David Letterman Holding Records
March 2, 2012 12:58 PM Subscribe
David Letterman Holding Records (SLT)
I find this very zen and wish I had kept old Late Night and Late Show on VHS so I could cap some from the 80s and 90s.
I find this very zen and wish I had kept old Late Night and Late Show on VHS so I could cap some from the 80s and 90s.
I was just thinking yesterday how much more comfortable talk show hosts looked holding vinyl albums than CD cases, also it spares precious seconds because they don't have to cut to a close-up of the CD.
posted by Kattullus at 1:13 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by Kattullus at 1:13 PM on March 2, 2012
Neat. I'd like to watch videos of his old "Dave's Record Collection" bit. Does he still do that?
posted by caclwmr4 at 1:15 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by caclwmr4 at 1:15 PM on March 2, 2012
Do basically all pop musicians put out LPs nowadays? Seems like it was basically a novelty for much of the 90s and then in the 2000s was something only the really hip bands did.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:24 PM on March 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by roll truck roll at 1:24 PM on March 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Lana Del Rey is looking at him like she is about to unhinge her jaw and consume him.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:29 PM on March 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 1:29 PM on March 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
Caclwmr4, I have no idea, sadly. But I remember Dave's Record Collection being a "deep pile of fun."
posted by artlung at 1:31 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by artlung at 1:31 PM on March 2, 2012
I really enjoy the implicit approval and disapproval in Letterman's facial expressions. I really want it to be a new way of reviewing and rating things. Like, this would be pretty run of the mill. This is good, but nothing you haven't seen before. This is new and surprising and delightful. This is a set of lullabies to move you to tears. This is approval. This is five out of four stars.
This, well...
posted by byanyothername at 1:32 PM on March 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
This, well...
posted by byanyothername at 1:32 PM on March 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
It's awesome that so much new stuff is coming out on vinyl, but I was sort of hoping there would be screenshots from the 80's so we could enjoy a nice round or two of "I remember when that came out!"
posted by usonian at 1:50 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by usonian at 1:50 PM on March 2, 2012
I dunno World Famous; I see a fair amount of new albums on vinyl at independent record stores and I think a lot of bands put out a small run of vinyl records for the subset of their fan base that's into that.
posted by Hoopo at 2:11 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by Hoopo at 2:11 PM on March 2, 2012
There are a surprising number of new releases on vinyl at indie record stores and place like Newbury Comics these days, but the record-sized promo sleeve idea seems plausible too. Someone should start a "fake record sleeves on talk shows" Tumblr.
posted by usonian at 2:47 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by usonian at 2:47 PM on March 2, 2012
The holy grail of this set would be Dave holding "Ice Cream for Crow".
posted by davebush at 3:20 PM on March 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by davebush at 3:20 PM on March 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
You know what I love? Pretty much every time, he does the same old goofy bit about how the album is "now available in the new Super CD format." I will never get sick of that stupid joke.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:16 PM on March 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 4:16 PM on March 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
Why are we assuming that all these albums were released on vinyl? Isn't it more likely that the record company printed up some promotional record sleeves so that Letterman would have something bigger than a CD to hold up?
Nope. While CD sales are falling sharply, LPs have clawed their way back up to levels that haven't been seen since the '80s, with 2.8 million sold in 2010.
The main LP-buying demographics are hipsters and boomers. Letterman is at least one of those.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:32 PM on March 2, 2012
Nope. While CD sales are falling sharply, LPs have clawed their way back up to levels that haven't been seen since the '80s, with 2.8 million sold in 2010.
The main LP-buying demographics are hipsters and boomers. Letterman is at least one of those.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:32 PM on March 2, 2012
(And, also, yeah, all those albums -- with the possible exception of the Amnesty International compilation -- were definitely released on vinyl. Easily verified with a few a quick Googles.)
posted by Sys Rq at 4:43 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by Sys Rq at 4:43 PM on March 2, 2012
Man, Letterman looks old and sour these days. *looks in mirror* Uh-oh.
posted by telstar at 6:41 PM on March 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by telstar at 6:41 PM on March 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
The holy grail of this set would be Dave holding "Ice Cream for Crow".
Here ya go.
posted by jonp72 at 6:47 PM on March 2, 2012
Here ya go.
posted by jonp72 at 6:47 PM on March 2, 2012
My personal fave - and I remember at the time ('95) he was dumbfounded that a band would be putting something out on vinyl.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 10:08 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 10:08 PM on March 2, 2012
(his comment happens to be mere seconds before the youtube clip starts, but you see him holding up the record)
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 10:09 PM on March 2, 2012
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 10:09 PM on March 2, 2012
Why are we assuming that all these albums were released on vinyl? Isn't it more likely that the record company printed up some promotional record sleeves so that Letterman would have something bigger than a CD to hold up?
I'm not disputing that LPs are still pressed and that they still exist. The question is why are we assuming that every single one of these albums was pressed as an LP, based solely on the fact that David Letterman is holding up an LP sleeve?
No, really, they are put out on vinyl. I own a lot of those very albums on vinyl. You'd now have a difficult time finding a new release album that is not on vinyl.
About 4 or so years ago, you could go to Amazon's vinyl listings just to find good music. Only the bands that really cared about their music and had avid audiophile fans would put their latest works on vinyl. Most new releases were only CDs and MP3s.
Then about 2 or so years ago you started to see bands releasing their old albums as well as new albums on vinyl.
Now everybody is doing it. Plus, almost everyone includes a download code for the digital album so you don't have to choose vinyl over portability. This helps make up for the fact that the vinyl costs 2-3 times as much as a download.
The quality of the vinyl releases keeps getting better. It's common now to receive not only high quality pressings, but also all kinds of extras like posters, booklets, and photos with the albums. The good vinyl also tends to keep its value if not go up in price on the secondary market.
