Knowing When To Hold Them

The Claw Machine was recently saddened to find that one of our favorite records, The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, is broken. The disc is snapped off at the edge, forever ruined and unplayable. While we're not entirely sure how this happened, we suspect that it may have occurred during a recent move.



Let it be clear that we have no sentimental attachments to this particular copy of The Gambler. It's one of millions sold worldwide. We found this copy, a 1980 Liberty re-issue, in the dollar bin at the local thrift store. Another could easily be bought and no doubt we'll be tempted at the next swap meet, rummage sale or record store. But why buy it twice? We all know the songs -- they're part of our collective cultural unconsciousness. This is the chart-topping crossover album that effectively relaunched Kenny Rogers' career, bridged the gap between outlaw and pop country, garnered numerous industry awards. Rogers' warm voice, Don Schlitz's eponymous composition and its simple advice, Larry Butler's smooth, pop-influenced production, all can be recalled as easily and clearly as playing the record. With a bit of concentration, we can even remember the track order:

SIDE 1:

1. "The Gambler"
2. "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again"
3. "King of Oak Street"
4. "Makin' Music for Money"
5. "Hoodooin' of Miss Fannie Deberry"

SIDE 2:

6. "She Believes in Me"
7. "Tennessee Bottle"
8. "Sleep Tight, Goodnight Man"
9. "Little More Like Me (The Crucifixion)"
10. "San Francisco Mabel Joy"
11. "Morgana Jones"




Just as easily remembered is Reid Miles' airbrushed chiaroscuro cover photo, with its warm hues and poker felt greens. (It was this photo, as much as the song, that inspired 5 Gambler TV movies with Rogers in the starring role.) We know every baroque curve of the typography. We've memorized the endless list of guest musicians and have even made note of "The Friends of Kenny Rogers" fan club address.

And should we forget, there's always the Internet. What makes us sad is that we don't need this record anymore. It's broken, so into the dumpster it goes. And it just doesn't feel right to throw a record away.

McMahon / Marian Borstnik, We Have the Moby Grape Record That Used To Belong To You

McMahon/Ms. Borstnik:

The Claw Machine has acquired through legal channels a record that used to belong to you: Moby Grape's 1967 debut album, Moby Grape, you know, the one with "Omaha", "Hey Grandma" and "Naked If I Want To" on it. The record is in great shape, in its original plastic wrap, with very little wear to the jacket or disc. The sound is clean and free of skips. "McMahon" is written in marker on the label of Side 1 and "Marian Borstnik" is written in ballpoint pen on the label of Side 2. The "GIANT FULL-COLOR POSTER" advertised on the album cover is missing. The record is ours now and we are not interested in selling it, but for the sake of historical documentation, we would like to know the following:

1. When did you get this album? The Claw Machine is notoriously lazy at researching the different pressings of records, and we would like your help, just so we know how old the actual record is.

2. Where is the Giant Full-Color Poster? Did you hang it on the wall of your teenage bedroom, some 40 years ago? Do you remember what it looked like? At what point did you take the poster down, roll it up, throw it away? The Claw Machine likes to imagine the Giant Full-Color Poster perfectly preserved under layers of trash in a Midwestern landfill, waiting to be excavated by some future civilization. Or maybe you still have it, even though you no longer have the record it came with. Is this poster in a box in your basement or attic, with everything else you saved from the summer of '67? Can we see it?

3. What happened here, anyway? This is a great album, one of our favorites. The songs on the record are short, psych-influenced pop numbers, all at once accessibly upbeat, brash, multi-layered, funny, smart. Though this is a relatively "happy" album, The Claw Machine often listens to it and thinks of the tragedy of Moby Grape co-founder Skip Spence, mental illness, and the fragility of genius. We think it's perfect. Why didn't you keep it?

Please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you,
The Claw Machine

Candy Graves Responds

Ms. Graves:

First of all, thank you for your prompt response. Requests such as these often go unnoticed, and The Claw Machine appreciates you getting back to us so quickly.

We respect your request for privacy and we will not publish your correspondence. However, we hope that we may respond publicly, since there are a number of points that we would like to address or correct. Please see below.

1. The album's track listing is as follows:

Side 1

1. (I'm a) Roadrunner Baby
2. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
3. Pucker Up Buttercup
4. Money (That's What I Want)
5. Last Call
6. Anyway You Wantta'

Side 2

1. Baby You Know You Ain't Right
2. Ame' Cherie (Soul Darling)
3. Twist Lackawanna
4. San-Ho-Zay
5. Mutiny

2. The record is hardly rare at all, having sold thousands of copies in multiple formats over several years. Digital versions of these same songs are available for purchase on Itunes, Amazon, etc. Despite its age, we do not feel that this record is worth any more than the $12.99 plus sales tax that we paid for it. Frankly, your value of 2,200 USD does not seem right at all.

3. The record was purchased from a respectable businesswomen without any ties to organized crime. Despite the tragic circumstances related to you becoming separated from this album, we feel that this album came into our possession through legal channels of distribution. We are sorry for your loss.

4. Unfortunately, we will not be able to present the record for your personal inspection, since you say you live in Brighton and Hove, England, and you mentioned your unwillingness to travel. Your suggestion that we send you the record, and then you send it back to us after review, seems impractical. We hope that the photos attached to this post are enough for your "documentation".

5. By saying "your record" we meant "the record that used to belong to you". As we stated above, this album came to us through legal channels of distribution. And even though your name is written on the album's sleeve and labels, we feel the record is still ours.

Best,
The Claw Machine

Please see related post.

Candy Graves, We Have Your Jr. Walker Record

Ms. Graves:

We have your Jr. Walker & the All Stars album, Roadrunner. The record is in pretty good shape, plays clean without any skips or pops. It is the stereo version, and as best as we can tell, an original printing of the album first released in 1966 under Motown's Soul label. We found it at the Flea Market Record Sale. We are really curious why you had to let this one go. Did you sell it? Was it stolen? When was the last time you listened to this record? Do you remember your favorite cut?

Please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you,
The Claw Machine

Flea Market Record Sale In Kansas City, MO.

This 45 Belongs to Joan

Joan practiced her signature on the sleeve of the The 5 Stairsteps' "Ooh Child". The B-Side is "Who Do You Belong To", a question Joan might have asked herself as she refined the loops and curves in her name. Who do you belong to, Joan? And did they write their name on you?