Comments on: Fate as the DJ: Parallel Grooves http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:32:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Krissi B http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-1822 Krissi B Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:23:20 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-1822 my gran had a horse racing one called "the wackiest races on record" made by EMF... i think it had 16 grooves, i love the comment about the roulette vinyl though, very clever stuff... my gran had a horse racing one called “the wackiest races on record” made by
EMF… i think it had 16 grooves, i love the comment about the roulette vinyl though, very clever stuff…

]]> By: Bruce http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-1787 Bruce Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:11:53 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-1787 Hello -- just doing a little bit of research before listing an LP I have on ebay. It's called "Fabulous Las Vegas Roulette," a product of Multi-Track Sound Enterprises in Glendale California, from 1974. One side talks about the game of roulette, and the other has 38 different parallel grooves, each with a different outcome in the roulette game. It also comes with a paper foldout game board, so that you can "play roulette" at home with your friends. So far, this seems like the largest number of parallel grooves on a record I've seen documented, and thought you might like to know about it. Hello — just doing a little bit of research before listing an LP I have on
ebay. It’s called “Fabulous Las Vegas Roulette,” a product of Multi-Track Sound Enterprises in Glendale California, from 1974. One side talks about the game of roulette, and the other has 38 different parallel grooves, each with a different outcome in the roulette game. It also comes with a paper foldout game board, so that you can “play roulette” at home with your friends. So far, this seems like the largest number of parallel grooves on a record I’ve seen documented, and thought you might like to know about it.

]]> By: Clint Davis http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-940 Clint Davis Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:56:43 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-940 Mr. Kempa - I really appreciate the effort you have apparently made in researching old records. I'm trying to recover an important, forgotten bit of my youth when I was 3 or 4, circa 1952. I distinctly remember a 78 rpm parallel groove record with about 4 tracks, probably on the standard 10-inch diameter disc. It was sort of a mystery or discovery narrative, where the very end of each track would say "it was a ---", then I picked up the needle arm and reset it to the beginning to see which alternative story would start over. It seems the "it was a" referred to some kind of animal or something like that that a small child would be very interested in hearing about. Mr. Kempa – I really appreciate the effort you have apparently made in
researching old records. I’m trying to recover an important, forgotten bit of my youth when I was 3 or 4, circa 1952. I distinctly remember a 78 rpm parallel groove record with about 4 tracks, probably on the standard 10-inch diameter disc. It was sort of a mystery or discovery narrative, where the very end of
each track would say “it was a —”, then I picked up the needle arm and reset it to the beginning to see which alternative story would start over. It seems the “it was a” referred to some kind of animal or something like that that a small child would be very interested in hearing about.

]]> By: andy http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-896 andy Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:28:35 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-896 UK indie band terrorvision did this with the 10" single of their song 'Easy'. Side A either played the studio recording of Easy or a live recording depending which parallel groove you got. It was also on clear vinyl. ace! UK indie band terrorvision did this with the 10″ single of their song ‘Easy’.

Side A either played the studio recording of Easy or a live recording depending which parallel groove you got.

It was also on clear vinyl. ace!

]]> By: Joseph Nelson http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-892 Joseph Nelson Mon, 03 Sep 2007 05:00:41 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-892 I don't have this any more so I don't have the record number details at hand, but I used to have a two-record 78 set on Atlantic Records for Children called "The Ever-So-Many Amazing Adventures of Johnny". Four sides, four grooves per side, for a total of 256 possible combinations. The four grooves converged into a single groove at the end of Side Four, where Johnny's mother wakes him up and he realizes the whole thing was a dream. (The convergence was just an earlier occurence of the common connection of multiples before the trail-off groove, only here it happened in mid-side. God knows what a bitch this must have been to cut.) I don’t have this any more so I don’t have the record number details at hand, but I used to have a two-record 78 set on Atlantic Records for Children called “The Ever-So-Many Amazing Adventures of Johnny”. Four sides, four grooves per side, for a total of 256 possible combinations. The four grooves converged into a single groove at the end of Side Four, where Johnny’s mother wakes him up and he realizes the whole thing was a dream. (The convergence was just an earlier occurence of the common connection of multiples before the trail-off groove, only here it happened in mid-side. God knows what a bitch this must have been to cut.)

