Who The F*** Is JACCO GARDNER And Why Is He So AWESOME??

JACCO GARDNER

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

Available NOW

I have a pretty fool-proof routine that I use when I get a new CD (or CDs) to listen to, blog about or add to my collection...  

First off, I will grab whatever new titles I have and skip through them on the way home from work.  It's usually a 45 minute drive so that gives me time to ingest a few titles and put them in the 'take back to work' pile or the 'load into iTunes for further listening' pile.

Next, when I get home, I load the more interesting titles into iTunes, add them to a folder called NEW. Then I spend the next few days hitting 'shuffle' in that folder and hearing  bits and pieces of all these new releases and really getting an interesting taste of the album by hearing various tracks in a different context than what the artist intended.  But when I hear a gem and then check to see who does that song, it is then I will listen to that album from start to finish.  Sounds like a lot of thought goes into this process, but, to be honest, I do it cuz it's easier  and I like the mystery of finding out who does this song or that song...

So, over the course of the last week, I keep hearing these amazing little gems that combine gorgeous melodies with a twist of both modern and retro production touches.  While there are many artists out these days who mix Beach Boys-like arrangements with hints of Psychedelia and Indie Rock, there was something unique and captivating about these songs.  And each time I looked at my iPod to see who the artist was, it always turned out to be JACCO GARDNER!

Who?

Well, it turns out that Jacco is a Dutch singer, songwriter, musician and producer who has been releasing some pretty amazing singles over the last year or so.  Now, he's just released his debut album, Cabinet Of Curiosities (on Trouble In Mind Records) and it is a corker!  From beginning to end, this is an album that is certain to be one of the best full-length releases of the year.  There's no pretension here - just a great batch of songs. 

I'd normally spend the next few paragraphs talking about those songs, but I thought I'd let you have a listen/look and judge for yourself. I am mesmerized by the album and it will appeal to anyone with an affection for a fine tune.  Hell, even the hipsters will like it (I've seen quotes from Pitchfork, which is considered the hipsters' online bible...).

So, do yourself a favor and get to know Jacco.  I may be behind the times as I offer up much praise for this album, but better late than never, right?  

Those Awesome OSMONDS! SPAZ reviews their catalog on 7Ts/Cherry Red!

THE OSMONDS

Their '70s albums On CD

In the past, The Osmonds' recorded output has been poorly represented by a slew of collections.  Thankfully, 7Ts/Cherry Red Records has rectified this situation by releasing the band's eight albums on four separate 2fers.  They are available NOW!

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

Regardless of what you may think of The Osmonds' music, they were (and are) a cultural phenomenon. Even if you can't remember all the lyrics, chances are you can name at least one Osmonds song off the top of your head right now.  And "I'm A Little Bit Country, I'm A Little Bit Rock 'n' Roll" only partially counts (that was a Donny & Marie song, not a bonafide Osmonds recording).  It's been over 30 years since their heyday, yet they have become part of Pop music history.

I am surprised that I had more than one argument in the early '70s when the subject of The Osmonds Vs The Beatles came up. How could anyone possibly think The Osmonds were bigger than The Beatles?  Can you believe that this argument came up a few times over the course of a year or two.  Mainly from my big sister Dana.  No, scratch that: EVERY argument in regards to The Osmonds being bigger than The Beatles were with my sister Dana. But she was 11, I was 9... what did I know? Maybe she meant that they were bigger in terms of the number of group members?  There were five Osmonds but only four Beatles... If that was the case, then she was right all along!  I must write her an apology letter someday...

But for a few golden years in the '70s, The Osmonds were one of the most popular musical groups on the planet.  Not only did the five brothers release a slew of singles and albums, but Donny had a successful solo career that ran concurrently with The Osmonds' golden years.  Later on, sister Marie chalked up some solo success, as did little brother Jimmy, but when Donny & Marie began performing as a duo, everyone else took a backseat as their radio hits translated into a hit TV show and a not-so-successful movie, Goin' Coconuts in 1978.  By the time the '80s rolled around, the Osmond family remained active in the entertainment industry but they never again achieved the amazing popularity they experienced in the early part of the '70s.

It all began in the early '60s when Merril, Alan, Jay and Wayne performed as a barbershop quartet.  While they achieved a respectable amount of fame during this period (due to TV appearances on The Andy Williams Show and other variety programs), it wasn't until Donny joined a few years later that people began to take notice.  The boys insistence that they become a Rock band fell upon deaf ears for the latter part of the '60s, but by 1970, the quintet had released their self-titled debut Pop album and Osmondmania began to take shape...  

NOTE: Since Donny was being groomed for solo success, most of the lead vocals on The Osmonds' albums were handled by Merrill, although all the brothers were involved in backing vocals, co-lead vocals and arrangements. The various solo albums from Donny, Jimmy and Donny & Marie are also available through 7Ts/Cherry Red but this feature focuses on the original Osmonds albums of the '70s.

