I think the smart thing for labels to do nowadays is to put out all their stuff on vinyl only (CDs just aren't selling anymore, but are good for promo) and then offer digital downloads of the songs so people can make their own CDs if they want to, or so they can put the songs easily on their iPods or other MP3 players/libraries. Personally, I think the MP3s should just be given away, since sooner or later you'll probably be able to find them for free online somewhere. But one good option is to give people a download code so they can go online and download the stuff with the code, but without it you're outta luck. One such service that offers this is TransmitVinyl.com, but it's not free. However, $50 for 500 downloads isn't too bad, I don't think. Another option you could have is to just create a password-protected directory on your website, but to do that you need a website, not just a Myspace page or something, and then another drawback is you just create one password that everyone will share. Sooner or later, that password will get around and lots of other people will get it and use it. Which brings me back around to just offering the downloads for free anyway.

Oh man, I know too well what you're talking about, and I really must stop myself from thinking about all this. Or as Leonard Cohen puts it: "If these thoughts interest you for even a moment, you're lost".

Actually, I don't file my records alphabetically, but rather roughly by genre, and there by preferences, or how the groups somehow go together (from the players, labels, producers or just how they sound) so I just can take all records from here to there when I DJ, and I know it will roughly fit. The single artists are sorted by date.

But Jesus, if I even start thinking about filing them alphabetically by artist, I wouldn't find any sleep no more...

I stumbled over hip hop only recently (except for a few things like the first Eminem for a few cent on a flea market, and the first Arrested Develompent from way back than, a great record, but rather hippie music than hip hop, I think), but I really like nearly everything on Anticon Records, and I get really blown away by Dälek, over and over again. Someone once wrote in a magazine, they sound as if the Melvins played hip hop, and that's just that.

Oh, right, and De La Soul, I listened to them, too, and still like them.

So I think there's some pretty good hip hop stuff out there, and loads of shit, just like in rock music or any other genre.

Hey kopper, warlock pinchers are getting back together. They have a show in august and are doin a new album! Denver!!!!

kopper said:

I have a Run DMC record, even though I can't even remember the last time I listened to it. I like Public Enemy a LOT, though, and once in a while I put that (It Takes a Nation of Millions...) on. I also like the Beastie Boys (at least their first few records). That's it, though, unless you consider the Warlock Pinchers rap, which I'm not exactly sure what to call them, but I sure do like 'em. "Where the Hell Is Crispin Glover" and "Morrissey Rides a Cockhorse" are two of my all-time favorite songs.

I highly recommend a movie called Hustle & Flow from 2005. That was written & directed by Craig Brewer who was also responsible for the cooler-than-expected $5 Cover MTV series about the Memphis music scene. Another of his movies that's really good but has nothing to do with rap is Black Snake Moan. I also highly recommend CB4 and Fear of a Black Hat. High Lord Mardy Pune said:

I totally agree with Ixnayray. The chart shit is just that; it's shit. But the kids keep buying into it and record companies like making money.
I like the early gangsta rap N.W.A., Ice T... A lot of people get offended by it but I think the rappers are just telling it like it is. I think the making of any good rapper though is the DJ sitting behind them. Kool Herc and Grand Master Flash were total musical revolutionaries and I think their attitude was totally punk; "fuck it this is how I'm doing it"

You have to remember that the term hip hop refers to the four corners as Hip Hoppers call it: Rappers, DJ's, dancers and Graph Artists. There's a great doco called Scratch which is mainly about DJing but sorta looks at the other three aspects of Hip Hop.

I got to meet Ice T at an in-store he did at the record store I worked at. Cool guy, but I wasn't a big fan of his music. De La Soul was one that I'd forgotten about. They were good, too. Rockin Rod Strychnine said:

While I didn't listen to a lot of Rap music, I liked what I heard between 1985 to about 1990. Mostly Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool Jay, I guess a lot of the early Def Jam things. Also liked Ice T and the first NWA record. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one. I only own 3 rap records however and they're all Beastie Boys.

I don't really listen to Hip-Hop anymore... and when I do it would be the old stuff anyway. As for talking about a "solution", well it helps if you address the problem first. And like Rockin' Rod said, artists like Public Enemy and KRS-1 were doing this back in 1987. There are still many political rap artists out there but they have to operate at a more independant level... a guy called Immortal Technique is a more recent one and I have only checked out a few of his tracks but he's a fierce lyricist and extremely political. Worth checking out if you are curious. No major label is going to fund political controversy when they can just as easily fund Eminem to squeeze money out of todays kids.

The good stuff is still out there and I guess you'd have to be a real hardcore fan to know "where it's at", but in the words of my homeboy Danny Glover - "I'm too old for this shit".

