Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, The Saints, The Counts, and other Vinyl Finds

[@danl6213]

Years ago, just out of college, i roomed with a friend and he recorded a bit of the Trout Mask Replica album as our message on the answering machine....."a squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag" , etc....as much as i hated that album, it did work with telemarketers very well. They'd call our number, hear that message, and never call back.....everything has its purpose in the universe.

[@RobertFithen]

Finally, someone has found a purpose for that album!

[@jobeonetwothree2126]

I love "I'm Stranded" too. But IMO "Eternally Yours" blows me away every time I hear it.

[@tendraftsdeep]

Wow, been binge watching your videos today reliving lots of the insights and laughs and here we go with a new one! Thanks

[@RobertFithen]

Thanks! I appreciate it.

[@MarsNova]

“Woodstock: Final Edition.” Yes, I agree that it’s time.

[@markhdubs5243]

"Whats Up Front That Counts". That's a good record for you to be reviewing and I agree with that name. ☺

[@RobertFithen]

Oh Mark

[@ChrisEstey]

Such magnificent reviews. Huge props for such great digging in on these fascinating records! You answer all the questions I would ask about them, and love your insights. Deep respect.

[@RobertFithen]

Thanks!! I appreciate that.

[@nocturnal-io9vq]

Robert, your line at the end was great: "I'm just addicted to music and physical media of it." That sums up the "plight" of so many of us so well, ha ha! I don't know how many times I've said to myself, "OK, no more records. I can't buy any more!" Then, just a few months (or weeks) later, I'm back at it!

[@RobertFithen]

Absolutely can relate to your last lines.

[@IndyDefense]

That Woodstock record is one of the most badass rock n roll recordings of all time!

[@Nazz1967]

Yes The Saints were a great band . Im currently going through all their albums again after 30 + years of loving them .

[@johns126]

The Saints “Eternally Yours” is bloody great !

[@BrandonS-k3t]

The time is here for the complete Woodstock experience. Amen brother.

[@TheInstituteofPop]

More bloopers, please! 😎🤪😋

[@alexnejako777]

Thats a huge lp from the Deviants. Back when the packaging was really important. They used to give pretty good posters with albums in the late 60s and 70s.

[@SirIzzyBlack]

Bless you.

[@psychedelicbadger4092]

Hi Robert. I tried to find the relevant clip to leave this comment in but to no avail so I'll tell you here. I was in a small secondhand record store today in York, UK, and I was flipping through some soul and funk. I saw an album cover that I seemed to recognise. It was of 3 people falling into a spider web. I thought to myself, I've seen this sleeve before, eventually realising that it was on your channel. I quickly checked my KZbin music library as I always pop things in there whenever anything interesting appears on a channel I'm watching. Sure enough there it was! MILLIE JACKSON Caught Up!! At £12 I didn't hesitate to buy it and tonight I played it. Side one is such a great listen! And I instantly remembered your description of it from your video. The woman having the affair with the married man. The RAP etc So I just wanted to say thanks to you. I would probably have never looked twice at that album had it not been for your clip. The beauty of the VC in full effect. Thanks. Great channel BTW. Keep up the excellent content. Informative yet funny as hell. A rare combo! 😂 ❤

[@MrRTobias]

After the none stop sneezing segment, I was waiting for the none stop farting segment !

[@juanferra6810]

Amazing!

[@hernandosvinylhideaway9627]

Great albums , where did u get that cool shirt

[@RobertFithen]

Just off of the internet.

[@Bootradr]

I'm going to have to get that Jefferson Airplane Woodstock 3 LP set. I didn't realize that was coming out. There's a video on YT of them on one of the talk shows (they're filming that morning for the live show that night on TV). It was a real common nighttime program in that era. I can't think of who the host was though? It's been a while since I've seen it. But the band comes straight from their gig finishing at Woodstock, no sleep, and to the studio. You can kind of tell that Grace Slick is probably still tripping a little. But they jam out on the program and sound great. Steven Stills and David Crosby show up and join in during the interview with Jefferson Airplane on the program. I can't believe I can't remember which program it was but it should be easy to find and it's worth checking out. I'd look in my saved YT pages and get more detail but I can't do that since I'm typing a message here with Google now 🙂 I'm glad you mentioned that release and I think I'm going to get it in a few days. PS gesundheit. No, that's not the host's name 🙂 I've been sneezing my head off lately too. Brian in Fort Worth 🎶

[@RobertFithen]

I've seen it and actually have the official DVD. It's the Dick Cavett show, from what I understand, probably the hippest mainstream show on at the time.

