Spin-Clean Blog

Is it necessary to be on a "trip" to understand Pink Floyd's journey, "The Dark Side Of The Moon"? In their Season Three premiere of one Spin-Clean's favorite TV shows, the Vinyl Geek and the others at Vinyl Rewind explore that very question.   Watch it here.

Here's a vinyl blog that was brough to our attention and written by a Spin-Clean customer.  He describes it as "an eclectic mix of music for people like me who have eclectic tastes."   Tracking Force -- Adventures In Vinyl, Record Collecting, and Music Appreciation. Cool!

Katie Pietrak began collecting vinyl records at the age of 15. As her collection grew over nearly 20 years, Pietrak was working on organizing her records and looking for a way to use some of the pieces that were no longer playable. She was in need of a journal, so Pietrak made one out of a vinyl album.  And so a business idea was born.

Read the rest of the story.

Vintage Vinyl Journals is already in 30 retail stores and sells journals featuring a wide variety of albums through their online store.

We at Spin-Clean think these would make a great gift idea for this holiday season!

Spin-Clean knows vinyl is special.  Otherwise, we wouldn't make it our life's work going to great efforts to make sure our each and every piece can be as clean as possible.  More and more folks are understanding why records are so special.

Here's another example.

Another great episode from Vinyl Rewind:  "The Top Ten Songs You Never Knew Were Covers."  It's an episode sure to spark some great musical discussion, as I'm sure you can think of a ton more that could have made the list.  We kicked out "Love Hurts" from Nazareth on our Facebook page yesterday.

And what about "Without You," first made a hit by Nilsson in 1971 and later by Mariah Carey in 1994.  Paul McCartney once described the tune as "the killer song of all time."  It was Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger who wrote the tune and released it on their 1970 "No Dice" LP.  Sure, that could have made the list, as not many are aware of the original Badfinger version of this hugely successful song.

Remember Jam Handy Films?  Sure you do.  The Jam Handy Organization made thousands of educational and promotional films, newsreels, and animations. Included among the company's clients were the United States Armed Forces, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, and General Motors.  Mr. Handy is also estimated to have produced over 7,000 films for the armed services during World War II.

Here is one of his productions.  From 1956:  "Sound And The Story" - an RCA promotional film showing how vinyl records were manufactured in the 1950s.

Get ready for some fun nostalgia, Spin-Clean style!

"Sound And The Story" - Part 1

"Sound And The Story" - Part 2

November 13th will not only bring the Beatles catalog on vinyl, but also some vinyl from Soundgarden, their first release in 16 years.

Whether you're into music from the 60s, dig countdown shows (thanks Casey!), or can't get enough of the stories behind the stacks of wax that hit the charts, you gotta check out the "Sixties Satellite Survey" on Sirius XM's 60s on 6.  It airs Saturdays, 3pm ET, with rebroadcasts on Sundays and Wednesdays at 9pm ET - AND now On Demand.

We at Spin-Clean think the show could be the best music program going on radio (satellite or terrestrial) thanks to the amazing talents of host, Lou Simon.  Each week, Lou takes a look back at a top 40 chart from this week in the 60's. You'll hear the hits as well as some long forgotten singles with plenty of Motown, British stars, novelty records, instrumentals, folk rock and lots more.

But it's Lou's tremendous ability to unravel layer after layer of the time period, offering up the feel and flavor of the era, that sets this show apart from all the others.  Lou's mellifluous tones, coupled with his encyclopedic recall of everything pop culture, make this a must-listen each and every week.

Released today, Sundazed presents The Velvet Underground: The Verve/MGM Albums. This beautiful, deluxe boxed set gathers the rare mono versions of the band’s first three studio albums along with the superior mono version of Nico’s Chelsea Girl and a definitive edition of the band’s unfinished fourth album! Sourced from the original Verve/MGM analog reels and mastered by Bob Irwin, this collection is an essential purchase for the discerning vinyl devotee.

How would you like to spend your work day cleaning, grading, and cataloging records?  We at Spin-Clean actually think it sounds pretty cool!  And so is Paul Chester of Acoustic Sounds.

How about some "audio aspirin" as a nice change of pace on the Spin-Clean blog?

