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

THE FALL/Re-Mit: Brand new album available May 13th, 2013!

THE FALL

RE-MIT

5.13.13

REJOICE! The legendary Manchester band fronted by MARK E. SMITH move the release date of their new platter forward to May 13th!  

 Following their Record Store Day single release (all sold out!), The Fall release their new album - and second for Cherry Red - on May 13th.

  A natural progression from “Ersatz GB”, “Re-Mit” is awash in bass and drum lead grooves, off kilter modern psyk and tense guitar pop, and features some of Mark E Smith's most arresting deliveries to date. The line-up remains the same as “Ersatz GB”, which performed very well worldwide and the band will be heading out on a full UK tour to promote the album throughout the month.

   The set contains 'Sir William Wray' and 'Hittite Man', which featured in different guises on the very popular Record Store Day single.

 Will be supported throughout the international music press, in print, online and on radio.

 A second single from the album to follow.

Celebrating RECORD STORE DAY 2013: RECORD STORE MEMORIES with EVAN McWHIRTER

RECORD STORE MEMORIES

By Evan McWhirter

During a phase in my life when my best friend and I co-hosted a radio show called “Brown Noise” on KUCI,  I was always on the lookout for some kooky, off the wall records to play. So, needless to say I frequented all the record stores in Orange County and beyond looking, no, searching for musical treasures. 

One evening in particular, I happened to be in Noise Noise Noise (now defunct, but reopened as Factory Records), a shop that was an awesome rat’s nest of weird and wonderful records. On this occasion, I think Dave James (owner) was bumping some cool old school Dub or Reggae track. I was in the back room where the ECM and Disney records were, just browsing really. My co-host, Captain Erin, was really into pirate ephemera at the time, so when I came across the soundtrack to the Disney movie Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968), I knew what I was coming home with. 

As I left the back room, I noticed two things that struck me as a little strange… it was quieter than normal, although the music was still playing, and Dave was not behind the counter. I called out for him and checked around the store to see if he was hiding somewhere...no luck. I decided to check outside. I placed Blackbeard on the counter, headed for the door... and then another thing became immediately apparent: I was now locked in the store! After the initial panic, where I thought "I am going to be stuck there the rest of my life", I started making calls to people letting them  know where I was in case anyone was wondering. Thinking back, I probably just wanted to share this exciting moment. 

So, 10 minutes later, I am still in the store when I see out the front door/window a couple people I recognize as being in the store when I walked in. I banged on the window to get their attention. Luckily, they had seen Dave walk in to the 7-11 around the corner and they went to tell him that he had some dude locked in the store. When Dave came back, Big-Gulp in hand, he is real pissed at me, I guess he called out to anyone left in the store that he was closing... so it was either that Reggae beat or the love of the dig that had me zoned out to all other input... who knows? 

Dave and I are friends now and I go to his new shop, Factory Records, whenever I am in Costa Mesa. I will definitely be there on RSD this year! 

I stopped doing the radio show a couple years ago, but I definitely still dig for weird records... but I never did get a copy of that soundtrack!

Visit Dave James at Factory Records:

440 E 17th St

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

(949) 722-8101

http://www.factoryrecordsshop.com

SPAZ reviews IAN McNABB's Head Like A Rock (Expanded 2CD Edition)

IAN McNABB

HEAD LIKE A ROCK

(Expanded 2CD Edition)

Available NOW!

      Former ICICLE WORKS mainman IAN McNABB has created some of his best music since the band split up in 1991.  While the Liverpudlian trio were one of the best and most versatile bands of the '80s, they are best remembered for their self-titled debut that featured the UK hit "Love Is A Wonderful Colour" and the glorious "Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)".  While other lesser bands achieved fame and fortune, McNabb and bandmates Chris Layhe and Chris Sharrock recorded some amazing albums and singles, all of which have been reissued in expanded form over the last few years. Finally, Ian's solo catalog is getting the attention it deserves, beginning with his best-selling 1994 album Head Like A Rock, which earned a prestigious Mercury Prize nomination (although I believe M People won that year).

