Recent Spins: First Episode in TWO YEARS!!! (Part 9)

[@Bobmacca64]

Hi James:) Another great one today. I also love that Kinks album a lot: definitely a top 5 Kinks album for me. You know what other band that dabbled in disco were also geniuses? ABBA. Say what you will about their cheesiness and everything but by God could they write incredibly catchy pop and disco songs. And the girls had fantastic voices actually:) Anyway, take care, James !

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

you're not wrong Bob! I did an ABBA album rankings video at Christmas a couple of years ago if you can face tracking back and finding it.

[@David-Ellis]

Nice video James. My other half used to work with Julian Cope in the 80's. She has some funny stories of trying to order vegetarian food for him in restaurants that just didn't get it. Cheers - D

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi David, great to hear from you. Cool connection with Cope; I remember reading his autobiography many years ago which was quite a ride. The only story I remember about it now was him pissing in a plate of beans that some housemate of his who he hated was about to eat. Actually, I think I might have stopped reading at that point. Wish I still had the book.

[@David-Ellis]

Ha! I think I’ll ask my wife if she thinks Julian ‘liked her’ before I tell her about this anecdote 😬😳 D

[@CookieMusic43]

Hi James, a big thumbs up for The Kinks and The Bee Gees. I also bought the Beautiful Love single on 12" but was put off getting the LP as somebody told me that the rest of the album was very depressing.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Richard. Yeah, Peggy Suicide is not exactly a laugh a minute overall.

[@gavinjohnson8951]

Hello James. I bought the Elton Dean Ninesense's, Happy Daze LP off one of your recent spins video's. Glad you've decided to do one again. The Julian Cope is an interesting album. I had a phase in the 90s of being really into his stuff. He had a real purple patch of making good albums in the early to mid 90's period. Cope got me into some really good music with his Krautrock encyclopaedia book. And this before was before the internet when you had to work to discover good music that was off the radar.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Gavin. I think I showed Happy Daze in my other series, the Sunday Evening CD Couch series...thinking of bringing that one back too! I'd love to find a copy of Cope's Krautrock book. He did a Japanese one after that too didn't he. In the pre-internet days it was a lot about what your friends were listening to - that's how I discovered Cope, Neil Young, Bob Dylan. (and that was just one friend!).

[@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893]

Hi James. Nice to see what you've been spinning. Everything about Muswell Hillbillies says it would be an album I'd love. Another UK band heading off to the country, as they all seemed to be doing at the time, and I spent a lot of time in Muswell Hill when I was a kid. But the repetitive acoustic guitar strumming throughout, was a real turn off. It made them sound like a rather uninspired busker doing a bunch of Kinks songs...But It's been quite a while since I've heard it, so I might be wrong and should revisit. I love Peggy Suicide. I only ever had it on tape, but that did mean it was a fixture in my car at the time. He seemed to be embracing the dance music of the early 90s, and you could probably say some of the tracks have a decidedly 'baggy' style about them. I bought the Beautiful Love 7" single from Woolies here in Malton. Great song, but it always peeved me that he didn't have a real trumpet 🎺 playing the catchy melody. If he'd have given me a bell I could've knocked it out for him, without the need to play it on a keyboard with a trumpet sound.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Hedley. I once stayed in a flat in Muswell Hill, nice area. I hadn't clocked the abundance of busker's guitar so it obviously didn't annoy me too much. I'd always thought it was a real trumpet on Beautiful Love, you've disillusioned me there.

[@gorvo31]

Hey James, Good to see you back with one of these. Recent spins are always enjoyable. Much agreed with being in the mood for Chick. His playing could be quite 'busy', and sometimes one just desires something more stripped down. I'm intrigued by the Kinks album, and even more so by the Julian Cope, as I'm curious to looking into more. Looking forward to more of the series and themes you have up your sleeve. 🙂 -Carm

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Carm. Ha, yes the Chick record is definitely not one to fall asleep to. Hope to be back soon doing some more of these, it's been too long.

[@6758pasi]

Muswell Hillbillies is one of a rare example where another record takes the place of old favorite. Love it, have it as a double LP. And a cd. I notice Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 on the background. I fell on to it purely by accident maybe late last year. Brilliant album. Pasi

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Pasi. That copy of Muswell Hillbillies I have is the double vinyl. Been enjoying Sergio and Brasil 66, might feature that in the next instalment.

[@patgibbons1011]

Fun video! And Hec yeah - Muswell Hillbillies- sooooo goood, a unique entry for the Kinks - catching them post-hit (Lola) and pre-theatrical - with a unique approach to writing, theme, and recording techniques (equipment anyway) 👍

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Cheers Pat...yeah definitely an interesting moment for The Kinks. I really must finally read a biography of them!

[@FatCityVinyl]

Two years! Time flies...I've had similar intentions of doing a sort of video listening diary, but in actual practise it rarely seems to work that way and reverts back to showing what's new, or relatively recent at least. Must revisit Muswell Hillbillies and the Bee Gees as well, though for how many times I've seen that one in charity shops I do not think I ever took the plunge and bought it. Listening to some Stevie and Sergio Mendes as well, I see. Cheers James!

