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Record Store Day 2025 at Casbah Records!
Hello everyone! It’s that time of year again…
Casbah Records is pleased to participate in the 2025 edition of RECORD STORE DAY UK!
We will open bright and early at 9am for all you pop pickers!
As with RSD rules, we operate on a first-come-first-served basis and are unable to reserve any releases in advance. Our advice is to come down early, join the orderly (and friendly!) queue, and enjoy the good vibes!
*We highly recommend that you write a list of RSD titles you would like in advance of your visit, ready to hand over to us at the counter so that we can get these together for you asap!
Please see below for the list of titles that we will have in store this year!
~ RSD 2025 at Casbah Records – list of titles available ~
13th Floor Elevators, The, Live Houston Music Theatre ’67, 2LP
A Day To Remember, Attack Of The Killer B-Sides 10”
A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory 2LP
a-ha, Hunting High and Low – The 1984 demos LP
Adam Ant, Prince Charming LP
Air, MOON SAFARI – LIVE & DEMOS 12″
Alan Parsons Project, The, I Robot (Work In Progress) LP
Alberto Baldan Bembo, OST: Nuda per Satana OST LP
Alessandroni E Il Suo Complesso, L’Ora Del Cocktail LP
Alex Chilton, Set 12″
Alison Moyet, Hometime LP
Anderson .Paak, Come Down – Single 7″
Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfa, Black Orpheus, LP
Anton Garcia Abril and M. Giombini, ‘4..3..2..1…Morte OST’ LP
Art of Noise, Impressions of For+ever—&The Making of Moments in Love LP
Barbara Moore, A Little Moore Barbara LP
Bartley, Charlene, Weekend Of A Private Secretary, The LP
Beabadoobee, Live & Acoustic In London 12”
Belly, King (30th Anniversary Edition) LP (Green Vinyl)
Bill Evans, Further Ahead: Live in Finland 1964-1969 2LP
Black Sabbath, The Eternal Idol LP
Black Stone Cherry, This is Black Stone Cherry’s RSD album. The band really likes it. LP
Black Stone Cherry, This is Black Stone Cherry’s RSD album. The band really likes it. CD
Blancmange, Everything is Connected Too LP
Bloc Party, Little Thoughts EP LP
Bluey, Burger Dog / Bluey Theme Tune (Burger Dog Version) 7″ picture disc (RSD 2025) 7″
Blur, The Magic Whip LP
Boomtown Rats, The, Dawn of the Rats: B-Sides Demos And Live 19751979 LP Green
Boys Wonder, Be Reasonable… 10″
Brooklyn People, Peace and Love/ Wreck 7”
Carla Thomas, Sweet Sweetheart LP Translucent Blue
Celia Cruz & Willie Colón, Only They Could Have Made This Album LP
Charlatans, The, The Only One I Know 12″
Charlatans, The, Wonderland (Deluxe) 2LP (Red & White)
Charles Mingus, In Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts 3LP
Charles Mingus, Mingus at Monterey, 2LP
Charli XCX, Number One Angel LP Red Vinyl
Charli XCX & Billie Eilish, Guess featuring billie Eilish 7″ Black Vinyl
Charlie Byrd, Jazz ‘n’ Samba LP
Charlie Parker, Parker’s Mood LP
CHVRCHES, Every Open Eye (10 Year Anniversary Special Version) 2LP Translucent Blue Vinyl
Cimarons, The, On The Rock, LP
Cissy Houston, Legacy, 2LP
Colourfield, The, Virgins & Philistines [40th Anniversary Edition] 2LP
Confidence Man, 4AM (LA LA LA) 12″ Magenta Coloured vinyl
Cop Shoot Cop, Consumer Revolt LP
Coral, The, B Sides Vol.1 2LP
Cowboy Junkies, More Acoustic Junk LP (Yellow Vinyl)
Crissy Zebby Tembo and Ngozi Family, ‘I’m Not Made Of Iron’ LP
Cure, The, Alone (Four Tet Remix) 12”
Cure, The, The Head On The Door LP Picture Disc
Cypress Hill, Live At The Fillmore 2LP
Dana Gillespie, Box of Surprises LP
Dannii Minogue, Neon Nights Remixed LP
Dark Globe ft. Boy George, MIND YOUR OWN EXISTENCE 12”
Dave Clarke, Devils Advocate LP
Dave Stewart, Dave Does Dylan LP
David Bowie, Ready, Set, Go! (Live, Riverside Studios ’03) 2LP
David Bowie, Ready, Set, Go! (Live, Riverside Studios ’03) CD
David Gilmour, Between Two Points Remixes 12″
David Sylvian, Camphor II 2LP Translucent White
De La Soul, Bigger / Respect 2X7”
Dead Or Alive, Youthquake Remixes (140g Translucent Blue vinyl) (RSD 2025) LP
Deicide, Once Upon the Cross (Limited 30th Anniversary “Autobots” Vinyl Edition) LP
Dinosaur Jr, Guess I’ll Crawl (Live In Santa Monica) 12″
Doc Pomus, The Elvis Demos 2LP Orange Vinyl
Doctor Who, The Tenth Planet (140g White and Silver vinyl) (RSD 2025) 2LP
Dolores O’Riordan, No Baggage LP
Don Cherry, Orient, 2LP
Doors, The, Strange Days 1967 – A Work In Progress LP
Doves, Cally/Lean Into The Wind 10″ Red
Dream Syndicate, The, Sketches for Out of the Grey LP
Duran Duran, Danse Macabre: De Luxe Bonus LP LP
Dusty Springfield, Reputation LP
Elton John, Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper LP Black
Elvis Presley, ‘Elvis 1960: Everybody’s Got The Fever’ 3LP
Elvis Presley, ‘Just For Old Time Sake – Sings Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett’ LP
Emmylou Harris, Spyboy, 2LP
English Teacher, R&B 7″
Eurythmics, Be Yourself Tonight LP
Everything Everything, Get To Heaven (The B-Sides) 12″
Fall, The, Country On The Click (The Complete Collector’s Edition) 12″
Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra, Black Sun (Joaquin Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythm Remixes) 12″
Feet, CAN’T GET IN/CHANGING MY MIND AGAIN 7”
Fields of the Nephilim, Fallen 2LP
Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac LP
Flying Lotus, Spirit Box LP
Frank Turner, Positive Songs For Negative People (10th Anniversary Edition) 2LP (Red & Blue)
Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Live at KEXP 12″
Freddie Hubbard, On Fire: Live from the Blue Morocco 3LP
Free Nationals, Free Nationals (Instrumentals) 2LP
Futureheads, The, RANT LP
George Harrison, All Things Must Pass 3LP
