Hi Alan, I enjoyed listening to you ramble about some records and CD's in a nice old fashioned VC video. This is the kind of thing I like... have a good weekend and Easter
I loved the old days when the VC was just a bunch of boring guys talking to each other. It's when it becomes a bunch of guys just boring each other that there's a problem. It's a fine line.... 😉😂
@@statictraveller Bring us back Alan, baby. Actually you have never wavered from bringing boredom to the VC....thanks. As for Rob Walker, his underwear is pinching.😆
@@thesixthbeatle Thank you. Being boring is not an easy thing to achieve. First, one has to conquer the art of being bored before one starts on the path to Enboringment. Then, and only then, may a truly enbored individual lead others to the brink of utter boredom and then, far beyond into the abyss of pure Unstimulation.
@@statictraveller Yes, yes. I watched a stream by a self-proclaimed bunch of music geniuses (genii?) and learned that enboringment is a self-styled state of being that is second only to having rabies. Except a rabid dog does not chase and bite you (exciting) a bunch of bores chase you away. P.S. Thanks for sticking with it, your channel is a fragrant lily pad in fetid swamp of VC rubbish.
Thanks Alan. I know exactly how you feel about your indifference to making videos. A lot of what you said at the beginning is precisely what led me to give birth to the WC. I miss the good old days where people would actually show some things I'd never heard of.
There really is a strange taste for the ordinary nowadays. The most watched videos tend to be the ones where everyone who is watching already owns the records shown, Beatles, Classic Rock, common jazz, etc. I have shown more classical of late, which is going down surprisingly well. It's a hugely interesting field of collecting. Perhaps one of the problems for old hands like you and me who have spent years investigating and learning about music is we are inevitably going to know more than a lot of people and are going to be surprised less often. There are a few channels that still deliver the goods, but they don't upload often enough (Chris Cole, Motorik247 etc.) Sherv has just done a nice one at Julius Jabbar, though.
@@statictraveller I agree with what you say regarding being less surprised, but it doesn't excuse the proliferation of the mundane. Even if you are a novice collector, you can still see that everyone is showing the same shit as you. Indeed there are a handful of excellent channels, yours among them, but yes, they are too few and far in between. Everything is LIKE, COMMENT, AND SUBSCRIBE!!!, GRAILS!!! (lol grail as plural!!!), CONTEST!!!, LIVESTREAM!!! It all sickens me and I've become a vinyl Misanthrope as a result. Actual dislike. Oh well.
Now you've got me at it, John. If Peter Warlock picked a peck of pickled Pears... If Peter Pears picked a pair of pickled walnuts... If Pistol Pete plucked a pack of puckered peanuts...
Thanks for showing The Curlew LP. You've reminded me to check out getting hold of this song cycle. About the Karajan pull-out booklet- remember when early CDs had the following recording technology three-letter codes- DDD/ADD/AAD. One for Pub Quiz/Mastermind!
The Curlew, like so many fine classical records, can be bought cheaply, which is always a bonus. I remember being sucked into the belief that DDD was best and recall turning CDs down if they had ADD, or AAD. Now, I have noticed I feel the opposite when picking up second-hand discs, squirming slightly at seeing DDD. How subtle the prevailing messages we believe.
Hey Alan! Enjoyed the old fashioned video! Dug listening to you talking about your records, CDs and cassette. Glad to see you’re still finding gems among the rubbish. Always interesting! Have a good one!! Cheers
CDs are a perfectly good medium. I still buy them regularly. Nice TVZ. I would recommend the self-titled. It's truly one of the best singer-songwriter records ever.
It’s all about delivery. Some of the CZcams content creators have your gift. They hit “record” and bang it out in one take. I don’t have that gift of talent at all. I could do it in 2-3 minutes. Not 15-30 minutes. I will now brace for quickee jokes. But seriously my friend, you have the gift of oration. Plus you have an emotional and experiential association with the music you show. That’s your differentiation from channels that create other types of VC content, like “listicles”, and “recent purchases I haven’t listened to yet”.
2-3 minutes? That long, eh? I appreciate your kind words, Michael. I don't have anything against edited videos or contest videos or anything else, really. In fact, most are admirable. I have just been pining for some old school videos like wot we used to do in the VC in the olden days. There's probably too much skill and polish these days which probably just makes me look a bit of a relic!
Good old fashioned Alan - sounds like Partridge DVD extras. Steven Wilson yeah probably absolute tosh, I've couple of very early Porcupine Tree I like - I was unaware when i saw them live it was their first ever gig until last year, no one told me. Townes Van Zandt - hipster country folk. Now Peter Warlock what a name no wonder he got into the occult. This is common (maybe not so that pressing) so I'll go look in the garage see if he's hiding in there the buckets of classical, sounded more like what I look forward to in your videos, the nuggets, the gems, the highly moderately desireables, the inserts in sleeves too, all interesting stuff. Brian Sewell was brilliantly impersonated and had it ripped out of him by Victor Lewis-Smith, I think that's how I actually became aware of him (I'm not very hi-brow here) - cheers Alan, I just dropped a vid today tons of crap but I scoured about a bit on ebay and got the Hump 78 you plugged few weeks ago for under a tenner before some other scum got it via your tip off.
That Steven Wilson LP is crud... Peter Warlock was originally named Philip Heseltine. He was a collector of folk songs which may have been a precursor to his getting mixed up with the occult. Never a wise idea... The music is really good- though some might be put off by the tenor vocals, especially if Bob Dylan or Phil Collins are your idea of great vocalists. I watched your video just after it uploaded. Steve at Psych in the Valleys picked up the 78 as well. The most amazing thing was that Mike Tomlin really liked it too (!) Shocking... Stunty would have had to hate it of course...
@@statictraveller Are we sure Michael Heseltine wasn't the father? All these people seem to be related...... Collecting folk songs is risky business. I reckon my county has more classical records than anywhere else all these posh Tories wouldn't listen to modern music if only they'd seen how subversive some of it is. The esteemed Mike Tomlin eh? Stunty recently 'colaborated' with Michael 45 about grails which was errrrrrrrr interesting 🙈💩 I honestly don't know where he's coming from. Well, Germany, bring back the DDR that's what I say everything was fairer then but we don't want to be reported to the VC Stasi.....
