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Hey Paul. I think Vanguard is the connection between the two. The copy you’re looking at in the video is the one from People’s. It was in such great condition that I replaced my old copy with it. Vanguard was trying to get into the rock music business but didn’t have the patience to let their act’s develop. I would have been curious to see how the band developed. Cheers!

@@corporalcornealiaspheffer8296 I’m a huge fan of Radio Birdman. Really special band that never really became big in the US. The new copy of Radios Appear that I mentioned in the video is even better than I imagined. The vinyl is beautiful and it’s even a promo copy. Been blasting it all weekend. ✊

I got the shirt in 88 or 89. One of the most amazing shows I’ve ever seen. Brilliant band. Thank you for watching and commenting. Cheers from Detroit. Shawn

I thinks it’s a really unique listen in some ways. A psychedelic rock album that leans towards the harder rock aspects of the music. It would have been interesting to see what they did on a second album. Thank you for watching. Cheers! Shawn

I think the label got wet feet after taking a brave step in a new direction. They just didn’t know what to do with the group. It’s a shame because I think they could have developed into something really special. But it was not meant to be. But we are left with this nice little gem from the Detroit scene. Sorry for the delay in getting back with you. Cheers. Shawn.

The Harry Smith book was really interesting. And it shines a light on a very important topic of American cultural history. The millionaires and billionaires always get celebrated in the US but we never focus on the people who did the actual work of collecting the material and music that everyone else missed. Highly recommend. Patti Smith wrote the excellent, Just Kids about her life in NY with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. There’s a section in that book about Harry Smith too. Well worth seeking out. Thank you for watching. Cheers. Shawn

I’m more of a garage rock fan than a true psych-rock. I prefer the sound of the Sonics or the Flaming Grooves when it comes to rock music. But I appreciate this album. Less incense and peppermints and more MC5. If that makes any sense. Sorry for the delay in responding. Have a great summer. Cheers! Shawn

What a great video clip. It’s rock music played with power, passion and honesty in a way that is a true rarity. Are you familiar with the New Race LP, Randy? I’m sure you probably are. But that band featuring three members of Radio Birdman: Deniz Tek, Rob Younger, and Warwick Gilbert, along with Ron Asheton and Dennis Thompson of MC5. Pretty great album. There’s also The New Order album with Ron Asheton; it’s not really an album but rather a collection of demos that never really got a chance but it’s still really interesting. Cheers! Shawn

@@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084 I have the New Order album, I don't have any New Race but it sure looks like I need to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

Hey Steve. I’m curious about that Hits collection. I need to take a closer look at that track list to see if I can pickup a few more tracks that I want. The record industry has been very sloppy in making Radio Birdman accessible to audiences in the US. Releasing different versions of their albums just confused audiences. Check out the Paybacks. Deadwax turned me into them and I think you would really enjoy them. Cheers! Shawn.

Never heard of the New Christs. Sounds interesting. Saw you saw Radio Birdman? Very cool. I’ve watched some live clips and they always remind me of the Dictators (in addition to the obvious connections to the MC5 and Stooges). New Race is another interesting offshoot that never got past the demo stage but it is worth a listen. Thank you for watching. Cheers. Shawn.

Check out the Paybacks. Deadwax recommended them to me during his livestream and I was really impressed with the record. It’s a killer. Thank you for watching! Cheers. Shawn

How incredible to have the opportunity to see Radio Birdman live. Hope you are able to attend. When I was a boy reading Cream magazine I read articles about Destroy All Monsters and The Sonic's Rendezvous Band playing live in the Detroit area. Unfortunately I was to young to attend any of those shows. I’m sure I’ll track down Living Eyes eventually. Cheers! Shawn and

Hi Russell. I’ve had very similar experiences with certain albums. Hüsker Dü is the band that comes to mind. Their album Everything Falls Apart just didn’t click with me. It took several years before I could really get into it. Or the band Laibach took me a while before I realized how amazing they really. As far as our ears maturing; I think that’s true for some people but not for others. You take music seriously and are open to new ideas so the evolution is natural. I know you’ll dig the Harmony/Spheres, sure it’s experimental music but it’s highly likable too. Thanks for watching. Cheers! Shawn

I was surprised too. You I didn’t get that wrong; I took it from a list on Discog. So…if they’re not on there I sorry. Still a chance to talk about a band I really love. An important band. I’d take those first two Sonics records over the Fab 4. That’s a good debate idea. Why doesn’t the VC have debates? I like that idea. lol. As long as everyone acted like adults I don’t see a problem ;) enjoyed hanging at your auction. Till later. Shawn

