Desperately seeking etc……
Does anyone own this very rare album, by late 20th century duo, Occasionally David, a complete cover album of Love’s Forever Changes. Only 300 copies were ever produced, on vinyl. There seem no eel market accessible files, mp3 presence on Spotify and that ilk, YouTube links or indeed much trace at all. (Yes, I can pay north of £30 for a record to be sent from Germany, by Discogs, but don’t really need or want that amount of physical.)
I am doing a pice about cover versions of the songs on Forever Changes, and it is the last piece in my jigsaw.
Maybe the good Baron, aka @andyourbirdcansing ? I am looking for, cough, a review copy in MP3 format if possible.
(And yes, I have contacted, or tried to contact, Both the record company concerned and each of the two individuals who made up the band, Clive Whitelock and Ray Bate, neither of whom have any recent online/social media presence.)
I’ll ask my “moody” post-punk chums, you never know with them.
I recall seeing this album advertised for sale in Record Collector circa 1987. It was a cassette only release sold through a record shop named Oven Ready Records, who were based in High Wycombe. According to Discogs the group had previously issued a single and EP on the same label. The vinyl issue of the album is therefore a re-issue of this cassette.
Further investigation reveals that the cassette was limited to 100 copies.
Top rarity/collectability marks, but is it any good?
I’m trying to find out!!!
No.
Unless I’m looking at it wrong, there are four UK copies, varying from VG+ copy for a tenner to M for £15 on the ‘Cogs?
True, but I am not really after a vinyl copy for something I may not even like. I just wanna listen to it, first.
I was given the LP edition by a friend but have never got around to playing it Retro. Why would I when the real thing gets played almost daily. However I can’t transfer vinyl to MP3 on my posh TT. I can arrange a phone playback for you if you wish.
Phone playback – the streaming prototype
It may come to something like that…..
No, it’s called helping someone out.
He only wants an MP3 copy – your phone may be far too hi a fi.
Their name is rather inauspicious.
I can do you a needle-drop if you like – may take a few days until I can regain access to the hi-fi after Crimble filled the living room with festive crap.
@retropath2 – let me know if this would be useful!
Woo hoo! Absobloodylutely grand! Will pm you, @vulpes-vulpes!!
@retropath2 – on its way to you right now. See what you think!
Cheers! Will post the article when complete!!!
https://www.covermesongs.com/2024/01/full-albums-loves-forever-changes.html
Eventually! Thanks to @vulpes-vulpes for product placement. Also, in answer to @andyourbirdcansing , you needn’t bother unwrapping your copy. The album, as a whole, offers just a lo-fi recreation with neither any hint of a bell or whistle, nor, much, any budget. The featured track is different, let’s say, suggesting brown acid or yellow snow may have been involved.
@retropath2
Pretty much my verdict too – I refrained from tainting your enjoyment by telling you that I thought it was basically a failed vanity project which had limited interest, secure in the expectation that you’d find it so yourself. And lo-fi is being generous I’d say – the production is, generously speaking, rather muddy.
That vinyl rip was made using a Planar 6 fitted with a very nice and very new MC cartridge – it’s capable of pulling immense detail from even ancient vinyl if it’s been looked after well.
Even though it was probably only the second or possibly third time that my pristine vinyl copy of the Occasionally David LP has been played, you can hear immediately how ghastly the mix is.
The last LP I played on the deck was Van’s ‘Hard Nose…’ and the detail is astonishing, even in the extended fade-out to the finish of Autumn Song. Now I know the Occasionally David lads didn’t have Van’s clout or facilities, but committing the album to vinyl with that mix is the very opposite of a tribute to the Love lads.
I have the LP filed under ‘Worthy, Slightly Interesting, but Profoundly Inessential’.
Once I converted the requisite last 6 minutes or so to YouTube (“Tunes to Tube”), I deleted the lot, so sure I was it wouldn’t be needing to trouble my ears again……