RECORD STORE TALES MkII: Getting More Tale
#358.5: On the Road Again
Today was another day on the highway, on the road to another hospital! We’re making progress on Jen’s epilepsy and she is currently staying at a hospital in Toronto for a few days as they try to figure out just what’s causing these seizures. It will be the longest we’ve been apart since we’ve been married, six years ago.
You don’t come here to read mushy stuff, you come for funny stories and to read about the rock! The drive itself was uneventful. The eastbound lanes are clear, but a jackknifed tractor trailer on the westbound side left just one lane open to traffic. It was backed up as far as the eye could see, and I was grateful I was not one of the commuters stuck in it.
We had Zeppelin on the ride into Toronto. With your morning traffic jams that just happen, we listened to all of Led Zeppelin I, the deluxe edition with bonus concert CD, Live at the Olympia in Paris. As good as this set is — and it is good — it didn’t suit the mood this morning. I should have started with Queen instead. I drove home to disc one of the new Queen Forever, and the pop sound and bright melodies of Queen were better suited to lift the mood. On the way there, Plant’s anguished screams only heightened my own tension. On the way back, Freddie’s smooth crooning was just what the doctor ordered. It was a bright sunny afternoon drive home.
As is par for the course this time of year, my car came home covered in a thick gray coating of sludge and salt. I almost went through almost half a tank of windshield washer fluid today!
If she’s there a while and I have to hang around there, I will definitely be checking out some record stores. When we passed the Honest Ed’s building, I realized that we were right in the vicinity of Mike and Aaron’s Annual Taranna Record Store Excursion! It would be weird to be so close and not check out Sonic Boom.
I’m looking forward to video chatting with Jen tonight on our laptops. She’s got a few days ahead that will be a mixture of boredom, homesickness, and tedious testing. Me, I’m back to bachelor living for the week. I’m already bored.
Today’s musical lesson: Queen lifts the mood!
I hope Jen has a quick recovery. Queen is probably a good choice in that situation.
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Thanks man, I appreciate the sentiment. It’s more of an observation thing. We hope that they will find what part of the brain causes these things to happen so they can find the right treatment. This is by far the biggest most positive step so far! I’m glad I had Queen on the way home. Jen brought her headphones so I know she’ll be listening to her favourite band — the Beatles.
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Here’s hoping all of this testing pays off and they can get things where they should be. Be strong, Jen! You’re in our thoughts!
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Thanks better! I will be sure to relay the message. As for the testing, she’s in the best place in the province for it, I’m sure of that.
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That Zep set is a great one, but yeah, if it drove up your tension, imagine what it did to hers!
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Yeah good point. Husband of the year award — not this guy. I was too focused on the driving to think about the music too much, and Jen wasn’t thinking of it. Ah well, next time we’ll save Zep for the cottage or something more fun.
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Ha no worries, I mean, it is also pretty hard to go wrong with Zeppelin…
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Oh true, it’s not like we hated the music! Just an observation after the fact, “Something else would have been better.” Jen still got to hear all of LZI in sequence with the Paris live concert in all its glory. Not something you’d say, “Well that was shitty.”
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True that. Man that’s a fun set. Rich says it’s an “average” concert from that time, he has boots that are better. All I can think is THAT was average?
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I was thinking the same thing…like what was average about it? OK so sometimes the audio itself isn’t perfect, there were a few moments were there’s no Plant where there should be, but that’s live. Maybe the mic was far from his mouth at that moment. Maybe it’s the tape. Anyway the performance was pretty great…now don’t you wish you had, oh, I don’t know, 7 or 8 more shows from the period to compare it to?
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YEAH! Or maybe 15-20…
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Also Dude, just saying (and you had no control over this), but that video of You’re My Best Friend (how aptly titled) is stopped at a really unfortunate image. Look at Freddie’s eyes. The way he’s holding that mic. Yeah.
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I know eh? I saw that too. Unfortunate because I love that song. I need to check to confirm but I think this one was on our wedding CD. I love the song and we have a special connection to it because even if it wasn’t on the wedding CD, it was on a CD that we listened to together a lot in and around that time.
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All the best to your wife and to yourself. Just a heads for your next Tahranna trip: Sonic Boom has moved to a new location in Chinatown.
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Yes we have been there and it rules!
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I thought it was pretty swank too. Can’t wait to go back.
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I keep saying this, but I want a new turntable. They have some nice ones there in my price range.
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I don’t know what your price range is but I got mine at Planet of Sound in Ottawa. They have a location in Toronto as well. I can’t say enough about them. They’d never try to sell you on something you don’t need.
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I’m sorta in the $150 – $300 range. But not currently looking because of funds due to annual Christmas expenditures! (Or, as my dad used to call it, “The Annual Financial Hemorrhage.”
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I hear you. My own funds shortage has been self-inflicted on the vinyl purchased this month.
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At least we get what we love with our music. It’s money I can spend.
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As bad habits go, at least it’s not fatal…
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As far as I know, there are no recorded music overdoses in all of documented medical history. Correct me if I’m wrong, I’ll put a dolla on it!
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Doesn’t sound like a bad way to go though, if you’ve gotta go…
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The only better way:
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It was pretty nice, and I think it will get better. I don’t know about you guys but I had the sense they were still getting the hang of the new space. All the stuff piled under the stairs, all the heaps on the desks downstairs and those harried people trying to sort it all…
At the old locations things hummed along pretty well. I think given a bit more time this one will too. Of course, that was back in the fall. Maybe since then it’s already there!
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Good observation Aaron. I didn’t notice it at the time, but now that you mention it, yeah. It’ll be interesting to compare whenever I/we go next.
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They seemed to still be organizing when I was there last week but it felt like they were settling in nicely. It’s a gorgeous spot. I love the two level layout.