I like when I'm flipping through at record conventions, and within the first say twenty LPs , you can tell it's trash ,then they look at you n say is something wrong!!! 😆
Some great musicians on the ‘Regular Music’ cassette. Dave Powell on tuba, was a member of ‘Loose Tubes’ and one of the few tuba players at the time that could cross over easily from classical to jazz or pop!
If anyone understands and agrees with your opening sentiment about the 'VC', it's definitely me. I have felt that for a long while. Livestream upon livestream where people talk precisely about nothing at all. I thought we were meant to be music enthusiasts? How can some 'vc' members appear on that many videos and actually listen to their collection? Big question. As for contests, they are the epitome of the trivial and the banal. Just because some want more subscribers...And it is oh so very transparent. Just look at the f###ing thumbnails people produce. If it doesn't at least contain the word 'grail' or 'mega haul' to attract the simpletons, then it surely isn't worth posting.
Pfftttttt - Jazz Bums conduct 5-hour weekly Livestreams on average. Some of the Bums conduct Livestreams with Waxed and he co-hosts Rachel's Ghost daily Livestream, AND Mazzy spends hours on all of them and plus he Instagrams ad nauseum. I'm confident they all close their eyes and enjoy their rich collections for hours upon end, in deep meditation.
I am in the boat with you Fred. One of the best things in the VC lately is when you came back to video making. I never want to see the word 'grail' or phrase 'holy grail' again...along with mugs, t-shirts and hats with somebody's VC channel name plastered on it. I will wear a shirt with Alan's mummer on it, however.
@@PengDerick I still have a branded colostomy bag in the lab. Working out some drip problems. 45 has signed a letter of intent to carry it exclusively in his shop. “Never ever step away for a pee during a 5-hour stream”. Kind of a double entendre. The Mrs likes it. PS - you know that mummer rhymes with hummer, right? I didn’t want to go there, I really didn’t…
The insidious nature of social media's hold seems to be taking its toll on us all. I actually don't really have a problem with livestreams and contests particularly, but these days there is a super abundance of them. Everybody is at it. All the time. We always had contests back in the day, but simply pushing for subs seems to be many people's raison d'etre these days. Otherwise, they don't feel they 'belong'. I think Sherv has the right idea. He cut in half the number of people he subscribes to. It makes perfect sense. Then the feed is not full of unwanted stuff and it would feel more like things the way they used to be. I definitely subscribe to too many people nowadays...
@@ricefieldrecords The Jazz Bums...I watched two of their shows and was bored...bored! All the talk was about re-releases and pressings and masterings and shoving the holy-oiled coronation spoon up Chad Kassem's booty. Not one drop on the music that is on the LPs.
When you announced you were going to show a really fantastic LP, i thought it was going to be a Steely Dan record 👍👍👍 Brian Sewell,crikey not heard that name for many years !!!
Hi Alan, great to see you back with no gimmick subjects or edits. Never seen that Regular Music record but anything with This Heat involved perks my interest. I will have to look up the Peter Warlock record as you enthused about it so much. I saw Atomic Rooster live back in 1971? at Lowestoft College - Vincent Crane's long hair flying everywhere I recall. Also saw them a few years ago with Pete French and Steve Bolton from the early line up I think. Cheers, Paul
@@statictraveller I listened to the Warlock record but was put off by the vocals a bit. Most people move away from Lowestoft when young but they usually want to come back to retire here. I live in Blundeston now but grew up in Gorleston on sea.
Chrome Sitar is my favourite track off Futuristic Dragon, love the massive sound with the strings on that one.what the hell, it was a freebie wasn't it?. CD versions of albums are a great way of getting hard to find, interesting ' deep' cuts and unless you can pick up cheap originals are a decent alternative. Hope you have a good Easter Alan and don't end up disposing of great swathes of your record collection. Rob.
Yes, there are a few nice cuts on Futuristic Dragon, especially on side 1. It didn't grab me like I wanted it to, but I think it's an album I will return to from time to time. I did pay for the TRex records. I wanted to be fair to her and overpaid - I didn't want her to feel let down completely.... Call me an old softie. It has been great to listen to the extra tracks on CDs again. Quite refreshing. Happy Easter to you, too, Rob. I will purge lightly...
Hear ya loud and effin’ clear...I just told a subber I don’t do gaming videos! Wtf??? I’m pretty much done here....except there are some here I will always try to tune in to...and the others?? Don’t have an answer to this.....summer is a coming and I don’t want to spend my days stuck in CZcams....please don’t take that in a harsh way, I want to get out and live!!! Cheers Alan, I’ll be around
It can be so easy to get caught up in this social media world, which becomes all important and all pervasive that we can forget the outside world actually exists. Go and live Fair Lis! Get on that lovely bicycle of dreams and ride, ride ride!
You can find that townes van zand on vinyl. I wanted it for the same reason. I like him lot. I believe on CZcams there is still a great documentary about him.
@@statictraveller haha 🤣 you crack me up!!! Alan you are THE best of both worlds...your knowledge of life and of music is priceless.....then this totally humorous side that comes out to play is just awesome my friend....🙏🏻✨🎶☮️
I read an article a couple of years ago about old-in-the-tooth hi-fi shop owners; they were discussing various albums that they always used to demonstrate their top-end systems back in the day, and how they can no longer stand to listen to those records due to total saturation. That old 'Not the Nine o'Clock news sketch with the guy coming in to buy 'a new gramophone' and being offered slimline salad dressing irresistibly springs to mind. Interesting bunch of showings Alan, the Peter Warlock sounds intriguing. I bought the complete poems of WB Yeats last year but haven't got to it yet. Still not heard Atomic Rooster and have struggled to connect with Townes Van, but that's probably due to lack of effort more than anything.
