EVERY RECORD I OWN..
United States of Analog | December 16, 2024
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
This is a special holiday episode of the host’s ongoing series where he flips through his entire vinyl record collection. The video has two main parts: first, he addresses forgetting to include David Bowie records in his previous “B” letter episode and promises to show his Bowie collection as a bonus gift to viewers. Second, he flips through approximately 14 holiday-themed records from his collection, starting with Willie Nelson.
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
• David Bowie is one of his favorite artists of all time and one of the most iconic rock stars in history [00:01:25-00:01:34]
• Bowie had an extraordinary, almost supernatural charisma – describing him as literally glowing in the dark [00:02:01-00:02:16]
• He believes he has a pretty good Bowie collection with some rare titles viewers may not have seen before [00:03:29-00:03:34]
Any interesting vinyl records, albums, or music discussed?
• Willie Nelson holiday record – mentions meeting Willie Nelson on his bus during holiday season, where Willie greeted him in a Christmas sweater [00:04:14-00:04:24]
• Promises to show his complete David Bowie collection, which he forgot in the previous “B” letter episode
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
• “That dude, Bowie, kind of glowed in the dark. I mean he really like glowed in the dark… The man was on fire. He glowed in the dark.” [00:02:01-00:02:16]
• Story about missing Bowie’s concert because the manager grilled him for 30 minutes over a $15 FedEx bill, forcing him to listen to the sold-out show through a tiny ceiling speaker [00:02:47-00:03:11]
• Holiday-themed expressions: “So get out the eggnog plug in the tree” and “let’s put on our pajamas, light the fire, plug in the tree, and get out the eggnog and maybe a little bit of Irish whiskey” [00:00:20-00:03:54]
Summary
The host opens this special holiday episode dressed up for the season, explaining that instead of continuing his alphabetical series where he randomly draws letters from a chalice, he’s doing a holiday-themed collection flip. He admits to making a significant oversight in his previous “B” letter episode by completely forgetting David Bowie, whom he considers one of his favorite artists of all time. To remedy this mistake, he’s offering viewers a bonus gift by showing his complete Bowie collection.
The host shares a personal anecdote about meeting David Bowie while working as a publicist at the Frank Irwin Center in Austin, Texas. He describes Bowie as having an almost supernatural presence, literally “glowing in the dark” with an indescribable charisma. However, the story takes a frustrating turn when he reveals that despite working the sold-out show, he missed the actual performance because Bowie’s manager detained him in the box office for 30 minutes arguing over a mere $15 FedEx expense.
The video then transitions into the main content, beginning with approximately 14 holiday records. The first album featured is by Willie Nelson, prompting another personal story about meeting the Austin-based country legend on his tour bus during a holiday season, where Willie greeted him wearing a Christmas sweater. The host encourages viewer engagement by asking them to predict what Bowie titles might appear in his collection, suggesting he owns some rare or unusual releases.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
Gear, Products, or Brands Discussed
- [00:05:38] Telefunken console (from the 1960s)
- [00:08:11] Kraft recording, 45 rpm
- [00:08:14] Ryan K. Smith remastered
- [00:08:42] Dark Horse Records
Host’s Key Findings, Verdicts, or Opinions
- [00:04:40] Steve Perry Christmas record is “pretty good” but “very short” with not many songs
- [00:06:09] Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer record is “immensely entertaining” and “really good” as a complete listen
- [00:06:37] Calls A Christmas Gift For You his “favorite Christmas record of all time” despite Phil Spector being “one of the most despicable human beings in all of humankind”
- [00:08:08] Dave Brubeck Christmas record was “a great disappointment” due to sound quality issues
Listening Tests or Sound Quality Observations
- [00:08:20] Dave Brubeck Christmas record has “so much static and noise” that it’s “almost unplayable” despite being bought new
- [00:08:31] Multiple cleanings of the Brubeck record “hasn’t helped”
Vinyl Records, Albums, or Music Discussed
- [00:04:35] Steve Perry Christmas record (bought at Target)
- [00:04:49] Motown’s Christmas Number Ones (Target exclusive on red vinyl)
- [00:04:58] Nora Jones “I Dream of Christmas” (red vinyl)
- [00:05:30] Wayne Newton “Songs for a Merry Christmas” (original version from 1960s)
- [00:05:49] Bing Crosby’s Christmas Classics (used bin purchase)
- [00:06:00] Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soundtrack (Target exclusive reissue with silver foil cover)
- [00:06:25] Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi (golden vinyl on Fantasy label with poster)
- [00:06:59] Phil Spector’s “A Christmas Gift for You” (Phillies Records version from mid-70s, plus another version on Pavilion label)
- [00:07:37] Johnny Mathis “Merry Christmas”
- [00:07:48] Nat King Cole “The Christmas Song” (reissue)
- [00:08:11] Dave Brubeck Christmas record (45 rpm Kraft recording, Ryan K. Smith remaster)
- [00:08:38] Record on Dark Horse Records (cut off)
Audiophile Tips, Advice, or How-To Content
- [00:04:43] “Good place to buy Christmas records” referring to Target
Memorable Quotes or Strong Takes
- [00:05:02] “How could a dude like you, such a macho kind of, you know, dude, get a Nora Jones record?”
