Vinyl Review

• Album Title: Big Bam Boom
• Date Purchased: 28th March 2006
• Purchase Location: Rocket Records, Poole, Dorset
• Price Paid: £4
• Matrix Tags: AFLI-5309-A-INT-13 B-1594 A-1 & AFLI-5301-B-INT-14B-1594 B-2
• Cover Condition: VG
• Sleeve Condition: VG +
• Record Condition: VG +

Up until purchasing this record I could not have told you any track by Hall & Oates that I had ever listened to. I knew the name, mainly due to references in films I had seen, but they had never been on my direct radar or recognisable in the background of my life. I literally only purchased this record because I knew the name and it was £4!!!!

Side one kicked in and I immediately heard a track from multiple films I had seen over the years. I just never knew who it was. Unlike my other purchases that had been made on this trip out, this was a revelation in terms of quality for a second hand record, found in a bin on the floor of a small vinyl shop that seemed to focus more on CD’s and DVD’s. This was better than brand new records I have bought. The sound was clean, even on the lead in and run out. There are a few minor marks on the vinyl when looking at it visually but done of these are audible during playback.

Side two continued the theme of side one. Tracks I have actually heard over the years, with just no clue who it was. The quality of the pressing and playback was just fantastic.

Album opinion: This record is a bit of a revelation. If you already know Hall and Oates then you know what you are getting. I have also learned that some of the track on this record will be pretty iconic for existing fans. If you have never really bothered listening to them before then I suggest you try and find this album. It has truly surprised me in how much I loved listening to the music properly for the first time in my life. I will be revising these guys and enjoyed the album so much I might track down at least another album to the collection and expand their presence in my listening life. I might even look at adding some of these to my media centre NAS so I can stream this album from time to time as well. Now that is a BIG recommendation.

Overall this record has to go down as one my my rare gems. Both from the unexpected quality of what I was buying and the price I paid, along with how much I enjoyed listening to the music I had actually heard in the background of films for most of my life.

Conclusion – a fantastic addition to the library.