The so-called 'reference' records to test hi-fi must have become boring to listen to. It's like the regurgitation of constant reissues and endless remasters of the same albums released over and over in the desperate search for extra detail - excruciating. I should imagine you haven't had time to read anything other than articles and reference works for Queen over the last year. I listened to Sheer Heart Attack and really enjoyed the whole album. If Lap Of The Gods (Revisited) had been more like Lap Of The Gods, it would have been a truly anthemic finish. I loved She Makes Me - an excellent cut, and with lap Of The Gods, probably my favourite.
I will definitely look out for that Regular Music LP. Trust you to find something as niche and rare as that for 50p! I have that DG Digital booklet in a copy of Offenbach's Overturen, also a Karajan release but it doesn't have the other booklet. Brian Sewell was a funny bloke and pompous to the extreme, very interesting story. Yeah like you I never really bothered with Townes Van Zandt until recently as he's not the kind of artist I tend to gravitate towards but I do enjoy his stuff.
It's been slim pickings, so finding that cassette made a pleasant change. I do like finding old catalogues and advertising material in classical records. DGG seem to have kept the practise up longer than other companies. There are many artists like Van Zandt that I can enjoy in passing as it were, but I won't be going out of my way to collect. It seems to be the thing with me these days. There are so many great records to be had across all fields, that the days of collecting and possibly completing one artist's output are passed for me.
If only we could all have as much cred as you Static... a true OG VC legend! You don't deserve that junk mate. People in thrift shops should be aware of you & respect your VC status. Love from a true belieber!!!
Thank you, Ben. When I start my own merch range, 'Static Traveller: OG VC Legend' will be proudly emblazoned in gold leaf across the china tea services, audiophile stylus cleaning products and plus size budgie smugglers everyone will be clamouring for. I will put you down for 50 of each: being a true belieber, I would hate to see you run out.
@@statictraveller I think the VC totally misses the point & is completely unaware of your amazing generosity. I for one would be honoured to receive your gold leaf tea services & audiophile penis cleaning services. I think the Americans call it paying it forward...you are a true leader & healer in the VC Mr. Static!
Penge and Derrick are considering going into management. They want to start a band formed with some of the VC'S biggest muppets called The Sons Of Kermit. So far, they have Vinyl Richie down for falsetto backing vocals, 80s headband, and Yamaha keyboard guitar...
It seems to be a well loved album. I can't stand it... To me, it is polished and predictable. But, I am probably wrong... I have been watching your videos btw, I just haven't been commenting so much in general, of late. I guess that makes me a lurker.
Right back atcha, David. I watched your video about Jimmy Shand and other misfits. It distracted me from the passing of difficult stools in the little boys room earlier.
@@statictraveller ...there was so much interesting content in your video...you"re the BEST......I have Futuristic Dragon.....pretty much unlistenable IMO..tee hee
Hi Alan, thank god for a video from someone who actually listens to the music. I've just ordered the book you showed - I love a good read like that. I have that Fairfield Parlour CD - great stuff. Also have the Townes VZ recording. He wrote some fine songs but was totally bonkers and destroyed his talent. Like a country version of Gazza at times that you can see in that Heartworn Highways documentary. Guy Clarke comes across extremely weĺl in that. Hope you have a nice weekend. I've been building a pond in my garden. Been really good for me. All the best, Steve.
Hi Steve. That book might take you down a few proverbial rabbit holes... I am late to the TVZ story, but he does seem like an interesting character. I will check out his self titled at some point- people are always waxing lyrical about that one. Building a pond is a satisfying thing. Back in the 90s, we lived in a small terraced house with a yard out back. I managed to squeeze in a rockery, mini pond and planting. Loved it. I added a jar of wild pond water to the mix complete with whirligig beetles pond skaters etc, but made the fatal mistake of adding two water snails- one a Ramshorn, one a Greater Pond snail. They self reproduce and utterly took over and ate everything in the shortest time. There were hundreds in something barely two feet long. In the end, I had to fill it all in. They are great in a large pond and people buy them to eat the waste and detritus- but in my humble puddle, a definite no no.... Judging by your instagram picture, yours will be a very nice one. There's a lot to be said for getting out of doors and away from the computer.... Have a great weekend too and don't eat too many eggs...
Hey Alan, Am "all ears" with this. 🙂 I admittedly have been bad this year about keeping up with what's on the Tube, just here and there. Either way, this is refreshing indeed. Am very interested in that 'Regular Music'. Love seeing those homemade cassette J-cards. I've been revisiting The Nightcrawlers who put out at least 30 albums on tape that way...about as do-it-yourself as can be. Ah, The Planets...still an all-time favorite piece of music. Do you have a favorite version listening-wise? The Stokowski L.A. Philharmonic from the late 50's I think is my favorite. Haven't heard/seen this one though. Very neat with those booklets....Yep one era's state-of-the-art is another's somethingorother......🙂 Peter Warlock is new to me, and sounds fascinating. I did see a documentary on Townes Van Zant a few years ago and found it very compelling. Even enjoyed some of his music though it was quite far from my taste. Definitely showed me it's never too late to get into anything one would never have previously gravitated towards. Thanks for sharing, and happy listens! -Carm
Hey Carm. I think the Regular Music will be right up your street. I only have one Nightcrawlers release- and that is their vinyl 1984 album. I doubt if I would ever run across a cassette release of theirs this side of the pond. It will be good to spend some time looking through their catalogue again, though. I have not done it for a few years. I tend to listen to the Karajan 63 recording of The Planets, or Malcolm Sargent's with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. I have a weird version by a very famous and revered composer and conductor which might be seen as the worst- or the best version depending on your taste. I have been meaning to do a video on it, because it's a real ear opener. I dare say if I watched more documentaries, I would find myself going down many more rabbit holes. I have taken a step back from immersing myself in so many these days and still prefer the serendipitous discoveries on my travels, be they in the wild or on the 'net.
Ronnie Corbett here complains about VC content, then launches into the 4, 243 VC video called ''one day I was in a charity shop and someone said, hello darling I've got loads of records at home I want gone'. Futuristic Dragon is in the shit record covers hall of fame. Someone offered me about 2000 CD's today, Country. Living in America!, another world, bleak, probably some Van Zandt in there. I turned them down, even at 25c each, tough sell.
