La Muerte — Death Race 2000

• Artist: La Muerte
• Title: Death Race 2000
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it for myself when we had RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

I was reading about these guys at Trouser Press and I realized that I got into them near the end. Apparently in their earlier work they were influenced by Birthday Party/Nick Cave. I never noticed from this record which is heavy, in a more conventional way, but the vocals are similarly intense or insane, you decide. In some ways it’s similar to Head of David in the way the riffs are layered up to create these fantastic metallic dirges, but, again, the vocals are way more intense.

KC & The Sunshine Band — Part 3

• Artist: KC & The Sunshine Band
• Title: Part 3
• Year: 1976
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1998 ? Used. I think I got it at Record Mart in Alexandria, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

“1-2-3… I’m Your Boogie Man, That’s What I Am, Make You Feel Good, Anyway I Can”

Oh, HELL yes! You’ll be a Boogie Man, Woman, Child, Cat, or Dog too after hearing this record. I’m first and foremost a “Metallist” and if I can admit this record is great, hell, I celebrate its greatness, then anyone can.

There are only eight tracks on this record. They all sound similar, and all are at the offical Disco tempo of 120/bpm. Which is good because they are all perfect. At least half of them were major hits, including “Keep it Comin’ Love”, “Shake Your Booty”, and of course “I’m Your Boogie Man.”

If you don’t find some body part(s) moving when this record is playing you probably should see your doctor. ‘Cuz somethin’s broke!

Joe Jackson – Look Sharp

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Look Sharp
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1980 ? “I know I was in high school…”
• Keeper: Yes

This is Mary’s record. I’ve never thought of myself as a big Joe Jackson fan before, but I do now. This one has the big hits “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Look Sharp.” The last song “Got The Time” was covered by Anthrax in ’90s, but believe me, Joe rocks it just as hard and twice as cool. Everything else here is just as great, if not as well known.

I Love You – Live

• Artist: I Love You
• Title: Live
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Promo we got at our store RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

This is an EP. The word we got from the label rep was this EP was intended to create some buzz about the band, similar to how Guns & Roses was hyped. These guys are nothing like GNR. They are more of a straight-up riff rock band not unlike a lot of the hard rock coming out of the northwest at this time. Please don’t call it “grunge” kids. I have no idea where these cats were from.

Four originals and one solid cover of Cream’s “SWLABR.”

Paul Hardcastle – 19

• Artist: Paul Hardcastle
• Title: 19
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Mary got it at Tower Records in D.C. when she was working there.
• Keeper: Yes

“In World War Two the average age of the combat soldier was 26. In Viet Nam he was 19.”

Seems a little strange to be making a dance record, about Viet Nam, in 1985. Or, maybe not. I won’t be suprised if folks are singing about Iraq in a decade. Why aren’t there more people singing now?

Gamalon — Self-titled

• Artist: Gamalon
• Title: Self-titled
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Promo when I was working at Mother’s Records & Tapes in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Just got back from house hunting in Oregon. Oh, yes. I think we’re moving there.

If you’re a guitarist you really should check this out. This is an instrumental jazz/rock or “fusion” album. I’m not usually into that kinda stuff but these guys shred. It’s hard to explain the sound, but once you’ve heard this record it’s even harder to not like it.

The Faith / Void

• Artist: The Faith / Void
• Title: Self-titled
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1982 – Some store in Rockville, MD that she can’t remember.
• Keeper: Yes

Classic DC hardcore. And a classic punk format with two bands on a single LP. The Faith on the first side with Ian Mackaye’s younger brother Alec. I believe they later dropped the “The” in their name. Void on the flip. The Void side is a little angrier.

One of the many fun things about vinyl is that occasionally people will write little messages in the margin between the end of the record and the label.

• Faith side – “THERE’S NO CHOICE LIKE A PIG”
• Void side – “IN MEMORY OF BRIAN SEAN FINNIGAN”

Dischord No. 8, for those keeping score.

Earth, Wind and Fire — That’s The Way of The World

• Artist: Earth, Wind and Fire
• Title: That’s The Way of The World
• Year: 1975
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1999 ? Not sure when, but I got it used, I believe at Record Mart in Alexandria, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This album is apparently the soundtrack to a movie of the same name, “That’s The Way of The World.” Yeah, I’ve never heard of it either. “Soundtrack” may explain the occassional jazz odyssesy, or maybe not. Anyhow, it’s a worth a rating of 6 just for “Shining Star” alone. Other than that the record is pretty mediocre.

Dag Nasty — Can I Say

• Artist: Dag Nasty
• Title: Can I Say
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986
• Keeper: Yes

Dag Naz-tay! Now we’re getting somewhere. Sure sounds a lot like to Minor Threat to me. They could do worse. With Minor Threat guitarist Brian Baker in the band, and singer Dave Smalley sounding pretty similar to Ian I guess they couldn’t help it.

I think Baker went on to start another band, Junkyard. I can’t remember much about the sound, but they were laying on the rocker-greaser-car-club-biker image awfully heavy. Not that those things don’t appeal to me, but still…

I noticed with this album that the collection is in need of some serious alphabetizing. Buncha 12 inch singles are completely separate, and some earlier “D” records got skipped. DC3 will have to wait until the next pass through.

Dischord No. 19, for those keeping score.

Camper Van Beethoven – Key Lime Pie

• Artist: Camper Van Beethoven
• Title: Key Lime Pie
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – This was a promo my brother and I got at our record store, RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

I like Camper Van, but never really followed them. This album is interesting musically and lyrically, but it just doesn’t get me that excited. I believe it was their major label debut, and their cover of “Pictures of Matchstick Men” was a mild hit on alternative radio.

I think they are back together in some form. Who knows? Click the search links to find out.