2014 Official Year Roundup

[MopTopMike]

It's not a rare 45 in comparison to other high-end examples, but it is sought after.
Copies still surface because of the large pressing quantity.
The Vandan / Caprice label folks had managed to acquire national distribution all across the USA for their 45rpm releases.
It sells for big bucks today because it is one of the all time best examples of '60s garage ever recorded.

 

[Mr.Segment]

An impressing list of 2014 45s acquired! I hope you all stick around after the super sale list as well. I really believe in this forum, but to function it needs passionate collectors and music fans. And to those who perhaps might feel overwhelmed by the present lists, you buy what you can afford. I've had a real quiet year, no pressure felt

 

[keb darge]

Might be the same few copies doing the rounds Sebastian. I got mine from a member here.

 

[HarvestmanMan]

I did check a few off my want list, notably:

The Off-Set - You're A Drag (Brent)
The Attack - Any More Than I Do (London)
Fresh Air - I'm Tired (Blue Eagle)

...that was the only stuff I spent "actual money" on, the rest were assorted psych-pop and some soul as well. Between discovering a new shop with a killer discount section, checking out one guy's sale with approximately 8,000 records laid out, and two record shows, it was an eventful year.

Now I've got the task of organizing them all...not terribly difficult, but it is tedious.

 

[Sebastian]

Might be the same few copies doing the rounds Sebastian. I got mine from a member here.

I guess that's it, Keb (nice to se you on here, by the way!). Was just surprised at four people in this thread bagging it during the past year. I'd love a copy myself, but haven't seen any copies for sale. Oh well! :)

 

[Toddophonic]

I'm glad to see The Off-Set "You're A Drag" mentioned in Harvestman Man's post. I've always thought that a brilliant folk-rocker but this might be the first time I've seen it mentioned anywhere.

 

[purple_pill67]

An impressing list of 2014 45s acquired! I hope you all stick around after the super sale list as well. I really believe in this forum, but to function it needs passionate collectors and music fans. And to those who perhaps might feel overwhelmed by the present lists, you buy what you can afford. I've had a real quiet year, no pressure felt

Well said.
Hardlyy bought anything vinyl wise this year, hopefully next year will be better. Runninh a Lambretta isnt cheap, especially for decent quality parts.

 

[nachete_888]

I guess that's it, Keb (nice to se you on here, by the way!). Was just surprised at four people in this thread bagging it during the past year. I'd love a copy myself, but haven't seen any copies for sale. Oh well! :)

two of the four copies came from Barry W. auctions.

 

[ontheroadsouth]

Is anyone sitting on quantity of The Gentlemen "It's A Cry'n Shame" or is it pure luck/coincidence that so "many" people have managed to source copies of it this past year?

Mine is only VG and I got it from a large storage unit 45 collection I looked through at the start of this year. The lady who owned the records had won a really big radio promo giveaway, so there must have been a couple thousand promos mixed in to her 3-4,000 45's. I also found the copy of Springfield Rifle on Mark VII in that collection, amongst hundreds of other rare r&b, soul, garage, and rockabilly, 45's. Unfortunately, everything was un-sleeved so they were mostly all about VG.

 

[Heitkotter77]

Some killer and some filler this year. I'm sure everyone wants to read it all!

Watkin's Phase - Hard Way To Go (Watkin’s)

Nice score. This is only the 2nd copy I'm aware of.
This is definitely killer, though possibly too "heavy" or "psych" for the some of the garage narzis here (judging by its {to me} tepid rating in TBM - it's an 8 or 9 in P45 Land).

This would have been on Volume 4 of the so-called Spaghetti Fuzz series had it continued (which some here may know was actually done as a forum comp on another board).

Also, not sure if I ever sent MTM the correction on this. Flip side isn't minus the vocals, but the same version.

 

[Westex]

Mine is only VG and I got it from a large storage unit 45 collection I looked through at the start of this year. The lady who owned the records had won a really big radio promo giveaway, so there must have been a couple thousand promos mixed in to her 3-4,000 45's. I also found the copy of Springfield Rifle on Mark VII in that collection, amongst hundreds of other rare r&b, soul, garage, and rockabilly, 45's. Unfortunately, everything was un-sleeved so they were mostly all about VG.

I was standing in line at the grocery store when your damned texts started coming in. Sun 209 was there as well?

I actually just found the texts on my old phone. No Sun 209, but the text said "Today I completed my Mark VII collection!" Bastard.

 

[Outside_Lookin_in]

Nice score. This is only the 2nd copy I'm aware of.
(judging by its {to me} tepid rating in TBM - it's an 8 or 9 in P45 Land)

That's the problem with having many judges. The more you have, the more the score gets averaged out, and thus the more everything looks "average". The proper way to do it, is to have two experienced garage enthusiasts, but with somewhat different tastes. Then you take the higher of the two scores for each song. That way you'll end up with a far more objective and usable rating.

 

[Heitkotter77]

That's the problem with having many judges. The more you have, the more the score gets averaged out, and thus the more everything looks "average". The proper way to do it, is to have two experienced garage enthusiasts, but with somewhat different tastes. Then you take the higher of the two scores for each song. That way you'll end up with a far more objective and usable rating.

I think it's fine having a panel with a larger number of judges. You'll still get that "averaged out" effect (I guess that really can't be avoided), but it seems a truer rating, no matter how the reader looks at the result.
It becomes, as you mention, a matter of how varied their tastes are, not to mention their conception of what constitutes a "garage" sound (i.e., whether they have a stricter or looser interpretation).

