Record Retrospective
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Records! We love ‘em here in Norwich, and the proof is in the pudding, the ingredients being the many and varied independent record shops dotted throughout the city. With expert staff to advise you on music of all genres and from all through time, we are totally blessed here in the fine city. I’ve been joyfully trawling round the record shops with a tatty tenner, seeing what classic gems I can unearth and along the way I have had the pleasure of meeting some lovely people who are passionate about their businesses. This month I popped into Circular Sounds on St Benedict’s Street and met Martin who sold me Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On; more on that in a bit.
Say Where?!
Martin has been at Circular Sounds’ current site for 12 years. He has a wide range of customers; whilst I was in there an elderly lady wanting to sell her husband’s old dance records was swiftly followed by a young chap wanting Madlib. He sells on average about the same in CD’s and vinyl but he claims the revival in vinyl as claimed by the press is based on current bands deciding to release new albums on vinyl rather than a sudden excitement over classic releases. He has around 500,000 CD’s and records in his shop and in storage below the shop, a space of equal size to the shop itself. Personally he is an affectionado of soul and r’n’b and runs several nights of his own in Norwich at the Rumsey Wells and the Football Club. The most amazing thing he has ever had pass through his hands is the handwritten original lyrics to See Emily Play by Pink Floyd, which happened when a disabled man, whose mum had been friends with Syd Barrett’s mum wanted to sell them to move into a home of his own. The lyrics were in fact different to the eventual recording which makes them extra special! Martin particularly enjoys having that personal relationship with his customers that is so rare in shops these days, so he is able to make recommendations and also pass them on to other record shop owners if he thinks they can help. He also has a website at www.circularsound.musicstack.com.
Say What?!
Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On
“Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today.”
Timeless lyrics from one of the most influential albums ever made which continues to come in the top 10 albums of all time. Marvin Gaye’s 11th studio album came about as a result of his brother sending home letters from Vietnam. It’s a concept album of 9 songs which all lead into each other. With themes such as poverty and drug abuse, the story Marvin tells is a of a Vietnam veteran returning home from war and seeing nothing but a country suffering and full of hatred. This isn’t, however, what I hear when I listen to this album, which usually happens when I feel like a little tlc and relaxation. What I hear is a voice like honey, swooning through the funky, sensual beats. The accompanying saxaphone and other instruments all marry together top create the most silky and smooth soul record ever without it being “too Barry White”. Still, it makes me want to wear some kind of negligee and prance around. You’ll probably know the best known track on this great album, Let’s Get It On (you know, the saucy one), but just think how well known and succinct this song is, how perfectly he creates a mood with his voice and the music...and then imagine a whole album full of gems such as this. Now go buy this album.