I bet you have your Windows spreadsheet tab permanently open to keep track of increases to your very specific category interests. And a secret one to keep track of the others... 2000 country CDs? That would have cost a small fortune if those were bought at full price. Is there anything in the world which is guaranteed to depreciate more? I was sure I had shown the ultimate Mike Tomlin record in this video and you didn't mention it. I am talking about the Regular Music album. It's small ensemble Glass and Reichian minimalism / art rock all the way. Unfortunately, most of it is not available to listen to and on Discogs one of the pieces is cut in half, but here is the link, anyway... www.discogs.com/release/720277-Regular-Music-Regular-Music If this fails to move you in any way, I will take up collecting country CDs.
@@statictraveller I did not mention that as I have no recollection of seeing it, or hearing it. I just checked some of it out. Parry has his own utube channel. Sounds quite Nymanesque, which is not a positive, a Grade C/D Minimalist. I saw his ensemble live once, early 80's, hectic, noisy, like a Deep Purple gig!, not that impressive. I did like his Draughtsmans Contract score, but it needed the visuals. So it looks as though Regular Music is not for me!!? Probably not a good deal, 500$ might get me back 1000$ eventually but a lot of time checking them out. Seller was an old time country musician, even had a Nashville car plate on his motor, it being the USA I had to 'bite my tongue' in respect to implying his body, mind and soul was effectively an abyss of futility in case he got out his 'penis extender' and shot my head of. I'm picking up 400 classical this afternoon, much more interesting although not necessarily more financially lucrative, if the Warlock is there, unlikely, but I do run into a few UK Argo's here, I'll give it a spin. Interesting back story to Sewell's lineage, or potential lineage.
I really enjoy that Steve Wilson album, so if you wanna get rid of it, I'm available. :) I'd like to hear that Regular Music lp. My video is up for your contest.
The day may come when I do a contest... but I won't be giving away prizes like the Wilson album. I would want people to win something that is actually good. 😉
Good old-fashioned video, Alan! I know that some of the other vloggers that I watch, have lost this down-home feel. I know the boys have their...uh...whatever body parts they use to keep feeling the pulse of the VC Community. Too many have become "the voice of authority" in their minds, telling us what to buy. They show record releases every day en masse. They say how clean the record sounds after using their Klaudio (my wife would divorce me if I bought one)...and how much of a great addition these are in their collection. I am not sure what happens to these records because their shelves never seem to change, year after year. Where do they put them? I long for those innocent videos of yore...Videos done by regular people showing us their collection and the story behind why they added them to their collection. Rant over! LOL Thanks for being there, Alan! Thanks for reading my rant. 😳
Well, that was a very polite rant Juergen! There are few people who are authorities in any field and especially in the the world of vinyl collecting. Everyone is a small fish, knowing a small amount, about a very small niche area. The VC is really a place for enthusiasts, not experts. My first boss used to say; 'An Ex is a has been, a spurt is a drip under pressure'.... When people tip over into authorizing our purchases and making us feel alienated if we don't agree or follow suit, then we need to stage a VC revolution. As I write this, I see Penge and Derrick are drawing up plans....
@@statictraveller I agree that lately there seems to be an over emphasis on both live streams and shorts. I suppose I am pretty basic in that I show no graphics or do any editing. Keeps it more on the fly and improvisational for me which I prefer.
My comment got stopped by a power outage. Something about my wife pitching a fit. The VC needs more members like mistery-ed. He doesn't bother anyone with silly videos only silly comments. Isn't that a plus?
@@statictraveller I tried my luck in that thrift store. Any CD that looked interesting had been trashed. Vinyl was impossible. When they put out my 45s they'll be the best records in the store. It's just an annual check up because of a left bundle branch block I have. My wife has a right block so we match.
l cut my subscriptions in half mainly because l don't care to know about all the dribble.... none of my DG lps have a booklet, l remember the dawn of the digital age well, l didn't understand it then don't understand it now. hell l don't really understand analogue, l just listen. ... good show Alan, make old the new new 😮
It could be argued that this is just another form of dribble... I remained mostly unaffected by the initial digital craze, but did succumb to CD purchasing around 1996. An aspiring writer friend swapped me his player for an old typewriter. And the rest, as they say, is history... Don't be surprised if you see a video from me with that deathless title, making old the new new. Brilliant.
Hi Alan,
I enjoyed listening to you ramble about some records and CD's in a nice old fashioned VC video. This is the kind of thing I like... have a good weekend and Easter
Well, thank you Bev! I appreciate that. And a happy Easter to you. Have a restful weekend, but keep that metal cranked up!
Totally agree with your sentiment Alan the vc is now a load of boring guys talking to each other … having said that I’m the biggest culprit 🤷🏼♂️💩
I loved the old days when the VC was just a bunch of boring guys talking to each other. It's when it becomes a bunch of guys just boring each other that there's a problem. It's a fine line.... 😉😂
@@statictraveller Bring us back Alan, baby. Actually you have never wavered from bringing boredom to the VC....thanks. As for Rob Walker, his underwear is pinching.😆
@@thesixthbeatle Thank you. Being boring is not an easy thing to achieve. First, one has to conquer the art of being bored before one starts on the path to Enboringment. Then, and only then, may a truly enbored individual lead others to the brink of utter boredom and then, far beyond into the abyss of pure Unstimulation.
@@statictraveller Yes, yes. I watched a stream by a self-proclaimed bunch of music geniuses (genii?) and learned that enboringment is a self-styled state of being that is second only to having rabies. Except a rabid dog does not chase and bite you (exciting) a bunch of bores chase you away. P.S. Thanks for sticking with it, your channel is a fragrant lily pad in fetid swamp of VC rubbish.
.....and relaaaaaaaaax *exhales deeply*
A proper VC video. I like it.
So good to have you back from the wilderness with a regular video..✌️😎
Thank you. It's a cold and lonely place...
😂
Good video Alan enjoyed as always 👍
Cheers, Simon. Always appreciated. 😊
'The Curlew' has some beautiful string quartet bits ...the whole thing is lovely
It does have an almost elegaic quality. It's definitely a standout work.
