Andy Zax
@andyzax.bsky.social
Music producer. Adjective deployer. Cultural gerontologist.
When I’m shopping for records, tedious albums with groovy covers are my greatest weakness. (This one is especially dull.)
November 10, 2025 at 7:39 PM
When I’m shopping for records, tedious albums with groovy covers are my greatest weakness. (This one is especially dull.)
It doesn’t get much shoddier than a single LP with 10 songs on each side and a running time of over an hour. But it’s the only Slade album I own, because it’s the only Slade album I can ever imagine wanting to own.
November 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
It doesn’t get much shoddier than a single LP with 10 songs on each side and a running time of over an hour. But it’s the only Slade album I own, because it’s the only Slade album I can ever imagine wanting to own.
Eight years ago tonight, I saw Peter Perrett play the comeback gig of the century in Camden, after which I returned to my hotel room and watched old Bullseye episodes on TV for three hours. A triumphant evening.
November 5, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Eight years ago tonight, I saw Peter Perrett play the comeback gig of the century in Camden, after which I returned to my hotel room and watched old Bullseye episodes on TV for three hours. A triumphant evening.
Farewell, Joseph Byrd.
![The United States Of America [mono mix] (Columbia, 1968)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:daj27owxvu6dr5mklwcenwmu/bafkreif7qjqkudg7ddrpeiio337bcixj4sfo62hcwzzlrw6hrjwocuzcju@jpeg)
November 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Farewell, Joseph Byrd.
A few days ago, I spent five hours in a vinyl bar in San Diego playing more than a hundred 7-inch singles for a remarkably tolerant and generous audience. I am certain that my best segue of the evening was “Mind Train” —> “Fingleheimer Stomp.”
November 2, 2025 at 6:57 PM
A few days ago, I spent five hours in a vinyl bar in San Diego playing more than a hundred 7-inch singles for a remarkably tolerant and generous audience. I am certain that my best segue of the evening was “Mind Train” —> “Fingleheimer Stomp.”
As you can see, I have done a bit of research on this.
October 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
As you can see, I have done a bit of research on this.
Soft Cell were the first group whose preferred mode of expression was not the album or the 45 but the 12-inch single, and this compilation is one of the half-dozen or so greatest releases of the ‘80s. #daveball
October 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Soft Cell were the first group whose preferred mode of expression was not the album or the 45 but the 12-inch single, and this compilation is one of the half-dozen or so greatest releases of the ‘80s. #daveball
Even after 20 years of obsessive listening and talmudic scholarship, I keep finding new things to love about The Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat. The anniversary edition sounds better than any previous LP or CD and adds a worthwhile unreleased track. They only made 500 copies; get one if you can.
October 19, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Even after 20 years of obsessive listening and talmudic scholarship, I keep finding new things to love about The Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat. The anniversary edition sounds better than any previous LP or CD and adds a worthwhile unreleased track. They only made 500 copies; get one if you can.
I would enjoy time-traveling back to 1969 just to visit the A&M Records promo department and “Well, actually…” the ignoramus responsible for the copy on this picture sleeve.
October 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I would enjoy time-traveling back to 1969 just to visit the A&M Records promo department and “Well, actually…” the ignoramus responsible for the copy on this picture sleeve.
A dreamy electric Brit-jazz LP from 1970 that’s in desperate need of a reissue. Henry Lowther was (and still is) a virtuoso trumpeter/violinist, who played Woodstock as a member of the luckless Keef Hartley Band. Next time I DJ out, I’m playing “Trav’lling Song” into Fairport’s “A Sailor’s Life.”
October 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
A dreamy electric Brit-jazz LP from 1970 that’s in desperate need of a reissue. Henry Lowther was (and still is) a virtuoso trumpeter/violinist, who played Woodstock as a member of the luckless Keef Hartley Band. Next time I DJ out, I’m playing “Trav’lling Song” into Fairport’s “A Sailor’s Life.”
While going through text messages from Kaleb—insert an image of Charlie Brown saying “sigh” here—I found this, from about a year ago. The point he was making applies to all of us.
September 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
While going through text messages from Kaleb—insert an image of Charlie Brown saying “sigh” here—I found this, from about a year ago. The point he was making applies to all of us.
A few months ago, I found a t-shirt I bought at a Dylan/Petty concert I took my grandmother to in 1986. I felt certain that the only person capable of appreciating its talismanic qualities was Kaleb, so I gave it to him and he was delighted (or he pretended to be). Anyway: I miss him.
