December 24, 2015

Happy Holidays From The Analog Kid Blog!

Here’s a quick little Christmas gift for you: a brand-new 320 kbps rip of U2’s Wide Awake In Europe EP. This 2010 release was limited to 5000 copies, and it has become one of U2’s rarest releases. I originally featured this EP in a blog post back in April of 2014, but now I have added the (MUCH) better quality rip to the original post. Happy Holidays, everybody!

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As you probably know by now, The Analog Kid lives for b-sides and non-album cuts. In this continuing series, I will share some of my favorite EPs and 12″ singles from over the years in their entirety. And since it’s digital, you don’t have to worry about correctly setting the turntable speed to  or 33⅓ or 45!

360

Record Store Day is this Saturday, and as always there are a number of unique releases that the Analog Kid will feel compelled to add to his collection. I have a local store that I usually have tremendous luck at, so hopefully I won’t have any problems getting my hands on the new Bruce Springsteen EP (and a few other choice nuggets, of course). If I fail, though, that means eBay. And damn, do I hate dealing with money-grubbing record scalpers on eBay! Back in 2010, I had to pay over $50 for one of the 5000 copies of U2’s Record Store Day exclusive Wide Awake In Europe EP. In the end, it will likely prove to be a wise investment as U2 have never released two of the three songs in any other format– in other words, Wide Awake In Europe is one rare-ass U2 release!

Of course, the EP’s title (and artwork) is an ode to the band’s 1985 classic Wide Awake In America. I bought that record on the way home from my high school graduation (I’ll let you figure out the symbolism there), and it remains one of my favorite U2 releases. The 2010 Wide Awake… EP opens with “Mercy,” a fantastic new song that was played live a few times on the European leg of the U2360 tour. No studio version was ever recorded, so this EP is the only place you can hear the track. Wide Awake In Europe also includes two live staples from the U2360 tour: the dance version of “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” (love the Frankie Goes To Hollwood excerpts!), and the show-closing “Moment Of Surrender.” If only all Record Store Day releases were this good…

Since only 5000 copies of Wide Awake In Europe were printed and it isn’t even available for download, I’m doing something I rarely do here on the Analog Kid blog: I am adding a download link for each song. I’m sure many fans around the world would love to hear these songs, and hopefully U2 won’t sue me for making them available (especially since you can’t buy them legitimately even if you wanted to!). I hope you enjoy the music, and happy hunting on Saturday!

Wide Awake In Europe

U2: Wide Awake In Europe

Interscope Records, 2010

New 320 kbps rip courtesy of The Analog Kid (uploaded 12/24/2015)

1. “Mercy” [Live From Brussels] (U2)

Listen:

Download (right-click and save link as):

Mercy [Live From Brussels]

2. “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” [Live U2360 Remix] (U2/Eno/Lanois)

Listen:

Download:

I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight [Live U2360 Remix]

3. “Moment Of Surrender” [Live From Paris] (U2)

Listen:

Download:

Moment Of Surrender [Live From Paris]

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

Wide Awake In America

U2: “Bad” [Live] (U2)

From the EP Wide Awake In America

Island Records, 1985

Bad

Posted by on December 24, 2015 in Alternative, Rock and tagged , , , , , .

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November 24, 2015

Lost In The Flood: Hard-To-Find ’70s Albums (Meri Wilson’s “First Take”)

The Analog Kid blog has been featuring out-of-print ’80s albums on “The Lost Boys” series for quite a while, and now it’s time for the ’70s to join the party! “Lost In The Flood: Hard-To-Find ’70s Albums” will give you the chance to listen to some great music from the ’70s that can no longer be easily acquired on-line or at your local record store (especially since many of you probably no longer even HAVE a local record store!).

 

Meri Wilson

 

You can have it with a buzz

You can have it with a ring

And if you really want it you can have a ding-a-ling!

 

I used to think that Meri Wilson’s 1977 Top 20 hit “Telephone Man” was absolutely hilarious– of course, I was ten years old at the time. Now I think it’s hilarious for entirely different reasons, but I still believe that Meri beats out Chuck Berry in the Best ’70s Ding-A-Ling Song contest by a solid six inches or so…

 

First Take

Meri Wilson: First Take

GRT Records, 1977

Vinyl rip courtesy of The Analog Kid

 

1. “Silver Blue Mercedes” (Wilson/Brandt)

Silver Blue Mercedes

2. “Midnight In Memphis” (Castleman)

Midnight In Memphis

3. “Two Sides” (Davis)

Two Sides

4. “Telephone Man” (Wilson)

Telephone Man

5. “The Angel In Me” (Wilson)

The Angel In Me

6. “There’s A Whole Let More (Where That Came From)” (Kelly/Harrison)

There’s A Whole Lot More (Where That Came From)

7. “He Lost His Faith” (Castleman)

He Lost His Faith

8. “Rub-A-Dub-Dub” (Edwards/Jenkins)

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

9. “Itinerary” (Wilson)

Itinerary

10. “Everytime I Sing A Love Song” (Molinary/Sklero)

Everytime I Sing A Love Song

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

The London Chuck Berry Sessions

Chuck Berry: “My Ding-A-Ling” (Berry)

From the album The London Chuck Berry Sessions

Chess Records, 1972

My Ding-A-Ling

 

Posted by on November 24, 2015 in One-Hit Wonders, Pop, Rock and tagged , , , , , .

