Avid collector of vinyl, based in West London.
Nothing can beat a good scavenge through charity shops, record fairs and jumble sales.
Hunting for Twee Pop,Power Pop,indie,C86,Punk,Post Punk
Stories of musical marauding from The Scavenger
So You Want To be A Record Collector.
First rule, don't be disheartened. You will walk into a charity shop and spy a mountain of vinyl and pound signs will pirouette before your eyes. Nonchalantly you'll wander over and study the first record. It'll most likely be a James Last LP or Paul Young's No Parlez. If it is a Matt Bianco 12" think yourself blessed. It's not worth anything but it's more encouraging than being confronted by Mrs Mills's chubby cheeks. I once found Matt Bianco singles in at least five charity shops on the same day. They were all different. I had no idea Matt Bianco had been so prolific; I had no idea a record company could be so tolerant.As you begin to forage there will be gasps of recognition as the musical carnage of the 80's is offered up for your inspection. If you're lucky some lesser lights of the 70's or 90's may appear. If you're really lucky you might find one indie record. It won't be worth anything and you won't want it but it'll be a talking point when you describe the day to your friends. Under the influence of despair you'll even start rummaging through cassettes. Unless you find something by Judith Durham say no to tapes. This is the real life of the scavenger. If you can't cut it, leave it to those who can.
Turntable Revolution Record Collection
Highlights of my record collection
Video Crush
Club Hoy - On and on (1991)
Best Sounds Of The Week
- Kraftwerk : Europe Endless
- Elizabeth : Je Suis Sublime
- Ogdens : Patricia
- Chosen Lot : Time Was
- 1-2-6 : Graveyard Paradise
- Complex : Images Blue
- Peppermint Parlour : Playhouse
- Cola Jet Set : Suena El Telefono
- Maritime : Protein And Poison
Singles on picture parade
7" Single Scans
My Latest Ebay Swordplay
Eye On Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUEDE-CROCODILES-STOP-THE-RAIN-C86-UK-INDIE-TWEE-1983_W0QQitemZ200404169287QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item2ea904f247
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUEDE-CROCODILES-STOP-THE-RAIN-C86-UK-INDIE-TWEE-1983_W0QQitemZ200401423714QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item2ea8db0d62
EYE ON EBAY-----Scratch A Scottish Scrotum Scottish scamps classic DIY single sells for £134.70. About £20 more than I paid for my copy. I think my favourite Scrotum Poles track is Pick The Cat's Eyes Out. Nothing for the RSPCA to get worried about, it's not a tribute to violence against felines.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200399559153&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
EYE ON EBAY----Better than meerkats In need of weird? Get acquainted with the Performing Ferret Band. I think this LP is now available on CD but it doesn't stop someone paying £147 for it.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380172240094&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
EYE ON EBAY-----Limp bid A cowardly bid of £22 was unlikely to win me this single on Matchbox Classics, a joint effort by the Limps and No Support. It went for exactly double my bid. I would have been braver with my cash but I have two weekends of record fairs approaching, London and Utrecht.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120487115805&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
EYE ON EBAY Astounding price paid, £206, for this pleasant slice of C86 pop by Playing At Trains. If I'd have been bidding for it I'd have been derailed at £50 but I didn't need to as I picked it up in a charity shop in Warwick a few years ago for the outrageous sum of £1. Feel my smugness.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320443826791&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
EYE ON EBAY------Gross oversight Only a few days before I found this Gross Club single on ebay it had been recommended to me by an ebay seller. I was hoping it would slip by unnotticed and my pathetic bid would secure it for me, loathe as I am to acquire British releases from US sellers and incur large P+P posts. No doubt the attractive shot of a naked behind aroused certain bidders. I was stifled out at £10, the record eventually selling for £54.81.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180426185078&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
EYE ON EBAY An arm and a leg were sacrificed to obtain this lone single by Scottish indiepoppers SuedeCrocodiles. £243.70 was the final price, amazing when you consider this sold for less than £100 a few months back. Interestingly seller Yekserves has this up for auction, in fact he has two copies! Will it break the £100 mark? Find out in a few days.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUEDE-CROCODILES-rare-UK-1983-INDIE-POP-TWEE-C86_W0QQitemZ330372012779QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item4cebb4daeb
EYE ON EBAY Under the guise of the Cardiacs I saw this lot live a couple of times at the Marquee. Over the years they built up a ferocious following; many swooned over their cabaret prog indie recipe and whether you loved them or not they were always entertaining. Originally known as Cardiac Arrest this debut release on Tortch usually gives good return for the seller but the final price of £134.32 is the highest I've seen it sell for. Advisable not to bid on this if you have a weak heart.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380169320607&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
EYE ON EBAY It's cold wave, it's minimal synth, it's enough to encourage a huge outlay of £144. This is Betrayal by Secession. It's also on the Garden label and it's Scottish. And extremely rare the seller assures us so it got Bidder 6 excited and he ousted Bidder 1 from the top of the auction tree. Me, I haven't an inkling who this lot were and I wasn't prepared to pay enormous sums to find out.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200394742686&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
The Turntable Revolution 70 all time indie singles
To qualify for the list below the artists have to be British, the songs have to be on single format, must be on an indie label and failed to reach the top 75. This is a fluid list. My favourites change by the minute. Already I'm wondering why Lovelee Sweet Darlene is not in the top 20. Time span 1980-1999.