September 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
A few months ago, I found a t-shirt I bought at a Dylan/Petty concert I took my grandmother to in 1986. I felt certain that the only person capable of appreciating its talismanic qualities was Kaleb, so I gave it to him and he was delighted (or he pretended to be). Anyway: I miss him.
“I’ve seen so much more F Troop than a normal person should see.”
—Kaleb Horton
—Kaleb Horton
September 27, 2025 at 4:58 PM
“I’ve seen so much more F Troop than a normal person should see.”
—Kaleb Horton
—Kaleb Horton
I've always assumed that it was Saville's homage to Hipgnosis's sleeve for Elegy by The Nice.
September 20, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I've always assumed that it was Saville's homage to Hipgnosis's sleeve for Elegy by The Nice.
This arrived just in time for #CDfriday. If you’ve never experienced “Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)”—the best thing Factory ever released that wasn’t by Joy Division or New Order—I would implore you to drop whatever you’re doing for the next eight minutes and listen to it.
![Section 25, From The Hip (Redux Edition) [Factory Benelux, 1984/2025]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:daj27owxvu6dr5mklwcenwmu/bafkreieezhlqip243227v5bdphdx46yt2nqjw5frakzscbdvornkj5fiai@jpeg)
September 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
This arrived just in time for #CDfriday. If you’ve never experienced “Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)”—the best thing Factory ever released that wasn’t by Joy Division or New Order—I would implore you to drop whatever you’re doing for the next eight minutes and listen to it.
It might only be the seventh or eighth greatest at this point.
#nowplaying
#nowplaying
September 19, 2025 at 2:32 AM
It might only be the seventh or eighth greatest at this point.
#nowplaying
#nowplaying
You ever just want to walk inside an album cover photo and hang out for a while?
September 10, 2025 at 7:46 PM
You ever just want to walk inside an album cover photo and hang out for a while?
One of those records that, each time I hear it, possesses the luminous and magical quality of being exponentially more terrible than I remember.
September 6, 2025 at 11:23 PM
One of those records that, each time I hear it, possesses the luminous and magical quality of being exponentially more terrible than I remember.
As soon as someone invents time travel, I’m going to London in 1974 to check out the action at Mr. Muffty’s.
September 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
As soon as someone invents time travel, I’m going to London in 1974 to check out the action at Mr. Muffty’s.
I played a stack of 12-inch singles from the ‘80s.
Thoughts:
1) No pop act of the era made better/smarter use of the 12-inch format than Soft Cell.
2) “More More More” has a sleeve illustration by Serge Clerc that makes the actual song about 300% better.
3) “Buffalo Gals” has not aged well.
Thoughts:
1) No pop act of the era made better/smarter use of the 12-inch format than Soft Cell.
2) “More More More” has a sleeve illustration by Serge Clerc that makes the actual song about 300% better.
3) “Buffalo Gals” has not aged well.
September 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM
I played a stack of 12-inch singles from the ‘80s.
Thoughts:
1) No pop act of the era made better/smarter use of the 12-inch format than Soft Cell.
2) “More More More” has a sleeve illustration by Serge Clerc that makes the actual song about 300% better.
3) “Buffalo Gals” has not aged well.
Thoughts:
1) No pop act of the era made better/smarter use of the 12-inch format than Soft Cell.
2) “More More More” has a sleeve illustration by Serge Clerc that makes the actual song about 300% better.
3) “Buffalo Gals” has not aged well.
Few albums have created as clear a dividing line between “before this” and “after this.” Happy 60th.
August 31, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Few albums have created as clear a dividing line between “before this” and “after this.” Happy 60th.
It was a great experience. Thank you!
August 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM
It was a great experience. Thank you!
I realize that in the early ‘70s Warner/Reprise was too busy selling millions of James Taylor and Black Sabbath and Neil Young records to bother attempting to market the albums their ex-VU A&R guy was making, but it’s hilarious that Paris 1919 never got a single release and Academy In Peril did.
August 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I realize that in the early ‘70s Warner/Reprise was too busy selling millions of James Taylor and Black Sabbath and Neil Young records to bother attempting to market the albums their ex-VU A&R guy was making, but it’s hilarious that Paris 1919 never got a single release and Academy In Peril did.