THINGS ARE WHAT YOU MAKE OF THEM

Vacationing on a barrier island off the Eastern Shore in the USA at least three hours' drive from a city, I suspected my record shopping would be limited to say the least. Most shops looked like this:But what did I then find? Psychotronic run by Michael (ex-drummer in Mirrors I found out afterwards) selling movie posters and memoribilia plus lots and lots of vinyl. Read about Michael here.

One of the things I picked up was a pristine copy of the first Long Ryders LP 'Native Sons' from 1984. For four dollars. I only discovered the Long Ryders long after their demise after hearing the mighty 'Looking for Lewis and Clark' on a compilation - and hastily started adding it to compilations I made. Great band, great haircuts.

Here's the last track on the album I HAD A DREAM which somehow manages to mix hope and despair with great guitar playing.

I HAD A DREAM
The Long Ryders
Native Sons [buy]

You can read the oral history of the band from Perfect Sound Forever here.

I'll be posting more on purchases from Psychotronic over the next couple of weeks. One other thing I had waiting for me in the States was a CD copy of the first Bishop Allen CD (digital is all very well but I want the 'real' thing as well). So it went straight into the hire car CD player and became the soundtrack to driving the freeways and interstates of the Eastern Shore. As the song says...

THINGS ARE WHAT YOU MAKE OF THEM

Bishop Allen

Charm School [buy]

BACK FROM TRAVELS

Well finally back from several weeks in the USA. In the middle of nowhere with no internet access, no TV or papers and miles from any record stores. Or so I thought. Found a couple of odd (in all senses of the word) stores to spent some time and some dollars in - and over the next week or so I'll post some stuff from what I acquired.

And sad to hear about Lee Hazelwood and Tony Wilson dying - both not unexpected given news about their health but both losses. Missed the opportunity to post any musical tributes but at some point I'll dig out some of Lee's music including some vinyl rarities.