(Available on CD coupled with Homemade)

THE OSMONDS (1970)

The brothers' potential was enormous, but which Pop road should they travel?  Since commercial success was not guqranteed, the label sprinkled their debut album with a variety of styles, hoping that one of them would stick.  "One Bad Apple", with it's soulful, Jackson 5-like Soul groove, was the song that put The Osmonds on the map. Were the Osmonds being groomed as a 'white' version of the J5?  That may be the initial concessus, but this album shows that they were more than "One Bad Apple".  There's Country, Gospel, Rock, Easy Listening and many more styles rubbing shoulders with the Soul-lite vibes of "One Bad Apple". Their "Motown Special" medley avoids sounding anything like the J5, surprisingly enough. "Sweet And Innocent" was, oddly enough, a Donny solo single that was shoehorned onto the album, which was a brilliant move.  One of the poppiest and most delectable tracks on the album, it is every much "... Apple"'s equal even though it doesn't travel the same musical ground.  "Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget 'Em" veers towards heavy, Gospel and Blues-inflected Rock that they would eventually perfect two albums later. The album's closer, "Flirtin'", is the album's sole mis-step with it's blatant retread of the "One Bad Apple" blueprint.  Otherwise, The Osmonds is a fine introduction to a group of talented young lads who were soon going to take over the world...

(Available on CD coupled with The Osmonds)

HOMEMADE (1971)

While Homemade may have sold quite well, the album is essentially a complete rewrite/retread of their self-titled debut. If you love that album, you'll either love this or be frustrated that the brothers were not able to stretch out a bit more and show how versatile they were.  There are some high-points, such as the breezy "Carrie", their delicious trademark harmonies on "Chilly Winds", the Country vibe of "The Promised Land" and the lighthearted early '70s groove of "She Makes Me Warm".  Album closer "Sho' Would Be Nice" is an emotionally moving end to an album that is still a worthy addition to your collection, but, to be honest, its a half-hearted and unimaginative duplication of their self-titled album. To be fair, the music business is notorious for playing it safe and 'giving the people what they want'.  I just wish that labels realized that we don't want the same thing over and over. Some things never change...

(Available on CD coupled with Live)

PHASE III (1971)

Phase III is when The Osmonds took control of their production, added more self-penned material and transformed from a good Pop band to a great one. While the single "Yo Yo" remained from an earlier recording session, the rest of Phase III was Osmond-controlled and this was the album that should earned them a huge dose of critical respect. Instead, the critics treated it like just another Osmonds album. While, on the surface, that might have been the case, Phase III was a Rock album made by a a group of talented musicians and vocalists who were already pigeonholed as a cheesy Pop act. Almost any other band in 1971 would have killed to have an album opener like "Down By The Lazy River". Even when the band adds a little Funk into the mix like on "Business", it clicks and never sounds awkward. "Love Is" is a touching Beatle-esque ballad that could have fit right in with the Fab Four's late '60s recordings. "He's The Light Of The World" is a religious rocker that is as catchy as anything the devil released that year. "Yo Yo" is delectable, funky, catchy and joyous. "My Drum" is a riff-heavy rocker that Deep Purple could have cut in the '60s. While the tapes have not held up well over the years, the album still sounds raw and energetic where it wants to, yet not entirely removed from their earlier bubblegum recordings. As good as Phase III is, their best studio album was yet to come with Crazy Horses...

 

(Available on CD coupled with Phase III)

THE OSMONDS LIVE! (1972)

Let's be honest: I'm not a fan of live albums... period.  I have Elvis live albums because he is Elvis, but I have to say that I don't own many live albums in my collection at all. With that being said, listening to The Osmonds Live some 40 years after the last time I heard it brought back some memories.  As the story goes, most of the boys had a cold during the show but they went ahead and recorded it anyway.  They went back into the studio when they were feeling better and added vocals on top of many of the recorded performances, which makes the lead vocals sound double-tracked... which they are!  The energy of the performance is still there and they perform some covers that are not found on any of the studio releases, so that makes it a worthwhile purchase.  But its a live album and I'll leave it at that...