The Wailers have become increasingly influential in many ways. Kurt Cobain was a fan and dropped their name during several interviews. I found the Sonics in HS with an old girlfriend who loved the Sonics and the Flaming Groovies. Teen Head was on her turntable that entire summer between after 12th grade. The Groovies, the Cramps, Patti Smith, Ramones…you get the idea. So Jim liked the Sonics but not the Groovies? Crazy. Although, the FG did become more pop oriented later in the 70s. But still great. Lol. Thank you for watching. Cheers. Shawn.

Hello Mariusz! Hope your summer is going well and you’re having a bit of fun. Appreciate the compliment but my collection is fairly humble. In fact, I just had a conversation with a friend about being a bit more…adventurous with adding albums to my collection. I feel like my taste in music have become increasingly discontent with the past. Seems like most people hit 50 and nostalgia becomes more and more important. But I’m always looking forward to a new sound or style. Maybe that’s the best way? I’d like to think so anyway. Cheers. Shawn

It’s a great album. I’m surprised more people haven’t heard the album. And the story is so compelling. I’m genuinely touched by Craig Smith’s talent and his seeking enlightenment; only to find a world that crushed him completely. Perhaps if someone had cared enough to get him the help he needed. Maybe then he wouldn’t have self-medicated with drugs. Anyway, glad the video was useful. Cheers. Shawn

Hey! Thank you for the comment. Cabs are really special band. They kinda did the same thing for me when I was first starting college. They were so ahead of their time - a sound and philosophy that would stay fresh to this very day. I didn’t appreciate the later period until much later. But I now see how amazing they remained though-out the 90s. Cabs really had 3 or 4 very distinct stages; the early cut-up/ crude funk sound, the industrial dance style, the house/ acid stage and finally the more dark ambient sound. If you haven’t explored the solo material then a whole new adventure awaits on the albums and 12’. Cheers from Detroit.

It’s an interesting situation in the United States; I think we should be concerned about how deeply mythology has replaced some of the more unpleasant aspects of our history. Of course, you’re correct in saying that legends are fun and interesting. They are. I love the legendary story of Robert Johnson. And I enjoy the knowledge that we gain about our collective existence and culture. But there is a downside if we start to believe the myths as true. And then get upset if someone reminds us of the actual events. George Washington supposedly “couldn’t let a lie”. In truth, George Washington was handed the Presidency because he was the wealthiest man in America (at the time). He was also not a good general in the military. Was he a liar? Absolutely. But we believe the opposite. We should consider what the purpose of these myths true means. Thanks, Steve. I appreciate your feedback very much. All the best. Shawn.

That’s an interesting observation about compilations after Nuggets. I’d never really considered that matter. But you’re correct. Nobody was able to capture and identify a period in music like Nuggets or the Anthology of American Folk Music. Certainly the Harmony set was able to identify and change the perception of music. Thank you for watching and commenting. Cheers. Shawn.

Yeah, thought I’d try something a little different to address an important issue in the US; that is, people in the United States never deal with the reality of our own history. The country was founded by wiping out an entire ethnic group in North America. A fact, most Americans will deny or try to justify in some way. The same is true of slavery in the American south. Did you ever see Gone With The Wind? Very popular old movie that romanticized the pre-civil war south. So much of the so-called history of the country is built on fairytales and mythology. Anyway, it’s a strange phenomenon that I think continues in the story of Robert Johnson. Thank you for watching. Cheers.

It’s ok. I don’t have much to say anyway. Enjoy the pictures.

Lol. You saw that shirt? Amazing band, of course. Saw them live twice over the last couple of years. So good. Cheers!

I think “important” is the right word this box set. It really came along at just the right time for me. I had come to associate the exploration of music and sound with electronic music. But there is a music larger spectrum of sounds to be heard than just electronic music. But I had started to look at guitar-based music with a certain amount of….suspicion. Or even dismissing it entirely. Harmony of the Spheres takes guitar based avant-garde music seriously. The label creating a unique/beautiful package as a platform those explorations.

@@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084 Totally feel you on the suspicion of guitar bands. When it comes to playing the instrument, I am kind of anti-technique in a way. I don't like showiness. Probably why I like bands like this on this boxset. Guitar was used as a textural instrument and that's what I love more than anything.

