Today’s vinyl find is The Dramatics’ 1979 LP “Anytime, Anyplace.” As far as I know, this record has not been released since it’s original vinyl release, save for perhaps a few repressings into the ’80s.
It was common practice in the late ’70s to retool some of the soul greats for the disco era, and this record is a prime example. Sure, it’s nowhere near the same league as The Dramatics’ work for Stax, but there are a few decent tracks here nonetheless. Definitely a few nice samples to be harvested, and that’s really part of what this little vinyl excavation project is all about: finding ultimately forgettable records from decades ago, and digging out a few gems. Even though it’s kind of sad that what these guys put at least a few months of work into only produces a few seconds of truly enjoyable music 30 years later, it shows that there was still something there in what was probably a contractual obligation. As long as it provided a paycheck for them, I’m happy. I sure love tracks like What’cha See Is What’cha Get, and I would feel good if putting out what amount to ultimately sub-par records put food on the table, ya know? You’ll notice that Love Birds starts out an awful lot like In The Rain.
Anyway, here are a few of the better tracks to check out.
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I Think About You
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Stranger (In My Life)
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Love Birds
Tracklisting:
- I Just Wanna Dance With You
- Bottom Line Woman
- That’s My Favorite Song
- I Think About You
- Get With the Band and Dance
- Life Is Just a Playground
- I’m Hooked on You
- Stranger (In My Life)
- Love Birds
- Marriage on Paper Only
Okay, so I was WAY late to the party on this one. I’m sure a lot of people have already heard this record, but consider this a PSA to anyone like me who missed it. 
Most of the records I post will likely be soul/R&B, but I have a wide variety of tastes (and vinyl), so I will be mixing it up regularly. Sunday after Valentine’s Day sounds pretty laid back to me, so here’s some nice out-of-print easy listening to help.
This is the first post in what is to become a series (no, not two years between posts) of postings of not-necessarily-rare but definitely out-of-print and relatively obscure vinyl. Today, it’s the solo debut from Ray Parker Jr, a long-time session musician/songwriter, frontman from ’70s funk group Raydio, and best known for the mega-hit theme from the 1984 film Ghostbusters.
of the full album that is out on MCA Special Products. All of Billy’s stuff is fairly obscure, and although there are a few comp discs of his work out there, pretty much anything you could want is on this one. Long story short; $6.98 well spent!