Nothing but top quality content on my channel, you cheeky fecker! 😉
If you say so, John. 😉😂
Thanks Alan. I know exactly how you feel about your indifference to making videos. A lot of what you said at the beginning is precisely what led me to give birth to the WC. I miss the good old days where people would actually show some things I'd never heard of.
There really is a strange taste for the ordinary nowadays. The most watched videos tend to be the ones where everyone who is watching already owns the records shown, Beatles, Classic Rock, common jazz, etc. I have shown more classical of late, which is going down surprisingly well. It's a hugely interesting field of collecting. Perhaps one of the problems for old hands like you and me who have spent years investigating and learning about music is we are inevitably going to know more than a lot of people and are going to be surprised less often. There are a few channels that still deliver the goods, but they don't upload often enough (Chris Cole, Motorik247 etc.) Sherv has just done a nice one at Julius Jabbar, though.
@@statictraveller I agree with what you say regarding being less surprised, but it doesn't excuse the proliferation of the mundane. Even if you are a novice collector, you can still see that everyone is showing the same shit as you. Indeed there are a handful of excellent channels, yours among them, but yes, they are too few and far in between. Everything is LIKE, COMMENT, AND SUBSCRIBE!!!, GRAILS!!! (lol grail as plural!!!), CONTEST!!!, LIVESTREAM!!! It all sickens me and I've become a vinyl Misanthrope as a result. Actual dislike. Oh well.
You’ve certainly got me interested in this Peter Warlock character. For a moment I was getting him mixed up with Peter Pears.
Now you've got me at it, John. If Peter Warlock picked a peck of pickled Pears... If Peter Pears picked a pair of pickled walnuts... If Pistol Pete plucked a pack of puckered peanuts...
Thanks for showing The Curlew LP. You've reminded me to check out getting hold of this song cycle. About the Karajan pull-out booklet- remember when early CDs had the following recording technology three-letter codes- DDD/ADD/AAD. One for Pub Quiz/Mastermind!
The Curlew, like so many fine classical records, can be bought cheaply, which is always a bonus. I remember being sucked into the belief that DDD was best and recall turning CDs down if they had ADD, or AAD. Now, I have noticed I feel the opposite when picking up second-hand discs, squirming slightly at seeing DDD. How subtle the prevailing messages we believe.
Hey Alan! Enjoyed the old fashioned video! Dug listening to you talking about your records, CDs and cassette. Glad to see you’re still finding gems among the rubbish. Always interesting! Have a good one!! Cheers
You are a gent, Jon.
Good old fashioned vid Alan. Nice. Can’t be arsed with threads and competitions
Thanks, Chris. That reminds me, I must get working on a new vinyl tag...
@@statictraveller look forward to it
CDs are a perfectly good medium. I still buy them regularly. Nice TVZ. I would recommend the self-titled. It's truly one of the best singer-songwriter records ever.
I have heard many a person talk about it, but not investigated - Tut tut. I will make a point to do so soon....
It’s all about delivery. Some of the CZcams content creators have your gift. They hit “record” and bang it out in one take. I don’t have that gift of talent at all. I could do it in 2-3 minutes. Not 15-30 minutes. I will now brace for quickee jokes. But seriously my friend, you have the gift of oration. Plus you have an emotional and experiential association with the music you show. That’s your differentiation from channels that create other types of VC content, like “listicles”, and “recent purchases I haven’t listened to yet”.
2-3 minutes? That long, eh?
I appreciate your kind words, Michael. I don't have anything against edited videos or contest videos or anything else, really. In fact, most are admirable. I have just been pining for some old school videos like wot we used to do in the VC in the olden days. There's probably too much skill and polish these days which probably just makes me look a bit of a relic!
Good old fashioned Alan - sounds like Partridge DVD extras. Steven Wilson yeah probably absolute tosh, I've couple of very early Porcupine Tree I like - I was unaware when i saw them live it was their first ever gig until last year, no one told me.
Townes Van Zandt - hipster country folk.
Now Peter Warlock what a name no wonder he got into the occult. This is common (maybe not so that pressing) so I'll go look in the garage see if he's hiding in there the buckets of classical, sounded more like what I look forward to in your videos, the nuggets, the gems, the highly moderately desireables, the inserts in sleeves too, all interesting stuff.
Brian Sewell was brilliantly impersonated and had it ripped out of him by Victor Lewis-Smith, I think that's how I actually became aware of him (I'm not very hi-brow here) - cheers Alan, I just dropped a vid today tons of crap but I scoured about a bit on ebay and got the Hump 78 you plugged few weeks ago for under a tenner before some other scum got it via your tip off.
That Steven Wilson LP is crud... Peter Warlock was originally named Philip Heseltine. He was a collector of folk songs which may have been a precursor to his getting mixed up with the occult. Never a wise idea... The music is really good- though some might be put off by the tenor vocals, especially if Bob Dylan or Phil Collins are your idea of great vocalists.
I watched your video just after it uploaded. Steve at Psych in the Valleys picked up the 78 as well. The most amazing thing was that Mike Tomlin really liked it too (!) Shocking... Stunty would have had to hate it of course...
@@statictraveller Are we sure Michael Heseltine wasn't the father? All these people seem to be related...... Collecting folk songs is risky business. I reckon my county has more classical records than anywhere else all these posh Tories wouldn't listen to modern music if only they'd seen how subversive some of it is. The esteemed Mike Tomlin eh? Stunty recently 'colaborated' with Michael 45 about grails which was errrrrrrrr interesting 🙈💩 I honestly don't know where he's coming from. Well, Germany, bring back the DDR that's what I say everything was fairer then but we don't want to be reported to the VC Stasi.....
I haven't heard that Shabaka & the Ancestors. I have an album of Peter Warlock songs, but I have not heard your album. Old-fashion thanks, Chris
An old-fashioned doff of my top hat, a bow, and a cheerful thanks to you too, Chris.
" i could tell it was junk" 😂 i do that alot ,you can tell!