So, if you still think that anything Dave is holding isn't actually on vinyl, just go to Amazon and look it up.
Also, fuck this constant ripping on things as being "hipster." I don't drink PBR, wear a fadora, or have Buddy Holly glasses. I don't make artisan beer, nor have a long beard. If asked, I'd say I hate hipsters because those are people trying to be hip without really enjoying what they supposedly find "hip."
I like vinyl because it actually often does sound better. I've done blind sound tests with non-audiophiles and they always choose the vinyl playing over the highest quality digital as sounding better and warmer. Playing vinyl is also immediate. You're in the moment, even if doing something else. Records can't just be in the background and forgotten. You can't just play one track easily. They're an ADHD treatment in and of themselves.
You begin your process by taking off the turntable dust cover. Turning on the equipment. Thumbing through those giant, thin albums that one by one make you remember when you bought the album, what you did when you first listened to it, the people in the room. You slide out the album you want from storage, roll the record out of the sleeve, and place the album art down to admire while listening. You drop the record onto the spindle and start the disk rotating. You pick up the needle and gently lower it down with that gratifying little kersplik sound when it first touches the vinyl. Then three seconds later the sound kicks on, and for the next half an hour you're on a journey.
posted by Muddler at 10:06 AM on March 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
I'm not disputing that LPs are still pressed and that they still exist. The question is why are we assuming that every single one of these albums was pressed as an LP, based solely on the fact that David Letterman is holding up an LP sleeve?
No, really, they are put out on vinyl. I own a lot of those very albums on vinyl. You'd now have a difficult time finding a new release album that is not on vinyl.
About 4 or so years ago, you could go to Amazon's vinyl listings just to find good music. Only the bands that really cared about their music and had avid audiophile fans would put their latest works on vinyl. Most new releases were only CDs and MP3s.
Then about 2 or so years ago you started to see bands releasing their old albums as well as new albums on vinyl.
Now everybody is doing it. Plus, almost everyone includes a download code for the digital album so you don't have to choose vinyl over portability. This helps make up for the fact that the vinyl costs 2-3 times as much as a download.
The quality of the vinyl releases keeps getting better. It's common now to receive not only high quality pressings, but also all kinds of extras like posters, booklets, and photos with the albums. The good vinyl also tends to keep its value if not go up in price on the secondary market.
So, if you still think that anything Dave is holding isn't actually on vinyl, just go to Amazon and look it up.
Also, fuck this constant ripping on things as being "hipster." I don't drink PBR, wear a fadora, or have Buddy Holly glasses. I don't make artisan beer, nor have a long beard. If asked, I'd say I hate hipsters because those are people trying to be hip without really enjoying what they supposedly find "hip."
I like vinyl because it actually often does sound better. I've done blind sound tests with non-audiophiles and they always choose the vinyl playing over the highest quality digital as sounding better and warmer. Playing vinyl is also immediate. You're in the moment, even if doing something else. Records can't just be in the background and forgotten. You can't just play one track easily. They're an ADHD treatment in and of themselves.
You begin your process by taking off the turntable dust cover. Turning on the equipment. Thumbing through those giant, thin albums that one by one make you remember when you bought the album, what you did when you first listened to it, the people in the room. You slide out the album you want from storage, roll the record out of the sleeve, and place the album art down to admire while listening. You drop the record onto the spindle and start the disk rotating. You pick up the needle and gently lower it down with that gratifying little kersplik sound when it first touches the vinyl. Then three seconds later the sound kicks on, and for the next half an hour you're on a journey.
posted by Muddler at 10:06 AM on March 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
> Isn't it more likely that the record company printed up some promotional record sleeves
While I agree that the albums probably really did come out on vinyl, I'm going to toss out there that the term for these is "flats." They're often -- usually? -- just the front cover.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:21 AM on March 3, 2012
While I agree that the albums probably really did come out on vinyl, I'm going to toss out there that the term for these is "flats." They're often -- usually? -- just the front cover.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:21 AM on March 3, 2012
Also, fuck this constant ripping on things as being "hipster." I don't drink PBR, wear a fadora, or have Buddy Holly glasses. I don't make artisan beer, nor have a long beard. If asked, I'd say I hate hipsters because those are people trying to be hip without really enjoying what they supposedly find "hip."
As the only person to have used the word "hipster" anywhere in this thread, I think maybe you're projecting your own prejudices just a tad. I wasn't "ripping on" anything. I am not a boomer, and I have a rather sizable record collection. Do the math.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:34 AM on March 3, 2012
As the only person to have used the word "hipster" anywhere in this thread, I think maybe you're projecting your own prejudices just a tad. I wasn't "ripping on" anything. I am not a boomer, and I have a rather sizable record collection. Do the math.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:34 AM on March 3, 2012
Was anybody else hoping for sleevefaces?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 3:55 PM on March 3, 2012
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 3:55 PM on March 3, 2012
w-gp -- if he did sleevefaces that would be pretty awesome!
As it is, I may not have much in terms of old VHS of Letterman, YouTube provided some, and I posted some DLHR's to my own tumblr (self link). I love that I found him holding a Zappa record.
The sad thing is once you hit the 1990s almost invariably he's holding CDs, and, well, it's hard to consider that "holding records."
posted by artlung at 11:01 AM on March 4, 2012
As it is, I may not have much in terms of old VHS of Letterman, YouTube provided some, and I posted some DLHR's to my own tumblr (self link). I love that I found him holding a Zappa record.
The sad thing is once you hit the 1990s almost invariably he's holding CDs, and, well, it's hard to consider that "holding records."
posted by artlung at 11:01 AM on March 4, 2012
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