What's Going On.

The Handy Cut Out And Keep Guide To The Record Player March/April.

This month sees the Record Player branching out into pastures new.
The regular nights at the Tyneside Cinema continue - and are growing in
size, the evenings have turned up some real treats with great music and lovely, lovely audiences. It may seem like a cliche, but for me, the people who come along and support the night are just great.
I've met so many top folk through the Record Player.
Thanks to you all.

From Monday I've a monthly show at Live Theatre, highlighting the Top albums of 1973. Listings below.

There's also a one-off Mystery Venue performance coming soon.
The theme is ‘Cocktail Hour, 1959’.
The album is Kind Of Blue, Miles Davis, the venue will be revealed on the night.
Tickets are £7.50 which includes a free Martini.
There are only 25 Tickets, which will be on sale shortly.
The venue is in Newcastle city centre. Check press for details.

There's some new shows coming up - in May/June Durham Gala have ordered up eight, we're showcasing some of the most popular albums we've played so far, more details to follow.

Here’s the listings, and yes, I can be in two places at once.

TYNESIDE CINEMA LISTINGS.

KRAFTWERK – TRANS-EUROPE EXPRESS 

THU 21 FEBRUARY

JOY DIVISION - UNKNOWN PLEASURES vs THE JAM– SOUND AFFECTS 

THU 28 FEBRUARY

ROXY MUSIC – FOR YOUR PLEASURE

THU 7 MARCH

*DAVID BOWIE - THE NEXT DAY - RELEASE DAY SPECIAL
Featuring Mr. Drayton and Lord Leigh Park.
MON 11 MARCH

THE DOORS - THE DOORS vs THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO
THU 14 MARCH

LED ZEPPELIN - PHYSICAL GRAFFITI

THU 21 MARCH

GLAM SLAM!!! Celebrating UK-Pop-Reggae and the Glitterstomp beat. ’70-’75. Spoken word/Quiz/Discotheque.
GOOD FRIDAY 29th MARCH. 9.00 - late.
*All shows commence at 7.15, with exception of Bowie which has a 6.30 start.
https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/mr-draytons-record-player

LIVE THEATRE LISTINGS

Celebrating 40 years of LIVE THEATRE
Your favourite albums of 1973.

PINK FLOYD - DARK SIDE OF THE MOON.
MON 25th FEB

STEVIE WONDER _ INNERVISIONS
MON 11th MARCH

TOM WAITS - CLOSING TIME
MON 15th APRIL

THE WHO - QUADROPHENIA
MON 13th MAY

http://www.live.org.uk/whats-book/mr-draytons-record-player
 
   




Sexy Time! Competition. Ooh La la.!!!

 

Competition competition competition.

To celebrate the spinning of The White Album by The Beatles Four, at The Record Player, Thurs 31st Jan, 2013, 7.15 at Tyneside Cinema. Mr. Drayton invites you to join in.

The cover of the White Album, is just that. White. You can do better. Draw, paint, knit, collage, dance, poem or just fanny about and design a cover for the album.

Please email your cover - by 21.00 Wednesday 30th to therecordplayer@yahoo.co.uk. Physical entries should be brought along on the night, by 19.00.
All entries will be displayed after the spinning, winner chosen by the audience.

RACE FOR THE PRIZE!!!

The winner will take away on the night, (unless they live far away, and they'll get it in the post)
the following:

- FIVE ENGLISH POUNDS.
- The Making of the White Album by David Quantick
                 and the STAR PRIZE!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!A Beatles Plate.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not actual size.

Other Business.

There's a whole load of great vinyl goodness coming your way this deep mid wintertide. and we're diving back into the music with a selection chosen by those who know best, the audience, the Record Playerettes.

 

The new season for the Tyneside Cinema was chosen by committee after a splendid evening of up town top ranking with Bob Marley, and it's a strong line-up  with some real crowd pleasers.

 

All albums were unanimously chosen by the gang,  and we'll be rolling on until someone tells us to quit - or the audience stops listening. You can find us at the Tyneside Cinema, in the Digital Lounge 7.15 Stylus down, comfy seats, our own bar and a great slide show - followed by a bit of a quiz -  - more of which on the night.

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

 

NEW DIRECTION.

 

I love writing that, say it quickly and it's rude. We once did a show called 'Hoof Hearted?' My Mum thought it was a stupid name until she said it aloud. She still thought it stupid, but she laughed. I digress. I've been invited by the estimable Live Theatre to help them celebrate their 40th anniversary with five nights of groovy tunes - which again - the audience votes for. 

Live began life in 1973,  a great year for albums, and there's a short list for you to vote from. We're having the top four albums of '73, followed by a Gala presentation of The Singles Club with some of the great and the good who crossed the stage at the venue.

http://www.live.org.uk/whats-book/mr-draytons-record-player

Thankyou.