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Doug. I checked back through my videos and discovered that my 'recent spins' series stopped at the exact time I started the 'Revisiting' videos, so I think I must have decided that talking about one record at a time was more satisfying (which it kind of is, but the 'recent spins' at least add more variety). Spirits Have Flown is a very common record in the UK also, although thinking about it I haven't actually seen a copy in the wild for a long time. Cheers!

[@3dimensionsofmusic3D]

My introduction to Corea was his RTF band and then I searched out his individual efforts but I've never seen that earlier release. I was fortunate to come across a fellow selling his Kinks at a flea market. Instant Kinks collection and Muswell H is a favourite.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Randy. Peggy Suicide is definitely worth your attention, bit of a sprawling beast. Good score with MH at the flea market; I've never laid eyes on an original copy.

[@joemorgan4740]

Hi james great video recent spins. Yes randy newman is a genius i have most of his picked up used copies except i recently bought the best of that only came out a month or so ago. Must look for more kinks. I pkayed that bee gees alot when it came out and i had the singles loved it . Great series joe

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Joe. I must do a Bee Gees dedicated video at some point. Randy too come to that.

[@RandallWeaver]

Always great to see Muswell Hillbillies - I look forward to the video you might do focused on just that album. That's a memorable album cover for Peggy Suicide; I'm a pretty big fan of Julian Cope but have never heard that record. Thanks for the update James!

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Randy....I recommend Peggy Suicide, though it's a bit of a heavy listen in places. Catch up with you soon!

[@EmbryonicRobot]

Hi James, I have never ever heard Muswell Hillbillies. Julian Cope is terrific and maybe underrated. I have this one on CD, but I haven't listened to it in ages. I remember loving Pristeen and East Easy Rider. Julian has a great voice, IMHO 🙂

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Brian. Muswell Hillbillies is essential Kinks I think, hope you managed to stray into its orbit eventually. I forgot to mention Cope's voice, it is brilliant.

[@martinlarsson5254]

Thanks! I have zero of those in my collection, but it's interesting to stream them now. I start with Bee Gees! 👍I hope your next spin video come this year. ❤

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Martin. I promise the next instalment will be within a reasonable time frame!

[@flashgordonsonerecordatati7591]

Nice spins, James. Trust you and the family are well. I discovered Randy Newman a few years back. Very talented songwriter and musician. I have his 5th album little criminals. The Eagles play on it. I really like it. I also have Trouble in Paradise Album. I like them both. It's definitely worth exploring his later albums. Cheers Flash

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Flash. I LOVE Little Criminals, keep meaning to do a video on it. 'Jolly Coppers' and 'Baltimore' are my two favourite Randy songs. Trouble in Paradise is a good album as is the 1988 album 'Land of Dreams' (80's production not withstanding).

[@robwalkerletthemusicplay]

Hi James. Always enjoyed these video … that Julian cope album isn’t easy to find on vinyl. I have beautiful love on a 7 inch it’s gorgeous. I’ll be doing a similar video before the end of the year .. cheers James 👍

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Rob. Will look forward to your spins vid.

[@TheVinylOrchard]

I’ve stopped buying much stuff as I’ve got too much to listen to already. I need to investigate 70s Kinks. Rarely see any of their stuff. I got that JC Lp at a charity shop for a steal a couple of years ago. Safe surfer is psychedelic brilliance. Great guitar. Enjoyed the video James. Cheers, chris

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Chris. I'm still buying quite a lot of records at the moment I'm afraid...just keep finding ones that I still want (picked up a lot of fusion lately). Hope to do a couple of finds videos before Crimbo and finally get them out of the way!

[@RocknRonni]

Hey James I was so happy to see your new video pop up on my feed today I don't know why it hasn't been coming up lately but now that I've seen this one I'll be getting all your videos fingers crossed. So good to see your face Love the video. I just did a video of the new Santana mofi in case you didn't get the notification.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Ron! Great to hear from you and thanks for stopping by. I just watched your Santana video yesterday but hadn't doubled back to comment yet. After watching it I immediately went to the record player and spun the debut album...got an original US pressing, sounds tremendous!

[@RocknRonni]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic Thanks for stopping by and watching the Santana video so happy to hear that you're keeping up with my videos even though they're few and far between.

[@staggerlee6794]

Ta, Going to check out that Julian Cope album as it is very well thought of by critics. Thanks for bring it to my attention as it seems to have passed me by. 👍🏽

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks. I didn't actually know about its critical reputation. Hope you enjoy going back to it.

[@robison5396]

Muswell Hillbillies was an album I bought a couple of years ago when I was a bit obsessed with The Kinks.. it didn't grab me like Percy or Village Green..I think you're spot on when you say its dark and I don't think I was prepared for it.. I was in a record club, Britannia I think and bought Peggy Suicide on CD. when it was first released...I struggled with it to be honest..the song Safesurfer I recall was interesting. 12 Songs is terrific, one of Randys' best and a favourite of mine for sure. Hope you're keeping well James.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Rob. The Cope album is bumpy I think...some really good moments but also quite a bit of garage-y crashing and banging and quite a lot of druggy angst in places. 'Beautiful Love' was a very deceptive hit single from that LP! I'm not sure why I like Muswell Hillbillies so much, but I suspect it may just be the bleakness!

