Back To The 70's

[bods1000]

Pareng Storm, vinyl sound does not necessarily include hiss and static as a given. If it were so, it is the result of improper care and maintenance of a record over the years. A second-hand lp (in decent shape) can still be 'salvaged' by cleaning. If done with one of those record-cleaning vacuums, it will remove at least 90% of surface noise. Most importantly, IMO, it cleans-up the midrange, where also 90% of the musical information is heard. If you have a good system (that's another topic), you will be highly rewarded. Whereas CD's offer the convenience of swithching around without having to leave your listening position, analog reproduction/LP maintenance is a different school altogether. When it comes to analog, the sound you get is the result of what you put into it. You can ask the hardcore audiophiles why they prefer the analog sound over digital. I'm not one of those (and I know a few...iba sila ), but I know just enough to know what I'm talking about.

 

I listen to both formats. There are CD's that are not available in LP.....and LP's that are not available in CD's. Analog draws you into the music a lot more, but to give credit to the digital age, they are slowly getting there. Not quite, pero darating din yan. Of course, theres also the question of how well your ears are trained to hear all these differences.

 

I'll say again that there IS an alternative to buying LP's in Makati Cinema Square if they don't have what you want (or the condition is lousy). If you're willing to spend just a littlle more, you can find the LP you want in the condition you want without leaving the country or spending in dollars. You can ask me about it at a future eb. :goatee:

 

Sir Bods, the store beside B's that closed down also belonged to him. In 2 words, rental costs.

 

aha, ok I didn't know that - I thought it belonged to another guy. That's the store, where, if you don't happen to find Bobby in his store, you'll find him playing tong-its with his friends

Nice take on analog, pare. If I may add, the imported LPs, even secondhand really sound great and keep well if you know how to care for them over the years. What's good about Bobby's merchandise is that they're so clean - he has this record-cleaning contraption in his store - and he will tell you if a certain LP you're interested in is clean or not kasi kung minsan natatago yung mga fine lines sa linis eh. Most of the locally-made LPs sold here in the 70's and 80's are so bad in quality - sabi nila ilang beses na daw tinunaw yung mga vinyl na yun to make another LP so the sound quality is bad. If you will start on a collection, better check out imports.

There's Mirage in GB3 that sells new (I mean not second-hand) LPs of classics, jazz masters and some pop but the price is so prohibitive - about P3000 for one sealed and new LP...

[bods1000]

Pare text me kung kailan ka pupunta sa MCS. Baka pwede ako sumama. Makadalaw jan.

Pare, idamay mo na rin ako kapag nag-eb tayo - joint 70s and wine savvy eb. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the info. I think I have a good system but I don't have a good turn table and the budget to buy one.

 

I'm usually there about the 15th or 16th of the month. Text you pare....

You don't have to have a big budget for a turntable pare, just start with a midlevel one like a Technics - if you can find one

Hindi ko na alam kung saan nakakabili ng mga phono players. Now if you begin to have a decent collection of really clean and great sounding LPs that's the time when you have to scout for a great phono player (like Bang & Olufsen; don't know what else, and again I don't know where to find them). Sa budget naman pare I know you won't have a problem eh hehehe

 

Bods, kumusta na? Haven't had time to post, as you can see. It's great that this thread is up and about. That just shows that the 70s was a great time in our lives. We not only relive memories, we even remember brands and places! Yes, please let's have EB soon. I'll bring my Maxell cassettes, some of which are 20 years old but still sound great. And I'm sure you can identify yourselves with the music. Storm, PM your cell. Think I lost it. So, buhay pa pala shop ni Bobby. Known him since the late 80s. Although I hear his LPs are a bit pricey, he can still get whatever you're looking for. I used to collect myself but sold them eventually.

