Record Store Day 2024
I skipped the RSD releases and went for some real bargains, at least in my opinion....
Hopefully you made it out to Record Store Day and found some gems on vinyl, CD or cassette to add to your library, and maybe saw a great band or artist perform live in store. Here’s my rundown of what I picked up at my local RSD on 4/20/24. While I purchased the vinyl versions I’ve put links to Spotify for each album. Enjoy!
Vanilla Fudge - Rock & Roll (1969)
My daughter and I started our day at 8 AM at School Kids Records in Raleigh, NC (schoolkidsrecords.com) and although the line was long things moved pretty quickly and we were in the door after about a 25 minute wait.
Once inside I skipped the RSD special release bins located right at the front and went to my usual spot where the “bargain bin records” are located. These are usually priced in the range of $4 and up depending on album/artist. Not that there weren’t great titles in the RSD bins, but nothing this year jumped out at me (sorry Taylor, I had to skip your latest release).
My first pick was Vanilla Fudge’s Rock & Roll. I’m a professional drummer so I’m always looking for work with great drummers playing on it. I’m very familiar with drummer Carmine Appice’s catalog, and I know Carmine personally, so when I see something with Carmine on it that’s not currently in my library, like Rock & Roll, I grab it.
For a mere $4.00 I got a great album from a band of amazing musicians. Appice, who was also in Beck, Bogart and Appice, Blue Murder and cowrote Rod Stewart’s, “Do You Think I’m Sexy” and “Young Turks” along with band members Mark Stein, the late Tim Bogert and Vinnie Martell, deliver a great album of well arranged songs.
Vanilla Fudge has been credited as being hugely influential to bands such as Deep Purple, Yes, Styx, Led Zeppelin, and Uriah Heep. Carmine has told me some amazing stories of his time with Led Zeppelin during Zeppelin’s first tour of the U.S. Zeppelin was brought on to open for the Fudge on that tour and Carmine was responsible for getting Zeppelin’s drummer, John Bonham, his endorsement deal with Ludwig drums. And the rest, as they say, is history……
Russ Ballard - Russ Ballard (1984)
I bought this album for two reasons; It was only $7.00 and more importantly it has the incredible Simon Phillips on drums. Actually, I really bought it for 3 reasons. The third being that the first time I heard the track “Voices” I was a mere 10 years old and watching the original Miami Vice television show on a Friday night in late 1984 when the song accompanied what now has become a classic scene from that particular episode. Crocket (Don Johnson) and his partner Tubbs (Phillip Michael Thomas) are in a Crockett’s “go fast” boat racing across the Atlantic on a mission to find and arrest (or kill) the drug kingpin, Esteban Calderone, played by the late actor Miguel Pinero (1946 - 1988).
The track is played almost in it’s entirety in that sequence, and I remember clearly the imagery. I was thinking how cool the guys looked in that boat racing across the ocean jumping the waves and riding into what was sure to be a climatic shot ‘em up scene with the dangerous villain, Calderone.
What really stands out in my memory is the song was so damn good. Sure, it’s macho 80’s rock but the arrangement is terrific and the drumming….well, it’s Simon Phillips on drums so the drumming on not only “Voices”, but the entire album, is exquisite.
Phillip’s is a left hand player on a right hand set up, meaning he plays in what we drummers and musicians refer to as “open” playing so his right hand is not crossing over his left snare hand. He plays his snare with his right hand and hi hat with his left hand in an “open” position, which helps facilitate his unique playing style, as demonstrated by Phillips here:
There’s elements in his playing that I believe can only be pulled off by a drummer playing in this fashion, and it creates a more dynamic phrasing style, making “Voices” have a staccato feel in certain parts with a laid back overall groove throughout. Put any other player on that tune and the feel of the song will be completely different, and with 7,547,982 streams it’s safe to say 7+ million think it’s a good tune as well.
If I had to give a 4th reason that I purchased this album it would be that Ballard is a tremendous songwriter. Many folks would be familiar with Ballard’s illustrious writing skills from hearing songs he pinned like, “Liar” by Three Dog Night and the seminal rock anthem, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, for the band Rainbow that was the group’s hit of 1979. I strongly urge everyone to check out the amazing credits from an amazing musician.