      On his 1996 album Merseybeast, McNabb penned a track called "I'm A Genius" and, to be honest, that's not far from the truth!  Wearing his influences on his sleeve, McNabb has been able to channel The Beatles, T.Rex and Neil Young (amongst others) into a piping hot brew of intelligent Rock 'n' Roll without forsaking his own musical identity.  He's a master songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, filled with passion and intelligence that is seldom heard in music these days. Whether he releases an acoustic-based album or a full out rockin' record, McNabb is one of the UK's finest songwriters and performers. He brings more confidence and swagger to his performances than Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow!

      With Head Like A Rock, Ian not only released the best Rock album that Neil Young never recorded, but he did it with the help of two members of Young's part-time backing band Crazy Horse (bassist Billy Talbot and drummer Ralph Mollina).  But the album is not a Neil Young pastiche: it is a loud and thunderous musical statement from Ian McNabb.  From the stunning opener, "Fire Inside My Soul" (which, at 8+ minutes is still too short) to the beautiful Gospel-tinged album closer "May You Always", Head Like A Rock is a flawless album that not only beats you senseless in it's guitar-fueled power, it also reaches deep down and wraps itself around your heart and soul.

     "You Must Be Prepared To Dream" is a true Rock 'n' Roll anthem for this generation.  While McNabb may not approve, I'm surprised that it hasn't been used to help sell cars or other necessary 'evils' in this world. The lyrics are as inspiring as anything McNabb may have been influenced by: "You're going where the sun beats down/On previously barren ground/You're going where the blue sky meets the ocean/You're going to a special place/It's written all over your face/But you must be prepared to dream".  If it won't motivate someone to buy a car, perhaps it will inspire them to follow their...er...dreams.

     "This Time Is Forever" is a beautiful slice of Country Rock.  "Sad Strange Solitary Catholic Mystic" is built around gorgeous, atmospheric Beach Boys-like harmonies. "Go Into The Light" is as funky and soulful as Rock can get. Oh, I could go on and on... this is one hell of an album.

     The bonus CD contains an additional nine b-sides including three rearranged Icicle Works tunes that are mostly acoustic and far more intimate than the original recordings ("Love Is A Wonderful Colour", 'When It All Comes Down" and "Stood Before St. Peter"). The remaining six tracks include non-album rockers, an acoustic track and a remix.  All of them are worthwhile and only add to the glory that is Head Like A Rock. My only complaint would be that they didn't include the shorter edit of "You Must Be Prepared To Dream" but that is about the extent of my moaning!

     So, now you know the truth, why aren't you heading down to your local shop to buy this.... or clicking THIS link that I've so kindly provided?

     Oh, and visit Ian at www.ianmcnabb.com and purchase his last few albums as well.  He's a genius.  There, I said it.

RECORD STORE DAY: 10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life, Part Three

10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life

Part Three

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

     Music strikes a chord in me... pun only partially intended. No matter what my mood is, music is such an important part of my day to day activities.  From work to play and back again, music is always playing somewhere around me.  I can't escape it and I would not even try.  I don't care if it's something I love or despise, my day to day listening experience only enhances my knowledge and understanding of this truly amazing art form.

     Some of my favorite people erroneously say that I 'know everything' about music.  While I am humbled by that assertion, I don't believe that at all... because I am constantly learning something new with everything that is being played around me. I might hear something new in a song that I missed before, I might hear something that I know I never want to hear again and I might hear something that I can't live without.  But the important thing is that I'm listening, searching and being moved by the music  I will never 'know everything' because, once I think that I know it all, I will stop learning... and I certainly don't ever want that to happen!

     The albums that changed my life may not be the best albums in the respective bands' catalog, but they are albums that reached deep inside me and stayed there.  Whether I heard them being played in a record shop or read about them somewhere, I discovered these albums when they were first released and I've held them close ever since.  The albums listed here are no less important than the ones in my previous lists.  I've just decided to break the lists up to make it easier for readers to take them in and, hopefully, check them out.

     Here are 10 albums that never fail to take me back to a certain period in my life. They may 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’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).

ANY TROUBLE/Where Are All The Nice Girls?

