stuartjewkes

Well guys, I bow to your superior knowledge. I don't use soap because I was told by my jazz mentor, a collector for as long as anyone, that I shouldn't, because of the possible filming and the inevitable dust-catching that causes, even if you rinse thoroughly. He has a huge collection, every album pristine, in it's cover and stored, on it's edge, alphabetically. I felt strangely priviledged when I was allowed to peruse them and actually touch them. Normally that carries the death penalty, I think. As for the toothbrush, I still say be careful. I do use a super-soft baby toothbrush on stubborn hunks of crud, though I don't buy records that are really dirty, or have visible damage like scratches. I suppose that the really dirty ones could be rejuvenated by the afore-mentioned cleaning. But, after they are clean, more often than not, only then does the damage become evident. You can't fix actual damage to the record. That may not be a problem if you never intend to play the record. I don't buy collector records, no matter how rare, if I can't listen to them. I rarely buy an album that isn't in excellent plus condition but to leave JATP for 50p when it might well play adequately after a little attention would be stupidity in my opinion. What I do find ridiculous is the new trend in British charity shops (Oxfam take a bow) of playing unplayable records or even empty sleeves for £15+!

Sunn0))).......doesn't get much "doomier" than that! Can't wait to catch them live at some point but it seems they play London exclusively. If you like noise and drone/doom you should definately check out the Shit And Shine record, one of my favourite British bands of recent times. Full out agression and groove.

Superb thanks ladies and gents. I'll give it a go later today and let you know what happens.

The other day I picked up a battered copy of one of the Jazz At The Philharmonic LPs featuring Oscar Peterson Trio's set for 50p and it looks like it will play reasonably well if properly cleaned. There are only light scuff marks on the playing surface but there are big gobs of grime all over the record and crap in the grooves. What would be the best way to clean it? I've thought about using a sponge and water and hoping for the best but I'm not sure if it would completely kill it. If there are any radical suggestions I'm not really too fussed if it screws the record or messes up the label due to the condition of the sleeve and the fact that it was so cheap. Any help appreciated.

It's fun, but the amount of chaff that one must flip through to find the kernels of wheat is amazing. It's really bad chaff, too. It's not just a lot of rock albums. There are many thousands of albums that even a thrift store would be sorry to take in. Strange as it sounds I actually enjoy that as much as finding a bargain! I have pretty varied tastes and take great pleasure in finding curios cheap. For example I was rooting through a few boxes of vinyl in a little tin shack in Manchester not long ago and found a British band doing versions of Jelly Roll songs originally conceived for a ballet that had to be played almost perfectly to the original record. I won't listen to it a million times (it is good though) but I like hearing something with a story. I also picked up a 10" of Motorhead Girlschool, a strange trade off of songs between two 80s metal acts with a duet on the flip. Lots of fun. If I can find one thing similar to this (as well, of course, as the things I'm REALLY looking for) then rooting through 5000 records has been worth while.

I'd love to get lost in that lot for a few days

Plenty of doom this month Sunn0))) - White 2 Boris - Smile Sunn0))) and Boris - Altar Shit And Shine - some German title MF Doom - Live Amon Duul 2 - Phallus Dei Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull

I don't own a Mosaic yet but I will be rectifying that with the Braxton set. I am incredibly excited about it!

The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace Musical bliss, it is frankly unbelievable how much better it sounds than the flat, pathetic CD master.

Max Harris and the New Red Hot Peppers - Oh! Mister Jelly: Re-creations of Jelly Roll Morton's Famous Original Recordings

Yes, that's true. Like I said I'll probably still use a variety of different formats, there are some pretty cool vinyl reissues coming out these days...but I'm not a purist by any means. Will probably try to fill up most of the holes in my classic rock collection on vinyl, keep buying some jazz reissues on CD, will still purchase downloads. Nothing wrong with having a variety of options to choose from. Quoted for truth

Listened to African Horns featuring Abdullah Ibrahim, Basil Coetzee, Kippie Moeketsi and more this morning. Quite jolly in places but a bit squashed sounding. I'm not sure what to think of 'African' jazz, everything I've heard so far, including a live Hugh Masekela (sp), has been very lightweight and sounds tailored for easy listening and toe tapping. Has it's place I'm sure, and this record was nice enough, but I don't think it'll get many repeat plays.

Yesterday I picked up: Faust - The Faust Tapes (Virgin) £9 (I would have paid up to £30 for a copy so good value for me!) Bob Dylan - Freewheelin' (CBS) £6 (I'm filling out my Dylan collection as most of them are dirt cheap and I'd like to have them all sooner rather than later) Unfortunately both have been played a fair bit and have some noticable surface noise. A problem with buying really good albums in first (or early) pressing I suppose.

Bilge Pump - Rupert The Sky

I but on vinyl, cd and mp3 pretty much equally. If I really like it I usually try and get it on first pressing vinyl. MP3 are perfect for bulk buying experimental music purchases. CDs sit somewhere in the middle for me and I buy a lot of multi cd sets and 4 for £20 deals. Sometimes it really works out to buy a copy of something on vinyl for an improvement in sound. Today I got Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young in near mint (sleeve not so good) for cheap and it sounds much better than the CD I have. The guitars ring out and it's less muddy. I do buy a fair few new vinyl releases but that's because they are only released on vinyl or from labels I trust for high quality. The Robert Wyatt recent album is quite pleasing to these ears, and I wouldn't buy something like a Sunn0))) album on anything but vinyl.

Today I picked up: Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto/Paganini Variations Can - Soundtracks Soft Machine - Four Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps A good day.

First up was Soft Machine - Four and now it's Can - Soundtracks. Both are f'in genius.

Excellent performance too

Still happens a lot now with small labels, they sublet their artists to large labels in different areas due to their comparatively inadequate promotional budgets,etc.

This month I got the following Betty Davis - Betty Davis Nurse With Wound - some stupidly long title from 2003 Wadada Leo Smith - The Year of the Elephant Sharon Jones - Naturally Melt Banana - Cell-Scape

Got Year of the Elephant from eMusic this month and on first listen I'm quite impressed. I think it warrants some serious consideration.

Picked up Out To Lunch on vinyl for £8, I am yet to hear it.

Very interesting. I would love a few maverick classical performers who had the guts to treat the mighty score like dirt and play loose with the masters. I think a good shake up is what's needed.

I buy classical music on vinyl almost exclusively. There is a little shack that sells dodgy vhs porn in Manchester town and they have boxes and boxes of vinyl for 25p each. I usually grab what's there and catches my eye and then anything that doesn't grab me goes to the charity shop. I've found some good stuff with this method. For example I'm currently listening to Ernest Ansermet conducting L'Orchestre De La Suisse Romande, Beethoven's 5th Symphony on Decca 'Ace of Diamonds and the performance and sound is superb. Very dynamic and full of life. Beats the David Zinman version I have on CD hands down.

I've got a lot of Wadada Leo Smith with Braxton and he can certainly play. Quite a sensitive player in the duo format too. I think I'll be looking out for more of his stuff. Just downloading the Miles thing now, should be interesting!