In the 1960s and 1970s, music was often promoted by giving away vinyl flexidiscs. These weren't meant to last, but they were intended to give you a taste of something, so you would buy the actual single or album and generate income for the artist and the record company.
The thing is, sometimes these flexidiscs contained exclusive music (at the time), I'm thinking Alice Cooper's "Slick Black Limousine" which was promoting "Billion Dollar Babies" and the interludes on the promo for the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street". These were both NME freebies, as it was my music mag of choice at the time. Both these were committed to cassette as soon as I got them, but were lost way back. They may be worth something now.
I recently bought a couple of flexidiscs from Long Play Cafe / Empire Records in The Grainger Market and was surprised that the Adam and The Ants one had no track name on, but is their take on The Village People's "YMCA" called apparently "IMCA". Because the flexidiscs slip, you need to put a couple of coins to stop the vinyl slipping. The other was by Hazel O'Connor, and you can see the details here. Later sounds actually started giving away vinyl EPs.
But in the sixties, we started getting loss leader compilations. At first, I thought these would be very expensive, but they were very cheap and full of amazing music. Again, these often contained music you couldn't get anywhere else, I'm thinking "America", Yes' ten-minute take on the Simon and Garfunkel song, and Led Zeppelin's "Hey, Hey What Can I Do" on the "Age of Atlantic" samplers.
The first one that I bought was Island's "Nice Enough To Eat" which introduced me to Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, King Crimson and many more.
In the digital age, Amazon used to give free downloads, but that seems to have stopped. However, artists often make music available to download for free in exchange for an email address.
I suppose music is still effectively free to listen to on the radio and YouTube, but I do like to have the music and make sure the artist gets something from me.
Well, I am looking out at the blue sky and sunshine and think it's time to wake the neighbours by mowing my overgrown jungle of a lawn.
Today Fiona and Helen are doing a 26 Mile walk for MacMillan, which you can track here and donate here.
Have a most enjoyable day
The thing is, sometimes these flexidiscs contained exclusive music (at the time), I'm thinking Alice Cooper's "Slick Black Limousine" which was promoting "Billion Dollar Babies" and the interludes on the promo for the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street". These were both NME freebies, as it was my music mag of choice at the time. Both these were committed to cassette as soon as I got them, but were lost way back. They may be worth something now.
I recently bought a couple of flexidiscs from Long Play Cafe / Empire Records in The Grainger Market and was surprised that the Adam and The Ants one had no track name on, but is their take on The Village People's "YMCA" called apparently "IMCA". Because the flexidiscs slip, you need to put a couple of coins to stop the vinyl slipping. The other was by Hazel O'Connor, and you can see the details here. Later sounds actually started giving away vinyl EPs.
But in the sixties, we started getting loss leader compilations. At first, I thought these would be very expensive, but they were very cheap and full of amazing music. Again, these often contained music you couldn't get anywhere else, I'm thinking "America", Yes' ten-minute take on the Simon and Garfunkel song, and Led Zeppelin's "Hey, Hey What Can I Do" on the "Age of Atlantic" samplers.
The first one that I bought was Island's "Nice Enough To Eat" which introduced me to Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, King Crimson and many more.
In the digital age, Amazon used to give free downloads, but that seems to have stopped. However, artists often make music available to download for free in exchange for an email address.
I suppose music is still effectively free to listen to on the radio and YouTube, but I do like to have the music and make sure the artist gets something from me.
Well, I am looking out at the blue sky and sunshine and think it's time to wake the neighbours by mowing my overgrown jungle of a lawn.
Today Fiona and Helen are doing a 26 Mile walk for MacMillan, which you can track here and donate here.
Have a most enjoyable day
