It’s Turntable Tuesday because life is too short not to listen to great music! This week on Turntable Tuesday I am opening a recent purchase from New York City. It was Record Store Day on Black Friday 2021 when I scored this and many other great albums. It is time to open this limited edition to give it a through listen and explore the package!
Let’s get started by saying I hope you are having a great week and things are looking up for you no matter where you may be. Crank up your music device, enjoy vinyl, or get out there and support your favorite live band! What are YOU listening to right now?
November 26, 2021. “Black Friday” is the day after Thanksgiving in the USA. While it can be a huge day for shopping my main focus was checking out the fresh releases for RSD as the abbreviation goes. I was turning the corner on to 6th Avenue on my continued trek to my two favorite vinyl shops in New York City when I see the NBC Studio sign come into focus. I can make out the entrance ahead on the right for Rough Trade.
I was glad when the door closed behind me as that was one chilly breeze blowing down the busy sidewalk. So my eyes finally focused on the displays in front of me with some titles of things that were not on my shopping list. I moved over to the bins to the right of the entrance and dove into flipping stacks of vinyl that had just been added for sale overnight. I was being careful to limit my purchases to not overload my luggage for the flight back so I had to be selective. I was in NYC for a while and even my checked bag was a little heavy already. Then I see the Who “Face Dances” album. Another double album. A heavy package. Yeah I want it but I will have to leave something behind if I buy too much weight.
I am reading through the label as I start to drool on the shrink wrap. “This year’s release from The Who for Record Store Day 2021 is an expanded two LP set of their 1981 album Face Dances celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2021. LP1 is the original album with its nine tracks. LP2, entitled Face Dances Part 3 has another nine tracks. The 2LP set was mastered by Jon Astley at Close To the Edge and cut at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road.”
Well that is a ton of music with mastering at Abbey Road in this package! Half speed mastering no less. Marketing for sure but I wonder what it will sound like at home? The advertising continues: “The album cover features the original Peter Blake design front and back. LP1 is on bright blue heavyweight vinyl with colored labels and LP2 is on bright yellow heavyweight vinyl with colored labels. In addition there are four 12″ x 12″ fine art prints included in the package with four portraits on each print.” Hmm…lot’s of stuff for the gotta’ have it all Who fan.
Well as you can see I did purchase this package and I am liking all the work that went into this special 40th Anniversary package! There were only 6,500 copies of this released pressed for June, 2021 RSD “drop” but given the pandemic it was November before these saw the light of day in some places. As I write this I am still seeing some copies online for sale at roughly retail price which is $39.99 in many places. If you want this album release I would get one soon as they will dry up and the prices will likely rise especially for mint copies.
Well without going into another long-winded story of my travels and shopping stories that is most of Turntable Tuesday this week. I may or may not cut a pod cast for this episode. Honestly I have been extremely busy lately with many projects that are absorbing my time and the pod cast equipment in my studio is still calling my name. I am also spending time working on my ham radio gear, making sure I exercise at least three days a week, and playing guitar. I won’t leave out my vinyl time! It is so hard to do it all as everyone knows. It is a wonderful life so I try to cram all of my interests into 24 hours and sleep a little. “Nuff said.
Until next time I’ll see you, down the road.