Music Soothes The Savage Or Brooding Heart!
Hear, Here! My new Sonic Dessert Stash has just arrived!
As Then (a young lad), as Now – I’m still buying high resolution uplifting and fascinating music.
I like to Own and Touch my Music!
My studio monitors blast my favourite music at least three hours a day. Studio monitors allow you to ingest the true fidelity and sonic details that musicians intend for their listeners to appreciate. The seasoned A-list musicians go for Feel, not soulless music perfection. Usually the first (or second) take, with imperfections, is the One to make the album cut!
And when I’m specifically enjoying my favourite AC/DC albums, I generously allow my neighbours to “share” in my sonic passion too. Haha.
I started buying my first vinyl single (Neil Diamond’s Cracklin’ Rosie – read my blog) and vinyl album (Paul McCartney’s Ram) at the ripe age of 12.
Then came the advent of buying of cassettes (got 70+ of these, personalised mixed-tapes), 4-Track Cartridges, Mini-Discs (got 30+ of these, VHS and Betamax video tapes (didn’t buy these), CDVs (got 20+ of these), DVDs (I’m still buying these to this day, no Blu-rays for me).
Just for this month of October 2024 alone, the following are my online CD and DVD acquisitions (above image).
When I place an order, it’ll take 3-4 weeks for my orders to arrive. Sometimes longer if it’s a pre-order of a soon-to-released album by my favourite artist or band.
I buy albums based on several reasons – if it’s an anniversary remastered CD with unreleased songs, if it’s a new album from an artist I long admired (Bob Dylan, Pet Shop Boys, Rolling Stones, AC/DC), if an artist has passed and I want to hear more from his/her catalogue, filling the gaps in a living artist’s catalogue, and new issues of live concert performances.
Once I place the orders, I will forget about the purchases. When a parcel arrives, I get excited and wondering what sonic amazement lies inside, waiting to be played. Receiving Surprises are one of the perks of online shopping.
I buy CDs as I like to browse/read the images and album credits in the CD booklet. Who’s the producer/engineer, who composed which song, who played the guitars, bass, drums, or cowbells (kidding), who was the photographer, who were thanked, any amusing anecdotes etc.
When artists put so much effort into their album, the least you can do is buy it in physical form.
When rock stars visit my Meditation Chamber (music room), they are happy to see my vast acquisitions of CDs, which means they get their deserving music royalties. They also know that I’m a serious “put-my-money-where-my-mouth-is” kind of music aficionado with an acute music knowledge, of their similar wavelength. We’ll hang out and talk (CD) shop before going out for a sumptuous, spicy local meal.
“You know that awesome but underappreciated 70s album of yours? Well, I hope you’re doing something deserving with its impending 50th anniversary. I need it on my CD Shelf.”
Roger McGuinn of the Byrds at Meditation Chamber (above image).
Chris Stein of Blondie at Meditation Chamber (above image).
Chris Fehn of Slipknot at Meditation Chamber (above image).
Simon Phillips of Toto at the Meditation Chamber (above image).
Hoobastank at the Meditation Chamber (above image).
Tommy Kessler of Blondie at the Meditation Chamber (above image).
Vinyl records are not my thing, I hate to get up after 20 minutes, from my comfy sofa, to flip the album side. I love the remote control for my CD player. Plus I hate receiving defective vinyls – warping and crackling sounds etc.
My October 2024 music acquisitions (above image).
The above illustrates my diverse music buying taste and preferences.
When I heard of the untimely passing of John Mayall, I went ahead to buy two of his essential CDs which I didn’t have in my collection- “Crusade” and “Bare Wires”. These albums included the newly minted guitar prowess of Mick Taylor who later found global fame with Rolling Stones. I already had John Mayall’s Bluebreakers albums with Eric Clapton’s (Beano album) and Peter Green’s (Hard Road) contributions.
I decided it’s time to acquire to Nick Cave’s essential missing jig-saw albums in my collection – “The Boatman’s Call”, “Push The Sky Away”, “Let Love In”, “Henry’s Dream”. My 5th order “Idiot Prayer” which was not in the parcel, should be arriving (separately) soon.
Side Note – As I was typing out this Blog, a package just arrived. Lo and behold, Nick Cave’s “Idiot Prayer” CD (above image)!
I have always adored 80’s Hawaiian music. Although I already have several of Kalapana’s CDs, I had to get the newly released and remastered (clearer pristine sound) 9 CD boxset.
