Final Video of my Late 80's Vinyl Finds For $5.  

Oranges And Lemons is mind blowing.

Yes, "Oranges and Lemons" is a great album! I was working at a record store in a college town from late '87 through early '89 and had a lot of these albums pass through my hands at that time. It was a small store owned by a husband and wife. Including them, there were four people working there. The owners did a great job at catering to the college crowd, and we liked and were buying a lot of that stuff too. Really dug all four videos on this subject!

Great finds on the Replacements and XTC reords. Also I've been hunting Copperhead Road for years! Great, great score.

Awesome finds Robert. I love The Replacements. My intro to them was Pleased to meet me cassette back in the 80s. Still my favorite probably just because of nostalgia. XTC Oranges and Lemons is a great one and you don't see it often.

Both those XTC albums are great. Oranges & lemons has two of the best XTC songs ever : Mayor of Simpleton and King for a Day. But if your copy of Skylarking has Dear God instead of Mermaid Smile, you'll be missing one of the best XTC songs. Never cared for Dear God whereas Mermaid is up there with Mayor or King for a day.

Oranges and Lemons is great. More radio friendly material. O&L and Skylarking are the two XTC pieces in my collection. Todd Rundgren produced Skylarking.

Love The Replacements!! Don't Tell A Soul definitely gets a bad rap, but I still love it.

Oranges and Lemons is definitely worth listening to as a companion to Skylarking. And purely for the stunning closer Chalkhills and Children, which is Beach Boys-esque but in a good way.

I think you'd definitely like "Pleased to Meet Me."

Excellent series of reviews of your latest vinyl collection score. This last review is my favourite, because of the XTC albums. Refreshing to hear a review of 'Skylarking' that leaves out the bs about the production/recording process and just appraises the songs on their merits. (Todd Rundgren would be pleased to know that a review finally left him out of the equation...since a good producer ought to be silent behind the band.) 'Oranges and Lemons' is a bit different (since Todd Rundgren isn't producing) but it has a lot of the similar themes and sounds; you should appreciate the psychedelic elements. By the way, are you familiar with The Dukes of Stratosphear? Keep up the excellent podcasts!

Fun vid Robert! I highly recommend giving the book “Trouble Boys” about The Replacements a read. I’m reading it right now and I’m learning so much about them. Tim and Let It Be are my fav albums from them! The 2023 remix of Tim is absolutely fantastic if you wanna hear the album sound more natural.

Oranges and Lemons is great , King for a Day ,and The Mayor of Simpleton are fantastic songs . Listen to the album Nonsuch, another great double album.

I love Tim..I listen to it last night in the car

Oranges and Lemons by XTC is their semi-take on The Beatles era Sgt. Peppers sound. Psychedelic tinged with a different sound and instrumentation than Skylarking. My go to XTC albums are English Settlement with the big Hugh Padgham produced drum sounds and Black Sea, another solid album. Take care…

Definitely get Pleased to Meet Me. It’s a great album. I would also recommend streaming the “Dead Man’s Pop” remix of Don’t tell a Soul. Apparently, it is the album they wanted to release before the record company shut them down and sent it off to Chris Lord-Alge for mixing. It’s night and day better and doesn’t have that dated 80s thing pulling it down.

My first "punk" cassette was The Surf Punks Locals Only. I'm glad that I found actual punk a bit later. Dear God is a great song, good video.

I agree completely about your Steve Earl assessment. Great video. And you mentioned Troma! Nice!

Robert!!🤣🤣 That situation could have gone so left!!!! At night in a storage unit!! Craigslist!! Much respect!!!

"I'll Be You" is one of my favorite Replacements songs.

Just picked up a copy of the Keith Richards album. Gonna look into the Replacements Tim. I listened to it on YT. It rocks. Thank Robert for the video man. Peace and love......

