It's Been A Minute
A much-needed break, an ever-growing record haul, and a ton of new record stores & resolutions for 2024 and beyond
Hi friends. It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Well, that was by design.
As 2023 wound down and transitioned into 2024, I needed to ease myself into January. The holidays were a lot of fun, but also just a lot, and I needed to recuperate. I’m glad I slowly got back into it. 2024 has already been incredible, and I’m quite privileged with the life I have. As I write this, my wife and I are less than 24 hours away from adopting our first two kittens. Our apartment is looking amazing and loved and now, kitten-proofed. I’ve also been training nonstop for the L.A. Marathon (I ran my first solo 20 miler and then preceded to strain my glute). And of course, my record collection has grown with some primo vinyl (more on that below).
While all these good things have been happening, I have also simultaneously not been inspired or motivated to write. And that’s okay with me. When I started this newsletter last year, my number one goal was to only enjoy it and not put any pressure on myself to write on a schedule or torture myself with metrics and popularity. I would write only for the sheer play of it. So I decided take break and go live some life so I that I could be inspired by it.
The beautiful thing about taking a minute to create is that it gives you time to think. The time taken away from writing this newsletter has given me time to think about what I want out of it this year, and by extension, what I want out of my passion for vinyl records. I came across this Discogs article in the year entitled “9 New Year’s Resolutions for Every Record Collector” and it’s inspired me to do more this year, specifically selling records and buying less while simultaneously playing and enjoying more of what’s in my currently curated collection. According to this Discogs Instagram post about the different types of record collectors, that would make me #4:
THE SPECULATOR (Collector and Seller): You buy and sell records, and your collecting is both a passion and a business pursuit, whether full-time or side hustle.
I’m not mad at that. I’m actually really excited about the months ahead and the new records that I’ll be spinning, so for this issue of First Pressing, I’m leading with my OCD-like need to tell you about every new record that I’ve bought, and from where, and then going to listen the hell out of them. So without further adieu - my record haul.
“Albums, Recent”
(Left to Right, Row by Row, Categorized by Record Store, In No Particular Order)
Joy Division - Closer: While out on a run, I popped into Rubycon Records, near Santa Monica and Virgil. Rubycon’s had an interesting year - their IG got hacked, they had a going out of business sale, transitioned into an event and film space, began hosting pop-up record sales, hosted after hour raves that got shut down by the police, and became a record shop, again. They specialize in a lot of 80s new wave and industrial/electro/techno stuff. While digging in the $2 bin, I was shocked to find this early reissue of Joy Division’s incredible second album. I asked the owner Robert why it was $2, and he said, “Because I don’t give a fuck.” I said that I would buy it, to which he responded, “I’m not charging you $2 for that. If that’s the only thing you found you wanted to buy, just take it.” I’m haunted by this conversation because to this day, I still don’t understand the rationale. Thank you Robert?!
Curtis Mayfield - Curtis: This album’s all killer no filler. Midnight Hour has a nicely curated selection of punk, rockabilly, some soul, and the classics. They unfortunately fell on some harder times because of last week’s SoCal rainstorm, so please support them if you can by donating to their GoFundMe.
Klaus Schulze - Picture Music: Ambient rhythmic Kraut soundscapes to play at home with the lights off.
Klaus Schulze - Blackdance: More synthy but occupies the silence in a good way.
Earth, Wind, and Fire - Self-Titled: One of the best funk bands of all-time started somewhere. This is that album, and it’s even funkier than you think.
John Cale - Slow Dazzle: Sparkly sunglasses on the Velvet Underground guitarist with red/green typography on the cover art made me do it.
Roy Ayers - Ubiquity: White label vibes. ‘Nuff said that I haven’t already said.
Kraftwerk - Computer World: I came across this album once for $15 at Waterloo Records in Austin, TX during SXSW 2019 and have regretted not buying it since. “Computer Love” is sampled in Coldplay’s “Speed of Sound” and I can’t unhear it.
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead: Netherlands press featuring the song “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” which was quoted in 500 Days of Summer, which is referenced in this genius TikTok from KCRW featuring Johnny Marr.
Willie Colón - The Hustler: Mono pressing with the gold Fania label. Colón has said terrible things in his later years, but his early output with Fania Records is the reason I love latin jazz so much, so once more, I’m in internal conflict. Thankfully, for all the records purchased from ShakaSounds, they donate a portion to a non-profit, charity, or social cause.
Alice Coltrane - Eternity: Thrilled to finally have the spiritual sounds of Alice on vinyl for the first time. This is the year I get into spiritual jazz.
Mandingo - Watto Sitta: ShakaSounds was kind to throw in Mandingo. I’m not familiar but very excited to give this one a spin.
Tempovision International Records
The Smiths - Shoplifters of the World Unite 12”: On my way back from another run, I stumbled upon Jesse Hiram, who had stacks of vinyl splayed out, a digger’s delight, on the corner of the sweetgreen in Sunset Junction. I found this INCREDIBLE 12” single with the infamous Elvis artwork.
Iggy Pop - Soldier: While digging, I had a great chat with Jesse who gave me invaluable tips on selling records. “I don’t gatekeep,” he stated as I pulled out this 1980s Iggy album.
La Lupe - Queen of Latin Soul: My 3-month subscription to Vinyl Me Please (a Christmas gift) has already paid off with January’s Classic Album. Not as well known as Celia Cruz, La Lupe is a force to be reckoned with and has an incredible cover of “Fever" on this LP.
Tito Puente - El Rey Bravo: If I got the Queen of Latin Soul, might as well get the Brave King that is Tito Puente too. Timbales vibes for days.
