ABC — How To Be A Zillionaire 12 inch

• Artist: ABC
• Title: How To Be A Zillionaire 12 inch
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

Another 12 inch single, “How To Be A Zillionaire”, from the album of the same name. But I think this came out before the album. This record includes the original plus two solid remixes. I dig it.

I`ve seen the future, I can`t afford it
Tell me the truth sir, someone just bought it

ABC — Vanity Kills

• Artist: ABC
• Title: Vanity Kills
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – Bought it when she was working at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I like to say that ABC was the greatest pop band ever. But this isn’t the greatest 12 inch remix ever. Side 1 has “Vanity Kills (U.S.A. Remix)” and side 2 “ABC Megamix.” The song “Vanity Kills” is solid, if not my favorite ABC track, and the mix is decent. The flipside is less interesting, and not very “mega.”

War — Platinum Jazz

War -- Platinum Jazz

• Artist: War
• Title: Platinum Jazz
• Year: 1977
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Bought it used somewhere a long time ago.
• Keeper: Yes

I should probably rate War’s “Platinum Jazz” a 10 just for the opening track alone. “War is Coming! War is Coming!” is stupid good and despite being over seven minutes long I wish it would just keep going. This record is a compilation of some of their longer jams and instrumental pieces. Some people might find much of it a bit too spacey, but I like the whole trippy funking thing.

Check out the all too short clip of “War is Coming” and read more about “Platinum Jazz.”

Parliament — Mothership Connection

• Artist: Parliament
• Title: Mothership Connection
• Year: 1975
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1998 ? – I think I got it at Record Mart in Alexandria, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Asheville! Finally! We made it. Now we just need the movers to get here with our stuff.

Parliament’s “Mothership Connection” is as good as it gets. I’m too tired from traveling to say much else. “Make my funk a P Funk…”

Read about Parliament at Wikipedia.

ABC — How To Be A Zillionaire!

• Artist: ABC
• Title: How To Be A Zillionaire!
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 ? — I don’t know, girl keeps going to bed early.
• Keeper: Yes

OK, back to the full LPs for another round. Starting again with ABC, the greatest pop band of all time. No, I’m not kidding. I’m posting this from Hampton, VA while we’re visiting with family. (Don’t rob my house!) But of course I did in fact spin it, while we were packing to leave this morning… With ten million other freaks trying to get outta DC, in the rain, at the start of spring break. Ugh.

“How To Be A Zillionaire!” is their third album and I have to admit I don’t know it as well as the first two. And certainly not as well as Mary. What would she have to say about it? She’d probably say the title track is her favorite and that she also really likes “Be Near Me.” But since she keeps falling out early we may never know.

Sade – Hang On To Your Love

• Artist: Sade
• Title: Hang On To Your Love
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: I have no idea.
• Keeper: Yes

I have to admit that a lot of Sade’s music sounds the same to me, but I love “Hang On To Your Love.” The flipside, “Cherry Pie” is solid, but not as interesting. This woman sings like she looks. Perfect background music to play at your day spa, restaurant or other frou frou retail establishment.

ABC — Be Near Me

• Artist: ABC
• Title: Be Near Me
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – She bought it when was working at Tower Records in DC.
• Keeper: Yes

This is a second first for the record collection log. Last night was the first “various artists” record and today I’m logging the first 7 inch. Turns out it’s actually a twin pack. ABC, the greatest pop band ever, put out a specially packaged single of “Be Near Me” with “A To Z” on the flip. The package also included a single with remixes of “Poison Arrow” and “Look of Love” from their first record.

I had just put the needle down on “Be Near Me” when Mary was walking in the house. She was compelled to strike the universal rock and roll pose, one hand pointing to the sky with feet spread apart, because she loves ABC. So much in fact that she was inspired to make herself a blue fake fur jacket similar to the one that what’s-her-face in the band had at the time. If you’re not gonna marry a woman who wears a blue fake fur jacket then who? That’s what mama always said.

ABC — Beauty Stab

• Artist: ABC
• Title: Beauty Stab
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy / Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

“Beauty Stab” is the second album by ABC, and it’s very different than their debut. This is a darker, more rocked out, more arty, and less funky record. It’s also much more guitar-heavy, but with horns and strings still in there. They certainly didn’t repeat themselves. The most under-rated pop band ever.

ABC — The Lexicon of Love

• Artist: ABC
• Title: The Lexicon of Love
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy/Mary
• Acquired: 1982 – Not sure where, but I remember my friend Jeff Arthur told me about them.
• Keeper: Yes

This album has been played as many times as anything in our collection. It is absolutely the best pop record I’ve ever heard, and it’s one of my all-time faves, irrespective of genres. And if a natural-born metalhead like me can say that, you know it’s good. Funky and classy at the same time. Super-dance-able, with smart lyrics to boot.

“Poison Arrow” and “The Look of Love” were hits to some degree in the US, but my favorite is “Tears Are Not Enough.”

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.