My story about “Favorite Recorded Scream,” a 12-inch vinyl compilation of 74 screams from Black Francis to Ian Gillan to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to Bjork, which were chosen via ballot by the employees of 42 Manhattan record stores, is up on the Times homepage now.
“Favorite Recorded Scream” is a pretty great little project that I stumbled upon one day a month or two ago at Academy Records on 18th Street. On the wall behind the counter they had taped up a map of New York City record stores, which I’d never seen before, though I’ve attempted to do the same thing myself. (Lately the stores have been going out of business too fast to keep up with.) When I asked about it, they said that it was an insert in “that scream record.” Hmm? “Um, it’s this red record, can’t remember what it was called, but this guy came around to all the record stores. Can’t remember his name...”
It took a small amount of casual hunting, which I’m sure I could have done much more efficiently, but after inquiring at a few more stores where no one could quite remember that young man’s name or the title of the record, I tracked him down: LeRoy Stevens, an extremely nice 25-year-old guy in Brooklyn, who told me about his project over some Juan Valdez coffee. For the rest of the story, you’ve got to read the piece.
Buy the record soon. He made 500 copies and only has 150 or so left.
1 comment:
This record sounds great and I'll be tracking a copy down. Surprised they don't do a digital version...just not $1 a "track" :>
Anyway, this compilation of music screams also opens a dialogue. Herein I respectfully add a couple more tunes that have memorable screams that weren't mentioned by any of the the record store proprietors.
John Lennon- Well Well Well (off Plastic Ono Band, literally a primal scream workout with the third "well" in the song's refrain gradually stretching out in a howl of a release over repeats of "well well well, oh well").
Replacements- Opening scream/howl of "Bastards of Young" off of Tim. A raspy, plaintive and a little bit exhausted-sounding Paul Westerberg doing what he does best. I remember parties, many years ago, seeing all the people leaping in the air as the howl started, knowing there would be some great pogo thrashing as soon as their feet hit the ground. I was one of those people, with a stiff neck and strained ankles.
Post a Comment