Author, historian and “former vocalist with legendary local rock gods Phobia”, Gary Cavanagh hosted our April event.

His book, Noise of the Valleys, is all about Bradford’s music history between the years of 1976 and 1987.

But for this event he played 3 records from the Munich based ECM label. With 3 albums at his disposal he chose to play albums by the following artists:

• Keith Jarrett
• Terje Rypdal
• Miroslav Vitous

With the exception of one or two people, the label and some of the artists were all new to most of us. Great to see some ECM, (and other vinyl) carried through the door by people coming to the event.

As usual the Record Club evenings are as much about good conversation, good company, and a good bar, as it is about the music. I think it’s fair to say that the music was loved by some, tolerated by others, but universally discussed and debated by everyone.

Next month we have the ‘House is on fire’ event. If you want to play some vinyl there,get in touch.

Records:

Journey’s End

Artist:

Miroslav Vitous

Event:

April 2012: Noise of the Valleys

Another of the albums on ECM from bassist Miroslav Vitous.

Journey’s End on Wikipedia

The Survivors’ Suite

Artist:

Keith Jarrett

Year:

1977

Event:

April 2012: Noise of the Valleys

This record has only 2 tracks, one on each side of the record.

Part of the ECM event, hosted by Gary Cavenagh.

The Survivors’ Suite on Wikipedia

Whenever I Seem to Be Far Away

Artist:

Terje Rypdal

Year:

1974

Event:

April 2012: Noise of the Valleys

This was Gary Cavaenagh’s final album of the night at the April 2012 event, and this was the record that turned him onto the German ECMlabel that inspired the whole of that event.

Whenever I Seem to Be Far Away on Wikipedia

With Gary Cavenagh’s slot moving to April, we subbed in Record Club regular, Bill, to bring us a fine evening of vinyl music.

Bill said, “To give the American indie a whirl you can’t go far wrong with Come on Pilgrim by the Pixies, which is IMHO by far their best record, and at only 8 songs not too long. My favourite R.E.M. album is Murmur, which does stand up to being played right through, and conveniently contains a song called Pilgrimage – starting to see an emerging theme here…”

He also selected 3 other albums from Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, and The Stone Roses, to be put to the vote for the final album of the night. Revovler came out on top, but we managed to slip in some tracks from the other albums as well.

Great to have a few tracks from those people had brought along as well, includingRock Lobster, and tracks from Zounds, The Cure, DJ Shadow, Husker Du,Curve, and many more.

Records:

Come on Pilgrim

Artist:

Pixies

Year:

1987

Event:

March 2012: A Vinyl Pilgrimage

“To give the American indie a whirl you can’t go far wrong with Come on Pilgrim by the Pixies, which is IMHO by far their best record, and at only 8 songs not too long.” – Bill, Record Club

Come On Pilgrim on Wikipedia

Murmur

Artist:

R.E.M

Year:

1983

Event:

March 2012: A Vinyl Pilgrimage

“My favourite R.E.M. album” – Bill, Record Club

Murmur on Wikipedia

Revolver

Artist:

The Beatles

Year:

1966

Event:

March 2012: A Vinyl Pilgrimage

Selected with 58% of the vote, Revolver was the last album of the night in March 2012.

From snatched bits of conversation: Ringo’s drumming on Tomorrow Never Knows got praise; there were calls to play the whole thing again; some people cited it as their favourite Beatles album.

Revovler on Wikipedia

February’s record club was delivered in style by the good people at Buffet.

They picked two cracking albums, and the rest of us chose Blondie’s Parallel Lines as the third album via online vote.

Another relaxed evening of good company, good music, and fine refreshments. The Buffet crew experimented with some visuals which looked impressive, and even with some new fangled technology (a mixer!).

About Buffet

Buffet is a supersonic disco.
We’re called Buffet cos we put on a nice spread, including music, formation dancing (with resident dance troupe The Bet Lynch Mob!) and cheese on sticks. You can listen to us on the radio via http://www.bcbradio.co.uk – we deliver an hour long show channelling the vibes of Cheggars Plays Pop with a dash of Calendar.

• On BCB: http://www.bcbradio.co.uk/details.php?details=174
• Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/29714536491/
• Twitter: @buffetdisco @bloodynoradj @jennyjetharris @emmabob3
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BUFFETDISCO

Records:

Last Splash

Artist:

The Breeders

Year:

1993

Event:

Feb. 2012: Fanny Power!