​@@seekingathread I completely agree with you Dom, I'm from the same school on the guitar, and these groups were super important. I think I've basically spent a lot of my life playing guitar to try and make it sound like anything but a guitar! When I made music more my friends and I thought of ourselves as multi-non-instrumentalists! No instrument was off limits, as long as we could get some fascinating sound out of it

@@christophe-posts Yes, that's what it's all about to me. Seeing where you can go with it and what sounds are possible, not just re-treading the same ole guitar solos. Not to say I don't sometimes go into those territories as well but mostly I like the textural possibilities of the thing.

@@seekingathread Of course, I think I had an intense dislike of so called 'fret w@nking' since I was 16 but I loved the dexterity of Fugazi, math rock et al. When it's adding texture/feeling, I'm all there, just never for showmanship 😆 Thanks for the John Lurie Orchestra tip a month back, you said you'd been spinning it, I've been listening to it on BC so much since! It's like Phil Cohran and some of the gentle, mediative P Sanders, it's just wonderful. I wish there were copies available in the UK! But prices for that one are just going up, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled on that 🎯👀

I was pretty much coming from that same point-of-view. What happened to me was the more I heard, the less of the melodic aspect I needed to enjoy the piece. Eventually, the melody started to get in the way of the purity of sound. If that makes any sense. “Sound” became less about a song (verse and chorus) and more about the texture and tone and color of the sound. Minimalism is all about this reduction of all the elements that prevent us from feeling that core. Once you begin listening in this way two things happen to me; a new world of music, sound and noise opened to me. But also…it was more difficult to listen to the sugary music that relied on the usual structures of music. Music I once found interesting and complex and enjoyable was less appealing. Not sure all that makes any sense. But you have an adventurous ear for music. So be careful you’ll end up listening to music that will make your friends wonder what happened to you. Lol. Hope you are well, Steve. Cheers!

I think he may have played it a few times. You would enjoy the collection, i think. Avant-garde for sure but very listenable and variations in mood and style to keep things interesting. The nice box-set is a plus too. You can tell it was a labor of love. I'm sure they lost money but just wanted to do it anyway. Cheers! Shawn

@@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084 I often miss first part of his LS so perhaps that’s why I don’t remember it. Boxset looks very neat and well put together. I’ll definitely keep an eye for it. Thanks again Shawn for great recommendations.

Thank you kindly. Appreciate you watching. Have a great week. Cheers!

Hey Thijs - I think you would really enjoy exploring some of the earlier albums; they are filled with alternative tuning by Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo - they came from the New York No Wave and Noise Rock scenes of the late 70s and early 80s. The made noise and sound exploration a tradition on those Sonic Youth records. People always recommend the more rock orientated album but I think Confusion is Sex, Bad Moon Rising, EVOL and Sister are the albums you would enjoy. Full of lo-fi, screechy noise that flirts with dismantling the rock form from start to finish. The Later records are great too; they embrace rock sound but always subverting the traditional sound with avant-garde technic; Daydream Nation is the best of the bunch imo but all their records are worth a spin. <> Only becoming familiar with Montgomery through the Harmony of the Spheres album, I can only say that the included track is amazing. No vocal. Btw - everything on these three album is exclusive.

A drone isn’t always a drone! Lol. Thanks for the comment. Cheers.

I’ll need to dig deeper into the story of his life. I’ve read a lot on-line but I love this record enough to sit down with a book. I’d add only this; imagine if Smith had gotten the mental health treatment he needed instead of self medicating with drugs. That lack of mental health care in the US is shocking and very sad. How many lives are wasted over treatable illnesses. Thanks for watching. Shawn

Oh wow...Alpena. Sure. Been there a few time with my parents as a kid. So you had a chance to see or hear some killer rock music during that period; Seger...Amboy Dukes...Stooges(!)...MC5....I didn't get to experience that first hand but i did get to see Techno / House and electronic music happen in the city in the late 80s/early 90s; illegal raves at the Packard in Detroit were...unbelievable. Amazing, exciting music that would change the world. Such a great city with a rich music tradition that just keeps changing and growing. Cheers! Shawn.

Maybe it was the Stems and Seeds comp? Does it have MC5, Stooges, SRC....?

