Lunch Break Lacquer: Otis Rush knows all too well that there is a time and place for everything
Some people go out for food during their lunch break…I go out looking for used records. Food, water, shelter…who needs ‘em! I know where my priorities are…right around the corner at “On The Beat” records here in London.
It is a beautiful, sunny day in London (get it while you can) and to celebrate, I took a walk to go find me so used blues vinyl. Jackpot! I found a stone-cold classic from Otis Rush, “Right Place, Wrong Time”. Let me tell you, there isn’t anything wrong on this album at all!
The first song, “Tore Up”, takes of like a drag-racer and leaves you with whiplash. Those crunchy first notes uncoil and, pow, your leaving much rubber on the road. The rest of the album is pure blues, pure Otis: he’s bending notes, phrasing chords and stretching out on “Standing-O” solos.
Have a listen to “Tore Up” for yourself. Buckle up!
You may have already heard about Record Store Day. It is an annual, international event and this year it is happening on the 17th April. There is so much going on for RSD that you really have to go check their site if you want the low-down. I know I will be out in London on the 17th…and I’ll be looking for cool shit.
RSD have compiled a List of Cool Shit (US & UK versions) that is being released just for Record Store Day. I’m hot for these black beauties:
- Tom Waits: Mule Variations reissue, with exclusive Jim Jarmush photo of Tom (print), 12″ vinyl, 3000 (quantity produced), Anti Records
- Black Keys: Tighten Up/Howlin’ For You, 12″ vinyl, 50,000 (quantity produced), Nonesuch Records (UK release is on V2 with only 500 produced)
- Drive-By Truckers:“Your Woman is a Living Thing”/”Just Maybe”, 7″vinyl, ATO Records
- The Hold Steady: Heaven is Whenever, new album, hand screen printed vinyl release, 700 (quantity produced)
- Rolling Stones: Plundered My Soul, All Down the Line, 7″ single featuring unreleased track from Exile on Main St sessions. First time available. Hand numbered. This is a UK release as well with only 1,000 produced.
Here is one of the videos displayed on the RSD website. They have a few “famous” artists on there encouraging people to take part in the event. This one is of Steve Gorman (drummer for the Black Crowes) talking about one of his fave shops: “Grimey’s” in Nashville, TN.
I agree, Steve. I, too, am one of the many that has an “entirely consuming and not very healthy love of music…”.
Ain’t it great…
If you live in the UK, like me, you know that there is buried treasure hiding in many independent record shop throughout London and beyond. If you need a map to help you find out where the true gems (versus the fool’s gold) are, The IndieRecordShop website is an EXCELLENT resource. They will show you where to go to collect your loot. Save some for me!
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When I lived in Sydney, Australia I celebrated it at The Kingfish’s record shop, Mojo Music. Here are some snaps of my fave joint in the world: Mojo Music, “Best of the Fringe and all of the Backbone”. Some are from Record Store Day 2009 and others are from random Friday nights.
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There’s a bit of Record Store Day in this post, too. Cool vid from Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes as well.
Nice find on the Otis. I love his record Tops.I was at a record store in Chicago last week and I asked the guys if they were doing anything for RSD. The guy cracked – “Got here early, we might sell out.” The place must have 250,000 records!When you peruse the blues section see if you can find Jimmy Johnson Bar Room Preacher: http://bit.ly/9We9Fy. One fine record. My buddy had it on Vinyl and I tried for year to steal it but never could.
@ozzybeef Yes, Luke, @recordstoreday will be huge. Looking forward to it. I’ll look for The Jimmy Johnson album. You look for one for me: Jimmy Dawkins, either “Fast Fingers” http://bit.ly/cHXlee or “Blistering” http://bit.ly/9XhVMk. Both are on Delmark.