Beatles?

Some interesting finds this week, including my first Beatles records.

I know that the Beatles can fetch a tonne of money for the right record, but there's a reason...... Those records are rare. My Beatles additions are less rare. A 1976 compilation worth as much as I paid (£1) and a reissue of their first single 'please please me' which I have to investigate further - maybe £5-£10. The Beatles aren't a band that I go crazy for but every collection should have some in there,  I'll wait until I find a nice copy of 'rubber soul' or 'revolver' before I go all in!!

Also into to the collection are a David Bowie picture disk, ELO double album with rare cardboard spaceship thingy and a couple of EPs found for next to no money. I really have caught the vinyl bug!

Purchases the week
Beatles - Rock and Roll music Vol 1
Beatles - please please me (reissue)
David Bowie - life on mars 40th anniversary pic disk
The Riot Squad - Toy soldier EP
Undertones - Jimmy jimmy 7"
ELO - out of the blue (double album with spaceship model)

My first 'new' record

So I took the plunge..... I ordered my very first ever new vinyl from the local store and it arrived today. I usually pick up old records from garage sales, charity shops etc and never really pay more than 1 or 2 pounds for the disks.......

It didn't come cheap (£9.99) but I see it as

A) a record that I really want to listen to

B) it's a bit unusual

C) if life went bad, it may be a small investment!

It's the 7" pressing of the title track on David Bowies 'The Next Day' on white vinyl and ITS SQUARE SHAPED'!

There are a few other records that I've preordered and couldn't be happier with myself. As for other records, deodato has been played a lot this week and I'm digging the funky, disco, classical cheese that's provided!

Purchases this week:
Deodato - Prelude
Zappa - joes garage
Bowie - scary monsters and super creeps
U2 - Joshua tree
Bowie - the next day (square white vinyl)

A few interesting 7" singles

Not really a great amount of purchases this week but all three records were good finds.

Herbie Hancock - Rockit
I'm a massive fan of Herbie, right from his blue note jazz roots, his strange fusion (I blame his time with Miles Davis), his cheesy disco days, electronic experimentation and his more recent flirtation with his jazz roots.
This single for me epitomises his ability to push the boundaries and to not be afraid in the process. It's sound has dated somewhat but thats part of the charm I think!

The Special AKA - Nelson Mandela
The specials split up not long into their career as ska revival hotshots. Some of the members carried on together under the banner 'special AKA'. This single was very topical at the time as a protest song to aid the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in South Africa. A worthy addition to me expanding 2tone collection.

Muse - Dead star
Released in 2002, this single is not the most popular or recognisable of the Devin trios work. For this reason, 7" copies of the single are scarce to find. This only cost me 50p and considering I have the album which is it from - I have no moral dilemma selling this one!

I also have set up a twitter account to tweet my buys, plays and favs! My name is @_vinyl_junkie_ and I could sure do with a few followers.

Record of the week:
Eek a mouse - Wha Do Dem

Cleaning my disks

There are a number of ways to clean records varying from brushes, liquids and cloths to expensive cleaning machines. I have a very cheap and effective way of cleaning my records which yields excellent results every time.

You will need a few things:
A tub of PVA glue (some people use wood glue but I haven't tried it before)
A dust free surface with no static (I use a small hand towel on my kitchen table)
An old credit card or similar
A dirty record in need of a good clean!

To start with - lie your record down with the (I've chosen a Neil Diamond LP from 1967 which is rather dirty) and pour a small amount of PVA glue around the penultimate track of the side. Using your card, push the glue to within 3 or 4mm of the central label being very careful not to touch the label with any glue.

Once you have done this all the way around spread the glue out using the card to the outer edge of the record, I usually go to within a few mm of the edge of the record. If you need to add more glue then do so but add it a little at a time. You're aiming for the whole record to be covered with a hint of the black vinyl colour showing through. As long as its covered - the amount you use isn't important.

Leave the record overnight and when the glue starts to dry, peel a tiny flap back (choose an area where the glue is see through NOT WHITE!) and leave until all of the glue is set.

Use the tiny flap that you created to carefully peel the glue from the record and hey presto, your record will be nice and shiny.

Be sure to stash the record straight into a paper sleeve as static can be an issue immediately after peeling.

I cannot be held responsible if you try this method and it doesn't work for you, it works really well for me and I swear by it but if you're in doubt - try it on a record that's 'expendable' (is there such a thing?) before ruining your Beatles first pressing!

Purchases this week:
U2 - Rattle and hum gatefold
Gregory Isaacs - Crucial cuts

Record of the week:
Brass construction - self titled (awesome funky disco!)