 

Here a short 70s quiz (name song and artist/band)

 

1. I let my woman flow to her own natural rhythm...

2. Because I'm free, nothing's worrying me...

3. But the things we have, no one could ever take them...

4. The mountain is high, the valley is low, and you're confused on which way to go...

5. Crossroads seem to come and go...

6. American woman, she took my heart away...

7. I feel unhappy, I feel so sad, I've lost the best friend I've ever had...

8. Hello morning, good, good morning to the one I love...

9. Talk to me some more, you don't have to go...

10 So hello my friend, good to see you again...

 

I'm fine, pare, and it's good to see you back. Some EB is in the works I guess - stay tuned lang If you want magkita-kita na lang tayo sa MCS - Makati ka din naman diba?

[bods1000]

I sure remember those days too. When Lito G.'s audio shop opened in the early evenings, he'd have that "bench" where we could just sit down and talk with fellow music/audio fans...just hangin' around while listening to whatever he'd plug into.

 

Bobby's records have always been pricey (but to his credit, he's the most musical of those lp dealers). He'll tell you he can get you this record or that record, but it really depended on what you're looking for. If it were easy to find, kaya niya....pero in some cases, you would have to wait for a long time to get them, if he gets his hands on them at all. Sa akin, hirap siya....at bitin naman ako. On the pricing, it depends on a number of factors: the supply/demand of the record; the condition; the pressing (original pressings usually sound superior to re-issues); where it was pressed (US pressings are inferior to Japanese, UK, and German pressings); the reputation of the label's audio quality (RCA's Living Stereo series as a prime example), etc.. Bobby knows a lot about the used record "game", but I'm one of those clients he can't fool. I spent years hanging around used record stores in CA to begin with.....but he's cool naman.

 

I know that all this "record" stuff can sound a bit too meticulous for some, but I'm hoping this post may help those who need to know that it takes more time and effort to get the most of analog reproduction compared to how most people would handle cd's. It's more mabusisi talaga, but the rewards are like a 'natural high' when the music you hear moves from your ears to your heart. For those who just want to hear music in the background while talking to their friends, I'd suggest sticking with cd's. For those who think the Araneta Coliseum is a good-sounding concert venue, I'd also suggest sticking with cd's (please!). My take on MP3's: the technology's still too young. It still needs a lot of "tweaking" IMHO. If anything, it's portable and convenient.

 

when you're OC, then LP's are your thing. You can spend the whole day just cleaning out the album sleeves, jackets, read liner notes and clean the records themselves and you won't notice the time pass by LP's are made to be taken cared of - not like the cassettes or CD's now na pwede mong pag-balibagan and they'd be none the worse for wear - sa LP hindi pwede yun. TLC ang kailangan

 

pareng sally ang hirap naman nung quiz mo. Offhand I can only identify two or three - those by BJ Thomas and the Guess Who...

[starbuck911]

Nice take on analog, pare. If I may add, the imported LPs, even secondhand really sound great and keep well if you know how to care for them over the years. What's good about Bobby's merchandise is that they're so clean - he has this record-cleaning contraption in his store - and he will tell you if a certain LP you're interested in is clean or not kasi kung minsan natatago yung mga fine lines sa linis eh. Most of the locally-made LPs sold here in the 70's and 80's are so bad in quality - sabi nila ilang beses na daw tinunaw yung mga vinyl na yun to make another LP so the sound quality is bad. If you will start on a collection, better check out imports.

There's Mirage in GB3 that sells new (I mean not second-hand) LPs of classics, jazz masters and some pop but the price is so prohibitive - about P3000 for one sealed and new LP...

 

That record-cleaning contraption you're referring to is a VPI cleaner. There are manual models as well as semi-automatic and fully-automatic ones. There's also the Nitty Gritty brand which costs less, but still isn't cheap by any means. However, if you already have a large collection to begin with, it is an investment. That is the secret as to why some may think Bobby's stuff is clean. He didn't buy his records in that condition, you know. As long as your records have no deep scratches that you can feel with a dry finger, those cleaners can do the same to your collection. Who'd pay for a pricey record that's dirty-looking anyway?

 

As to that Mirage (and similar-type stores), they cater na to the hardcores who usually care more about the sound than they do about the music. Since some new releases still release limited lp editions as well as tried-and-true classics, it is these people that these outlets are catering to. The choices are limited, and they're too expensive.....but if you've got the $, good for you. The rest of us need not go that way (as our discussions are showing).