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November 9, 2015

The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums (“Phil Seymour 2”)

“The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums” gives you exactly what the title implies: a rare or out-of-print album from the ’80s in its entirety. Some will be from CD, but most will have been lovingly transferred from pristine vinyl culled directly from the Analog Kid’s vast collection. Whatever album I choose, it will be one that you can’t easily find a physical copy for sale on Amazon or in your local record store (if you even have one anymore). Death…by stereo!

 

Phil

The Analog Kid is a sucker for power pop, and power pop doesn’t get much better than Phil Seymour. Phil was a member of the Dwight Twilley Band in the ’70s, and his 1981 debut solo album remains one of my all-time favorite LPs. 1982’s Phil Seymour 2 may not reach the same heights as his first record, but it’s still a great album with some insanely catchy tunes. It was also the first place a record owner could hear “Surrender,” a wonderful song from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers that somehow never made an album in the ’70s. Petty eventually re-recorded “Surrender” and finally released it on the 2000 compilation Anthology: Through The Years.

Phil Seymour 2 was briefly released on CD in 2011, but the songs on that album were extensively remixed. The 320 kbps rip below is from my own vinyl pressing, and features the original Val Garay mixes from 1982. I have also included Seymour’s contribution to the soundtrack of the 1982 cult classic The Last American Virgin as one of the bonus tracks.

Sadly, Phil Seymour passed away from lymphoma in 1993– the same year that I had to undergo a bone marrow transplant to combat leukemia. Maybe that’s one of the reasons Phil’s music is so precious to me, but I also know that his body of work speaks for itself. The Analog Kid hopes you enjoy this super-rare power pop classic!

 

Phil Seymour 2 [320 kbps]

Phil Seymour: Phil Seymour 2

Boardwalk Records, 1982

320 kbps vinyl rip courtesy of The Analog Kid

 

1. “Love Receiver” (Terry Mace/Debbie Wright/P.R. Battle)

Love Receiver

2. “Don’t Let Daddy Find Out” (Terry Mace/Ralph Hammer/Debbie Wright)

Don’t Let Daddy Found Out

3. “Dancing A Dream” (Robert Cowsill/Paul Cowsill)

Dancing A Dream

4. “Surrender” (Tom Petty)

Surrender

5. “Looking For The Magic” (Dwight Twilley)

Looking For The Magic

6. “Talk To Me” (Joey Alkes/Chris Fradkin/Gary Robertson)

Talk To Me

7. “You Give Good Love” (Terry Mace/Howard Wolen)

You Give Good Love

8. “Suffering” (Phil Seymour/Jimmy Podlor)

Suffering

9. “Better To Me Than You” (Phil Seymour)

Better To Me Than You

10. “Tear Up The Night” (Shandi/Jeff Rollings)

Tear Up The Night

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers_ Singles & B-Sides 1

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: “Surrender” (Tom Petty)

From the album Anthology: Through The Years

MCA Records, 2000

Surrender

 

The Last American Virgin_ Music From The Original Motion 1

Phil Seymour: “When I Find You” (Jeff Rollings)

From the soundtrack album The Last American Virgin

Columbia Records, 1982

Vinyl rip courtesy of The Analog Kid

When I Find You

 

Phil Seymour

Phil Seymour: “Precious To Me” (Phil Seymour)

From the album Phil Seymour

Boardwalk Records, 1981

Precious To Me

 

Twilley Don't Mind 1

Dwight Twilley Band: “Looking For The Magic” (Dwight Twilley)

From the album Twilley Don’t Mind

Arista Records, 1977

Looking For The Magic

Posted by on November 9, 2015 in Alternative, New Wave, Rock, Soundtrack and tagged , , , , , , .

3 Comments

October 26, 2015

EP-iphanies: The Alarm’s “Rescue Me” [U.K. 12″]

The Analog Kid lives for b-sides and non-album cuts! In this continuing series, I will share some of my favorite EPs and 12″ singles from over the years in their entirety. And since it’s digital, you don’t have to worry about correctly setting the turntable speed to 33⅓ or 45!

 

The Alarm

I first heard The Alarm courtesy of a super-cool kid who lived on the floor above me during my freshman year at UT back in 1985. He was only the second person I had ever met who owned an actual CD player, and he also had great taste in music. One of his new CDs was a copy of The Alarm’s Strength, and he was nice enough to tape it for me. That cassette was the soundtrack to my summer during 1986, and The Alarm have remained one of my favorite bands ever since.