Records that at least try and suggest sollutions would be those by Public Enemy, KRS - 1, or De La Soul but those would be any of their records from between 1987-1991. I guess a lot of those that followed gave up on sollutions and got into the mindset of "every person for themself" and the LIFESTYLE, and how do I get more. I stated I never listened to a lot of rap but that doesn't mean I didn't listen to any and I also read a lot about it mostly just to check up on what's going on.

jhonny burnett trio

Lots of killer screams in rock n roll! Sonics, Wailers, Stooges, Mummies, tons of em! But, here's a list of the most distinguished unusual screamers...Roky Ericson--- madman scream like Jay Hawkins/ Lord Sutch--- with supreme eyes of satan FIRE!! truely a uninhibited wilderness of crazy! Larry May--Candy Snatchers, insane scream from the fine shires of hell. And my most recent favorite and unusual scream goes to the guy from The Keepers on the track "U and I don't belong"---a slight hesitation followed by a roar that would be hard to duplicate! Truely Remarkable

jagger has demon tattoos on the rocknroll circus set, he pulls his shirt off during synpathy for the devil, near the end, and said tattoos dance. it's actually realy cool..

Can you reference what your talking about? I've never seen anytthing where there are demon tattoos on Mick Jagger's body. Ross Jesus Navaro Richards said:

Yes sir! thats him, and although not as punk as other pre birthed, he had it tight enough to say fuck u! With punk attitude in the mind, he wrote a lil' piece called the wagon, i think at less than 1.40 minutes long, a celebration of childhood. A reflection perhaps, Its in Nursery Suite..
The stones recorded quite alot for the show, truth be told it is crap! The tapes circulating are hard evidence, But that bit when jagger pulls of his shirt to see devil tattoos and demons over his body is fuckin god like! Punk as!

Yes sir! thats him, and although not as punk as other pre birthed, he had it tight enough to say fuck u! With punk attitude in the mind, he wrote a lil' piece called the wagon, i think at less than 1.40 minutes long, a celebration of childhood. A reflection perhaps, Its in Nursery Suite..
The stones recorded quite alot for the show, truth be told it is crap! The tapes circulating are hard evidence, But that bit when jagger pulls of his shirt to see devil tattoos and demons over his body is fuckin god like! Punk as!

Impossible for me to name my favorite song of all time but the song i'd choose that encapsulates everything I love about rock & roll? EASY :

Runaround Sue by Dion & The Belmonts.

Perfection!

Yes, and that's what Louie Louie does for me lawrence galvan III said:

I agree with Kopper, it is difficult to name a "FAVORITE",Louie Louie by The Kingsmen is FUCKING AWESOME,
but Cruel To Be Kind still gives me chills when I here it. That's what a "FAVORITE" song should do! Is it not?

OK, when you're three pages into a topic, you gotta start referring back to what you are talking about cuz I don't think I'm the only one thinking that you are just refering to the last post. You are no longer just talking to the original poster. If you'd been the very first person to reply, it would have made more sense what you said. Ross Jesus Navaro Richards said:

no, slade owned it! got even better round about their 1979/81 tours also! get some in yer!

I agree with Kopper, it is difficult to name a "FAVORITE",Louie Louie by The Kingsmen is FUCKING AWESOME,
but Cruel To Be Kind still gives me chills when I here it. That's what a "FAVORITE" song should do! Is it not?

no, slade owned it! got even better round about their 1979/81 tours also! get some in yer!

Kingsmen did a version of Born To Be Wild? Ross Jesus Navaro Richards said:

That sir is a motherfuckin great selection! I also love their version of Born To Be Wild, has balls and intensity, rather than a cool tune. I must go with In like a shot from my gun, or some of the earlier pre galm stuff.. gospel according to rasputin etc.. And i wish Don Powell had more studio time, he was a great writer! It changes like most people every day or month haha, but these songs have stuck with me for 30 years or more,...

Cruel To Be Kind by Nick Lowe

Man or Astroman, check it out!

Is that right. Cool. He's on tour with the Gories in September. That will definetly be a cool bill. kopper said:

Haunted George, in case you guys did not know, is also Uncle Yah-Yah, host of the Haunted Shack Theater podcast found right here on GaragePunk.com.

Chessman said:

I concur with SSP. The new Haunted George record kicks ass...

"BLACK ROOOOOSSTTERRR SQQQUUUUUAAAAALLLLLLLSSSSS!!!!!!!!"

Haunted George, in case you guys did not know, is also Uncle Yah-Yah, host of the Haunted Shack Theater podcast found right here on GaragePunk.com. Chessman said:

I concur with SSP. The new Haunted George record kicks ass...

"BLACK ROOOOOSSTTERRR SQQQUUUUUAAAAALLLLLLLSSSSS!!!!!!!!"

Johnny Paradox said:

however, I love gothic literature and music. However I also love punk style and

Went with Curved pressings in the end, wee bit more expensive than sending off to United but they're based in the UK - just got the test pressings and they sound good!