$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 15, 2007 14:53:40 GMT -5
So this weekend I finally hooked up my contraption that allows me to burn my LPs to Mp3/CD format. I am able to pull out certain gems I have not heard in nearly 20 years and record them to disc. I did so, 4 of them, and am spinning here at work. First one up is TKO's "In Your Face." Oh my. I have no idea what caused me to even buy this in the first place. The music is servicable 80s rock/metal, a bit commercialized but with a hard sort of edge. The band look like a bunch of fruitcakes on the back cover, and I found out yesterday poking around online that it is not even them pictured on their own album. The guitarist, in a recent interview, stated that it was a common thing back there in the 80s with certain bands, to have these other dudes pose as the band, to sell records. The real band would look like a bunch of dirtbags, not as marketable back then. I will say this, though, this stuff is so dated but its a fun listen after all these years.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2007 14:58:18 GMT -5
I have a "CD RECORDER" too Tom...have had it for years. I can't even begin to tell you the hours of enjoyment that thing has brought me. I have burned ours of my old punk rock vinyl, from LPs to 7-inchers, that had previously been gathering dust.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 15, 2007 15:00:30 GMT -5
I have to admit, before this year I had no idea these things existed. The one I ordered through Amazon itself has been in the Amazon pipeline since 2001. I imagine they were more expensive back then.
I grabbed my vinyl collection from Mom and Dads basement a couple of years ago, and I have a good 75-100 albums to sizzle up. I have about that same amount in albums not needed to burn, as along the way I picked them up on CD or - gasp - cassette. Some of my albums appear to be missing though...I needs to look again.
Yeah, I had a grand time with this last night, and in future days it will be fun to spin and go down memory lane. I will have more shout-outs to my old albums as I plow through this collection.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2007 15:09:27 GMT -5
Interestingly enough I was at a DANCE CLUB this weekend in Pasadena, helping celebrate a friend of my girlfriend's birthday.
Dance clubs, particularly the DANCING part, are not my thing. Not to mention the fact that I'm 37 years old and have forgotten more about clubbing than these obnoxious dorks know (of course, freely admitting that I was probably just obnoxious in my early to mid 20s....although in my case it was grungy punk clubs, not slick dance clubs). But one thing that made it tolerable was the History Of Metal marathon that was playing on one of the plasma screens...no sound obviously, but even the footage was cool enough....lots of footage from popular and old obscure metal bands alike.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 15, 2007 15:39:29 GMT -5
I wish I could borrow that thing at some point. I don't have enough records to make it worth buying, but I do have two I'd like to convert because they've never been released on CD.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2007 15:44:33 GMT -5
Balls...it's worth it! You can burn ANY analog or digital audio source to CD.
You can record radio to CD, your old vinyl, your old cassettes, even sound from TV/DVDs.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 15, 2007 15:49:49 GMT -5
Cho, this came with software, and some cables. Would I be able to hook these cables into a boombox and record my cassettes to CD? I dont have a "stereo" per se. Balls, you idiot, all you need to do is give me those 2 albums one day and I will take care of it for you. Especially cause the turntable wont do anything without the software I had to download that came with it.
Is My Father The Pop Singer one of the albums you want to download?
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 15, 2007 15:54:22 GMT -5
Yes. That, and one other involving my grandfather. Problem is that they are the only copies I have.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 15, 2007 15:58:54 GMT -5
Well, our door is always open. You should come out to Westbury sometime, bring them with you, we can burn them up while watching some tube, and you can take them back out with you on the way out.
Fear not, it'll get done.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 15, 2007 16:13:38 GMT -5
That might have to happen.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2007 16:34:04 GMT -5
Tom:
I'm not sure what device you have purchased. Mine is an actual stereo system component made by Pioneer. It has/requires no interaction whatsover with a computer, therefore no software.
It hooks up to my home stereo the same way an auxilary tape deck, CD player, or turntable would. It also has an additional digital hook up that will hook directly to your CD player for purposes of doing digital-to-digital CD copying...a feature I've never used.
