a couple of distinct line-ups. Phil in fine form here vocally and writing – and perhaps particularly his guitar playing. He’s ably assisted by great musicians – sometimes they shared the writing; a credit for a hook or an idea, a bass-line…a good reason… Read More »

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June 30, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 285

The Roots, The Tipping Point (2004)
A mate told me he had a copy of this on vinyl – he liked it, but didn’t think he’d be playing it all that often and did I want to take it off his hands? I did! I really did. And yet in this way of the world we can share a Facebook message most days but it takes a while to actually meet up. So, some months after that initial promise I finally have this as part of my record collection. I’m slowly collecting up everything by The Roots – to me they’re one of the most important bands of the last 25 years; one of the most influential musical forces. And this album is correctly named – for this is where they stop being any sort of “gimmick live hip-hop band” and move towards the sinewy funk with politically charged lyrics that has been the focus of their studio releases ever since. So this is the line drawn under the first decade or so of the band – in terms of its records. By the time The Tipping Point was out in the world I’d seen The Roots twice. It would be a few years before I’d get to see them again but this one is a sentimental favourite. Here they showed no need – no interest – in a runaway radio hit or an important guest-vocalist; previous releases had needed those, had thrived because of them. I’m not sure how conscious this was, but here they seemed to be dropping the casual fans, honing in on just what made them special – making a big statement in a very subtle way. Read More »

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June 27, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 286

Daryl Hall & John Oates, Beauty On A Back Street (1977)

Hall & Oates – big part of my childhood. But really, mostly, the 80s anthems. The pop-band. What about that whole decade before where they were blue-eyed soul and a bit of rock. Philly soul, updated. That’s the sound of this album. And the few before it and maybe one or two just after. I’m going through a big Hall & Oates phase again now – particularly the 70s stuff. I can’t say I’ll buy and own everything. Also can’t say I won’t. It’s addictive stuff. But this – this was on my list. One of the best things in my life right now. Getting ready to go on holiday: already knowing what my holiday-soundtrack is going to be…

Sample Track: Don’t Change

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

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June 25, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 287

Dolly Parton, Great Balls of Fire (1979)
Dolly, Dolly, Dolly…I’ve probably bashed everyone over the head with Dolly Parton lately – listening to almost everything she’s ever done (some 63 studio albums) for a recent chat on the radio about how Dolly is great. But here’s the funny thing, I own precisely two Dolly LPs. A cheap TimeLife compilation with the obvious hits and this. Which I bought just recently. I will – with time – get more. I had a couple of dozen CDs at one point, I have Mp3s, I have a Spotify-saved list. I even owned some cassette tapes back in the day. I just never got around to buying – or finding – much of her stuff on vinyl. This is an interesting one. From her first foray into crossing over to pop. But it has some covers and originals, there’s the title track of course. And then a rather neat bluegrass take on The Beatles’ Help! It doesn’t all work. But it’s pretty good. And when it’s great, well, it’s Dolly, so it’s really great! Read More »

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June 23, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 288

Little Esther, Bad Baad Girl! (1985)
I can’t remember where or when I first heard Little Esther but it would have been on a compilation; either one of the reissued ones I bought a few years back when I was playing DJ sets on the regular, or possibly even back when I was a kid as my mum had some good blues and R’n’B boxsets – some of which I inherited. Anyway, I spied this 80s-released compilation of late 50s/early 60s sides by Little Esther just recently and figured it was worth a grab. I’ve been really digging it. Such a great period of music – that whole “blues had a baby and they named it rock’n’roll” narrative is not compelling when you think of hat-and-strat beer-gut white blues guitarists trotting it out. But when you hear the real stuff – the actual gospel-infused jazz and blues and R’n’B as it heads out towards inventing rock’n’roll…well it’s hard to argue with, and so easy to tap your toe to. Read More »

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June 21, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 289

