2016 Purchases

January 2016

1. David Bowie: Blackstar – Columbia – 88875173862 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$12.99
2. Simple Minds: Sparkle In The Rain Super DLX Box – UMG – 3793491 – UK – 5xCD+DVD-A – Marvelio Amazon/$42.49
3. Robert Palmer: I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On – Island – 0-96804 – US – 12″ – Philadelphiamusic/$1.50
4. Tom Tom Club: Happiness Can’t Buy Money – Rykodisc – RA 12-0607 – US – 12″ – Philadelphia music/$2.00
5. Electribe 101: You’re Walking [remix] – Mercury – MERXR 328 – UK – 12″ – Philadelphiamusic/$2.00
6. November Group: Persistent Memories – Brain Eater – BRAIN 1  – US – EP – Philadelphiamusic/$3.00
7. David Gamson: Sugar Sugar – Rough Trade – RT 088 – UK – 12″ – Philadelphiamusic/$2.00
8. Torch Song: Don’t Look Now – IRS Records – IRS 110DJ   – UKP – 7″ – Philadelphiamusic/$4.00
9. The Headboys – Stepping Stones – RSO Records – RSO 49 – UK – 7″ – Philadelphiamusic/$2.00
10. Mari Wilson + The Wilsations: Wonderful – The Compact Organization – PINK 7   – UK – 7″ – Philadelphiamusic/$2.00
11. ABC: When Smokey Sings [Detroit Mix] – Neutron Records – NTXR 111 – UK – 12″ – Philadelphiamusic/$2.00
12. Fingerprintz – The Beat Escape – Virgin Records – VS 452-12  – UK – 12″ – Philadelphiamusic/$4.00
13. Daryl Hall: Sacred Songs – Buddha Records – 74465-99604-2 – US – CD – Amazon dealer/$1.00
14. The Buggles: Living In The Plastic Age DLX RM – Island Records – UICY-77550 – JPN – CD – gift
15. Real Life – Lifetime – Curb Records ‎– D2-77271 – US – CD – 2nd + Charles/$5.59
16. Leonard Cohen: Ten New Songs – Columbia ‎– CK 85953 – US – CD – 2nd + Charles/$4.00
17. Polysics: Neu – Asian Man Records ‎– AM-102 CD – US – CD – 2nd + Charles/$3.00
18. Blank + Jones: So80s Presents ZTT (A Remixed Obstacle In The Path Of The Obvious) – Soundcolours ‎– SC0342 – UK – 2xCD – gift

Wow! Are you sure this is January? Usually the month is one big music drought that sometimes lasts for a few months. I’m not sure why. It just is. Not this time. January of 2016 was a robust month for music. It started out with a band with the final David Bowie album, thought we didn’t know that for at least three days. “Blackstar” was a highly compelling final chapter from Mr. Bowie. We are still reeling from his sudden death. Never was I so glad for buying an album on release day, which [statistically] never happens. I finally bought the “Sparkle In The Rain” super deluxe box but my tale is sad and inconclusive. The vendor sent me old, error-ridden stock of the kind that UMG sent out into the world last March. With a mono hi-res 2.0 new Steven Wilson mix as well as a flawed 5.1 mix on the DVD-A. Then the booklet was missing chunks. As of last April, there was an address at UMG to send for replacement parts, so I did. Only to have UMG say “contact your vendor.” The vendor said “we’ll give you a $25 credit for your troubles.” We said “you will give us replacement parts or a full refund!” so we got the refund. Now I am burned and back at square one. I figured that almost a year later I would only get corrected stock, but this did not happen! I am quietly freaking out right now.

I got another thick box of records from Philadelphia Music; full of want list goodness as shipped from America to my home for almost nothing! I have all of the November Group records and am hot to compile a REVO disc of them. I also got the last ABC record I needed almost three years ago for a way stalled BSOG project. The vendor at that time sent me the “Footlose” OST instead of the ABC disc in question and it’s taken me this long to finally re-purchase it! I was thinking about Daryl Hall’s “Sacred Songs” and how I had not yet heard it after 35 years and wondered if the 1999 CD was OOP. One dollar later on Amazon and it was ordered! My friend Ron graciously sent me the newly budget priced re-issue of the godlike 17-track version of the seminal debut album by The Buggles to my utter delight. Then Echorich sent me the magnificent Blank + Jones ZTT project which almost erases 20+ years of lame post-modern remixes tainting the legacy of FGTH, Propaganda and The Art Of Noise. My music pals are kind and generous.