 

[MopTopMike]

That's the problem with having many judges. The more you have, the more the score gets averaged out, and thus the more everything looks "average". The proper way to do it, is to have two experienced garage enthusiasts, but with somewhat different tastes. Then you take the higher of the two scores for each song. That way you'll end up with a far more objective and usable rating.

I've refrained from offering a rebuttal to some of your comments regarding my book, and the rating system at various times in this forum, but since you seem to enjoy "one upmanship" and effusing a superior opinion which this comment reeks of, well....

Your 2 man "method" is NOT a proper or even valid method to ascertain a realistic rating.
Two people is hardly enough of a sample. Far more "objective and useable rating? yeah. Next...

i wish i could have had more people agree to take part during the course of the 8+ years. But several bailed as it was far too much work, and they had other things to do, which is completely understandable.
I have had lots of comments, both constructive, and non-constructive (whining) about the ratings.
I feel I have succeeded since no one else ever thought of, and then took to task to provide musical quality ratings on a CONSENSUS basis.
I'll take / accept what 10-14 people say about a 45 over what one or two people say about it.
Because that is a true consensus opinion.

Lastly, if you bother to read and comprehend the TBM rating system of 1 to 10, AVERAGE is that of a three rating.
for the 15, 200 + songs rated so far, the true mean falls to a 4.300. A 5 rating is not average. 6 is not average. Only 300 or so songs averaged out to yield an 8.
THAT is a true reflection of a valid rating, getting 10-14 guys to agree, as they all have varied tastes.

 

[Frantic]

I've refrained from offering a rebuttal to some of your comments regarding my book, and the rating system at various times in this forum, but since you seem to enjoy "one upmanship" and effusing a superior opinion which this comment reeks of, well....

Your 2 man "method" is NOT a proper or even valid method to ascertain a realistic rating.
Two people is hardly enough of a sample. Far more "objective and useable rating? yeah. Next...

i wish i could have had more people agree to take part during the course of the 8+ years. But several bailed as it was far too much work, and they had other things to do, which is completely understandable.
I have had lots of comments, both constructive, and non-constructive (whining) about the ratings.
I feel I have succeeded since no one else ever though of, and then took to task to provide ratings on a CONSENSUS basis.
I'll take / accept what 10-14 people say about a 45 over what one or two people say about it.

Lastly, if you bother to read and comprehend the TBM rating system of 1 to 10, AVERAGE is that of a three rating.
for the 15, 200 + songs rated so fat the real mean falls to a 4.3. 5 is not average. 6 is not average. Only 300 or so songs averaged out to yield an 8.
THAT is a true reflection of a valid rating, getting 10-14 guys to agree, as they all have varied tastes.

I for one think the book is the work of a true garage genius. I'm thinking of buying another one so I can make notes in it and keep the other one mint. I love the rating system.

 

[MopTopMike]

Here is an interesting tidbit regarding the ratings - I included the Macabre 45 as an Honorable Mention. Certainly they were firmly in the heavy / hard rock camp, yet "Be Forwarned" has a garagey type vibe inherent in the recording and performance for the late calendar date. And it has long since been well known via a 1980 comp appearance.

It scored a "6". That should be translated as a very high rating for a hard & heavy 45 when surrounded by the likes of Pebbles and Back From The Grave compatriots.

The fact that my team had heavy psych guys voting alongside the the purists and the guys who preferred a more quality / less crude sound is a testament to the success whole process.

 

[Heitkotter77]

The fact that my team had heavy psych guys voting alongside the the purists and the guys who preferred a more quality / less crude sound is a testament to the success whole process.

Out of curiosity, who were the heavy psych guys?
I'm not familiar with all the panel members.

 

[keb darge]

Or you could have a page for each record. EG...
Bob who likes organs, but not horns gave it ................ 3
Dave who likes horns and organs gave it .....................5
Bill who doesn't like horns or organs gave it .................1
Ian who likes lazy vocals with minimal horns gave it.......4
Susan who likes horns, organs, lazy vocals, ponys, and working with children gave it ...........10 (but she gives everything 10)....
ETC.... ETC..... ETC.....

How can you complain about such a well done job ?? I sometimes can't be arsed to type a wants list, and the thought of somebody else devoting years of their time to a project like the book in question is humbling.. So there !!!!

 

[MopTopMike]

Ha, right on, Keb! I was one of the VERY few who didn't take points off for horns if the song was good (if I felt it was good). Garage nazis, however, would never consider including a song with any brass / sax in it.

The supplement book will show the vote breakdown vote by vote and the full decimal mean for every song rated to date. The font size is small, but that's what magnifiers are for. Of course, this will refuel the whining for "rounding up" by the crowd who feels their personal favorites scored / rate too low.

I had a total of 21 guys who participated in the TBM rating project, which started in earnest after a few garage guys suggested that I offer up a rating system - the thread is long gone since it was posted on the defunct Garage Punk forum in 2004.

5 or 6 of the participants who took part in the song voting process did not want their names mentioned or published in the book. For whatever reason, they insisted on remaining private, so I won't divulge names even now.

 

[down-n-out]

That's the problem with having many judges. The more you have, the more the score gets averaged out, and thus the more everything looks "average". The proper way to do it, is to have two experienced garage enthusiasts, but with somewhat different tastes. Then you take the higher of the two scores for each song. That way you'll end up with a far more objective and usable rating.

With all due respect, I couldn't disagree with you more. If you were to rely on the opinions of 2 judges, you better damn well hope they have the same opinions as you.