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.

Various — Sub Pop 200

Various -- Sub Pop 200

• Artist: Various
• Title: Sub Pop 200
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought it directly from Sub Pop when we had our store, RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

The track list below probably tells you everything you really need to know about this collection. Everyone from pre-David Grohl Nirvana to my heroes Soundgarden have recordings included on this three disk box set. It was packaged in a completely plain black box that included a 16 page insert filled with great band photography by Charles Peterson and the usual slick, streamline Sub Pop graphic design. In the early years those things defined Sub Pop almost as much as the music. The vinyl edition was limited to 5000. You can still buy the CD, but that’s crap.

“Remember, if it isn’t Sub Pop, it probably sucks.”

Side A

• “Sex God Missy” – Tad
• “Is It Day I’m Seeing?” – The Fluid
• “Spank Thru” – Nirvana
• “Come Out Tonight” – Steven J. Bernstein

Side B

• “The Rose” – Mudhoney
• “Got No Chains” – The Walkabouts
• “Dead Is Dead” – Terry Lee Hale

Side C

• “Sub Pop Rock City” – Soundgarden
• “Hangin’ Tree” – Green River
• “Swallow My Pride” – Fastbacks

Side D

• “The Outback” – Blood Circus
• “Zoo” – Swallow
• “Underground” – Chemistry Set

Side E

• “Gonna Find A Cave” – Girl Trouble
• “Split” – The Nights And Days
• “Big Cigar” – Cat Butt

Side F

• “Pajama Party In A Haunted Hive” – Beat Happening
• “Love Or Confusion” – Screaming Trees
• “Untitled” – Steve Fisk
• “You Lost It” – The Thrown Ups

Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction — Prime Mover

Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction -- Prime Mover

• Artist: Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction
• Title: Prime Mover
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy / Mary – Both had copies.
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Another Zodiac Mindwarp 12 inch. “Prime Mover” like some other singles would eventually end up on their first full LP. “Prime Mover” is fun single with the usual silly/funny/stupid lyrics and a rocking mid-tempo riff perfect for the dance floor. The flipside has a couple throw-away cuts that aren’t worthy of description, but the back cover artwork is cool. For some reason despite a couple rounds of purging our dupes we still have two copies of this one. I probably wouldn’t keep either, but I do have somewhat of a Zodiac collection going.

Dwight Yoakam — Hillbilly Deluxe

Dwight Yoakam -- Hillbilly Deluxe

• Artist: Dwight Yoakam
• Title: Hillbilly Deluxe
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Uh… Why didn’t I keep up with Dwight Yoakam’s music career? “Hillbilly Deluxe” is an excellent album, country music the way it should be. Great lyrics and stories, stripped down and naked production, excellent musicianship, and catchy songs filled with memorable vocal and instrumental hooks. I need to start looking for the back catalog on Dwight.

X — More Fun In The New World

X -- More Fun In The New World

• Artist: X
• Title: More Fun In The New World
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy / Mary – both had copies
• Acquired: Too tired to remember

From another hotel room in Asheville, NC… I get my house inspected in the morning and today my brother Grayson put a contract on a house he and Kellie want only a couple miles away. I slept for about an hour last night. We left before 5 AM and have been on the move ever since. I’m so tired I feel nauseous, but I can’t sleep so here’s the next record, played, obviously, yesterday before we left home.

There aren’t many bands that can record an album as eclectic as “More Fun In The New World” and still have it hang together so well. I’m too beat to write anything really insightful. I will say I love X completely and this is probably the album of theirs that I’ve heard the most. In highschool my friends John Hurlock and Scott Belbin and I were always driving around with this one blasting from the tape deck. I wish saw, or at least talked to those guys more often.

Wall of Voodoo — Far Side of Crazy

Wall of Voodoo -- Far Side of Crazy

• Artist: Wall of Voodoo
• Title: Far Side of Crazy
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Promo Mary got when working at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This is just a 12″ promo. Both sides have the exact same LP version of “Far Side of Crazy” and nothing else. This is the only Wall of Voodoo recording we have, I think. I like this song better than the bigger hit, “Mexican Radio.” Mary says keep it. I say no reasonable offer refused. Keep that on the DL.

