The Beach Boys - Christmas Album

The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys Christmas Album
Capitol CAP1014
99p + P&P



It struck me in early November that I should be trawling eBay for festive vinyl. Sadly I haven't acquired 24 albums and so will not be posting my purchases up in advent calendar form, but first up of the three I have picked up (this could rise to four if a suitably cheap copy of Phil Spector's album comes up, although it has to have the original sleeve which seems to be the main obstacle) is The Beach Boys Christmas Album. Undoubtedly inspired by Spector's - a rivalry that arguably contributed to Brian Wilson's studio-bound obsessions - the CD of this has been receiving annual airings for some years. The added bonus to having it on vinyl is the ease with which we can now avoid the more traditional side two.

Human League - Holiday 80

Human League
Holiday 80
Virgin
£1


Was disappointed to find that 'Being Boiled' was a re-recording (thankfully I have the original on 7"). And as for the cover of Gary Glitter's 'Rock ’n’ Roll' and it's hilarious segueing (or more accurately, the slowing down of the drum machine) into Iggy Pop's 'Nightclubbing', well, I think it's fair to say they won't be reprising that on any 'Here & Now' tours ....

The Last of the Teenage Idols – Satellite Head Gone Soft

The Last of the Teenage Idols

Satellite Head Gone Soft

Razor RAZ47
99p + P&P

Filed between David Kusworth 'Bounty Hunters' and John Lennon 'Walls And Bridges'.

A classic case of a band that you either know or you don't, and if in the former group you probably have happy memories of them!

Formed after the demise of his previous group the Babysitters by London legend Buttz, The Last Of The Teenage Idols were regulars at the Marquee roughly between 1987 and 1992 (in fact bassist Shuff still lurks around the area). This, their one album, is guaranteed to raise a smile and in 'Gina', carried forward from the Babysitters era (though they never recorded it as far as I know) you have a hit that never was.

Vain - No Respect

Vain

No Respect
Island ILPS 9938
£1

For Vain, 1989 was just a little too late (likewise The Throbs in 1991). In both cases the lack of an LA connection may have had an impact too but the difference with San Francisco's Vain was that unlike the New York-based Throbs, their album wasn't largely awful.

Soho Roses – So Alone

Soho Roses

So Alone

Trash Can Records TWAT002
£5.50 + P&P
Filed between Soho Roses 'Whatever Happened To ...' and Bruce Springsteen ‘Born To Run’.

A truly fine slab of glam-trash-punk perfection. 'Nuff said. 

The Zombies – Odessey & Oracle

The Zombies

Odessey & Oracle

Date TES 4013
£2.99 + P&P

Filed after Young Fresh Fellows 'This One's For The Ladies' (as I don't own any ZZ Top records this now bookends that end of the collection).

A pleasure to own on vinyl after 21 happy years with a Rhino-issued CD (I can still recall the day that landed in the branch of Our Price I worked at, amazed to see this almost mythical album really did exist).

This is a late 60s pressing, issued after 'Time Of The Season' found its way to the top of the US singles chart. Hence its mention on the sleeve, and to my good fortune it was under this title that it was listed on eBay - I'm certain it would have cost me a lot more if it had been correctly listed as 'Odessey And Oracle' ...

The original vinyl release with the classic sleeve commands prices into the hundreds. I didn't immediately recognise it but the picture adorning this edition is taken from the original artwork. Whereas it's a shame not to have that version this is far superior to this bizarre reissue from the 1980s which looks to all intents and purposes like it should be a self-financed album by a bunch of Magnum-wannabees from Loughborough.

'Odessey And Oracle' is the only album I own that appeared on the NME's utterly pointless list of the '100 greatest albums you've never heard' (number 23 if you're interested).

Dexys Midnight Runners – Geno

Dexys Midnight Runners

Geno

EMI EMS196
£1.50 + P&P

Filed between The Damned ‘The Light At The End Of The Tunnel’ and Dexys Midnight Runners ‘This Is What She’s Like’.

Good little compilation, in that amongst its limited number of songs you get the original 'Dance Stance' (later 'Burn It Down'), a pre-fiddle 'Plan B' and a smattering of b-sides that replace those lost when I sold a few of their singles.