Gerry Mulligan and Thelonious Monk, Mulligan Meets Monk (MONO) LP
Gil Scott-Heron, Moving Target LP
Gloria Jones, Vixen LP
Gloria Jones, Tainted Love/ My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home, 7”
Goat & Graveyard, a ship of fools/light as a feather 7”
Goblin, OST: L’altro Inferno/The other Hell LP
Golden Dawn, The, Power Plant, LP
Gorillaz, Demon Days Live From the Apollo Theater 2LP
Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, ‘Barafundle’ LP
Gotan Project, INSPIRACIÓN ESPIRACIÓN (20TH ANNIVERSARY) LP
Gracie Abrams, Live From Radio City Music Hall 2LP
Grateful Dead, On A Porch – Vol 1 LP
Grateful Dead, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 6/14/76 5LP
Griff, Live From Alexandra Palace LP
Half Japanese, Fire in the Sky LP
Harvey Mandel, The Snake LP
Heronimus Fin, This Place Has Changed LP
Hindu Love Gods, Hindu Love Gods LP
Hives, The, Tyrannosaurus Hives 1LP (Gold & White)
House of Love, The House Of Love 12″
Howe Gelb, The Listener LP
Ice – T, Power Rarities, LP
Idris Ackamoor, Rhodessa Jones, Danny Glover, ARTISTIC BEING 2LP
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Keep Me In Mind Sweetheart EP
Jackie DeShannon, Love Forever — Demo Recordings 1966-1967 LP
Jamie T, Carry On The Grudge LP
Jamiroquai, Funk Odyssey 2LP
Jayhawks, The, Blue Earth LP + 7″
Jeff Bridges, Slow Magic, 1977-1978 LP
Jesus & The Mary Chain, The, > 45s > 84 > 85 < LP
Jesus Lizard, The, Flux 12″
Jethro Tull, Songs From The Vault LP
Joe Smooth, Promised Land LP
John & Yoko Ono, The Plastic Ono Band, Elephant’s Memory, Power To The People – Live at the One To One Concert, New York City, 1972 12″ Yellow
John Legend, Get Lifted LP
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Plays John Mayall (Live)-60th Anniversary Edition LP
John Williams, Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (OST) 2LP
John Williams, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (OST) 2LP
John Williams, Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (OST) 2LP
Johnny Marr, Look Out Live! LP
Joni Mitchell, US Tour Live 1976 3LP
Judas Priest, Live in Atlanta ’82 2LP
Kasabian, Kasabian 2LP
Katherine Priddy, Live at Union Chapel 2LP (Purple vinyl with etching on side D)
Keane, Live From Mexico City 2024 LP (Green and White splatter vinyl)
Keith Richards & The XPensive Winos, Live 3.10.22 LP
Kenny Dorham, Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from the Blue Morocco 2LP
Kim Wilde, Closer – The Exclusive RSD Mixes 10″
Laufey, A Night At The Symphony: Hollywood Bowl 2LP
Laura Nyro, Angel In The Dark LP
Lemonheads, The, Lemonheads in Dreamland LP
Liam Gallagher, Acoustic Sessions LP Silver & Blue Vinyl
Lianne La Havas, Is Your Love Big Enough LP Pink & Blue Vinyl
Liminanas, The, Extra Faded LP
Logic / Quentin Harris, ‘Strictly Tuff Jam’ 12″
Lou Reed, Metal Machine Music 2LP
Lou Reed, John Cale and Nico, ‘Live at Bataclan, 1972’ 2LP
Madness, Take Cover! LP – Red Translucent
Magma, Slag tanz 12″
Marianne Faithfull, Burning Moonlight 12″
Mario Migliardi, ‘A Come Andromeda OST’ LP
Mark Knopfler, One Take Radio Sessions LP
Melanie C, Reason LP
MEMORIALS, Another Waterslide/ Memorial Bells 7″
Men They Couldn’t Hang, The, The Cherry Red Jukebox LP
Michael Chapman, Who’s This Yorkshire Guy? (Live In Brighton, 2015) LP
Michael Kiwanuka, Floating Parade 7″
Mike Bloomfield, Guitar King! (The Norman Dayron Sessions) LP
Miles Davis Quintet, At The Kurhaus LP
Mission, The, Neverland (30th Anniversary Edition) 2LP
MJ Lenderman, And The Wind (Live and Loose!) 2LP
Mojo Men, The, Dance With Me: The Autumn Singles – produced by Sly Stone, LP
Moody Blues, Boulevard de Madeleine – The Denny Cordell sessions 1966 12″
Morbid Angel, Domination LP
Morphine, Bootleg Detroit LP
Motley Crue, Smokin’ In The Boys Room / Home Sweet Home – 40th Anniversary LP
Motorhead, The Lost Tapes Vol.6 (Live In Berlin 1992) 2LP
National Health, National Health, LP
Neil Finn, Sessions at West 54th Street 2LP
Nektar , Remember the Future (50th anniversary remix) 12″
Neurotic Outsiders, Neurotic Outsiders 2LP
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Outdoor Safari LP
Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets, Echoes (Live) 12″
Oasis, Time Flies… 1994 – 2009 LP Box
Olivia Dean, With love 10″
OMD, Peel Sessions 1979-1983 LP Black
OST / London Music Works, OST: Stranger Things 7″
Pale Saints, Slow Buildings (30th Anniversary Re:Masters) 2LP (Petrol Blue Vinyl)
Panda Bear & Cass McCombs, Venom’s In 7″
Passengers, Original Soundtracks 1 (30th Anniversary Remastered Edition) 2LP Recycled Black Vinyl
Patrick Doyle, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (OST) 2LP
Paul Hardcastle, Paul Hardcastle [40th Anniversary Edition] LP
Pete Shelley, Yesterday Is Not Here: Radio Sessions 1979 – 1983 LP
Peter Gabriel, OVO – Half Speed Master 2LP
Pharoah Sanders, Iziohi Zam (My Gifts) LP
Phil Pratt, Star Wars Dub LP
Pixies, Bossanova / Trompe Le Monde Live 2LP
Poly Styrene, Flower Aeroplane LP
POND, The Early Years: 2008 – 2010 2LP
Post Malone, Post Malone Tribute to Nirvana LP Yellow
Prince, Live At Glam Slam 3LP
Prince Jazzbo, Black Heart Man – Bushay Collection 1974-1979, LP
Propaganda, p:Machinery – the αlpha:βeta definition LP
Public Image Ltd, Public Image – First Issue (Alternative US mix) LP
Queen, De Lane Lea Demos LP
Rage Against The Machine, Live on Tour 1993 LP
Rain Parade, Crashing Dream Revisited (Deluxe) 2LP
Ramones, Loco Live 2LP
Replacements, The, Tim 2LP
Residents, The, Leftovers Again Volume 3 12″
Richard Last Group, OST: Get Ready LP
Roger Waters, The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux (Live) LP (Neon Pink Vinyl)
