Jussi, since you asked - 2nd hand vinyl in Japan

[maarten]

(I had 50% of this post finished when it somehow, accidentally, got erased. So now I am typing in Word and will paste into the “bastard” board.)



Having some free time at lunch today, I went to the Shibuya area where I had discovered a 2nd hand vinyl store called View Records. It was small but not bad at all. Album prices ranged from $ 12 to $ 60 but most between $ 12 and $ 25. 12” went for around the same, and they also had a small section of CD’s which went for $ 10 to $ 25. All quality was close to mint, or even sealed!



So what did I buy (all vinyl unless otherwise indicated):



Disco:



Michele Freeman – Michele Freeman. Never heard of her, but the album is a Don Ray production, and half of Voyage plays on it. Ad to this the fact that Jim Burgess did the mixing (he also did Change’s "A Lovers Holiday"). The album is excellent with my favorite track being “Try my loving”. This one has Don Ray written all over it!



Salsoul Orchestra – Street sense. I bought it to have “212 North 12th” on vinyl. But I also like “Burning spear” for the bass break, and Grace Slick’s “Somebody to love”. Has anyone else noticed that the sleeve has a print error on it, in that track A-3 and B-1 should be swapped?



Young & Company – I like what you’re doing to me. I already had this album before, but managed to loose it in a taxi never to be seen again. I totally love “Checking you out” (not to be confused with an Aurra track of the same title).



Voyage – One step higher. Not their best album, but I didn’t have it and it completes the vinyl collection. Besides, “Follow that brightest star” is excellent.



Rufus with Chaka Khan – Camouflage. I already own this album but it had a scratch in one of my alltime favourite tracks (“Secret friend”). Also ecommended: “Jigsaw” (what a bass line!).



T.S.Monk – House of music. This album was sealed.

Contains “Candidate for love”, one of my all time favourite songs EVER. The rest is good, too (“Bon bon vie” of course, and “Can’t keep my hands to myself”). Their second (and last?) album was pretty good, too, especially the track “Too much too soon” (not to be confused with Fantasy’s track of the same title) which is in the same class as “Candidate for love”.



Stephanie Mills – Watcha gonna do with my lovin? This is a classic song, a classic album and altogether excellent. Reggie Lucas and James Mtume wrote and produced.



A Taste Of Honey – Anthology (on CD). Nice compilation which has the Boogie Oogie Oogie 12” version at 5:33. I didn’t own this yet, so…



Xavier – Point of pleasure. A Rahni Harris (from Six Million Steps) production and Bootsy Collins plays along. Nice mix of disco and funk, like Tom Browne’s “Funkin’ for Jamaica (NY)”, or Aurra. Xavier shines with “Work that sucker to death”, “What goes around” and “Love is on the one”.



Mass Production – Three miles high. I didn’t have this album, didn't even know it but now my Mass Production vinyl collection is complete. Its forgettable... oh well...



Dance (*anything after 1985 – I know, I know, its arbitrary):



Syl Johnson – Ms. Fine Brown Frame (CD). Excellent title track with awesome bass. And… two really good blues tracks (if you like the Chicago blues): “Groove me” and “You don’t have to go”.



Gwen Guthrie – Ticket to ride (CD). I already have the LP, but wanted to secure the future of “Seventh heaven” in the Sly & Robbie Dunbar mix, which I prefer over Larry Levan’s version. Another one of my all time favourite songs. Michael Brauer engineered (he did almost all of Jacques Fred Petrus productions). Bob Caviano represented Gwen(he was the guy who signed Change to RFC/Warner Records... I know, I'm a sucker for factoids).



Donna Allen – Heaven on earth. I personally think Donna Allen is one of the most underrated “diva’s” out there. This album contains “Joy and pain” (from Frankie Beverley and Maze) and is excellent. Who can not fall in love with Donna's "Serious", or "He is the joy". Besides, on this album we find Jeff Bova (Change) on keyboards!



