Amsterdam Russ

Have been out a couple of times with my new camera. Much to learn about it yet - where functions are, what new things it can do that my previous camera couldn't, and generally getting a sense of how it performs. Give it a month or two and I'm hoping that I'll be as familiar and confident with it as I was the old one. This first batch was taken in the Amsterdam woods early evening when there was a beautiful golden light all around. These were taken earlier today at a Napoleonic water fort, of which there are a good number in the Netherlands.

Another one here that's never had tippex on it.

Off topic, I know, but worthy of a reply, I feel... You may jest, and as comedic as it may sound, living in the Netherlands and occasionally playing records at the Amsterdam Soul Club and other places, that's exactly what I do. I don't have a car and so cycle everywhere. Pannier choice is made entirely with record boxes and 12" vinyl in mind. My bike can take a 120 count singles box on each side. Or I can mix and match with smaller 45 boxes & some 12's if needed. Before moving house last December, the cycle ride to the Amsterdam Soul Club was 8 miles, and half of that's through the pitch dark Amsterdam woods. Now that I've moved it's 11 miles there and 11 miles back - and it's not always a smooth ride, particularly when it's tipping it down and you can't see where you're going. Always relatively easy on the outbound journey, but often a bit tricker after a good few beers at three or four in the morning! It may seem trivial to some, but how to transport records from home to venue is actually of quite some importance to me and to others - hence why this whole discussion about record bags is taking place.

Still looking for a copy...

Here you go, Barry...

Yup, several discussions in the archives on cleaning with wood glue. I find it can work very well. Better on vinyl than styrene though.

Nice! Just bought me a copy…

Records received safely today, Phil. Thanks! And do excuse me - for some unknown reason I thought the Rail Band came out of Dakar/Senegal. Having read the notes on the card that came with the 45, I see now that it's actually neighbouring Mali! Regardless, two great tunes. Cheers!

Artists, musicians, producers, arrangers, song writers, label owners… They're all worthy of recognition and all worthy of a category in any 'soul music' hall of fame. As I said in the earlier post, I think it's a great idea. Not only would it bestow a sort of 'official' accolade/recognition upon recipients, but it would also give tremendous kudos to Soul Source above and beyond the limited boundaries of its members. Top idea, Lorraine!

What an absolutely marvellous idea, Lorraine! Brilliant - and I'm all for it!

This went through eBay a day or two ago. Was it this one or another copy? Here's the link to it... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THE-CHARADES-LP-UNRELEASED-northern-soul-ACETATE-LISTEN-/111398575902?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item19efdf5f1e&nma=true&si=lXHr4i%252BkcIQA%252Bw79P87NHDdpB9Y%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Thank you very much! I'm chuffed that you think so.

We had three great weeks on the lovely Greek island of Lesvos not long ago. I'm just sorting through the holiday snaps now and this one immediately stood out for me. It was taken from the balcony of our apartment. I stood there for ages, camera poised, hoping that one of the many swallows, swifts and martins might cut across the scene of the sun rapidly setting into the Aegean sea. The waiting was worth it!

As a buyer, I actively ask sellers if they would be kind enough to provide feedback for me after I've done the same for them. It doesn't work and to-date I've amassed just one feedback.

Still looking...

It is a lot of money, Steve, and how you spend it is entirely down to you. That goes without saying. I'm sure it will give you great pleasure for a good number of years. It's very much like buying records in many respects. They're all indulgences - and we're very much the lucky ones in that we can afford indulgences; we have the quality of life in the main to do so. That said, stuff the camera - I wish I could afford to spend that amount on a decent lens or two

Under two grand? Good Lord! I just upgraded my aged 10 mega pixel Nikon D80 last week to a 24.2 mega pixel Nikon D3200 for the euro equivalent of £265. And there's a 50 euro cash back voucher with it, so approx £220 in total! Each to their own, of course

A friendly squirrel who couldn't resist coming up to say hello.

Excellent! Will look out for it...

Looking for a good clean copy of Sonji Clay - Deeper in my heart (American Music Maker). Postage is to the Netherlands. Please get in touch via PM. Thanks!

Great 45 - just bought a copy a couple of days ago. Like the flip very much indeed - very much in line with the Dakar sound I'm familiar with through the music of the wonderful Orchestra Baobab. Big thumbs-up all round.

Obvious stuff like Chuck Woods - Seven days, Solomon Burke - Cry to me, Dobie Gray... Not so much 'Northern' as 60s club classics, but it was a great surprise to be hearing this stuff on a Friday night bowling session on the outskirts of Amstelveen. Thought it probably a one-off, but they played similar stuff on another occasion, too. It's everywhere!

In bowling alleys in the wilderness of the Netherlands that exists beyond Amsterdam...

There was a study some years back into the changes that happen to the brains of would-be "Black Cab" drivers in London when they study 'the Knowledge'. I wonder if the ability to store and process vast amounts of geographical data - as in the case of licensed taxi drives - is in some way similar to the memory recall experienced some collectors relative to label and other data. Here are some snippets from a news report on the study: Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111208125720.htm