❤Love the Mats & XTC❤ And I saw that SNL when it aired

Hey Robert! Great video. I saw Steve Earle here in Colorado at the storied venue Red Rocks back in the day (1990). The tour was called Gathering Of The Tribes and was very eclectic. Others on the bill were Fishbone, X, EPMD, Primus, Kings X amongst a few others. He was great. I worked at a record store next to a theatre and Angelo Moore and Walter Kibby from Fishbone would stop by when they played there and told stories about that tour. It only lasted 3 shows but pre dated Lollapalooza. They said Steve Earle was totally cool and Kings X were total dicks. Man I got wasted at that show. Hell, I was 18. Rock On!

I love Oranges and Lemons! King for a Day, Chalkhills and Children and just about every song on the album. I bought it in the 90s and have listened to it many times. Since you mentioned it, I think it is time for another listen to it. Skylarking is fantastic as well.

I was surprised to see Surf Punks. I have thier 1st album which I think is funny. I’m gonna check it out since you reminded me.

Great finds. You asked about Oranges & Lemons. It's not better than Skylarking, but I think Skylarking is a perfect record. Rather, it's a bit more fun, and it might be a little more exciting. As you probably know, Andy Partridge did not like having Todd Rundgren as a producer, despite the fact that Todd did a wonderful job on Skylarking. Probably because of Todd, Skylarking is a little bit Baroque in the style of The Zombies or The Beatles. In contrast, Oranges & Lemons is a little more in the vein of pop-psychedelia, with nods to Donovan or The Byrds. Still both albums take those ideas much farther, paving a course for later bands like The Flaming Lips and Spiritualized. P.S. Definitely check out the later Steve Earle albums. I'd start with Washington Square Serenade.

Steve Earle's killer...have the 2CD deluxe...have everything, know him, he's a regular on the Outlaw Country Cruise every year, has a songwriting workshop bootcamp called Camp Copperhead at Sea...just saw him do Copperhead Road with Blackberry Smoke...kickbutt...all his albums are great, his most recent stuff are tribute albums to his heroes like Jerry Jeff Walker & Guy Clark, one for his deceased son Justin Townes Earle...his whole catalogue is massive and great...he did a collab album with Shawn Colvin (Colvin & Earle, 2016, Fantasy Records) & an EP with Supersuckers...yep, as cool as you imagine...

That was a nice haul of 80s music. I could relate most to the ones in this video, but the whole series was entertaining and I learned a lil' something about metal in those other videos. Keep up the good work. XTC is great at every stage of their development. Oranges & Lemons is more psychedelic compared to Skylarking but just as good. Their 2 psych records as Dukes of Stratosphere are worth seeking out, they recreate that fuzzed out 60s psychedelic sound. And finally, the comment you made about the misconception that gun violence is what defines "real Country" was deep. That is the exact same bs concept that became popular in the hip hop community around that same time.

My understanding is that "Waitress In The Sky" was based on stories that Paul Westerberg's older sister, who was a flight attendant, told him about assholes she had to deal with.

XTC all genius...Skylarking is a collab with Todd Rundgren, pastoral...Oranges & Lemons just as good...Mayor of Simpleton the biggest 'hit' and hook/riff lifted for "Freak of the Week" by Butch Walker's Marvelous 3...

with Bowie i would just wait a year and see what he came up with. got back into him solid in 95 or so when he was collaborating with Trent Reznor. Outside from early 2000s is epic.

Hi Robert! Great video…Might be in the minority here but I think “oranges and Lemons”, aside from a few bona fide pop tunes is the more of the experimental and at times moody of the two when comparing to “skylarking”. those pop tunes though. For me, “the mayor of simpleton” is such an infectious, beautifully hooky melodic gem…especially the chorus. LOVE it. So much that on a recent trip to LA I played it like three times in a row whilst driving.

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Robert also i.heard 80s music this long weekend ❤😅😊

Agree 100% on that Steve Earle record. I own it on CD and played it relentlessly back in the day. Another one to look out for is Transcendental Blues wherein Steve channels Revolver. Seek it out friend!

