In our continuing mission to bring to the attention of the Connecticut College Community the finest in leisurely diversions we have chosen for this week’s installment to shine a critical eye on an old taste treat that is currently being rediscovered as a distinctive and zesty flavor: Long playing 33rpm vinyl records.
Sound Quality: Davis’ vinyl long player of choice is Van Morrrison’s 1970 classic “Moondance.” Here we find the Irish soul rebel at home in a tight-yet earthy studio ambiance. The selection of eclectic jazz-folk tunes on this release run the gamut from recognizable hits like “It Stoned Me” and the title track to the quirky “Everyone,” which you discerning cinephiles might recognize from former favorite Wes Anderson’s anti-classic The Royal Tenanbaums. The sound quality is vintage. It is also perfect.
Dave’s record of choice is “’That is my opinion and it’s very true’, Spontaneous, in-the-cab recordings of the New York Taxi Driver as recorded by Tony Schwartz” (circa 1960). Schwartz brilliantly utilizes the lap sized, battery operated Magnemite tape recorder, allowing the listener to hear not only the folk wisdom of these noble charioteers, but also, earthy charm of the New York City streets pre-Giuliani.
EDGE: Van Morrison, by a hair.
Scene Cred: Van Morrison is not street. You dad listens to Van Morrison when he reads Anne Coulter, and you can find this LP in just about any thrift store. Though it undoubtedly makes your Top 100 Records of the 1970’s list, having it in your collection is unlikely to get you laid by any trim young thing in a sliced up tank-top.
As for the scene cred of “That’s my opinion and it’s very true…,” let’s put it this way: We think Dave has the only existing copy of this vinyl record. Tom Waits hasn’t even heard it, and he’d love it.
EDGE: “That’s my opinion and it’s very true”.
Realism: “Moondance” is a must-own for the 70’s rock listener and it does, admittedly, feature an array of acoustic, ‘real’ instruments (NO SYNTHS!). Unfortunately, being a studio recording, “Moondance” features vocal overdubs and post-production flourishes that cannot be reproduced by even the most talented Irishman.
“That’s my Opinion and it’s very true…” truthfully and uncompromisingly sheds a spotlight on the cutthroat lives of New York City’s blue-collar philosophers; this is my opinion and it is true.
EDGE: Fuggedaboutit!
That’s all for now, all you ruffians. Next week we’ll be going to the theater (yes, we’ve washed our black tuxes cleaned and pressed) to take in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” and an assortment of live sex acts from the red light district of merry old Amsterdam.
Gutten tag!
