45's..................Promotional Copy..Not For Sale


Breaking the Law!..Breaking the Law!...Yes, I bought it even though it was not for sale and it is one of my favorite 45's in my collection. Because promotional records were distributed to only radio stations and were not available for sale to the general public, promo-copies are highly sought after by record collectors. This particular record, Elton John- Philadelphia Freedom, had much to love from my perspective:

1) promotional copy
2) a song by Elton John, my favorite artist, released during his heyday of hit-making (70-76)
3) the song title was about my hometown (ok , I lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia but it was pretty damn close!) and the single was released in 1975 and Philadelphia would be the centerpiece of the Bicentennial celebration of America's declaration of freedom in 1976.
4) limited edition picture sleeve tailored- made for Philly radio station WFIL (call letters are reflected in Elton's glasses).

By all rights, I should have loved the single when it was released but it was not one of my favorite Elton tunes at the time, however, I have warmed up to the song over the years and particularly dig the solo-piano live performances.

I may need to get a psychiatrist to sort this all out someday, but I have recurring dreams involving this record and picture sleeve. Elton is dressed just as he is on the picture sleeve and he makes a surprise visit to my house (the house I grew up in..Broomall PA,). I plead with Elton to wait right there for just one second and I am going up to my room to get my record so he can autograph it!....Well, you know how dreams go...you change locations without warning. All of a sudden, I am in a vacant parking lot or some other crazy place. I am filled with frustration and spend the rest of the dream trying to get back to my house so Elton can finally sign my special 45!..It never works out....

Andy Williams..This is one of those celebrity deaths that cuts to the core... another irreplaceable old-school American entertainment icon in the same vein as Dick Clark, Johnny Carson and Frank Sinatra. Andy Williams reminds me of the best of my parent's generation :...warm memories of sweaters, comfort and Christmas specials.

Andy possessed a casual cool that seemed effortless. To paraphrase the title of one of his hit songs, " Can't get used to losing you"......You will be missed, buddy. : (

The last video below, Try to Remember , always tore me up..It is so freakin melancholy! The tune made me sad as a kid and it still crushes me. ..but sometimes a sad song is what you need...to stop and remember all those who are gone...you loved them and they will always be a part of who you are...
..

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Original vs. Reissue


Back in the day ,when a new single was released, the record company would press X-amount of copies. Depending on the success of the single, the record could continue to be pressed and reissued over the years as part of an oldies-series. The reissue usually would have hit singles on both sides of the 45. You could easily purchase a single of Elvis Presley- Heartbreak Hotel , several decades after it was first released, but if you had one of the original pressings from the record's initial run in the 50's....well, that record would be much more valuable from a collector's perspective.


? and the Mysterians- 96 Tears:


From the very first time I heard that strange organ-intro, I was hooked.....It would have been easy to find that classic single in the oldies section but i had to have an original copy, even if was slightly scratchy..I had to have a vintage slice of 1966 vinyl. When i finally found a copy of the record at a specialty record store, at that point it was my oldest original copy single in my 45 collection. Even today, when i scanned a picture of the vinyl, it gave me quite a rush. I am not sure if I have a definitive favorite song, but 96 Tears would definitely be in the top 5! ...But the thing about collecting is that the thrill of victory is usually short-lived...there is always another elusive record out there that you are struggling to find anywhere.. ....Unfortunately, the explosion of E-Bay, digital downloads and file-sharing networks makes it ridiculously easy to find, listen to and/or purchase virtually any song...but I will never forget the thrill of the hunt for cherished vinyl singles.

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


I have made the executive decision to change the focus of my music blog. I am pretty sure that the blog-changes will not cause chaos in the world order because the only people who check this blog regularly are my wife, daughters and Richie Burke (Hi Rich!)....and only if I call Rich and tell him to check out my blog.
 The blog will now feature songs and pictures based on my collection of 45's.


Over the Labor Day holiday, I finished the torturous mission of obsessively re-categorizing my collection in alphabetical order and by musical era:

1) anything before 1980= oldies
2) alphabetical by artist
3) Christmas songs in separate section
4) specialty records (colored vinyl, picture discs,etc.)

Like most music fans who  joined the game in the late 60's/early 70's, my introduction to pop music consisted of AM radio and vinyl singles. I abused the records, discarded  the protective sleeves and stacked them on top of each other like any normal kid should have...My grandmother (Nana....aka Anna Rodgers) kick started my obsession in 1969 by buying me 45's when she took me shopping in downtown Philadelphia or Upper Darby(69th Street!). I kind of remember the price being 2 for 99 cents. I wish that I still had some of my original 45's but I would repurchase the ones I remembered when I became a serious collector in the 80's/90's.

My interest in 45's resurfaced in 1981 when I scored a dream-job at Wee Three Records in The Springfield Mall. All of a sudden, I was in the trenches of the music world. I had first crack at new releases and was intrigued by these miniature vinyl records. There was much to love for someone with a weakness for collecting stuff. Some of the records including a cool picture sleeve for a limited time and the b-side of the single sometimes included rare material that would not appear on the full-length album. Did I mention the possibility of colored-vinyl?!!!  Nice!


As I scanned through by entire 45 collection during the recent reorganization project, I realized how much joy this wacky collection gave me...many life-hours were spent scrounging through record stores,garage sales and record conventions to find songs that entered my head and refused to leave until I held that coveted piece of vinyl in my hands...


One of my earliest memories of a 45 was Paul Revere and The Raiders- Let Me. This tune had a very limited shelf-life. Let Me was a Top 40 hit in 1969 but I don't recall hearing this song in future years on oldies radio stations. This tune is a classic rock and roll pop song with raw energy, fuzz-guitar and Jagger-ish vocals. I still love to crank this song and for a few minutes..i am doing some time-travel....back to a magical time when my love affair with music was just getting started...

