Almanac Music: Day Trippers from Colac

 

With a couple of my Colac mates, and fellow New Orleans travellers, Tony and Stan, we decided to have a boys’ day out in Melbourne last week, and catch up with our good mate Brian Wise while there.

 

It was an early morning start to catch the 7:29am train from Colac to Melbourne. With the Victorian State Government’s new regional rail fees recently introduced it seemed the logical way to travel. $4.60 is the return train fare for Seniors – why would you drive?  Since the introduction of the new fares I have travelled by train to Melbourne often. Why spend the hassle of getting through and being constantly held up in traffic, trying to find parking places, and then, the cost of fuel. In my RUV the cost would normally be around $100.00 for such a trip –  the train wins hands down!.

 

Sitting together we were able to chat about music and travels, complete the Age cryptic crossword before the train reached Winchelsea – an excellent result but mate Tony is a wiz at cryptics, and relax before hitting the ‘big smoke’.

 

 

Tony Forbes, Stan Kluzek and Col Ritchie outside Greville Records

 

 

Our plan was to visit Greville Records in Prahran and check out their music selections. Our regional train fare also allowed us to travel on suburban trains and trams for no extra cost. So it was a train to Flinders Street then a further train to Prahran. The record shop is only a couple of hundred metres from the station. Too easy!

 

This is the first time I have been in Greville Street for a very, very long time. It has always been a niche shopping area and that certainly has not changed judging by various, interesting shops we saw there.

 

I enjoyed my time searching for records to buy at Greville Records. This is an institution in Melbourne and has been around for many years, and I was keen to check out their stock. I’ve started to buy vinyl again, and with a new turntable and amplifier I wanted to expand my collection and make use of my system. I must admit I was overwhelmed by the choices of LPs available.

 

However I ended up buying three albums, all double albums actually – one on spec, one that reminded me of dad, and one from an artist I was keen to learn more about.

 

The album I bought on spec was Tomorrow’s Gone by Charlie Megira. I was grabbed by the ‘surfie’ feel of the music, and on later listening I decided I made a good choice. Check out the album below on the You Tube clip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny Mathis was big in our household back in the mid 50s. Dad just loved ‘The Twelfth Of Never’, and I do as well. It stands the test of time. A remastered double album of his hits made me feel nostalgic and I could not resist buying it. Check him out singing this classic song below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The third album I bought was a Gil Scott-Heron Anthology. I have been listening to some of his music of late and was keen to go back to his roots. Here’s a track from the record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick visit to the Prahran Market then it was over to the College Lawn Hotel for lunch with Melbourne music institution, leader of New Orleans visits, and our good friend, Brian Wise.

 

 

 

 

Lots of chatter about music and our travels ensured, and all within wonderful company, making it a most enjoyable day. Thanks Tony, Stan, and Brian.

 

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

Read more stories from Almanac Music  HERE

 

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