Maria‘s choice for the Feb 2012 club:

“I’ve always wanted the Deal twins to adopt me as their triplet. I was torn between choosing this and Pod, which boasts triple Goddess action with Tanya Donelly on lead guitar. However, Last Splash is a more obvious crowd pleaser and features the mosh-masterpiece Cannonball, as well as other brilliant songs that range from total noise pop to the fantastically angular and odd. The Deal sisters ROCK, and Kelley knits handbags – what more do you need?!”

Last Splash on Wikipedia

Parallel Lines

Artist:

Blondie

Year:

1978

Event:

Feb. 2012: Fanny Power!

This was chosen as the third album for our Fanny Power event by quite a large majority, both online and in the room. It beat off competion from other great albums . Tracks from the contenders, PJ Harvey, Goldfrapp and Sister Sledge also got played!

Parallel Lines on Wikipedia

The Kick Inside

Artist:

Kate Bush

Year:

1978

Event:

Feb. 2012: Fanny Power!

Jenny Jet‘s choice for the Feb. 2012 club:

“When I was in Sixth Form all the boys had this album alongside Iron Maiden and The Clash (think it was something to do with the leotard-clad TOTP appearances) so I avoided it like the plague. But someone played it to me on my first day at Uni and was one of those amazing album moments when you know the world will look differently once the record finishes. She’s a complete musical genius and true maverick. Sensual World and The Dreaming are also great albums so it was hard to choose to be honest (the new album has its moments, but it also – sob – has Elton John…)”

The Kick Inside on Wikipedia

The Record Club teamed up with the Shipley Film Society to present an evening of film and music.

We showed the film Moon, directed by David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones , and scored by Clint Mansell from Pop Will Eat Itself.

The film was the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) winner of the 2009 award for the Best British Independent Film. Duncan Jones was also awarded the BIFA Douglas Hickox Award. The film was also nominated for two BAFTAs at the 2010 awards. It won the award for “Outstanding Debut by a British writer, director or producer”.

Afterwards we played David Bowie’s Hunky Dory in full, on vinyl. It features the track “Kooks” apparently written for the birth of Duncan (also known as Zowie). We’ll also managed to find a PWEI’s single and a bunch of moon, space, stars related tunes.

Good film, good music, good company. Not bad for a Sunday in January.

Records:

Hunky Dory

Artist:

David Bowie

Year:

1971

Event:

Moon, Hunky Dory & Pop Will Eat Itself

The perfect follow up to a sci-fi film directed by his son.

This is Bowie’s 4th album, and the track ‘Kooks’ is dedicated to his young son, known to the world asZowie Bowie but legally named Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, director of Moon.

Hopefully we’ll have some 1971 vinyl for you. Otherwise it will be re-issue version.

Hunky Dory on Wikipedia

As Stu and Lucy were leaving and moving to London the next day, it seemed fitting that we used January’s Record Club to mark their move, and we thought why not do that with a ‘London’ theme. Both have been instrumental in getting Record Club going, so for that, and many other reasons, we’re sad to see then go.

Still we had a good time, kicking the evening off with the Clash’s London Calling in it’s entirety. (Yep, a whole double album!)

Unhalfbricking got a nice introduction from Stu – we’re still not sure if we played his mum’s copy, his dad’s copy, or one his dad got by nefarious means.

Various London themed singles and album tracks filled out the night. A bit of Madness, a bit of punk, some Motorhead live at Hammersmith, etc

Abbey Road by the Beatles was the last album of the night, with an original copy from Stu’s mum getting an outing. This was the record she bought with her first hi-fi because ‘it had good bass’.

A few singles later, (and some dancing – yeah, I know!) we closed the night with West End Girls by the Pet Shop Boys.

Good fun.

Comments, suggestions? Visit our Nominate page, or contact us.

Records:

Abbey Road

Artist:

The Beatles

Year:

1969

Event:

Jan. 2012: London Calling

This was played at the January 2012 event.

We had an original copy from Stu’s mum and it sounded great.

Abbey Road on Wikipedia

London Calling

Artist:

The Clash

Year:

1979

Event:

Jan. 2012: London Calling

The perfect sound track for friends as they make a life changing move to the smoke?

London Calling on Wikipedia

Unhalfbricking

Artist:

Fairport Convention

Year:

1969

Event:

Jan. 2012: London Calling

Stu says:

“Great cover photo taken in Wimbledon and one of my favourite albums EVER. I have my dad’s vinyl copy too. Is that ok? Great mix of trad and modern,different tempos,ace singing and some sing-a-longs and amazing instrumental sections. It’s brill!”

Unhalfbricking on Wikipedia

This was our last club before Christmas 2011. We decided to mark the festive season with 3 great vinyl albums – but probably none of them would be by Slade, Shakin’ Stevens, or Wizzard. Then again perhaps that was what the punters wanted. We asked  people to  consider what they might bring along:

• Maybe it’s something you’d like to receive, or give?
• Maybe it something that just fits this time of year?
• Maybe it’s the anti-dote to commercial Christmas?
• Maybe it’s something you were given many years ago?