Charles Bradley - Victim of Love: VMP had an incredible sitewide sale, and I was able to nab a very under-appreciated artist’s album. Charles has a tragic story and yet persevered through so much hardship to sing about love and beauty.
Justice - + (Cross): I heard the techno-rock French dudes were back (Hyperdrama!), so I had to grab this LP from my college raver days (Hard Haunted Mansion 2004 - what a time). Still melts my brain and makes me dance maniacally. As a special offer, I was able to also grab it for free with my subscription.
Manu Dibango - Makossa Man: Michael Jackson did not invent “mama say mama say mama makossa.” Manu did. Found this one in the record section of this vintage mall in Long Beach (BTW, Long Beach flea markets are some of the BEST places to find vinyl treasures).
Mamman Sani - Taaritt: The first time I heard “Five Hundred Miles” by Mamman Sani, a Nigerian synth player with spiritual jazz vibes, I was FLOORED. I asked Sibylline Record Shop if they had it. Of course they did.
RAMP - Come Into Knowledge: Sibylline started out on Instagram with tons of OG grails from Africa, especially high-life, jazz funk white whales, and some punk, too. This reissue is a side project from Roy Ayers (RAMP = Roy Ayers Music Production).
Eddie Palmieri - Lacumi Macumba Voodoo: By salsa pianist Eddie Palmieri, it’s definitely a more primal Afro-Latin inspired album with big brass.
The Damned - Anything: Sibylline finally transitioned from Instagram to brick-and-mortar with a shop in Pasadena, CA in late 2023. Well stacked, well-curated with listening stations.
The Damned - Damned Damned Damned: Stoked to grab Anything and this 1977 album with the ICONIC whipped cream cover. There was Sex Pistols, there was The Clash, AND there was The Damned. Goth punk vibes from a vampire-looking guy.
CAN - Ege Bamyasi: RIP to Damo Suzuki, who put his unique vocals and lyrics on this album, including “Sing Swan Song” (sampled / interpolated on Kanye’s Drunk ‘n Hot Girls” and their infamous “Vitamin C” song. (“Hey You!”).
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind: Needed to complete the IM discography with more shreddy thrash metal rock to melt my face. It worked.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity - A Tear to a Smile: Another Instagram vendor, who kindly sold me this missing Roy album from my collection
Ronnie Laws - Flame: He also threw in this Ronnie Laws album for free because he said I should “get on to him.”
Mams & Hart - Gotta Give It Up: John from Mono always has the cleanest grails ever AND turns me on to new things. Very fair, open to trades, and is a good dude. This one’s disco hi-life with a boogie to beat and some slinky sounds.
William Onyeabor - Tomorrow: You look so good, FANTASTIC MAN!
Bueno Records x Deus Ex Machina
Quazar - Self-Titled: discovered this album on the awesome newsletter JointzOfTheDay who wrote this piece on Glenn Goins, former Parliament guitarist who formed funk band QUAZAR.
Ramones: Road to Ruin: I met Alex of Bueno Records because I received an excel sheet of Blue Note albums that he was selling during COVID. Alex’s apartment was actually the first one I had been in since the pandemic started, and we both wore masks anxiously while talking about music over crates of records. Alex recently opened a record pop-up inside Deus Ex Machina in Silver Lake, which sold me this Ramones record feat. “I Wanna Be Sedated.”
Iggy Pop - Lust for Life: Alex is genuinely excited to get good music in good shape into people’s hands. He’s got a lust for the record life.
Iggy Pop - The Idiot: He said he doesn’t sell for money, he sells because he loves it, which is very inspiring. He helped me get my Iggy Pop grails.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity: Change Up the Groove: Also got this other funky Roy Ayers to boot, thus nearly completing my full discography.
Willie Colón - El Juicio: Finding this album in the back of a vintage shop for $5 was an amazing surprise while roaming Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank.
Madonna - Self-Titled: Got this Madonna debut for pretty cheap, too.
Kashif - Self-Titled: An 80s R&B synth masterpiece obtained at the infamous Record Safari. I think I overpaid for it, though.
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (2023 Deluxe Edition): Definitely overpaid for this one, too, but it was well worth it. This reissue is out of stock everywhere. Makes sense.
Justo Betancourt y su Conjunto Borincuba - Presencia!: a Fanial Records artist that I haven’t checked out before. Dug the cover.
Mongo Santamaria y Justo Betancourt - Mongo y Justo: Heard of this album because of my guy Mongo. Conga y soulful vocals, I’m in.
Echo & the Bunnymen - Crocodiles: Got it to finish up my Echo discography, really.
Brian Eno - Before and After Science: Found at this huge, old-school Sherman Oaks record shop that may have been built inside an old house because it has a fireplace covered in records. Album is from ambient wunder-producer of David Bowie and Roxy Music.
In Sheep’s Clothing’s Sound & Vision Pop-Up
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication: Check out the Sound & Vision pop-up at The Row DTLA if you can. Our friends Record Cabinets and WeShare Records are posted up there, and you can find new classics like this RHCP gem.
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Self-Titled: Lastly, this albums is from the iconic Japanese electro group featuring Harumi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto. It’s like a video game with groovy beats, and Poobah is another old-school shop from the 80s in Pasadena.
That’s it for this issue of First Pressing. I have a feeling we’ll be talking again much sooner than later. Until then, happy spinning :)
Kadrian
P.S. Today, February 11th is apparently the Super Bowl. I’m not really a sports person, so I will be spinning records for our new kittens and attending the In Sheep’s Clothing Lover’s Market Record Fair. But yay sports?
Waterloo was my neighborhood record store for 22 years. Every town needs a store like that! Great list, thanks for sharing.
Welcome back! Can’t wait to see the kittens. Such great finds, especially Curtis and EWF.