Subtotal: $93.57

February 2016

1. Real Life: Openhearted – Wheatley Records – WRS-003 – Oz – 7″ – The Single Guy/$7.00
2. Siam: Don’t Look Back – A+M Records – AMS 8134 – UK – 7″ – Fives Records/$2.16
3. Siam: Catrix – A+M Records – AMS 8177 – UK – 7″ – Fives Records/$1.43
4. Annabel Lamb: Heartland – A+M Records – AM 109 – UK – 7″ – Fives Records/$2.16
5. Fiat Lux: Blue Emotion – Polydor – FIAT 3 – UK – 7″ – Fives Records/$1.43
6. Fiat Lux: House Of Thorns – Polydor – FIAT 4 – UK – 7″ – Fives Records/$1.87
7. Fingerprintz: Bulletproof Heart – Virgin Records – VS 358 – UK – 7″ – Fives Records/$2.88
8. John Foxx: Burning Car – Metamatic Records – META59LP – UK – LP – Foxx Webstore/$25.40
9. Stephen Duffy: The Ups + Downs DLX RM – Cherry Pop – CRPOP11   – UK – CD – Musicstack/$19.07
10. Mari Wilson: Dolled Up – Beehive Records – BEEHCD1  – UK – CD – Promo
11. Mari Wilson: Emotional Glamour – Beehive Records – BEEHCD2  – UK – CD – Promo
12. Mari Wilson: Cover Stories – Beehive Records – BEEHCD3 – UK – CD – Promo
13. Mari Wilson: Platinum Collection – Warner Music UK – 5144-24560-2 – UK – CD – Promo
14. Barry Andrews: Haunted Box Of Switches Vols. 1 + 2 – Shriekback – UK – 2xCDR – Shriekback webstore/$21.16

February saw me obtaining a rare OZ 7″ for a Real Life B-side needed to make the ideal version of “Heartland” that the man won’t give us! I finally found a UK dealer offering 2/3 Siam [Jacqui Brookes] singles that I needed as well as the one Annabel Lamb cut I needed to finish off a DLX RM of her debut album. Sweet! The same dealer had necessary Fiat Lux and Fingerprintz material as well, so the postage cost was put to good use. I got the stunning new Foxx comp which was on gatefold LP only. And I finally bought the DLX RM of the Stephen Duffy debut album which was salted with previously unreleased material for that decades-simmering Duffy BSOG®! There was a non-delivery issue for the Shriekback rarity disc I had blogged about earlier, so an email to Barry Andrews later, and he set me up with his 2xCD solo album, “Haunted Box Of Switches v. 1/2” instead. Finally, in what was clearly a “pinch me, I’m dreaming” experience, I finally got up to date on the Mari Wilson discography in the biggest way possible as the artist herself graciously provided them as source materials to be used in updating my earlier discography [blogged about last year] for her new website. Wha…? My obsessive labors of love turned into official artist promo? Yes! More please!

Subtotal:$84.56

March 2016

1. Various: He’s A Liquid – Metamatic Records – META60EP – UK – 12″ – Foxx Webstore/$12.93
2. The Cucumbers: The Fake Doom Years DXL RM – Life Force Records – 889211904365   – US – DL – Gift
3. Joe “King” Carrasco + The Crowns: Synapse Gap [Mundo Total] – MCA Records ‎- MCA-5308 – US – LP – Harvest Records/$2.00
4. The Flirts: Jukebox [Don’t Put Another Dime] – “O” Records ‎– OR 724 – US – 12″ – Harvest Records/$2.00

A bit of a slimmer month with another Foxx 12″ single of interesting cover versions he’d commissioned from some of his buddies. I got a nice pair of records in the cheapie bin at Harvest. I now have the first three Joe “King” Carrasco albums for digitization. Finally, Another delightful occurrence of an artist I enjoy giving me free promo music happened when Deena Shoskes of Hoboken New Wavers The Cucumbers got wind of PPM and thought I might like to let the world know about the fine remastering of “The Fake Doom Years?” Yes, ma’am!

Subtotal: $16.93

April 2016

1. Mari Wilson + Boisounds: O.I.C. – Boisounds – US – DL – iTunes/$2.99
2. Mari Wilson + Mr. Hudson: Superman – Boisounds – US – DL – iTunes/$.99
3. Faust: Faust IV DLX RM – Virgin – CDVR 2004 – UK – 2xCD – Mr. K’s/$12.00
4. Cat Stevens: Greatest Hits – A+M Records – CD-4519  – US – CD – Mr. K’s/$2.00
5. Iggy Pop: Soldier DLX RM – Buddha Records – 74465 99660 2 – US – CD – Mr. K’s/$7.95
6. Iggy Pop: Brick By Brick – Virgin Records – V2-9138 – US – CD – Mr. K’s/$2.00
7. Robert Gordon + Link Wray: Fresh Fish Special – One Way Records – OW 34491 – US – CD – Mr. K’s/$2.00
8. Róisín Murphy: Overpowered – EMI – 50999 5 11325 2 1 – Malaysia – CD – Mr. K’s/$4.95
9. Prince: Dirty Mind – Warner Bros. Records – 3478-2 – US – CD – Gravity Records/$5.99
10. The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers – UMe – B0012799-02 – US – CD – Gravity Records/$5.99
11. Iggy Pop: Lust For Life – Virgin – 0777 7 86153 2 3 – US – CD – Gravity Records/$5.99
12. Wire: Red Barked Tree – Pinkflag ‎– PF 18 – UKPromo – CD-R – Gravity Records/$4.99
13. Faust: Faust – Polydor ‎– POCP-2155 – JPN – CD – gift
14. Faust: So Far – Polydor ‎– POCP-2156 – JPN – CD – gift
15. Palais Schaumburg: The Beat Of Two 2 – Mercury ‎– MER 158 – UK – 7″ – gift
16. Brian Eno: The Ship – Warp Records ‎– WARPCD272 – UK – CD – Harvest Records/$13.99
17. The Teardrop Explodes: Kilimanjaro DLX RM – Mercury ‎– 548 322-2 – UK – CD – Harvest Records/$6.99
18. Holly Herndon: Platform – 4AD ‎– CAD 3503 CD – UK – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00

