Library LPs

I use the Record Collector standard to grade my records – as below:

M is ONLY for reissues / new releases
M- is a pretty much unplayed record for me – any obvious signs that a record has been played and I usually downgrade to an EX+
EX+ is a very strong grade for me – just showing some signs of being played but no noise / cue burn / crackle / styrene burn at all.
VG+ is for records that have obviously seen some wear and have had a good few plays and may even have light intro crackle but play very, very well.
VG is for records with quite a bit of wear and surface markings and some noise / crackle but still a very good player
VG- is my lowest grade and VG- records for me are in bad shape – lots of sound quality deterioration and many, many surface marks – not nice.

All media links are directly underneath each item in red – just hover your mouse over the link and when it turns blue click on it and it will take you directly to the YouTube page or my own soundfile / scan.

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Bruton ‘Country Bound’ (Bruton BRG 3 / UK / 1978 / Ex/Ex+) £15 £8

(It’s Keith Mansfield’s contribution here that makes this Bruton worth looking out for – Duncan Lamont’s input is a bit wooly and John Fiddy barely gets a look in either…’Sweet Groove’ here is a delightful Disco / Jazz Funk track with great drums, nice congas and floating percussion – the arrangement actually reminds me a lot of Chicago Gangsters ‘Feel Like Making Love’, while ‘Flowing Free’ is a synth-led a-typical mid-70s libe track with floating percussion, shuffling backbeat and stop-start melody – all nice n’ flute-y, float-y if you catch my drift… )

lib01 – scan/soundfile

KPM ‘Electrosonic’ (KPM 1104 / UK / 1972 / Ex+/Ex+) £50 £30

( Simply put – this is one of THE best electronic LPs in the whole KPM 1000 / 1100 series – period…! Wonderful copy here – my first-ever – the vinyl seems pretty much unplayed to me…though actually uncredited on the sleeve rear, we librarians KNOW that Her Majesty Delia Derbyshire is strongly involved here – take a listen to ‘Frontier Of Knowledge’ and tell me that is not totally atypical BBC Radiophonic Workshop-sounding, right from the golden era of the early-mid 70s…amazingly sonic and idiosyncratic cut from the mind of an unsung genius…the whole LP is just mind-boggling and right up there with anything Roger Roger, Nini Nardini etc etc recorded during the same period…actually sounds like the Soundtrack to some really creepy kids movie and nobody can tell me that people like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher and Two Lone Swordsmen haven’t lent HEAVILY from this LP down the years..…stunning piece…also heavily busy on this were Harper/Russe/St. George – let their surnames suffice…look over your shoulder, there’s a Dalek right behind you… )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQpbAniTx0U

KPM ‘Soft Horizons’ (KPM 1140 / UK / 1974 / Ex+/Ex+) £10 £5

( Johnny Pearson, Steve Gray, Keith Mansfield are the main protagonists here – all decent gear here – lovely soundscapes with banks of strings and floaty brass with some good / moody arrangements from our 3 heroes – no standout track to my ears – just an overall good listen – harps, zithers, acoustic guitar etc etc are all on show here – amazing condition… )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wct-hxJfK8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py1xfgv-nho

Match ‘Tension & Imagination’ (MAT 008 / UK / 1970s / VG+/M-) £8 £4

( Never seen this series before? Seems to be a strong Swedish influence here…just flicking thru it now and I’m hearing some real nice string refrains mixed in with some good MOOG action and some floating percussion – nice long tracks too so plenty to get your teeth into – sleeve has some marked ringwear to rear but is fine otherwise, vinyl is totally clean… )

lib05 – scan/soundfile

Robert Hall Productions ‘New World (Robert Hall W-28 / USA / 1970s / Ex+) £50 £25

( This one’s MOOGs all the way too – no actual sleeves on these Robert Halls – they all came housed in all-white custom LP sleeves – very rare / indemand USA library series – I’ve only ever had a few of em and this one’s a beauty…lovely, whirling, floating rhythms all backed up by a bedrock of heavy MOOG action – no real point picking out one / two standout tunes cos it’s been recorded to stand together as a whole rather than a series of parts but ‘Holy Moses’ stood out for me here – ever-changing…vinyl is immaculate… )

lib06 – scan/soundfile

Robert Hall Productions ‘Production Music’ (RH-212 / USA / 1970s / M-) £50 £25

( This one’s even cleaner than the last one…again – in a generic/custom white LP sleeve…and a totally different beast from the previous entry in so many ways – this one’s a high-octane, banging Blaxplo-styled, pimping, botching, Cop Show sounding grinder with tracks like: ‘We’re Busted’ , ‘Where’s The Man’ , ‘Mom Visits The Pad’ , ‘I’m Poppin’ – all darting strings, humping basslines, screeching gee-tars and floaty percussion – a total treat – exemplary copy….yet more MOOG madness…. )

lib07 – scan/soundfile

Standard ‘Light And Bright’ (ESL 138 / UK / 1970s / VG+/Ex+) £25 £12

( Peter Beasson is the main man here and the last 4 tracks in Side 2 are where the action is – four wordless scat vocal tracks a la Edda/Morricone or Barbara Moore or Kitty Winter even and each with different themes / tempos but each equally worthy: ‘Day Trip’ , ‘Dreams’ , ‘Ballad’ , ‘Indians’ – all absolutely excellent tunes – sleeve has a 2” split to top seam but is otherwise fine – vinyl is 99% immaculate… )

lib09 – scan/soundfile