In the end, The Pogues made it due to some synchronicity of thought between a couple of people, both brining an album along. Moondog made it cos it seemed different and because he had a long white beard (honestly!), and Lennon seemed a popular choice – with the added bonus of only having one Christmas song on the album, right at the end.

45s and 12″ filled out the night with Dean McPhee‘s single going down well – you cansee him live on the 10th December. Mazzy Star’s Flowers in December seemed to be a hit, but Abba’s Happy New Year, not so…ach well, Daz will be back for the next one, so maybe we’ll get some tastier 45s.

The massive pile of old NME papers went down well. Something for everyone in there. Listening to records and reading the NME, takes me back.

See you in Jan.

Records:

If I Should Fall from Grace with God

Artist:

The Pogues

Year:

1988

Event:

A not quite Christmas special

Playing around with the Christmas theme, Stu turned up with ‘Rum Sodomy & the Lash’, an album by the band with that Christmas song, but without the Christmas song on it. At the same time, the album with the Christmas song on also turned up, so that cemented The Pogues as one of the records of the night. But which one? The Christmas song won the day.

If I Should Fall from Grace with God on Wikipedia

Shaved Fish

Artist:

John Lennon

Year:

1975

Event:

A not quite Christmas special

This compilation album ends with “Happy Xmas (War is Over) / Give Peace A Chance (Reprise)”, so it’s not a bad choice around Christmas time. A bit of Lennon seemed like a good concensus choice for ending the evening, so that was that.

Shaved Fish on Wikipedia

Viking of Sixth Avenue

Artist:

Moondog

Year:

2005

Event:

A not quite Christmas special

Moondog made the cut for the ‘A not quite Christmas special’ event, quite shamefully, because he looked a bit like Santa with his long white beard.

Highly recommended by a couple of the people at the event, for most of us this was pleasing new ground. Well worth checking out.

Moondog on Wikipedia

We went with a Detroit theme for the October event.

We took some suggestions, but also found Tam and Lee, (and their vinyl collections), and their love of Detroit sounds, so they helped get the evening going.

There are some photos of the event in the gallery, and by all accounts the night was the usual mix of good music, good people and  a good bar. See you at November’s event.

This might be of interest to anyone wondering what the sound of Detroit might be:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Detroit
• 100 best Detroit songs: http://www2.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=12036

Suggestions, links, comments below.

Records:

Fun House

Artist:

The Stooges

Year:

1970

Event:

The Sound of Detroit – Oct. 2011

This was played at the Detroit night event. If it’s Detroit, then there’s gotta be some Stooges.

I think I bought my copy from somewhere in London. It’s still got the shrink wrap sleeve on.

Fun House by The Stooges on Wikipedia

Innervisions

Artist:

Stevie Wonder

Year:

1973

Event:

The Sound of Detroit – Oct. 2011

I know nothing about this album and wasn’t at the event where it was played, so you’ll have to fill in the gaps for yourselves!

Innervisions on Wikipedia

Didn’t we have a loverly time the evening we spent at record club? It was great to see some new faces down there, and, of course, the familiar ones as well.

We built the night based on the suggestions we’d recieved on our nominate page. These included a bit of psychedelic space rock from Gong (a very well played version of the record was supplied by Paul, a gift from “Bagnall”…), some late-eighties indy pop foolery from the Pixies, a tribute to REM in the form of Fables of the Reconstruction, and just ‘cos it’s 20yrs old we ended with Nevermind.

The twittersphere was alive to the sound of Record Club last night, check@therecordclub on twitter for more. Or read our blog.
And, don’t just take our word for it, read the Culture Vulture review.

Records:

Camembert Electrique

Artist:

Gong

Year:

1971

Event:

Record Club Returns

A popular suggestion in our nominate section. We played a much loved, muched played version, so there were a few crackles, but it was an interesting listen.

Camembert Electrique on Wikipedia

Fables of the Reconstruction

Artist:

R.E.M

Year:

1985

Event:

Record Club Returns

As R.E.M anounced they were splitting up just days before Record Club, the punters took matters into their own hands (and why not!) and turned up armed with their R.E.M vinyl. A quick round of UN style diplomacy led us to give Fables of the Reconstruction an airing. Arguably, a little less well known than much of thier work, as it was only their third album, it was an interesting listen.

Fables of the Reconstruction on Wikipedia

Nevermind

Artist:

Nirvana

Year:

1981

Event:

Record Club Returns

Well there was just a little bit of hype around this album during September 2011, as it became 20 years old.

