Believe it or not there is a lot more to The Thing than just $2 records. In fact, the records themselves are confined to the back area and the basement. The rest of the shop is filled with unorganized piles of assorted bric-a-brac. Amongst these heaps, I happened across this gem of a book: The Development And Practice Of Electronic Music by Jon H. Appleton and Ronald C. Perera.

Being as old as it is, this book is surprisingly relevant. In a world that is being overrun by virtual-analogs and VST instruments, many musicians still find the need to employ true analogs to achieve the sound they desire. I’m not going to start a digital vs. analog argument here, but let it be known that SOAP sides with the latter.

This book thoroughly covers various theories surrounding analog synthesis. Those theories are as applicable today as they were when this book was written in 1975.

And there is enough vintage kit porn in here to make even the most jaded gear junkie drool.

Stephan - Wir Wollen Tanzen Gehen

I see this record all the time. It’s kinda hard to miss. The track is actually not half bad. In terms of mid-80’s Hi-NRG producers, Miami’s own Peter Brown is up near the top. I do, however, prefer this cover:

(Our cat is pretty hot)

Peter Brown - They Only Come Out At Night || Columbia

To be honest, I like Lee Haggard’s acid-ier efforts better, but I Like The Girls is still a pretty solid slice of early 90’s Chicago. For this track Mr. Lee trades in the 303 for a saxophone and piano. The results are a bit awkward, but give the song character. I chose to post the ‘Underground Remix’ for the absence of the pretty dreadful vocals that plague the other mixes.

Mr. Lee - I Like The Girls (Underground Mix) || Jive

It’s funny. These guys are pretty obscure. They only released this one record in ‘91. Yet I feel like I’ve come across this one record all the time. Maybe they just had amazing distribution. Apparently Hangman Records was a subsidiary of Rough Trade…That’s pretty interesting.

Anyway, these tracks are pretty cool because they offer a little more than typical early 90’s piano house. They are slightly edgy and slightly deep. Give ‘em a listen.

The Sleeping Pills - Aquarius || Hangman

The Sleeping Pills - Elastic Fantastic || Hangman

What’s the deal with the Music & Vision Trading logo? Seriously, I would like to know the story behind that.

The Sound & Vision tradng logo is pastiche of a 1930s Soviet collectivist poster, with Uncle Sam’s face replacing the Stakanovite worker’s face. –Thanks CTel!

I challenge you to pick up a 90’s house mix that didn’t have KC Flightt’s Voices on it. It is the quintessential tribal house track. Personally, I always found Frank Toson Jr.’s Africanism project more interesting, but you cannot deny KC Flightt’s place in mid-90’s club lore.

KC Flightt - Voices (Original Dub Mix) || M&VT

KC Flightt - Voices (Out Of Reach Remix) || M&VT

Another It Came From The Thing, another amazing record cover. I mean seriosuly, what is that thing? A light-saber?

There’s something to be said about mid-eighties, American Hi-NRG. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s something…

Paul Lekakis - Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room) || ZYX

I mean, how can you NOT pick up a record with THAT ^^^ on the cover?

I won’t deny the fact that I bought this record because of what it says in giant, mixed-up 80’s typefaces on the front cover. But seriously, I actually kinda like this song. It’s a nice slice of pop that, admittedly, straddles the borders between synth-wave and Euro House (if such a border exists). I couldn’t really find any good info on this song, but I am curious about it’s origins. It reeks of PSA. Although I suppose it could’ve been a hypocritical warning a la:

Everyone knows that Melle Mel was totally yaked up while recording that song. I wonder what Cruise Control was up to while working on No Condom No Sex…

Cruise Control - No Condom No Sex (Single Mix) || Sire

Cruise Control - No Condom No Sex (Let Reason Govern Passion Mix) || Sire

Let reason govern passion…Hahahhaha!

Anyone who’s had experience shopping at a used record store knows that the record cover doesn’t necessarily indicate what’s to be found inside. Such was the case with this nice little groover by Ritz. Hidden within the depths of a Sutra Records cover, the EMS International on the label caught my eye.I can’t find any info on this record (It doesn’t even have a discogs page), but this is good stuff here.

Ritz - Lovin’ Hooks (Dub Version) || MSR International

I don’t know anything about Annabel Lamb beyond what I’ve read on her Wiki page. She’s some early 80’s English pop-singer that covered the Doors. I did, however, find the video to this song on Le Tube:

Pretty rad if you ask me. Check out the comments to this video. Doors fans basically calling for Annabel’s head. I don’t know…I think her version is pretty groovy.

Annabel Lamb - Riders Of The Storm || A&M

Fat boys need lovin’ too. Or at least Disco 3 thought so. Check out this instrument groover from 84′ produced by hip-hop and electro legend Kurtis Blow in his heyday (he wore the New York Producer of the Year crown from 83′ to 85′). “Fat Boys, they givin’ you much much more”. Ain’t it the truth.

Disco 3 - Fat Boys || Sutra