Welcome to cyberspace, I'm lost in the fog
everything's digital I'm still analog
when something goes wrong
I don't have a clue
some 10-year-old smart ass has to show me what to do

Sign on with high speed you don't have to wait
Sit there for days and vegetate
I access my email, read all my spam, I'm an analog man.

the whole world's living in a digital dream
it's not really there
it's all on the screen
makes me forget who I am
I'm an analog man

Yeah I'm an analog man in a digital world
I'm gonna get me an analog girl
Who loves me for what I am.
I'm an analog man

What's wrong with vinyl, I think it sounds great
LPs, 45s, 78s but that's just the way I am
I'm an analog man

Turn on the tube, watch until dawn
one hundred channels, nothing is on
endless commercials, endless commercials, endless commercials

the whole world's glued to the cable TV
It looks so real on the big LCD
murder and violence are rated PG, too bad for the children
they are what they see

the whole world's living in a digital dream
it's not really there
it's all on the screen
makes me forget who I am
I'm an analog man

yeah I'm an analog man in a digital world
I'm gonna get me an analog girl
Who loves me for what I am.
I'm an analog man

Spin-Clean had a great time earlier this month at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2012.  Sound and Vision Magazine takes a look at the highlights.

Read more here... 

It was a great weekend of fun, food, and music at the 15th Annual "Blues Masters at the Crossroads".  Spin-Clean woud like to thank the incredibly gracious and hospitable folks at Acoustic Sounds, Quality Record Pressings, and Blue Heaven Studios for hosting such a marvelous musical experience.

Learn more about this amazing analog empire in Salina, KS.

At the opener of the 15th Annual "Blues Masters at the Crossroads" in Salina, KS, Mud Morganfield, son of the legendary Muddy Waters, was the headliner in amazing night of blues in a most gorgeous setting, Blue Heaven Studios.

Morganfield's debut album on the Severn Records label, Son of a Seventh Son, was released this year. His earthy, soulful vocals were backed by a cadre of blues all-stars, including Kenny Smith on drums, Rick Kreher and Billy Flynn on guitar, Barrelhouse Chuck on keyboards, E.G. McDaniel on bass and Harmonica Hines and Bob Corritore on harp.

A Spin-Clean reminder:  some special vinyl releases coming in November on Black Friday.  Mark your calendar for November 23!

Read more here...

Spin-Clean's friend, Robert Benson, corralled this data back a few years ago from a number of different sources.  Still very interesting to look over.  Are any in your collection?

Read more about... The Top Ten Most Valuable Records in USA and U.K.

Like the Energizer Bunny, the Stones just keep going...and going...and going...

As of now, only four concerts have been announced on a brand new tour.  Read more here.

Spin-Clean continues to recognize this November 13th as a big day in Rock Music.  The Stones upcoming compilation album, GRRR! will be released, and the Beatles "stereo" vinyl box set will begin shipping.

Groovy!

From earlier this month, Howard H. Scott, developer of the LP, passes away.

Thanks, Mr. Scott, for blazing a trail that we at Spin-Clean, and millions of others, still walk on today.

[By the way, LP trivia buffs will know that the first catalog number for a ten-inch LP, CL 6001, was a reissue of the Frank Sinatra 78 rpm album set The Voice of Frank Sinatra; the first catalog number for a twelve-inch LP, ML 4001, was the Mendelssohn Concerto in E Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 64, played by Nathan Milstein with the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York conducted by Bruno Walter. These two albums are therefore the first long-players.]

This week on Vinyl Rewind, the Vinyl Geek brings you an album from 2012 drenched in 80s New Wave:  "Confess" by Twin Shadow on 4AD records. Is there more going on than just being "retro", you decide!

Watch Episode 2.08, Confess by Twin Shadow

We're having tons of fun at booth #915 at CEDIA Expo 2012 in Indianapolis.  Stop by today or tomorrow, say hello to our lovely Allison, register to win a new iPad, and check out the new Limited Edition Spin-Clean "Clear Unit."

Don't know what CEDIA is?

CEDIA EXPO is the leading tradeshow in the residential electronic systems industry and is the one show that serves every home technology professional, no matter their service focus. CEDIA EXPO offers:

- Exposure to up and coming technologies

- Free training on the latest product lines

- The industry's most comprehensive education with CEDIA University courses

CEDIA EXPO is where every overlapping technology of the integrated home is represented and the place to learn the best strategies to profit in these technologies. From CEDIA EXPO training in IP integration and networking to ideas that will re-energize your revenue, you can find it all at this year's show.

Stop by to see us and say hello!