charity shops heaven

Oh boy Oh boy - l struck lucky last week with my charity shops visit. Some of these books l have already read or have in different translations, and a lot of the cds l have copies of, but l nearly wet myself with excitement at finding this load of goodies.

As usual, all l need now is more time off work, and a bigger house to store all of my crap.

If only l could find this kind of stuff every time l went a searchin'.

                                             

toodle pip

the retreat into dementia

I'm either losing my marbles, or l have too many CDs. Either way, l've just rigged up some equipment to convert streams from the computer and old cassette tapes onto CDs, or stash away digitally before the tapes get too knackered (a technical term). 

One favourite tape of mine that l was given by a girl l met in Dublin is from a band called The Retreat, who gigged and lived around Plymouth. They released a cassette of an album they recorded in 1990, and very good it is as well, albeit heavily influenced by The Waterboys Fishermans Blues period, which is no bad thing, as, at that time, The Waterboys were probably my favourite band, which is why l was in Dublin in the first place.

After listening to the cassette again, making the recording, and transferring it to CD and my ipod, l made a CD cover for it (I'm a very sad man), and went to stash it away (alphabetically of course). That was when l discovered and dimly remembered that l had bought their limited 1993 European pressing of the album on CD, so there was no need for me to have digitalised it in the first place.

Still, l've now got two very slightly different copies, with slightly different CD covers, so who's laughing now?

Right - now onto my old Spike Milligan cassettes.

toodle pip

self help books by lynda field, and paul mckenna making you happy

More stuff found while cleaning up. All of which belonged to the FPO. Some of the exercises in the self help books have been completed, but l'm not putting that information up here. I've had a quick scan at the self help books, and, probably to no ones surprise, think they are exploitative crap. Then again - l've got issues, but obviously not the only one. Can't comment on the CD, as l've not played it, but if l was a betting man, l would stake a pretty high wager that l never will.

toodle pip

tape transfer to cd - reliving some of the past

I've recently been transferring some old cassette compilations that l made back in the day to CD for itunes
etc. It was good hearing some of the songs again after such a long time (I'm guessing about 10 years), but most importantly, it also confirmed what excellent eclectic taste in music l had, and still have (Track listings are above).
Anyone disagreeing must have cloth ears and a tiny brain (and crappy taste in music).

toodle pip

how times have changed - swapping cds

This letter (from  Andrew in Hull -2001) might as well be from 50 years ago, as times have changed so much.
When l got a CD player for the first time and wanted a collection of CD's to play on it, there was no way l could amass a load quickly (that sounds painful), so l used to swap discs with people who had usually met me on my travels, or corresponded with me about something else.
By swap CD's, l of course mean swap copies of them, as the next thing l bought after the CD player was a CD copier and a load of blank discs.  The swapping was great for getting hold of new artists that l wanted to try out (Muse, My Vitriol, Turin Brakes and Feeder on the letter above), and was also a superb way of building up my bootleg collection.
I know it was illegal, but l didn't care.
Over the years l have spent a fortune on music and concerts, more than anyone else l know (I am a sad bastard), plus the CD's on sale at that time were really expensive.
Now it's all Spotify, streaming, iTunes,  free music on the web (if you know where to look), and they can't give most CD's away for love or money.
Serves the greedy gits that ran the record companies right, money grabbing parasites that mot of them were.
Maybe there is such a thing as Karma.

toodle pip

bob harris and his cd shelves

There is a feature in this months Word magazine about collecting records, and storing them if you have loads. It featured (amongst others) Bob Harris, who stores his CDs in a portakabin in his garden. It may well be a mightily secure and alarmed portakabin, but it is a portakabin non the less. It is also full of shelves and CDs. To say l was envious looking at the pictures is an understatement, l was so outrageously jealous it was unbelievable. It is not even the amount of CDs he has, as l have the same amount, if not more. It's the shelves. Those beautiful wooden shelves. I think l am becoming addicted to them (and very, very sad). Time for a lie down methinks, it's getting late and l am going giddy.

toodle pip

the summer burn with the laughing animals

The longest day of the year has just been and gone, and it was crap weather (as usual).

At least it got me out of cutting the grass though.

Instead of slaving away in the garden, I have just done two CD's for the summer burn project ( http://www.funjunkie.co.uk/summerburn/ ) and put a couple of happy animals on the front and back cover. Even printed on the CD's as well, pulling out all of the stops.

Thought l'd share the pictures as they look so happy.

toodle pip