Rant #2,128: Music Everywhere

Tomorrow is Record Store Day.

Please frequent your local record stores; I am sure you will be surprised at what you find there.

Today, to give you a taste of what you might find in these stores, I am going to let you in on some of my recent purchases.

They might not be your cup of tea, but they are to me. And I don't even drink tea, or coffee, for that matter.

And don't forget, tomorrow, there will be a plethora of new releases special for Record Store Day that will be available, so sure, you will find records like I am going to post now, but you are also going to find a heck of a lot of other stuff that you didn't even know existed before the special day.

Anyway, here are a couple of my recent purchases, with some notes after each one.

Lulu-Best of Both Worlds/Love Loves To Love Love (1967, #32): I have been a fan of this lady since seeing her at the old Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey, way back before "To Sir With Love" hit in America, and my fascination with her continues to this day.

Although a big star in Europe, over here, she has had a spotty recording career. Her records have been good, but somehow, although she has placed nearly a dozen hits on the singles chart, she hasn't had anything to rival "To Sir With Love."

This single was a really good try, allowing her to show her vocal chops to the maximum effect.

Unfortunately, it really is a song that "shoulda coulda" been a big hit, but fell short ... and I like the B side, too.

5th Dimension-Go Where You Wanna Go/Too Poor To Die (1967, #16): And talk about being enamored with female singers ...

Marilyn McCoo and Florence LaRue, the ladies in the 5th Dimension, have always been among my favorite female singers, and this record was the act's first big hit. It resembled what the Mamas and Papas were putting out at the time, but had more "soul" to it, to be honest with you.

More, even better singles were to follow for them, but this was their very first, laying the groundwork for the rest. And again, the B side is quite good, too.

Spanky and Our Gang-Sunday Mornin'/Echoes (1968, #30): Featuring Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, I always liked the quirkiness of this act, guys who looked like they were too old to rock and roll led by a lady who was not atypical for female personalities of the day, as let's say she wasn't Twiggy by any stretch of the imagination.

But she had a fantastic voice, and that propels one of their quirkiest singles, another one of those tunes that really should have been a bigger hit than it was.

The B side is quite interesting too. It is actually called "Echoes," but on the sleeve it says "Echos Of My Mind," but upon further listening, the song is best known as "Everybody's Talkin'," Nilsson's big hit that was on the soundtrack to "Midnight Cowboy."

Five Americans-Western Union (LP) (1967, #121): Although thought of as a one-hit wonder for "Western Union," which is on this album, this act charted a half dozen songs over a two-year chart span, including "Sound of Love," which is also on this album.

Very slight, very bubblegummy, and very good. I really like this record, and I am glad that I now have it as part of my collection.

B-52's-Love Shack (12-in. single) (1989): Remember when extended versions of the hits of the day were the rage? Well, here is one of those records that turned up during this period, featuring a song that had different permutations and whose actual single version reached the No. 3 spot.

If Spanky and Our Gang were quirky, then the B-52's were their stepchildren, because this male/female act were outrageous in appearance and stage presence.

This tune was probably their biggest hit, and one of the great earworms of the ages; and with several different versions on one record, you really can't get the tune out of your head.

Tarney/Spencer Band-Run For You Life (Promo) (1979): Yes, I bought this on a lark, because it is so odd looking, a record included in a rectangular folder, promoting the then-latest offering of this Australian band that never made it in the States.

The record features only excerpts of a few tunes from the "Run For Your Life" LP, pretty much standard pop rock of the time, including a cover of the Knickerbockers' "Lies" that really rots.

But the presentation of this promo is what grabbed me ... you can be sure you will find so many other weird things like this when you visit your local record store!

So there you have it, some of my recent record finds representing some of the things you will find in your own local record stores.

And again, since Record Store Day has become a huge worldwide phenomenon, there will be plenty more special things that your local shop will be offering tomorrow.

Even if you haven't been in such a store in eons, go visit one tomorrow ... I promise that you will be surprised with what you find there.

Speak to you again next week. Have a great weekend.