Continuing the comments on copying LPs to MP3:
November 11, 2013:
“Mel Brooks’ Greatest Hits.”
That’s not what it says on the front of the sleeve — there it says “Mel Brooks High Anxiety.” But the spine and label and so on all make it clear it’s “greatest hits.”
Side 1 is all from “High Anxiety,” but Side 2 has “Springtime for Hitler” and “Puttin’ On the Ritz” and all the other classics.
It’s in beautiful condition, and I got a flawless copy with no problem. I’m very pleased to have it!
November 13, 2013:
“Irish Songs of Rebellion,” by the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem. This is a 1969 Everest/Tradition re-release of their 1959 album “The Rising of the Moon.”
One of the weird things about it is that as well as changing the title, they swapped the sides — Side 2 of this version was Side A back in ’59, and vice versa.
It’s a pretty good album, with Patrick Clancy’s original liner notes providing fairly detailed information on each song. The arrangements and harmonies are very simple
I’ve heard other versions of some of these songs; Peter Paul & Mary did a couple, and I admit I like the PPM versions better. Still, the Clancy versions are probably more authentic.
It’s a very clean copy; didn’t have any trouble making it.
November 18, 2013:
I just wasted far too much time tracking down credits for “Happy Birthday and Songs for Every Holiday,” a Disneyland Records collection from 1964 that’s mostly repackaged Mickey Mouse Club material. It skimps badly on crediting the songwriters and performers.
I don’t know whether this had ever been played before; it sounded brand-new. It had been opened, but still has the original shrink-wrap and is in virtually perfect condition.
No idea where I got it. At some point in the ’80s or early ’90s I apparently acquired half a dozen kids’ records that I don’t recall ever playing; I’m guessing they were either gifts or a yard sale find.
November 19, 2013:
Added to the MP3 collection: “The Baroque Lute,” by Walter Gerwin. Released by Nonesuch in 1969, three years after Gerwin died, five years after the album was recorded.
It’s not bad. Lute music doesn’t have as much tonal variety as some other instruments, but it’s still pleasant to listen to. This is three suites, one each by Bach, Buxtehude, and Pachelbel.
There’s some faint wear on Side Two, in the Pachelbel section; mostly it’s excellent condition. The software did crash once during editing, but I’ve learned to save everything to disc frequently, so I was able to pick up where I’d left off without too much trouble.
November 21, 2013:
Tonight’s prize: “Occupation: Foole,” by George Carlin.
Some very funny stuff, some dated Nixon jokes. Well worth having in my collection.
Most of it was just fine, as far as condition, but there’s a scratch/skip in “Cute Little Farts” that rendered it completely unplayable, so I bought a new copy of that one cut off Amazon for 99 cents.
More to come…