Bang Bang is a great tune. I used to buy all those XTC singles in the bargain bins here in the UK on 12 inch. Things We Used To Do On Grass being the highlight

Oranges & Lemons is good. It has its moments. Watch out for "Pink Thing." Skylarking is a classic. XTC's best (or maybe second best?) album. And hey, I LIKE "And Then The Cops Came!"

I liked all four. I appreciate your candor and your experience with the music.

Awesome finds Robert, I don't think XTC ever did a bad record,fun video and yes i watch all them video's .

Robert! Do you have to ruin everything?!! 😂 BTW that Copperhead Road is an awesome score.

I really like the first Tin Machine album that followed up Never Let Me Down. Saw the live show at the 500 capacity Roxy in Hollywood. It was awesome 👌 to see Bowie in a small club. They played the Tin Machine album & a few covers. No Bowie songs.

I’m going to listen to XTC dang it

Oh boy, the Beat Farmers that rings a bell but that was long long time ago and mind you I was a kid in France back then Really can't remember a tune but the name I do... All in all, a pretty decent haul if I must say. Good for you. Thanks for sharing.

Robert, you've inspired me. I'm going to record a RU-vid video for the VC even though that it'll be mostly about things that aren't vinyl

I got that David Bowie promo gold stamped still sealed! It's a great album for that moment in time.

Gnarly video Dude 🤣😂🤣 Great finds

Does the heart good to hear Americans extoll the wonders of XTC. The rough DIY demo of It's really Super, Supergirl is better than the album track. Think a lot of it was overproduced cos they had a big name producer. Andy Partridge said the worst track on Skylarking is Big Day, and indeed, the lyrics are quite bad.

I enjoyed this 4 pt series, and yes, I did watch them all😄

Nice collection, I enjoy the Bowie album also. Not as bad as we are led to believe, just fun 80s pop music.

Epic hail. Great videos...I'd kill for that lot. For the Talk is Cheap alone. I'm a huge fan of Never Let Me Down too,I love that Bowie album. I think being in my younger days plays a part. Great videos as always. Super bug fan Stelly Dan jokes aside....lol.

Oranges and Lemons is a great album by XTC.

Awesome video. The Replacements and Paul Westerburg seemed to get bored with their music and always changing. I did like the Chris Mars(drummer) solo albums. Bowie went through his own chameleon phases. I wonder if this was released shortly before Tim Machine. Surf Punks were a novelty of sorts. Their big song was SHARK ATTACK. Skylarking is a great album too. Congratulations on such great finds.

My buddy would like that Replacements lp, that scotch video shirt is cool

Wow you happened to mention 3 of my musical heroes in this video. Please Robert, give those Replacement albums another spin. I always thought REM got all of the accolades that should have gone to The Replacements. I mean if I'm somewhere where my choices are any REM album or "Tim, Don't Tell A Soul" I'm always gonna chose the two Sire releases. I can't believe Bowie fans suggest "Hours" as a worst LP. I think it's much better than "Earthling, Heathen, Outside, and Tonight." Oh and speaking of Keith Richards and Bowie's "Tonight" might I also suggest that you don't bother with either "Main Offender, or Cross-Eyrd Heart." I think Keith blew his whole wad on "Talk Is Cheap" and then released his two-versions of Bowie's "Tonight." Finally along with Paul Westerberg, Steve Earle is one of America's treasures. He has consistently been putting out great album after great album. This guy and Patterson Hood are right up there with Tom Waits as far as quality.

My favorite video tape on your shirt

XTC did a psychedelic album under the name "The Dukes of Stratosphere" called "25 O'clock" that you really need to hear.

Time Will Crawl is Never Let Me Down's best song...

Have no Replacements. Will try to buy some in the future. Record collector first. When I buy I go ape shit, unfortunately don’t take time to listen to much of what is in my collection. Listening To more now that I have retired. That was my original goal anyway.

