What vinyl should i get first?

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Best way to keep a record clean is to always keep the lid closed when you play records. Always take a look at the needle before you drop it and blow off any dust because the hardest problems to clean out are compacted dust in the grooves from a dusty needle. Otherwise, a paper towel wet just a bit with warm water, cleaning in the direction of the grooves, and then with a dry towel always seems to do the job for me

[?]

I personally just use an anti-static record brush before playing a record.  It does a good job of removing dust and debris.  I never bother with any wet cleaning.  My friend likes to use some record cleaning fluid and MOFI brushes and some people use record cleaning machines costing hundreds of dollars.  Just do whatever is right for you and use basic common sense when caring for your vinyl.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Great advice! I was basically talking about once a record needs cleaning, which wasn't even the question! 

Most little record stores or places like Amoeba in LA and Sam Francisco sell anti-static brushes!

[The Heartical Don]

I personally just use an anti-static record brush before playing a record.  It does a good job of removing dust and debris.  I never bother with any wet cleaning.  My friend likes to use some record cleaning fluid and MOFI brushes and some people use record cleaning machines costing hundreds of dollars.  Just do whatever is right for you and use basic common sense when caring for your vinyl.

Same here. I use the Decca carbon fibre brush. It is so delicate that it elegantly cleans all dust from the record; care must be taken to very slowly turn the brush in a 'bend' away from the record, you thereby gently take all particles away. This thing never ever in 25 years causes a scratch by itself

About playing 'wet' (no sexual reference, mind): it is OK in itself. Thing is: with a system like Lenco-Clean, if you play records dry again afterwards, there are good chances that many dust particles are firmly glued to the record. Not good, this.

[Runaways]

ha listening to pet sounds on vinyl.

i seriously just heard a strings riff at the end of "i know there's an answer" that i've never heard before.  wait i can't find it again!!! dang it!

edit 2:  k i hear it again. man that's cool. 

[absinthe_boy]

haha k.  another question, since i imagine everyone tries to protect their vinyl like crazy.  Best way to clean?  keep undamaged?

just looked through the parents vinyl.  Listening to American Pie, after springsteen's hungry heart got like 10 listens.

My best pieces of advice, after some 35 years of playing records.

Don't play a fragile 78 on an old autochanger. The drop from the top of the spike might shatter it.

Don't fumble and drop the black part of your record onto the spike!

I speak from personal experience.

Otherwise, always try to take care when replacing your LPs into their sleeves. I've found some records from the 1990's onwards have card sleeves which were not made very well and can actually scratch the record. The sleeves with plastic inners are generally better.

Clean with a soft cloth, preferably one designed for cleaning records. The Don's Decca brush, if you can find one, is a good recommendation. I think they're still making them...any product in manufacture for that long is good.

Don't let your vinyl sit out in the sun! Warping is BAD.

Don't store your records at ground level if you have a cat. The feline may work out that the spines of the cardboard covers are great for sharpening cat claws.

Don't let your 2 year old son try playing your records.....my dad found that out the hard way and 30+ years on I never did manage to replace all the LPs I destroyed that day...

But do play your records, even valuable ones. I recently saw an eBay auction for a record I own (identical pressing) sell for the better part of 700 quid. There's a fair chance the buyer won't dare play it. I would. I've even given a $300 45 a spin at a drunken party...though personally I don't advise that. Anyway I am rambling....Do enjoy your vinyl. Look at it, sniff it, PLAY IT.

[absinthe_boy]

You know when SMiLE was released in 2004 I bought FOUR copies of the LP. Two US and two British pressings. As I've said elsewhere, the US is superior, but the UK is still a fine piece of art.

I guess I don't have to worry about wearing mine out...as I shall always have another copy to play!

[jimmyboy]

I have an import version on the Odeon called "The Beach Boys Story Vol. 3" with the zoo cover like in The USA. Does anyone out there know anything about it? Thank you.

[smile-holland]

I have an import version on the Odeon called "The Beach Boys Story Vol. 3" with the zoo cover like in The USA. Does anyone out there know anything about it? Thank you.

Capitol/Odeon I think. That would be a Dutch series titled Vol. 1 - 4. A not-to-expensive reissue series from the early 70ies (71-73) which covers the 60ies era Beach Boys. Still fairly easy to find here.
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 1, 'The Surfin' Era'
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 2, 'California Girls And Other Delights'
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 3, 'The Scene Changes'
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 4, 'Realization'

Here's vol.1 (black) and 2 (purple).
   

There's a green cover as well, either vol. 3 or 4. Volume 3 also appreared with the alternative "Pet Sounds"cover. Which is not so strange as it contains all tracks of the PS album. Can't remember the 4th colour that was used. But I do have all of them. Have to check this at home.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Sunflower has gotta be the ultimate vinyl beach boys experience for me. I have a 1980 pressing and the recent capitol release. I also really like the simply vinyl wild honey edition.

btw i just ordered what seemed to be the only available vinyl copy of Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin off amazon.com. Anyone heard this vinyl yet? opinions?

[?]

Sunflower has gotta be the ultimate vinyl beach boys experience for me. I have a 1980 pressing and the recent capitol release. I also really like the simply vinyl wild honey edition.

btw i just ordered what seemed to be the only available vinyl copy of Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin off amazon.com. Anyone heard this vinyl yet? opinions?

It's ok.  I'm not blown away by it.