(Available on CD coupled with The Plan)

CRAZY HORSES (1972)

Crazy Horses was the first truly great Osmonds album and remains one of the finest Pop/Rock albums of the early '70s, although you probably won't find it on many critics' lists, then or now. From the opening Rock strut of "Hold Her Tight" to the CCR-like groove of "Utah", the solo McCarney-esque "Girl" and the legendary Hard Rock crunch of the title track, Crazy Horses is one hell of an album. It's such a shame that the band were already pegged as a teeny bopper band because Phase III and Crazy Horses proved that they were so much more than that.  "What Could It Be" could have been a Hudson Brothers hit ala "So You Are A Star". The bluesy rock of "Life Is Hard Without Goodbyes" is actually quite beautiful with Merrill's impassioned vocals. The whole album rocks from beginning to end.  In fact, the band adds a snippet of "One Bad Apple" into "Big Finish" in order to remind you that this is the very same band. If anything, this is the album that the teenage girl would have been able to share with her brother or boyfriend without them feeling embarrassed.  But then again, I have never felt embarrassed about loving The Osmonds! And if you want to hear what you've been purposely missing for 40 years, then give this one a spin! Crazy Horses is not just a great Osmonds album, it's a great album period!

(Available on CD coupled with Crazy Horses)

THE PLAN (1973)

The Osmonds had gone from strength to strength, building up a catalog of hit albums, each of them better and more successful than the last.  By this time, they weren't just massive in the U.S., they were international superstars!  Because of their strong Mormon faith, the band felt it necessary to focus their creativity on an album that celebrated the journey of life.  They weaved in elements of their beliefs and The Plan was born.  Unfortunately, their teen audiences weren't prepared for a concept album such as The Plan.  Wrongly accused of being an album about Mormonism, The Plan is still a fine album but it finds the brothers stepping away from their crazy Rock shenanigans of '71 and '72.  That's not to say that The Plan doesn't rock... because it does - but only in certain places. Obviously a labor of love, The Plan found the Osmonds giving back to the teachings that had kept them centered and focused during the good and bad times. The boys' harmonies have never sounded better and, while the material may not be up to the standards of the last few albums, The Osmonds were forging a path of their own. The boys took a gamble that unfortunately did not pay off commercially and it was their first real 'flop'.  The album does include some great tracks like "Let Me In", "Movie Man", "One Way Ticket To Anywhere" and others, but the focus was more on the message than the music. On The Plan, the Osmonds grew up, but their fans didn't. 

(Available on CD coupled with I'm Still Gonna Need You)

LOVE ME FOR A REASON (1974)

After The Plan, The Osmonds' musical focus began to change.  While the album cover may have promised a visit into Philly Soul territory, that was only a small part of where the boys were heading on this album.  A return to form in many ways, the first half of Love Me For A Reason was more of a Rock album than the hit title track would lead you to believe.  "We're Having A Party", "The Girl I Love", "Ballin' The Jack" and a few other tracks would not have sounded out of place on Phase III. The second half of the album focuses on their more soulful side. "Peace" is a funky Disco offering that still retains the brothers' Pop harmonies. "Fever", "I Can't Get Next To You" and "Sun Sun Sun" are credible Funk workouts that really capture the versatility of the band. The album is a real treat, although not as focused as their previous albums.  With this album, they weren't sure which direction to follow so they just did what they wanted and split it pretty much down the middle.  The highpoint of the album is, of course, "Love Me For A Reason", their finest ballad to date.  The harmonies on the chorus are heart-melting and the song is warm and lovely.  If this song was the only thing The Osmonds ever recorded, they'd still be as fondly remembered as they are now.  A stunner. 

(Available on CD coupled with Love Me For A Reason)

I'M STILL GONNA NEED YOU 

(AKA THE PROUD ONE) (1975)

Released as The Proud One in the U.S. and I'm Still Gonna Need You in the UK, this full length would prove to be the Osmonds final album as a group in the '70s.  They would then step aside and let Donny and Marie become the focus of their entertainment empire. While the Love Me For A Reason album only toyed with their Philly Soul influences, this is the album where it would come to the fore.  Gone were all the Rock moves of their Phase III/Crazy Horses period, replaced here with a light Philly Soul sound mixed with a laid back Pop sound that focused on their vocals.   It's definitely an Osmonds album, but far more mellow than ever before.  But don't let that stop you from giving it a spin because it is quite a lovely piece of work.  The songs are almost on par with "Love Me For A Reason", especially "I'm Still Gonna Need You".  But maybe that was the plan... since "Love Me... " had been such a big hit, why not go in that direction!  And guess what?  It works.  There are no big hits here, but there are plenty of delicious Pop songs that will soothe your aching soul.   They really sound focused on this album and their harmonies are top notch... but I think I already said that.  For a 'final' album, its a real beauty.  Perhaps a Crazy Horses II would have been preferred, but there is really nothing to fault on this album.  It deserves a big hug and a sloppy kiss.  Then again, that's what my sister Dana thought Donny deserved from her!

Peace, love and Osmonds,

Stephen SPAZ Schnee

AVAILABLE NOW!

HAPPY RECORD STORE DAY!