Mr Drayton's Favourite Records, 2012.

Alex Collier made this - alex@oddballmedia.com for all your poster needs.

It’s that time of year. Anorak on, head down, list of fifty albums of the year. It’s a time of contention. For the die hard list-feeder each proclamation brings either euphoric vindication or crushing, bone crushing, splintering defeat.

I do like a list, but I most certainly don’t have the time to listen to 50 new albums a year, so, here’s a list of elpees released this year that I bought and played over and over again until their mysteries were revealed unto me.

Rob Heron and The Teapad Orchestra - Money Isn't Everything. CD. Having a knees up this christmas? Rolling out the barrel? Soundtrack it with this slice of home made joy. The beauty of this record is how they’ve captured much of what they do live. Infectious. And they’re all only 13 years old.

Port St Willow - Holiday. DL. Brian Eno recommended this in Mojo magazine, so I gave it a punt. I’ve had it for a week now and have listened to it, start to finish, five times. It’s a wafting cloud of electronic melancholy. Possibly the best new thing I’ve heard for years.

Gojira - L’Enfant Sauvage. DL.

Mathematical Gallic Metal.
Stonking.
Even better live.

Efterklang - Pyramidia - LP. A slice of Danish wonder. The vinyl version is beautiful,  just what a record should be. From start to finish, a wonderful place to be.
Even better live.

Dexys - One Day I’m Going To Soar. LP. Bands reflecting on past glories doesn’t really do it for me, they can stay behind. Dexy's though are a marvel. It's rare to have a band that you've always known were brilliant, and when they come back they are again. With knobs on.
She’s Got A Wiggle is the single of the year, even though it was never released as a single.
Even better live.

Elton John vs Pnau - Good Morning To The Night - DL. Elderly EJ fan finds comfort in modern day studio jiggery pokery and old Elton songs.

Liabach - Reproduction Prohibited. DL.
Who said you can’t have compilations in a top ten? More adventurous, surprising and mindboggment going on here than anything in a BMX bike riding, arse showing, hipsters Top 50.

Blunderbus - Jack White. LP.
It’s Jack White. What do you expect, Boring?

LCD Soundsystem - Shut Up and Play the Hits. DVD.
Ok, so it’s not an album, it’s a live DVD of their last ever gig, but if you just listen to it, it’s the greatest live album ever.
Even better live.

Be Strong - The 2 Bears. CD.
The most played album of the year.
Cool and groovy, warm and friendly, and funny too.
Great songs.
It’s a toe tapper and no mistake.      

Welcome back my friend, I wasn’t expecting you here: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours. LP.

A Record Player favourite. I hated the ‘Mac during the punk rock revolution. After sharing this with a packed and jigging room at The Record Player, my mind was changed.
It’s got everything you might ever need from a record. 




SINGLE of 2012 - Lightning Bolt - Jake Bugg.  At 2.33 this is everything a single should be. Snappy, catchy and with no caterwauling winsome lass bellyaching all over it.  Rockin'.


Well, if you made it thus far, Thankyou. If this list inspires you buy any of these albums, do let me know what you think of them.

If you're at a loose end, The Record Player is here: Tyneside Cinema, we're on til the 20th Dec, which final one of the season, a right royal blow out - is the Christmas Singles Club. It will be very christmassy, I promise.

Finally, I have a Christmas Day show on BBC Newcastle - Mr Drayton's Christmas Record Box.
Currently it's scheduled to run 19.00 - 21.00. A selection of festive fun you wouldn't normally hear on the radio.

My current favourite xmas song is Sufjan Stevens version of Little Drummer Boy. Beautiful.
  

Norman Wisdom, Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, Good Times...

High on Record Player Goodness, two lovely people.

It's been quite a year for The Record Player. From it's first faltering steps with the Tyneside Cinema, it's gently been oozing out across the region. Shows have taken place in the Dome at Spanish City, The Sage (I played a record at the Sage!) and The Baltic, with the recent foray with a different format, again at the splendid Tyneside Cinema  with the Punk Off! The one abiding thing that makes these evenings so worth while is just how sociable they are.

For many years I've worked, then dabbled, then worked in comedy. For me there are two major moments at a comedy gig. Post good gig goodness and post bad gig badness. The feeling of being on stage being just one step ahead of an audience, riding the laughter is sublime. Ditto the feeling being two steps behind and audience, but with added fear and self loathing.

Record Player evenings don't echo these events, what they do bring is that lovely shared experience, that joy in sound. It's one of the most sociable things I've ever done. It sweeps across the generations, all the divides, in fact I'm going to suggest it to the UN to help sort out global unrest, it's that good.
If everyone sat down to an evening of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours on the Gaza Strip there would be no more bother, I can assure you.