There was still gas in the engine in the late seventies for Bob. Live Bullet was a regular album at HS parties for me. He still had lots of heat live. Lucifer and 2+2 are just killer tracks and as good as the Amboy Dukes of The Rationals. It's a shame more people are unaware of those records. Back in 72 is his best album, imo. Good, working-class rock music for those struggling to stay ahead in the Motor City. I did see Seger live once but it was much later in the early 2000s. It was fine - lots of those ballads that i dislike. But the crowd seemed please. Thank you for watching. Be well. Shawn

The Rationals are an interesting band. Never really fulfilled their promise but a good 2/3 of that record are great. It's a incomplete picture of the band because it didn't include some of the singles that are much more raw then the album. There's a great CD comp that gathers together everything that is a very fun listen. Sadly, I don't have it anymore; but I'm always looking for those singles. Do you ever get back to the Detroit area? Let me know if you do, we could have coffee and talk records. Thank you, Steve.

Hi Thijs. Right back at you, my friend. You have an amazing collections music and you have helped point me in the right direction again and again; most people are not willing to venture into avanti-garde territory the way you do. You have one of the very best channel in the VC. No doubt. I'm amazed at the albums you find lurking in the shadows and back-alleys. <> My feeling are similar to your; I wish I had know more people willing to make that jump into that unknown territory. Other then a close friend or two, very few people can talk passionately and seriously about music. Most of my old college friends are still listening to the same music they discovered at 16yrs. Finding the VC has really helped. It's likely a majority of my discoveries over the last couple of years stem from Stunty (and maybe a 10 other channels. Yours included btw). Hey...thank you for watching. Those very early Seger records are full of garage-rock joys if you like that sound. If you're interesrted, look for two Seger songs on RUclips: 2+2 (on my mind) and Lucifer. So completely different then the AOR nonsense for which he would become famous. Cheers! Shawn.

Hey Christian. How are you? I hope life is treating you well. So you’re not there anymore. Seemed like a lot of faces were starting to change. That’s really unfortunate. Not much has changed here. Things are busy for work until the end of June and then…we’ll see. Lots of records around, of course. Message me on IG if you want. Be well. Shawn.

The details of the assault are absolutely horrific. But I’ve read accounts that he was raped and held captive for a period of time. Whatever happened traumatized him deeply. All the signs are there to see; striking out in an abusive manner toward his parents and girlfriend is telling. And the continued drug use was likely just a way of self-medicating. It’s a shame he didn’t get the help he needed. All of this but his artistic vision remained. As is if only part of himself that was left functioning was his music and ability to create. I’ve heard some of the Penny Arcade recordings; and they are surprisingly good. They remind me of the music that Michael Nesmith was creating around this period. Country-rock oriented and very likable. I’m always surprised I don’t hear his name mentioned more often among those that seek out outsider music or whatever. Thanks for watching. Cheers.

It’s interesting the way Smith’s career turned out so tragically. Going on the “so called” hippie trail was a breaking point. Whatever happened to him damaged him so badly that he wasn’t able to move forward. Lots of different scenarios about what happened have come out of that trip. He was assaulted and hurt or even raped. The details are just horrific. He was also alone and doing a lot of psychedelic drugs which likely didn’t help. But the two albums are really wonderful. And his talent is so obvious to anyone willing to listen. Thanks for watching. Cheers. Shawn

Hey brother. You must have the German pressing which I think goes for a bit of money. I read the same as you; that Smith was raped while on the Hippie Trail. And was left severely traumatized. It’s a sad story for a talented man. But he left us with two surprisingly strong records. Very unique and they remind me just a little bit of Syd Barrett. In the sense of feeling fragile and broken inside. Cheers!

I’ve been enjoying posting on Instagram more often. But I need to get back to videos. This Craig Smith album is a special album. Much stronger then you may expect. You can find clips of the record on RUclips if you’re interested. Cheers

@@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084 I did listen to it recently. Good stuff. I’m not particularly active on IG/FB etc Shawn. But I might check it out bc it’s you. Are you under the same name on IG ?

@@Grooverski Yes. Same - The_Vinyl_Dream_Scape. It's enjoyable posting on IG. I have a Facebook account but I stay off that. But I like to do a little writing or review or summary of an album on IG. Just a few thoughts. In the past I did a little amateur writing. And i was a grant writer at one point too. I'm not particularly good but i enjoy it. It's a creative outlet that i think is healthy. Be well, my friend. Enjoy the weekend. Shawn

@@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084 I’ll definitely check it out Shawn. Surely I’ll enjoy your writing and takes on various artist and music. Really looking forward to it. 👍🏻👏🏻