RECORD STORE DAY

April 20th, 2013

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

My passion for music may not be legendary, but its pretty apparent to all of my friends and family... and to those who take the time to read my blogs, my liner notes and anything else I put my name to.  I'm not the only one who feels this way about music, although sometimes I do get singled out for being into music way too much. 

At my age (pushing 50), I should have left this all behind me, right?  I should have grown up like my friends did and leave these childish things in the past, right?  That's what my old friends have done.... music is still a part of their lives, but their lives don't revolve around music. Me, on the other hand, still follow the beat of my own drum (or beat of my own Linn Drum, judging by my love of '80s music!).  There are worse things, I suppose.  I could have become a drug addict, an alcoholic or a criminal.  Or maybe I could have been a success and had loads of money by now.  But would I have accumulated all of the musical treasures which I now possess?  Who knows?

But alas, I am who I am.  

And the person that I am has always been here to encourage all of you to keep the love of music burning in your heart.  I don't want it to be a spark... I want every ounce of passion in your body to be engulfed in flames!  I want you to love whatever music you love and let it motivate you. Let it comfort you in times of need.  Let it empower you. Let it speak to you and for you. But most of all, let it inspire you. 

On RECORD STORE DAY, we celebrate something that was almost extinct a few short years ago: the record store. At one point, there were so many in each of our towns that you had a choice which one to visit on any particular day.  At that point, you had your favorite store for new, used, imports and oddities.  You became friends with the person behind the counter, who would always recommend things to you.  Sometimes they were spot on, other times, not so much.  But there was someone there to share opinions with, maybe argue with a little, too!  There were other shoppers who you may have befriended, friends who shared in the fun of the search right alongside you. A record store was just as much an escape as it was a destination. . 

A magical record store experience was often times less about the treasure and more about the journey.  Yes, it was nice to find what you went looking for, but what about all of the things that you stumbled across while searching?  Didn't you feel like Indiana Jones in search of the Lost Ark or the Holy Grail? If not, then you weren't doing it right!

On RECORD STORE DAY, we also celebrate the joy of owning a physical, tangible piece of 'product'.  The happiness of holding an album or CD in your hand while searching through more bins was a thing to be excited about.  You had FOUND something already, but you still wanted to go a little longer in search of something equally special or entirely different.  There was always something you felt that you NEEDED and you would not stop until you found it.  But alas, when you finally did find it, you realized that there was so much more you needed and you kept searching.

I've noticed that I've been using record shopping in the past tense in this blog entry.  I suppose I think back when we had so many record stores to choose from 20-30 years ago... yet most of them have disappeared over the decades.  Thankfully, there seems to be more of an awareness of their existence now, and even the younger generations are starting to pay attention.  We can thank RECORD STORE DAY for that.

But don't think for a second that this is a U.S. only celebration. RECORD STORE DAY has gone global with other countries getting involved and celebrating what was once one of the biggest industries in the entertainment field.  So, instead of stores disappearing at an alarming rate, the strong ones continue to survive and bring the record store experience to all of us. We should support them in their cause and help them stay alive.

And please don't think that RECORD STORE DAY is the only day you should go record shopping.  Try to make it out there and celebrate the day, of course, but go record shopping as many times as possible.  Once a week, once a month.. whatever.  Go to a different record store each time... go to a record swap meet... But whatever you do, just GO!

I often use words like 'magical', 'excited', 'joy', and 'happiness' when describing record stores and record shopping in general.  Perhaps if you drop what you are doing right now and head out to a record store, then you'll 'understand'!

Happy RECORD STORE DAY to you!  May you look back at all the fun times spent in a record shop and remember how it made you feel.  Let's continue to keep that feeling alive!  Let's go record shopping!

Peace, love and pancakes,

Stephen SPAZ Schnee

For further RECORD STORE DAY reading, check these other features that SPAZ wrote for Discussions Magazine:

ROAD TRIP

http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2013/04/on-road-to-record-store-day-road-trip.html

ALBUMS THAT SAVED MY LIFE

http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/search/label/Albums%20that%20changed%20my%20life

OC. RECORD STORES

http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2013/01/an-appreciation-record-stores.html

THE EDEN HOUSE/Half Life: Available June 4th, 2013!

THE EDEN HOUSE - Half Life

The long-awaited new album from this gothic-prog rock band.

 Features an array of guests, including vocalists Lee Douglas (Anathema) and Monica Richards (Faith & the Muse), guitarists Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) and Simon Hinkler (The Mission).

The London-based Gothic/Prog Rock/Trip-Hop band The Eden Houserelease a new single and album on CD, 180g vinyl LP and download, four years after their acclaimed debut album ‘Smoke & Mirrors’.  

The Eden House is a collaborative project based around the nucleus of Stephen Carey, ex-Adoration, and Tony Pettitt, the Fields of the Nephilim founder bassist who last month rejoined the band.  The pair have attracted an eclectic selection of guest artists on their recordings, each adding their diverse talents to the music. 