The Allman Brothers Band - Live At Fillmore East (1971)
I was fortunate that I saw ABB live on multiple occasions, even riding their tour bus with them to direct their driver on how to get to a venue the band was playing in Greenville, NC in the late 80’s. That’s another post for a later date.
I also have a lot of ABB in my collection but I did not have this album, and although I I’ve listened to it many times on Spotify, there’s nothing like the vinyl version, and at $29.00 for a double album from a a band of this caliber, I think it’s a bargain. I’m playing it right now as I write this and the sound over my late 1960’s RCA speakers is nothing short of magical.
I also picked this record up for a few other reasons. The first being in honor of the incredible guitarist, Dicky Betts, whom we just lost this past week on 4/18/24. This album is also a double disc set that features Betts and the late, great Duane Allman together at their finest, especially on the amazing twenty-two plus minute long version of what I consider one of the greatest tunes the band ever played, ”Whipping Post”.
However, I’ve just always loved the cover. The band on the front side and the road crew (roadies) on the backside with their tall boy PBR’s, denim jackets and long hair in front of the colossal stack of road cases stamped with the band’s name. Bands on this scale don’t move or function without the road crews, and for the ABB to put those guys on that cover spoke volumes of how much the band thought of their crew.
Sadly, Duane would die in a tragic motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971, shortly after the release of the Fillmore album.
You can read a more insightful documentation of this classic album here, but this is truly a groundbreaking work from a legendary band.
Wes Montgomery - A Day In The Life (1967)
I’m a big Wes Montgomery fan and when I saw this album for just $9 I had to add it to the library.
The lineup of musicians backing Montgomery on this album is fantastic. Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass with Grady Tate on drums and Ray Barretto, Jack Jennings and Joe Wohletz on percussion. Rounded out by harpist Margaret Ross, Montgomery is joined by strings, horns and flutes to deliver a rich sound throughout each track.
Interestingly, from the liner notes I learned that Montgomery had not heard the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s album when he recorded this album, so A Day In The Life is from Montgomery’s own interpretation of the sheet music and not what he heard from the original creators. A splendid album showcasing a master at his finest.
Metallica - …And Justice For All (1988)
My splurge at $34.99, I had to have this album. Although I bought the original vinyl pressing in 1988 and have since lost that album, this is a remastered release on 180G vinyl and still one of my all time favorite albums.
Yes, I’m a metal head.
Yes, I love old school Metallica and yes, I think this was their last great album.
I saw the band for the first time with original bassist Cliff Burton on tour opening for Ozzy - in support of not only Ozzy as an opening act - but in support of the fantastic album, Master of Puppets. Today’s opening bands are usually not allotted the elaborate stage set up Metallica had on that tour. Aside from the stage props, the band was electric, in your face, aggressive, loud and in command. They left it all on that stage and gave the audience more than we ever thought we’d get for our ticket money. I remember being so charged up to see Ozzy, but after Metallica left the stage all I really wanted was for them to come back out and do it all over again. Ozzy who?
I saw the band again in the midst of their tour supporting …And Justice For All and they were hitting on all cylinders both times. However, there was a musical maturity the band displayed on …And Justice For All that was not there on record or in their live shows for previous tours and albums. That’s what happens when you play on that level every night for that many years and hone your art to a razor sharp skill set. You transcend to greatness.
It’s my opinion that …And Justice For All was the last “long song form” album from a band that changed the trajectory of metal, thrash and rock music forever. Metallica wrote long, intricate songs that had many twists, tempo changes and surprise elements. Sure, Death Magnetic was a great album, and I don’t even want to discuss St. Anger or the latest, 72 Seasons, even though there’s a few decent tunes on each offering, but …AJFA will forever be in my top 5 albums.
Did you attend Record Store Day? If so, what dd you pick up? Any surprises you didn’t expect? What’s your top finds? See any great indy bands playing in store?