 

Having said that, we've only gone through the vinyl part. The system to play them on is another issue....because what you get out of your system will only sound as good as your worst component. It need not be expensive, but again, that's another topic.

[bods1000]

That record-cleaning contraption you're referring to is a VPI cleaner. There are manual models as well as semi-automatic and fully-automatic ones. There's also the Nitty Gritty brand which costs less, but still isn't cheap by any means. However, if you already have a large collection to begin with, it is an investment. That is the secret as to why some may think Bobby's stuff is clean. He didn't buy his records in that condition, you know. As long as your records have no deep scratches that you can feel with a dry finger, those cleaners can do the same to your collection. Who'd pay for a pricey record that's dirty-looking anyway?

 

As to that Mirage (and similar-type stores), they cater na to the hardcores who usually care more about the sound than they do about the music. Since some new releases still release limited lp editions as well as tried-and-true classics, it is these people that these outlets are catering to. The choices are limited, and they're too expensive.....but if you've got the $, good for you. The rest of us need not go that way (as our discussions are showing).

 

Having said that, we've only gone through the vinyl part. The system to play them on is another issue....because what you get out of your system will only sound as good as your worst component. It need not be expensive, but again, that's another topic.

 

My guess is that if Mirage didn't locate themselves in Greenbelt their LPs wouldn't cost that much, but of course their target clientele prowls these expensive malls. Not like us - ok na tayong tambay lang ng MCS

How much would that VPI cleaner be, pare, and where can it be found?

Sige pare get it on with that system. Some guys here might be interested and also, I might need information to upgrade mine...

[starbuck911]

1-by It's a Beautiful Day

2-by BJ Thomas

6-if that ain't the Guess Who song, i dunno

8-a soul ballad a friend used to drain my ears with. 4got who...

9-Phoebe Snow

10-if this is what i think it is, glad to see it here. I'll be darned (but happy) if a woman can guess this one...makes me want to come up with my own puzzle. :evil:

 

3-just as long as we have love...(or something like that).

8-for sure, that's the opening line...but i still can't remember who (i'll take a wild guess...main ingredient?)

 

if i got 3&6, i think i've got 7 so far. still waiting to see who'd guess #10.

 

you guys should keep me away from these tests. i have OC! :upside:

[storm]

1. I let my woman flow to her own natural rhythm... - sirit

2. Because I'm free, nothing's worrying me... - Raindrops keep faliing on my head, BJ Thomas, Burt Bacharach

3. But the things we have, no one could ever take them... - Just As Long As We Have Love, Spinners with Dione Warwick

4. The mountain is high, the valley is low, and you're confused on which way to go... - Free Ride, Edgar Winter

5. Crossroads seem to come and go...

6. American woman, she took my heart away...

7. I feel unhappy, I feel so sad, I've lost the best friend I've ever had...

8. Hello morning, good, good morning to the one I love... -Girl Blue, Stevie Wonder, Main Ingredient

9. Talk to me some more, you don't have to go...

10 So hello my friend, good to see you again...

 

Ang hirap nito pareng smb. Hindi ako nakabili nung mga LPs nito.

[augustmoon]

And who can remember that cute COMTRUST (bank) TV commercial featuring this pretty model named Myra Mendoza, I think ... does anybody recall the jingle? was that by Joe Mari Chan, too along with his famous Philippine Airlines "Love at 30,000 feet?"

 

Share ko lang..

 

Teejoe, the pretty girl in the COMTRUST commercial is MALOU ESTRELLA - I am sure anyone who went to/knew anyone from Maryknoll and/or studied in the Ateneo sometime 1975 up would know her. She was a Pitoy Moreno model. She is married to one of Morocco's Ministers.

 

I am sure nasa social circle siya ni Starbucks 911 ryt ??!! :-) ......at baka nakasayaw / nakadate / kabarkada ni Storm..she was THE "Crush ng Bayan".

[storm]

Share ko lang..

