Record #2: Black Oak Arkansas - High on the Hog

Just let that cover sink in for awhile.

OK, now that you've done that, you've figured out what this album sounds like. Essentially, it's some feel good southern rock with an emphasis on the southern. Featuring the hit single "Jim Dandy" (featuring Miss Ruby Starr, who would sing Macca's "Maybe I'm Amazed" with BOA during live shows), this would arguably be BOA's most popular album, but that's not why we're here today.

So how did this wind up with my records, sandwiched between Bitch Magnet and Black Tambourine? Well, BOA became a thing with the guys in Canadian Pavers and after I showed them this video:

Feel free to skip to 8:30 and see what I'm talking about - 3 guitarists, a bassist, and a dude with a washboard just rocking out - sounds ideal, doesn't it?

Well, flash forward to September when I was at the ICA in Boston while the "Record" exhibit was closing. Walking through the gift shop, I noticed there were a bunch of records for sale, so naturally I spent 15 minutes going through them and I pulled out this gem. I then plunked down the $6 and went on my way. Flash forward to this blog, where I realize that I never actually listened to this album. Well, that changed today.

I have to say, I wish I did it sooner as this is totally a record I could play at parties and clear out rooms with (Kiss Alive is also good for this.) If you're still interested, just search "Black Oak Arkansas" on YouTube and bask in the glory that is Jim Dandy.

Record #1: Rush - "A Show of Hands"

This was one picked up on one of those aforementioned Reckless runs when I was...15? Growing up, my dad listened to very little other than Rush. As such, whenever I'd be in a record store and see a Rush LP, I'd have to pick it up, so long as it was under $12 or so. Imagine my surprise when I'd find a "new" copy of "A Show of Hands" for only $4.99! Total steal!

For those unaware, "A Show of Hands" is a double live album that came out in 1989 - the tours it features are Rush at their synthy-height and keyboards are all throughout the thing. But who am I to disregard a Rush album for $4.99? Furthermore, I love some of these songs here, dated keyboards and all.

I remember bringing it home and showing my folks and putting it on my record player at the time. Back then, my record player was a belt-drive Crosley thing you buy at Target that had this weird tic of playing at 37 RPM. While my dad was quick to remark that his CD version played at the right speed, I knew that at some point, I'd have a properly functioning turntable and this would sound great.

Flash forward 5 years to today. It's February 9th, 2012, and I'm now just listening to this album for the first time since then and it sounds fantastic. And yes, my record player (a trusty Technics direct drive) does play at the correct speed.

Intro

As anyone (my folks, girlfriend, roommates past and present, etc.) could tell you, most of my money doesn't go towards food or cigarettes or silly things like that. Rather, it goes towards records. This started some years ago where I would squirrel away my lunch money and save up for monthly excursions to Reckless Records in Chicago and would easily drop $60 on anything.

Upon arriving in Boston, I found myself much closer to a whole variety of record stores and realizing that with a part-time job, I was now allowed to RUN FREE and BUY EVERYTHING. While it wasn't that bad, I realized that I would go and say, buy 2 or 3 albums, and totally not listen to one of them as I'd be super absorbed in another one.

This blog is an attempt to right that wrong and make sure that no record is left behind.