Vinyl shopping with Masdefi in Tokyo

[maarten]

Yesterday I spent a very enjoyable evening with Masdefi who was visiting Tokyo on business.



We met at 18.30 at his hotel, and then went to Shibuya to check out the second hand store I had written about before (View Records).



According to Masdefi he held in his hands more records he would consider buying than on his previous trip to Paris. He did manage to contain himself, but ended buying some stuff of course (I will let him write about that himself).



I also succumbed and bought the Philly Cream album, as well as the US Prelude version of Peter Jacques Band's "Fire Night Dance" which I didn't have yet (different artwork from the European release).



We then decided we weren't hungry for food just yet, so we descended upon another store called "33/45" (a name I really liked). Here, the assortment was smaller, but I still managed to find two albums I had been looking for, as well as one rare find which I would love to learn more about.



The albums were Love Unlimited's "In heat" album, which has the famed vocal version of "Love's theme" on it; and a 1981 album by a band called Passage. Passage is, from what I remember, the Brothers Johnson with singer Valerie Johnson (wife? sister?). The album is produced by Louis Johnson, and it contains a beautiful track called "Have you heard the word" which has an awesome (signature Brothers Johnson) bass break. It is actually a gospel album. Can anybody confirm the Brothers Johnson theory?



Finally, and this one is a real new thing to me, I found a 12" of my beloved Jacques Fred Petrus production for the Ritchie Family's "I'll do my best (for you baby)". However, this 12" is called "95 underemix" (no spelling error) and contains three remixes by a duo (?) called "Moroldo-Mensi" as well as one mix by Regis Ducatillon. The 12" is Italian on Makin Music History, a division of Do It Yourself Records Company. It all sounds very dodgy to me, and I think this may not be an entirely legal remix project.



Unfortunately I have not been able to listen to any of my buys, as after this second store we really needed to eat. So we descended upon Elio Locanda, the only 'real' Italian in Tokyo. Here Masdefi truly felt at home, speaking Italian with the waiters and Elio, the owner, a colorful Italian.



According to Masdefi, Elio's cooking 'was as if he was at home' and I took that as possibly the highest compliment an Italian can give. As it was now getting close to midnight, we went our separate ways (home/hotel).



Masdefi was great company to shop and eat with. There was (of course) not enough time for either. I am hoping that perhaps he will have to come back again for business in Tokyo next year...



Right now he is winging his way back to Italy. Now if he only can find me that copy of Midnight Gang's "Love is magic" album.



By the way, I will gladly play host to other shoppers/visitors to Tokyo. Just let me know!



_________________

"ON THE BEAT"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: maarten on 2001-11-15 20:15 ]</font>

[Masdefi]

Hi all!!

I just got back from Tokyo, and all my thanks to maarten, who brought me to see something special!!!

And I'm not refering only to Shibuya-chome (one of the most exciting place I've never seen in the world) but in a special used records shop.

Folks, I've never seen so much stuff all together since 1980, 12" and LPs.

I think all of us disco lovers would not exit the shop without at least buy just one record. I'm talking (of course) about vinyl even if the shop manage also CDs. Everyone who go to Tokyo must visit that shop, no doubt about that!

If I could, I would have buyed all the shop!

Maarten and myself fully analysed the whole shop, all the records each by each.



I just stopped with:

Jacko - Ain't no stoppin' us now 12"

J. Davis - Love magic 12" from Sam Columbia

Shotgun 3 - 1979 LP



I payed a high price for Jacko, but I had to buy.... anyway I found a little spot inside a groove and spent about half an hour with a very small needle to take it away. Finally I did, now it's alright, the spot has been eliminated. This is a pleasure of vinyl, the CD is so COLD!!!

In the second shop maarten talk about, we have seen the original 12" Arista from Gil Scott-Heron "The Bottle", at a little price of 6400 yen...............!!!!!!!!!!!!

Help!



Maarten, thanks for your nice words, for me too was a nice evening. As you say, unfortunately the time was too short.

I hope to come back in Tokyo in the future, hope japanese customers will show interest for my company.

I will do the best to find the LP of Midnight Gang. In the next week I'll check it out in Samad's in Paris, hope I'll get it.

But, you do not forget my.... 3B13X,mp3 !!!



Again, thanks for your help.





Now just a further thanks to Bernie.



Bernie,

thanks for creating this wonderful website, I think that with it, people can meet each other, sharing the same interests!



Best to all

[Giovanni]

I apologize to interrupt Maarten and Masdefi's flirting but I would comment on Maarten's Thesis about Passage.

The Passage LP is a quite rare and very beatiful album from the likes of the Bros Johnson, like Maarten correctly says. Maarten take a listen to "I see the light", one of my favorites ever!!!!!



PS: Maarten, I have one copy of Midnight Gang on Goody Music 30007. I'll do my best to find another...

[maarten]

Madefi - I am glad you made it home safely. In the mean time I have checked out the albums and 12" singles I had bought and I am not disappointed.



The "I'll do my best" remix is a house-version of the original, using the original vocals, so it must have been cleared with the rights holders. It is (of course) not nearly as good as the original, but acceptable. And as a collector, I have to keep the collection complete of course.



Giovanni - I had the Passage album on tape, and always liked it. So I am very glad that for $ 17 it is now part of my vinyl collection.



If any of my Italian friends, or anyone else for that matter, can find the Midnight Gang album I will be very, VERY happy. It is the one piece that is missing...



_________________

"ON THE BEAT"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: maarten on 2001-11-17 20:54 ]</font>