Far Beyond My Wildest Dreams....

...as side one of The Record Player comes to a close, I have to say the last four weeks have been above and beyond. Each night has brought it's own particular brand of magic.

Last week we went wiggy with Ziggy, this week (which I expected to be  empty because of the heat) a fantastic crowd sat and soaked up the melancholy gorgeousness of Bon Iver.

I can't get over the fact that people will come to simply enjoy music. Running the Record Player has allowed me to listen afresh. I used to cycle to work with my ipod on. Now, if I'm going to play music, I take time to sit and listen. I hear it.

I'd like to extend the hand of friendship to all those who bothered to come.  Thanks to the Four Timers - Susan and Ewan. Nuff respec' (see what I did there?) to the cool kids who came tonight - they took the time to come from Washington to listen to a record.  How cool is that? Ice Cold.

And - the lovely folk at Tyneside Cinema, the only place see a film or listen to an album.
Thank you.

Week off next week, I'm off bear baiting with Jackie Charlton.

The Record Player Charts will follow soon, as will the playlist for October/November 2011.
See you on the 13th.

If you're in two minds about Bon Iver on Thursday...

....try this. Here are some excerpts from an article written by Laura Barton in The Guardian back in Feb 2008. As soon as I'd read this I ordered the album. I wasn't disapointed.

"If we have spoken in the past couple of weeks, I apologise. If you have poured out your heart and found me blank-faced, if you have asked me whether you should wear the red or the blue, or if I want-milk-with-that and I have appeared distracted, let me say that I am sorry. My mind has been elsewhere. For the past fortnight, every moment not spent listening to the Bon Iver record, For Emma, Forever Ago, has seemed wasted.

In my defence, this is a truly astonishing album. It was recorded last winter, in a hunting cabin in northwestern Wisconsin to which Justin Vernon (who is Bon Iver) retreated alone for three months following the break up of both his band and his relationship. Eighty acres. Forty miles from anywhere. He chopped wood, hunted deer, and unexpectedly found himself writing songs.

It is only nine tracks long. A little over 30 minutes. A sapling. Vernon sings in an icy falsetto, the sound of winter sky and bare branches. He sings of his inhospitable surroundings, of snow and stone and crows and cold moons, interspersing these images with a few warm memories of blouses and blood and brassières. It is an album that starts by watching "gluey feathers on a flume", that, in Skinny Love, firmly grasps the nettle of a relationship: "I'll be holding all the tickets," he sings, voice turned thorny and rough, "and you'll be owning all the fines." And it ends in a song named Re: Stacks, closing with the lines: "This is not the sound of a new man or crispy realisation/ It's the sound of the unlocking and the lift away/ Your love will be/ Safe with me."

I first played it sitting at my desk. The room stood still and my breath disappeared. Since then, I have listened to it endlessly, over and over, on buses and trains, late night and early mornings, sitting at my kitchen table, running to the corner shop, stopped, dumbstruck, beneath the office strip lights looking out over the rooftops of Farringdon. It is an album that envelops you in a profound sense of loss and isolation and stillness.

There are times when an album, for the want of a hunting cabin in Wisconsin, can offer a retreat; somewhere to hide away and muddle things through. It is quite different to falling in love with a record, the feeling is less exuberant, more cathartic. You do not so much want to shout your passion for this music from the rooftops, as long to quietly fold around it."

Apologies for nicking this off another website, but I couldn't have put it better myself.

Ziggy Played Guitar - and Woody Played The Drums.

When I pushed the idea of The Record Player into the happy faces of the good people of the Tyneside Cinema, I had, at the back of my mind, this notion of listening to an album as a shared experience, much the same of going to see a film or a play. Obviously, it takes a great leap of faith, sitting in the dark with some strangers for company, letting yourself go with the groovy sounds.

It's happened twice so far. The Darkside of the Moon was, I felt, a contemplative evening, whereas Ziggy Stardust rocked the house.

There's not a bad song on that album, not one overstays it's welcome, it sounds tough and sweet all at the same time.

The boat was pushed out for Ziggy. Before the playback top Tyneside actor Laura Norton took on the mantle of Angie Bowie. She read some of Angie's prose and poetry and then I talked some nonsense. The icing on the cake was an interview I'd recorded the day before with King Spider - Sir Woody Woodsmansey which ended with him introducing the album.

