June 30, 2015

Barcelona ~ ¿Qué pasa en Vinçon?

Today one of the most beautiful stores in the world is closing its doors and it marks the end of an era in Barcelona.  

   
Situated on the Passeig de Gràcia, Vinçon opened its doors in 1941. Henry D. Levi and D. Hugo Vinçon founded the first store under the name, Gift Hugo Vinçon.

Vinçon was near the famous building by Antoni Gaudi, Casa Milà (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkəzə miˈɫa], Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkasa miˈla]), popularly known as La Pedrera

I loved wandering through the store, savoring the many amazing items for sale as well as the visual bombardment on my eyes. No matter what they carried, it was the height of design. I bought a few items there and enjoyed them tremendously. My favorite was a brilliantly designed olive oil dispenser, I bought several for friends as gifts in 2007 as well as the one I still enjoy to this day. 

Vinçon oil dispencer  
photo by Styrous®



Vinçon will be missed. 



Styrous® ~ Tuesday, June 30, 2015

June 28, 2015

Gay Pride Day ~ June 28, 2015











photos by Styrous®



(click on any image to see slideshow)



This particular Pride Day held a special magnitude because of the Supreme Court decision made just two days previously.  














 



 




























Styrous® ~ Sunday, June 28, 2015


June 26, 2015

20,000 Vinyl LPs 46: Zebedy Colt ~ Zebedy Sings for You & The Man I Love

Zebedy Colt ~ Zebedy Sings for You 
vinyl LP album cover
cover design: Richard Frey 
photo of cover by Styrous® 


Today, June 26, 2015, will be one of the landmark dates in the history of the United States. The Supreme Court ruled that no state can ban same sex marriages. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote, "No longer may this liberty be denied.” This is now the law of the land. I won't equate it to the many other important dates in our history; I don't need to.  

What a mind blower!

Ok, so now what do I do? Well, as I usually do, I had to commemorate this day with one of the albums from my vinyl record collection. But I have so many albums dealing with gay comedy, protest, etc., to choose from. What and which one should I use? I finally decided this was not a day for comedy or protest but for exaltation of joy and love. So, I chose Love. And what could be a better gay anthem than, The Man I Love? And no man ever sang it better than, Zebedy Colt, aka, Zebedy. There is a link to the song on YouTube below or you can hear it while you read the rest of this if you click HERE.  

Zebedy Colt ~ Zebedy Sings for You 
vinyl LP album cover back
cover design: Richard Frey 
photo of cover back by Styrous®



Zebedy was born Edward Earle Marsh on December 20, 1929. He was an American actor, musician, adult film director and star. He is principally known by his stage name Zebedy Colt.    


Zebedy
photographer unknown



Zebedy began his wild and fascinating showbiz career in childhood, acting occasionally for projects in Hollywood. His slant toward a less mainstream brand of performing began to manifest during the 1960s when he was involved in a number of outrageous, high-camp stage projects at supper clubs, bars and cafés catering to a primarily gay audience.

Gay Power - February, 1970



Subsequently, he sang on an LP with the London Philharmonic Orchestra entitled "I'll Sing For You" and used the name Zebedy Colt. This pioneer album (now a rare collector's item) is historically significant to the gay community, as the songs were torchy standards about men, intended to be sung by women. Now established as "Zebedy Colt", Marsh found entrance into the burgeoning world of hard-X cinema. The years that followed saw him as a performer and director, credited with many titles now both notorious and revered by the cult cinema fringe for their edgy and extreme subject matter. During these years he also managed to find the time to perform on the stage in several on- and off-Broadway productions, and eventually retired to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he died in 2004, a little over eleven years before the realization of his dream came true; to be able to proudly proclaim to the world about, The Man I Love.     


Someday he'll come along, The man I love
And he'll be big and strong, The man I love
And when he comes my way
I'll do my best to make him stay

He'll look at me and smile, I'll understand
Then in a little while, He'll take my hand
And though it seems absurd
I know we both won't say a word

Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,
Maybe Monday, maybe not
Still I'm sure to meet him one day
Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day

He'll build a little home, That's meant for two
From which I'll never roam, Who would, would you
And so all else above
I'm dreaming of the man I love

Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,
Maybe Monday, maybe not
Still I'm sure to meet him one day
Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day

He'll build a little home, That's meant for two
From which I'll never roam, Who would, would you
And so all else above
I'm waiting for the man I love




Zebedy Colt ~ Zebedy Sings for You 
vinyl LP label, side 1
photo by Styrous®


Zebedy Colt ~ Zebedy Sings for You 
vinyl LP label, side 2
photo by Styrous®

Tracklist:

Side 1:

1 - The Man I Love - written by George & Ira Gershwin
2 - I’m In Love With A Wonderful Guy - lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Richard Rodgers
3 - Bill - lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse, music by Jerome Kern
4 - A Sleepin' Bee - lyrics by Truman Capote, music by Harold Arlen
5 - Michael - written by  Edward Earle*
6 - Love For Sale - written by  Cole Porter

Side 2:

1 - Bewitched - lyrics by Lorenz HartMusic By – Richard Rodgers
2 - A New Year, A New Love - written by Edward Earle*
3 - Lush Life - written by Billy Strayhorn
4 - The Day To Say Goodbye - written by Edward Earle*
5 - Somewhere - written by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim

Companies etc.