Rolling Stones, The, Out of Our Heads (US version) LP Clear Vinyl
Romolo Grano, ‘Arcana OST’ LP
Ronnie Wood, Live at Electric Ladyland LP
Royel Otis, Nashville Sessions 10″
Ry Cooder, The Main Point – Live 1972 LP
Sabrina Malheiros, Equilibria LP
Saints, The, Paralytic Tonight, Dublin Tomorrow LP
Sam & Dave, Soul Study: The Nashville Sessions, 2LP
Sam Fender, Me and The Dog EP 12″
Sam Smith, BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall 2LP
Savoy Brown, Hellbound Train LP Purple & White Marble
Saxon, Wheels Of Steel 2LP
Scott Weiland, “I Know It’s Too Late / Missing Cleveland (Live)” 7″
Sexwitch, Sexwitch LP
Shakespears Sister, Black Sky 12″
Shane MacGowan & Sinead O’Connor, Haunted 12″ Single
Shed Seven, Shed Seven – The Covers LP
Sister Nancy, One Two LP
Slint, Tweez (Tweethan Mix) LP
Sly & the Family Stone, The First Family: Live At Winchester Cathedral 1967 LP
Sly Stone, The Autumn Sessions 1963-65 LP
Soft Cell, *HAPPINESS NOW COMPLETED, LP
Some Other People, VOICES IN MY HEAD LP
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sophie Ellis Bextor’s Kitchen Disco (Live at The London Palladium) 2LP
Starship, We Built This City LP
Status Quo, Live In Glasgow 27th October 1976 Night 1, 2LP
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Make Me Smile (Come Up & See Me) 7″
Stiv Bators, ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’ LP
Stone Temple Pilots, Live In New Haven 1994 2LP
Streets, The, None Of Us Are Getting Out Of This LIVE Alive 2LP
Suede, Sci-fi Lullabies Volume 2 2LP
Sugababes, Taller In More Ways LP Pink
Sugar Minott, Sugar Minott At Studio One – 20th Anniversary Edition LP
Sun Ra, Stray Voltage, 2LP
Sun Ra, NUITS DE LA FONDATION MAEGHT 6LP
Sunhouse, Crazy On The Weekend LP
Supergrass, ‘I Should Coco (30th Anniversary)’ LP
Suzi Quatro, ‘Your Mamma Won’t Like Me (50th Anniversary Edition)’ 2LP
Swell, ‘Too Many Days Without Thinking’ LP
Swell Maps, ‘The John Peel Sessions’ LP
Sword, The, ‘Warp Riders (15th Anniversary Edition)’ LP
T. Rex, ‘Bolan B-Sides’ 2LP
Tailgunner, ‘Living For real’ 2LP
Talking Heads, ‘Live On Tour ’78’ 2LP
Taylor Swift, ‘Fortnight’ 7″ white vinyl
The Killers/ Bruce Springsteen, ‘Encore at the Garden’ 12″
Thelonious Monk, ‘Live At The It Club’ 2LP
Thin Lizzy, ‘Jailbreak (Alternate Version)’ LP
Throwing Muses, ‘Live in Providence, 1992’ LP
Todd Rundgren, ‘Initiation’ 2LP
Tom Waits, ‘Get Behind the Mule (Spiritual) b/w Get Behind the Mule’ 7″
Tommy McCook and the Skatalites, Latin Goes SKA, LP
Tori Amos, ‘Diving Deep Live’ EP
Trees, ‘Fore & After’ 2LP
Van Morrison, ‘Be Just and Fear Not’ 10″
Various Artists, ‘400% Dynamite! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady, Funk and Dub in Jamaica – 25th Anniversary Special Edition’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Rumble In The Jungle – 18th Anniversary Edition’ LP
Various Artists, ‘The Virgin Suicides Deluxe (25th Anniversary Edition)’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Over The Edge OST’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Timeless Jazz Classics Volume 2’ 2LP
Various Artists, ‘Caroline Now! The Songs Of Brian Wilson And The Beach Boys’ 2LP
Various Artists, ‘Treasures Untold : A Modern 78 RPM Reader’ BOOK + CD
Various Artists, ‘Jazz Dispensary: Night Lights’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Moments: The Montreux Years Vol. 1’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Alts’n Outs’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Gilles Peterson Presents International Anthem’ 2LP
Various Artists, ‘Pop Psychédélique (Les Extras)’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Brazil 45 Boxset Vol.6’ 7” Boxset
Various Artists , ‘Soho Scene ’68 (Jazz Goes Mod)’ LP
Various Artists, ‘Instrumentals Funk and Soul-Style 1968’ LP
Various Artists, Tappa Records Showcase, LP
Vegyn, ‘Blue Moon Safari’ LP
Veronicas, The, ‘The Secret Life Of….’ LP
Verve, The, ‘Voyager 1’ LP
Vince Guaraldi Trio, ‘Jazz Impressions Of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Expanded Edition)’ LP Sky Blue
W.A.S.P., ‘The Last Command’ LP
War, ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends (Deluxe)’ 2LP
Waxahatchee, ‘Much Ado About Nothing b/w Mud’ 7″
Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio, ‘Smokin’ In Seattle: Live at the Penthouse’ LP
The Who, ‘Tommy OST’ 2LP
Wicked Movie Cast, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, ‘Wicked: The Soundtrack’ 2LP
WIR (Wire), ‘Vien’ LP
Wire, ‘Nine Sevens’ 2LP
The Wombats, ‘Glitterbug (10th Anniversary)’ LP
The Wombles, ‘Golden’ LP
Wu-Tang and Mathematics, ‘Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman: Wu-Tang, The Saga Continues Collection’ 2LP
Yes, ‘Live at the Rainbow, London, England 12/16/1972’ 3LP
Yusuf / Cat Stevens, ‘Back To Earth’ LP
~ end of list! ~
We look forward to seeing you there!
Casbah Records End Of 2024 Blog
And here it is… our final blog for the year,
below you will find an assortment of news, reviews and vintage hues!
Thank you all for your continued support throughout 2024;
We hope you’ve all had a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to keeping your record fancy tickled in the new year!
CASBAH’S RECORDS OF THE YEAR
Here we are again folk, sorting through the year’s finest releases!
After plenty of discussion and some tough choices, we’ve narrowed it down to our top ten favorites. There were some real gems released this year which we hope you enjoy! Think we’ve missed a worthy contender? Stop by and let us know!
NEW RELEASES
1. MJ Lenderman “Manning Fireworks”
Raw, honest, and full of lo-fi charm. A must-listen for fans of alt-country and slacker rock that speaks to the soul!
