Sean and Lulu's Vinyl-Spinning Spectacular

Hey kids, just got back from a sweet lunch break. I holed up in the holy confines of Bananas Music, one of the largest record stores in the U.S. They have more than 3 million vinyl albums, tapes, CDs spread out in two warehouses. If you live in FLA and you've never been to Bananas, you're missing a true St. Pete institution.

(This is also where I shot my new columnist pix for the paper. I think the ad campaign starts Sunday. Expect the newspaper industry -- and Slim Fast sales -- to have a massive turnaround as a result.)

Anyway, Bananas owner Doug Allen is selling tons of vinyl overstock, in fine condition no less, for only 25 CENTS apiece. So I bought a bunch of records, many of them for strictly nostalgic purposes. Not exactly collector's items, but good times nonetheless. I promised Kid Lulu we'd dance around in my office tonight, so here's what I picked up for the big father-daughter party:

Sister Sledge -- We Are Family (which includes the 8:06 epic version of We Are Family. If dancing around to that doesn't tire Lulu out, nothing will.)
The Outfield -- Play Deep
Randy Newman -- Little Criminals
Randy Newman -- Born Again
Bruce Hornsby and the Range -- The Way It Is (If you've ever heard my "Mama, No!" Norway story, you should know that this, believe it or not, was the soundtrack of that summer. Weird, huh?)
Night Ranger -- 7 Wishes
Men at Work -- Cargo (Overkill and It's a Mistake. Colin Hay is a genius.)
Genesis -- Genesis
Genesis -- Abacab
Julian Lennon -- Valotte (I just interviewed Phil Ramone, who produced this. He had some interesting things to say about the making of it, so I picked it up.)
Bryan Adams -- Cuts Like a Knife
Asia -- Alpha
Phil Collins -- No Jacket Required (I probably listened to this album more than any other in the '80s.)
John Waite -- No Brakes (Yep, finally found it on vinyl.)

Comments

[Jeff in Cuba]

You're not going to believe this, but I was also poking through some vinyl at lunchtime, down at the radio station. And I unearthed a copy of Colin Hay's 1987 solo effort "Looking For Jack" (insert your own Steve Spears joke here).

I didn't have time to give it a listen before I had to get back to work, but I'm going to give it a spin soon.

And one other little tidbit, Harriot in Cuba's cousin John was Bruce Hornsby's drummer in the Range.

[Sherrie]

I loved Men at Work's "Cargo" even more than their first album. "Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Jive" was on heavy rotation on my Sears stereo system my 8th grade year. (Though I lean more toward the genius of Greg Ham rather than Colin Hay.) Enjoy your dancing now, when they get older the music seems to get less mellow- my 11 year old is blasting Saliva and Papa Roach constantly...not as chill as Sister Sledge!

[Sean Daly]

I'd love to hear that Colin Hay record. I have a solo comp of his with a devastating acoustic "Overkill" (which they also used in "Scrubs," I believe).

Regarding the Range, I always wondered what happened to Bruce's boys. He kinda ditched them after the third album. Can you give us the Hornsby scoop? Cool guy? Hulking 8-foot jerk?

[Sean Daly]

Because I'm a big fat shamless name-dropper, it was during an interview at the top of NYC's SONY building when the lads in Duran Duran gave me this parenting advice: "Always dance with your daughters."

How bitchin' is that, '80s Nation?

[Jeff in Cuba]

John met Bruce when they were at the University of Miami together, so they're really good friends and John's not going to pony up any dirt. However, I've heard tales from other sources that Bruce can be "high-maintenance".

John landed on his feet after the Range was disbanded, and is now drumming for John Fogerty.

I'll drop you a note with my thoughts on Colin's solo disc after I get a chance to listen to it.

[jane]

Abacab is such a favorite of mine -- I listened to my freshman roommate's vinyl copy of it endlessly the fall of 1982. While the title track isn't traditionally dancable, I bet it might work for some father-daughter groovin'.