Well, that was quite a rush! Even before the DNC started, things started happening.. I met Jarod from the Subway commercials as well as Bob Weir's sister-in law/Nascar Driver/ environmentalist(Leilani Munter)..took a tour of Convention floor at Time Warner center...watched the construction of the temporary Google center..visited The American Presidential Experience exhibit..saw Mayor Foxx and had my picture taken sitting at replica of oval office desk in a tye-dye..but there was so much more to come ..The Democratic National Convention was arguably the biggest and most significant event to hit the Queen City of Charlotte, NC.  Regardless of your politics, you could not help but notice that this was a freakin massive circus!..talk about sensory overload! As an obsessed collector of trinkets, the is the surreal deal (I hate that word, but dammit..it applies this time!)..at one point during the CarolinaFest kickoff event on Labor Day, I was lightheaded and thought I was going to go down!...crowds, heat, buttons..lots of buttons and trinkets..WT* !! Was that a Philly cop?..There was police from all over the country..Dudes from Office of Homeland Security searching the trains before we could get on..what are they looking for..do they know something?? My daughter is working at several of the events for the delegates..She got me an autographed copy of Ed Rendell's book..Thanks, Michelle!..protesters, union guys hugging people (Hug a Thug event to improve the perception of union members)..vendors..lots of freakin vendors.. Jeff Bridges (The Dude) and brother Beau on stage..torrential downpours. We are soaked to the bone and laughing like mental patients..This is good times!..James Taylor sings 4 tunes and then more rain..My wife hugged Ty Pennington earlier in the day..by the way......The Google building was an oasis from the madness on the burning street..come into the magical air-conditioned wonderland and have some iced coffee and sit in our hip semi-circle chairs..help yourself to unlimited colorful buttons and stickers..I love this company and everything they represent! ..I will never even think of using another search engine..... Duke Energy gave away crazy LED nightlights that are activated by darkness.they are indescribably beautiful!

Me and my wife's friend, Mary Kay were searching for t-shirts after scoring miracle tickets to the acceptance speech at Bank of America stadium..it is all too much!..We are in the Convention Center..I did not think we would be allowed in here so easily..Who is that being interviewed?..What?..no freakin way!...a Kennedy!??  Teddy's son, Patrick..I am about 5 feet from a Kennedy...I should not be this close to a Kennedy!..Where is Secret Service? I could literally tackle a Kennedy right now..Of course, I would not hurt him..just some good-natured hijinks..a little headlock and wrestling on the ground like the days of grade school at recess!..Dammit..stop thinking like a freak..you lay a hand on Patrick, you are going down for many years..but I would be remembered as the loveable wackjob who tackled a Kennedy and embarrassed the city of Charlotte..ahh the humanity!..I am outta here..look..more trinkets!!

Wednesday...darkness...devastation..As I was at the dentist getting a crown, my wife sent me a text..Those coveted tickets to see the president speak are worthless!..They are moving the final day's events indoors because of possible rain in forecast for Thursday..WTF!! Is this for real?..Rage..lots of rage..It's a conspiracy!..This has been a ridiculous emotional roller coaster..so what if it rains?..The rain was fun the other day!...I hate everyone..I hate politics..I am not voting!! I should have tackled that idiotic Kennedy moron when I had the chance!!..News Reports..President has arrived in Charlotte (who cares! he better stay away from me right now!) ..There will be a conference call tomorrow for all ticket holders with POTUS..I hate conference calls!..they remind me of work... My daughter's boyfriend, Tim sends me a picture of POTUS arriving in Ballantyne area where he will be staying...minutes away from us..Ok...this is still actually pretty cool..The prez is in my neighborhood...

As my friend Scott said,  "Bill Clinton is a rock star"..what a speech!..Can't accuse him of not giving the details!..Charisma much!?  Oh yeah!..starting to calm down a little...They are holding viewing parties all over Charlotte area..some uptown..maybe we will go...to be close to the action..My biggest regret from Wednesday..I did not go uptown at all and I later found out...they were giving out collectible trailer hitch covers..over sized rubber Obama-Head!.Yes..you heard me correctly....Why do they have to torture me this way?..Could there be a more awesome and collectible giveaway?..I must now live with that void in my heart...well..maybe not..I found them online..$10  prezhead.com..and my birthday is coming up..I'm just saying..

After choking under pressure and mumbling and stumbling like a tourist on acid...I was having trouble convincing the dude at The Blumenthal Theater to let us in to watch the convention. My wife, Marianne, saved the day and politely convinced the guy to let us in  (I may have scared the guy with my tye-dye flag shirt with 47 buttons on it). The Blumenthal is a beautiful, upscale theater and I was there a few months ago to see Jackson Browne concert..never dreamed I would be back again this soon...I had a double-strength Jack and Coke and settled in for the long evening....In this comfortable setting, I watched a solid 4 and 1/2 hours of political speeches..and I enjoyed the crap out of it..I can't imaging watching that much of the coverage from home..Biden and John Kerry impressed me like never before...I think everyone did a great job in laying out their message and vision in a concise matter....Ready to Go!..Fired Up!  I am watching the president on the last night of the DNC...not as I had planned but still awesome!!

I am very proud to be a Charlottean today..The world experienced our beautiful city and kind citizens..The police showed common sense and restraint in dealing with crowds, chaos and protesters. So now comes the bittersweet aftermath...It feels like a Sunday night after an awesome weekend..the day after Christmas....DNC 2012  Charlotte, NC..wonderful memories with my beautiful wife..the love of my life.....I will never forget it...good times!!