PINK FLOYD - VINYL BOX SETS

Both PULSE & ECHOES were released in 4 LP box set versions in addition to the main release of CD format, but are they really worth collecting? or do they just sit untouched on the shelf or in storage to keep them in Mint / NM condition.

 

ECHOES 4 LP 2001 BOXED SET - EMI 5361111

 

PULSE 4 LP + BOOK 1995 BOXED SET  - EMI EMD 1078

 

My view is that no collection will be complete without them and if you are a completist you will have or want them. As usual the larger format gives scope for expanding the wonderful artwork or Storm Thorgerson. Pulse coming with a LP sized hardback book with loads of concert footage photos

 

 

1994 at Earls Court feels like a very long time ago, what a fantastic gig that was, with many of the classic Floyd tracks sounding as good as ever. My personal highlights were One of these days, High hopes and of course SOYCD.

A lot of the other graphics on the box set are very familar from the CD format but look even better on larger images. (see below)

 

 

I bought my copy 2nd hand a long time ago and unfortunately the outer casing has picked up a lot of surface marks, which is very disappointing seeing as though it has spent most of it's life either hidden in the cupboard or on the shelf. They generally go for somewhere between £200-£300 when they come up for sale, so it's not a cheap to add to your collection.

 

ECHOES BOX SET (aka Greatest Hits)

 

 

 The Echoes box set is just the 4 LP's with no books or posters etc, the images are in a similar format on each sleeve and depict various old images from Floyd's LP's in different formats and works well enough. Personally I haven't actually played my copy and whole Box is in NM condition. I guess that's just the greatest hits thing, that I would rather listen to the individual LP's in their own context if you know what I mean.

 

 

There are still other box sets that I don't own but I am not sure that I will ever collect everything!

 

 

VINYL ON THE WAY BACK?

Over the last year I have sold many albums of a wide variety of genres, more and more people seem to be showing an interest in vinyl, and not just your typical ageing male rockers either!
Teenagers collecting Punk, Michael Jackson, Beatles, Stones and Dylan as well as the ever popular Mod & Ska movement. Increasingly the ladies are looking for their 80's heroes and the classic albums of the last 30 half century.
Some of the most popular albums that I have sold multiple copies of are listed below, all of them great albums in their own right although not everybody will want them.But it keeps the vinyl in circulation which is great to see.

FLEETWOOD MAC RUMOURS 1977 -WARNER BROS K56344

 Classic Tracks - The Chain (made popular by formula 1 racing) Gold dust woman - Go your own way 

U2 - JOSHUA TREE - 1987 - ISLAND U26

Classic Tracks  - Bullet the blue sky - Where the streets have no names - With or without you

EAGLES - GREATEST HITS - 1976-  ASYLUM K53017

Classic Tracks - All of them 

QUEEN - SHEER HEART ATTACK - 1974 - EMI - EMC 3061

Classic tracks - Brighton rock - Now I'm here - Killer Queen  - Stone cold crazy

BON JOVI - NEW JERSEY - 1982 - VERTIGO 836 345-1

Classic Tracks - Bad medicine - Born to be my baby - Love for sale

And finally the album that I have sold most copies of and is still sought after.............................

PAUL SIMON - GRACELAND - 1986 - WARNER BROS 925 447-1

Classic Tracks - You can call me Al - The boy in the bubble - Graceland - Homeless

So there you have it a quick resume of what is selling at the lower value end of the vinyl market

To see what I currently have for sale visit my listings on ebay - Amazon & Discogs

Vinyl_Spurs

Amazon store

ebay store

Discogs store

KEEP VINYL ALIVE: KING CRIMSON - KINGS OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK

KEEP VINYL ALIVE: KING CRIMSON - KINGS OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK

KING CRIMSON - KINGS OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK

Thanks to my sister I have been listening to King Crimson from nearly their creation and have played their LP's countless numbers of times, particularly "In the wake of the poseidon" which I used to blast out on my parents new stereo system in the early 70's - (Not sure they appreciated it as much as me)
So it is with this LP that I start my blog! Many of Crimson's covers are works of art in their own right including this one. Although my copy is getting rather work and cracked the textured cover still looks great with all the individual characters painted on it.

The LP as with most Crimson albums has is beautiful melodies with "Peace a beginning" and it's quick tempo changes to the likes of "cat food" and the title track, that's what makes them so good.

The whole LP is a masterpiece inside and out - ISLAND RECORDS ILPS 9127 - 1970

Robert Fripp - Greg Lake - Peter Giles - Michael Giles - Peter Sinfield- Keith Tippet - Mel Collins & Gordon Haskell (Cadence & Cascade)

More information from an indepence source on the net below

http://www.songsouponsea.com/Promenade/Poseidon.html

Another of thier LP's with stunning artwork is probably the most well known of all King Crimson's albums - "In the court of the crimson king" The scary scream face is simply one of the best vinyl covers ever!, and the inner pages of the gatefold cover are done in the same vein.

Line up for this LP was Robert Fripp -Ian  McDonald - Greg Lake - Michael Giles & Pete Sinfield

The album starts with the fantastic "21st Century schizoid man", surely not many better ways to start your recording career. Then the pace drops completley to "I talk to the wind" and "Epitah" side 2 starts off in the same melodic vein with the enchanting "Moonchild" and then returns to the title track finale.