BUZZCOCKS/Singles Going Steady

FINGERPRINTZ/Distinguishing Marks

THE JAM/This Is The Modern World

THE LAMBRETTAS/Beat Boys In The Jet Age

NICK LOWE/Pure Pop For Now People (AKA Jesus Of Cool)

(This is an alternate version of the song that appears on the album)

MENTAL AS ANYTHING/If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?

THE PLIMSOULS/Zero Hour EP

SHOES/Tongue Twister

THE UNDERTONES/The Undertones

PUBLIC IMAGE LTD/First Issue: Available for the first time in the U.S. on June 18th, 2013!

PUBLIC IMAGE LTD

FIRST ISSUE

2CD set

180gm Vinyl LP

6.18.13

Marking the 100th release on Light In The Attic Records and following the Record Store Day reissue of PiL's debut single 'Public Image',  LITA are set to reissue the pioneering group's debut album First Issue, available for the first time ever in the US. 

In 1976 Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols set the agenda for punk's year zero with 'Anarchy In The UK', a song that summed up the spirit, sound and attitude of the band in one shocking package. Two years later, the Sex Pistols were in tatters, but Rotten was as unsentimental as you'd hope. He reverted to his real name - John Lydon - and set about forming a band whose very identity kicked against press and media manipulation. Featuring bassist Jah Wobble, drummer Jim Walker and guitarist Keith Levene, his new group were Public Image Limited. The public image would be limited. 

PiL were a very distinct prospect from the Pistols, founded with a greater thought for rhythm, and with a sound that turned the page from snarling punk to a more experimental sound fusing rock, dance, folk, ballet, pop and dub. But that's not to say Lydon's new outfit lacked vitriol. 'Public Image' hits out against the notorious British tabloid press, who never gave Lydon an easy ride, and against his own Sex Pistols public image - "You only saw me for the clothes I wore". 

The debut single (and the album that followed) operated as a theme song and a manifesto: "…my entrance/My own creation/My grand finale/My goodbye," as the lyrics had it. It is, essentially, the sound of four people letting loose in a studio - and not caring what anyone else thought. 

The album was never officially released in the USA back in the day, its sound considered too un-commercial by major-labels for an American release. 

First Issue has been lovingly reproduced from the original UK 1978 release and this expanded reissue also comes with a clutch of post-punk era treasures. The CD edition is an expanded, two-disc set with an almost hour-long (unedited) October 1978 BBC audio interview with John Lydon, plus rare B-side "The Cowboy Song" from the period, and two stickers. The LP release includes an archive replica fold-out poster, archive replica tabloid adverts, a set of stickers, and Download Card for the album, the archival BBC interview, and 'The Cowboy Song'. All of which were approved and coordinated with John Lydon and his personal management.

STEVE FORBERT/Alive On Arrival & Jackrabbit Slim: Special 2CD Anniversary Edition Available NOW!

STEVE FORBERT

ALIVE ON ARRIVAL & JACKRABBIT SLIM

(SPECIAL 2CD ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

     Ah, Steve Forbert... 35 years ago, he was lauded as 'the new Dylan'... which was a ludicrous tag to shackle anyone with.  First off, there had already been  roughly 314 'new Dylans' since the old Dylan released his debut album in the early '60s.  While a few of them (Donovan in particular) had achieved success, the others were swept aside when the next 'new Dylan' came on the scene.  It seemed that every singer/songwriter who played an acoustic guitar and blew into a harmonica was destined to be labeled as the next 'new Dylan'.  And how many guitar-led bands were saddled with 'the new Beatles' tag over the years?  Even the Bay City Rollers were once called 'the new Beatles' but we all knew that they were really 'the new Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods'!

     As for Steve Forbert, he deserved to be called 'the new Forbert' and left to his own devices.  Judging by his recorded output, he was (and is) an extremely talented and unique artist who unfortunately spent the first part of his career trying to shake the 'new Dylan' tag and move on.