    Manufactured By – Cory Sound Company – VC-3938

Barcode and Other Identifiers:

    Matrix / Runout (Side A, Handwritten & Stamped Runouts): TVC ̶E̶C̶-̶1̶0̶1̶ ̶A̶¹̶ ̶ VC-3838-A Bell Sound 5ƒ
    Matrix / Runout (Side B, Handwritten & Stamped Runouts): TVC VC-3838-B ̶E̶C̶-̶1̶0̶1̶-̶B̶¹̶ ̶ Bell Sound 5ƒ

Label: Tram Records ‎– T-5001
Format:  Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1960's
Genre: Blues, Pop
Style: Vocal, Music Hall





Net links: 

The Man I Love on YouTube    
Queer Music Heritage: The Many Sides of Zebedy Colt     
New York Times - Same-Sex Marriage a Right Nationwide       
Washington Post - What’s in the same-sex marriage ruling      
Variety - Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage             

 



I never dreamed I would see this day in my lifetime!



Styrous® ~ Friday, June 26, 2015


June 25, 2015

45 RPMs 6: Depeche Mode ~ Just Can't Get Enough 12" single

12" 45 RPM vinyl single cover
cover photo photographer unknown
photo of cover by Styrous®


~ ~ ~

I've started the Vinyl series because I have a collection of over 20,000 vinyl record albums I am selling; each blog entry is about an album from my collection. Inquire for information here.   

~ ~ ~

One of my all-time favorite pop tunes is, Just Can't Get Enough, by Depeche Mode. It was a bouncy, happy little tune that just made you feel good and it was TERRIFIC for dancing at the discos where they played this, the extended version (6 minutes and 41 seconds), which seemed to go on FOREVER; which was not a problem. The radio version is 3 minutes and 41 seconds. There is a music video of the song on YouTube (link below); watching it now, they look like babies.

The line-up for this song consisted of Dave Gahan (lead vocals, occasional songwriter since 2005), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter after 1981), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter from 1980 until 1981. 





12" 45 RPM vinyl single, cover back
back cover photo photographer unknown
photo of cover by Styrous®


Can't Get Enough was recorded during the summer of that 1981 at Blackwing Studios, and was the band's first single to be released in the United States, on 18 February 1982. A riff-driven synthpop song, it was the final single to be written by founding member Vince Clarke, who left the band in November 1981.

The 12" single featured a "Schizo Mix", which is an extended version with additional synth parts that added a sinister feel to the track.

45 RPM vinyl single cover back detail
cover photo photographer unknown
detail photo of cover by Styrous®





The Just Can't Get Enough single reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart and number 26 on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, making it their highest-charting single at the time on both counts. It also became the band's first (and biggest) hit in Australia, reaching number 4.


45 RPM vinyl single, Side 1
photo by Styrous®        

45 RPM vinyl single label, Side 1
photo by Styrous®




The single's B-side, Any Second Now, was the first commercially available Depeche Mode instrumental

Depeche Mode ~ Any Second Now
45 RPM vinyl single, Side 2
photo by Styrous®

45 RPM vinyl single label, Side 2
photo by Styrous®


Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Just Can't Get Enough (Schizo Mix) - 6:41

Side 2:

B - Any Second Now (Altered) - 5:43


Companies, etc.

Credits:

Notes

Recorded and Produced at Blackwing Studios, London.

Original release in thin sleeve.

© Mute music 1981
℗ Mute records 

Label: Mute ‎– 12 MUTE 016
Format: Vinyl, 12", Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 07 Sep 1981
Genre:
Electronic
Style:

Barcode and Other Identifiers

  • Matrix / Runout (Side A): 12 MUTE 016 A2 EG A PORKY PRIME CUT BETTER THAN A SLAP IN THE FACE WITH A WET FISH
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B): 12 MUTE 016 B1 POSH CLOBBER COULD CLINCH IT. EG PORKY. MVS I




Net Links:  
     
Just Can't Get Enough on YouTube       
Just Can't Get Enough (Schizo Mix) on YouTube     
Any Second Now (Altered) on YouTube          
Depeche Mode website         
Depeche Mode Discography      
       



Just Can't Get Enough is for sale on Discogs    

         
Styrous® ~ Thursday, June 25, 2015