[@joecarrera1799]

I'll have to check out that Julian Cope. I remember in the Eighties in America the consensus was that the Bee Gees sucked/were has beens. Barry Gibb's solo work was totally ignored. I can't even recall seeing a review. Not that I would have had an open mind about it then. It was really hearing their hits on oldies radio in the Nineties that made me reconsider them. Kind of a shame. Looking forward to more recent spins videos.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Joe, will try to get another instalment out before too long.

[@Thevinylscavenger]

It's called 'squibsy' on the JC cover. I got rid of all my Cope bar that one bit of a mistake tbh. Very different beliefs to me but an eco warrior ahead of his time (though he did drive to all those stone circles in a car albeit in out of the way places) i think for a double album he succeeds. No wonder it's sprawling knowing his huge musical interests and influences. Once i couldn't make a gig of his and my mates got offered 20p for the ticket by a tout 😅. I do not know the kinks trendy dark 70s output but his lyrics poetry style interest me. I like disco Bee Gees np. That does me Saturday night fever is a great film IMO too. Thank you Sir a welcome return to recent spins like myself I've bought less this year and listened to loads. I have not heard Peggy Suicide for yonks so you've inspired me to play it. Cheers, Martin.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Martin. Do you remember Crackin' Graeme's Julian Cope video that he did many moons ago? That always stuck in my mind as a great video. Ah yes, Julian and his curious beliefs...there's a lot of that about in the world. I've never heard 70s Kinks described as trendy before, an intriguing label! Muswell is probably best seen as the tail end of their sixties output, though I could be wrong as it is heading into that concept album territory that they got a bit mired in later on. Let me know how you get on revisiting Peggy Suicide, I really enjoyed hearing it again.

[@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893]

Close, I believe that's Sqwubbsy, Martin. He used to drag it round on tour with him.

[@Thevinylscavenger]

@@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893 that's the fella!

[@scottspinner1]

Nice one James. Got that Julian cope lp. Definitely had something to say. Nice chick corea lp. Don’t have it. Cool double.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks George. The Chick record is pretty intense.

[@johns.9819]

missed you

[@vinylrichie007]

I enjoy watching recent spin type videos. I’ve done 11 or so of these type of videos. I also stopped doing them on a regular basis. Not sure why. I did notice that recent find videos get more views. I never understood that because quite often I have more to say about the records that I own than I do a record I just purchased.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

I used to enjoy your spin videos too. It's easy to fall out of the habit of doing things.

[@keenear6341]

Looks like your Bee Gee's album gatefold once stuck together exactly like mine has. It must be a flaw in the manufacturing. I also think Muswell hillbillies might be the best of the best for the Kinks. It's near perfect

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

I hate seam splits, they're so depressing. Also, I'm too lazy to mend them and hate getting glue on my fingers. Thanks Adam.

[@dixielandfarm]

I've recently revisited 12 Songs and it didn't grab me like it used to (yet the debut does). Muswell Hillbillies - well, you know I recently talked about it. I love the songs, but I do find the tempo of the songs a hair too slow - anything live of those songs tend to work better for me (and certainly fits more of the country flair).

[@vinylrichie007]

I have not heard that Chick Corea album. That is a good Randy Newman album. Though I did purge all my Randy Newman albums. Before Randy Newman started doing Disney soundtracks he did have two big hits in the US with Short People and I Love LA. I’ve never heard Muswell Hillbillies. I think Main Course is my favorite Bee Gees. Also the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Have you heard the Hee Bee Gee Bees. Check out Men With Very High Voices on KZbin.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

I forgot to mention Randy's hits. Short People was on Little Criminals which was the only of his albums to get much chart action I think. Maybe Born Again, the one after, did OK. Don't think I've heard Her Bee Gee Bees, will check them out. There was a very funny spoof by the British comedian Kenny Everett back in the eighties which is worth checking out. It'll be on KZbin.

[@vinylrichie007]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic The Hee Bee Gee Bees song is Meaningless Songs In Very High Voices.

[@stevecarlsonvinylcommunity9147]

I could never get into Chick Corea, just not my thing. Julian Cope is a fascinating person. Always loved World Shut Your Mouth but never got into the rest of his stuff. Themed videos are fun

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Chick is pretty intense, kind of superhuman in a way. Cope is an acquired taste I think, can be a bit dark. Thanks Steve.

[@johns.9819]

somtimes i forget what i have

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Yes...that's another idea for a series I've had actually!

[@philipbolton7265]

I'm a big fan of "Muswell Hillbillies" and The Kinks 4 theatrical albums that came directly after Muswell. Although, even among Kinks fans, that's not a universal opinion.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

They are really good! I have Schooboys in Disgrace in the collection, still looking for the others. Thanks Philip.