Spitalfields Record Fair, Jan 9

After nine months living in London, I had my first decent LP haul. On my way to work, I walked through Spitalfields Market, that had been taken over by a record fair, about 16 dealers, and many £1 bins. All LPs below were £1. Typically, I blog as a I listen to my new finds. In 2008, I have created a severe case of delayed gratification, with over six months before I hear these. This exercise is far too theoretical for my liking.

999 - 999 [UA 1978, Porky Prime Cut]
Debut album by London punks, with classic singles 'I'm Alive' and 'Nasty Nasty'.


Al Stewart – Live, Indian Summer

I've enjoyed Al Stewart's material from this era, lite folk, but uh oh. Allmusic says a professional but uninspiring live set. Another revewier, Michael Testi says not great, but the best way to hear Al Stewart live at his peak.

Bax / Barbirolli – English Tone Pictures [EMI ASD 2305]
AllMusic says 'muted'. The 2007 reissue on CD gets props. This may be the second label as its a semi-circle and not the gold/white label. Hmm. Delius/Dax/Ireland read like heavy going modernist stuff. My dad (a conductor himself) says Barbirolli was a solid conductor.

Bob Dylan – Greatest Hits [CBS orange stereo]
I'd been looking for an original UK pressing of the hits, so this was a pleasing find, adding to my batch of original UK Dylans, with their distinct, warm mastering.

Brahms / Barbirolli – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor [EMI ASD 2353]

Cliff Richards – The Best of Cliff [Columbia SCX 6343]

A regular bargain bin find, AllMusic says that Cliff Richard's third compilation while crammed with hits, doesn't hold up to repeat plays as a collection. I'm curious to hear the Neil Diamond track 'Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon', and the Rolling Stones 'Blue Turns to Grey'. Reading up on his discography, I now have a better idea of what to look for (his debut, earlier comp etc).

Debussy / Barbirolli – Nocturnes [EMI ASD 2442]

Elton John – Goodbye yellow brick road [DJM UK original]

I had read that the UK original was the preferred mastering, but perhaps the 1979 yellow vinyl, or MFSL vinyl beats it based on this thread. I only have the SACD for comparison, and enjoyed the 5.1 mix. I'll pass on the Direct Discs, Speakers Corner, Japanese and MCA pressings. Not sure why I'm pursuing this one as I don't much like the album.

Eurythmics – Don’t Ask Me Why [12”]

Eurythmics – I Need A Man [10”]

Eurythmics – Julia [12”]

My favourite track from the soundtrack to 1984.

Gary Numan – I, Assassin [1982]

AllMusic says, last truly great album for a while, but it looks like his first three (Tubeway Army, Replicas, Pleasure Principle) are the ones to start with.



John Lennon – Imagine [1U]
I'm delighted to find what appears to be the first UK pressing with the first stamper (1U), and George Peckham's mastering credits (Pecko, Peckham). The consensus is that this or the EMI 100th Anniversary pressing are best. This felt like the best bargain of the day for £1.

Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill [12”]
Ah, a wonderful song. And now the definitive way to hear it.


Kirsty MacColl – Don’t Come the Cowboy with Me… [12”]
I remember enjoying this track.

Kirsty MacColl – Electric Landlady

Lindisfarne – Finest Hour [Porky Prime Cut]
Peckham mastered compilation from 1975. They fit the bill for the English folk music I'm drawn to, but have yet to grab me.

Lou Reed – New York [German pressing]
My favorite Lou Reed album, the first I heard (when it was released). No mastering credit for Masterdisk or Robert Ludwig (RL), so I have a lemon, albeit a pristine, beautifully pressed one. There was a second copy there, but also referencing Alsdorf. I may have picked up a US pressing a while back (hard to remember), but if not, this'll be on my wish list. How the sound fares with 58 minutes on a single LP, that's another question.

Louis Armstrong – The Louis Armstrong Story Vol. 3 [Columbia US green]
My third copy of the green label pressing from the 50s, all of which are '1A' stampers. Each purchase has been an upgrade with better condition vinyl. Other masterings include the Davies CD (fantastic), and a 45 RPM boxed set (awful). Next stop, the 78RPM originals.

Magazine – Real Life
Debut by Howard Devoto's post-punk outfit. Critically lauded - looking forward to deciding for myself as I've read about them for years, but never heard anything.



Mahalia Jackson – Welcome to Europe [CBS orange stereo]
A '1a' stamper on the early all orange label. There were a few of her LPs available, and this one had the most compelling line up of material, also since it was recorded in Europe, it seemed more likely to be a definitive mastering on a European pressing (made sense at the time).

Marc Almond – Stories of Johnny

Supposedly harking back to Soft Cell's electronics, loaded with singles, and one of his better efforts. Likely a digital master, since it credits a digital studio, and dates from 1984/85 when that might have seemed like a good thing. AllMusic is generous with their rating of Almond's back catalogue with most awarded four stars or more. Seems like you can't go wrong.

Marc and the Mambas – Untitled [A Porky Prime Cut]
I read that Anthony & The Johnstons cited Marc and the Mambas as his single biggest influence, but (doh) it was the second album, Torments and Torreros that he referenced, not the debut.

Marillion – Misplaced Childhood
Named after Tolkein's Silmarillion, what's not to like. I remember my baby sitter playing the cassette of this when it came out, and knowing somehow (even then) that it was supremely uncool. Then a friend was a huge fan. The gatefold cover art is suitably trippy. The stamper is 1U-1-1 which is odd. Since it was a number 1 album, there are probably hundreds of stampers. I do recall finding 'Kayleigh' a little sickly at the time, certainly overplayed in London. But I'll give them a fresh listen.


Paul McCartney – Give My Regards to Broad Street
The first time I was aware of McCartney, this was his current release. I never heard it, or saw the disastrous film, but certainly heard 'No More Lonely Nights' on the radio. Looks like a rehash of old material. Mixed digitally. No mastering engineer is prepared to take credit for it.

Simon & Garfunkel – Wednesday Morning 3AM [CBS orange stereo A2/B1]
One of their folkiest, and perhaps my favorite, with 'The Sounds of Silence' and 'The Times They Are A-Changin".



Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Spirituals in rhythm [Ember 1965]
This is the UK version of the US Spin-O-Rama release (below):




Steeleye Span – Parcel of Rogues [Chrysalis UK, 3U/4U]
I have a US pressing, and don't really need this one, since it should be the mastering.

The Creatures – Eraser Cut [10” Porky Prime Cut]
The first recording after the Siouxsie & The Banshees split in 1996. This one slipped past me, I only noticed the Anima Animus album that followed.

The Monochrome Set - Love Zombies [Dindisc 1980]
Second album by witty John Peel picks. I hadn't realised that they reformed and published into the mid-1990s.


The Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed [1W/2W]
I'm upgrading a US copy with an almost first UK pressing.

Vaughan Williams / Barbirolli – A London Symphony [EMI ASD 2360]

Vaughan Williams / Boult – Symphony No. 6 [EMI ASD 2329]

Wire – A Bell is a Cup [1988]
The accessible reunion album, supposedly worth checking out.