Earlier this month, frontman Mike Peters announced that he was battling cancer for a third time. Like me, Peters has previously battled leukemia and lived to tell about it. Mike co-founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation in 2007, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of cancer sufferers. One of its main goals is to enhance the bone marrow donor list registry, a cause that is obviously near and dear to my heart. I was lucky enough to have a sister who was a perfect marrow match for me, but most people who need transplants aren’t as fortunate. If you’re not on the list, you should be. It’s that simple.  Learn more about the Love Hope Strength Foundation here:

Home

I met Mike before an Alarm show at Austin’s Back Room back in early 1988, and he was a gracious and kind man. I have no doubt that he will once again kick cancer’s ass and continue to make great music. And here’s some of that great music: a vinyl rip of the 1987 “Rescue Me” U.K. 12″ single that features an extended remix of the title track along with three non-album cuts. Get well soon, Mike!

 

Rescue Me [U.K. 12_]

The Alarm: Rescue Me [U.K. 12″]

I.R.S. Records, 1987

Vinyl rip courtesy of The Analog Kid

 

1. “Rescue Me [Tearing The Bonds Asunder Mix]” (Eddie MacDonald/Mike Peters)

Rescue Me [Tearing The Bonds Asunder Mix]

2. “My Land Your Land (The Hurricane Sessions)” (Dave Sharp/Twist)

My Land Your Land [The Hurricane Sessions]

3. “Elders And Folklore (The Hurricane Sesssions)” (The Alarm)

Elders And Folklore [The Hurricane Sessions]

4. “Pastures Of Plenty (The Hurricane Sessions)” (Woody Guthrie)

Pastures Of Plenty [The Hurricane Sessions]

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

Eye Of The Hurricane

The Alarm: “Rescue Me” (Eddie MacDonald/Mike Peters)

From the album Eye Of The Hurricane

I.R.S. Records, 1987

Rescue Me

 

Strength

The Alarm: “Absolute Reality” (Eddie MacDonald/Mike Peters)

From the album Strength

I.R.S. Records, 1985

Absolute Reality

 

 

Posted by on October 26, 2015 in Alternative, New Wave, Rock and tagged , , , , , , .

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October 22, 2015

The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums (The Kinks’ “Give The People What They Want”)

“The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums” gives you exactly what the title implies: a rare or out-of-print album from the ’80s in its entirety. Some will be from CD, but most will have been lovingly transferred from pristine vinyl culled directly from the Analog Kid’s vast collection. Whatever album I choose, it will be one that you can’t easily find a physical copy for sale on Amazon or in your local record store (if you even have one anymore). Death…by stereo!

 

Kinks 1981

The Kinks experienced a pretty amazing comeback on the American side of the Atlantic in the late ’70s and early ’80s– they sold tons of records, packed arenas nationwide, and even had hit videos on MTV. A lot of my friends (Hi Bri! Hi Wade!) were REALLY into the band, but for some reason I just couldn’t seem to get on board. OK, it wasn’t really some reason: it was a reason, and that reason was “Come Dancing.” I was addicted to MTV back in the summer of 1983, and MTV was addicted to the video for “Come Dancing.” It was on at least once an hour for that entire summer (literally, “All Day And All Of The Night’), and by August I was ready to kick Ray Davies in the nuts. I stopped listening to The Kinks completely, and that sabbatical lasted a good fifteen years or so. And then a magical thing happened…

I started buying vinyl again. I started buying any and all vinyl that I could get my hands on, and that meant that I bought lots of Kinks records at what would definitely be considered very reasonable prices. At some point, I put Give The People What They Want and State Of Confusion and Low Budget on my turntable for the first time in years. And you know what? I loved them. I had ALWAYS loved them. Even “Come Dancing” didn’t sound so bad after a long break, although I still wouldn’t put it in my Kinks top 100.

I ripped most of my Kinks vinyl to mp3 years ago, and have recently begun re-ripping these long out-of-print albums using my newer (and better!) equipment. I created a brand-new 320 kbps rip of 1981’s Give The People What They Want earlier today, and I thought that it would be the perfect album to share with you after a long (long) period of inactivity on The Analog Kid Blog. AND IT GOES LIKE THIS!!

 

Give The People What They Want [320 kbps]

The Kinks: Give The People What They Want

Arista Records, 1981

All songs written by Ray Davies

320 kbps vinyl rip courtesy of The Analog Kid

 

1. “Around The Dial”

Around The Dial

2. “Give The People What They Want”

Give The People What They Want

3. “Killer’s Eyes”

Killer’s Eyes

4. “Predictable”

Predictable

5. “Add it Up”

Add It Up

6. “Destroyer”

Destroyer

7. “Yo-Yo”

Yo-Yo

8. “Back To Front”

Back To Front

9. “Art Lover”

Art Lover

10. “A Little Bit Of Abuse”

A Little Bit Of Abuse

11. “Better Things”

Better Things

________________________________________________________

Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

State Of Confusion

The Kinks: “Come Dancing” (Ray Davies)

From the album State Of Confusion

Arista Records, 1983

Come Dancing

 

Kinks-Size

The Kinks: “All Day And All Of The Night” (Ray Davies)

From the album Kinks-Size

Reprise Records, 1964

All Day And All Of The Night

 

Posted by on October 22, 2015 in Power Pop, Rock and tagged , , , , , , , .

3 Comments