The way I use mine is that I simply record analog sound coming through my receiver. So, I could set my receiver to "TAPE", play a cassette, and record the analog sound with my CD-Recorder to a CD-R. Or I could set my receiver to "AM/FM Tuner" and record that analog sound with my CD-Recorder (although I can't see what you'd want to record radion)...and so on with any other source of analog sound coming through my receiver.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2007 16:35:39 GMT -5
Ohhh, Tom, I see didn't answer your question specifically. My guess is that if your device has RCA cable input/output, you could plug them into your boombox (assuming it too has RCA cable input/outputs) and record sound.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 15, 2007 16:39:26 GMT -5
Hmm, that sounds like a lot of bells and whistles. Mine came with a software doohickey that is for use of transferring LPs/Cassettes. For the LPs you obviously would need a turntable. There is but one set of cords going through this turntable into the computer, to set up the burn. I am assuming I can simply plug those into a radio (or use the other cords that came with the package) and record using the same process.
Let me say this, if I CAN transfer my cassettes using this software and these cables, its the greatest thing I have ever owned. I literally have 300 or more cassettes, and some are in shaky shape and the time for burning is now. If its not, I will need to look into getting whatever I need to move on to cassettes when I am done with these albums.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 15, 2007 16:42:03 GMT -5
Actually, adding on, my particular radio probably does not have the imputs. Looking at the radio I have here at work, it does not. It only has a headphones jack. No biggie. We may invest in a stereo of sorts in the future, that would be a nice addition to the living room. I'll find something with the proper jacks.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2007 16:49:07 GMT -5
Sounds like we have different pieces of equipment.
As I said, mine is a stereo component...does not involve the computer at all.
I'm not sure I understand how your turntable plugs directly into your computer. I've have not seen a computer with RCA ports...and as far as I know your common run-of-the-mill turntable has RCA cables....unless you have some sort of special turntable made for hooking up to a computer, OR perhaps you have some sort of adapter that that lets you plug a normal turntable into a computer. If the latter is the case, you have an adapter, my guess would be that you could use the same adapter or plug your cassette deck into the computer and record...I imagine all the software would need to know is that it is receiving analog sound...wouldn't care whether it's from a turntable, a cassette deck, or a friggin' karaoke machine.
But, I'm just speculating.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 18, 2007 8:54:16 GMT -5
Continuing to have fun with this. Over the last couple of days most of what I burned was stuff I had heard in recent times in other ways, from old stalwarts like Accept, Manowar, and AC/DC. Some tracks that had fallen by the wayside though, that are nice to hear again. But check this out. Not even sure what got me to buy this particular album in the first place....it has THE gayest cover in the history of music (well, aside from Accepts Balls to the Wall). I mean, how did I even put this on the counter to purchase with a straight face? Virgin Steele - Noble Savage
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Post by 9 on Jan 18, 2007 11:26:40 GMT -5
That cover reminds me of the movie where Brooke Shields and some dude are stuck on an island.
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Post by Chris on Jan 18, 2007 12:53:42 GMT -5
It reminds me of Harry Hamlin standing on cliff ready to do battle alongside his trusty robot owl.
RELEASE THE KRAKEN!
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Post by yanksgooner on Jan 18, 2007 13:32:28 GMT -5
Tom... Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't "Virgin Steele" a band concocted by none other than Long Island legend Joey Buttafuoco or his brother?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 18, 2007 13:51:11 GMT -5
Nah, not this version. In fact, this band is still cranking along. The album in question is from 1985, and the band started in the early 80s, with the founding member noted rock guitarist Jack Starr. I checked some sources and even my old memory bank, and could find no confirmation of a Joey B connection.
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Post by yanksgooner on Jan 18, 2007 14:13:40 GMT -5
after doing some research on Yahoo!, it appears that the band did 3 songs for a TV movie called "casualties of love" which told the Buttafuoco/Fisher story. I knew there was some connection. I think Joey may have been in the video. Also, rumors surfaced that his brother was the bass player or something??
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 18, 2007 14:21:03 GMT -5
I dont know - that may be true. The band has been a true revolving door. I actually dont own anything outside of this vinyl, they changed direction a few times but are still plugging along a couple of decades later. Right now they are known for doing operatic type metal, based on stories of mythology. I have heard its quite good.
I just checked Wikepedia, nothing mentioned on that. Dont mean its not true, could be. I do know the band had some sort of Long Island ties, and I think thats one of the reasons I ended up listening to them in the first place. I'll see what I can find out.