 

Teejoe, the pretty girl in the COMTRUST commercial is MALOU ESTRELLA - I am sure anyone who went to/knew anyone from Maryknoll and/or studied in the Ateneo sometime 1975 up would know her. She was a Pitoy Moreno model. She is married to one of Morocco's Ministers.

 

I am sure nasa social circle siya ni Starbucks 911 ryt ??!! :-) ......at baka nakasayaw / nakadate / kabarkada ni Storm..she was THE "Crush ng Bayan".

 

MALOU ESTRELLA :boo: . She was my classmate in Humanities. She went to UP. She has gray eyes. Tisay. Amazingly gorgeous and sexy. :thumbsupsmiley: She's older though. Kung naging batch 78 man lang sana.... Is she still gorgeous as ever Mareng Augustmoon?

 

Speaking of Mang or Manay Pitoy... I met him recently at the opening of BenCab's exhibit at the CCP. He's a Fine Arts graduate from UP Diliman and was the commencement speaker of this year's graduation. I also met there the designer/owner of another 70s fashion house, AZABACHE.

[storm]

I'm usually there about the 15th or 16th of the month. Text you pare....

You don't have to have a big budget for a turntable pare, just start with a midlevel one like a Technics - if you can find one

Hindi ko na alam kung saan nakakabili ng mga phono players. Now if you begin to have a decent collection of really clean and great sounding LPs that's the time when you have to scout for a great phono player (like Bang & Olufsen; don't know what else, and again I don't know where to find them). Sa budget naman pare I know you won't have a problem eh hehehe

I'm fine, pare, and it's good to see you back. Some EB is in the works I guess - stay tuned lang If you want magkita-kita na lang tayo sa MCS - Makati ka din naman diba?

 

 

The problem is wala na akong records kahit isa man lang. Sige bro. text me na lang. Baon tayo ng wine?

[16track]

Hi Storm, Bods, Sliderule, Masi and Ms. Augustmoon!

 

How are you guys?

 

Just finding the time to drop by. Came across Storm at the Time Piece thread too where I was inquiring about some Omega watch service!

 

Been so busy the past months... almost no time for anything else as traveling takes up so much of everything.. Sigh.. too tired.. Been on a trip outside the country 3 times just in the month of May alone.

 

Medyo maluwag na ang schedule ko ngayon for a month or two.

 

Any EB coming up soon? I really loved the EB we had at Masi and I hope we can have one soon before I get to traveling again. I'll birng wine and cheese.

 

Speaking of 70's Travel and movement, does anybody remember:

 

1. The Tropical Hut restaurant on the way to Baguio? Seemed it was only one or two places we can stop for food at that time.

 

2. Action Transfer stickers that you can buy only at the gas stations after filling up?

 

3. The old MIA had an old fashioned Roof Deck where well wishers can view planes land and take off? (60's yun but lasted into early 70's)

 

4. The Datsun 180 B?

 

5. The Toyota Macho Machine?

 

6. The Minica?

 

7. How long it took just to go Batangas, Cavite and Laguna BEFORE the South Expressway was built? That time, we had to take the national highways and a lot of side streets and odd roads. Now going to Tagaytay takes less than an hour.

 

8. The Easy Rider bicycle?

 

9. The old wooden scooters with the noisy Ball bearings as wheels?

 

10. The old KartWay in the JRC compound in Libis -- now its the Eastwood City.

 

Cheers!

[augustmoon]

MALOU ESTRELLA :boo: . She was my classmate in Humanities. She went to UP. She has gray eyes. Tisay. Amazingly gorgeous and sexy. :thumbsupsmiley: She's older though. Kung naging batch 78 man lang sana.... Is she still gorgeous as ever Mareng Augustmoon?

 

Malou 3/4 years ahead of us. She just had a sem or two in UP then went to Ateneo....Its was her brother Gabby of the AS Lobby-PL-AS Steps that was a figure in UP. I am pretty sure he is known to you (not discounting that he may even be in your circle) ...I am so very dissapointed that she was just a classmate of yours..or better, I think she is quite disappointed not having had the pleasure (and pride) of having you as, at the least, dance partner :thumbsupsmiley:

 

I read a feature article / saw some pictures of her in the international magazine HELLO last year. She still looks gorgeous, but she barely looks like a Filipina though. Beautiful still..she is in the same caliber as Isabel Preysler, IMO.

