For those of you who don't keep up, I work in a record store when he's not playing with Beware! The Leopard. It is a vinyl only record store, which makes me jones for new vinyl each and every day.
The owner, who has amassed a vast collection of 45s over the last 40+ years, is now realizing that he is entering the autumn of his life, and he doesn't need the actual records anymore. He still wants the music of course, so he's given me the task of ripping them to CD so he can sell the 45s (some of which are worth thousands of dollars). Initially the task was a bit daunting; stacks of 45s arranged into compilations either by label, artist, or sound (ie. Detroit 70s). Most this is soul music which was a little bit outside my knowledge base, and some of it is so schlocky that a couple of hours of ripping makes the poet inside me cry, but every once in a while I get hit by a gem. Today is one of those days. Gloria Taylor has come like a ray of sunshine into this gloomy office/dungeon on Queen St. Her combination of soul/funk and pop is just very raw. Some of her lyrics can be a little bit cheesy, but overall her voice just sounds very true. I definitely say check her out.
Also, if you haven't already, check out Travis Wammack, an awesome guitar player. His versions of NightTrain and Louie Louie are absolutely fantastic. I don't know how he got his guitar tone, but the tremolo-y goodness is superb. Listening to his guitar is listening to what 1960s rock and roll was all about.
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