April was Faust month! We saw the band [spellbinding!] at Big Ears festival, then stumbled upon a local used copy of “Faust IV” in DLX RM format that we had to have. Then Ron Kane saw my late-in-life Faust conversion and he sent me JPN copies of their first two CDs! Lotsa Iggy Pop this month with bonafide classics rubbing shoulders with fascinating [albeit under appreciated] New Wave attempts that were even more fascinating to me [if you could believe that]. I could not believe that I managed to find a used copy of Prince’s “Dirty Mind,” the first record of his that I’d heard [but never owned] just a week after his tragic death. What an album! A rare example of the Rolling Stone review being spot on. The Quietus have gone on and on about Holly Herndon. I had the chance to see her twice at festivals I attended but sampling her first album did zilch for me. I saw her second in the cheapie-bin at Harvest and thought I’d take a shot. Not bad, but not as brilliant as the hype would have it. At least it was listenable. I can’t say the same for her first excursions into audio editing.

Subtotal: $79.82

May 2016

1. Dr. Robert: Out There – Fencat ‎- FEN009CD – UK – CD – Pledge Music/$24.65
2. Mari Wilson: Pop Deluxe – WG Records ‎– WG 001 – UK – CD – Pledge Music/$21.63
3. OMD: Dazzle Ships/Architecture + Morality Live @ RAH – LiveHereNow – LHN004CD  – UK – CD – Pledge Music/$33.81
4. John Foxx: 21st Century: A Man, A Woman and A City – Metamatic – META61CDDVD – UK – CD+DVD+DL – Foxx Webstore/$18.15
5. Funkadelic: One Nation Under A Groove – Priority Records ‎– 72435-39378-2-9 – US – CD – Goodwill/$1.50

May was Pledge Music month at PPM! Three pledges saw more scratch than usual going straight to the artist, at least. John Foxx had yet another back catalog project, that was at least salted heavily with rarities. And I stumbled onto a very inexpensive used copy of “One Nation Under A Groove.” Who would donate that to Goodwill??!! I used to own the LP/7″ but sold it off in the hopes that I would one day own this instead. Something that I could easily listen to.

Subtotal: $99.74

June 2016

1. Bryan Ferry: Avonmore – BMG ‎– 859381012153 – US – CD – Harvest/$13.99
2. Be-Bop Deluxe: Axe Victim – Harvest ‎– CDP 7947262 – UK – CD – Harvest/$6.99
3. Be-Bop Deluxe: Live! In The Air Age – Harvest ‎– CDP 7 94732 2 – UK – CD- Harvest/$6.99
4. The Bears: Rise + Shine – Primitive Man Recording Company ‎– IRSD-42139 – US – CD – Harvest/$7.99
5. Laibach: Rekapitulacija 1980-84 – NSK Recordings ‎– NSK 008 – Slovenia – CD – Harvest/$14.99
6. Palais Schaumburg: Easy Go – Phonogram – 880 350-7 – GER – 7″ – gift
7. John Foxx + The Maths: The Bunker Tapes – Meemtune Recordings – MEME16DEP05  – UK – DL – Bandcamp/$7.77

June was all about my wife buying the music for a change. Knowing that she was taking me to the Ryman in Nashville in August to see Bryan Ferry, of course we finally needed to hear “the new album.” I was all ready to get this myself [spending my discretionary to do so] when she surprise me by bringing home a bag o’ CDs, including this one. She also liked my Be-Bop Deluxe CD of “Drastic Plastic,” so she grabbed “Axe Victim” and “Live! In The Air Age” as well. She said that she should have heard these when they came out. She picked up the scarce 2nd Bears CD [saving me from digitizing my LP] and …woah! A Slovenian Laibach CD of early recordings [pre-1985] that find our chums not quite fully formed as the stentorian machine we all know and love. My friend Ron sent me yet another rare Palais Schaumburg 7″ and, as usual, the mutants who deliver my mail, jammed the single mailer into my mailbox. Only this time, something finally snapped. Grrrrrrrrrrr. Finally John Foxx + The Maths hit like a bolt from the blue with a fantastic download EP of the music composed for the play of E.M. Forster’s “The Machine Stops.”

