What's Spinning?

So you might be asking yourself, why is this guy talking about records on a site devoted to losing weight and taking control of your life. What does this have to do with anything?

Great question. The answer is simple. Committing to losing weight and building sustainable habits in my life almost 8 years ago made me recognize the need to find simple things that give me joy. Listening to music, collecting records and sharing that passion with my kids brings me joy. So while this has nothing to do with sustained weight loss directly, it is about identifying those passions in your life. These passions bring happiness because they can make all the difference.

I do have some bigger plans for this page so stay tuned for updates and expanded content. Heck, I may even move this to its own site and dedicate a podcast to my kids and I talking about records…what a good idea!

Let’s Get Grungy Part Deux
&
6 Degrees of What’s Spinning

The answer to last week’s trivia question is Butch Vig. He produced both Nevermind and Siamese Dream and he plays drums in the band Garbage.

Okay, so I promised two weeks of Seattle rock and so here’s week two. This week we’re gonna go a bit deeper beyond the albums and bands everyone knows.

Malfunkshun – Olympus Awaits

One of the the very first bands to form in the Seattle scene. As you can tell from the cover this is three guys we are still in high school but you can hear what was coming. This is what happens when you get a bunch of dudes together who live on Bainbridge Island and have nothing else to do but play music. This is a RSD 2024 limited copy and this music really is surprisingly good.

Melvins – Stoner Witch

Another of the very first Seattle bands this is their 1994 release and second with Atlantic Records–where they had a short run thanks to Kurt Cobain helping them capitalize on the ‘grunge’ hype. This is a 180g vinyl released by Jack White’s Third Man records label. Very solid album if you’re into stoner rock.

Mudhoney – Big Fuzz Supermuff

This is the first release by Mudhoney, one of the staple bands of the Seattle scene to this day. This album, released in 1988, is three years before all of the hype. My copy is a new version on 180g vinyl.

Temple of the Dog – Temple of the Dog

Much less a band than a project to mourn, celebrate and remember Andrew Wood this is a central album to all things Seattle. You get Chris Cornell, plus all of the members of Pearl Jam right before the whole world knew who they were. The songs are a sad and powerful testament to a lost friend. This is a newer copy on 180g vinyl.

The answer to the last, 6 Degrees of What’s Spinning is. Steve Albini, he produced the Chevelle album and was the producer for Nirvana’s second album In Utero (which is where the transparent anatomical manikin picture is from) and the Post Malone album is obviously all Nirvana covers.

I love loud, angry music and I am still so aware of how lucky I was to be college age when 90’s rock ruled. Those bands and that music define my taste in music to this day. Let’s take a walk down memory lane…and before anyone yells I know I left some biggies off the list, we’re gonna do this in two installments.

Nirvana – Nevermind (The Singles)

In August of 1991 I was listening to classic rock–mostly The Doors, because music had lost its edge in my opinion. It was no longer ‘authentic.’ At the time I was living in the basement of my parents rented townhouse in West Reading PA. One afternoon I was home from college class and had MTV on. The video for Smells Like Teen Spirit came on, I sat down on the stairs and watched the whole thing. When it was over I went upstairs, drove to the mall and bought one of the first 20K CDs made of Nevermind and I was beyond hooked–along with millions of other people.
I wanted to show something different from the standard album. This is a boxes set release for RSD in 2011 that is the singles from Nevermind along with lots of extras on 10″ vinyl. There are only 9000 copies of this and I have 5396. No, it’s not for sale (haha).

Pearl Jam – Vs

So, in the early days of ‘grunge’ I was squarely a fan of Nirvana more the PJ. Don’t worry I came around and PJ became an absolute favorite band. I have soooo much of their stuff on vinyl but I chose something that wasn’t Ten. This is a 30th anniversary pressing of Vs on clear vinyl. Eddie is angry, fame is shitty and that means these songs have a kick. With this album PJ starts taking some first steps towards pushing the envelope a little bit and it makes the album all the more interesting all these years later.

