[MG1]

I started to get on the vinyl bandwagon again. Went to Sunrise Records in Metropolis. What a mess of a place. Their LP's are jammed into the bins. So much so, you can't even pull them out to look at them. You have to pull out a few dozen (with great effort) just so you can flip through them. I just left. Nothing was where they were supposed to be. People working there didn't know much.

On my recent trip to Bellingham, I decided to look for records. Didn't go to the smaller independent stores downtown, but went to big box stores. Walmart, Target, Best Buy. Damn, records in translucent colours. I saw Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack Vinyl in funky colors. I already have volume 1, but wanted to get the funky colored "deluxe" version. The one I have at home was purchased at London Drugs. Produced by Back to Black. Worst record I have ever dealt with. The hole was so small I had to force the record to sit on the platter. The edges were full of sharp imperfections and the surface was riddled with vinyl pieces. After cleaning it up. I realized the wound was horrible. Listening to the one I purchased in Bellingham, it was better, but the sound was off. Something wasn't right. Researching via Internet revealed this was done on purpose. To recreate the sound of cassette........... W-T-F? I'm keeping it anyway, the funky red and yellow is kind of cool. Sound engineers got away with this one. BTW, coloured vinyl is not better or worse, sound wise (with some exceptions).

Anyway, I wasn't about to give up on vinyl just yet. I went to this little local record shop on Hastings called, "Hooked on Phono," this afternoon. I keep thinking hooked on phonics, lol. Dude working there was very knowledgeable. A good salesman. Got a few things wrong, but generally a good guy. I purchased some used LP's of Chuck Mangione. Children of Sanchez and Live at Hollywood Bowl. After seeing what I had chosen, he put me onto an LP I already had in my collection Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Band. He told me this thing was engineered properly and remastered with care. I'm not a fan of anything remastered, but thought I'd give it a go. I'm listening to it now and let me tell you it's gorgeous. My faith in vinyl has been restored. These newer remastered, low quality pressings are horrible. I guess when people listen to vinyl on Crossley's and Victrola's, little does the sound matter.

Friends don't let friends buy or listen to vinyl on those players. Nuff said.


Take Five never sounded so good. A piece in 5/4 time........... I love it.