‘Half Life’ utilises six female lead vocalists, including Lee Douglas (from Anathema), Jordan Reyne, Laura Bennett and Monica Richards (of US band Faith & The Muse).  Guesting musicians include guitarists Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) and Simon Hinkler (The Mission) along with top violinist Bob Loveday.

Over the past four years the band have gigged widely across the UK and Europe, including headlining festivals in Germany, Belgium, Poland and the UK.  Two maxi-EPs were issued in the interim: ‘The Looking Glass’paired with a DVD live studio performance, and the ‘Timeflows’mini-album in 2012. 

A London album live launch event is scheduled for June 9^that the Kings Cross Lexington and they headline the Sacrosanct Festival in Berkshire on 28^th September.  A new series of gigs is planned for the autumn.

RECORD STORE DAY: 10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life, Part Four - NEW WAVE Edition

10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life

Part Four: 

NEW WAVE Edition

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

     In order to change the format a little, I thought I’d present a list of another 10 amazing albums that changed my life, but this time I’d venture out into that amazing wilderness called NEW WAVE… which really isn’t a musical genre at all… And, lo and behold, this list contains albums and artists that actually scored hits thanks to radio stations like KROQ and, of course, MTV! It was always a thrill when an album that I had owned for months finally got the attention it deserved and started selling. As many of us know, there are so many great bands of all genres that deserved fame and fortune but, for some reason, it just never happened for them…. 

     So, what was New Wave? Well, as I stated, it wasn't initially a genre of music: it originally was a description given to a fast-growing movement of new artists that had evolved from the Indie and Punk scenes of the late '70s. These new artists were a little more accomplished musically and created songs that were more sophisticated and melodic than their Punk and Indie brethren, yet they still retained the excitement and quirky energy of Punk. 

   New Wave was actually a lazy way for critics to describe a band. Did The Jags and Culture Club really have anything in common stylistically? Er…no. Howabout The Fabulous Poodles and The Human League? Nope. Squeeze and Depeche Mode? Not really. But all of the aforementioned bands have been called New Wave during much of their careers. It boils down to lazy journalism written by stoned Prog Rock-loving critics who no longer understood the concept of a three minute Pop tune. Eventually, all the different sub-genres (Synthpop, Power Pop, Mod, Post-Punk, Goth, Ska, etc) became part of the New Wave umbrella and that is where they remain today. 

     I personally don't use the term New Wave to describe any of the bands I listen to, but in order to make the case for lazy journalism, I will on this blog entry! 

     Here are 10 albums that never fail to take me back to a certain period in my life. They may or many  not have sold millions of copies but they had an enormous impact on me. And they are albums I will cherish until my dying day….  I still remember the exact record store I made the purchases at and the first time I sat down with the headphones and gave it a listen...

     I’ve listed them in alphabetical order by band because, to be honest, I can never say that one of them had more of an impact on me than the other. They are all equally important. And I've refrained from explaining WHY they mean so much to me. Those reasons are ones that only I would understand... (and I'm sure that your choices are made based on similar situations and circumstances).

BLANKET OF SECRECY/Ears Have Walls

DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS/Too Rye Aye








THE ENGLISH BEAT/I Just Can't Stop It

THE FIXX/Reach The Beach

 

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS/A Flock Of Seagulls

INTERVIEW/Interview (AKA Snakes & Lovers)

NEW MUSIK/Sanctuary

PREFAB SPROUT/Two Wheels Good (AKA Steve McQueen)

SPANDAU BALLET/True

SPLIT ENZ/Time & Tide

On The Road To RECORD STORE DAY! A ROAD TRIP with SPAZ & Friends!

On The Road To RECORD STORE DAY!

Stephen SPAZ Schnee and a few of his pals get a jump on RECORD STORE DAY by taking their Bay Area record shopping ROAD TRIP two weeks before RSD 2013!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Discussions Magazine or any of it's affiliated companies. 

Like Christmas, RECORD STORE DAY is a 'holiday' that I talk about all year long. I encourage all music lovers to support record stores, join the hipsters, and celebrate the majesty of the record store experience.

But if, for some reason, I miss out on hitting a local shop during RSD, I more than make up for it the rest of the year when I hit shops in SoCal on a semi-regular basis. I may not graze the stores like I did 30 years ago, but 95% of the places I used to shop at are gone ... and they weren't necessarily replaced by any up-and-coming hipster-havens. They just fell victim to the changes in the business and withered away. I really do miss the ease and variety of the old stores ...

But anyway...

