Hot tubes and cool '70s vinyl...

[Tone deaf]

I have been pretty open about my personal belief that the '70s were the golden age of recorded music. It was still a mix of art and science and 100% analog.

My current favorites are fairly aggressive rock groups (Five Finger Death Punch and Slash and Myles a key in my go to play list), and I'll play the Beastie Boys, Run DMC and Cypress Hill, Chris Stapleton, Whisky Myers, Steel Drivers, Cody Jinks, and the like. There is nothing contemporary pop in any of my playlists. However, when I really want to tickle my ears with amazing recordings (more than just hooks and licks), I'll put one some '70s easy listening vinyl and kick back and chill. I marvel at the recording genius (probably more so than the instrumentation).

To really enjoy it (IMO) it's vinyl through tubes. Tonight, I have been listening to:

Can't put in more than five media links:
Fleetwod Mac*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXWia0TWAMM

Bee Gees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY

...and a bunch of others. Considering that it is about 2am, I guess I got lost in the music.




*Can't believe I picked a f*****g Christy McVie song...but listen to the guitar and organ in the background. There must be 4+ tracks of guitar noodling.

 

[smk506]

That’s the cool thing with vinyl, you can pick and choose songs, but it takes effort. It’s way easier to sit back and let an album play through than it is to hunt and choose your personal favorites.

I’m thinking about getting one of the little crosby suitcase players. A girl I’m seeing has one, it sounds fine to my non audiophile ears. I might switch out the cartridge if it’s going to wear the records out super fast, but that’s about it.

 

[dc007]

Vinyl rules

 

[DavGrape]

↑ Good flashback 70's choices.
I was nightly in headphones back then, switching 3 different radio stations, absorbing it all.

I remember hearing that 10cc the first time... "Wow; this is a weird one."

 

[SloMoTX]

70's Tubes - - I agree - The BEST Years. Great driving music.
Thanks for the reminder.

 

[BKS]

I can listen to this and enjoy it full... just in the eighties for this one though but something different from deathmetal or trash i normally listen too .

Next year is their farewell tour

But those old songs bring back memories, loved 10cc.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

↑ Good flashback 70's choices.
I was nightly in headphones back then, switching 3 different radio stations, absorbing it all.
I remember hearing that 10cc the first time... "Wow; this is a weird one."

Let me guess, WRIF, WABX, W4. I did headphones in the dark. No light seemed to sharpen my sense of hearing. Too many great groups and songs to list.

Here in the Detroit area we had a couple of local record chains, Harmony House and Peaches Records: It was an event going there and spending a couple hours just looking at vinyl ... of course, that was after making the rounds at the local music shops and checking out rows and rows of new and used Gibsons and Fenders ... reasonably priced.

 

[Freddy G]

I did a sound design for a play about 10 years ago. It was for a small regional theatre. They had a very small budget so they offered to pay me in LP records. A whole collection was donated to them. 3000 LPs. I turned it down. Silly me.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

I did a sound design for a play about 10 years ago. It was for a small regional theatre. They had a very small budget so they offered to pay me in LP records. A whole collection was donated to them. 3000 LPs. I turned it down. Silly me.

Not really. 3,000 LPs take up a whole lot of space.

 

[Freddy G]

Not really. 3,000 LPs take up a whole lot of space.

One of the reasons I didn't go for it....also they were mostly jazz and classical. Not that that's a bad thing....but 3k of that?

 

[TheX]

Not really. 3,000 LPs take up a whole lot of space.

And weigh a LOT.

 

[Freddy G]

I currently have about 1000 LPS. 60s-80s pop and rock. Probably half of them have a hole punched in the upper corner of the record cover...anybody know what that's all about?

 

[James R]

I currently have about 1000 LPS. 60s-80s pop and rock. Probably half of them have a hole punched in the upper corner of the record cover...anybody know what that's all about?

Yes, radio promo LP's, right?
...and if I remember correctly, Mrs. G was a radio personality (or maybe still is?).

 

[James R]

I ha e about 600 or so, but still growing.
The majority of them are classic rock and blues, but there's some newer stuff too.
We go to a couple big vinyl fairs a year, a lot of old gems at those get together.

 

[Tone deaf]

I currently have about 1000 LPS. 60s-80s pop and rock. Probably half of them have a hole punched in the upper corner of the record cover...anybody know what that's all about?

Cut-outs. IIRC they were unsold inventory returned to the record companies from retailers. They cut out or punch the cover and resell them at deep discounts.

 

[Freddy G]

Yes, radio promo LP's, right?
...and if I remember correctly, Mrs. G was a radio personality (or maybe still is?).

Bingo! Yes radio promo records. Mrs. G was on air in the 80s just as the radio station was transitioning from vinyl to CD. They gave it all away....

 

[James R]

Bingo! Yes radio promo records. Mrs. G was on air in the 80s just as the radio station was transitioning from vinyl to CD. They gave it all away....

Wow, great score!
I definitely would've taken advantage of that perk.

 

[Tim Fezziwig]

I had KICK ASS Dynaco st 70- all tube had to sell when we moved- I'm buying new stereo in Feb, I'll sink about $2000, I may go a SS Marantz and warm up with a tube preamp. I kept 115 ESSENTIAL vinyl- Coltane 180 grams- Exile 180 gram+ other "oddities" only found on vinyl- Feb will be a music fest.

 

[Tone deaf]

I had KICK ASS Dynaco st 70- all tube had to sell when we moved- I'm buying new stereo in Feb, I'll sink about $2000, I may go a SS Marantz and warm up with a tube preamp. I kept 115 ESSENTIAL vinyl- Coltane 180 grams- Exile 180 gram+ other "oddities" only found on vinyl- Feb will be a music fest.

I'd go with a lightly used integrated (pre and power amps in one box) tube amp like a Jolida 302B. These ain't cheap and have actually appreciated over the past 10 years (by at least 50%). Audiogon is a good source for used gear. CL is also a good place.