2. Jessica Pratt “Here In The Pitch”
The otherworldly Jessica Pratt only continues to expand, with her latest album seeing some of her best songwriting to date, delicately embraced with smooth Bossa-nova and touches of 60s pop á la Spector
Here In The Pitch is heart wrenching, an intimate slow burn that is bound to linger on and on.
3. Nala Sinephro “Endlessness”
Meditative and boundary-pushing, A swirling transcendental journey, blending lush ambient textures with elements of ethereal jazz. Hear your heart beat endlessly through Sinephro’s masterfully arpeggiated modular synths.
4. Ghost Funk Orchestra “A Trip To The Moon”
A cosmic blast of groove filled jazz and psychedelic soul. Feels like a long lost soundtrack to a film from the 1960s!
5. Kim Gordon “The Collective”
The legendary Kim Gordon returns with her second solo effort, an experimental blend of gritty, distorted noise rock with industrial trap beats.
6. Bette Smith “Good Thing”
7. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings “Woodland”
8. Geordie Greep “The New Sound”
9. Jack White “No Name”
10. Charli XCX “Brat”
Honourable Mentions!
Plantoid “Terrapath”
Lady Blackbird “Slang Spirituals”
Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding “Milton & Esperanza”
Vegyn “The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions”
Brittany Howard “What Now”
Cindy Lee “Diamond Jubilee”
Highlights from all of these releases along with other honorable mentions from the year are rounded up in the playlist linked below!
REISSUES AND COMPILATIONS
1. Juliet Lawson “Boo! The Early Recordings”
“Britain’s answer to Joni Mitchel” After 50 long years, the 1972 singer-songwriter cult classic, Boo! is finally available. See below the original artwork
2. John Cale “Paris 1919”
Delicately remastered from its original tapes, the prolific Velvet Underground co-founder revisits his baroque-pop classic Paris 1919.
3. Nico “Desertshore”
Out of print and with faulty original pressings, the year has somehow become less bleak with the re-issues of Nico’s seminal avant-garde masterpieces The Marble Index and Desertshore.
Remastered from the original analogue tapes, highlighting Nico’s everlasting visionary in tandem with John Cale’s haunting arrangements.
4. George Harrison “Living In a Material World”
5. Bob Dylan “Live 1974”
6. Barry Ryan “Rarities 1975-79”(CD Box Set)
7. Kevin Ayers “Joy of a Toy”
8. Margo Guryan “Words and Music”
9. White Noise “An Electric Storm”
10. The Radio Dept. “Lesser Matters”
VINTAGE VINYL
Below are a superb selection selection of vintage vinyl that have gracefully entered the market!
IT AND FRIENDS
In other vintage news, we have also bought in some great British underground papers, namely IT and Friends, Here’s a selection of some great period artwork and articles, along with some cheeky proposals for love!
feel curious to dig deeper into the fine print by clicking on the images!
Radio Geronimo
Radio Geronimo, as advertised in this excerpt from ‘Friends’ was one of the first independent underground radio stations, legally broadcast via Monte Carlo.
A group of serious music fans with a strong desire to bang out the sound of the underground, including everything from cosmic jazz, to progressive rock, long album tracks with minimum chat in between,
Radio Geronimo was truly groundbreaking.
In the links below you can read more about the fascinating, forgotten story of this incredibly influential station, and even listen to an archived broadcast!
CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S STILL HERE!
We still have this superb 2007 all bells and whistles copy of the. ‘Harold & Maude’ soundtrack by Cat Stevens.
Unreleased at the time, this reissue is the final word in deluxe reissues. Not only containing many hitherto unreleased Stevens songs this package just keeps on giving. Lavish gatefold sleeve, posters, book, flyers, 7″ picture sleeve single and outer obi strip. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. I’ve only ever seen this one copy!
FOR SALE!
For sale we’ve got an amazingly rare, original 1970s 8-track player, fit for a car. You’ll have to go a very long way to find one of these!
There’s no Spotify, no playlists here—just a very satisfying clunk as you push in the tape to your player.
Be the envy of your friends as the holder of this very vintage kit, enquire within!
SHOPS WE MISS
One Stop Records on London’s South Molton Street achieved legendary status in the late sixties and early 70’s as the go to place to find all the latest imports and underground music.
Frequented by many famous musicians and DJ’s such as Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, Elton John and John Peel to name a few!
Read more about this cooler than cool shop in the link below;
Casbah Records Blog: October 2024
Welcome to the all new ‘bell’s ‘a’ poppin’ Casbah ‘big Spender bulletin’.
Choc full to the brim with news, reviews and all things connected to the plastic passion!
NEWS REVIEWS AND NEW IN!
The Guardian listed us in their top record shops in the uk!
Just arrived are our new exclusive range of tote bags, inspired by vintage 70’s inner sleeve designs!
Furthermore, heres a sampler of our new selection of vintage prints!
NEW RELEASES
All Seeing Dolls – ‘Thats Amazing Grace / Siren’s Echo Lung‘
New 10” EP featuring Brian Jonestown Massacre Anton Newcombe and legendary One Dove vocalist Dot Allison. Psychedelic dream pop/shoegaze on eye catching splatter vinyl.
Thee Sacred Souls – ‘Got A Story To Tell’
Second LP from Thee Sacred Souls on the Daptone Label. For lovers of Stay/Southern soul and classic 60s soul sounds.
Highly recommended, on ‘unlimited black vinyl’.
Tucker Zimmerman & Friends – ‘Dance Of Love’
Instant classic of Americana from legendary folkie Tucker Zimmerman with the help of Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker & Buck Meek.
Public Service Broadcasting – ‘The Last Flight’
The latest offering from Public Service Broadcasting does not disappoint! The band embrace a more contemporary pop sound with vocal contributions from EERA, Andeya Casablanca and This Is The Kit. Whilst maintaining their classic sample sprinkled electronic style.
NEW VINTAGE VINYL
New Vintage Vinyl Picks
Rare and first pressings that have recently come into the shop,
Above feature;
Ayshea Brough – ‘Ayshea’ (1st pressing)
Miles Davis – ‘On the Corner’ (1st pressing)
Traffic – ‘Mr Fantasy’ (1st pressing)
Rolling Stones – ‘Sticky Fingers’ (70’s Japanese pressing)
Nico – ‘Desertshore’ (1st pressing)
Fontaines D.C. – ‘Romance’ (1st pressing)
John Martyn – ‘Solid Air’ (1st pressing)
T.Rex – ‘Tanx’ (1st pressing)
Alice Cooper – ‘Schools Out’ (1st pressing)
OUR NEW WINDOW DISPLAY
Let’s go through the window and down a rabbit hole to visit the phantasmagorical world of Alice In Wonderland, curious Victoriana and the whimsical world of English psychedelia…
The Cheshire cat and the mad hatter from the original book illustrations by John Tenniel.