Alice In Chains – Jar Of Flies

So for the Seattle Trifecta I offer you Jar of Flies by Alice In Chains. I liked Facelift and Dirt but I LOVED this EP. Stripped down acoustic songs about loneliness, isolation and introspection. These songs are still some of my favorite particularly, “No Excuses,” and “I Stay Away.” This copy is the 30th anniversary pressing in black (yes, it sounds better that the colored versions). This particular copy was bent like crazy when it was shipped. The company sent me another one free which I gave to Ethan and I kept the bent up one and flattened it out with weights. Now it has a story which I like.

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

So, Soundgarden should probably be right here, but don’t fret we shall get to them in due course. I chose Smashing Pumpkins because this copy is a RSD 2025 exclusive release, very timely. Even in the 90’s the ‘Pumpkins’ sound was a bit different, more melodic at times and loud when it mattered. I know Billy Corgan gets crap for his voice–you either love it or hate it, but songs like Cherub Rock, Today and Disarm still hold up.

So, today (4/12) Ethan, Josh and I got up at 3AM to get in line for record store day. Special thanks to Josh for hanging with us just for the adventure since he doesn’t really care all that much about collecting records and since he made blanket run to Wal-Mart at 6 AM so we didn’t freeze to death.

Update 4/14 – You can now see glimpses of us waiting in line and sifting through records. I don’t remember the camera being in the store. Guess 5+ hours of sitting in the rain and cold froze my brain. https://www.pahomepage.com/video/celebrating-national-record-store-day-in-wilkes-barre-2822-news/10623973/

We’ve done this for years but never got up quite this early, stood out in the rain and cold for over 5 hours all in the name of vinyl, and supporting local record stores. This year we were on a mission and even showing up that early we were 9/10/11 in line. Some people apparently showed up the night before–yikes!

Post Malone – Tribute to Nirvana

At the height of the Pandemic. I remember watching this performance on YouTube as a benefit. Each performer is in a different room of Post’s house with post wearing a Nirvana appropriate dress and pounding down beers while ripping through Nirvana classics. My kids and I have hoped for years to see this come out in some way and today is that day. It sounds just as good now as it did then.

Oasis – Time Flies… 1994-2009 (4LP Boxed Set)

So this was a little pricy for my taste but our local record store received one copy of this for record store day. I had it in my hand, put it back in the box and then pulled it out again. It’s the new reissue release of every Oasis single released across their career. In a year when we’ll be seeing them in concert this seemed like the right time to pull the trigger

Liam Gallagher – Acoustic Sessions

This is a limited to 2000 release of several songs from Liam’s 2019 album, Why Me plus some stripped down Oasis covers. As I’ve said before I’m not a big fan of colored vinyl but for those who are into it each album is hand pressed so no two are alike.

Chevelle – Point #1

This is the first album by Chevelle available for the first time on vinyl. Limited to 1800 copies. This one is pressed on lemonade colored vinyl (Hey if I could get it in standard black I would). Originally released on a Christian record label for who knows what reason this one got these brothers from Chicago noticed. I saw them open for Breaking Benjamin and they probably should have been the headliner.

The answer to the second 6 Degrees of What’s Spinning is. Sting, he was the lead singer and bass player for The Police, he sang backup on the Phil Collins song Long Long Way To Go on No Jacket Required and he had a small part in season one of Only Murders In The Building.

Chicago – 17

I don’t know if there’s anything more 1984 than this. Peter Cetera’s last album with Chicago — check. Four massive radio singles – check. Sold over 6M copies – check. This is a $2.00 copy of an early pressing I picked up at a WaxPax Records sidewalk sale.

The Power Station – The Power Station

Ok, this might be more 80’s than the Chicago album. Robert Palmer, half of Duran Duran and the drummer from Chic, that’s pretty darn 80’s. I vividly recall being on vacation with some extended family and my cousin brought this cassette. I countered with Iron Maiden, but secretly a hook was set. This is an original pressing in really good condition, I forget where I found it.

Sade – The Best of Sade

I remember the videos from the 80’s, smoky bars in tropical places. It was like Casablanca (not that I had seen Casablanca when I was a kid). Great songs for playing at a low volume while doing other things. This is a reissued 180g double album on orange vinyl. This one gets a lot of spins while I work.