Not sure how often Muchmusic played Bastards Of Young, but it's kinda funny how eventually the band 54-40 did the same idea for a video called Radio Luv Song in the 90s. The Pogues are Steve Earles back up band for, whatever that song it is on the album. I remember when I first heard that on tape. My metalhead uncle had it. Was kinda strange, but damn. Still a great album. The newer reissue looks really strange on the Geffen label. Just like the newer American Graffiti soundtrack. Looks so wrong in so many ways. The Surf Punks stupid ass cover of Ride The Wild Surf pretty much sums it up. I love that When The Comes Came song. But yeah. It's definitely a gnarly album.

The Replacements: in 1989, I bartended at a Hilton where I live which was next to the local Civic Center so all the bands that played there strayed at the Hilton. The guys came into the bar and got pissed at me for not knowing who they were.

"Oranges and Lemons" is short on the oranges and high on the lemons.

XTC is my all-time fave band. For me, O&L is an album of peaks and valleys - it includes some of my favorite songs as well as some songs I just skip every time. Luckily, there are more peaks than valleys. It has two of their biggest US hits, Mayor Of Simpleton and King For A Day. While I don't dislike those songs, I don't count them among XTC's best work. Songs like Here Comes President, The Loving, Hold Me My Daddy, and Pink Thing are either so slight or so boring, they do nothing for me. But Scarecrow People is one of my fave XTC songs, and I also love Across This Antheap, Miniature Sun, and Chalkhills. There's a lot of music to sift through on O&L, but give it a chance. There are some gems.

That Bowie album has the Magical Disappearing song on it, "Too Dizzy" was dropped from all reissues and CD copies of this album - Even the 1995 Virgin European version that has 3 extra tracks doesn't include this stinker, There is only one CD copy that has it, the 1987 EMI America version - it's easy to see why this was his last album of the 80's before he grew some stubble and joined a band of Iggy off casts (Tin Machine) for 2 albums, after the first one their label dropped them, didn't stop him doing it again then he had a shave grabbed a sax and found new ways the annoy peoples ears - I have 6 Copies of "Never Let Me Down" oh I forgot they tried to "Re-Make" It because the guys who played with him are all unemployed and wanted to squeeze anything they could out of his corpse before it got too cold I Guess, but smells don't just go away it still stinks a little, I also have all the 12" singles from this, all in all it's an album.

Robert it's obvious from the picture that you have a massive album and cd collection. Approximately how many lps and cds do you have?

I like that Replacements album. A bit glossier. Saw them on that tour with Tom Petty. Pleased to Meet Me is good too, different. You should check out the first Surf Punks album, Locals Only. Funny. Skylarking played a lot on my college radio station. Dorks and nerds sweared by it. Pastoral and quirky. I wish people would let Rundgren be as far as the production. Andy didn't like him, I get it. Andy's a bit weird himself. Seems to hate everyone these days. A salty dude. Cheers.

I understood "Tin Machine", (which was released around the same time) was his worst.

Would love to see you do a video reacting to apples new top 100 albums of all time 😂

The only Replacements I have is Stink, the 82 EP. I’m not really familiar with them. The Surf Punks had one great single, Shark Attack. I never cared for Dear God. It seemed to me they were blaming God for crap people are doing. I remember the Beat Farmers playing LA clubs a lot in the mid 80’s.

Thanks handsome!

Pleased to Meet Me is an awesome album, maybe my fave from the 'mats... check it out.

I saw David Bowie on his Glass Spider Tour and he looked a little lost and directionless.

Tim is great songwise but a questionable mix by Tommy Ramone...the recent box has a new fix-it remix by Ed Stasium & that mix on vinyl...with "Don't Tell a Soul", the album was fixed as "Dead Man's Pop" & also on vinyl in that album's box...

Hey second comment here, is Mickey Rourke on that Bowie album? Bowie deleted stuff. I mean, can it get any better?

I kinda like the 'high plastic' Bowie album. I agree, not his worst. I hate Earthling. Do not like drum and bass music. You are hilarious!! Stand-up level!!!

The cover of that XTC album had me looking twice. It looks kinda kinky

Final video. Did I miss something?

With Bowie's Never Let Me Down, the remix highly improves the album...the original was not very good, the new mix saves it...

I watched, and enjoyed, all four videos. Do me get cookie?