Subtotal: $58.72

Half Year Subtotals: 66 releases | $433.34 | average cost – $6.56/title

July 2016

1. Robert Hazard: Robert Hazard – RHA Records – MXL-1-8500 – US – EP – Quirks/$2.00
2. Razormaid: …maid! How Slow Can You Go? – Razormaid Records – SP-018 – USP – 2xLP – Triangle Vinyl/$16.00
3. The Motors: Love + Loneliness – Virgin – VS 263 – UK – yellow 10″ – Triangle Vinyl/$1.00
4. Fingerprintz: Beat Noir – Virgin – 203 808 – GER – LP [1st pressing tracks] – Triangle Vinyl/$1.00
5. Polyrock: Above The Fruited Plain – PVC – PVC 6901 – US – EP – CFBG/$4.00
6. ПРЕДСМЕРТНАЯ КАДРИЛЬ: ГОРЕТЬ КРАСИВО – Sierpien Records ‎– SRPN004 – UKR – DL – Bandcamp/$6
7. Steven Jones + Logan Sky: Maria – Some Bizzare – CC-09-CA – UK – DL – Promo
8. Billie Ray Martin: The Soul Tapes – Sonnenstahl Records ‎– SREC108 – GER – CD – PledgeMusic/$17.60
9. Visage: Hidden Sign – Blitz Club Records ‎– BZCR016 – UK – CD5 – amazon.com/$15.50

More PledgeMusic titles this months came home to roost. I finally got the Visage “Hidden Sign” CD5 from 2014, back when I was scrimping up money to take a long vacation to the West Coast. Amazon still had a few copies for $15.50… but every other hominoid on the planet was selling this for $30-60 by this time! I missed the “Never Enough” 12″ but have all of the CDs from “Hearts + Knives,” now. Thank goodness! Speaking of Visage, their keyboardist had a new EP from his post-Visage teamup with Steven Jones that arrived as a DL in promo. PPM has actually received promos this year as we “go legit” in a most stately fashion.

Subtotal: $63.10

August 2016

1. LP: Death Valley – Vagrant Records – MAF1795 – US – CD5 – merch/$15
2. Bryan Ferry: Live 2015 – DLT Ltd. – 538204780 – UK – 2xCD – merch/$30
3. The Divine Comedy: Absent Friends – Parlophone – 7243 596280 2 8 – UKP – CD – Grimey’s/$4.99
4. The Divine Comedy: Regeneration – Nettwerk – 0 6700 30237 2 6 – USP – CD – Grimey’s/$4.99
5. Dex Romweber Duo: Live At Third Man – Third Man Records – TMR 035 – US – LP – Grimey’s/$9.99
6. Dex Romweber Duo: Images 13 – Bloodshot Records – BS 210 – US – CD – Grimey’s/$5.99
7. The Humans: Sugar Rush – The End Records – TE213-2 – USP – CD – Grimey’s/$4.99
8. The London Suede: Bloodsports – Fontana – SUELPCDX001 – US – CD – Grimey’s/$6.99
9. Electribe 1.0.1.: Talking With Myself – Hip-Notic Records – HIP 1 – UK – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$2.25
10. Simple Minds: Homosapien (Malcolm Duffy Mixes) – Remote Recordings – REMOTE 016 – UK – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$1.50
11. Yello: Tied Up (Remix) – Mercury – 872 761-1 – US – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$1.50
12. Yello: Unbelievable – Elektra – ED 5467 – USP – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
13. Data: Elegant Machinery – Sire – 1-25297 – US – LP – philadelphiamusic/$2.25
14. Real Life: Flame – Curb Records – MCA-5639 – US – LP – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
15. Real Life: Let’s Fall In Love – Curb Records – CRB-10308 – US – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$2.25
16. Real Life: Kiss The Ground – Curb Records – V-77070 – USP – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$1.50
17. Real Life: God Tonight – Curb Records – V-77053 – US – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$1.50
18. Dubset: Flesh Made Word – Elektra – 9 60347-1 – USP – LP – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
19. Robert Palmer: Early In The Morning – EMI-Manhattan Records – V-56113 – US – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
20. Robert Palmer: Pride – Island Records – DMD 678 – USP – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
21. Robert Palmer: You Are In My System – Island Records – 0-96996 – US – 12” – philadelphiamusic/$1.50
22. John Cale: M:FANS – Double Six Recordings – DS108CDP – EuroP – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
23. John Cale: Music For A New Society DLX RM – Double Six Recordings – REWIGCD93P – EuroP – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
24. Various: Sherwood At The Controls Volume 2: 1985-1990 – On-U Sound – USP – CD-R – Harvest Records/$1.00
25. Trevor Jackson Presents: Science Fiction Dancehall Classics – On-U Sound ‎– ONUCD129P – USP – 2xCD-R – Harvest Records/$1.00
26. Yaz: Upstairs At Eric’s – Sire ‎– 9 23737-2 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
27. Velvet Underground: 1969 – The Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed Vol. 1  – Mercury – 834 823-2 – US – CD – Harvest/$1.00
28. Velvet Underground: 1969 – The Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed Vol. 2 – Mercury – 834 824-2 – US – CD – Harvest/$1.00
29. Velvet Crush: Teenage Symphonies To God – Epic ‎– BK 64442 – US – CD – Harvest/$1.00
30. Beach Boys: Pet Sounds DLX RM – Capitol Records ‎– 50999 404426 24 – US – CD – Harvest/$14.44
31. Brian Wilson: Reimagines Gershwin – Disney Pearl Series ‎– D000428902 – US – CD – Harvest/$1.00
32. Tiga: No Fantasy Required – Counter Records ‎– COUNTCD080P – UKP – CD-R – Harvest/$1.00
33. Blondie: Parallel Lines DLX RM – Chrysalis – 72435-33599-2-8  – US – CD – Harvest/$1.00
34. Todd Rundgren: Arena – Hi Fi Recordings ‎– HF1002 – US – CD – Harvest/$1.00
35. Southern Culture On The Skids: Liquored Up + Lacquered Down – TVT Records ‎– TVT 2170-2  – US – CD – Harvest/$1.00
36. Prince: Prince – Warner Bros. Records ‎– 3366-2  – US – CD – Harvest/$6.39
37. Róisín Murphy: Hairless Toys – Play It Again Sam ‎– PIASR790CDX – UK – CD – Harvest/$1.00
38. Cabaret Voltaire: Yashar – Factory – FAC82 – UK – 12″ – Harvest/$3.19
39. Maurice + The Clichés: C’est La Vie – RMS ‎– RMSL 5002  – CAN – LP – Harvest/$1.80
40. Adult.: Anxiety Always – Ersatz Audio ‎– EZ-026 – US – 2xLP – Harvest/$1.00
41. Joe King Carrasco + The Crowns: Party Weekend – MCA Records ‎– MCA-5404  – US – LP – Harvest/$1.00
42. Real Life: Catch Me I’m Falling – Curb Records ‎– MCA-52362 – US – 7″ – Harvest/$0.25
43. Big Pig: Breakaway – A&M Records ‎– AM-3014 – US – 7″ – Harvest/$0.25
44. David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev / Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra Perform Britten: Peter And The Wolf / Young Person’s Guide To The Orchestra – RCA Red Seal ‎– ARL1-2743 – US – LP – Harvest/$1.00
45. Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Welcome To The Pleasuredome – Island Records ‎– 7 90232-1-H – US – 2xLP – Harvest/$1.00
46. Malcolm McLaren: Swamp Thing – Island Records ‎– 7 90481-1  – US – LP – Harvest/$3.99