Unlike the white rabbit you will never be late with this vintage time piece.
T.Shirt sporting the original Mad Hatter drawing which became the iconic label design for the Charisma record label founded in 1969. Home for the likes of Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator, String Driven Thing and Lindisfarne amongst others.
Children Of The Sun by the Sallyange. A 1968 original pressing on the Transatlantic label. Featuring the floaty vocals of Sally Oldfield and teenage kid brother Mike. Contains the epic ‘Midsummer nights happening’.
Nursery Cryme Genesis; Tales of Musical Boxes, Giant Hogweeds, Harlequins and absent friends. Complete with nightmare Alice artwork.
Kevin Ayers ‘Joy Of A Toy’. From 1069 the recently departed from Soft Machine Kevin Ayers sings a song for insane times referencing ‘Alice’ and ‘I Am The Walrus’.
The Trees ‘On The Shore’. A cult classic from 1972. English folk-rock featuring the sublime vocals of the much missed Celia Humphries.
Andwellas Dream. 3 LP box set from the Numero label. Contains the 1969 album ‘Love And Poetry’ full of excellent pop-psych fayre, the more ‘stonesy’ ‘Worlds End’ and the heavy Band influenced ‘People’s People’. All essential listening.
Magic Carpet, ‘Self Titled’. Originally released in 1972 on the wonderfully named ‘Mushroom Label, this album has remained a hard to find cult classic. Now reissued for everyone to enjoy the acoustic sitar tinged songs of Alisha Sufit.
Caravan ‘In The Land Of Grey And Pink’. A jolly piece of pure English whimsical rock from the Canterbury scene’s main standard bearers.
CANT BELIEVE ITS STILL HERE!
| Sammy Davis Jr ‘Something For Everyone. Tamla Motown 1969. Sometimes records you think should be in demand and flying out the door can remain unloved and unsold! This 1969 album from U’S superstar and rat packer Sammy Davis is one such example. Recorded on Tamla Motown it was in keeping with the trend for mainstream artists who were struggling to stay relevant with the onset of the rock revolution to as they say, ‘get with it’ dress up in some hip gear and record some current pop songs. This usually resulted in mixed results but ‘Something For Everyone’ is a little nugget of an album. Loose and funky Davis is in his element. There’s brilliant versions of Blood sweat And Tears standards, ‘Spinning Wheel’ and ‘You Made Me So Very Happy’ plus an absolute epic take on Stevie’s ‘Once In My Life, which refuses to end. The sleeve art says it all, the front showing Sammy surrounded by the then west coast Motown staff looking like ‘the daddy’ and on the back again in the middle of some groovy young swinging types with a two piece check number to die for. We have it so give it a good home. |
Also worth exploring is the Bob Stanley compilation ‘State Of The Union’ which explores the theme of American mainstream break out pop from the late sixties. Also in stock now.
THE NUMERO GROUP
One of our favourite labels at the moment is the Chicago based Numero Group. Founded in 2003, the archival record label has built a superb reputation and following based on their prolific range of compilations and reissues of overlooked and forgotten original albums. These range from funk and soul, to folk and 90s indie and shoe-gaze.
They recently filled a pop up shop in Shoreditch with their extensive range of LPs and 7”s, along with an exclusive range of merchandise such as tees, totes, pins and lighters. The pop up also included some rare hand-screened editions, out of print dead stock and test pressings, with Crouch End’s Audio gold taking care of the Hi Fi sound system for the duration of the stay. The duo hosting the store were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable making for a lively and sociable atmosphere.
On my visit I picked up two of my favourite albums, Antena’s ‘Camino Del Sol’ and Chuck Senrick’s ‘Dreamin.’
Camino Del Sol – Antena
An expanded compilation album based on the original 1982 mini album, released by the French-Belgian trio Antena. Chilling synths, stuttering drums, and dreamy, beachy vocals, Camino Del Sol plays as a modern bossanova album, combining elements of post punk and new wave. An incredibly evocative album predating the likes of Stereolab and Air. As if Nouvelle Vague wrote their own songs!
What a Beautiful Place – Catherine Howe
Limited edition reissue of long forgotten gem from 1971. Bittersweet, soft and jazzy folk classic!
Recommended listen for fans of the likes of Vashti Bunyan and Linda Perhacs.
Basement Beehive (The Girl Group Underground)
One of the best girl group compilations ever!
Stellar girl group gems, if you like the Shangri-la’s and the Ronettes you’ll love this!
Eccentric Soul Minibus
An essential soul and funk compilation, gathering together some obscure gems from 1960 right up to 1980. Amazing artwork and booklet inside, get on the groove bus!
CHRIS WELLARD
Whilst going down various vintage record shop rabbit holes I found out that Chris Wellard who founded the record shop in Lewisham Way near Goldsmiths had passed away in 2022 well into his nineties. I used to shop at his other branch in Eltham during lunch breaks and after school in the early 70’s. I met Chris a few years back when he was parting with some of his blues and folks records. Great bloke with some wonderful stories.
See these blogs for more on the record shops and the connection with the Goldsmiths Student Union, who booked many famous artists and a few years back opened their incredible archive of original posters, flyers etc to the public.