]]> By: Eric http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Eric Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:55:12 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-40 Nice article! Someone mentioned the 'pull the string/move the lever' toys...I have a Mattel 'Teach and learn' computer from 1980 that used cd sized white discs to play games (1 per side). An internal IC chip could time sync the rotation and drop the needle at the right track it wanted to play. I think most discs had 30 tracks per side-it used mechanical playback, and had a flat keyboard with inserts (and sometimes game pieces) for its 'software' I currently own 2 players and about 30 discs. Also: The Tomy 'Cosmic Clash' game used a 4-track record for its sounds. Nice article!
Someone mentioned the ‘pull the string/move the lever’ toys…I have a Mattel ‘Teach and learn’ computer from 1980 that used cd sized white discs to play games (1 per side). An internal IC chip could time sync the rotation and drop the needle at the right track it wanted to play. I think most discs had 30 tracks per side-it used mechanical playback, and had a flat keyboard with inserts (and sometimes game pieces) for its ‘software’
I currently own 2 players and about 30 discs.
Also:
The Tomy ‘Cosmic Clash’ game used a 4-track record for its sounds.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Aaron Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:50:20 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-39 There is also a "three-sided" 12" by De La Soul. Me Myself and I Tommy Boy 926 B. It is great. The "3rd" side is called "Brain Washed Follower". It is very rare at this point in time as it was pressed in 1989. There is also a “three-sided” 12″ by De La Soul. Me Myself and I
Tommy Boy 926 B. It is great. The “3rd” side is called “Brain Washed
Follower”. It is very rare at this point in time as it was pressed in
1989.

]]> By: dr. dub http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-38 dr. dub Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:44:48 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-38 if you need one off cuts, containing double grooves, contact us at dr. dub vinylrecording studio - www.drdub.com if you need one off cuts, containing double grooves, contact us at dr. dub vinylrecording studio – http://www.drdub.com

]]> By: Ben http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Ben Mon, 14 Nov 2005 08:23:47 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-37 Parallel groove records were used a lot in the manufacturing of kids toys back in the 1980s. Before computers were used to make toys talk, they usually came with little record players on the inside that played speech. One toy that I specifically remember was the one with the spinning arrow that you pointed at an animal, pulled the string, and the toy would then say "this is the sound a (chosen animal) makes" and would then make the noise. I took this thing apart years ago when I was a kid, and I can't remember how they calibrated this thing to choose the right groove for the right animal (I'm guessing the big arrow moved the record), but it was funny when the thing went out of whack. Another toy I had with a parallel groove record was a toy robot which I think was made by Tomy. it had a button you pressed on it's head, and it would either play a siren, or it would talk. I had to take this one apart too, and found a small record player inside. Parallel groove records were used a lot in the manufacturing of kids toys back in the 1980s. Before computers were used to make toys talk, they usually came with little record players on the inside that played speech. One toy that I specifically remember was the one with the spinning arrow that you pointed at an animal, pulled the string, and the toy would then say “this is the sound a (chosen animal) makes” and would then make the noise. I took this thing apart years ago when I was a kid, and I can’t remember how they calibrated this thing to choose the right groove for the right animal (I’m guessing the big arrow moved the record), but it was funny when the thing went out of whack.

Another toy I had with a parallel groove record was a toy robot which I think was made by Tomy. it had a button you pressed on it’s head, and it would either play a siren, or it would talk. I had to take this one apart too, and found a small record player inside.

]]> By: Tabula Rasa http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Tabula Rasa Tue, 26 Oct 2004 12:45:41 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-36 Yeah, the I AM SPOONBENDER TELETWIN record is called a '3-sided 12" ' by the group, and from what i've read was done for conceptual purposes- they use Duchampian/Cage-ian 'chance operations', so there was an element of chance dictating the group of songs you heard when dropping the needle. also, the title TELETWIN and the 3 sided record idea seems to refer to William S. Burroughs concept of the 'third mind'- ie; when 2 creative minds collaborate, a third mind presides over the end result. i read somewhere that Dustin from the group got the idea after realizing that numerologically, 12" is the number 3 (1+2=3). yes, the record is just as interesting. Yeah, the I AM SPOONBENDER TELETWIN record is called a ’3-sided 12″ ‘ by the group, and from what i’ve read was done for conceptual purposes- they use Duchampian/Cage-ian ‘chance operations’, so there was an element of chance dictating the group of songs you heard when dropping the needle. also, the title TELETWIN and the 3 sided record idea seems to refer to William S. Burroughs concept of the ‘third mind’- ie; when 2 creative minds collaborate, a third mind presides over the end result. i read somewhere that Dustin from the group got the idea after realizing that numerologically, 12″ is the number 3 (1+2=3). yes, the record is just as interesting.

]]> By: Andy http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Andy Wed, 14 Jul 2004 20:50:43 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-35 I used to DJ at an indie disco in the early 90s, and used to get requests for Sonic Youth's 100% all the time. My copy of their album was scratched so wouldn't play, so I had to resort to the 10" "concentric groove" i'd also bought. I used to pray no-one would start pogo-ing on the dancefloor or something, as the parallel track to 100% was (iirc) "Creme Brulee", which is rather erm, sedate. I used to DJ at an indie disco in the early 90s, and used to get requests for Sonic Youth’s 100% all the time. My copy of their album was scratched so wouldn’t play, so I had to resort to the 10″ “concentric groove” i’d also bought. I used to pray no-one would start pogo-ing on the dancefloor or something, as the parallel track to 100% was (iirc) “Creme Brulee”, which is rather erm, sedate.