The annual Harvest Records anniversary sale was not as good as the last year, with tons of New Music era DJ vinyl, but still nothing to sneeze at. The promo CDs were largely CD-R [ugh!] so I moderated my intake to only the titles that I was actually gunning for. There were no Bureau B releases so that ship has sailed [sigh]. None of the CD-Rs of things I’d read about in The Quietus wee much to my liking, so no big loss there. I was shocked the third Trevor Jackson comp I had bought was only fair to listen to. His “Metal Dance” series was must-have material. Had they been great, I would have had to buy actual, durable CDs of them… again!

A top item found for crazy cheap was last year’s Ròisín Murphy album. I had gotten her debut solo album at the Harvest sale two years earlier to much enjoyment. I recently found her second [godlike] album used at Mr. K’s, a local chain of used media stores and it took me from interested to near obsessed with Ms. Murphy, so this was an unbeatable event for me. I found the Prince sophomore album in the main store that day, but I’ll buy early Prince albums until I have them all. Hearing “Bambi” was insane! Sitting in the middle of an R+B album, it telegraphed Prince’s next decade ahead of him most vividly.

Subtotal: $155.80

September 2016

1. Talking Heads: The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads DLX RM – Sire ‎– R2 76489 – US – 2xCD – gift
2. It’s Immaterial: Life’s Hard Then You Die DLX RM – Caroline Records ‎– CAROLR042CD  – UK – 2XCD – gift
3. Inga Humpe: Planet Oz – WEA ‎– 9031-72268-2 – EURO – CD – gift
4. John Foxx: The Complete Cathedral Oceans – Demon Records ‎– DEMRECBOX10 – UK – Ltd. Ed. 5xLP – gift
5. Visage: Orchestral – August Day ‎– ADAY021  – UK – CD – ebay/$30
6. Carmel: The Drum Is Everything DLX RM – Drumfire ‎– DRMFR007 – UK – CD – Amazon/$25.10

A quiet September, apart from the birthday spree and gift influx, that had barely begun as the month ended. I finally got a copy of Visage’s “Orchestral” album that had come out less than two years prior when I was saving for a big vacation, and by this spring it was scraping three figures in most listings for sale! I hate that! I managed to find someone selling it for a more sedate $30, thankfully. And it was more than worth it as the orchestra and rock band go on like a house on fire. This is how a dance band could step outside of their comfort zone!

But the biggest news was that my wife had gotten my the new John Foxx “Cathedral Oceans” boxed LP set. I had not even mentioned this because it was priced outside of my comfort zone. I’d have to let that complete Foxx collection goal lapse, since I did not think I would ever see this, but my wife knew something that I didn’t. Foxx has signing an art print included only in the first 20 copies, and she acted quickly enough to have netted me #9/750! Yes, I have an artist proof edition of this box!