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| This exclusive monthly mail-out gives you a glimpse into our wonderful world. Expect to find Casbah Records insights into rare vinyl gems, under-the-radar records and everything music-related that we love! |
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| Casbah Records of the Year! |
| Its that time of the year again where we spend many many hours debating the best of the year’s releases! Tough decisions were made to whittle the list down to our top ten, but we love all of these records and hope you do too. Think we’ve missed anything out? Come in and let us know your thoughts! |
| New Releases: |
 ️ 1. Jaime Wyatt “Feel Good” New Country Rock par excellence, evoking the spirit of Bobbie Gentry in her prime! |
️ 2. Julie Byrne “The Greater Wings” A heartfelt and meditative album of alt-folk intensity. Byrne’s exquisite poetic lyricism matches the dynamism of synth and guitar instrumentation. A beautiful record! |
 ️ 3. King Krule “Space Heavy” A stellar fourth album of sludgy, jazzy alt-rock from the one and only! |
️ 4. The Tubs “Dead Meat” Catchy, spirited DIY folk-tinged rock, reminiscent of jangly Jam melodies crossed with folky Fairport-esque vocal prowess! |
 ️5. Peter Gabriel “i/o” The second coming of the archangel! Twenty years in the making but worth the wait. |
 ️ 6. Corinne Bailey Rae “Black Rainbows”️ 7. H Hawkline “Milk For Flowers”️ 8. Gabriel da Rosa “É O Que A Casa Oferece”️ 9. Cut Worms “Cut Worms”️ 10. John Francis Flynn “Look Over The Wall, See The Sky” Honourable Mentions!️ Cat Stevens “King Of A Land”️ Jalen Ngonda “Come Around and Love Me”️ Garden Centre “Searching For A Stream”️ Rolling Stones “Hackney Diamonds”️ Yussef Dayes “Black Classical Music”️ Green Lung “Heathen Land” |
| Reissues and Compilations: |
 ️ 1. Gal Costa “India” Classic of the Tropicalia era! Banned in Brazil at the time of release, which means it must be good! |
️ 2. Mandy Morton and Spriguns “Magic Lady” Timely reissue of this impossibly rare private pressing from 1978! The title track is a tribute to Sandy Denny, plus tales of witches, lost loves, and folklore. |
 ️ 3. Mellow Candle “Swaddling Songs” One of the all-time holy grails of acid-folk! If you don’t want to pay £2,500 for an original, this will certainly fill the void. |
| ️ 4. Karen Dalton “In My Own Time”️ 5. The Beatles “1962-1966” and “1967-1970”️ 6. Kings Go Forth “The Outsiders Are Back”️ 7. The Vaselines “The Way Of The Vaselines”️ 8. Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs “Incident At A Free Festival”️ 9. “Hidden Treasures: Strange and Sublime Sounds Of Rio De Janeiro” (Mr Bongo)️ 10. Heatmiser “The Music Of Heatmiser” |
| Casbah Music Book of the Year: Beware of The Bull: The Enigmatic Genius of Jake Thackray by Paul Thompson and John Paterson Those of a certain age may remember Jake Thackray primarily for his celebrated performances on the late 60s TV show The Bernard Braden Show. His hangdog expression, coupled with his witty and sometimes risqué lyrics always had my parents chuckling away. I wasn’t always sure what the joke was but I knew there was something magical and unique in the world of Jake Thackray. He was a bit folky, a bit jazzy, charismatic, and impossible to put in a musical box! In recent times his music has undergone a rediscovery, no doubt helped by musical luminaries and fellow Yorkshiremen Jarvis Cocker and Alex Turner dropping his name as an influence on their own work. This exhaustive biography from Paul Thompson and John Waterson will further his reputation and hopefully bring him new fans that he so readily deserves. The book leaves no stone unturned in telling Thackray’s story: from strict Catholic upbringing in post war Yorkshire to Durham university, various teaching jobs, travels through France and Algeria where he acquired not only a second language but a love of French ‘Chanson’ and in particular singer-songwriter George Brassens, and then on to huge success on local northern radio shows, the BBC, and his aforementioned weekly TV slots on The Bernard Braden Show. He recorded albums at Abbey Road, where he rubbed shoulders with The Beatles (John in particular was a big fan). It looked like nothing could stop him, until he finally began to realize that the life of a celebrity was not for him. He preferred the simple life and pretty much turned his back on fame and fortune. The writers had full access to Thackray’s family archives and there are a wealth of rare photos, unpublished lyrics and poems—all of which get the reader as close as you’re likely to get to understanding this much missed “enigmatic genius”. |
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| Music Film of the Year:They Shot The Piano Player, directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier MariscalFabulous animated film telling the story of the disappearance and presumed murder of Brazilian pianist Francisco Tenorio Junior. The film begins with an American journalist, voiced by Jeff Goldblum, researching Bossa Nova music for his book. His fascination with Tenorio leads him to Brazil, where he talks to everyone who knew him and tries to discover what actually happened in 1976. Including interviews with fellow Brazilian musicians such as Joao Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Vinicius De Moraes, it’s a sad but beautiful film with a superb soundtrack of Bossa Nova music (which we would love to see released!). |
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Read on for Libby’s fascinating gig diary, looking back over some stellar concerts from this year! Stereolab, Electric Brixton, 18th November Stereolab never fails to amaze,returning to London with a warm, vibrant and intimate performance at theElectric Brixton. Their setlist covers their extensive discography, taking youthrough the different directions of their notable career; peacefully starting withthe calm dreamy ‘come and play in the milky night’, transitioning into classicsongs from their jazzy and lounge inspired ‘Dots and Loops’, the epic track ‘Refractions in the Plastic Pulse’ being a highlight of the night. Laetitia Sadier was endearing, engaging with the audience throughout the show, evenmaking a toast to the lovers in the audience before playing the sensual ‘Pack Yr Romantic Mind’. Stereolab ended the night on an intense high with a lengthy encore, performing a montage of tracks including French disco. Noisy, shoegaze, psychedelic bliss! Slowdive, The Troxy, 3rd November Shoegaze legends Slowdive return with a tour across the UK, Ireland and North America following their most recent release Everything Is Alive. The performance was visually and sonically engulfing, with the psychedelic visuals behind the band perfectly matching the intense noisy wall of sound. Although I was standing at the front of the stage, I did not feel as much damage to my ears as I was anticipating, despite the extreme volume. Playing tracks from across the band’s entire discography, I found that the material of their two most recent albums particularly shined. Slowdive’s more refined, electronically textured sound, showcases their influence over modern dream pop and indie bands.   Bar Italia, Rough Trade East, 6th October Bar Italia delivered an effortlessly cool, detached yet engaging performance at the intimate Rough Trade East, following the release of their latest album The Twits. Bar Italia are best seen at a small venue, with their laid back, British sludgy guitar riffs and icy demeanour. Nina is a strong frontwoman, taking center stage with a subtle yet powerful, sultry stage presence. Cortex, Jazz Cafe, 21st July Original members of the French Jazz-funk band Cortex perform their legendary album Troupeau Bleu at the iconic Jazz Cafe in Camden. This concert felt special in the intimate venue, the band traveling from mystic dreamy ballads, to energetic jazz improvisations, lead by none other than Alain Mion on keys. Troupeau Bleu revolutionised two musical worlds, sampled in a significant amount of hip hop, most notably utilized by the likes of MF Doom, Tyler the Creator, Madlib and J Dilla. This was overall a breathtaking and heart warming performance.   King Krule, Pryzm Kingston, 15th June Celebrating the release of his latest album Space Heavy, King Krule gave a raw and passionate performance in the intimate Pryzm venue in Kingston. Atmospheric and vulnerable, Archy’s latest album sees him continue to mature and evolve as an artist. This was definitely the sweatiest concert I had been to this year however, with mass moshing in the audience—especially to the more energetic songs like ‘Stoned Again’. Moments like these were complemented with softer tracks such as ‘Seaforth’. With tickets selling out almost instantly, there was a strong hardcore audience and appreciation present. Copyright (C) 2023 Casbah Records. All rights reserved. www.casbahrecords.co.uk Our mailing address is: shop@casbahrecords.co.uk |
Read on for G’s latest fascinating finds from the World Wide Web!