Run-DMC, Walk This Way [Single] (1986)
I’m pretty sure I knew this version and knew about Run-DMC before I knew the Aerosmith version and maybe even before I (really) knew about Aerosmith. I certainly got into Aerosmith (for a while) on the back of this. I remember that much. Then it was to Beastie Boys and Public Enemy and all sorts of things on the back of this. But this? This was first for me. And this was just perfect. And it still is. Still vital. And sure, the original Aerosmith track features a great riff and a greasy performance and that kickass drumbeat, but I like the appropriation of it better. It just always meant more to me. Product of my age and stage and environment perhaps. But I’ve always wanted the 12” of Walk This Way on vinyl. I’ve owned other Run-DMC albums (on vinyl and CD) but never this single. It’s not that it’s rare, it’s just rarely entered my worldview, and/or I rarely have any money. Well, on a rare day just recently I had money and spotted this. And now I have it. And though it’s been 30+ years it took me right back to hearing it and feeling it that very first time. Read More »

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June 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 290

The Doors, L.A. Woman (1971)
It wasn’t the first album by The Doors that I heard – but it was the first I heard on vinyl, the first I owned. I got my copy as part of a stack; those heady discovery days, finding things and just constantly interested. I liked The Doors. Then I hated them. Then I liked them again. But through it all – and love/hate has been the way – I have always been able to enjoy this album. It almost sits outside the band’s canon despite being the home for two of their biggest, defining hits. I just like the bluesy, late-night feel to it. This album was a bedsit classic for me. First year of uni. First year flatting. First couple of years after that. Then shelved for a while. Out every now and then – and a new favourite track most times I hear it. That’s a great album to have in your collection.

Sample Track Cars Hiss By My Window

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June 14, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 291

The Swingers, It Ain’t What You Dance, It’s The Way You Dance It [Single] (1981)
I remember it being such a revelation to find out that the Swingers did more than just Counting The Beat. By which I mean simply that I was young when that was a hit – I loved that song, and still do – but it was about finding the other things…and when I did (first on CD, then back to the album on vinyl) I was floored. So many great songs. Then I find out the very best of that band never made it out into public release. There are scores of songs that people heard live, and that were recorded but not ultimately made available – the Swingers is one of the great bands as far as I’m concerned. And here they were better
than Split Enz (not that it’s about that) – but there’s something more representative about this recording than what the Enz was up to at that time. I mean this is its own thing – this isn’t trying to be Spit Enz. But I just love how with Phil Judd’s music you can see and feel and hear the development from Enz on through. His Swingers songs and Schnell Fenster songs and the music from his solo albums all makes sense in the order it’s been recorded. You can line it up and it all fits the timeline. You could do it blind. Wouldn’t need to be reading liners and recording dates to place this after the Enz and ahead of Schnell. This single has cool poster artwork too, it unfolds to reveal a collage. A nice touch. But it’s the power of this music that still speaks to me. And this song – the title song here, the A-side – might be the Swingers at their very best. Well, as far as we’re able to tell…

Sample Track 1: (Side A): It Ain’t What You Dance, It’s The Way You Dance It

Sample Track 2: (Side B): Flak
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

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June 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 292

Ennio Morricone, Un Uoma Da Rispettare [OST] (1972)
Having followed whatever I can find by Ennio Morricone across the last two decades I’m now at a place where if I see something – I buy it. Even if I haven’t heard it. So it was with this, recently. It made me actuall watch the film – in English it’s called The Master Touch. And it’s not a bad slice of 70s noir and action. Great car-chase stuff and Kirk Douglas doing his mugging. But I’d be lying if I said I had any real interest in the film beyond seeing and hearing the way the music was used. I have Morricone scores where I haven’t seen the film. I could have lived with this album without seeing The Master Touch – but it was cool to hear this music in its context. I’m glad, though, that I first dropped the needle on it without knowing the film’s plot or action. Taken purely as music this feels way ahead of its time. Like Morricone just casually invented Burial back in the early 1970s.

Sample Track: 18 Pari

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
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June 11, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 293

Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club (1981)
Like a lot of people I’m sure, I first found out about Tom Tom Club when I saw the Talking Heads concert film – Stop Making Sense; the rhythm section from the Heads had formed Tom Tom Club as a side-project. They (and in particular this self-titled debut) remain a curious and wonderful blend of synth-pop, disco-styled early hip-hop and dance music. I’ve always loved this album – and its big-feature single Genius of Love – and yet I have only recently picked up the LP. I had the album on CD for a time – but for the most part I’ve just enjoyed hearing the singles and big album cuts when I hear them. But the idea of Tom Tom Club as entity has always been fascinating to me – a side-project that grew into its own thing and remains distinct from the main act.

Sample Track: Wordy Rappinghood
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 »