I'd emailed Woody via his website, asking if he'd be up for a chat, and very generously he said yes.

That's what I love about things like this. Sometimes, just sometimes you get to say hello to people who have sound tracked not only yours, but millions of peoples lives. If the 14 year old me knew that the 52 year old me was talking to an actual Spider from Mars (Driffield, East Yorks actually fact fans) he would have fainted away with joy, which actually, I very nearly did.

I had goosebumps from start to finish, and, as Rock n Roll Suicide drew to a close, everyone applauded.

That's the power of Ziggy.

Win a vinyl copy of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars by pop singer David Bowie

You know that Six Degrees of Separation thing? (Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person on Earth).

Well, I can connect myself to top pop star David Bowie with four degrees. So can my friend Carol Cooke.

I'll tell you how on Thursday at the Tyneside Cinema.

To win a copy of this weeks Record Player featured album - connect yourself to David Bowie.

The best entries will be put to an audience vote. You stand more chance of winning by being there, but email and posted connections will be taken into consideration.

Post here or email therecordplayer@yahoo.co.uk.

https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/mr-draytons-record-player

Fragments of a Song

I hadn't listened to the debut album from The Stone Roses in years.
It was one of those rare albums that withstood play after play after play.

There are a handful of albums that I've had to ration my listening to, for fear of wearing out their appeal, this is (the) one.
A great album is like a puzzle. On the first few plays you can hear the magic, it's hooks are fleeting, but gradually those hooks get under your skin.

Every play brings the familiar, whilst slowly revealing tricks and treats which make the whole thing sing.
A real test of the staying power of a great album are the fragments of songs that pop in to your head, unannounced.

Currently I have:
'I'm going to do it and you know you've always had it coming....' snaking around my brain.

The Stone Roses has tons of these fragments.
It's these shards that catch the light, giving it a shimmering beauty.

You can hear it, in full tonight from 7.15.
https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/mr-draytons-record-player

Your Record Player Needs You.

The good people of the Tyneside Cinema have asked if the Record Player would be interested in spinning yet more groovy sounds in the Digital Lounge.

Why, of course it would.

Since its launch, the House Of Record Player has received many suggestions for featured albums – so now, it’s time for you to decide.

Below is the short list. Eight will be chosen.

Put your selection in the comments below or email therecordplayer@yahoo.co.uk.

The Shortlist

Blue - Joni Mitchell

Hounds of Love – Kate Bush

Led Zeppelin 4 – Led Zeppelin

Parallel Lines – Blondie

OK Computer - Radiohead

Kind of Blue – Miles Davis

Moon Safari - Air

For Your Pleasure – Roxy Music

Solid Air – John Martyn

Different Class – Pulp

Innervisions - Stevie Wonder

Abbey Road – The Beatles

Horses – Patti Smith

Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield

Unknown Pleasures – Joy Division

Never Mind The Bollocks… – The Sex Pistols

Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys

Seldom Seen Kid – Elbow

Marquee Moon – Television

Queen II - Queen

Closing date 12.00 Friday 16^th September.

Bri An' I

When I was 10, Mick and Barbara Wooffitt moved next door. They were flamboyant creatures, Barbara was beautiful, Mick had a guitar. Mick also had a record player.

He had records by The Shadows, The Four Seasons, Great War Movie Themes, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly soundtrack and The Beach Boys Greatest Hits.

I would often go round on the pretence of saying hello, hoping that I might be able to hear these records. Often, when Mick was on shift, Barbara would let me pop round and listen to whatever I wanted. I loved Frankie Valli's falsetto on Big Girls Don't Cry, but the song that captured by imagination was 'I Get Around' by The Beach Boys, especially the line 'The bad guys know us and they leave us alone'.

What did the good guys do that gave them the respect from the bad guys?

Sadly, I never found out their secret, and was often chinned by the bad guys.
Despite this, the Beach Boys gave me eternal hope.

Tonight, thanks to my mate Rob I met the man who, in a small way, gave the 10 year old me, that little bit of hope.