I like when I'm flipping through at record conventions, and within the first say twenty LPs , you can tell it's trash ,then they look at you n say is something wrong!!! 😆
Some great musicians on the ‘Regular Music’ cassette. Dave Powell on tuba, was a member of ‘Loose Tubes’ and one of the few tuba players at the time that could cross over easily from classical to jazz or pop!
Ooh, thanks for the extra info. This is my kind of comment. I get to learn something along the way. Cheers!
Oh, with Charles Hayward of This Heat. Never heard of that one before now. Glorious stuff, have put it on the wish list.
That's great! Yes, it is an under the radar record which deserves a wider audience.
If anyone understands and agrees with your opening sentiment about the 'VC', it's definitely me. I have felt that for a long while. Livestream upon livestream where people talk precisely about nothing at all. I thought we were meant to be music enthusiasts? How can some 'vc' members appear on that many videos and actually listen to their collection? Big question. As for contests, they are the epitome of the trivial and the banal. Just because some want more subscribers...And it is oh so very transparent. Just look at the f###ing thumbnails people produce. If it doesn't at least contain the word 'grail' or 'mega haul' to attract the simpletons, then it surely isn't worth posting.
Pfftttttt - Jazz Bums conduct 5-hour weekly Livestreams on average. Some of the Bums conduct Livestreams with Waxed and he co-hosts Rachel's Ghost daily Livestream, AND Mazzy spends hours on all of them and plus he Instagrams ad nauseum. I'm confident they all close their eyes and enjoy their rich collections for hours upon end, in deep meditation.
I am in the boat with you Fred. One of the best things in the VC lately is when you came back to video making. I never want to see the word 'grail' or phrase 'holy grail' again...along with mugs, t-shirts and hats with somebody's VC channel name plastered on it. I will wear a shirt with Alan's mummer on it, however.
@@PengDerick I still have a branded colostomy bag in the lab. Working out some drip problems. 45 has signed a letter of intent to carry it exclusively in his shop. “Never ever step away for a pee during a 5-hour stream”. Kind of a double entendre. The Mrs likes it. PS - you know that mummer rhymes with hummer, right? I didn’t want to go there, I really didn’t…
The insidious nature of social media's hold seems to be taking its toll on us all. I actually don't really have a problem with livestreams and contests particularly, but these days there is a super abundance of them. Everybody is at it. All the time. We always had contests back in the day, but simply pushing for subs seems to be many people's raison d'etre these days. Otherwise, they don't feel they 'belong'.
I think Sherv has the right idea. He cut in half the number of people he subscribes to. It makes perfect sense. Then the feed is not full of unwanted stuff and it would feel more like things the way they used to be. I definitely subscribe to too many people nowadays...
@@ricefieldrecords The Jazz Bums...I watched two of their shows and was bored...bored! All the talk was about re-releases and pressings and masterings and shoving the holy-oiled coronation spoon up Chad Kassem's booty. Not one drop on the music that is on the LPs.
I also spoke of New Music the book in a past video. Absolutely the best book on certain genres like electronic, minimalism and new age.
It is like a condensed version of The Wire magazine with all the pretentious claptrap taken out.
When you announced you were going to show a really fantastic LP, i thought it was going to be a Steely Dan record 👍👍👍
Brian Sewell,crikey not heard that name for many years !!!
One man's fantastic is another's Steely Dan....
There was a time when it seemed like Sewell was on telly every day of the week.
Hi Alan, great to see you back with no gimmick subjects or edits. Never seen that Regular Music record but anything with This Heat involved perks my interest. I will have to look up the Peter Warlock record as you enthused about it so much. I saw Atomic Rooster live back in 1971? at Lowestoft College - Vincent Crane's long hair flying everywhere I recall. Also saw them a few years ago with Pete French and Steve Bolton from the early line up I think.
Cheers, Paul
Both those records are worth investigation- even if you find you hate them... Lowestoft College? I know it well. I grew up in Lowestoft....
@@statictraveller I listened to the Warlock record but was put off by the vocals a bit. Most people move away from Lowestoft when young but they usually want to come back to retire here. I live in Blundeston now but grew up in Gorleston on sea.
That Townes record is amazing.
I think I will have to sit back, imagine myself part of the audience, and let it do its magic.
Chrome Sitar is my favourite track off Futuristic Dragon, love the massive sound with the strings on that one.what the hell, it was a freebie wasn't it?.
CD versions of albums are a great way of getting hard to find, interesting ' deep' cuts and unless you can pick up cheap originals are a decent alternative.
Hope you have a good Easter Alan and don't end up disposing of great swathes of your record collection.
Rob.
Yes, there are a few nice cuts on Futuristic Dragon, especially on side 1. It didn't grab me like I wanted it to, but I think it's an album I will return to from time to time. I did pay for the TRex records. I wanted to be fair to her and overpaid - I didn't want her to feel let down completely.... Call me an old softie.
It has been great to listen to the extra tracks on CDs again. Quite refreshing.
Happy Easter to you, too, Rob. I will purge lightly...
Hear ya loud and effin’ clear...I just told a subber I don’t do gaming videos! Wtf??? I’m pretty much done here....except there are some here I will always try to tune in to...and the others?? Don’t have an answer to this.....summer is a coming and I don’t want to spend my days stuck in CZcams....please don’t take that in a harsh way, I want to get out and live!!! Cheers Alan, I’ll be around
It can be so easy to get caught up in this social media world, which becomes all important and all pervasive that we can forget the outside world actually exists. Go and live Fair Lis! Get on that lovely bicycle of dreams and ride, ride ride!
@@statictraveller like the wind 💨 🚲
You can find that townes van zand on vinyl. I wanted it for the same reason. I like him lot. I believe on CZcams there is still a great documentary about him.
There is something special about him. I think I will make a note to look that up. Cheers!
Refreshing as always
A lady once called me a tall drink of water...
@@statictraveller oh my! Did you marry said individual?? 😎😉🤭
@@L.E.55472 It wasn't that long ago, actually... she probably wasn't wearing her bifocals.