And I loved Valotte truly madly deeply back in the day--it was my go-to cassette during a very tumultuous relationship. Sigh.

[Jeff in Cuba]

"Always dance with your daughters"...

That's funny, Woody Allen gave me the same advice.

[jane]

PS: That's totally bitchin' in any nation, Mr. Daly. Great advice.

[Spears]

No mention of your gyro-scarfing shopping mate. I appreciate that.

[GlennS]

Nice haul, Sean. They say that music stores are dying but I'm glad we still have some good ones here in the Tampa Bay area. Sure, you can find almost anything you want on Amazon or EBay, but for me it will never replace the pure fun of an afternoon flipping through bins of albums or CDs at a real honest-to-God store.

[bassnote]

Sean, great haul. Yes, Colin Hay is a genius, maybe you can talk Steve into a Men At Work podcast. I've been hitting the local used vinyl shop lately, and have found a few gems: Lights Out-Peter Wolf, Modern Romans- the Call, Rhythm Of Youth-Men Without Hats.

Jeff, I love Bruce Hornsby & The Range. I saw them on three seperate tours, so I am familiar with John Molo's drum work. I was always impressed with his skill. I got Bruce & the band (including John) to sign a program for my younger brother who has Downs Syndrom. Very cool indeed.

I agree with GlennS. The Chicago area has lost all it's good record stores. The vinyl shop I go to has more used books than LPs. I could spend hours in a good record store, and often did. I so want to move to Florida.

[bassnote]

I'll do some shameless name dropping too. My wife and I took a road trip to see Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in Indianapolis, in 2000. We hooked up with some of her old friends who were Springsteen followers. After the show we were standing outside the Conseco Fieldhouse talking in a group, and a couple from Nashville were there. The guy, Craig, was talking about being a studio musician in Nashville, and how everyone you meet down there is, or was, in the business. I ventured to ask him his last name. It was Krampf, Craig Krampf. I blurted out excitedly, "You produced Melissa Ethridges first album!" He was taken aback by the fact that I could name that, and several other albums he had worked on (I am a liner notes junkie). It turned out he was also a member of Flo & Eddie, and had played quite a bit with Frank Zappa. He also told us about his first time seeing Springsteen back in 1975; how they were only going to stay for a couple songs, but got mesmerized and stayed for the whole show, making them very late for a gig of their own. He was a very cool guy. My wife is still, to this day, floored by the fact that I knew who he was.

[Marissa]

Sean! This is the most adorable thing I've read (from you). How endearing is it that you're going to spend the evening dancing with your little girl. Man! It's either PMS or I'm really touched...maybe a mix of both. Truly, it's ideal advice to "always dance with your daughters." My son and I have always danced. Since the time I rocked him in my arms to even now--and he's 13. He still dances with me.

I LOVE Colin Hay. I can listen to his solo "Man at Work" CD over and over and always feel like I'm getting something new from it. Weird.

Might I also mention how incredibly jealous I am that you've met my boys: Duran Duran. I'd be a big puddle of goo if I ever met any one of them, but mostly John and Simon...good googily goo!

[bassnote]

Marissa, I LOVE 'Man @ Work'! The acoustic version of 'Overkill' is awesome. I could listen to just that one song repeatedly for days.

[Marissa]

lol Bassnote. I just left a comment on your myspace page saying about the same thing haha

[Al]

Love the Range! Nice work Sean.

[Lydia]

Sean! RECORDS? VINYL?? I'm so stinking jealous, I can't hardly stand it.

[Jeffrey]

Good bunch of long players :-) -- Still have my vinyls of Cargo and No Jacket Required, both of which I played to death....and the album version of We Are Family rules!

[Lynne]

Sean,

I have about 100 33's that are very old. I have a list of titles if you are interested. I also have a few 45 albums (5 songs on each)and several are Elvis Presley).

[NickWithAnAxe]

I've spent a good many years trying to forget that Colin Hay existed. Now look what happens. You have to dredge up all this 80's excrement and sling it at me like a coked-up chimpanzee. I hope you sleep well at night.