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!
