First Record Club

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.

Where:

The Kirkgate Centre
39a Kirkgate
Shipley
BD18 3RR

Telephone: 01274 580186

Records:

Clear Spot

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Clear Spot
Artist:

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Year:

1972

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!

Horses

Patti Smith - Horses
Artist:

Patti Smith

Year:

1975

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

Rock N Roll With Modern Lovers

Rock N Roll With Modern Lovers
Artist:

The Modern Lovers

Year:

1977

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!

Be my baby

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

Bob Dylan: Another side of Bob Dylan
Artist:

Bob Dylan

Year:

1964

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

Back to Mono 1958-1969

Phil Spector: Back to Mono 1958-1969 [Box set]
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’.

From the beginning

B.B. King: From the beginning
Artist:

B.B. King

Year:

1967

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

The Spotlight Kid

Captain Beefheart: The Spotlight Kid
Artist:

Captain Beefheart

Year:

1972

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.”

Let’s try Record Club

Dave, Daz, Stu and Linda got together to try out Record Club tonight. Lucy andNicky came by later.

Stu brought a selection of records and between us we first selected the Modern Lovers, and then Pit er Pat.

It was great. We decided that talking while the records were on was ok, cos we hardly get to see each other anyway.

Records:

Rock N Roll With Modern Lovers

Rock N Roll With Modern Lovers
Artist:

The Modern Lovers

Year:

1977

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!

Shakey

Pit er Pat - Shakey
Artist:

Pit er Pat

Year:

2005

Pit er Pat are a three piece ‘avant rock’ group from Chicago, whose music often has a dark undertone but (in Stuart’s opinion) is never dirge-ish.

This album has a refreshing guitar-free rock sound, with interesting rhythms, great keyboard sounds, well-used samples and excellent spine-tingling vocals.

Stuart became aware of Pit er Pat when his band played a gig with them in Nottingham a few years ago.

Now a duo, they continue to tour and record extensively. They are friendly with fellow Chicago avant rockers ‘Tortoise’