[@Bootradr]

@@RobertFithen That was it! The Dick Cavett Show. I have seen a few other artists on his show on some of the various bootleg DVDs I've gathered through the years. Great back in the day material...🎶

[@B.B.Amsterdam]

Gladly I was on time with the MoV reissue of Eternally Yours by the Saints and I really luv it. Its much better album then it was in my memory. I think its the record who was the most on my turntable last months, I cant get enough of it.💃Gladly I stil have my OG copy of Prehistoric Sounds, still an good one, but not as memorable as. their first two albums.

[@RobertFithen]

Hopefully, the MOV Eternally Yours will be reissued. It sold out really quickly.

[@Cybomayne]

The Deviants are pretty cool. I'll have to give Ptoof another listen. Billy the Monster from the self titled album pops in my head with frequency and gets stuck in there for a few days.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Ive got that pressing of Ptooff, i cut out a piece of cardboard and put it inside the cover to stiffen it up. Thanks for reminding me about that plastic sleeve, i wasn't sure about it either it might have to go.

[@petejp1]

The airplane are one of my favorite bands, I would like to pick it up but I Don't really want to pay almost $60 for it. I have it on cd anyway. I did pick up shakedown street and I feel the same as you about it. I never owned it on vinyl, but I felt the need to complete my dead vinyl collection. It's OK, but one of my least favorite dead albums.

[@johnfronczek2658]

I like Jefferson Airplane. I have “Surrealistic Pillow” and “The Worst of” on vinyl. I would also like to see the full original Woodstock concerts on a streaming service. I also like The Grateful Dead of the early 1970’s era. I really love “American Beauty” and “Skeletons from the Closet/ The Best of…”. It is nice to see The Grateful Dead on reissued vinyl, since most original Grateful Dead ( and early Rolling Stones) vinyl is usually beaten up.

[@RobertFithen]

The "Skeletons From the Closet" compilation was my introduction to the Grateful Dead.

[@JWD1992]

That complete Woodstock film would make so much more sense than remixing classic albums that already sound great using AI. My guess is licensing is the issue. Maybe they could just put out each performer's set separately as they get signed off on. You definitely caught my attention with The Deviants. Cool how they replicated the full UK poster sleeve. Back in my selling days, I sold a US original for a collector whom I ended up befriending and learning a lot from. Sire was originally a London imprint, and I remember some copies used the same red inner sleeves as The Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request. Isn't there ironically (given your Trout Mask remark) a Captain Beefheart quote inside? I need to check out that Saints album. I love (I'm) Stranded and the one after which introduced the punk horn section. It will be interesting to hear the progression of that.

[@RobertFithen]

Early Sire records are hard to find here. I have to stick with the reissues. Licensing might be an issue, but since all of the labels have, at this point, consolidated into about 3, I'm sure they could find a way to do it

[@JWD1992]

@@RobertFithen Yeah, that's the only copy I ever saw in person. Not sure what other Sire-by-London releases I have actually held in my hands, come to think of it.

[@ChromeDestiny]

The Airplane bemoaned the quality of their Woodstock set and although I do agree they have better live recordings, I recommend the archival release from November of the same year, Sweeping Up The Spotlight I think this Woodstock set has a great version of Somebody to Love and the long Wooden Ships jam is very good. Love your Woodstock '69 on demand concept. I would expand that to offering video downloads on demand and Blu-Rays printed on demand, that'd be awesome, buy the whole festival, buy certain days, certain artists' sets, or your own custom playlists.

[@RobertFithen]

You're right, Sweeping Up The Spotlight is terrific. All of those Woodstock options would be like a dream.

[@IndyDefense]

Did ANY Woodstock band like their own performance?

[@vinylrichie007]

The Jefferson Airplane album is great. It has been reissued a few times. I think the first press was a baby blue and not a RSD release. A complete Woodstock would be interesting. Good to see The Counts get a reissue but I’m not a fan of bonus tracks changing the song order. I like The Deviants. Not a fan of The Fugs. I love the first two Saints albums.

[@RobertFithen]

It definitely was a great batch of reissues.

[@brucybabyy7355]

nice finds. my airplane is on sky blue wax. a friend of mine has the Og UK of ptoof! his version is like that but more like cardboard.

[@RobertFithen]

I figured us was a bit more than just paper like the reissue.