Phil Collins – No Jacket Required

Let the great Phil Collins debate begin. Maybe Patrick Bateman said it best, “Phil Collins’ solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way…This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.” I remember listening to this one in my room one winter while really sick. I probably had a Miami Vice poster on my wall. The pressing above is an original, still in the shrink wrap.

Tom Waits – Nighthawks At The Diner

Tom Waits music is meant for dark nights, rainy city streets and lonely moments. This is Waits 3rd studio album released in 1975. Recorded to feel like it was happening live there are actual ‘audience’ members sitting around as though he is playing in a jazz club. This version was released in 2018 (I believe) and was remastered by Waits and his wife. It’s pressed on 180-g vinyl. Sounds great.

The Replacements – Tim (Let It Bleed Edition)

Any ‘Mats fans out there? If you are, or were, then this is for you. This version of Tim was remixed by Ed Stasium in 2023 and included in this box set. Not cheap, or easy to find at this point, but the remix on this is amazing. If you’re used to hearing the original version with it’s odd reverb and mushy sound this is for you. It goes to 11.

Van Halen – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

For all of time folks will debate which version of Van Halen is ‘the’ version. Roth or Hagar. This album, released in 1991, is the third with Hagar, had 7 singles. It might be the last ‘great’ album by Van Halen (debate). I had forgotten how many good songs are on this one until I picked up this 2024 release boxed set last week (thanks Ethan for pointing out that Amazon had them on sale for half price). I normally shop local for vinyl but this was too good to pass up. Double vinyl, 2 cd, and a blue-ray are included along with a really cool booklet.

The Alan Parsons Project – Tales Of Mystery And Imagination; Edgar Allan Poe

This is just a really great concept album and first release of the Alan Parsons Project. Side one is made up of individual songs that are based around Poe stories and Poems. Side two is an instrumental suite that follows the story, “The Fall of the House of Usher.” This album is a little bit Rocky Horror Picture Show and a little bit Disney music–give it a listen and you’ll know exactly what I mean. Another one of those albums for dark rooms late at night.

Descendents – Everything Sucks

It’s their 5th studio album and came out in 1996. Milo Auckerman returns to the band after deciding that a career in molecular biology wasn’t for him. It’s melodic yet angry. This is a newer pressing on 180g vinyl, sound great.

Face To Face – Hold Fast

This is one of those groups that have way more range than three chord punk. This album is acoustic versions that spans their career. It’s great how well these songs hold up done acoustically. Fun fact: The bass player (he is phenominal) for Face to Face is Scott Shiflett, brother of Foo Fighters lead guitarist Chris Shiflett. This is the original 2018 pressing. I listen to this one a lot during the day while working.

Bad Religion – New Maps of Hell

Two bands with lead singers who have PhDs on the same list–only in punk rock. I picked this one from the pile because the song ‘Welcome to the New Dark Ages’ seems appropriate this week. This is a newish pressing. If you’re so inclined check out Greg Graffin’s writing. His book Population Wars which covers some of what he teaches in his courses at Cornell Univ.

Black Flag – Damaged

This is just an iconic punk album. Henry Rollins is all anger and aggression. We’re way back in 1991 here. My version is so NOT an original but a early 2000’s pressing. Rise Above and TV Party, hardcore. I saw Henry speak at a library conference about 15 years ago. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Constitution and is totally a curator at heart. He talked about how he spent most of his $25 per diem when he was in Black Flag on protective covers to keep copies of the punk show fliers. Impressive and intense guy would love to have dinner with him.

This week I’ve been streaming
— Megadeth – All albums any order. Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying – indeed.
— Face to Face – I’ve been riding the Peleton to their non-acoustic stuff almost all week. Just feels right.
— The Menzingers – Saw them last week, listened to them all weekend. On the acoustic note they put out a great acoustic version of their album Hello Exile called From Exile which they recorded while isolated during COVID lockdown. Another one of those instances where the songs just hold up even when stripped down.

Genesis – Duke

Probably their first move towards more ‘mainstream’ rock. Key highlights for me are ‘Misunderstanding’ and ‘Turn It On Again.’ Janet is a big Genesis (and Phil Collins fan) so I can crank them during the day and she doesn’t run too far away. This copy is an original 1980 pressing with a bit of shelf wear which, if you’ve been reading along, makes me smile.

