A Re-turn for the Worst

A Re-turn for the Worst

This is actually a re-up of the 2008 original. It was a great time of discovery for Shaw Bros music... it's actually when I first starting posting it. This was the first compilation that I really had Shaw Bros music weaved into. I didn't even know all of the original track names. That's why it's "Eric Towren" heavy near the beginning. It was originally formatted to fit on a CD, but no longer. I've replaced a number of the tracks with better quality rips. My "5 faves" that I used to highlight back in the day are quite different now even though this is the same mix.

It's one of my absolute favorites because much of this is music that I grew up with rather than the stuff that I've come to love over the past 4 or 5 years. And towards the end of last year I was actually thinking of doing a new volume. Just as moody... just as sinister... just as uneasy. I want to do uneasy listening JUSTICE! If you trust my ear, maybe I can make it happen.

I won't tell you who he is if you don't know already, but the guy on the cover is the perfect example of your worst nightmare coming back on you. Kudos to you if you know who it is, but there's no music from that film on this comp.

Otherwise... enjoy.

Xihong Library - Black Eagle Chik Ming Klaus!

This volume had very little to do with me. Much of it is compiled by the "Black Eagle" ...Chik Ming Klaus (from the German branch of Iron Boat) who also contributed a great deal to the previous volume too. However obscure some of these movies seem, they are indeed Shaw and you may never hear them otherwise. Klaus is a great complement to my efforts. Not to mention, I give the utmost thanks to my Secret Santa for his RCA contributions. The future of Xihong Library has always been uncertain, but this year has been quite productive. Many secrets have been unveiled as of late. The big mystery is still the Japanese stuff. I had a "connect" out there, but haven't heard from him in some time. From what I remember... they're bad about releasing OSTs and they didn't keep library. I hope it's not lost forever.

I | II | III | IV

As always, I couldn't have imagined a few years ago that it would get this big. I say that almost every time if you've been keeping up with the posts rather than the MF folder. What's exciting about it is that I don't even release a volume until I get tired of it. That's when the search begins for the next.

Here's my new list of requests. The more I hear, the less I know and given what I've heard even I feel like a newborn baby at this... at times. The Italians have fooled me many times over and each time I gain a bit more respect for them.

ARC ALSP 11017 - 1969 - La Conquista Di Luna [Luciano Michelini]

RCA SP 10052 - 197? - Cronache Dal Mondo [Lamartine]
RCA SP 10055 - 197? - Spontaneous [Alessandro Alessandroni]
RCA SP 10056 - 197? - Musica Arcaica [Antonio Riccardo Luciani]
RCA SP 10057 - 1975 - Speciale TG [Giacomo Dell'Orso]
RCA SP 10060 - 1975 - Fluid Trasparency [Henry Simpson And His Orchestra]
RCA SP 10068 - 1977 - Equinox [Gianni Marchetti]

BTW, still missing THAT track... you know... that "one."

-PS- I crack up every time I upload a new volume. Somebody out there is lightning fast in getting the files. That's a real fan I tell you.

Xihong Library - The 218 Relics

Even though Xihong has been gone for what seems like an eternity already, they just couldn't let him be. Who would've guessed that he had so many treasures buried along with him.

I | II | III | IV | V | VI

I don't really want to get into how much work has gone into this, but if you want more then perhaps someone can fulfill these requests:

VA - RCA SP 10007 - Drammatici E Musiche Di Tensione Psicologica No4
VA - RCA SP 10008 - Drammatici E Musiche Di Tensione Psicologica No5
Romolo Grano - RCA SP 8004 - Ca Ira Il Fiume Della Rivolta
Teo Usuelli - RCA SP 8011 - La Suora Giovane
Antonio Riccardo Luciani - RCA SP 10056 - Musica Arcaica
Pierre Arvay - DWLP 3152 - Illustrations No7

Other than that, I'm still missing 1 cue. ONE... that is very important to me. Will I have it ever? I think it's on Musica Arcaica (an almost unheard of LP). The Grano stuff is certified hardcore Shaw Bros music I've actually seen the movie (doc).

Thanks to...

The Growing Bin (for Chimenti)
Frankly Yes (for Dallas)

And a special thanks to...

Killa (for providing the shovels)
My Pal Doug (for bringing the lanterns)
Klaus (for digging Xihong up)


-PS- I've hidden an easter egg (or 2) somewhere in this comp. I wonder if you'll notice them.

Bad News...

Last week I found out my turntable was busted (ie. it stopped recording). I don't have an audiophile rig I just used a USB flash drive turntable which audiophiles turn their nose up at. After learning about vinyl and sound over these past couple of years I understand why.

So I read reviews about this particular model that I have and people have had worse problems, but for me a dead USB is a dealbreaker. I went back to the store where I got it yesterday and the guy WHO SOLD IT to me still works there and he's a manager now. I say that he sold it because if it weren't for his testimony against the model I really wanted (a vintage expensive looking lame duck model) I wouldn't have gotten this one instead. He made a generous offer as to what he could do to fix the situation as my model is discontinued (ie. trade for the current model). The newer one(s) don't even have the features mine has (USB, SD card, radio, speakers).

They're really cheapin out on these! He told me it's like that across the board (1-year warranties). Stuff isn't made to last. I know people have the same turntable for like 20 years so... I've learned a lesson. I passed on his offer. He was disappointed that he couldn't make things right, but I respect that he tried and we negotiated. It is a business after all and there are rules.

So when I do get a new turntable I know how to go about it and what to get this time. Forget that flash drive stuff. I read about a cool converter that can make any analog table digital. That's the route I'll go.

Xihong Library Finale: The Eagle Epitaph

Finally! Right? It's been over a year since the last update and I'm ready to hang it up... ready to sell my records... ready to pack away these DVDs. I've solved some of the great mysteries of Shaw Bros music. I've reached many milestones as to what I was looking for. Out of the 100's I've found there's literally a handful I still care about finding, but they're not out there (at this moment).

These tracks mean different things to different people. I know that "WOW" feeling. It can be addictive. It's gotten to the point where I'm pretty much sick of looking. My brain is scrambled. Everything sounds the same. Stuff I've never even heard before sounds like I heard it already.

Aside from some of the rarest hardcore Shaw Bros music, I've also included some re-rips of previous tracks in better quality. I didn't quite meet my goal of 100 tracks but you have to admit, I tried damn hard.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

And now for my longest list of thanks yet...

Qwerzz - shares rare movies
Mr. T - provided helpful hints
H2O - for Akutagawa
Brianiac - for Camille 2000
NRC - for Patchwork No5
Mr. Wong - provided helpful hints
Double-O-Soul - for Sun High
Dorian - cleared up a troublesome misunderstanding
Fraykerbreaks - for Zenith
Kungfu Cinema Forums - also provided many tips

And a special thanks to...

Jacques - Edouard Michael expert! We teamed up on tracking down a MOST ELUSIVE record. The Edouard Michael sound was picked up by Derek Laren and Spencer Nakin and we've covered all bases. Nakin was the missing link all this time. Anything else sounding similar is pure coincidence. Thanks for going above and beyond the extra mile my French friend.

Andrea - The most righteous trader I've had the pleasure of dealing with. It was like the laws of attraction at work. The tracks I was looking for all along ended up falling right into my lap. Your timing could not have been any better. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. I still owe you my Italian friend.