- [00:06:43] About Phil Spector: “turned out to be one of the most despicable human beings in all of humankind, but made pretty good music back in the day”
- [00:08:04] “Yeah, I’m that old” when mentioning early memories of Chubby Checker
Summary
This portion of the video focuses entirely on the host’s Christmas record collection, showcasing a diverse mix of holiday albums ranging from classic crooners to modern releases. The host shares personal anecdotes about many of these records, including childhood memories of listening to Wayne Newton and Nat King Cole on his parents’ Telefunken console in the 1960s, and admits to feeling somewhat self-conscious about purchasing certain albums like Nora Jones’ Christmas record due to its feminine cover art.
The host provides both positive and negative assessments of various albums. He particularly praises the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soundtrack as being surprisingly entertaining from start to finish, and declares Phil Spector’s “A Christmas Gift for You” as his favorite Christmas record of all time, despite acknowledging Spector’s criminal history. He also notes that Target has become a reliable source for Christmas vinyl, mentioning several Target exclusive releases in his collection.
A significant disappointment discussed is a Dave Brubeck Christmas album that, despite being a high-quality 45 rpm pressing remastered by Ryan K. Smith, suffers from excessive surface noise and static that makes it nearly unplayable. The host’s frustration with this defective pressing is evident, especially since multiple cleaning attempts have failed to resolve the audio issues, illustrating the quality control problems that can plague even premium vinyl releases.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?
- [00:08:59] Dark Horse pressing of Billy Idol’s “Happy Holidays” (described as heavy vinyl, well-pressed)
- [00:11:47] Half Speed Master 50th anniversary edition of Ziggy Stardust
- [00:11:27] K-Tel Records release on Dominion label (The Best of Bowie)
What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion?
[00:09:02] The host concludes that the Dark Horse pressing of Billy Idol’s “Happy Holidays” is “a record you are going to cherish for the rest of your life” and expresses newfound appreciation for Billy Idol. He wraps up by showcasing his extensive David Bowie collection of approximately 20 discs.
Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider?
- [00:08:58] Strong buy recommendation for Billy Idol’s “Happy Holidays” Dark Horse pressing: “if you are lucky enough to find this Dark Horse version…this is a record you are going to cherish for the rest of your life”
- [00:10:56] Recommends finding the Mick Ronson documentary on Netflix
Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers?
- [00:11:41] Asks viewers to comment if they know the value of his K-Tel Bowie record
- [00:13:27] Requests viewer input on future channel direction: “Put it in the comments below where you think this channel should go”
How did the video wrap up?
[00:13:05] The host thanks viewers for watching his “record flip,” mentions plans for more gear content and possibly expanding to other analog categories beyond audio. He closes with holiday wishes and the channel sign-off.
Memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions
- [00:09:05] “It’s just that good. It’s just that good” (about Billy Idol record)
- [00:09:41] “I just loved Bowie. I guess I loved him more than the Beatles because I sold off some of my Beatles and Stone stuff”
- [00:13:38] “We’ll see you next time in the United States of Analog. Happy Holidays.”
Summary
In this final portion, the host enthusiastically recommends Billy Idol’s “Happy Holidays” album, particularly praising the Dark Horse pressing as exceptionally well-made and describing it as a record viewers will “cherish for the rest of your life.” He shares that the album changed his perception of Billy Idol and features both covers of classics and original material.
The video then transitions into an extensive showcase of the host’s David Bowie collection, which he describes as his “bonus Bowie section.” He presents approximately 20 Bowie albums in no particular order, sharing personal anecdotes including how his Bowie records survived a collection sell-off in the 1980s when he parted with Beatles and Rolling Stones albums. He shares interesting stories about Austin connections, including Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar work on “Let’s Dance” and David Bowie training for boxing with the host’s friend Richard Lord.
The host concludes by thanking viewers for watching his record collection showcase and hints at future content plans, including potential expansion beyond audio gear to other analog categories. He actively solicits viewer feedback about the channel’s direction and signs off with holiday wishes, maintaining the warm, personal tone that characterized the entire video.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