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I looked up the Planet of Sound in Tarann – they’re on Queen W, across from the Center for Addictin and Mental Health. Not far from where we go anyway!
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NOTE: When Aaron says, “Not far from where we go anyway!” he is not referring to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. We go to record stores.
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Oh shit, I thought that said METAL Health! ;)
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Mike, I am currently doing my level best to earn that dollar!
Also, I was gonna say I love my Rega RP1. Love love love love love. But I looked them up and they’re a bit out of that price range you gave. Damn, too bad. It’s a mighty fine machine.
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If you don’t mind me asking, what did you pay? And what about it do you love love love?
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Mine’s a Pro-ject Debut Carbon. Also, a bit out of that range but Mike is right, there are still some quality tables available in his range.
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I cannot lie, I didn’t pay a damn thing for it. You may recall this post:
Brother Craig gave it to me, and it’s just gorgeous. Built solid, really an elegant design. So simple, and very very well-built. Gets a lot of great reviews as one of THE best entry-level audiophile turntables.
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Rega is nothing to complain about at all.
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Oh YEAH! That baby. Nice and clean looking. Two speed?
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Yeah! Craig bought a nicer one (no idea what it is, though I’m sure he’d tell me if I asked.. if he’s in the country right now, that is. He tends to find excuses to travel to warm places in the winter). Anyway, this Rega sat in his basement a while and then he just passed it on to me. I was stunned.
Here’s this:
http://www.tonepublications.com/review/exclusive-the-rega-rp1/
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I understood…I won’t lie, about 1/2 of that! But the 1/2 that I did understand has me drooliung like Pavlov’s proverbial pooch.
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Haha I know, me too! Except, that pooch wasn’t proverbial. The dog’s were real!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning
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I know, I was going for the alliteration thing ahead of the factual I guess.
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We are thinking of you both and hope for good results. I am so happy that Jen is getting such good use out of her Christmas present.
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Thanks mom! She loves the laptop! And now she has TWO chargers for it, because she left the original at home :) But she has two now, always good to have a backup.
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One can always use two chargers!
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Onwards and upwards! Hope the tests come back with some good results and progress. Fingers crossed.
And in a moment of synchronicity we both listened to Queen today. In my case, Hot Space! Give me-ee yeah… YOUR BOD-AYY.
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Scott, my body belongs to someone else. I’m sorry to have to let you down this way, publicly.
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Get a room, boys! Hahahahaaa
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Damn. I’ll have to drown my sorrows at my next week-long Munich sex party.
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And there goes a spike in hits and fresh fodder for WTF Search Terms!
lebrains munich sex party
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Lebrains munich open door pee party
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lebrain munich pee cup party
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I haven’t received my invite to that one. Am I still persona non grata after last time?
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Statham has a lifetime ban.
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Yes. You ruined 500 euros worth of cold cuts. And the dwarf hiding under them was most distressed.
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Oh yeah, ban Statham. He’s just too strong, even for the folks who like the beatings. But why me? The dwarf?Oh that dwarf had it COMING anyway. Little git. Always whining.
Here lemme help your hits:
Two Lebrains One Cup Dwarf Lunch Meat Cold Cut Pee Cup Orgy
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We can’t leave out the boobsy animation whores.
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Oh yeah, and if that dwarf starts rabbiting on about his dry cleaning bill again, thanks in advance for telling him to sod off, on my behalf.
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The boobsy animation whores have been sleeping on my couch for weeks.
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They’re on your couch? Who are those people on mine then?
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Good question, I have no idea. Be careful going in to find out, and whatever you do, do NOT go in unarmed.
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I’ve made a terrible error. It’s the Boaby Animation Whores that are on my couch!
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Ooft, then I have bad news for you, man. THOSE stains are NEVER coming out.
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Moments of synchronicity. Dammit, you both should’ve listened to the Police, not Queen.
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Thoughts are with you, Mike & Jen. Music always comes in handy during times like this. Keep rocking and Jen getting better.
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Hang in there Jen and Mikey!
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Thinking of you guys! :)
Toronto Western is the place my mil goes for her Rumatologist appointments at the Lupus Clinic. They’re doing great things there. Hope they find out what’s what with Jen.
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Although I have never met your wife, if she likes The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Queen, I am sure she is awesome. I hope she gets the best doctors and they figure out what is ailing her. I also hope you are able to clean the place well enough for when she returns.
As for the turntable I have to throw in my 2 cents. I would suggest you look at a vintage turntable. I prefer Thorens, but Dual, Technics, Marantz, and even Pioneer, Sony, Sansui or JVC make a good turntable. Just make sure to research the model to see if it is one of the better models, as most manufacturers made lesser quality models as well. Also keep in mind you have to have the right cartridge to make it sound sweet. Don’t shell out the $300 on one that needs a cartridge, because then you will need at least $100 for an entry level cartridge. If you can find a deal on a used TT, with a decent or nice cartridge already installed, and listen to it when you pick it up, you will be further ahead.
Earlier this year I bought a Thorens TD145 Mark 2, with a good dust cover, a Stanton 681 eee cartridge, and an extra tone arm(brand new). Does this thing ever sound nice, and the price was right.
Don’t discount the thrift stores. I have seen many decent turntables there for under $50. Sometimes they need a little attention, but often they just need belts or cleaning.
Another option is the barter system. I am sure you have $300 or more in excess music(if there is such a thing), doubles etc. See if there is a seller looking to barter his turntable for your tunes.
Good luck on your search
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I hope it’s all going well Mike and you’re both keeping your spirits up, via the power of Freddie, or whatever else helps.
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Thanks man, we’ll keep on keeping on and hopefully she’ll be home soon.
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