Rather than invest in the 4CD/DVD collectors edition box set, why not have a listen to it on vinyl instead? It was chosen as a late addition to the September event and got squeezed in as a bonus 4th album on the night.

Nevermind on Wikipedia

Surfer Rosa

Artist:

Pixies

Year:

1988

Event:

Record Club Returns

The first full length album by the Pixies got the vote over Doolittle on the night of the Record Club event. The whole of their back catalogue was on offer, thanks to Rob who brought it along.

This is an album that many people ended up getting on CD as it came bundled with another record, Come on Pilgrim, at the time. So we put the theory to the test that the vinyl sounds much better than the CD versions.

Surfer Rosa on Wikipedia

The first ever proper Bradford Record Club was curated by our very own Stu at theThe Kirkgate Centre, Shipley. Check out the event photos.

Longtime member of Quack Quack and vinyl aficionado, he chose Horses by Patti Smith and the debut album by Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band. Unfortunately he didn’t manage to track down Safe as Milk on vinyl so he subbed it on the night withClear Spot.

Previously Stu had brought a selection of records to our first informal gathering of Record Club, and we all loved what we heard.

The third album on the night was chosen via an online vote, with Rock N Roll with the Modern Lovers coming out as the winner.

In between the albums, Daz managed to spin a few 7″ singles.

Most importantly, it was a great social occasion, with lots of record talk throughout the evening. The bar had some nice beers (and cake!), and it was great to meet a bunch of other people that seemed to like what we were doing.

Don’t just take my word for it. Check out this blog post: Shipley Record Club – an Evening of Music, Chat and Beer.

If you have suggestions for future albums, or curators, or anything else, then let us know via the nominate section, or leave a comment below.

Records:

Clear Spot

Artist:

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Year:

1972

Event:

First Record Club

When we played this we had at least one Captain Beefheart fan that had made the trip especially to be at the club. As it happens we should have been playing Safe as Milk, but we hadn’t managed to track down a copy in time!

For some of us this was the first time we’d listened to a whole Beefheart album.

Good stuff!

Clear Spot on Wikipedia

Horses

Artist:

Patti Smith

Year:

1975

Event:

First Record Club

A pre-punk favourite from Stu. Interesting to note that this was out 2 years before the punk explosion in the UK.

Horses on Wikipedia

Rock N Roll With Modern Lovers

Artist:

The Modern Lovers

Year:

1977

Event:

First Record Club

Let’s try Record Club

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers were a big inspiration on Punk music – simple short songs played and sung with more enthusiasm than spot-on precision, particularly where Richman’s highly idiosyncratic voice is concerned.

Jonathan Richman famously appeared as the wandering minstrel in the film ‘There’s Something About Mary’.

Their most famous song ‘Roadrunner’ is not on this album. Rather than the heavier electric sound of their first album (“The Modern Lovers”, 1976), this album features an all acoustic ‘skiffle’ type line-up and the natural ‘live’ sound of the group playing together in a room.

The cover art comprises a photograph on one side and a near-identical painting on the other, which are – at first – hard to tell apart. This disc was greatly enjoyed by the assembled few!

The Modern Lovers on Wikipedia

With our partners off out to a 50’s event at the National Media Museum we had a little impromptu record club, and since we were left holding the baby, used that as the theme.

From the selection of records we brought along we listened to:

• Another side of Bob Dylan
• Phil Spector – 1958-1969 [Box set]
• B.B. King – From the Beginning
• Captain Beafheart – Spotlight Kid

…not necessarily in that order…

Records:

Another side of Bob Dylan

Artist:

Bob Dylan

Year:

1964

Event:

Let’s try Record Club

Surprisingly few Dylan fans in the room, so this was chosen as a gentle introduction for non-believers.

Another Side of Bob Dylan on Wikipedia

Back to Mono 1958-1969

Artist:

Phil Spector

Year:

1991

Event:

Be my baby

This is a box set that Dave picked up in his early 20’s, discovering the joy of the ‘wall of sound’.

Back to Mono on Wikipedia

From the beginning

Artist:

B.B. King

Year:

1967

Event:

Let’s try Record Club

Just a great album. Started the debate about double albums and box sets, so we only played one of the two discs.

B.B. King on Wikipedia

The Spotlight Kid

Artist:

Captain Beefheart

Year:

1972

Event:

Let’s try Record Club

An album to introduce others to the magic of Captain Beefheart?

Dave says: “I was really pleased to hear ‘Click Clack’, a track that I’ve come to love thanks to John Peel.”

The Spotlight Kid on Wikipedia