Perfect picture discs?

I continue to fool my nearest and dearest into believing that having now collected all the UK 1980s number-one singles on 7" (as well as most of those that were released on 12"); my mission to fill our home with vinyl is more or less complete. To carry on collecting, I simply decided to look for the special editions of certain tracks, regardless of whether they were chart-toppers. By special edition, I mean any one (or all) of the following:

- a white label and/or promo copy

(such as my £1 bargain 7" promo copy — bought new in 1992 - of 'China' by Tori Amos)

- a version with a different cover sleeve, usually released in a different territory

(the only reason why I anyone needs two copies of the 1988 chart-topper 'Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You' by Glenn Medeiros)

-  a version on any colour of vinyl other than the usual black

(definitely the only reason why I own a 12" yellow vinyl of the 1982 chart-topper 'Seven Tears' by Goombay Dance Band)

- a picture disc

(whether it simply bears a picture of the artist or band, is square or rectangular — or even takes the shape of a boxing glove — like my 7" copy of 'Burning Heart' by Survivor)

In the 1980s, a ludicrously large number of versions of the same track were eligible to count towards a chart placing. So remixed versions, coloured vinyl copies and picture discs were all used shamelessly to extract money from diehard fans and help a track climb the charts. I read somewhere that in 1988, 'I Owe You Nothing' by Bros topped the charts thanks to numerous different versions being made available to bonkers Brosettes!

But my personal focus is now picture discs, overlooking their reputation as shoddy novelty items. The picture discs we know today were first produced from 1970 onwards. I understand that the production process means that the images interfere with the grooves — affecting playback as a result. But given that most of my vinyl — whether it's black or a picture disc — is old and slightly crackly to start with, I often can't tell the difference!

With this in mind, I cordially invite you to reassess the humble picture disc with me by listening to Episode 3 of my Vinyl Verdict Radio Show on Mixcloud. You can hear tracks by Jackie Wilson, Kirsty MacColl, Feargal Sharkey and many more. Every track is a picture disc and the shows kick off  in style with 'My Best Friend's Girl' by The Cars - which doesn't sound bad for a record that is almost 40 years old! If you tune in, let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Thanks!

The day the music charts died?

As many news commentators have informed us, the phenomenal first-week success of Ed Sheeran's latest album 'Divide' (672,000 copies sold in its first week of release, the third-highest first week sales ever behind - Adele and Oasis, outselling the rest of the top 500 albums combined, fastest selling album by a male artist ever, biggest-selling one-week vinyl album in over 20 years) meant that yesterday, all 16 tracks from the album gained a placing in the UK singles chart. Ed is as bewildered as the rest of us by these numbers and says himself that a change in the charts is needed.

Last July, in my blog entry Looking after number one, I looked at similar issues when streaming last hit the headlines - when a certain stubborn single couldn't be shifted from the top of the singles chart. The case with Ed Sheeran is slightly different, I feel. Although Thinking Out Loud (co-written with Amy Wadge) may have been the first No. 1 single given a helping hand by streaming; this time around, Ed Sheeran has shifted an incredible number of purchased units. So if everyone who wanted the album and/or individual tracks from it has handed over their cash this week, maybe next week's Top 40 will show us how effective streaming is at keeping track on the chart.

From January 2017, a song has to be streamed 150 times - increased from the previous 100 - to account for one physical sale. And while he's understandably reluctant to change the charts after every strange development, Official Charts Company MD Martin Talbot will certainly be keeping his eye on things. I still think that anyone who has not actually handed over any cash for a given track cannot expect their listening habits to be reflected in any chart based on sales. There is probably no way now of restricting the number of songs in the chart by the same artist, though I would certainly call for the return one official chart that only reflects the state of purchase rather than the state of play.

Going for a song

The latest edition of my Vinyl Verdict Radio Show is now online for your listening pleasure. This time around, it's a broad mix of tunes entirely on vinyl. Besides searching for second-hand vinyl online, I also trawl charity shops around the UK and generally buy most 80s and other classic 7-inches and 12-inches if they appear to be in playable condition. So quite a few of the tunes on the latest show have come from my recent hunt for hits in Pocklington and Harrogate in Yorkshire.

My wife would say it's my obsession. She can barely hide her boredom as I regularly rifle through loads of a dusty, scratched compilation albums before unearthing a genuine classic. Certain charity shops are very aware of the market for old vinyl and so price their items accordingly. But many others don't - so there are often great bargains to be had.

So I'd like to thank the good people of Yorkshire for some 1968 vintage 7-inches from Tom Jones and Manfred Mann, not to mention a lovely track from 2006 in a limited-edition sleeve by US artist Cat Power. They all play perfectly and were priced at just 50p each. Ker-ching! Click on this link to Mixcloud, where you can listen to the all these tracks on the show - plus a lovely online purchase by OMD.