Ghost – If You Have Ghost

This is a fun one. A covers EP produced by Dave Grohl who also plays rhythm guitar on the first track and drums on the ABBA cover ‘I’m a Marionette.’ The title track ‘If You have Ghosts,” is a cover of a Roky Erickson song. If you don’t know who he is and haven’t listened to his stuff strap yourself in and thank me later. Go here now. This copy is the original 2013 release of the EP with the Papa Emeritus as Nosferatu cover.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Council Skies

With all of the Oasis hype this year (I’m going to see them in East Rutherford in September) I turn my attention to the Gallagher brothers ‘solo’ work. This is Noel’s most recent album and it’s got a great, mellow vibe that goes well while working. This is an original release copy from 2023.

The Menzingers – Hello Exile

I teased this last week but if you like melodic punk (aka Springsteen punk or whatever) you need to be listening to these guys. Local, to me, Scranton guys who now call Philly home they are the perfect modern rock band in my opinion. This is their 2019 release which includes the song America (You’re Freaking Me Out) – very timely. I actually went to a Dropkick Murphys show last night and only went because The Menzingers were playing. They were awesome and I was home early. Perfect for an old dude like me.

This week I’ve been streaming
— Apple Music Shoegaze and Dreampop – Long Peleton rides are less crappy with My Bloody Valentine, Slowdrive, The Verve, and Mazzy Star. Fade Into You indeed.
— Ghost – They have a new album coming out and I had some driving to do this week. Their cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’ made me happy.
— Rise Against – Just can’t seem to shake them right now. I get angry, they scratch that itch. New album from them soon. Good timing.

Prior Weeks – In Case You Want To Go Down A Record Rabbit Hole

REM – Life’s Rich Pageant

Original pressing of REM’s 4th album from 1986. I was late to the REM party. To me they weren’t hard rockin’ enough when I was younger. I’ve come to really appreciate them as I’ve gotten older. And the fact that they just walked away from it all is even more impressive. Cuyahoga is the standout song on this one for me.

The Singles Soundtrack

I’ve been in a 90’s kind of mood this week and this soundtrack takes me right to 1992, Albright College peak of grunge. How can can you beat Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden. You even get Paul Westerberg doing some songs that SHOULD have been Replacements songs. Totally Seattle. This is a new pressing. I have the CD version from ‘back in the day.’

Soundgarden – Superunknown

If you’re going down a 90’s rabbit hole then Chris Cornell is your man. Hopping from Audioslave to Soundgarden to his solo stuff. So many options here, but posting the 10′ singles boxed set from record store day 2014 just for something different. I picked this one up back when far less people cared about vinyl and you could grab lots of cool stuff that was being pressed for the first time.
Kinda weird how this cover looks so much like the cover of the next record on the list….

The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei

For older dudes like me I remember the Pumpkins as gloomy, moody with loud guitars compliments of James Iha and Billy Corgan. Their first 3 albums have a vibe. Then, things get weird for a while. This is their newest album and it is a return to that guitar-driven sound. I’ve logged hundreds of miles on the Peleton to this one. I’ve also been really enjoying Billy Corgan’s podcast ‘The Magnificent Others.’ Check it out! This is a new pressing on standard black vinyl. I’m kinda off the color vinyl bandwagon. I guess it’s cool if you just collect stuff, but I like to listen to music and the regular versions tend to just sound better to me.

This week I’ve been streaming
— The Smashing Pumpkins – See my note above, but I’ve been listening to all their stuff while spinning out miles to nowhere.
— IDLES– They’re from Bristol. They’re unabashedly political. I ran an entire 50K race with their first album ‘Brutalism’ on repeat because my phone wouldn’t download anything else. And I still think they’re awesome. Though that first album now makes my legs cramp up the second I hear it.
— The Menzingers – We’ll get into these local guys next week (because I’m seeing them open for The Dropkick Murphy’s on Tuesday). I’m going to see The Menzingers and then leaving, that tells you how much I like these guys. Pop-punk, Springsteen Punk, Jersey Rock, call them whatever you want. Great band.

