Adventures in Record Collecting

Sunny Schomaker
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It turns out that while streaming music is incredibly convenient, it’s not as fun as sorting through bins at a thrift store. Join me as I wander through thrift stores, record stores, garage sales, and yes, even the internet. Recreating a record collection one surprise at a time. Email: record.collecting.pod@gmail.com Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/user/sgschomaker

  1. Record #28: Wings at the Speed of Sound

    10H AGO

    Record #28: Wings at the Speed of Sound

    Who else can put out a record considered "mid" that still has two certified bangers, plus a couple more solid contenders? Our man McCartney (and crew). I try to give a state of the band recap that doesn't repeat previous lore (always a challenge when going by order of purchase), talk about the Fender Rhodes, accuse some people of hating joy, and engage in an impassioned defense of Linda. And what's wrong with that?

    38 min
  2. Record #27: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, LTD.

    OCT 3

    Record #27: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, LTD.

    The bitch is back! I kick off season two with what is considered by many to be the best Monkees album. I talk 1967, dickish music executives, and early adopters. Cameos by Robert Moog, John Lithgow, and Kevin Bacon. Plus a return of the hat I knitted for last season's Monkees' Greatest Hits episode.

    33 min
  3. Record #26: An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer

    AUG 8

    Record #26: An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer

    We'll be sliding down the razor blade of life as I pay tribute to Tom Lehrer, who died recently at the age of 97 (so close). In addition to poisoning some pigeons in the park and dancing the masochism tango, I'll muse on the limitations of satire, go off on a couple of short, mildly lefty rants, and talk about the weird kid to eccentric adult pipeline. I'll be back in October with more records! Until then, watch this space, as I have more content a-brewing.

    28 min
  4. Record #25: A World Without Love

    JUL 25

    Record #25: A World Without Love

    It's British Invasion time! Sure, I talk about Peter and Gordon's American debut, with its title track, written by Peter Asher's housemate. That doesn't stop me from taking some detours to discuss semantics, how pop music is often described by what it's not, and why skiffle was so important to the development of British rock and roll. Plus, I call back to a number of episodes, including: Portrait of Patsy Cline, Sentimentally Yours, Motown #1s (parts one and two), The Monkees, and Peter, Paul and Mary.

    35 min
  5. Record #24: Shearing on Stage!

    JUL 11

    Record #24: Shearing on Stage!

    Let's get jazzy! Once again, I claim no special knowledge about jazz, yet talk about vibraphones, bebop, cool jazz, and modes. I vary my bullshit to include subgenres. I talk a lot about Toots Thielmans (which is a great name) and guitars and harmonicas. Other topics include: standards, jazz compositions, and George Shearing's love of the dad joke.

    32 min
  6. Record #23: Peter, Paul and Mary

    JUN 27

    Record #23: Peter, Paul and Mary

    If the 21st century is too much for you, let's travel back in time and hit the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early 60s. We'll talk pinkos, reds, and fellow travelers, as well as music education, the fearful 50s, and the vagaries of copyrighting traditional material. Plus cameos from A Mighty Wind and the PBS Pledge Drive.

    32 min
  7. Record #22: Saviors

    JUN 13

    Record #22: Saviors

    We vault into the 2020s with Green Day's 2024 album, Saviors. I talk about the space between knowing a band and fandom, politics and punk rock, my general beef with genres, and middle age. Let's all bang our heads like it's 1981!

    31 min
  8. Record #21: Tug of War

    MAY 30

    Record #21: Tug of War

    We've come to the last album in the Macca Attack, 1982's Tug of War. I talk about tragedy, lyrics, and more. I even talk about the old days when we used to watch music videos on MTV (while wearing an onion on our belts).

    31 min
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About

It turns out that while streaming music is incredibly convenient, it’s not as fun as sorting through bins at a thrift store. Join me as I wander through thrift stores, record stores, garage sales, and yes, even the internet. Recreating a record collection one surprise at a time. Email: record.collecting.pod@gmail.com Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/user/sgschomaker

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