Subtotal: $55.10

October 2016

1. Escort: Escort – Escort Records ‎– ESCRTLP1 – US – CD – Amazon/$1.18
2. Freur: Get Us Out Of Here/Doot-Doot – Cherry Red ‎– CDM RED 419 – UK – CD – Collector’s Choice/$7.82
3. Icehouse: 12″ Versions + Remixes Vol. 1 – Repertoire Records ‎– REPUK 1170 – UK – 2xCD – Collector’s Choice/$8.99
4. Spandau Ballet: Diamond DLX RM – EMI ‎– 50999 6 26754 2 0 – UK – 2xCD – Amazon/$11
5. Kas Product: By Pass DLX RM – Les Disques Du Soleil Et De L’Acier ‎– CDSA 54091 – FR – CD – Amazon/$9.99
6. The Blow Monkeys: She Was Only A Grocer’s Daughter DLX RM – Cherry Red ‎– CDBRED628  – UK – 2xCD – Collector’s Choice/$10.20
7. The Blow Monkeys: Staring At The Sea – F.O.D. Records ‎– FODCD8  – UK – CD – Amazon/$11.51
8. The Blow Monkeys: Limping For A Genrration DLX RM – Cherry Red ‎– CDBRED 544  – UK – 2xCD – Amazon/$8.99
9. White Door – Windows DLX RM – Cherry Pop ‎– CRPOP33 – UK – CD – Amazon/$6.97
10. OMD: Dazzle Ships DLX RM – Virgin ‎– CDVR 2261 – UK – CD – Amazon/$4.28
11. OMD: Junk Culture DLX RM – Virgin EMI Records ‎– 4701075 – UK 2xCD – Amazon/$14.00
12. Vicious Vink: Vicious Pink DLX RM – Cherry Pop ‎– CRPOP 101 – UK – CD – Amazon/$6.64
13. Ultravox: Rage In Eden DLX RM – Chrysalis ‎– CHRX 1338 – UK – 2xCD – Amazon/$7.60
14. Thompson Twins: A Product Of…Participation/Set DLX RM – Edsel Records ‎– EDSD 2026 – UK – 2xCD – Amazon/$5.74
15. Dr. Robert: Keep On Digging For The Gold – 5000records ‎– FT 019-2 – UK – CD- Amazon/$2.98
16. Tom Tom Club: Tom Tom Club/Close To The Bone DLX RM – Island Records ‎– 2701690 – UK – 2xCD – Amazon/$11.82
17. Soft Cell – The 12″ Singles – Mercury ‎– 314 538 853-2 – US – 3xCD – Amazon/$6.67
18. Various Artists: Retro:Active7 (Rare & Remixed) – Hi-Bias Records ‎– HIB-10562 – CAN – CD – Amazon/$10.49
19. Ultravox: Vienna DLX RM – Chrysalis ‎– CHRX 1296 – UK  2xCD – Amazon/$11.53
20. Icehouse: 12 Inch Versions & Remixes Vol. 2 – Repertoire Records ‎– REPUK 1178 – UK – 2xCD – Amazon/$7.93
21. David Sylvian + Holger Czukay: Plight + Premonition – Venture ‎– 2-90904 – UK – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$5.00
22. Public Image Ltd.: This Is What You Want… This Is What You Get – Virgin ‎– CDV 2309 – HOL CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$5.00
23. Talking Heads: Speaking In Tongues – Sire ‎– 9 23883-2 – US – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$5.00
24. The Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red – Elektra ‎– 9 60755-2 – US – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$5.00
25. Prefab Sprout: Crimson/Red – Red River Entertainment ‎– RRECD138 – US – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$5.00
26. Suede: Filmstar CD#1 – Nude Records ‎– NUD 30CD1  – UK – CD5 – Wuxtry Decatur/$3.00
27. Goldfrapp: Utopia – Mute ‎– MUTE 9159-2 – US – CD5 – Wuxtry Decatur/$3.00
28. Firesign Theatre: All Things Firesign – Artemis Records ‎– 751167-2 – US – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$3.00
29. Suede: Instant Sunshine EP – Epic ‎– EICP 188 – JPN – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$1.00
30. Atari Teenage Riot: The Future Of War – Digital Hardcore Recordings (DHR) ‎– DHR CD 6 – UK – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$1.00
31. Harold Budd/Brian Eno with Daniel Lanois: The Pearl – Editions EG ‎– EEGCD 37 – US – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$5.00
32. Rubber City Rebels: Pierce My Brain – Smog Veil Records ‎– SV49CD  – US – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$1.00
33. The 6ths: Wasps’ Nests – London Records ‎– 422-828 592-2  – US – CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$1.00
34. Señor Coconut Y Su Conjunto: El Baile Alemán – Emperor Norton ‎– EMN 7028 – US CD – Wuxtry Decatur/$1.00
35. Momus: Stars Forever – Analog Baroque ‎– ANALOG 002CD – UK – 2xCD – Wuxtry Decatur/$1.00
36. Positive Noise: Positive Negative – Statik Records ‎– STAT 812  – UK – 12″ – Wuxtry Decatur/$3.00
37. Positive Noise: Waiting For The Seventh Man – Statik Records ‎– STAT 1512  – UK – 12″ – Wuxtry Decatur/$3.00
38. Kraftwerk: Autobahn – Vertigo ‎– VE-203 – US – 7″ – Wuxtry Decatur/$3.00
39. Real Life: Send Me An Angel ’89 – Curb Records ‎– CRB-10303 – US – 12″ – Wuxtry Decatur/$2.00
40. Scritti Politti: Faithless – Rough Trade ‎– RT 101 – UK – 12″ – Wuxtry Decatur/$2.00
41. Sparks: Pretending To Be Drunk – Atlantic ‎– PR 644 – USP – 12″ – Wuxtry Decatur/$2.00
42. Nitzer Ebb: Lightning Man – Geffen Records ‎– 9 21465-0 – US – 12″ – Wuxtry Decatur/$3.00
43. Carmel: The Falling DLX RM – Drumfire ‎– DRMFR008 – UK – CD – Amazon/$5.20
44. Carmel: Everybody’s Got A Little… Soul DLX RM – Drumfire ‎– DRMFR009 – UK – CD – Amazon/$5.42
45. Ultravox: Vienna – Chrysalis ‎– CHR 1296 – US – LP – Wuxtry Decatur/$5.00
46. John Foxx: Electronic Sound Presents 12 Original Tracks By John Foxx  –
    Electronic Sound ‎– Electronic Sound 3 – UK – CD/Mag – gift
47. Various: Electronic Sound Covers Collection Volume.02  – Electronic Sound ‎– Volume.02 – UK – CD/Mag – gift
48. Nits: Wool – [PIAS] Recordings ‎– 944.0060.20 – DUTCH – CD – Discogs/$10.99
49. Ultravox: Quartet DLX RM – Chrysalis ‎– CDLX 1394 – UK – 2xCD – Discogs/$10.99

