Decided to use Tumblr as a repository for various vinyl related images that catch my eye (see what I did there?). Take a peek over at VinylEye.com

Simon Foster‘s most excellent site devoted to the art of record labels. Oh look, he’s got record covers as well!

Stills from the animated portions of a 1958 promotional film from RCA to announce their Living Stereo technology. The film itself is below but as interesting as it is as a whole, it’s the animated portions that stand out for me.

You know what that was? That was the Malevolent Melody book as illustrated by Matthieu Bessudo aka Mcbess. You know what else that was? That was the packaging for The Dead Pirates vinyl EP. You now what other thing that was? That was a sickening display of talent because not only is Mcbess an illustrator, he’s also in the flipping band!

The next time a music industry exec asks me why they’ve become a collective of fail merchants (and yes they ask me this all the time), I’m going to let them look at my copy of the Malevolent Melody book. How about creating something with care? Something considered that listeners will want to engage with, hold and collect.

"But kids today want to stuff their music into their iPods"

That’s true monkey boy but as with many new vinyl releases, digital copies of the songs found deep in the grooves are made freely available to those who purchase said vinyl. P-u-r-c-h-a-s-e.

Because you "get it" you’ll want to click over to Nobrow now and actually get it. And while you’re waiting for your purchase to be delivered by a human person (sort of like a download) why not grab a free Mcbess desktop image type thing or do like me and slip a Mcbess wallpaper into your iPhone.

Real Humdinger by J.J. Barnes

Another scorcher of a weekend. I’ll be doing my best to enjoy it in the shade. Whilst laying under a bag of ice. With 12 fans pointed at me. And music.

Try A Little Harder

You Never Do Right (My Baby)

I’m not going to lie to you…it’s hot. No matter how you look at it, summer is imposing itself rather decidedly and I for one am not amused. Summer is lovely and fine and all that, but the heat MY GOD THE HEAT! Be that as it may I must try to focus on the good of it all and of course there is much good. This weekend the warm weather prompted a little vinyl spinning and a not so little Margarita.

I can’t say I know very much about The Fi-Dels but I do know a cracking tune when I hear it. It was the ‘A-side’ that got to me but the ‘B-Side’ is truly wonderful in its own b-sidey way so as a summer treat I share both rarities.

Enjoy these and other visual delights over at A Journey Round My Skull

The Sheik of Araby

This past Saturday was Record Store Day or as they called it here in London, Ye Olde Record Shoppe Day. No they didn’t.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it into any record stores but to show my support I did manage to obtain a couple of fine recordings via the interwebs. The first to arrive was The Art of Django. The sample above is ’ The Sheik of Araby’. The magnificent Stephane Grappelly on violin.

For any poor soul not familiar with Django Reinhardt, I offer this simple guide:

- Born 1910

- King of ‘Gypsy Swing’.

- At 18 was badly injured in a fire receiving first and second degree burns over half of his body.

- His third and forth fingers were left paralyzed on his left hand - keep that in mind when you hear him play.

The positively EPIC Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake, an album which upon its release sported a most impressive circular fold-out cover as can be seen above (very much want got it!).

It’s discouraging to know that Lazy Sunday was beaten to the No 1 by Gary Pucket and the Union Gap’s Young Girl. A very solid tune to be sure, but this injustice only serves to illustrate that the listening public of the time would rather have had a song about narrowly avoiding child molestation charges at the top of the charts than celebrate a bunch of fun loving chappies just trying to enjoy their weekend.