Showcasing 4 albums that were a huge part of my early love of music.

KISS – Rock and Roll Over

This is actually the copy I bought at Bradlees in Clifton, NJ when I was 5. KISS was a big deal when I was small. We’d have neighborhood ‘KISS Concerts’ in my neighbors basement where we jumped around with tennis rackets for guitars. I always wanted to be Gene Simmons and even made my mom paint my face like his. I seem to recall my parents telling me I could buy this one record by them but that was it. Guess they were afraid I’d turn into some kind of satan worshiper. I wore out the first song on this album ‘I Want You.’ When that song drops into gear it had my little head hooked. I’d play that opening part over and over.

Godpsell – The Musical

Around the same time we were pretending to be KISS a neighbor of mine, Jon Biviano was really into this musical, Godspell. It probably passed everyone’s sniff test because it was the story of Jesus. But the music on this album is loaded with great rock sounds. The guitar on Finale (when Jesus is crucufied is almost straight up Van Halen sounding). This is the same copy I bought when I was around 5-6. My dog chewed the corner of the cover off. It actually still plays. Funny side note, Jon went on to play guitar in a NY Hardcore band called Supertouch. There’s an interview with him from while ago and he actually mentions this album.

Iron Maiden – Piece of Mind

Fast forward to 1983. I am 11, I love monsters, I love KISS, I discover Iron Maiden because of my friend Chris Porreca. The guitars are intense, the singing is operatic, the stories in the songs are cool. I buy this cassette at Bradlees as well and this becomes my favorite band. I get all the albums, tapestries hang from the ceiling of my room. If my parents were afraid with Kiss, and then felt better with Godspell, Iron Maiden must have put the fear right back. This copy is a newer release with a pretty cool gatefold cover. My cassette is long gone.

The Police – Synchronicity

Here’s another one from 1983. I remember loving the tone of this album. Sting’s lyrics are a bit creepy and dark and the music didn’t sound like other stuff I listened to. Highlights off of this one for me; Synchronicity 1, and King of Pain. This is an original pressing that has a little wear to it. I like albums that have been loved and played and you can tell someone sat there listening to the album while flipping the cover and reading the liner notes and lyrics over and over.

This week I’ve been streaming
— Rise Against – Ghost Note Symphonies, Vol 1. Great orchestra versions of some of their most popular songs. They translate well.
— Rage Against The Machine– If you’re in a mood, they’ve got you covered.
— Pixies – Mostly Doolittle.
— Black Sabbath – Master of Reality, my favorite Sabbath album.

Def Leppard – Pyromania

This album is boom box on a summer evening in Nutley NJ and I’m 12. This is an original pressing, sounds pretty clean but the old vinyl is thin.

Scorpions – Love At First Sting

I probably originally got a casette of this from Columbia house in 84. I also probably didn’t pay for it. I picked this up with the Def Leppard record. Really feeling the early 80’s metal I guess. This original pressing has the banned in the US cover (which I also had on my cassette). Thanks PMRC!

Live – Mental Jewelry

Fast forward to 1991. a bunch of guys from York, who played little venues all over the state, including the cafeteria at Ursinus College. Getting vinyl from the 90’s ain’t easy. I have the original CD of this in a box somewhere that I bought at the Berkshire Mall in Reading PA, but this is an original pressing from the UK. There was no US pressing until the 25th anniversary.

Failure – Fantastic Planet

I came along late to these guys but once I stumbled into their work I was hooked. Fantastic Planet is probably their best known album. Original pressings of their stuff are hard to find and very expensive. This is a newer pressing and sounds great–still not cheap.

I stream a lot of music, mostly while working out. This week I’ve been listening to:
— A Perfect Circle – Stone and Echo Live at Red Rocks amphitheater.
— My Bloody Valentine– Ahhh shoe-gaze. You can bliss out on a stationary bike in your basement.
— Tool – Mostly Lateralus because why not.
— Rise Against – No particular album just good solid pop-punk that seems to scratch an itch right now. Fun note that their second guitar player and I worked together for a few years at a tech startup together. Always wondered if he regretted leaving right before they got big.

Let’s Get Grungy Part Deux&6 Degrees of What’s Spinning