Kim Salmon and The Surrealists – Hit Me With the Surreal Feel

• Artist: Kim Salmon and The Surrealists
• Title: Hit Me With the Surreal Feel
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.

Look, I know you probably think I waste too much time on these pictures, maybe this whole blog is a waste of time, but these album covers are a big part of why vinyl is so great, so superior in almost every way. And anyway it’s my blog. Look at the third pic below, which is one side of the liner. Now that is just quality silliness. I wish I had thought of it. And that eyeball album label is cool too.

I wanted this record because I was big fan of The Scientists; we’ll get to those records eventually. Of Kim Salmon’s various bands, that I know of, Kim Salmon and The Surrealists (Wikipedia) is my least favorite. I only got their first record, “Hit Me With the Surreal Feel.” I realize it’s supposed to be a raw, minimalist sound, but to me it just sounds lazy, like they were just joking around instead of trying to make something really interesting. Many fans seem to disagree with me. Only 1000 copies were made; maybe I can find it a good home.

R.E.M. — S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

This R.E.M. 12 inch is an import, made in Holland, but with UK licensing stuff on it. Anyhow, I’ve always liked “S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” and I think this is the album version. On the flipside is “Voice of Harold” which is some sort of strange rework of “7 Chinese Brothers”, I think, and their version of Lou Reed’s/Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes.” There is an article about it at Wikipedia, but it doesn’t explain what “Voice of Harold” is all about. They’re all good, but I like “Pale Blue Eyes” the best.

Pere Ubu — Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection

• Artist: Pere Ubu
• Title: Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – When I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.

I’m not cool enough, or maybe just not old enough, to have bought Pere Ubu’s early records when they came out, but I did get “Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection” when I was 19 or so. They make some pretty interesting music that’s not easy to describe, but someone at Wikipedia did a good job with this article about the band.

I saw them live at the Town & Country Club in London way back in 1987, or maybe ’86. The opening acts were Ut, followed by The Mekons. For the most part, it seemed like a Mekons crowd. That said, Pere Ubu put on a great, but abbreviated show that most people seemed to enjoy.

Unfortunately, some folks expressed their gratitude by throwing crap on the stage or even at the musicians. At one point Pere Ubu singer David Thomas made it clear that if there was any further silliness that they would walk off the stage. Sure enough, some bonehead had to throw something and Mr. Thomas immediately walked off in a huff. I can’t say I blame him. The rest of the band tried to carry on for a bit but it was clear he wasn’t coming back. The other band members eventually walked off too, looking rather frustrated. I’m not sure if Thomas, the crowd, or both were the source of that frustration.

Orb — Asylum

• Artist: Orb
• Title: Asylum
• Year: 1997
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2000 ? – I think my brother Grayson handed this down to me

The best part of this Orb 12 inch is the sleeve. Though it is a bit mechanical, antiseptic even, in its design. Which matches the four extremely different remixes of “Asylum” that are on this record. I often find mechanical sounds musical in their own way, I rarely listen to music in the car for instance because I like the sounds of the car itself. But music this mechanized can sometimes get a little boring, like today.

My favorite mix is also the least danceable, and the least frenetic, “A.1” by Thomas Fehlmann. Now dance sucka!

New Order — Ceremony

Both of these New Order songs, “Ceremony” and “In a Lonely Place”, were written when the band was still Joy Division. This was the first single by the new band. I didn’t recognize “Ceremony.” Mary says it because I “didn’t go to enough dance nights” at the clubs. Anyhow, it sounds like New Order to me, while “In a Lonely Place” sounds a lot darker, slower.

Etched in the margins:

• Side A: “How I Wish We Were Here With You Now”
• Side B: “Watching Love Grow — Forever”

Wikipedia has an article with a lot of trivia about this single. It seems we have the original pressing of this 12 inch.

Madonna — Madonna

• Artist: Madonna
• Title: Madonna
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

I gotta remember to check the inner sleeves when I take these pics. There’s a large pic of Madonna on the inside cover sporting a look that screams 1980s, a look she popularized as much as anyone I can think of.

If you haven’t heard this in a good while you might be surprised how nasal her voice is on this self-titled debut record. Speaking of surprises, this album has only eight songs, but some of them are on the long side. I’m not a huge fan a Madonna, but as is often the case the world doesn’t agree with me. I will say that it’s solid pop, and come on, who doesn’t like “Holiday”?

Laughing Hyenas — You Can’t Pray a Lie

• Artist: Laughing Hyenas
• Title: You Can’t Pray a Lie
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Promo at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

I guess I used to like pretty much everything off-center. Nowadays I don’t seem to have much patience for noise, unless it’s really special, and I don’t think this is. “You Can’t Pray a Lie” is the only Laughing Hyenas record I have and I didn’t buy it, but I did decide to keep it at some point. There are a couple songs that interest me, maybe I didn’t give it a fair listen because it was a busy day, but I don’t plan to keep this one now. When I think of the label that put this out, Touch and Go Records, I think “noise.” I do like a lot of their bands, but not all noise is created equal.

Good ol’ Trouser Press has a long article about the Laughing Hyenas.

King — Steps in Time

• Artist: King
• Title: Steps in Time
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 – Tower Records in D.C.

Guess when this record came out? Just look at it. It was 1984. I remember hearing King on a “progressive” or “modern rock” radio station while on a family trip in Los Angeles. It doesn’t sound that progressive or modern now, more like a rocked out version of ’80s pop, or maybe a popped out version of ’80s rock. Anyhow, it’s not bad, but it does nothing for me. “Steps in Time” is Mary’s record and she wants to keep it in case we’re ever drafted to DJ an ’80s dance party down at The Orange Peel. I didn’t make that up.

Jackson 5 — ABC

• Artist: Jackson 5
• Title: ABC
• Year: 1970
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Bought it used sometime in the 1990s

I grew up with the Jackson 5 on the radio, and of course TV too. I was just old enough to remember the hits from the album “ABC.” Overall, it’s a pretty energetic and joyous production, but listening to it is a little bittersweet. It’s hard to believe that Michael would end up so, in a word, strange.

For me, this record is almost a 10, but some of the second side drags it down. That said, my favorite is on that side, “I’ll Bet Ya.” That one was originally by Funkadelic, on their first album I believe, and let me tell you it too is damn good, even though it’s sung an octave lower. Considering who wrote most of the songs on “ABC”, George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, et al and it’s no wonder it’s so good.

A whole lotta info about the Jackson 5 at Wikipedia.

Isaac Hayes — Shaft

• Artist: Isaac Hayes
• Title: Shaft
• Year: 1971
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: No idea when, bought it used and it’s near mint

Butter Your Soul With the Movement
Which is to be Continued by Black Moses.

Whatever you say Mr. Hayes. That psychedelic sentence is big and bold on the inside of this gatefold double album, but it’s just a promotion line using the titles from the four earlier albums pictured right below it. Anyhow, I would guess that very few people familiar with the hit “Shaft” have ever heard the whole double album. That’s too bad. The first disk is heavier with a few very rocked out jams, and the second is so chill I could feel my blood pressure dropping as I played it. I don’t have a lot of records by Isaac Hayes, but I’m glad I have this one.

IsaacHayes.com