I never ever thought that would happen.

Well That Was Nice.

Yesterday was a momentous day in the life of The Record Player. It began with the handing over of the very first copy of the very first edition of the fanzine to contributor Keith Topping. Keith chose The Stone Roses badge as his free badge. As you can see I was very happy to present Keith with his copy, and managed to get that gormless fan boy look down as well.

I'm very pleased to report that The Darkside Of The Moon by The Pink Floyd was very well received by a very appreciative audience.

During the planning stages several doubters put forward the idea that I would end up with a room full of beard strokers. Well, let me tell you, you doubting Helen and Marks, there was only one beard in sight, and to draw attention it would have upset the lady who wore it.

Last night the house rules were set collectively, last night (and for all future nights)
- all mobile devices are to be turned off.
-Air guitar and air drumming is allowed, as is singing.
- Chilling is imperative.

Comments afterwards: suggestions for future evenings, how several attendees hadn't sat and listened to record all the way through since they were nowt  but bairns and "even though the Stone Roses are shit, I'll come and listen to it".

You can hear The Stone Roses first album next Thursday, doors at 7.00 and playback at 7.15.
https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/mr-draytons-record-player

A big, big thankyou to all at the Tyneside who helped make it happen, it's very much appreciated.

People Are Good

As part of the Record Player Experience, I figured putting out a fanzine might be a nice touch. As a fan of these 'knock 'em out' alternatives to the NME and Melody Maker from the days of the punk rock wars, I set to. I'd never had the where-with-all to do one when I was younger, so now seemed like a good time to reach for that DIY ethic.

I also wanted the whole thing to be more of a shared experience, taking in views that would give the publication variety and insight.

I put the word out to those hipsters who I thought might be interested in contributing, gave them some themes and a deadline. Contributions rolled in. When I sat down to edit the thing, I was struck by the strength and humour in the writing. I had planned to chop articles, but as it turned out, each individual voice was strong.
I could offer no fee, people did it for the love of it, I've had pieces from as far away as Germany and The Borders.

It's just been delivered, and is sitting at home,waiting for me. That's very exciting.

So, anyway, what I wanted to say was thanks to those who contributed -
Mr. Kirkwood, Mr. Walton, Mr. Hedges, Mr. Schumm, Mr. Collier, Mr. Topping, Mr. Moyes and young Master Boughen. Thankyou men, you're great.

'Zine available from the Record Player events at the Tyneside or you can email me
Therecordplayer@yahoo.co.uk.

It comes with a free badge that I've had made as well.
You can also buy a set of four limited edition badges I've had made for the first four weeks, each with a lyric from the first four albums.

https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/mr-draytons-record-player

Bleeding Heart, Lily of the Valley, Snap Dragon, Rambling Rose...

If you happen to happen by The House of Record Player on a Friday evening, chances are you'll find my good lady and myself enjoying some fine spanish beer and spinning some tunes. One particular family favourite is the album 'Goodbye' by The Czars, and, the one track that is our tune is called 'Little Pink House'. It's a melancholy number, voiced by the estimable John Grant.

I came to The Czars late in the day, after they'd split, and it was always a regret that I'd never seen them, as I was entranced by John Grant. When he returned to the pop scene with the brilliant Queen Of Denmark album, I was overjoyed, because there was a chance that he'd be touring it, and, as it turned out, he came to the Sage in March.

The show was stunning, he was in great voice, very warm, witty and open, so when, towards the end of the show he asked if anyone had any request I bellowed "Little Pink House" drowning out just about everyone else. He played it, and I like to think, a little bit of it was for Mrs. D and myself. I did allow a squeeze of her hand as he sang it.

Fast forward to yesterday, I'm in Brighton, I know, very debonair, and reading Mojo magazine. Mojo magazine is a music mag for the older gentleman. On Page 126 a review of John Grant at the 100 Club, London and these words appear "The last song is Little Pink House, a Czars track that Grant hadn't played since the band split in 2004, until a fan requested it at a gig in March".

Reading that made me very happy, and a friend who was at the gig and had read the review and contacted me about it, so I'm not making it up.

It's little things like that that make me still believe in the power of music, the power to bring us together and make us happy.