@@statictraveller haha 🤣 you crack me up!!! Alan you are THE best of both worlds...your knowledge of life and of music is priceless.....then this totally humorous side that comes out to play is just awesome my friend....🙏🏻✨🎶☮️
I read an article a couple of years ago about old-in-the-tooth hi-fi shop owners; they were discussing various albums that they always used to demonstrate their top-end systems back in the day, and how they can no longer stand to listen to those records due to total saturation. That old 'Not the Nine o'Clock news sketch with the guy coming in to buy 'a new gramophone' and being offered slimline salad dressing irresistibly springs to mind. Interesting bunch of showings Alan, the Peter Warlock sounds intriguing. I bought the complete poems of WB Yeats last year but haven't got to it yet. Still not heard Atomic Rooster and have struggled to connect with Townes Van, but that's probably due to lack of effort more than anything.
The so-called 'reference' records to test hi-fi must have become boring to listen to. It's like the regurgitation of constant reissues and endless remasters of the same albums released over and over in the desperate search for extra detail - excruciating.
I should imagine you haven't had time to read anything other than articles and reference works for Queen over the last year. I listened to Sheer Heart Attack and really enjoyed the whole album. If Lap Of The Gods (Revisited) had been more like Lap Of The Gods, it would have been a truly anthemic finish. I loved She Makes Me - an excellent cut, and with lap Of The Gods, probably my favourite.
I will definitely look out for that Regular Music LP. Trust you to find something as niche and rare as that for 50p! I have that DG Digital booklet in a copy of Offenbach's Overturen, also a Karajan release but it doesn't have the other booklet. Brian Sewell was a funny bloke and pompous to the extreme, very interesting story. Yeah like you I never really bothered with Townes Van Zandt until recently as he's not the kind of artist I tend to gravitate towards but I do enjoy his stuff.
It's been slim pickings, so finding that cassette made a pleasant change. I do like finding old catalogues and advertising material in classical records. DGG seem to have kept the practise up longer than other companies. There are many artists like Van Zandt that I can enjoy in passing as it were, but I won't be going out of my way to collect. It seems to be the thing with me these days. There are so many great records to be had across all fields, that the days of collecting and possibly completing one artist's output are passed for me.
If only we could all have as much cred as you Static... a true OG VC legend! You don't deserve that junk mate. People in thrift shops should be aware of you & respect your VC status. Love from a true belieber!!!
Thank you, Ben. When I start my own merch range, 'Static Traveller: OG VC Legend' will be proudly emblazoned in gold leaf across the china tea services, audiophile stylus cleaning products and plus size budgie smugglers everyone will be clamouring for. I will put you down for 50 of each: being a true belieber, I would hate to see you run out.
@@statictraveller I think the VC totally misses the point & is completely unaware of your amazing generosity. I for one would be honoured to receive your gold leaf tea services & audiophile penis cleaning services. I think the Americans call it paying it forward...you are a true leader & healer in the VC Mr. Static!
I enjoyed the Shabaka album but agree it’s something that I probably won’t go back to too often. I much prefer Shabaka’s project, the Sons Of Kemet.
Penge and Derrick are considering going into management. They want to start a band formed with some of the VC'S biggest muppets called The Sons Of Kermit. So far, they have Vinyl Richie down for falsetto backing vocals, 80s headband, and Yamaha keyboard guitar...
@@statictraveller 🤣🤣🤣
Dissing Mr Wilson at the end there...That's one I have on vinyl that's up for reassessment in the cull...
It seems to be a well loved album. I can't stand it... To me, it is polished and predictable. But, I am probably wrong... I have been watching your videos btw, I just haven't been commenting so much in general, of late. I guess that makes me a lurker.
I’m with you, dude.
GOOD ONE Alan!!!
Right back atcha, David. I watched your video about Jimmy Shand and other misfits. It distracted me from the passing of difficult stools in the little boys room earlier.
@@statictraveller ...there was so much interesting content in your video...you"re the BEST......I have Futuristic Dragon.....pretty much unlistenable IMO..tee hee
Shabaka And The Ancestors I could not get into as well for some reason.
Yes, it promised much but didn't deliver.
@@statictraveller I feel like it might be something better to see live but that also could just be something nice to say lol
@@Localbandography LOL.
Hi Alan, thank god for a video from someone who actually listens to the music. I've just ordered the book you showed - I love a good read like that. I have that Fairfield Parlour CD - great stuff. Also have the Townes VZ recording. He wrote some fine songs but was totally bonkers and destroyed his talent. Like a country version of Gazza at times that you can see in that Heartworn Highways documentary. Guy Clarke comes across extremely weĺl in that. Hope you have a nice weekend. I've been building a pond in my garden. Been really good for me. All the best, Steve.
Hi Steve. That book might take you down a few proverbial rabbit holes... I am late to the TVZ story, but he does seem like an interesting character. I will check out his self titled at some point- people are always waxing lyrical about that one.
Building a pond is a satisfying thing. Back in the 90s, we lived in a small terraced house with a yard out back. I managed to squeeze in a rockery, mini pond and planting. Loved it. I added a jar of wild pond water to the mix complete with whirligig beetles pond skaters etc, but made the fatal mistake of adding two water snails- one a Ramshorn, one a Greater Pond snail. They self reproduce and utterly took over and ate everything in the shortest time. There were hundreds in something barely two feet long. In the end, I had to fill it all in. They are great in a large pond and people buy them to eat the waste and detritus- but in my humble puddle, a definite no no.... Judging by your instagram picture, yours will be a very nice one. There's a lot to be said for getting out of doors and away from the computer....
Have a great weekend too and don't eat too many eggs...
Hey Alan, Am "all ears" with this. 🙂 I admittedly have been bad this year about keeping up with what's on the Tube, just here and there. Either way, this is refreshing indeed. Am very interested in that 'Regular Music'. Love seeing those homemade cassette J-cards. I've been revisiting The Nightcrawlers who put out at least 30 albums on tape that way...about as do-it-yourself as can be.