[@RossHMay]

wow Robert! I grew up in Barry Gordie Howe Towne,(Detroit). My dad was a Detroit Cop, a Jazz artist and a hockey player . he was the co owner of a D towne famous Jazz club and tight with Motowwn and westbound. Got to see the Counts in his bars and clubs . Why not start all Over, blew me away live. they were a kickass band, both instrumentally and vocally. The Devz were killer. when i scored their LP, i was expecting a proto punk band like The Stooges/MC 5/Death/ Motor City Mutants/Death. which it was. socially/politically, they are totally still relevant. Cheers

[@RobertFithen]

What great memories that must be

[@drummchimp]

if you dig on the Deviants, maybe check out Hapshash & the Coloured Coat first LP, pretty freaky UK psych from '67 - quite heavy/weird for the era, would have fit in better in '72!

[@RobertFithen]

Sounds like something I definitely need to seek out.

[@CBCDs]

Never heard of Ptooff. Looks interesting

[@arzabael]

One day I’m gonna use that last five minutes in a clip in a video about how funny you are man

[@ediblehorse]

Hey, Stranded records (appropriately enough...) just announced a deluxe box of The Saints "I'm Stranded". 4 lp box. demos, live shows, early mixes. $130

[@RobertFithen]

Thanks for the info. I will be getting that.

[@FrankHeussner]

Dead cover drawn by Gilbert Shelton who did the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. Good Lovin' was the single too and wouldn't have been my choice either. I love that Shakedown Street was the name for the Merch aisle at their concerts!

[@RobertFithen]

I always thought that was very clever, too.

[@AndreaA127]

Right, thats what im thinking too just release somethibg of everyones performance in full from woodstock 69. Thats the only woodstock worth a damn anyway. 😊

[@davidellis5141]

The Altamont Jefferson Airplane show has many interactions between the band & somewhat Inebriated Hells Angels & Grace trying & ultimately failing to keep the peace.

[@RobertFithen]

Interactions? They punched Marty Balin right in the damned face! Lol

[@racc2]

I think Pink Floyd "The Wall" is kinda disco.

[@arzabael]

As someone born after disco and rock made their distinctions I would never consider a stones song or a Grateful Dead song with clipped cymbals and four on the floor drums to be disco music!! I can’t believe you even hear it that much differently from their other songs! ((*edit: screw funk guitar that’s one thing that can stay in its lane))

[@RobertFithen]

I'm not a big fan of mixing funk elements with other genres. The worst was the short-lived funk/metal of the early 90's.

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

Check out the "Baby Huey Story" album. Produced by Curtis Mayfield.

[@RobertFithen]

I have the CD, just need to get the record at some point.

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

@@RobertFithen on the song "Hard Times," wasn't that sampled in a bunch of rap songs?

[@oldmonkey1]

The cover for SHAKEDOWN STREET is by Gilbert Shelton, who did THE FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS. Robert Crumb did "Keep on Truckin'" . . . so different artists but the same underground comix milieu.

[@RobertFithen]

I still remember the documentary on Crumb. Quite a family.

[@oldmonkey1]

@@RobertFithen Indeed!

[@nickh.4722]

Not a definite answer to your Ptooff-question, but I have a UK 1983 reissue on Psycho Records (probably a bootleg) of the record with the exact same poster as a sleeve, no gatefold. So it might well have been the same for the original.

[@larsman9169]

If you want to hear a Fugs album where the music is front and center and every bit as important as the lyrics, give a listen to 'It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest' - quite different from any of their others...

[@RobertFithen]

It's been on my wantlist for years.

[@felipecabezascorday892]

always packing

[@MarkLloyd-zr3oz]

Hay rob grew up around the corner from Chris Bailey from the saints first punk band ever addmitidly they had to go to the UK to give the world punk LoL of course I'm biased cus I'm from Brisbane surprisingly enough I like there more carmer tunes follow the leader great song if U new what our cops were like U would understand were the dissatisfaction of punk came from police state was putting it mildly anywho another great one hay rob U are from the mid west is that anywhere near Indianapolis my favourite band is from there sloppy seconds and I am friends with the og g player he went on to do so much more his name is Danny road kill (Tompson) he has played with stray cats and jerry lee Lewis now that's rockin roll bit of a long one one sorry peace and love lloydy

[@RobertFithen]

That must have been great to be so close to the origins of punk rock. A box set of The Saints' first album is coming in November, and I'm definitely getting that. I'm about 3 1/2 hours from Indianapolis.

[@walzer38]

yeah, times of Joh were tough. But good music came out, nevertheless. Go-Bees were my band.

[@VinylPiper]

I have the UK OG of Ptoof! and the cover is flimsy, it is a poster folded. Most of the band became The Pink Fairies not to long after this album.

[@RobertFithen]

I have the "What a Bunch of Sweeties" CD. I need to get the record at some point.

[@alanwilson1724]

​@@RobertFithenThe Pink Fairies are excellent, Never Never Land is my favourite of theirs.