The real draw for a lot of people on RECORD STORE DAY are the numerous exclusive vinyl titles that are released to indie stores that day.  Most are gone within hours, never to return to the shelves at normal prices.  As for me, I go into record stores with a pretty clear idea of what I'm looking for, but no real list. I love the fact that RSD offers exclusive releases that help promote it's cause, but I tend to hit the bins in search of equally exciting and less exclusive titles. More than likely, I'm looking for something from my favorite period of music (1977-1985).  It could be a cool Punk title, maybe an AOR release, an R&B/Soul reissue, a Power Pop gem or a New Wave nugget... or none of the above. I'll be happy to find anything that interests me.  And if I don't? Well, the the search was (and is) half the fun...

There is no such thing as a bad record store.  I may have said the opposite some 30-40 years ago when there were at least a dozen of them within shouting distance, but I know better now.  These days, I don't care what kind of music a shop decides to carry - at least they are selling music and offering their customers a chance to enjoy the 'record store experience'.  Even a single bin of CDs in a Walmart is better than no place in town to shop for music.

Because record stores have become so scarce in OC and LA over the years, my buddies and I like to set out on a record/CD shopping road trip to the Bay Area once or twice a year. We've been doing it for close to 10 years now, although I've personally missed out on it a few of the trips. There's five of us (Jim, Shawn, Frank, Mike and myself) but the road trips usually only include three or four of us at a time. If all five of us went at once, we'd probably have to rent a mini van!

So, who are we? Just five friends who love music. Are we music geeks?  You might think so, but we don't. We are just five guys who share common musical interests (mostly '70s and '80s New Wave, Power Pop, Punk, etc) but we each  have a particular genre (or two) that we are fond of that the others are far less passionate about.  Me?  I'm a fan of AOR/Melodic Rock (and, lately, NWOBHM) while Shawn follows Prog (old and new), Frank is into Rock and Jazz (with a dash of downtempo and instrumental Hip Hop), Mike chills to Ambient/Electronic and Jim gets his glitter on with '70s Glam/Art Rock.   We meet a few times per month and sit around in Jim's music room and listen to new stuff (and reissues) and discuss all things music and entertainment.  We share our latest discoveries and try to introduce each other to new/old sounds. Sometimes, they start going on about sports, which is my cue to leave early.  I have no time for sports...

When we go record/CD shopping, we always try to beat each other to certain bins because, let's face it, there are many cool things out there that we all want but there's usually only one copy in the store if we are lucky to find it at all.  Locally, we'll hit fantastic shops like Fingerprints in Long Beach, Rhino Records in Claremont or Amoeba Music in Hollywood, but our most anticipated record store trip is when we drive from Orange County up to San Francisco, Berkeley and surrounding areas to do our shopping. 

This year, we managed to make the trip exactly two weeks before Record Store Day 2013. It was an extremely memorable trip that only three of us made this time, and it was worth every moment. Its not just about what we find in each of the stores (we hit 9 of them over a 2 day period), its also about the stores themselves.  Each of them have their own personality although they are all part of three separate indie chains (Amoeba Music, Rasputin Music and Streetlight Records).  Why an indie chain can't survive in Southern California is beyond me.  Someone needs to make this happen!

In this posting, I thought I would take a little time and fill you in on all the shops we hit this time around in hopes that it inspires you to visit these stores... or any record store for that matter.  There is still so much magic to be found in the 'record store experience'.  No matter where you live, I'm sure that there's a pretty decent record shopping road trip that you would be able to map out yourself.  So, next time you go visit relatives or maybe head off to a vacation destination by car, do yourself a favor by checking out any record stores between your points of departure and destination.   For guys like me, that sounds incredibly exciting! Oh, and when you do decide to visit an indie record store, give yourself plenty of time. There are treasures to be found in each and every one of them but you need to give yourself the opportunity to search for them.

So, feel the passion, the inspiration and the love of music and go visit a record store today, tomorrow, on RECORD STORE DAY and every chance you get!  You know, if I had the money, I'd love to put together a cable TV series where I travel all over the U.S. and visit cities with great music scenes and/or stores, but for now, you'll have to settle for a blog post about some of the record stores in the Bay Area!

 

DAY ONE:

AMOEBA MUSIC

2455 Telegraph Ave. 

Berkeley, CA 94704

510.549.1125

While it's the smallest of the three Amoebas, the Berkeley store has an amazing inventory of new and used CDs, vinyl, DVDs, posters, t-shirts, etc. Over the years, I've found some amazing treasures there.  Their clearance bins are filled to the brim with worthwhile used titles that will keep you occupied for quite awhile.  Their new titles run the gamut from the undeservedly obscure to the most happening hipsters... and then some.  From one end of the store to the other, Amoeba Berkeley is definitely worth your time. The list of great CDs that I've purchased from this one store over the last 10 years would probably be triple the amount of CDs an average household purchases from all sources over the same amount of time!  (And yes, I am seeking help for my Amoeba addiction!) The staff is always cool, the music being played is always different and it all adds up to a great shopping experience every single time...