]]> By: Kenny L http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Kenny L Sat, 05 Jun 2004 21:43:43 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-34 Of course there was never an actual tie in any Monty Python record - the deal is that the label was so cheap that they quickly discontinued the inner sleeve with the tie printed on it, so that the die cut outer sleeve just looked stupid with a white inner sleeve (or worse, the record) peeking out. "Matching Tie And Handkerchief" was claimed to be "the world's first three-sided record" - at least in Python reference books, and yes, later pressings also dropped the trick groove. Also, I've never heard of the Monty Python Tiny Black Round Thing (Lumberjack Song/Election '74) having abnormal grooving of any sort. (As soon as I find my reference book on general comedy records, I'll be back for further debunking...) Of course there was never an actual tie in any Monty Python record – the deal is that the label was so cheap that they quickly discontinued the inner sleeve with the tie printed on it, so that the die cut outer sleeve just looked stupid with a white inner sleeve (or worse, the record) peeking out. “Matching Tie And Handkerchief” was claimed to be “the world’s first three-sided record” – at least in Python reference books, and yes, later pressings also dropped the trick groove.

Also, I’ve never heard of the Monty Python Tiny Black Round Thing (Lumberjack Song/Election ’74) having abnormal grooving of any sort.

(As soon as I find my reference book on general comedy records, I’ll be back for further debunking…)

]]> By: Dithermaster http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Dithermaster Fri, 07 May 2004 01:38:05 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-33 When I was little I ripped apart one of those alphabet pointer toys (you know, you turn the arrow/hand/whatever and pull the string and it says "A.. Apple!"). It had a little record in it with 26 parallel grooves! The stylus had a plastic cone on it -- no electronics at all. Now they are all electronic, of course. I'm old. Today is my birthday, so I feel even older. ///d@ When I was little I ripped apart one of those alphabet pointer toys (you know, you turn the arrow/hand/whatever and pull the string and it says “A.. Apple!”). It had a little record in it with 26 parallel grooves! The stylus had a plastic cone on it — no electronics at all. Now they are all electronic, of course. I’m old. Today is my birthday, so I feel even older.
///d@

]]> By: Peter A http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Peter A Mon, 19 Apr 2004 15:07:06 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-32 cheers on the round up! The one example I've got is an Underground resistance 12" (Hidden in Plain Sight) That has one side with a paralell groove. The slightest degree of needle dustage spits you from track one to track two! cheers on the round up! The one example I’ve got is an Underground resistance 12″ (Hidden in Plain Sight) That has one side with a paralell groove. The slightest degree of needle dustage spits you from track one to track two!

]]> By: Jenny Turner http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Jenny Turner Wed, 31 Mar 2004 01:28:05 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-31 Hi, Fascinating article there. I have a couple of other interesting items with parallel grooves: A 12" single "Fascinating Eyes" by Camilla's Little Secret from 1990. This actually had adverts in NME and Melody Maker that said "different every time you play it!" though that was a bit of an exageration. It contained four different performances of the song, in the form of two parallel grooves on each side, and the labels were the same on both sides so that you couldn't tell which side you were putting on (short of holding it to the light to read the run-out groove), so in effect you got a random choice from four. The song wasn't up to much, though. Also I have the racing game another of your correspondents mentions. It's called "They're Off!" and comprises three double-sided discs with eight (!) parallel grooves on each side, plus "form guides", betting slips and toy money. As for the Monty Python album, I'm pretty sure it never actually came with a real tie, just the sliding card pictured in your article. Mind you, it comes with a free record, so who can complain? Cheers, Jenny Turner Hi,

Fascinating article there. I have a couple of other interesting items with parallel grooves:

A 12″ single “Fascinating Eyes” by Camilla’s Little Secret from 1990. This actually had adverts in NME and Melody Maker that said “different every time you play it!” though that was a bit of an exageration. It contained four different performances of the song, in the form of two parallel grooves on each side, and the labels were the same on both sides so that you couldn’t tell which side you were putting on (short of holding it to the light to read the run-out groove), so in effect you got a random choice from four. The song wasn’t up to much, though.

Also I have the racing game another of your correspondents mentions. It’s called “They’re Off!” and comprises three double-sided discs with eight (!) parallel grooves on each side, plus “form guides”, betting slips and toy money.

As for the Monty Python album, I’m pretty sure it never actually came with a real tie, just the sliding card pictured in your article. Mind you, it comes with a free record, so who can complain?

