​Reviews - prog UK

HI-FI WORLD - april 2018 (UK)

 A TRUE VINYL HANDBOOK - Paul Rigby looks at a new guide to 1960s and 1970s British progressive music Lps "The book itself is aimed at vinyl fans of British progressive, psychedelic, folk, blues and jazz LPs issued in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s.
Described as a "notebook", that’s actually a fair description. You’re encouraged to make any notes in it.
You could add a location where your LP copy was bought, its price and so on. There’s even a little picture template in the book advising how and where to make notes.
The book features a strong hardcover to the front and rear and, most importantly, it’s "wiro" bound.
This means that the book itself will not fall apart from constant use.
Packed with 326 pages and 3,029 colour photos, the book sits in two sections. The first looks at the most important 134 British labels with 261 colour images of their variants. You find out what groups were under what label then a description of each and every label with a sample record label image as a form of reference.
The second section includes an alphabetical directory of 511 British artists or groups and their 1,566 albums.
Here, each album is described in detail. So, for example, let’s look at the Juicy Lucy self-titled rock album released in 1969. That year is stated, the label and catalogue number, which all sits under the sleeve art. In this case there are two Vertigo labels shown, the LP’s first and second version (two values are listed here to reflect that, all values are for mint condition LPs). Other LPs might vary in price because of included posters or because one LP variant was issued in mono and then stereo.
In addition, the sleeve and label receive a full description of the words on the label, type of printing and its position – as well as what’s left off, in this case a printer’s credit.
Downsides for this book? Well, there are no real downsides. Only picky things.
For example, I imagine that this book will be used "live", as it were, checking a valuation in a shop, record fair, among friends and colleagues or when running through a collection.
Hence, a quick access thumb-type index, or some sort of plastic tab index would have been nice.
Another minor gripe, when an LP is presented in, say, four versions, prompting four different price valuations, there is no quick way to find out which LP variant allies to what price. You have to patiently read through a paragraph of text to work it out yourself. Not a big deal and it doesn’t take a long time but it would have been nice to have a layout promoting quicker access for the eye.
The final downside...isn’t after all.
I lamented the lack of glossy pages in this book which, in fact, offers a matt finish. The matt paper loses a measure of impact for the images included here. I quickly realised, though, that it would be harder to make notes on glossy paper. Which is fair enough.
The above are picky criticisms because, when it comes right down to it All Around a Hole is a quite brilliant book and useful practical source.
You can clearly see the hard work put into it. Use the valuations as a guide and not literal figures and this book will provide a terrific buyers and sellers tool for all LP collectors, but will also offer a great store of browsing knowledge for music and vinyl fans.
Click www.allaroundahole.cloud and access the Store to purchase."
Paul RIGBY - HI-FI WORLD april 2018 (UK)

https://theaudiophileman.com/around-hole-vinyl-book-review/

RECORD COLLECTOR - april 2018 (UK)  ****

"BY A COLLECTOR, FOR COLLECTORS
"As Rare Record Price Guide editor I take pleasure in reading books devoted to the dark art of record collecting.
Architect and collector Paolo Verda has produced a book that can be placed in similar company to the compelling likes of Mario Panciera’s 45 Revolutions.
All Around A Hole concentrates on the “sweet spot” of 488 rock, prog, psych and jazz artists from the 60s and 70s, detailing their album releases during this period. It’s chock-full of information on how to distinguish between original and re-pressings from Black Sabbath via Nucleus to Mellow Candle.
The level of detail is excellent and includes suggested prices – in pounds sterling – leaving space next to each record to allow owners to write in details of their own copies, condition and suggested price.
My only quibble is that while all illustrations are in colour, labels are reproduced too small to make out all-important details. To be fair, the text does make things clear but dealers and collectors like to see the distinguishing marks of first, second, third variations and later pressings in all their glory. Though it’s not cheap, it’s essential reading for hardcore collectors" 
Ian SHIRLEY - RECORD COLLECTOR april 2018 (UK)

BUSCADERO - may 2018 (Ita)

"Il collezionismo musicale in Italia in questi ultimi anni ha avuto grande impulso grazie alle molte manifestazioni oggi presenti su tutto il territorio nazionale.
In contemporanea con l'aumento dell'interesse collezionistico è nata anche l'esigenza di dotarsi di mezzi opportuni per comprendere il reale valore degli album, considerando le prime incisioni, la qualità della copertina, la rarità del supporto ed altro ancora. In America e in Inghilterra guide specializzate sono edite ormai da decenni, pubblicate dalle stesse riviste che si occupano del collezionismo discografico.
In Italia esce ora un volume cartaceo curato dal collezionista Paolo Verda, architetto di Imperia, che partendo dalla sua passione musicale e dal suo modo accurato di catalogare i vinili nelle sue incursioni alle fiere specializzate e su internet, ha deciso di pubblicare questa guida ad uso di tutti i vinilmaniaci che come lui, si muovono nel mare magnum dei supporti fonografici.
Il volume dalla bellissima veste grafica, contempla le edizioni pubblicate in Gran Bretagna di tutti gli album di musica rock (e jazz inglese) editi tra il 1960 e il 1970.
Questa prima edizione della guida è dedicata agli artisti e gruppi inglesi "con l'esclusione - come afferma Verda nella presentazione - dei due mostri sacri Beatles e Rolling Stones che, per complessità e ricchezza discografica, meriterebbero un'edizione a parte che non escludo di preparare".
Per ogni album oltre al titolo e autore, è rappresentata la copertina a colori, molto importante per la memorizzazione del disco e il valore dell'oggetto, espresso in Sterline.
La valutazione è basata su album in condizioni mint (condition) denominazione inglese che si può tradurre come in ottime condizioni.
Inoltre nel volume per ogni album, vi è uno spazio in cui il collezionista può inserire i dati relativi ai propri vinili, personalizzando quindi il notebook.
Il libro è suddiviso in due sezioni, la prima dedicata alle più importanti etichette britanniche, con 261 immagini a colori delle loro varianti. La seconda invece prende in esame la produzione di 511 artisti o gruppi inglesi elencati i n ordine alfabetico e i loro 1566 album.
Il notebook è pensato per i collezionisti di dischi in vinile e in particolare per coloro che sono interessati agli LP pubblicati in Inghilterra negli anni Sessanta e Settanta da artisti e gruppi inglesi di musica progressive, psichedelica, folk, blues e jazz.
Il volume, il cui prezzo è di 90 €, ha già avuto buone accoglienze sulla stampa specializzata inglese e può essere prenotato sul sito www.allaroundahole.cloud.
Per chi è interessato al collezionismo discografico: un'opera davvero completa e ben fatta, dalla sontuosa veste grafica e di facile consultazione"
Guido GIAZZI - BUSCADERO may 2018 (Ita)