RASPUTIN MUSIC

2401 Telegraph Ave. 

Berkeley CA 94704

(510) 704-1146

Located a block away from Amoeba Berkeley, Rasputin Music is a surprisingly refreshing indie chain that will appeal to any type of music fan. Mixing the beloved look of old chains like Licorice Pizza and Wherehouse with the cool swagger of indie stores like Amoeba, Rasputin may be less intimidating to the casual music fan than Amoeba, but there's more to their stores than meets the eye. While they may be part of a small chain, each of the Rasputin stores have their own distinct personality that reflects the passions of those that work there. The Berkeley store has a 'basement' filled with vinyl that will make you dizzy... that is, if you can get through all of the great new and used titles on the first floor! Again, I always find treasures here. During our recent visit, it was nice to hear them playing the first Suede album as opposed to the recently released Bloodsports album (which would have been cool, too). I didn't spend half as much time here as I wanted, but they've got a great selection of new and used CDs, DVDs, vinyl, etc. I couldn't find a 2XL Rasputin Music t-shirt so I didn't buy one (and I'm not too fond of the guitar sperm design anyway). 

BTW, Rasputin has the greatest bag illustration that pays tribute to record stores and chains that have fallen by the wayside over the years! I wish it was a poster! This bag is available at any of the stores so buy something and enjoy the illustration on the bag!

RASPUTIN MUSIC

15590 Hesperian Blvd.

San Lorenzo CA 94580

(510) 276-8921

This was the second Rasputin we ever went to when we first started these road trips a decade ago.  On that first visit, we were impressed by the Berkeley store so we thought we'd take in another before we headed back home.  Because it has such a different vibe and atmosphere to the Berkeley one, we realized that all Rasputin stores must be cool so we've been taking more in with each visit to the area.  Ten years later, this store still a must-stop on our trip. I love to go through the clearance bins here, too.  I'm always so overwhelmed by the large amount of titles to choose from... and I don't mean that in a negative way at all.  There is just so much great stuff... assuming that you have some musical knowledge and plenty of time. They have tons of new titles as well.  All Rasputin stores are very well stocked with new product. One thing I noticed this time was that they have an amazing collection of new rock t-shirts that I was drooling over.  Everything from Journey to The Clash, Blondie and Devo... there was something for everyone.  Well, except me... because they don't carry 2XL in this store, either.  But I won't complain.  I'll eventually get my Rasputin Music and Rock t-shirts somewhere down the line... 

RASPUTIN MUSIC

1820 S. Bascom Ave. 

Campbell CA 95008

(408) 558-0781

So far, this is my favorite Rasputin Store.  We've been there a few times and I've walked away with some real treasures from this shop.  Once again, the personality of this store is different from the others.  One thing I love about it is that there are bin cards for artists you'd never see a bin card for anywhere else in the U.S. (apart from maybe Amoeba).  The one that stuck out this last visit was TV Smith.  They even had the TV Smith's Explorers CD in stock.  I almost bought it, but I'm pretty sure I still have it.  I really do need to get my CDs out of storage!  Now, I'm worried that I may not have that CD anymore!  Ugh.  Maybe I need to take a trip up to Campbell sooner than expected! Love this store!  I even picked up some Ooberman titles in the used bin during our trip here last year (which would have been the 'score' of the day had it not been for finding the Joe E. CD here on that very same trip!)  Oh, and I didn't end up with a Rasputin or rock t-shirt again.  Maybe the good folks at Rasputin Music are subtly encouraging me to lose weight.....

STREETLIGHT RECORDS

939 Pacific Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1-888-648-9201 

Normally, our first day of record shopping would have ended with Rasputin Music in Campbell.  We'd all been on the road since 2am (although I probably slept most of the way up and nodded off 'tween stores) and it was normally time to chill... but plans changed once we decamped to our Road Trip HQ so we headed out again to dinner... and one more record store. Normally, Streetlight Records in Santa Cruz is our Saturday night spot, but we shook things up a little this trip.  And trust me, for us old guys (some who are pushing 50, including myself), moving a record shopping excursion from Saturday to Friday is 'shaking things up'! But the Santa Cruz store did not disappoint.  It's always fun to shop here.  Great atmosphere, lots of product and located in a great area.  It's a perfect spot for those looking for the current hits, oldies, imports, etc.  It may not have a huge inventory like the other stores on this list, but it's also smaller.  Like Rasputin, it brings back the good old feeling of chains like Licorice Pizza, Music Plus and The Wherehouse.