Cheers,
Jenny Turner

]]> By: Chris Groves http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Chris Groves Wed, 31 Mar 2004 00:42:12 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-30 Hi - I have two records with parallel grooves which are missing from your site. The first is the 12" pressing of 'Disco Volante' by Mr. Bungle, track three - "Carry Stress In The Jaw" is parallel-grooeved with a song generally known as 'The Secret Song' - the secret song is hidden and not played should you simply play the 12" from start to finish. But if you drop the needle in, lo and behold it may appear. Release by Warner Brothers in 1995. The second is 'Necrogenometry' 7" by Faxed Head. Two different versions of the song 'Spanish Rice' are parallel grooved. Release by Amarillo Records in...... 1994? 1995? Best, Chris. Hi – I have two records with parallel grooves which are missing from your site.

The first is the 12″ pressing of ‘Disco Volante’ by Mr. Bungle, track
three – “Carry Stress In The Jaw” is parallel-grooeved with a song
generally known as ‘The Secret Song’ – the secret song is hidden and not
played should you simply play the 12″ from start to finish. But if you
drop the needle in, lo and behold it may appear. Release by Warner
Brothers in 1995.

The second is ‘Necrogenometry’ 7″ by Faxed Head. Two different versions
of the song ‘Spanish Rice’ are parallel grooved. Release by Amarillo
Records in…… 1994? 1995?

Best,
Chris.

]]> By: metrotextual http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-29 metrotextual Mon, 29 Mar 2004 04:28:32 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-29 Back in the old days (before some bastard robbed my flat in Edinburgh) I was a right slave to marketing - picture discs, flexi-discs, gatefolds, etched discs, you name it. I stumbled upon a 12" disc by Kiss (not normally a band I would have anything to do with) with Creatures Of The Night and Rock And Roll All Nite (Live) on one side and "laser etched" autographs on the other. It was crap. Back in the old days (before some bastard robbed my flat in Edinburgh) I was a right slave to marketing – picture discs, flexi-discs, gatefolds, etched discs, you name it. I stumbled upon a 12″ disc by Kiss (not normally a band I would have anything to do with) with Creatures Of The Night and Rock And Roll All Nite (Live) on one side and “laser etched” autographs on the other. It was crap.

]]> By: Beany http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Beany Mon, 29 Mar 2004 00:50:31 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-28 "The first parallel groove record I discovered (now sadly lost to a friend who 'borrowed' it) was a limited 12" of "Birthday" by the Sugarcubes." I had that record (not your copy) it's probably still in my parents loft in my old record boxes. Seem to remember it had distorted feedback and Jim Reid going 'Hey-hey-hey-hey' over the chorus on one of the tracks. Will have to pay me dear old mam a visit and dig it out again. “The first parallel groove record I discovered (now sadly lost to a friend who ‘borrowed’ it) was a limited 12″ of “Birthday” by the Sugarcubes.”

I had that record (not your copy) it’s probably still in my parents loft in my old record boxes. Seem to remember it had distorted feedback and Jim Reid going ‘Hey-hey-hey-hey’ over the chorus on one of the tracks.

Will have to pay me dear old mam a visit and dig it out again.

]]> By: devoid http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-27 devoid Sun, 28 Mar 2004 17:59:03 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-27 The first parallel groove record I discovered (now sadly lost to a friend who 'borrowed' it) was a limited 12" of "Birthday" by the Sugarcubes. The a-side had two Jesus and Mary Chain remixes of the track (Christmas Eve / Christams Day) in parallel grooves on the A-side - a real rarity.. catalog details below: Birthday Christmas Mix (Limited Edition) August 25, 1988. [OLI 12 TP 11L] A: Christmas Eve / Christmas Day - Jesus & Mary Chain Mixes B: Christmas Present. Petrol [Live] The first parallel groove record I discovered (now sadly lost to a friend who ‘borrowed’ it) was a limited 12″ of “Birthday” by the Sugarcubes.

The a-side had two Jesus and Mary Chain remixes of the track (Christmas Eve / Christams Day) in parallel grooves on the A-side – a real rarity.. catalog details below:

Birthday Christmas Mix (Limited Edition)
August 25, 1988. [OLI 12 TP 11L]
A: Christmas Eve / Christmas Day – Jesus & Mary Chain Mixes
B: Christmas Present. Petrol [Live]

]]> By: walker http://www.kempa.com/2004/02/26/fate-as-the-dj-parallel-grooves/comment-page-1/#comment-26 walker Fri, 26 Mar 2004 00:50:12 +0000 http://kempa.com/wp/?p=90#comment-26 there was a chris bowden release in the early 90's utilisising this teqnique. freaked me right out when i discoverered it. there was a chris bowden release in the early 90′s utilisising this teqnique. freaked me right out when i discoverered it.

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