May 2021 - Vinyl Spins Challenge Thread

Joe Mac

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Hey!

So some madman put me in charge of one of these again! I think I just confused everyone last time with some random topics! That was all the way back in our old home in the apartment we outgrew above a Very Meaty Pizza Store.

So there are no rules if you’re just having fun but I’m going to keep tabs and do a little competition based on original picks that are either perfect for the theme, or that entertain me in their reasoning the most. For that:

1. Day runs on GMT+1 because right now I do and I don’t need extra maths in my life.
2. Catch ups are all good gravy but posts jumping the gun won’t be counted toward the gun competition element.
3. Pick something original. So no duplicates within a day or across your own month.
4. Duplicate ban is suspended for Day 18 - N&G AoTM. I want to see your favourite. Also if you don’t own one please stream one and it counts. Just promise to have a look back through the past picks and consider buying one/joining in with the threads.
5. Tell a story. Let me know why it hits the theme or why you love it or just randomly digress into a meandering tale that means nothing to do with anything here at all because why not.

So without further ado:

Day 1: Worker’s Unite

So today was set as International Workers Day by the Socialists and Communists of the Second International. Celebrate by playing something by a Socialist or a Communist or about ones or even just something that celebrates the working classes or working class values!

Day 2: Difficult Second Album

Pick an album where you think the artist has made light of such notions and absolutely smashed it out of the park.

Day 3: Celebrate Spring

This is the May Day bank holiday over here. Before the socialists made it a Labour day it was our traditional date to have festivals celebrating spring. Play an album that fills you with the joy, beauty and fresh hope that spring encapsulates.

Day 4: May the Fouth Be With You

Interpret this one as you will

Day 5: Christopher Columbus

On May 5th 1494 Christopher Columbus landed in the island of Jamaica and claimed it for Spain. Play something either Jamaican or Spanish.

Day 6: Sing A Sad Song

Sad songs are always the most beautiful. Pick an album that contains a song that makes you feel all the feelings.

Day 7: Fri-Yay

Play me some Friday party tunes!

Day 8: VE Day

8th May 1945: Victory in Europe. Play an album that represents a triumph over adversity.

Day 9: No Jazz Sunday

A returning favourite from my last outing. Play me anything so long as it isnt jazz...

Day 10: The Year of the Lockdown

So it’s been almost 14 months since the first lockdowns and here we are still in a restrictive full lockdown situation. Play me music that represents that feeling of isolation that the last year and a bit has confronted us with.

Day 11: Maturity

Play an album by an artist who sounds every bit as good, if not better, in their golden years as they did in their youth.

Day 12: I’ve Come To Wish You An Unhappy Birthday

One for the lolz. I’m 38 today and this is my second lockdown birthday! Help me wallow in growing older on my own and play me an album that you think I’ll hate!

Day 13: Unlucky For Some

Play me an album that you think of as unlucky or that was made in unlucky circumstances or maybe even by unlucky people.

Day 14: Pop

It’s another Friday! It’s party time! Play me some pop bangers. Bonus points for an accompanying selfie of you partaking in your favourite Friday night tipple!

Day 15: Hungover

So we got far too drunk listening to those bangers last night. Play some music to sooth the sore head and tortured soul.

Day 16: Classical

It’s a Sunday. After the shenanigans of the last two days let’s get all high brow. Play me a nice piece of classical or modern classical music.

Day 17: Irish Tunes

So I live in Ireland. Play me an album by an artist born on these shores.

Day 18: N&G AoTM

As you’re all aware I’m a huge fan of and participant in the N&G AoTMs! Play your favourite out of the 23 today (or 24 if @bfly has been rumbled by now).

Day 19: Family

Play an album that you were introduced to in your youth by your family and that you still love today.

Day 20: Scottish Tunes

The country my Dad is from. Play me something by an artist born in Scotland.

Day 21: Friday Night Soul

Play me some smooth soul sounds to soundtrack my Friday night.

Day 22: Ugly Duckling

So 22 is 2 ducks in bingo calling. We all know the tale of the ugly duckling. Play an album by an artist that grew into something special after a less than auspicious start.

Day 23: Food

So Sunday is all about having a big Sunday meal, traditionally a roast over here, surrounded by family. Play me some music that you love to cook to. Bonus points for a picture of your culinary inventions!

Day 24: Bob Dylan’s Birthday

Bob is 79. Play something by him or something you think he’d like.

Day 25: War! Huh! What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing At All!

The military industrial complex and the fetishisation of military and military personnel are really worrying for a pacifist like me. I see it all as a huge threats to the future of democracy.

Play me anti war protest music or music by a pacifist or about pacifism.

Day 26: Black Lives Matter

No more needs saying.

Day 27: Celebrate Women

Again no more needs saying

Day 28: Friday I’m In Love

Play a love song or a song that gives you that special giddy feeling.

Day 29: Play Me Something English

It’s where I was born. Bonus points for Mancunian acts!

Day 30: Unloved

Play an album that you bought prior to 2021 but that you haven’t yet got around to spinning this year.

Day 31: We’ve Come To The End Of The Line

The month is over and you’ve all no doubt bought the usual metric shit tonne of vinyl this month. Spin your favourite May grab for me today.
 
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Day 1: Worker’s Unite

Always in the corner of the working man and pushing for worker's rights...

Billy Bragg - Talking With The Taxman About Poetry

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Talk about nailing the brief and picking a fantastic album straight out of the gate! Out of the park! Here’s hoping the rest of the months posts live up to this!
 
Day 1: Workers Unite

Manic Street Preachers - Send Away The Tigers

The most intelligent, most articulate and the angriest of the britpop acts. The indiscriminately skewered what they saw as the hypocrisy of the industry and other acts and were openly feminist long before that was a thing that male acts were. Always on point, always hard left and they never forgot their roots.

Bonus points, this album contains a cover of working class hero. It was a hidden track on the CD back in 2007 and was promoted to being the album closer for the 10th anniversary vinyl reissue that I’m spinning.

 
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