[@VinylPiper]

@@alanwilson1724 I love the Pink Fairies as well. If you like them you'll live the Deviants.

[@alanwilson1724]

@@VinylPiper cool, I'm check them out!

[@JanerDias]

🇧🇷

[@MrRTobias]

I have never seen you review any Elvis Presley records, any plans on doing that?

[@RobertFithen]

Unfortunately, the only one I've reviewed is the worst one "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage". I have five more albums to get before I have the complete collection and then I will do an overview.

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

They'd never be able to afford the music rights for Woodstock.

[@RobertFithen]

I'm sure deals could be worked out. Much of it has already been released in various forms.

[@CBCDs]

Gazundheit

[@RobertFithen]

Danke

[@willieluncheonette5843]

IMO Prehistoric Sounds is a lot better then "decent" I think it is terrific!! Great songs both fast and slow, great singing, great playing. What more can I say? A real testament to a band that was not afraid to progress beyond punk. (But there are fast punk songs on the album) Like The Calsh and Bad Brains, two other punk bands that progressed very very successfully. Here is my writeup of their first LP from my article on the top 15 punk bands. (I’m) Stranded: The Saints. Released February 27, 1977. The Saints first appeared in Brisbane, Australia in 1973. The four members were high school buddies living under a heavily conservative state government. There is a post on KZbin with only fair sound of them playing a gig in 1974 in punk style. (The similarities between The Saints and Ramones are striking. Both were serving up punk in 1974 and both recorded three great albums in a row with their original line-ups before personnel changes.) After being rejected by every label in Australia they released "I'm Stranded" bw "No Time" on their own Fatal label in September 1976, the remarkable single actually reaching #96 on the Aussie charts. It was re-pressed on British labels and got rave reviews. Sounds magazine called it "Single of this and every week." Jon Savage wrote about the 45 "...the toughest, most brutal noise yet. The Saints' "(I'm) Stranded" sounded as though it had been recorded in a wind tunnel, with the singer and the rhythm section hanging as gusts of guitar noise rushed past them." For a very short time they were the darlings of the fledgling punk world and with the wind at their back they recorded their classic debut album, (I'm) Stranded, in just two days in Australia. Ten marvelous songs filled with surging waves of buzz-saw guitar and superb musicianship, "('m) Stranded" is a classic of the genre. What a racket they served up, much of the lyrics indecipherable under the noise. Singer Chris Bailey barks out songs filled with alienation. bitterness and resentment as in the title song. "Like a snake calling on the phone/I've got no time to be alone/There is someone coming at me all the time/Babe I think I'll lose my mind/'Cause I'm stranded on my own/Stranded far from home/I'm riding on a midnight train/And everybody looks just the same/A subway light it's dirty reflection/I'm lost I don't have a direction/Chorus/ Look at me looking at you/There ain't a thing that I can do/You are lost, your mind is a whirl/Baby such a stupid girl/Chorus/ Livin' in a world insane/They cut out some heart and some brain/'Been filling it up with dirt/Do you know how much it hurts?/Chorus". There's not a dud on the album. Plenty of fast punk as well as ballads like "Messin' With The Kid" and mid-tempo songs like "Story Of Love" are all beautifully rendered. Ed Kuepper, guitar, Kym Bradshaw, bass and Ivor Hay, drums, are one blitzing force. The Saints second album, Eternally Yours, adds horns on some songs and, no joke, is just as good as the debut. Their third LP, Prehistoric Sounds, finds them leaving punk for a more bluesy, jazzy sound, but believe me it is terrific too. None of these albums were big commercial successes; the lads did not fit in with the punk image. The snobby British press did not like their long hair, Bailey's sloppy appearance (he sometimes smoked a cigarette on stage) and the fact they did cover songs didn’t help. But Nick Cave has said, "They were kind of god-like to me and my colleagues. They were just always so much better than everybody else. It was extraordinary to go and see a band that was so anarchic and violent." And Sir Bob Geldof has stated " Rock music in the 70's was altered by three bands: Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Saints."

[@rogertobias5410]

When are you going to review Elvis Presley records?

[@RobertFithen]

When my Elvis Presley record collection is complete. I have five more albums to get.

[@PaulBell88]

It disturbs me that you save the fucking shrink wrap. I don't know why. Infuriates me.

[@RobertFithen]

I don't know why either

[@vinylrichie007]

I could have done without the sneeze.

[@RobertFithen]

You loved it.

[@Moekoffee2001]

Which one?

[@NickBabishoff]

If only they would release the entire Sha na na Woodstock performance my life would be complete

[@RobertFithen]

It was good enough the make the movie cut apparently