The Turntable Revolution No.1
Here it is. Click below to hear it.
1 Orange Juice : Falling And Laughing
2 Field Mice : When Morning Comes To Town
3 Orange Juice : Felicity
4 Smiths : Hand In Glove
5 McCarthy : Keep An Open Mind Or Else
6 Company She Keeps : The Men Responsible
7 Heavenly : Our Love Is Heavenly
8 Desert Wolves : Speak To Me Rochelle
9 Sea Urchins : Pristine Christine
10 Siddeleys : My Favourite Wet Wednesday Afternoon
11 Dentists : Charms And The Girl
12 Popguns : Waiting For The Winter
13 Field Mice : An Earlier Autumn
14 Orange Juice : Blue Boy
15 House Of Love : Destroy The Heart
16 McCarthy : The Well Of Loneliness
17 Beloved : This Means War
18 Heavenly : Hearts And Crosses
19 Talulah Gosh : Bringing Up Baby
20 McCarthy : This Nelson Rockefeller
21 Razorcuts : Big Pink Cake
22 1000 Violins : If I Were A Bullet
23 Sarah Goes Shopping : Summer Blues
24 Heavenly : Atta Girl
25 Marine Girls : On My Mind
26 Shop Assistants : Safety Net
27 Melons : Fast Lane
28 Razorcuts : I Heard You The First Time
29 My Bloody Valentine : Lovelee Sweet Darlene
30 Jeremiahs : Driving Into The Sun
31 Heavenly : So Little Deserve
32 No Flags Etc. : Don't Bring Me Back
33 Dolly Mixture : Remember This
34 Wolfhounds : The Anti-Midas Touch
35 Chairs : Size 10 Girlfriend
36 Train Set : She's Gone
37 Desert Wolves : Love Scattered Lives
38 Trash Can Sinatras : Obscurity Knocks
39 Grow-Up : Joanne
40 Heavenly : P.U.N.K Girl
41 Field Mice : Sensitive
42 County Fathers : You Think It's So Funny
43 Avo-8 : Fame
44 Siddeleys : Are You Still Evil When You're Sleeping?
45 Greenhouse : Mad As Love
46 A Chocolate Morning : If You Want Me
47 Huggy Bear : Her Jazz
48 Siddeleys : Sunshine Thuggery
49 Waltones : She Looks Right Through Me
50 Hardy Boys : Wonderful Lie
51 Aztec Camera : Just Like Gold
52 Orchids : Tiny Words
53 Bob : Convenience
54 Friends : You'll Never See That Summertime Again
55 Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes : You'll Never Be That Young Again
56 Soup Dragons : Pleasantly Surprised
57 Blind Mice : It's Not Heaven
58 Close Lobsters : Firestation Towers
59 Company She Keeps : What A Girl Wants
60 Pale Saints : She Rides The Waves
61 Felt : Primitive Painters62 Blueboy : Popkiss
63 Popinjays : Monster Mouth
64 Orange Juice : Lovesick
65 Bloody Marys : Stain
66 Harrison : There Is No Refrain
67 Clamheads : Crack On
68 Hit Parade : Autobiography
69 Bodines : Heard It All
70 Wild Indians : Love Of My Life