O noble disc of grooves both black and round, Thy cardboard sleeve doth smell of musty dreams. I dig through crates where dusty gems are found, Each crackle sings of bygone sonic schemes.
The thrill of thrift shops—oh, my beating heart! A dollar bin may hide a treasure rare. A polka album? Sure, I’ll call it art— Even warped jazz can make me stop and stare.
I boast of pressings “first” to all my friends, Though half my finds sound like a frying pan. The needle pops, the music squeaks and bends, Yet still I cheer, a happy vinyl stan.
For digital may sparkle, crisp and clean, But vinyl hums with ghosts of what has been.
This video from reccollect highlights some of the coolest, craziest and weirdest vinyl record releases in the past 50 years. Some truly amazing gems here.
Music has seen its fair share of unusual releases, where artists really put their creative hearts (and possibly sanity) on the line. Here are five of the strangest ways people decided to distribute their music:
1. The Frozen Record (Shout Out Louds)
Swedish band Shout Out Louds released a single made out of ice. Yes, ice. Fans had to pour water into a custom mold, freeze it, and then play the fragile record before it melted. Listening quickly became a race against time. “How’d you like it?” “Well, I think I heard the chorus before the puddle on my turntable shorted out my speakers.”
2. The Chocolate Record (FC Judd)
In a rare attempt to combine auditory and digestive experiences, avant-garde electronic musician FC Judd created a playable record made of chocolate. This one hits that sweet spot: you can listen to it once, then chow down on it when you’re done. The downside? It sounds great until you reach the drum solo, where a suspicious crunch indicates you’ve just bitten off half the bridge.
3. The X-Ray Record (Soviet Bootlegs)
During the Cold War, enterprising Russians recorded banned Western music onto used X-rays because vinyl was strictly monitored. They called them “Bone Records” because they were literal X-ray images of skeletons. These were like the mixtapes of rebellion, complete with visible femurs. Imagine trying to explain to your friend, “Here’s that Beatles album… oh, and also, that’s Olga’s broken leg.”
4. The Blood Record (Kiss)
In true Kiss fashion, the band decided to mix their own blood into the red ink used to print their comic book in 1977, but Gene Simmons later hinted it ended up in a vinyl pressing too. So, yes, die-hard Kiss fans can say they literally own the band’s DNA. Just don’t expect it to pass any basic health inspections if you accidentally scratch yourself with it.
5. The Urine-Infused Record (Matthew Herbert)
For his 2019 release, experimental musician Matthew Herbert pressed vinyls using the sounds of his bathroom breaks, from the actual flush to… well, you get the idea. Yes, the album cover practically screams, “Sanitize after handling.” This was one record release that truly had fans divided: collectors loved it, but hygienists… not so much.
Music may be timeless, but these records prove that sometimes, it’s also best enjoyed on regular vinyl!
This is a review and unboxing for the long overdue new Black Sabbath boxset Anno Domini 1989-1995. The boxset contains 4 CDs covering 4 studio albums that feature Tony Martin on vocals.
Join Pete Pardo, Steven Reid, Eric Porter, and Anthony Ferraro for a review of the long awaited Porcupine Tree album ‘Closure/Continuation’. #porcupinetree
I kinda agree with these guys: I like the album…but don’t yet love it. What do you think?
Join Pete Pardo and very special guest Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, Sons of Apollo, Liquid Tension Experiment, Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater) as they each run down their favorite 10 double albums of all time.
Channel 33 RPM reviews other people’s music rooms and man caves. Lots of high end turntables and stereo setups! Lots and lots of audiophiles. I’m very jealous!
Dozens of RSD 2022 releases have been moved to June 18. RSD established the June safety net some time ago for titles that couldn’t make it into stores on April 23. The list has been updated. Check it out. #RSD#RecordStoreDay#vinyl – – – Channel 33 RPM
