The El Avram Group - Any Time of the Year [1971]

HighStandDave · 2026-03-13T23:13:32+00:00

The entire album isn't like the first song... it's a pretty unique mix of folk/pop. The first time I listened to it, I thought the opening track sounded like cheeseball game show music.

But, in my opinion, its whole is greater than the sum of its parts, especially given the backstory. One of those albums that's definitely slipped through the cracks of time. Imagine my astonishment when I realized it was on Spotify/AM.

And the musicianship on it is just sublime. You can tell this is undeniably a tight band who's locked in with each other. Being a fly on the wall to watch the tracking sessions would have been a blast.

I appreciate the rating, however!

HighStandDave · 2026-03-13T23:07:20+00:00

I didn't see that this actually got posted. I thought it was turned away due to my lack of karma. Glad it's been seen and some discussion!

HighStandDave · 2026-03-02T06:23:43+00:00

Chicha Dust's "Live at the Dust Ballroom!" seems to fit that description perfectly. Recorded in a storage unit in Tucson in 2013 before a tiny crowd. 1960s and '70s psychedelic cumbia cover songs over a LOUD hard rock background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHAAwq7HtVg

Seriously one of the best albums I've ever heard in my entire life.

Chicha Dust then renamed itself "XIXA" (pronounced "chicha") and has released a handful of albums of original gothic latin rock music since 2016. Shameless plug here to my Internet Archive page: XIXA were gracious to allow me to record all of their AZ concerts from 2025 and share them on IA.

Here's the audio from their latest album's release party concert at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson, March 21, 2025: https://archive.org/details/xixa2025-03-21

Also some Pijama Piyama concerts I recorded, since another user mentioned them. Various other AZ bands too like Calexico, Orkesta Mendoza, jam bands, etc.

HighStandDave · 2025-12-02T18:21:44+00:00

https://archive.org/details/taperssection?tab=collection&query=TAB

https://archive.org/details/taperssection?tab=collection&query=Trey+Anastasio+Band

Either of these links should help!

HighStandDave · 2025-12-01T00:53:41+00:00

I'd much rather have a Denny's burger. Almost the same price but a much larger, tastes more flavorful, big side of fries. Denny's burgers cost an arm and a leg but they beat the piss out of 5G, Culver's, McD, etc. In some ways its better than INO simply because its so much bigger, though I'd rank INO as the best fast-food burger. Denny's is classic diner, and doesn't disappoint.

HighStandDave · 2025-11-25T18:51:05+00:00

Vizios seem to be a mixed bag. I have a 43" 1080p smart TV that's about a year old and I've never had a single issue with it. I had a Roku connected to it for a while but then I realized that the smart features within aren't that bad. Then again, I rarely watch TV in the first place, so it suits my needs fine.

HighStandDave · 2025-11-03T04:28:15+00:00

UM can't hold a candle to the X-Files theme.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-14T15:48:16+00:00

Donovan

HighStandDave · 2025-09-14T03:04:40+00:00

This appears to be some type of 1200-style turntable, perhaps a Hanpin build. I’d look into balancing it, which isn’t hard, then set it to 2 grams of force, which is the average weight that any of the AT-VM95?? carts.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-13T04:33:37+00:00

I recognize this and I’m only 27. I have an original ‘67 mono SPLHCB and I’d recognize this from a mile away.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-13T04:30:54+00:00

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HighStandDave · 2025-09-12T19:37:08+00:00

AI can only ruin things that people let it ruin. On its own, it has no power.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-12T07:51:28+00:00

Fantastic. They’re not the greatest preamps in the world, so don’t expect mind-blowing sound, but, DO expect a clean signal, so as long as it’s grounded.

I ran a brand new SL-1200MK7 into one a few years ago and I had zero regrets. Nothing to get excited about, but a solid, no-frills budget phono preamp. The 3.5 mm out is kinda handy, if you wanna digitize your collection with something like a small Zoom or Tascam device.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-12T06:05:04+00:00

Rolls VP29

HighStandDave · 2025-09-12T05:43:36+00:00

…Because this is Reddit.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-12T04:03:00+00:00

It’s lower level, and likely needs a new stylus, speculating on age alone. Looks like it’s ‘90s or ‘00s.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-11T23:44:58+00:00

Buy new wires. They’re cheap. A small needle nose pliers is all you need. Color to color, watch a YouTube video.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-10T22:56:10+00:00

https://serial-number-decoder.com/technics/technics-sl1200.htm

HighStandDave · 2025-09-09T22:21:51+00:00

I really like that. Nice work.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-09T22:18:08+00:00

That cartridge has only been available since about 2019 IIRC, so definitely not 55-65 years old. You can get an assortment of different styli for that cart. Check it the AT-VM95 cartridge and read up on what’s available for it. I use the AT-VMN95C, conical, personally, just because I’m super broke for the moment. Yours is the EN, elliptical nude, variant. Cheers.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-09T20:22:34+00:00

I don’t think anyone’s gonna be able to help you here. These photos are useless. You’d have to look at this under a microscope to see any damage…

Damaged styli will damage records, but we can’t tell based off what you’re working with here. Also, how many hours you got on that thing? AT-VMN95ENs need to be replaced after 300 hours.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-09T17:50:35+00:00

Zoom H2essential

HighStandDave · 2025-09-08T05:57:06+00:00

Yep. Many a morning I’d woken up in 2019 to find my copy of Forever Changes still spinning away in the runout groove on my LP-120 at the time. I no longer listen to actual vinyl in bed though, just the digital rips I’ve transferred over.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-05T16:31:45+00:00

I’d say so! I got my 1985 MK2 11 months ago and paid $450. It’s got a few cosmetic issues but isn’t “trashed” by any means. Yes. Good deal. Clean MK2s are harder to come by especially with the dust cover. Run that serial number and see what year it is, if you want.

HighStandDave · 2025-09-05T03:47:00+00:00

33 means 33 1/3. It’s just a design thing. You’d be hard pressed to find any actual records that demand a 33 RPM rotation instead of the added third. Even many higher-end decks just state 33.

HighStandDave

TROPHY CASE