Ah, The Planets...still an all-time favorite piece of music. Do you have a favorite version listening-wise? The Stokowski L.A. Philharmonic from the late 50's I think is my favorite. Haven't heard/seen this one though. Very neat with those booklets....Yep one era's state-of-the-art is another's somethingorother......🙂
Peter Warlock is new to me, and sounds fascinating. I did see a documentary on Townes Van Zant a few years ago and found it very compelling. Even enjoyed some of his music though it was quite far from my taste. Definitely showed me it's never too late to get into anything one would never have previously gravitated towards. Thanks for sharing, and happy listens! -Carm
Hey Carm. I think the Regular Music will be right up your street. I only have one Nightcrawlers release- and that is their vinyl 1984 album. I doubt if I would ever run across a cassette release of theirs this side of the pond. It will be good to spend some time looking through their catalogue again, though. I have not done it for a few years.
I tend to listen to the Karajan 63 recording of The Planets, or Malcolm Sargent's with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. I have a weird version by a very famous and revered composer and conductor which might be seen as the worst- or the best version depending on your taste. I have been meaning to do a video on it, because it's a real ear opener.
I dare say if I watched more documentaries, I would find myself going down many more rabbit holes. I have taken a step back from immersing myself in so many these days and still prefer the serendipitous discoveries on my travels, be they in the wild or on the 'net.
Ronnie Corbett here complains about VC content, then launches into the 4, 243 VC video called ''one day I was in a charity shop and someone said, hello darling I've got loads of records at home I want gone'. Futuristic Dragon is in the shit record covers hall of fame. Someone offered me about 2000 CD's today, Country. Living in America!, another world, bleak, probably some Van Zandt in there. I turned them down, even at 25c each, tough sell.
I bet you have your Windows spreadsheet tab permanently open to keep track of increases to your very specific category interests. And a secret one to keep track of the others...
2000 country CDs? That would have cost a small fortune if those were bought at full price. Is there anything in the world which is guaranteed to depreciate more?
I was sure I had shown the ultimate Mike Tomlin record in this video and you didn't mention it. I am talking about the Regular Music album. It's small ensemble Glass and Reichian minimalism / art rock all the way. Unfortunately, most of it is not available to listen to and on Discogs one of the pieces is cut in half, but here is the link, anyway... www.discogs.com/release/720277-Regular-Music-Regular-Music
If this fails to move you in any way, I will take up collecting country CDs.
@@statictraveller I did not mention that as I have no recollection of seeing it, or hearing it. I just checked some of it out. Parry has his own utube channel. Sounds quite Nymanesque, which is not a positive, a Grade C/D Minimalist. I saw his ensemble live once, early 80's, hectic, noisy, like a Deep Purple gig!, not that impressive. I did like his Draughtsmans Contract score, but it needed the visuals. So it looks as though Regular Music is not for me!!?
Probably not a good deal, 500$ might get me back 1000$ eventually but a lot of time checking them out. Seller was an old time country musician, even had a Nashville car plate on his motor, it being the USA I had to 'bite my tongue' in respect to implying his body, mind and soul was effectively an abyss of futility in case he got out his 'penis extender' and shot my head of. I'm picking up 400 classical this afternoon, much more interesting although not necessarily more financially lucrative, if the Warlock is there, unlikely, but I do run into a few UK Argo's here, I'll give it a spin. Interesting back story to Sewell's lineage, or potential lineage.
I really enjoy that Steve Wilson album, so if you wanna get rid of it, I'm available. :) I'd like to hear that Regular Music lp. My video is up for your contest.
The day may come when I do a contest... but I won't be giving away prizes like the Wilson album. I would want people to win something that is actually good. 😉
Good old-fashioned video, Alan! I know that some of the other vloggers that I watch, have lost this down-home feel. I know the boys have their...uh...whatever body parts they use to keep feeling the pulse of the VC Community. Too many have become "the voice of authority" in their minds, telling us what to buy. They show record releases every day en masse. They say how clean the record sounds after using their Klaudio (my wife would divorce me if I bought one)...and how much of a great addition these are in their collection. I am not sure what happens to these records because their shelves never seem to change, year after year. Where do they put them?
I long for those innocent videos of yore...Videos done by regular people showing us their collection and the story behind why they added them to their collection. Rant over! LOL
Thanks for being there, Alan! Thanks for reading my rant. 😳
Well, that was a very polite rant Juergen! There are few people who are authorities in any field and especially in the the world of vinyl collecting. Everyone is a small fish, knowing a small amount, about a very small niche area. The VC is really a place for enthusiasts, not experts. My first boss used to say; 'An Ex is a has been, a spurt is a drip under pressure'.... When people tip over into authorizing our purchases and making us feel alienated if we don't agree or follow suit, then we need to stage a VC revolution. As I write this, I see Penge and Derrick are drawing up plans....
More of this please.
I will try... Cheers.
It's a policy of mine to never ask for subscribers or "thumbs up" in my videos, so there's that.
I don't have a problem with it, but am just missing the VC's old days a bit. Call me a nostalgic old fart....
@@statictraveller I agree that lately there seems to be an over emphasis on both live streams and shorts. I suppose I am pretty basic in that I show no graphics or do any editing. Keeps it more on the fly and improvisational for me which I prefer.
My comment got stopped by a power outage. Something about my wife pitching a fit. The VC needs more members like mistery-ed. He doesn't bother anyone with silly videos only silly comments. Isn't that a plus?
I read your previous comment while it briefly appeared. A hundred 45s? I will send my address... Oh, and all the best at the cardio's...
@@statictraveller
I tried my luck in that thrift store. Any CD that looked interesting had been trashed. Vinyl was impossible. When they put out my 45s they'll be the best records in the store. It's just an annual check up because of a left bundle branch block I have. My wife has a right block so we match.
l cut my subscriptions in half mainly because l don't care to know about all the dribble.... none of my DG lps have a booklet, l remember the dawn of the digital age well, l didn't understand it then don't understand it now. hell l don't really understand analogue, l just listen. ... good show Alan, make old the new new 😮
It could be argued that this is just another form of dribble...
I remained mostly unaffected by the initial digital craze, but did succumb to CD purchasing around 1996. An aspiring writer friend swapped me his player for an old typewriter. And the rest, as they say, is history...
Don't be surprised if you see a video from me with that deathless title, making old the new new. Brilliant.