Saturday, April 16th is Record Store Day all over the world I guess, and I don’t know who started it or how long it’s been around, but record companies have embraced the occasion by releasing rare collectables on that day.
The most recent addition is a double A side 78rpm vinyl of The Beach Boys two classic SMiLE era tunes, “Good Vibrations” and “Heroes And Villains”.
Ok, so we all know that vinyl is “back”, but 78 rpm? This is actually a trend that we may see more of believe it or not. Many of the newer turntables being sold right now have the faster speed available, and although I make no claim to being an audiophile, it makes sense if you think about it that faster RPM’s combined with wider grooves etched into the vinyl result in better sound quality.
A recent re-issue of XTC’s “Skylarking” that came out late last year was released as a two record vinyl set at 45rpm speed. The result was nothing less than incredible. It’s also been rumoured that Frank Zappa’s classic “Hot Rats” album will also see a vinyl release soon in a faster speed format.
The release also adds fuel to the smoldering fire that suggests that Capitol Records has a plan at least in principle to release the unfinished SMiLE tapes as a box set or some other format. Those of us who have longed forever to see official release of this material have the right to be somewhat jaded because A) we’ve already got the stuff on bootlegs and B) we’ve fallen for this trick before. It still makes me wonder though as to what’s actually inside the deep dark catacombs of the Capitol Records vaults, and is there actually something of substance that we in fact have not heard yet.
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