Yes, all of the many CDs I ordered for my birthday spree [it happens every 3-5 years] came home to roost in October. And then the trip to Atlanta to see Midge Ure bore considerable fruit as seen in the Wuxtry posting of last month, so we’ll concentrate on comment for everything else here. I was red hot to buy the Escort debut album ever since the Moogfest concert of 2014 blew the top of my head off. It’s elusive, so I finally got it on Amazon. Excellent, but nowhere near as powerful as the septet edition of the band were live. I need their new one, though it’s DL only, and that may make me wait long years before grudgingly purchasing. It was important to get the many Cherry Red reissues I’ve wanted for five to seven years now, as I fear them going OOP and rising in cost. That included: Freur, White Door, and Vicious Pink. The Freur was afflicted with track editing to make a twofer of their über-scarce [though I own the Dutch LP] sophomore album finally available on CD. Would that Cherry Red had done packed single discs of “Get Us Out Of Here” and “Doot Doot” in a 2xCD package, I would have died happy. As it was, it’s better to have a compromised edition of “Get us Out Of Here” on CD than nothing… right? White Door was elegant synthpop from ex-proggers I had long held a torch [song] for from day one. I still could not believe I finally had a Vicious Pink CD. Their EMI material was vibrant and dynamic cult dance material that should have been bigger.

Lots of DLX RM action that needed to be addressed after up to eight years of  not finding these in the bins where I shopped. All three Blow Monkeys 2xCDs were ordered, but the “Animal Magic” edition got FUBARed by the Amazon dealer who sent me the US copy I already had. It was lovely to get the “Limping” and “Grocer’s Daughter” editions in any case. As well as the first new BM album following “Devil’s Tavern” of 2008. “Staring At The Sea” had more of a Dr. Robert solo vibe to it, exacerbated by remaking the excellent “Hanging On To The Hurt” from 1999’s “Flatlands.” A great album in any case.

I also found the 2xCD of “Diamond” by Spandau Ballet. The apex of Ballet-dom in my eyes. Both of the OMD DLX RMs I still needed. It was great to finally hear the unreleased tracks on “Dazzle Ships” which was another release I had wanted for eight years. I will say the same for the more recent copy of “Junk Culture,” in spite of the sourcing errors that will see me still cherishing my original CD from 1984 going forward. Hard to say what’s worse; not sourcing the right version of a track for a supposedly definitive edition, or the errors that give me alternate versions of tracks that never had any previously.

Core collection DLX RMs for Ultravox and Icehouse saw me finally getting their 2xCD reissues of the first three classic Ultravox Chrysalis albums and the Icehouse 12″ mixes. I still need the “Lament” 2xCD from ‘Vox, and time will tell whether I bite for the 2xCD of “UVOX.” It was amazing finally getting to hear some of the harder to source Icehouse 12″ers. I have already written about getting the KAS Product sophomore album. I also finally bit for the compromised Edsel DLX RM of the early Thompson Twins material I find preferential to their world-straddling success period [nice as it can me].

Finally, a few years back, in need of concert traveling funds, I sold my Soft Cell numbered German box of singles, with the knowledge that I could buy a US 3xCD [with more tracks!] for a tiny pittance. This was finally duly acted upon! Now I have the material – complete – without having to change CDs every 20 minutes. The 12″ version of “Down In The Subway” was inexplicably left off of the 1990 German set. Maybe that track was not issued in Germany? The post-modern remixes included were even pretty decent. And it warmed the cockles of my heart to replace my REVO edition of “Close To The Bone” with the DLX RM of “Tom Tom Club” that included the only legit CD of their goddesslike second album. Which I prefer to their debut that much more. I always found those two albums a case of near perfection followed by perfect consolidation.