DAY TWO: 

AMOEBA MUSIC
1855 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
415.831.1200
If Amoeba Music in Hollywood didn't exist, THIS would be my favorite record store of all time!  Located in an old bowling alley, Amoeba in SanFran is worth the drive alone.  It's big, jam packed with new and used product, the staff is great, the atmosphere is inviting... there is so much to praise about this store. Amoeba is a place where true music fans gather together to shop. Yeah, there are plenty of folks who come in, buy that one title they wanted and then leave, but I've observed so many people with that 'fire' in their eyes, searching for something that they can't live without.. and I've seen so many cradling their treasures in their hands as if they were new born babies or In 'n' Out Burgers: it's true love! While the customers may not interact with each other, there is a sense of community in this store (and the Hollywood store as well), much like a record swap meet. Sure, you've got folks from all walks of life who are still buying the building blocks that create the soundtracks of their lives.  And did I say that the store is jam packed with great product? Even if they don't have that one item you are looking for in stock, there are so many other things that will help fill that void.  A wonderful experience from the moment you walk in to the moment they escort you out because you refuse to leave hours after they closed!

RASPUTIN MUSIC

1672 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 863-2448

This shop is relatively new (it wasn't there last year at this time when we did our last road trip), so it hasn't had enough time to grow its own personality. It's a great store, yes, but it needs to sink it's roots into the area a bit more before it begins to flourish and come into it's own. At this point, it's kind of like a 'Greatest Hits' of all the other Rasputin stores that we visited. For some, all they want are the best bits, which makes this the perfect store. For others that know and love the other stores, we can't wait to see how this one grows up!

STREETLIGHT RECORDS

980 South Bascom Avenue
San Jose, CA 95128
1-888-330-7776

I really love the Streetlight Records chain a lot. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the SanFran store, although this one seems like it would be out of our way compared to that one. Well, I wasn't driving, so I'm good with whatever shop we stop at. I do love this store. They've got some cool and unexpected treasures in their bins.  Imports, domestic, etc.  The staff are really cool and the store has a great vibe. Very much like the Santa Cruz one, but it does seem bigger. I picked up a few vinyl favorites here as well as some CDs. Again, I ended up putting stuff back that I wish i could have afforded. That aggravates the heck out of me. Why can't I win the lottery and just buy whatever I want when I go into these record stores? Stupid lottery.

DAY 3: 

AMOEBA MUSIC

6400 Sunset Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 245-6400

I've visited many record stores in my life - from indie stores to chains.  I've visited little stores, big stores and everything in between.  I've worked at record stores, sold (wholesale) to record stores and shopped at record stores pretty much all my life.  I've seen shops rise and fall.  I've met life-long friends in record stores. I've learned so much from people I've come across in record stores, whether they were employees or customers.  I've managed to escape from reality and hide in a record store for a few hours.  I've discovered so many great artists that I would have NEVER heard if I had not gone into a record store.  So, my love and passion for record shopping is a big part of my life, right?  Well, Amoeba Music on Sunset Boulevard is pretty much all of my favorite record stores rolled into one... and I mean that both physically and emotionally.  It reminds me of Music Market, Tower Records, Camel Records, Licorice Pizza, Music Plus, Pepperland, Fingerprints, Middle Earth, Beggars Banquet, Record Trading Center, Up Another Octave, Rene's All Ears and Arons Records all rolled up into one. It's like everything that I've loved about record stores in my nearly 50 years on this planet has been transferred into this one store. All the wonderful things that make each of the stores in this article special are present here. Within these four walls lies my past, present and future in terms of music.  I've seen at least one title from almost every band I've ever loved here (whether it's on vinyl or CD), I've scored numerous reissues/new releases here and I'm sure I'll be buying many more titles in the years to come, God willing.  Any average music fan could spend an entire day here and still not go through everything. There's so much here that I always have to put things back cuz I can't afford it all in one go. In fact, I must go back very soon before all the deleted Elvis Costello 2CD sets are gone!  It's a ginormous store, but it manages to retain that small indie store atmosphere. This is where I want be be buried when I die. But, please, just not in the Jazz Room. 

FYI, during this trip, I was able to pick up titles (on CD and vinyl) from some of the following bands (and yes, I'm STILL obsessed with music from the late '70s and early '80s...):

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

BANANARAMA

BIG DADDY

BLONDIE

THE BOOMTOWN RATS

BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY

THE BUGGLES

BUZZCOCKS

THE CLASH

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN

EURYTHMICS

STEVE FORBERT

GANG OF FOUR

THE HUMAN LEAGUE

THE ICICLE WORKS

THE JAM

MIKA

GARY NUMAN

ELVIS PRESLEY

SQUEEZE

STARCASTLE

ALVIN STARDUST

STATUS QUO

TEXAS

THOMPSON TWINS

WET WET WET

XTC