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Hi Sorry Staters. Thanks for giving five minutes of your time to check in with us. It really is appreciated. It can sometimes feel like shouting into a tornado trying to write these things and connect with you all, but we know you love music so there’s always a chance that something one of us talks about will resonate with some of you. LoL. That’s our hope. Horses for courses and to each their own etc. etc. I’m very grateful to have this opportunity to evangelize over music and stuff without there being any rules or requirements to plug certain things. God bless Doctor D for creating this for us and for all of you past, present and future who are a part of it. It is special.
Not that any of us wants to turn our section of the newsletter to their personal diary, but we try to be honest here and tell you what’s going on with us and how that it is influencing our listening for that moment. I know I do, and I apologize if that annoys anyone. I missed last week’s newsletter because the last of my kitty cats passed away, which was a crushing loss for me. I have had a cat or four in the home for the past twenty-five plus years, and to be without one is horrible for me. It’s been a tough week, but made better by a mid-week punk show that was cool and some kind comments received from a couple of friends that missed me in the newsletter. That was nice and ties in with what I was trying to say before. Cheers for that.
Anyway, for this week because I was in sad boy mode, a loner folk record from the early 70s connected with me, and so I’ll quickly talk about that one and another record from the early 80s, this time that is a much punkier affair. Both though are private press records, and one offs, which is what connects them. Kinda cool.
Reid Abrams: A Speck Of Time. 1972. Abrams Music Association
This one came into the store during the week and was the only half interesting record in a pile of dusty bargain bin classic rock and pop fodder that I wasn’t really interested in buying, but for a buck a piece we can just about make it work. The Reid Abrams stood out amongst the rest as being worthy of a closer inspection. It wasn’t in top shape, but I’ve seen enough old private press loner and acid folk records to know that it might be something. Turns out I was sort of right. The record is somewhat collectable, and people have paid more than $50 for a nice copy, but $35 seems a more realistic price. I gave this copy a clean and took it home to listen to.
It’s a mixture of acoustic guitar instrumentals and vocal tracks that range somewhere between Neil Young and Nick Drake, with a dash of John Fahey and Bert Jansch for good measure.
Reid Abrams was American and from Denver but was clearly into the UK folkies of the time. If that kind of stuff is in your bag, then you would probably enjoy A Speck Of Time.
There isn’t too much information out there on the music career of Reid Abrams, but apparently he went on to become a top orthopedic surgeon. He was approached by a record dealer once who was informed that the record was a one-off private press on his own label in a run of three hundred. He recorded it as a teenager and it was his only record.
On a couple of the songs, he is backed with a second guitar and vocals from a fellow called Marc McKinnon, who also wrote the lyrics to one song. Otherwise, all music and lyrics are by Reid Abrams. On the title track he’s backed on vocals by an Alice Abrams. Not sure what her relation to him is. Wife? Sister? Regardless, it’s not a bad album, with some decent songs with decent lyrics and worthy of investigation if you see it out there in the bins. My favorite song is probably the lead song called Ambivalence. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a link to that one, but here’s title track A Speck Of Time and one that features that second guitar called Mothers Never Die.
Okay, this next one is from 1982 and credited to Soldiers Of Fortune, with the fantastic title No Wimps Or Posers (It’s The American Way).
Again, a private press record, this time on Slow Death Records, created for the band and this release. Also, a one off as far as I can tell. There’s not too much I can tell you about these guys as the internet didn’t turn up a lot. Perhaps one of you reading knows. My guess is they were from Southern California, but I could be way off. The record is a five track E.P., ranging from Dead Kennedys style punk to Cramps like psychobilly. There’s also some New Wave Talking Heads influence in there. That cross section might not be to everyone’s taste, but I like DKs and The Cramps, and I liked this record. Not going to change your life, but still cool and a good listen.
Funny thing about this particular record is that it was sent to us as packing material for another record free of charge. That was cool. It wasn’t in top condition, but still definitely playable ,and when we looked it up and saw that it went for $15-20, Jeff ended up putting it out for a few bucks. It didn’t sell, so I took it home ‘cos I liked it and played the song American Dream on Worldy this week. So there. Ha ha. This one’s not on YouTube either and I don’t run a channel to upload it, so no link but keep an eye out for it or ask a friend to play it for you.
Okay, that’s all for now. We have a busy week ahead. It’s Record Store Day this coming Saturday and we’ll be preparing for that. Our list is up on our website. Personally, there are a few things I think are cool. Have a great one wherever you are and perhaps we’ll see some of you come through Sorry State on the day.
Cheers - Dom
R.I.P. Clem Burke