     Now, 35 years after his debut album, Alive On Arrival, Blue Corn Music has just released a special two CD anniversary edition that not only contains an expanded version of that debut but also an expanded version of his even better sophomore album, 1979's Jackrabbit Slim.  Both discs combined contain enough bonus tracks to make a third album... and that makes this set an absolute must-have for Forbert, Folk Rock, singer/songwriter and 'new Dylan' fans. For the uninitiated, this set is the perfect introduction to the world of Steve Forbert.

ALIVE ON ARRIVAL (1978)

     Alive On Arrival is the album that started the ball rolling.  With warm production and Forbert's intimate performances, the album heralded a new talent that, on first listen, didn't seem to fit comfortably in any one genre.  Sure, it's a Folk-centric album, but there's also many other influences floating around including Pop, Rock, Country and Gospel.  Some of those influences make themselves known in a chord change while other times, it's in the subtle nuances of the players involved.
     Forbert's voice possesses a rasp that is far from the cocky throttle of singers like Rod Stewart.  Forbert, at 23 years of age when this album was recorded, sounds as if he still retains that sense of wonder, excitement and playfulness that most of us lose when we 'grow up'. Now, don't get me wrong... he is far from child-like yet there remains a charm that is hard to describe.  Lyrically, he is right up there with the best of them, touching on issues that are personal but also universal.  He is smart and sharp but down to earth.
     The bonus tracks are certainly the equal of any of the album's tracks... yes, they are that good!  Their presence does not distract from the flow of the album: in fact, just the opposite.  They actually enhance the album and add to it's magic.  Alive On Arrival is a timeless album that still sounds fresh, even at a time when the market is over-saturated with singer/songwriters.
     While the album didn't contain a bonafide hit single, the critical raves that the album received raised Forbert's profile and brought some attention to this album.  Being a Punk/New Wave/Power Pop kid back then (15 years of age), I was intrigued enough to buy the album, and I've been a fan of it ever since.  Though many praised it's Folk-based approach, I was more interested in the songs, the melodies, the lyrics... Coming from a Pop standpoint, to me, Forbert's best was yet to come...

JACKRABBIT SLIM (1980)

     In the late '70s and early '80s, nearly two years between albums seemed like a lifetime.  Most bands rose and fell in that amount of time.  But then again, most bands didn't release a sophomore album quite as wonderful as Jackrabbit Slim.  Still traveling the same musical ground as the first album, Jackrabbit Slim upped the ante in terms of melodies.  Alive On Arrival certainly had plenty of them as well, but this sophomore rekkid was more immediate and more satisfying if you were in search of a tune to hang your heart on.  

     While the album cover made Forbert seem even younger than his debut, the songs showed a deeper, more mature understanding of the Pop formula and how he was able to make it work in his favor.  The album's opener, "Romeo's Tune", was a Top 20 single and one of the finest hits to be played on radio that year.  The piano riff on its own is pure bliss, but the song itself sounds so joyful, so romantic and so heartfelt that it was hard to ignore.  While most people may not remember it by the song title, the moment the song starts, their eyes open wide and they gasp "Oh my God, I LOVE that song!".  Yeah, it's that good... 

     Fortunately, I can happily state that it is NOT all downhill from there.  Just the opposite, in fact.  Jackrabbit Slim is chock full of great tunes that are easily some of the best things he recorded during his time on Nemperor Records. Just like on his debut, the songs are all top notch.... only better! The songs have arrangements that are full, spacious and warm... yet the big, slick production doesn't interfere with the songs at all.

     And the bonus tracks?  Pure gold.  "The Oil Song" was actually on a 7" EP that came with the album, so I remember wearing out the grooves on that one... which wasn't hard since the song was 6+ minutes in length and cramming that much music onto one side of a single left a lot to be desired, sound quality wise!

     

Forbert recorded two more albums for Nemperor Records (Little Stevie Orbit and Steve Forbert), neither of which have ever appeared on CD. I have no shame in stating that I will salivate uncontrollably if ever they are released.  In fact, his final album (the self-titled one) has a few of my favorite Forbert songs on it!  

So, anyway, why aren't you rushing out to grab this 2CD set right now?  By all means, either grab your coat and head off to a hip record store or click on the links I've provided.  You won't be sorry.