CULT CLASSIC: ‘MAGIC LADY’ MANDY MORTON & SPRIGUNS
Every now and again you stumble on an album that’s so good that, once discovered, you have to ask yourself “where has this been all my life and why didn’t I know about it?” In this instance, I’m referring to ‘Magic Lady’ by Mandy Morton & Spriguns. As a teenager growing up in the 70s, I was drawn to the folk rock of Fairport Convention, Pentangle, John Martyn etc and then, later on, to all sorts of underground gems by the likes of The Trees, Mellow Candle, Vashti Bunyan, and of course the fabulously named Spriguns Of Tolgus. However, for some reason this album that came out in 1978 eluded my attention. Maybe because New Wave and punk bands were so all-consuming that my attention to what was happening in the folk world had wavered somewhat. Another reason may have been that, as it was a private pressing on the Banshee label and only 1000 copies were pressed, there would have been little chance of this making it into the racks of my local record shop—or even the main chains of the time. Little or no music press coverage meant that this definitely slipped under my musical radar.
My interest was eventually piqued by an online listing for an impossible amount of money—we’re talking Declan Rice transferring to Arsenal proportions here (well, not quite!). Also, I discovered that the title track was dedicated to Sandy Denny, who had very sadly passed away a year before. For a private pressing it’s an amazingly commercial sounding record, lyrically compelling and with a bountiful supply of memorable melodies. ‘Music Prince’ could have been a chart hit given its hooks and the esoteric nature of the top 30 in 1978. The title track as already mentioned is a touching tribute to Mandy’s heroine Sandy Denny and sets the tone for the whole album. There’s a classic stunning ballad called ‘Ghost Of A Song’ that echo’s Denny’s timeless ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes’ and the spine tingling ‘Witchfinder’ would surely have unnerved Vincent Price’s loathsome Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) enough to send him running back to whatever Puritan hellhole he came from!
If you don’t have the best part of a grand to stump up for an original copy, you’ll be happy to hear that the Guerson label will be reissuing it on vinyl in July and it’s also currently available on the ‘After The Storm’ Mandy Morton CD box set (via the Grapefruit label) from this very boutique. The vinyl reissue will be available to pre-order from us as well!
Clink the link here for more about Mandy’s early life—she’s a Beatles fan as well and she worked in a psychedelic boutique in Cambridge (could it be any more perfect?)—the genesis of the album, her inspirations and the idea behind the striking artwork.
Praise Yourselves
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS WHO MADE IT DOWN TO THE SHOP YESTERDAY AND FOR ALL THE GOOD LUCK MESSAGES. ANOTHER WINNER, IN FACT ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE WE’VE EVER DONE. MASSIVE THANKS TO THE FAB CHIARA FOR BRINGING US SOME GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE QUIZ WINNER; IN CASE ANYONE WAS WONDERING THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WAS; ‘GIVE THE ANARCHIST A CIGARETTE’. WE MANAGED TO RAISE £200 FOR OUR TWO GOOD CAUSES. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT A TICKET. LETS HOPE NEXT YEAR WILL BE BIGGER AND BETTER
‘Missed by the Masses’: Susan James, ‘Sea Glass’
Recorded in 2015 then reissued on vinyl in 2019, Susan James’s ‘Sea Glass’ is a Californian peach of a record which hasn’t reached the audience it deserves. James teamed up with High Llama Sean O’Hagan to help with the musical vision and arrangements and together they produced an absolute gem of a record. Susan herself calls the style a “California hybrid of melodic psychedelic folk rock” and that’s spot on! From the opening track ‘Poseidon’s Daughter’ to ‘Hey Julianne’ we’re treated to some beautiful lilting melodies set against a subtle orchestrated backdrop that I’m sure Brian Wilson would be very happy with. Echoes of The Free Design, The Poppy Family, Laura Nyro and the Beach Boys abound throughout and the harmonies and instrumentation are reminiscent of late 60’s Californian sunshine pop. There’s a limited aquamarine coloured vinyl out there at the moment and I strongly urge you to track down a copy, you won’t be disappointed!
DRACULA AD 1972: “The count is back, with an eye for London’s young blood!”
…So ran the rather lurid tag line from London’s billboards in 1972! The film was initially inspired by the story of the Highgate vampire—a media sensation of the time involving disturbed tombs and grave robbing in Highgate cemetery. Hammer films decided for Christopher Lee’s sixth and penultimate outing as the count that the franchise needed updating to the present. And so, with the help of some young fresh blood in the shapely form of upcoming starlets Stephanie Beacham, Caroline Munroe, and (straight out of ‘Hair’) Marsh Hunt, also ably assisted by Michael Kitchen and Christopher Neame, we have Dracula AD 1972!
The main thrust of the story is this: Neames character Johnny Alucard (Dracula spelled backwards) is a descendant of one of Dracula’s side-kicks from the 19th century. His mission is to bring Dracula back to life and in doing so gaining power and eternal life for himself. It just so happens that the group he latches onto includes Stephanie Beacham’s character Jessica—the latest in the line of Van Helsings. Alucard convinces ‘the group’ that he has a ‘new way’; ‘the ultimate kick’ to shake off this ‘tired scene, man’! …A black mass, no less, in an old abandoned church! This is where it all starts to go horribly wrong for the kids… Various members come a cropper or are ‘turned’ before Jessica’s grandfather, an expert in the occult, gets involved (played by—yes, you guessed it—Peter Cushing). Cushing knows a thing or two about tackling vampires and he soon gets on the trail of Alucard before finishing off the count in time honoured fashion.
Whilst Hammer purists at the time (and some even now) are decidedly lukewarm about the film, citing its cringe worthy use of hippie speak and blatant attempt to appeal to younger hip audience, for the student of Sixties/Seventies pop culture there’s much to enjoy here! The first scene set in the 20th century features a party with the American band Stoneground (they replaced the Faces who were first choice) playing some funky rock to the assembled ‘kids’ and some rather shocked oldies! There’s some full-on seventies gear on show: hot pants, frilly shirts, crushed velvet, floppy hats… the lot! There’s even the groovy surroundings of the Cavern coffee bar in the Kings Road where the group hang out. This was situated at 372 Kings Road and was still a café up to recent times. Alucad’s flat (72 Hollgate Place in Notting Hill), where he takes Marsha Hunts character Gaynor for some late-night action, is all 70s decadence. And then there’s the music… Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann wrote the score, a funky brass laden gem, plus you have the aforementioned Stoneground, and for the Black Mass scene the far out ‘electric storm in hell’ by Delia Derbyshire’s White Noise can be heard (on reel to reel tape, of course). Best of all though is the dialogue! Christopher Lee was appalled when he read the script and you can see why. However, watching it now there’s a certain period charm to be enjoyed, as long as you like your horror with a large helping of cheese!