Although I have John Lennon “Mind Games” CD when it was first released, I couldn’t resist getting the 50th anniversary release of the album. Oh yes, the CD player announced there are 90 tracks, only 12 tracks contained actual songs (as per the album). A cheeky Sean Lennon production mischief, playing “mind games” on the listeners regarding the rest of the 78 non-song tracks. “9” being John Lennon’s favourite number. Well played, Sean!
Check out my authentic John Lennon “#9 Dream” used license plate and Abbey Road white suited figure (above image). You guess it, I bought those … for a song.
Guess what, the actual “#9 Dream” song features my buddy May Pang singing backing vocal on the song’s chorus “Ah bowakawa pousse pousse!”. May Pang shared that Al Coury of Capital Records initially protested against the use of the word “pussy” in the chorus. Lori Burton, wife of studio engineer Roy Cicala wisely suggested it should be sung as “pousse”, making it sound innocently foreign.
Side Note – Amidst these early 70’s Beatle releases, there was a central figure helping to add positivity during the post-Beatle split amongst its gone-solo band members. May Pang was the calming eye of the hurricane during John Lennon’s Lost Weekend creative period.
I will delight in watching my newly arrived May Pang’s “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story” DVD very soon. I whatsapp’d May when her DVD arrived and she replied with a nice appreciative message.
John Lennon’s “Mind Games” album together with George Harrison’s “Living In The Material World” and Paul McCartney’s “Red Rose Speedway” and Ringo Starr’s “Goodnight Vienna” albums came out within months of each other in th early 1970s. Each Beatle member still showed they had music gravitas in them, after the mop-top split, to hit the top of the single and album charts.
My order of George Harrison’s “Living In The Material World” 50th anniversary boxset should be arriving after it’s world-wide release on 15 November.
Sometimes I come across great Extended Versions of Artist’s danceable iconic songs. I came across Daryl Hall and John Oates double CD of “12” Singles Collection”.
David Gilmour’s 4-disc (2CD/2DVD) “Live At Gdansk” with nice price of £18.66 arrived and has been playing on my CD player. Soon I will watch the DVDs. I buy DVDs for the “Making Of” documentaries in the Special Features segment.
I also ordered David Gilmour’s “Luck And Strange” CD (should be arriving soon), where Gilmour claims it features his best work since Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon”. The album features his beloved family members’ (wife and kids) contributions and is co-produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J, Madness, James, Wolf Alice) who gives the album an edgier and punchier feel.
Akin to what Andrew Watt (Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Pearl Jam, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Post Malone) did for the Rolling Stones’ “Hackney Diamonds” album.
I was amazed when War released their 50th anniversary of the iconic “The World Is A Ghetto” 4-CD boxset. The draw of the boxset was , of course, the remastered sound but also the “Making Of” all the individual phenomenal songs. War consists of grade-A musicians who likes to jam and shape a song as they go along in the recording studio.
There are some bands that I will buy to see what they’ve been up to. Coldplay is one of them. Their new album, “Moon Music”, makes interesting listening Coldplay is one of EMI’s biggest acts and was responsible to lifting up Parlophone/EMI’s revenue when they were in financial straits.
My first encounter with Coldplay was in passing a record store in Albany (a former whaling town near Perth, Australia). I heard an intriguing song blasting from the store, I walked back, entered the store and asked what was playing. The store representative replied “Coldplay”. I thought “Hmm, a salad dish”. I’ve been following their progress and escapades since that day.
I’ve always loved any Live CD offerings from Fleetwood Mac. Their latest “Mirage Tour ’82” double CD set is on constant play mode in my CD player.
I always admired America’s uplifting music and albums. Getting their latest live CD “Live At The Hollywood Bowl” was a no-brainer. George Martin, of Beatles production fame, conducts the Symphony Orchestra. I had the honour of hanging out with Dewey and Gerry. Hollywood Bowl is a gorgeous and majestic concert venue. I watched splendid Oscar Peterson’s “Jazz At The Bowl” concert there in the 1984.
Dewey and Gerry were amused (above image) when I told them the first place I wanted to visit when I first visited America was Ventura Highway. Disneyland was second on my list. Ventura Freeway runs from the Santa Barbara/Ventura county to Pasadena.
I regard Ventura Highway as a mythical journey transmitting me to a higher, happy plain. My vehicle being my CD albums.
My cool time-travellng DeLorean Hot Wheels Monster truck (above image). As Dr. Emmett Brown tells Marty McFly in “Back To The Future” movie, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” .
May you find your Ventura Highway!