Interestingly, on the Noble Savage album - most of the songs are straight-up power metal, but there are a couple of sleazy hair-band rock on there too. Sometimes song to song, its like two different bands. Even better, this lineup also recorded a thrash album around the same time under the name Exorcist, and its supposed to be killer, and I know where I can hear mp3s and will be heading there shortly.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 18, 2007 14:24:22 GMT -5
Here is a list of current and former members, from bnrmetal.com, which is THE definitive metal band encyclopedia. If Joeys brother was playing with the band, it was under one of these names. No mention of that connection in their profile, either, and they are usually complete with the quirk.
David Defeis vocals/keyboards Edward Pursino guitars/bass (see also Piledriver) Frank Gilchriest drums (see also Gothic Knights, Holy Mother, Riot)
former members
Jack Starr guitars (see also Burning Starr, Devil Childe, Guardians Of The Flame, Phantom Lord) Rob Demartino bass Joe O'Reilly bass Joey Ayvazian drums
Virgin Steele have been around since the early 80's, at which time they briefly achieved some acclaim for their early albums before seemingly disappearing from view. But they've always been around, garnering a considerable European following in recent years. On the more recent albums (since, say, Invictus), their experience shines brightly, a classic 80's power metal style (with more than a passing nod to mid-period Manowar), but at a higher level of maturity than a lot of bands jumping on the eighties bandwagon. With the recent The Book Of Burning, Virgin Steele shows no signs of slowing down.
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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2007 3:40:17 GMT -5
I think Joey Buttufuoco's brother did a stint in Citizen Dick.
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Post by Chris on Jan 22, 2007 14:13:25 GMT -5
Speaking of great records in people's collections, I have a theorem about AC/DC's Back In Black record...I don't know if I've ever laid out my theorem back on Section 39, but just in case I didn't, here goes.
The claim: AC/DC's "Back In Black" is the greatest rock-n-roll album ever made.
My reasons: AC/DC may not (or may) be any one given hard rock fan's favorite band. AND...If you ask any die-hard AC/DC fan they'd probably say that "Back In Black" isn't even the best AC/DC record. It's not even on my own personal list of Top Ten favorite records. However, think about the broad appeal of this record. Think about how many times you've been to a wedding, even a fairly conservative wedding, and heard "You Shook Me All Night Long" from the DJ. How many times have any of you witnessed a sporting event where "Hells Bells" or "Back In Black" have been played. How many times have AC/DC songs from THIS album been sampled by non-rock musicians - especially rappers? Think about the times you've been to a dance club...where it was predominately dance music played...99.9999% of the time, what is the last song of night....it's "You Shook Me All Night Long." The other thing is, everyone knows songs from this record....and everyone has the ability to sing along with the words of at least one song on this record. Pull any random hip-hop, R&B, disco, house, punk, "alternative" music fan aside, play him a couple of tracks from "Back In Black" and I guarantee while singing along he/she nails at least a good 75%+ of the lyrics to at least one song. My girlfriend doesn't really care for any hard rock - she's a Top 40 radio kinda gal and I'm almost sure she has at least one or two songs off "Back In Black" on her iPod. My Mom and my Dad - devout Jackson Brown, James Taylor, Loggins & Messina, Eagles, Doobie Brothers fans - know songs off this record...they'd probably mock those songs, but they know them and they can probably sing along to most of it.
Yeah, sure, there are some other records with very recognizable songs, with a broad appeal...but my contention is none of them match that of "Back In Black"...considering all of the different ways I've mentioned that songs from this album have permeated so many widely varying segments of society. No you can probably find a people who HATE the Beatles, who HATE Elvis, who HATE the Rolling Stones, and you could even find people who might make the claim that they hate AC/DC, but I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone with any kind of strong negative feelings about this particular record.
It's tied for fourth on the All-Time list of most copies sold. But, unlike the albums ahead of it, its sales numbers are due to the aforementioned broad appeal. "The Wall" and "Led Zeppelin IV" sold more, but my belief is that's because there are a billion die-hard Pink Floyd and Led Zep fans who gobbled up these records - same can be said for be said for "Thriller." "The Eagles: Greatest Hits" - well, that's not an LP, so that doesn't count in the discussion of "Greatest Album Ever" and neither does the Billy Joel collection tied with "Back In Black." It's just a great record with a huge broad appeal, that is unmatched by any other record.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2007 16:31:14 GMT -5
You are nowhere near the only person who think thats the best album of all time.