Fridays Punk Off was an interesting one - extending the format to 45's, spoken word and general messing about, after a faltering start it really took off, and the beauty of it is that the audience are as integral to the groove of the evening as the muppets are who run the show. It may have been the lateness of the hour, the drink and/or the music, but by 11.00 o'clock we had a room full of love. It was great.

Lady Annabel and an actual Punk Icon, Lady Pauline of Penetrationshire.

None of this would work if we attracted a bunch of cloth eared herberts, or groups of Stags and Hens. People come to listen and enjoy. I am eternally greatful to the RP 'Bromley Contingent'. These hardy souls who come along week in, week out, just for the crack - even if they don't like what's being played ('I have to say that I hated that, it was awful' Bruce Bax on Murder Ballads).
Then we have those who love a particular album, come along not knowing what expect and leave beaming.

Finally, none of this would have been possible without the help and assistance of Tyneside Cinema. They have been impeccable, kind and gracious in their generosity and support of what is basically a bloke playing records. Thankyou good Tyneside Cinema folk, you know who you are. Love.

Next year there will be a few news things to enjoy - in the planning stages - a Glam Slam! enjoying the fab glam sounds 71-75, audience curated album evenings and the Alternative Lindisfarne Gospels.

If you've an album you want to hear, think there's an audience for it, then please leave a comment or email therecordplayer@yahoo.co.uk

Ladies, Read Me Now

We need a lady. Sheena Revolta and I are holding an evening of Punk Rock finery on November 23 at the Tyneside Cinema. 

One of the sections of the show is called Punk Rock Icons, where carefully selected contributors tell of their Chosen One in three minutes or under. 

So far we have a top writer, a swinging duo, me and sheena and an actual real life Punk Rock icon. We need one more contributoress. 

If you're a lady and fancy your chances please tweet me with who you would represent and why. There's a pair of tickets and a drink in it. 

And a bloody good night out. Thankyou for your time.

Baltic Fog on The Tyne - A Very Special Event

The Record Player is very proud to present a Special Unique Event.

On SUNDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER 2012 at 19.00 we give you a unique opportunity to hear the classic 1971 Lindisfarne album, on vinyl,  at the River Terrace in the Baltic, Gateshead.

 We can't guarantee Fog on the Tyne, as the album plays, but you will experience dusk over one of the finest views in the world.

Perfect.

This will be followed by a Q&A with drummer and man about town Ray Laidlaw.

Tickets are limited, they cost £5.00 and can be reserved - (pay for them on the door, cash, no cards, sorry), by emailing therecordplayer@yahoo.co.uk.  

I will then confirm your booking by return email.

Please book early, we expect there will be a great deal of interest.

This a Record Player/Baltic collaboration.

All hail the new colour scheme!!!

We're back!

Starting from the 20st September, in the beautifully appointed Digital Lounge at the Tyneside Cinema, at only £5 per person.

Please note, we'll be starting 15 minutes later at 7.30 on Thursdays.

Here's the Autumn Season for the Record Player. Taking suggestions for the New Year Season, so please leave in comments or email me: therecordplayer@yahoo.co.uk
tweet @mrstevedrayton

This seasons listings, I do hope you approve.

Sept 21^st

Wham Bam Thank you Mam! It's a Glam Slam!

Electric Warrior Vs Transfomer - T.Rex Vs Lou Reed.

Who wins? You Decide!!!!

Sept 28th

The sweet, sweet sounds of Langley Park…

Steve McQueen - Prefab Sprout

Oct 4th

California Dreamin' with…

Rumours - Fleetwood Mac

Oct 11th

All that scratching is making me itch….

Endtroducing - DJ Shadow

Oct 18t

The great lost Dexy's album…

Don't Stand Me Down - Dexy's Midnight Runners.

Oct 25th

Bristol, home of Trip Hop

Blue Lines - Massive Attack

Nov 1st

Ghosts and Ghoulies - Halloween special

Murder Ballads - Nick Cave + Your Scariest Songs.

Nov 8th

I feel so sexy I want to kiss myself…

Purple Rain - Prince

Nov 15th

The third greatest Bowie album ever…

Aladdin Sane - David Bowie

Nov 22nd

STYLUS BREAK

Nov 29th

Sci-Fi Rock Spectacular

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips

Dec 6th

UK vs US Hippy Burn Out

Solid Air - John Martyn Vs. After The Goldrush - Neil Young

Who Wins? YOU DECIDE !!!!

Dec 13th

Lively up yourselves…

Exodus - Bob Marley

Dec 20th

Ding Dong Merrily on High

It's the Record Player Christmas Singles Club. Ten stories, ten songs.

Who wins? YOU DECIDE!!!!

I do hope you can make it along, it would be nice to meet you.

Best,
Mr. Drayton