My copy is POLYDOR DE LUXE 2302 057 - Originally released in 1969

 

Next up is another favourite LP but from much later in 1980, the Discipline LP heralded a new birth and touring with another changed line up. The album is really punchy and has deep rtythm as well as the normal more abstract tracks. The highlights for me are "Frame by frame" Sheltering sky" & "Thela hun ginjeet" but all the tracks have something special to offer. I wouldn't class it as classic Crimson but it still rocks! I saw them play this album at The Venue in Victoria Lonodn in October 1981 and it was a fantastic gig, all for the sum of £4.00 

Line up was much smaller for this LP with only 4 core muscians - Robert Fripp - Bill Bruford - Adrian Belew & Tony Levin. I felt Levin and Belew added much to this line up and album with their rythm and vocals respectively. EG RECORDS EGLP 49

Back 10 years earlier now to 1971 and ISLANDS and probably one of the less popular albums amongst fans but I still love it, particlualrly the opening track on side 2 of "Ladies of the road" some wonderfully sexy lyrics.Overall a quieter album and less frenetic than the first 2 albums.

 

King Crimson line up for Islands as follows - Robert Fripp - Peter Sinfield - Mel Collins - Keith Tippet - Boz Burrell & Ian Wallace - ISLAND RECORDS ILPS 9175 - 1971

There are of course many other King Crimson Lp's some a lot better than others, but they have left a musical leagcy the like never seen before. Here are just a couple more pics of the artwork from USA  & BEAT not the greatest covers but some people may not be aware that these LP's even exsist.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look and if anybody has anything to add or any questions then feel free to email me.

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UPDATE ON KING CRIMSON BLOG

I have recently had a copy of "In the court of the crimson king" pass through my hands on it's way to a buyer in Japan. The overall quality especially the audio quality was excellent with only a limited number of clicks in the many quiet sections of this stunning LP. I have added a pictures of ILPS 9111 2nd pressing Island pink rim LP below.

4/8/91 - KING CRIMSON - KINGS OF PROG ROCK (ADDITION)

Although most prog purists will be looking for the original pressings of each LP there are other issues which can add to a collection for completists. Just such a release is about to go live on ebay auction!

As previously stated Polydor re-issued a number of the KG LP's and they also packaged Court of the Crimson King & Larks' Toungues in Aspic as POLYDOR DOUBLEBACK 2683 080 (Individual cat # 2032 057 & 2032 061 respectively) Released in 1977 by POLYDOR as part of DOUBLEBACK series.

This Vinyl is in absolutely superb condition (NM) which is just what you need when listening to KC due to quiet sections of LP's - The cover shows each respective image front & back with just some light wear. Always such a pleasure to handle this sort of quality of KC vinyl (reluctant to let it go, but go it must) http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Vinyl-Spurs/LPs-ROCK-METAL-/_i.html?_fsub=2072570017&_sid=58532857&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Further images shown below or inner & outer G/Fold cover

NEXT BLOG COMING SOON - KING CRIMSON - PROG ROCK & ISLAND

Scottish Folk Labels

Battlefield Band - Home is where the van is  TEMPLE TP 005

Battlefield Band  - The story so far .... TEMPLE TP 007

Although my personal collection doesn't include very much folk music, in Scotland over the past 40 years or so there has been a large number of independent record labels (most of which are long gone) scattered around Scotland. One of these is called Temple Records and was founded in Temple, Midlothian in 1978 and signed up artists such as :- The Battlefield Band - Christine Primrose and Brian McNeill (formerly of the Battlefield Band) They released all thier albums on the Temple label and also a US subsiduary was set up in 1980

Christine Primrose - AITE MO GHAOIL TEMPLE TP 006

Battlefield Band - On the Rise - US TEMPLE TP 021

All of the above are currently available via my ebay store

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Vinyl-Spurs

There were a vast number of other regional labels in the most unlikely rural towns this web site gives an overview of many of them. Although they have a limited market these days some of my customers are still asking me to look out for them. 

Rare Scottish Independent labels

Here are a few more rare LP's from the Lismor, Thor and Ben Nevis Labels 

Although the music on some of them is a little suspect it is a pleasant change to look some interesting Independent labels instead of the EMI, CBS and the like

THE HOLY GRAIL OF PINK FLOYD VINYL

After nearly 40 years since it's release and nearly 40 years of collecting Floyd memorabilia & music I have finally come across an original copy of the LP which regularly fetch several hundred pounds (listed as £500 mint in Record Collector) Ok this copy of the vinyl is probably only graded as fair and the cover way beyond any grading, and no posters or stickers......but hey that's not the point! It is a rock masterpiece and I have another piece of Floyd history..................so here it is HARVEST SHVL 804 (Matrix A2/B2) solid prism DSOTM

Another piece of my vinyl collection I cherish is an original copy of Black Sabbath self titled LP

on the much sought after original Vertigo Swirl label with Vertigo swirl inner cover. Again it has been well used down the years and has a number of surface marks. But after watching the reunion gig from Birmingham on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImNsBUHACZE I just had to get it out and play it again! the gig at the O2 looked and sounded great (even if Ozzy is way beyond his best) but musically it still really rocks and Tony and Geezer were in fine form (see link above)

So here is my copy of the album VERTIGO - VO 6