Subtotal: $266.93

November 2016

1. Shriekback: Secrets Of The City – Shriekback – UK – CD-R – Shriekback.com/$13.73
2. Shriekback: Peel Sessions + Singularities – Shriekback – UK – CD-R – Shriekback.com/$13.73

A quiet month with only two self-released Shriekback CDs to tally up.

Subtotal: $27.46

December 2016

1. Warren Zevon: Warren Zevon DLX RM – Asylum Records – R2 512737 – US – 2xCD – Harvest records/$12.99
2. Janis Joplin: I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! DLX RM – Columbia Legacy – CK 65785 – US – CD – Harvest/$6.99
3. Janis Joplin: Pearl DLX RM – Columbia Legacy – CK 65786 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$6.99
4. Kraftwerk: Minimum-Maximum – Astralwerks ‎– ASW 60611 – US – 2xCD – Harvest Records/$8.99
5. Various: Ramones [The Family Tree] – Music Brokers ‎– MBB7054 – ARGENTINA – 2xCD – Harvest Records/$8.99
6. The Teardrop Explodes : Wilder DLX RM – Mercury ‎– 548 284-2 – UK – CD – Harvest Records/$6.99
7. Skids: Days In Europa DLX RM – Captain Oi! ‎– AHOY CD 172  – UK – CD – Harvest Records/$6.99
8. Skids: The Absolute Game DLX RM – Captain Oi! ‎– AHOY CD 304 – UK – CD – Harvest records/$6.99
9. Epoxies: Epoxies – Epoxies DIY – US – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00
10. Epoxies: Stop The Future – Fat Wreck Chords ‎– FAT689-2 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00
11. Be Bop Deluxe: At The BBC 1974-1878 Box – Parlophone ‎– SHTW 803  – 3xCD+DVD – Harvest Records/$17.99
12. The Rezillos: Out Of This World – Rezillos Records – REZILL01CD  – UK – CD5 – Rezillos webstore/$3.17
13. The Rezillos: Out Of This World – Rezillos Records ‎– REZILL01 – UK – 7″ numbered – Rezillos webstore/$6.33
14. The Rezillos: Top Of The Pops [live] – Rezillos Records – REZILL02 CD – UK – CD5 – Rezillos webstore/$3.17
15. The Rezillos: Top Of The Pops [live] – Rezillos Records – REZILL02 – UK – clear 7″ – Rezillos webstore/$6.33
16. The Rezillos: Top Of The Pops [live] – Rezillos Records – REZILL02 – UK – red 7″ – Rezillos webstore/$6.33
17. Visage: Wild Life Ltd. CDX – Steve Strange Collective – SSC001, SSC002, SSC004, SSC005, SSC006, SSC007, SSC008 – UK – 6xCD+CD-R – Visage Webstore/$60.15
18. Marianne Faithfull: Before The Poison – -Anti – 86732-2 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00
19. The Rutles: The Rutles – Rhino Records – R2 75760  – US – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00
20. Rose McDowall: Cut With The Cake Knife DLX RM – Sacred Bones Records ‎– SBR3017CD – US – CD – Harvest Records/$10.99
21. ABC: Christmas…With Love EP – Virgin/EMI Records – US – DL – iTunes/$3.99
22. Visage: Never Enough [Remixes] – Blitz Club Records – US – DL – iTunes/$6.99
23. Steve Strange: Bolan-Esq – A-Side – US – DL – iTunes/$2.99
24. Bottin [w/Steve Strange]: Poison Within EP – Bear Funk – US – DL – iTunes/$3.99
25. Datura [featuring Steve Strange: Fade To Grey [Powered Milk Version] – DaCapo Music  US – DL – iTunes/$0.99
26. Datura [featuring Steve Strange: Fade To Grey [Raf Marchesini Version] – DaCapo Music  US – DL – iTunes/$0.99
27. Datura [featuring Steve Strange: Fade To Grey [Illicit Mix] – DaCapo Music  US – DL – iTunes/$0.99
28. Datura [featuring Steve Strange: Fade To Grey [135 BPM Workout Remix] – Workout Music TV – US – DL – iTunes/$0.99
29. Amii Stewart – Dangerous Rhythm – RCA – US – DL – iTunes/$0.99
30. Ultravox: The Thin Wall [live in Berlin] – Eden Recording – US – DL – iTunes/$0.99
31. Punx Soundcheck [with Steve Strange]: In The Dark [Night Version] – Pale Music Int. – US – DL – iTunes/$0.99
32. Fine Young Cannibals: Finest – London Records – R2 74613 – US – CD – Mr. K’s/$2.00
33. Saint Etienne: Who Do You Think You Are? – Warner Bros. Records ‎– 9 40910-2  – US – CD5 – Mr. K’s/$2.00
34. Saint Etienne: The Bad Photographer CD#2 – Creation Records – CRESCD 290X – UK – CD5 – Mr. K’s/$2.00

A hyperactive December with more music than I could effectively absorb! Tons of Visage and Steve Strange’s solo tributaries got some download action, since that was the only was they were available. I finally cashed in a $25 iTunes gift card I won to get this material.

Subtotal: $233.27

Half Year Subtotals: 144 releases | $801.66 | average cost – $5.57/title

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Year Totals: 210 releases | $1235 | average cost – $5.88/title