[jimmyboy]

Hello Mr SMiLE-holland..thank you so much for the information....I just played the Odeon/Capitol Pet Sounds we discussed and I was impressed with the sound and how the horns really stood out, in a good way. Thank you again for your time.

[Christian]

Capitol/Odeon I think. That would be a Dutch series titled Vol. 1 - 4. A not-to-expensive reissue series from the early 70ies (71-73) which covers the 60ies era Beach Boys. Still fairly easy to find here.
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 1, 'The Surfin' Era'
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 2, 'California Girls And Other Delights'
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 3, 'The Scene Changes'
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 4, 'Realization'

Here's vol.1 (black) and 2 (purple).
   

There's a green cover as well, either vol. 3 or 4. Volume 3 also appreared with the alternative "Pet Sounds"cover. Which is not so strange as it contains all tracks of the PS album. Can't remember the 4th colour that was used. But I do have all of them. Have to check this at home.

These are available on Capitol/Odeon and Capitol. What makes the difference? First and second pressings?

[smile-holland]

Hello Mr SMiLE-holland..thank you so much for the information....I just played the Odeon/Capitol Pet Sounds we discussed and I was impressed with the sound and how the horns really stood out, in a good way. Thank you again for your time.

Well.... that's where a messageboard is for, isn't it? You're welcome! 

These are available on Capitol/Odeon and Capitol. What makes the difference? First and second pressings?

Now that you say it... yes, the picture shown here has another logo. Mine has the Capitol target label though. You're guess on the 1st and 2nd pressing might be the right one. Could be that - when they released vol. 3 and 4 (they weren't released all at once, according to an article I read from that time), they re-released vol. 1 and 2.

Checked my other copies as well. I think this is the complete list.

The Beach Boys Story, Volume 1, 'The Surfin' Era' (black sleeve, both Odeon and Capitol: according to an article, released at around Oct. 1971 (but that could be a re-release as well))
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 2, 'California Girls And Other Delights' (purple sleeve, both Odeon and Capitol)
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 3, 'The Scene Changes' (green sleeve & Pet Sounds sleeve, Capitol, with Capitol Dome logo on front)
The Beach Boys Story, Volume 4, 'Realization' (20/20 picture, Capitol: the picture on the back hints that it's probably a 1972 release (the BB pictured in Holland on the day of the Grand Gala Du Disque, Feb 1972))

   

volume 3 (2 versions; first one looks black, but believe me, it's dark green)
   

   

volume 4
   

[Runaways]

i'd like to say that SMiLE on vinyl is indeed quite fantastic.  the instrumental bonus tracks are awesome too. 

after one listen, i actually like cabin essense and wind chimes more on the vinyl.  The brass and backing track just has more oomph to it. 

[MBE]

I really love vinyl as every one who has read my posts knows. I even have SIP (which is a tad better but still junk) and Spring with the bonus cuts on record. To me it all sounds better but there are a few things to be avoided. One is anything with fake stereo. LP's like Spirit Of America or the 1970 UK Greatest Hits are pretty good collections but they don't sound too great. If you are a completest buy them but watch out for that kind of thing. The other is don't buy an original UK Pet Sounds in mono. It's a fake stereo foldback which means it has extra echo. Most of the vinyl boots were excellent. The 2 LP or 3 LP Smile's are great as is the vinyl SOT vol 17 Smile. Landlocked is in perfect quality. The 1979 live Surfers Nightmare runs a bit fast but it sounds very good.

[Curtis Leon]

i'd like to say that SMiLE on vinyl is indeed quite fantastic.  the instrumental bonus tracks are awesome too. 

after one listen, i actually like cabin essense and wind chimes more on the vinyl.  The brass and backing track just has more oomph to it. 

Oh yes, I love the SMiLE vinyl mix. Been looking FOREVER for a vinyl rip of it - I don't have a record player. Finally found one, and I'm completely amazed by it.

[RCTID]

i won these two auctions on ebay.

they bolstered my Beach Boys vinyl collection by quite a few... 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220661997020&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1692wt_1139

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280558676910&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1829wt_1139

[MBE]

Nice buys

[summerinparadise.flac]

just recieved the carl and the passions/pet sounds split. pet sounds really is fantastic.

[RCTID]

just picked up two records off ebay.

Love You (which i already own on vinyl, but it was part of the deal, and honestly... can you have too many copies of Love You?)

Pacific Ocean Blue

$13.95 after shipping

[bgas]

just picked up two records off ebay.

Love You (which i already own on vinyl, but it was part of the deal, and honestly... can you have too many copies of Love You?)

Pacific Ocean Blue

$13.95 after shipping

Ok, The Beast within, must mean something special. 
Does  blsheets0619  stand for something special also?

[hypehat]

Mentioned in another thread, but I got Pet Sounds on vinyl at last! Thanks Santa!

[bgas]

Mentioned in another thread, but I got Pet Sounds on vinyl at last! Thanks Santa!

That's cool. A newer remastered edition or one of the somewhat-collectible( depending on condition, of course) First editions?

[donald]

"Don't store your records at ground level if you have a cat. The feline may work out that the spines of the cardboard covers are great for sharpening cat claws. "



That happened to me.   Two whole crates used for scratching stations.  Didn't know until I caught her one day.  I was speechless......  we had trained her to use a cardboard scratching pad and to her it was just doing what she was trained to do to rather than using furniture.       Talk about seam splits!

Didn't get my Beatles or Beachboys.  Relieved about that.   I haven't moved the records but I have covered the open crates with a quilt.