Today
is this blog’s 20th anniversary. It’s a stretch to say
it has been active for all those years as, in recent times, there
have been quite a few, shall we say, hibernations. But, in any event,
I think it’s an anniversary worth noting.
I realise I’m noting this landmark with my first post of 2026
but let’s hope it kick starts me onto a few more posts this year. I
have one half written, started as long ago as the first week of
February. It would have been finished and posted back then but I then
felt a bit meh for a few days and it stopped me in my tracks.
Subsequently the words that were bouncing around inside my cranium
did no more than that – the writer’s block kicked in again. As I
say it’s half way there, although it was a bit of ramble. But with
a bit of editing and a following wind I am hopeful it will manifest
itself in another post soon.
I don’t do New Year’s resolution’s but at the start of the
year I made a decision that amounted to one I suppose. I have over
6,000 records now, and that is too many. So I have embarked on
something of a purge. Well, the intent is there at least, and I have
hardly bought anything in the charity shops this year either. I have
taken a methodical approach to this venture which has initially
involved documenting my album collection (1,700 + albums) on Discogs
so that our children might have a better idea of the records that are
actually of real monetary value in the event they are suddenly left
with this vinyl mountain. In ploughing through this task I have been
pulling out albums that I think I could let go. I am giving them one
last chance on the turntable to extend their life in my collection. I
say one last chance, in truth I think some of these records were
bought over the last 15 years or so and tucked away in the collection
without ever being played! I am having some success in the weeding
out, but I know I am not being ruthless enough, and I will need to
have another lap of the process next winter (summer is not the time
for such things).
I have made a few half hearted attempts at purges in the last 10
years or so. I find it almost impossible to purge records I bought
back in the 70s as I find I have a strong emotional tie to them, even
if they hardly ever get a play. I can picture them in the collection
and that seems sufficient, and can preserve the memories.
One such album I felt sure would be purged this time was my copy
of L.T.D’s Gittin’ Down.
I reckon I bought this in
1976. It
might have been 1977 though
as that was
when they had some success with the single Back In Love
Again, which
may have been the reason I was attracted to this album.
Anywaty, it
has been in the collection for about 50 years now! It has a sticker
on it that reminds me where I bought it – Disc ‘N’
Tape, on Bristol’s Gloucester
Rd, sadly no longer there, it
succumbed I think just before the vinyl comeback happened. I can
still picture the second hand bins where I bought a fair few records
(there were good bargains to be had), although the layout of the rest
of the shop is very fuzzy. So the album scores high on the memories
front but I think I have only
ever played it a handful of times. Anyway, onto the turntable it went
and I played it through, all of it …. and it’s a keeper!
L.T.D. (Love, Togetherness, & Devotion) were originally Sam &
Dave’s backing band (a fact I have only just discovered) and had a
run of 10 albums released between 1974 and 1983. Gittin’ Down
was their debut album. Jeffrey Osborne was one of their main
vocalists until he left the band in 1980 to go solo. In 1974, when
this album was released, it was all the rage for band members to have
their star signs shown on the album cover and so we learn L.T.D.
contained three Libra, two Sagittarius, one Cancer, one Pisces, one
Gemini, one Scorpio, and one Virgo.
I think after all these years I may have finally got around to
properly listening to this album, and what strikes me is the overall
upbeat feel. The interplay between the vocals and horns are great,
and the sound has what I can only describe as an open and airy
quality; it has a sort of joyous outdoorsy feel, “street” I
suppose. Now I come to think of it that is a feel I associate with a
number soul and funk albums from the early 70s. It’s very much of
its time and has firmly hit my nostalgia button.
The sound I might describe as light and airy, the album art maybe
a riot of bright colours on a white background, but this is one tough
album. It’s now survived probably three purges in recent years.
Back from the brink, and after some years ago being relegated to
Division Two in my own quirky way of organising my collection it has
now, proudly, properly taken it’s place in Division One.
L.T.D. – Groove For A Little While 1974
L.T.D. – Your Love Is The Answer 1974
PS. Happy Birthday Candi Staton!
