Bellsbellsbellsbellsbells
typed for your pleasure on 20 January 2007, at 10.46 amSdtrk: ‘Follow me in suicide’ by Pankow
On rare occasions, I still purchase vinyl LPs and the like, in order to maintain my indie cred. *barely stifles giggling* I recall a day about five or so years ago, I had been wandering through a Salvation Army store in Royal oak, and I’d found a copy of ‘Whipped cream and Other Delights‘ by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, over in their desperate-looking record section. It was actually in rather good condition, which was made even more appealing by its seventy-five cent pricetag. Soon afterwards at another thrift store location, I had spotted three more copies of that same album. It seemed too weird of a coincidence, and consequently, that holiday season I half-jokingly told my mates that I was going to buy everyone a copy of ‘Whipped cream and Other Delights’. Now I regret not having done so, but I’m sure if I go looking again, I’m fairly certain I can scare up some copies.
On the other hand, this bloke’s kinda taken things to extremes.
One Hundred Copies of Tubular Bells
On the 8th of February 2003, I decided to collect 100 copies Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells on second hand vinyl. For the next three years, I bought every copy I could find. The collection was complete in March 2006. […] But of course, Tubular Bells is music. What would 100 copies sound like when played together? The music was once perfect, then fractured into a million reproductions, each now decaying. Can we put the pieces back together again?
Going by his detailed acquisition records, the most he paid for a copy was nine quid, or just over $17 USD. For ‘Tubular bells’??
Playing all of his copies simultaneously would be rather ace, though. Kinda reminds me of what someone had once said about the Hafler trio: the best way to hear their records is to play three different releases on three turntables simultaneously. I approve!
Y’know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard ‘Tubular bells’ in its entirety. I suppose that if this bloke ever gets his performance underway, I don’t think anyone will need to hear ‘Tubular bells’ ever again
Random similar posts, for more timewasting:
Ears are bleeding: supplemental on July 21st, 2006
Too much rock for just one hand \mm/ on February 17th, 2008
January 20th, 2007 at 1.41 pm
write about balet mechanique!
alllThossePlayerrPianos!!!!
January 20th, 2007 at 3.18 pm
I love Tubular Bells! It was one of my early CD purchases way back during the Truman administration.
January 20th, 2007 at 3.21 pm
Actually, your idea of buying everyone a record of “Whipped Cream” is just like the one year I almost bought everyone a copy of “Battle Arena Toshinden” for the PS for Festivus. At $.25 a copy, it would have cost me about $4 total. “Yeah Mom, I know you don’t know what a Toshinden is, but I’m certain you’ll LOVE it!”
January 25th, 2007 at 7.49 am
Herb A. was always one of my dad’s faves, so “Whipped Cream…” and “The Lonely Bull” were heard plenty o’ times around the house. And I’d say the cover of “Whipped…” must have been worth the price alone 😉
Tubular Bells, ah, that’s another story. Since I was always such a Soft Machine fan, I was already prepared for TB when it came out on Virgin, Mike O. being the 15 year old guitarist with Kevin Ayers’ band prior to tucking himself away in the studio to make TB pretty much all by himself. He was 17 when he made it, y’ know? And it IS a classic!
And the late, great, and insane Viv Stanshall of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band does the “MC”-ing, announcing all of the instruments as they join in the theme at the close of side one. So, there’s that as well!
Funny, all these Canterbury groups were so unknown that I always took it for granted that no-one ever heard of them. Imagine my surprise when several weeks after getting (and being blown away by) TB, I went and saw “The Excorcist”… the most mind-boggling thing of the movie was that TB had been chosen for the Theme. Couldn’t believe it!
Anyway… 100 copies? Day-um, he could have just waited LOL Oldfield has put out at least 4 different TB albums, updating it about once per decade. Interesting 😉
Cheers to you and yours,
PBS, Lily, & Eden
January 25th, 2007 at 7.57 pm
Mr Shelley and Mrs Godwin (and Ms whatever-Eden’s-last-name-is) –
AHHHH ‘THE EXORCIST’!! So that’s what ‘Tubular bells’ sounds like! I’ll be damned! Or damp.
Y’know, I’d never even seen ‘The exorcist’ up until last year — I’m not a horror fan, and therefore had no inclination to see it at all. My supervisor from my previous job had spotted me wearing my grey cardigan with the Alex from ‘Clockwork orange’ button on it, and he and I got to speaking about films; his all-time fave was ‘The exorcist’. He was aghast that I’d never seen it, so he lent me his DVD copy. I found it largely meh, but now I can say that I’ve seen it. 🙂
SPOILERS: The cover model of ‘Whipped cream and other delights’ was several months pregnant when the photo was taken. But everyone knows that. 🙂
T-money –
I think you should follow through with Operation: Christmas Arena Toshinden. That’s a feckin’ riot. 🙂
SafeT –
you mean Fernand Leger’s Ballet Mechanique? Looks like I have to do some research! Or I’m simply confused.
January 27th, 2007 at 12.04 pm
Eden’s last name is easy to remember, once you make the connection; it’s “Gardner” 😉
As for Tubular Bells, it is a piece that keeps changing; it is the only track, but comprised of probably 18 or so “movements.” The fact that he is one of the greatest guitarists in the world doesn’t hurt either! (‘course, if you don’t like the music, that’s kind of a moot point LOL)
I’ve always been a big fan, I even saw him live in 1985. Great show, too. Incidentally, Arthur C. Clarke and Oldfield are good friends; Clarke did the liner notes to the excellent “The Songs of Distant Earth”, which is probably my fave M.O. record.
It’s music to listen to, rather than just have on in the background. Not that there’s anything wrong with that 😛
January 27th, 2007 at 2.36 pm
Tubular bells, from the way you describe it and its movements, sounds rather like Phillip Glass. Or one of my fave 20th century composers, Michael Nyman. Perhaps I shall pick up a vinyl copy of Tubular bells of my own! Of couse, when that happens, I’ll be cursed, and I’m doomed to buy 99 more. 🙂
Eden Gardner, durr hey! I actually knew that, but I’d forgotten it! I am ashamed. 🙁
Give the lasses kisses for us, though!
January 27th, 2007 at 3.32 pm
Charles Laughton’s Quasimodo shouted the immortal words “The bells , the bells” as they rung about his head, just as I would now if I could still play my vinyl copy.
PBS is right it is a fantastic achievement at its time but I would not want to listen to it now.
It is just a bit to “soft” for my present tastes.
But certainly give me Kevin Ayers, Soft M/C and Viv in full cry anytime.
AAAAh I can still hear all the tracks on Gorilla the Bonzo’s first album , damn you PBS I have to go and find it on CD now.
You got to hear it DC its a great anarchistic laugh!
Eden Gardener indeed, I wonder where she keeps her apple ?
Toodle loo