Here’s a few choice examples:
Alucard to Gaynor as he puts a record on: “They were really zonked when they made this”
Gaynor: “yeah, aren’t they always”
Alucard at the black mass: “Dig the music, kids”
Van Helsing to the police inspector: “There is a satan”
Inspector: “Of course, otherwise we wouldn’t need a police force, would we?”.
Gaynor: Is this the place Johnny?”
Alucard: “Yeah, why don’t you drop in for a bite?”
The film has now reached cult status with some fairly prominent fans amongst them, notably horror writer Kim Newman and U.S. director Tim Burton. It’s what most people would describe as ‘so bad, it’s good’ and I can see that. But I adore it! It’s probably up there in my list of top ten films, not just horror films, but all-time greats. A few years ago, I managed to get my DVD copy signed by Caroline Munroe, which was a thrill and, hey, it was released on the 28th of September which is my birthday—That must mean something!
Here’s the trailer:
Casbah’s Top Four ‘Unhip’ Albums That We Love
This month sees the publication of an excellent new book entitled 100 Unhip Albums That We Should Learn to Love. Seeking to reappraise formerly ignored or derided albums, it makes the case for the unfashionable with examples from Van der Graaf Generator to David Essex, 10CC, Wings, and beyond. A refreshingly new idea, we thought, so by way of tribute, here are some of our choices ripe for critical makeover!
1. Cat Stevens – Foreigner
Upon it’s release in 1973, Foreigner was greeted by the critics with a mixture of polite indifference and outright hostility. The NME’s Roy Carr called it “one of the worst pieces of maudlin tripe pop music has had to suffer”. Harsh words indeed as, listening to it now, it has blossomed and has a great deal to offer. Four albums of mainly acoustic catchy folk-pop had set the template for success both artistically and commercially. But when Stevens announced that the next album would be recorded without regular producer Paul Samuel Smith, with sessions musicians, and in Jamaica, alarm bells began to ring! Upon its release, sales peaked and began to fall away as the new intense and serious style was not what the people were used to. Cat wasn’t quite as cuddly anymore! However, the music is played superbly by crack session players including Bernard Purdie & Phil Upchurch, and it has a free, loose, funky vibe, much in keeping with its Jamaican backdrop. Standout tracks ‘Sweet Blue Love’ and the finale, ‘Heaven Must Have Programmed You’, would have graced any of his previous works. Image result for cat stevens foreigner With the next album Buddha and the Chocolate Box, Stevens went back to the tried-and-tested set-up and with it gained the expected commercial success, but Foreigner is at least a pleasant interlude, and at best a brave artistic statement. Just for a moment, he was a honky cat that was a funky cat!
2. Linda Lewis – Woman Overboard
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When the Raft label folded in the early 70s, it left Linda Lewis high and dry and without a contract. Three albums of charming folk-soul-pop had given her a loyal following and critical acclaim but ‘Rock-a-doodle Doo’ apart, they achieved modest commercial success. So, when Arista got Lewis to sign on the dotted line, they were determined to market her as a pop-disco diva with her high vocal range as her gimmick. This meant Lewis’s own songs were pushed into the background, onto B sides, in favour of cover-versions of soul classics and newly written pop fayre. Woman Overboard was released in 1977 and was very much a compromise between Lewis and the label: plenty of silky-smooth soul, pleasant though not particularly inspiring. What it does have are three outstanding songs, all completely distinct, which makes it a must-have for fans! First up is ‘Bonfire’, written for her by ex-squeeze Cat Stevens, which sadly only just dented the top 30. Next, there’s a beautiful version of ‘The Moon and I’ from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. This girl could handle opera with the best of them, and even though it’s a slightly less formal rendition, it’s not going to cause Arthur Sullivan any swivels in his coffin! The standout for me is her version of Family’s ‘My Friend, the Sun’. It’s a sweet autumnal acoustic, a shimmering masterpiece that still gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. So if you see this album, with its sexy 70s disco diva cover, languishing in a bargain bin, do yourself a favour – liberate it and give it a home immediately!
3. Eric Clapton – There’s One in Every Crowd
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The follow-up to Eric’s bestselling comeback LP, 461 Ocean Boulevard, came as something of a disappointment to ‘Slowhand’ followers, who thought the new laidback Clapton was but a parting phase. This is about as laidback as it gets without actually falling over! After the opening two gospel-flavoured tracks, one of which, ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’, was rendered in a relaxed cod-reggae style, listeners could be forgiven for not pressing ahead with much enthusiasm. But Side 2 reveals three of Clapton’s most endearing compositions from this period: ‘Better Make it Through Today’ is a touching, heartfelt prayer to self-preservation, presumably inspired by the recent therapy and cure of his heroin addiction. Next up, ‘Pretty Blue Eyes’ and ‘High’ are vintage badge-esque melodic, bluesy pop songs that Clapton excelled at writing during the late 60s and early 70s. It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch but does contain some absolute gems and is definitely worth reinvestigation. Plus, it’s got a very cute dog on the cover…
4. Rod Stewart – Smiler
I don’t know what it is about 1974 but this seemed to be the year that established artists delivered albums that the critics dismissed as not up-to-scratch. Prime example was Rod’s Smiler. It has all the ingredients of previous smash hit sellers: ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ and ‘Never a Dull Moment’ with the (or most of the) Faces backing him up, a ‘Maggie May’/You Where it Well’-style single & co-write with Martin Quittenton in ‘Farewell’, and some cracking cover versions in Sam Cooke’s ‘You Send Me’, Berry’s ‘Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller’, the obligatory Dylan cover (which is better than the original) ‘Girl From the North Country’ and a couple of top-grade, top-mates contributions in Elton’s ‘Let Me Be Your Car’ and ‘Mine For Me’ from Sir Lord of Macca! What it also has, however, is a slightly dodgy sleeve design with Rod resplendent in his 19th-century silks and satins facing out from an antique mirror laid on top o f a tartan cloak. A bit too Scottish for most of us (especially as he was from North London…). That apart, there’s much vintage Rod to enjoy here, so ignore the sleeve art and dig in!
23rd March 2020 – Takeaway Service Compulsory!
Sad to say that for obvious reasons we now feel compelled to shut the shop as of this evening for an indefinite period (hopefully not for too long!). We will be loading as much stock as we possibly can onto our Discogs page, including new releases and plenty of new additions to our vintage vinyl as well- so please keep checking out our facebook page for our top picks! If you see anything you like then you can buy directly from our Discogs [https://www.discogs.com/user/CasbahRecords], or get in touch with us and pay by paypal or card and we will post it out to you. When the sun does rise again, we’ll see you all again in person. In the meantime, please keep buying our records, because we are nice people!
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