Van Halen — Van Halen

Van Halen -- Van Halen

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: Van Halen
• Year: 1978
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: ? ?
• Keeper: Yes

I’ve always liked Van Halen, but I was too busy trying to be punk rock when their records came out to buy them. I got ’em all now though! My friend Bennie Ingram is above any type of posing and was a huge fan from the get-go. Fortunately, hanging with Bennie (Bobo) kept me clued in.

And when I say “their records” I mean the ones when “Diamond” David Lee Roth was in the band. I know Hagar was in the band even longer but who cares? Not me. Roth is the only front man I can imagine complementing, and competing with, Eddie Van Halen’s guitar work. Both guys are so good at, and so over the top in what they do it’s hard to believe the union lasted as long as it did.

I wish I had been paying closer attention when this record first hit. I remember riding in the car with my dad when “Jamie’s Cryin'” came on and I said “I’ve been hearing a lot of Van Halen lately” and he replied “that’s too bad.” And my dad is a rocker! I should’ve known right then that this was something special, and very different. Every song on here is exciting and totally original sounding, even today.

I had a friend, Bill Rogers, who once said that Eddie Van Halen ruined rock guitar for the next decade because everybody wanted play like him. Of course, who really could? The guy was a total innovator and the song writing matched the technique. The same can be said for Diamond Dave. Insane showmanship, crazy good voice, and really smart and occassionally smart-assed lyrics.

Dave’s famous quip that the reason more critics like(d) Elvis Costello than Van Halen is that more critics look like Costello is pure genius, and of course true. I don’t look like either of them, but if I could choose it would be the high kicking Diamond Dave… for sure. I’m finding it difficult to stop writing about them. Just be glad you’re not in the same room with me right now. Seriously.

U2 — October

U2 -- October

• Artist: U2
• Title: October
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1981 – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

Led Zepplin had “Presence” and U2 has “October.” By that I mean these are more “challenging” records that any decent band will eventually put out, but for U2 they did it on their second release. It’s an interesting album with only one song that got any real radio attention, “Gloria.” Was there another one? I give ’em their propers for effort, but I don’t find “October” as engaging or exciting as “Boy.”

T.S.O.L. — Hit And Run

T.S.O.L. -- Hit And Run

• Artist: T.S.O.L.
• Title: Hit And Run
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – We all make mistakes, but at least I got an employee discount at Mother’s Records.
• Keeper: No

This album is not as bad as it looks, which is not saying much. On this record T.S.O.L. sound like a smarter version of Motley Crue, which is not saying much. At least Motley Crue are a genuine bunch of moron rock stars who can’t help themselves whereas T.S.O.L. come off as a sell out, starting with the album cover. Which brings me to my last point since I don’t want to waste too many keystrokes on this. I usually only include the back cover if there is something really of interest there. What’s interesting to me is that they didn’t think the front cover portrait was enough. There was even a third one on the liner notes. Yes, I admit it, I had to play Priest again right after this.

The Saints – Eternally Yours

• Artist: The Saints
• Title: Eternally Yours
• Year: 1978
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 ? – I think I got it at Unicorn Records in Portsmouth, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I got into The Saints a little late. I think I bought this album after I picked up a later record. It’s a promo copy so unfortunately they didn’t get paid for it. But don’t worry Saints, I bought your other stuff too.

It’s hard to explain their sound but punk rock and roll seems fitting. The opening track, “Know Your Product”, has killer horns. For a long time I have believed that maximum rock and roll cannot be achieved without a horn section. No matter how hard you’re rocking, if it ain’t got horns there is room for improvement. This song supports my theory. The whole record is excellent. At first it sounds sort of ordinary, but the involuntary foot tapping and head bobbing “Eternally Yours” provokes tells you it is in fact very special.