A couple Friday mornings back, I went to the station. When I got there, this was leaned up against the door….
Inside were about 50 records. All were tagged WKDU circa 1971-1981. I can only speculate that maybe a former DJ, in an act of redemption, decided to give them back after “borrowing” them.
At KDU, there aren’t a lot of rules, but one stands out: NO STEALING. Says so on the door, probably written in DJ blood.
It’s interesting that these records made it back, but even more interesting that they were left on the outside. It implies that whoever gave them back is far enough removed from the station that they couldn’t enter. Otherwise, they could’ve put the records back themselves, or hidden them somewhere within the station’s many nooks and crannies. The plot thickens….
So I started looking through the records, because that’s what I do when a random bin of records appears on my doorstep. Here are some of my favorites from the stack. Oh, and in case you’re curious: Yes, I did put them back on the shelf, where they belong.
Hackamore Brick – One Kiss Leads to Another (1970)
Interesting story behind this one – this group only put out this one album until they reunited in 2009. This album is on Kama Sutra Records, which I know for their multigenre output in the late 60s and early 70s. Richard Robinson produced it, and he’s known for producing Lou Reed’s first solo album as well as Amorica by The Black Crowes. Hmmmm…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT03TgQPmwU&w=560&h=315]
The record itself is a pretty cool slab of lo-fi folk. The Lou Reed influence is evident in frontman Tommy Moonlight’s delivery. If you like things that came from New York in the early seventies, this is for you.
Barbara Acklin – A Place in the Sun (1975)
Barbara Acklin is best known as a soul singer from Chicago. This is the only record she put out on Capitol. Produced by Willie E. Henderson, who produced “Can I Change My Mind” by Tyrone Davis. This record tries to update the Chicago soul sound to the disco era. It’s a little inconsistent, to be honest. But when I pull the good ol’ record digger trick of cueing up the first song on Side B, the song “Special Loving” kicks in, and all is well.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT3QXIxAxjA&w=420&h=315]
People – I Love You (1968)
Another one from Capitol Records. The only Rock n Roll Hall of Famers on this list, People! were a one-hit wonder band. They dissolved not long after this album, their first, after “spiritual disagreements” within the band. Scientology may have been involved.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTY6DrWjETc&w=420&h=315]
Lead singer Larry Norman claimed that he was harassed by Scientologist stooges later in life. However, this did not prevent him from essentially founding the entire genre of Christian Rock. Weird legacy.
The Crowns of Glory – Won’t It Be Grand (1974)
This is a real winner. Like, damn.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NfgypBsLJo&w=560&h=315]
Sampled by Isaiah Rashad. Gospel-funk ripe with breaks, horns and strings. It speaks for itself. I’m not even gonna try.
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If you’re reading this, remorseful DJ of WKDU past: You had some great taste. Maybe you could come in and do a set on the air sometime? We forgive you. Nobody’s perfect.
After all, DJs gotta stick together. In vinyl we trust.