Robert Owens – Rhythms in me. Album produced by Def Mix (David Morales and Frankie Knuckles) with help of all the other Def Mix stars (Satoshi Tomiie, Eric Kupper, Pete “Ski” Schwartz). Can’t go wrong. Does not contain “I’ll be your friend”… just so you know.



The Valentine Brothers – Picture this. I don’t know that many people are aware of this little gem. Check out “Somebody took my love” or “No better love” and enjoy!



Ivy – Ivy II. I already owned “Ivy III” and this I presume second album is good, too. Music in the same style as Change (by the mid 80’s) and The SOS Band. I don’t know anything about this band, apart from the (minimal) information given on the sleeve. They were released on US record label Heat Recording and Filmworks and it looks like a small (not national?) production. I deduct this from the fact that the album serial number is HT-017 (so release number 17?). But as said, the music is really very good. "Ivy III" is your best bet.



52nd Street – Tell me (how it feels) 12”. Vocalist Diane Charlemagne (recently guest vocalist on Satoshi Tomiie’s “Re-licked” CD), production Nick Martinelli, remix by Sergio Munzibai and John Morales (M&M). Smooth as silk! Now all I need is the other 12”’s from their album… (especially “You’re my last chance).



Fourplay – Between the sheets (CD). This is (I think) Fourplay’s second CD. I already owned their recent “Yes please” album (the album titles are a bit cheesy, given the band’s name). An all star band (Bob James, Lee Ritenour - recently replaced by Larry Carlton, Nathan East and Harvey Mason) and an all star guest line up (Chaka Khan, Chante Moore, Philip Bailey). Excellent smooth jazz.





_________________

"ON THE BEAT"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: maarten on 2001-10-24 08:22 ]</font>

[NickNack]

On 2001-10-24 08:22, maarten wrote:



Gwen Guthrie – Ticket to ride (CD). I already have the LP, but wanted to secure the future of “Seventh heaven” in the Sly & Robbie Dunbar mix, which I prefer over Larry Levan’s version. Another one of my all time favourite songs. Michael Brauer engineered (he did almost all of Jacques Fred Petrus productions). Bob Caviano represented Gwen(he was the guy who signed Change to RFC/Warner Records... I know, I'm a sucker for factoids).

Hi there Mr. Factoid ,



I need clarification please. Bob Caviano may have represented Gwen but I always thought it was his twin brother, Ray, who brought the group Change to Warner. When the WB threw and industry party and invited us to the kick-off of their new label and group, it was Ray doing all the chest thumping. So, did I blow it? I thought RFC Records stood for Ray Francis Caviano. Talk to me, baby...

[maarten]

Nicky, you are RIGHT and I got them mixed up. I have a knack of doing this... remember I got you mixed up, too.



Maybe I should not write these long posts in the middle of the night. Or I should check my factoids before posting. Or refrain from factoids alltogether, which is hard as I'm a factoid addict. I guess I'll seek professional help: factoids anonymous here I come.



By the by: after the warning by the postmaster general, should I now also wash my hands after replying to an email posted from New Jersey?



_________________

"ON THE BEAT"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: maarten on 2001-10-24 20:17 ]</font>

[JussiK]

Great post, Maarten! I wrote the store address down just in case the airline prices go down a bit more - flying to tokyo is horribly expensive and the hotels are a bit pricey too i hear. But I'd really like to visit that country. - Does the sleeve of your Michelle Freeman album have her posing with that robot thing?

[maarten]

On 2001-10-25 01:51, JussiK wrote:

Does the sleeve of your Michelle Freeman album have her posing with that robot thing?

Thanks for the compliment, and yes, that's the sleeve.

[Masdefi]

On 2001-10-24 08:22, maarten wrote:

I went to the Shibuya area where I had discovered a 2nd hand vinyl store called View Records.

Maarten, if I'll come to Japan, please let's go there!

Bye!