Overall, I may agree myself, but I never want to hear "You Shook Me All Night Long" ever again.
So check it out - listening to a gem from a band named Castle Blak right now. "Babes In Toyland"
Nothing too groundbreaking. Again, I have no idea what I was thinking when I got this, or what would have drawn me to it in the first place. This many years later, its a fun listen, sure, but it does not fit with a lot of my other likes back then. This band is sort of poseur-ish in sound, and even do a cover of Kiss' "Black Diamond" - aptly renamed "Blak Diamond."
There are a couple of really cool songs on here, though.
Here is a recap of their sound from vocalist Regent St Blakk
SR: For people that have never heard Castle Blak, how would you describe its sound to them?
RS: It really depends on the song. We were definitely part of The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in the 80's, but also lean in a Glam direction as well, so our music has a lot of seemingly diverse flavours like Kiss, AC/DC, The Sweet, a little Scorpions/Saxon/Judas Priest every now and then, old Motley Crue, hints of old Alice Cooper, and a bit of Black N Blue. I think a journalist described us best years ago as 'Dark California Glam.[/i]
I know some people will wonder this, so I'll ask it myself. Why does a band like Castle Blak warrant a box set release?
RS: Although we never became millionaire rock stars, for a little band from Pleasant Hill we accomplished quite a lot with our 3 releases, and various band members and people associated with the band have gone on to do some pretty notable things. That's the short answer. The more complex answer is that we and our music were part of something bigger than ourselves. It's sort of like Six Degrees from Kevin Bacon. In a nutshell, we have connections to huge artists like Green Day, Starship, Dolly Parton, Queen, and even Bruce Willis. We often played legendary SF clubs like The Old Waldorf, all the Keystones, Mabuhay Gardens, The On Broadway, and The Stone. Those were landmarks from a thriving scene that helped change the music world back then. We played a show that outdrew Metallica and Ozzy in Billboard. We've gotten letters and emails over the years from thousands of people who were touched by our music, and who even started bands because they were inspired by us. And yet a lot of our music still never got out to the public who it was written for, so I figured that it was about time. This box set is also for all the musicians who played with the band over the years, many of who were and still are good friends. It's a way to memorialize those friendships and connections between ourselves and with our fans." [/i]
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Post by 9 on Jan 26, 2007 16:48:27 GMT -5
Another band I've never heard of, but two things:
1) They put out a BOX SET? WTF?
2) LOL @ Regent St Blakk. That name REEKS of This Is Spinal Tap!
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Post by Chris on Jan 26, 2007 17:04:01 GMT -5
'Til Death had a great commentary the other night on the differences between men and women.
The Woodcocks were discussing things they pretended to like for the sake of the other. The wife had been pretending to like Hockey and Spinal Tap. When admitting she didn't like Spinal Tap, accusing it of not being funny, she said, "I don't get that whole this one goes to 11 thing. Why not just make it go to 40. Wouldn't that be funnier?"
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2007 17:12:53 GMT -5
They put out a BOX SET? WTF?
Not only that, but its VERY in-depth. I wonder how much it goes for, even though i would not even give it a passing glance if a gun was held to my head. But, I did read in this interview that one of the old drummers is dead, part of a "murder-suicide" - thats kinda cool.
SR: The Castle Blak boxset is finally going to get released, tell us about it.
RS: It's kind of a musical scrapbook that covers a lot of ground. 45 songs and a radio interview, all between 1979 and 2005. Castle Blak material (songs from 'Babes In Toyland,' 'Another Dark Carnival,' and 'No Bed Of Roses') and also songs by every incarnation of that band (Castle Blak/Blak/Monster Island, etc.), as well as my own solo stuff done during those years. Plus 3, 20-page booklets, one for each of the 3 discs/volumes, with lots of rare photos, artwork, lyrics, and linear notes about the creation and/or recording of the songs.
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Post by Chris on Jan 26, 2007 17:54:06 GMT -5
Speaking of Box Sets....I think I am going to pick up the new Tom Waits Box Set, of all new material, "Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards" this weekend.
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