Edited August 2, 2006 by augustmoon

[sliderule]

Hi Storm, Bods, Sliderule, Masi and Ms. Augustmoon!

 

How are you guys?

 

Just finding the time to drop by. Came across Storm at the Time Piece thread too where I was inquiring about some Omega watch service!

 

Been so busy the past months... almost no time for anything else as traveling takes up so much of everything.. Sigh.. too tired.. Been on a trip outside the country 3 times just in the month of May alone.

 

Medyo maluwag na ang schedule ko ngayon for a month or two.

 

Any EB coming up soon? I really loved the EB we had at Masi and I hope we can have one soon before I get to traveling again. I'll birng wine and cheese.

 

Speaking of 70's Travel and movement, does anybody remember:

 

1. The Tropical Hut restaurant on the way to Baguio? Seemed it was only one or two places we can stop for food at that time.

 

2. Action Transfer stickers that you can buy only at the gas stations after filling up?

 

3. The old MIA had an old fashioned Roof Deck where well wishers can view planes land and take off? (60's yun but lasted into early 70's)

 

4. The Datsun 180 B?

 

5. The Toyota Macho Machine?

 

6. The Minica?

 

7. How long it took just to go Batangas, Cavite and Laguna BEFORE the South Expressway was built? That time, we had to take the national highways and a lot of side streets and odd roads. Now going to Tagaytay takes less than an hour.

 

8. The Easy Rider bicycle?

 

9. The old wooden scooters with the noisy Ball bearings as wheels?

 

10. The old KartWay in the JRC compound in Libis -- now its the Eastwood City.

 

Cheers!

 

The return of 16Track!

Oo nga how about another 70s EB??

 

p.s. in my pathetic HS junior prom, me (in my 3-piece suit and 13" bell bottom pants that could sweep the floor clean of dust) and my driver picked up my date in a Minica. Hardly a golden chariot but at least we had "wheels" hahaha

 

My favorite Action Transfer was the World War 2 dogfights. By the time you're done with all the stickers though, ang gulo gulo na nung landscape !

[16track]

Bro:

 

That would have been a sight to see! heheh! 3 piece suit and a Minica F4! I actually had a Minica once. It was issued to me in one of my old jobs when I was on practicum and it was a blast to drive! So small small it can actually fit inside the bed of a Ford F150.

 

 

I always loved the look of a well cut 3 piece suit as well. Wore one on my own Prom but medyo swerte ng kaunti as my dad handed me the keys to a Datsun 180-B. The Mandarin hotel was still very new then but now it's the oldest 5 star in Makati and badly needing an update and renovation.

 

I think it was Lindy Locsin who designed [correct me if I am wrong please] the Mandarin Oriental as well as a few others in Makati and Manila. The paintless finish looked fresh in the 70's but it seems real dated today. No bad intention here... as I really admire Lindy Locsin. I just wonder what he could have accomplished had all the materials today been available to him then.

 

Last I heard, the Mandarin will soon be getting a real thorough makeover.

 

 

 

The return of 16Track!

Oo nga how about another 70s EB??

 

p.s. in my pathetic HS junior prom, me (in my 3-piece suit and 13" bell bottom pants that could sweep the floor clean of dust) and my driver picked up my date in a Minica. Hardly a golden chariot but at least we had "wheels" hahaha

 

My favorite Action Transfer was the World War 2 dogfights. By the time you're done with all the stickers though, ang gulo gulo na nung landscape !

Edited August 3, 2006 by 16track

[Mandrake]

What was also hot in the 70s was the KUNG FU MARTIAL ARTS movies following the debut of BRUCE LEE in his film THE BIG BOSS (was it in 71?).

 

Sa GALA THEATRE (w/c was muy famoso sa mga bomba films during that era) ko pa yata napanood ito with a bunch of all my classmates in school uniform pa. Paglabas namin ng movie house, karatista na kaming lahat...

Edited August 3, 2006 by Mandrake