ES-Say #23 "Goodnight Tonight" collection update

 As a reminder(or something I may not have mentioned before), this blog has somewhat of an unhealthy interest in the hit Wings 1979 single "Goodnight Tonight". Why? Several reasons but mostly I got hooked on trying to collect the vinyl based on the awesome photo session for the 12" Version. This is the picture that stood out among other Wings photo sessions I had previously seen-

 

 

 I first saw this photo about 20 years ago. In 2015, I think what I remember was the most memorable was nothing to really do with the 1930s theme, but rather that Paul convincingly looks asleep and Linda adds a bit of colour to the expression. As far as I'm aware, this is the only Wings(or McCartney) song to have marketed a "Disco Single". I never bought the pink labelled disco version but I used to literally "visit" a copy at least once in awhile for a couple of years in the 1990s. Vinyl Geeks United!!!!!!!

The rest of Wings seem to ruin the photo with doubtful glares, yet have a bookend effect if I'm being honest so airbrushing them away would be tragic. The rest of the photo session is nice to see, yet I will always be a fan of this artistic cover.

We got a song that is catchy and chart topping with McCartney forever praising the B-Side, Daytime Nightime Suffering. Look, I like the B-side but I just don't understand why Goodnight Tonight(the released hit) gets so much average attention. For example, It has been added to "All The Best" and "Wingspan" greatest hits CDs but the 1993 Holland CD version of "Back To The Egg" stuck "Daytime Nightime Suffering" and not the "A-side"(Goodnight Tonight). What is to be concluded when a promoted and successful Top 10 A-single in 1979 gets ignored for the B-side in more modern times? I really could guess at this point but I'm no McCartney expert and I'm just average fan...and I'm not "saying it" or "Not Saying Anything To Paul McCartney" (Note: Shameless Plug of this website/ "Goodnight Tonight" pun alert).

Now moving on to Collecting. I really don't collect much of the 12" version as I quickly found out the photo cover I like doesn't vary much. However, the alternative 45"picture sleeve I find a bit boring as it did not continue the 1930s theme(there is one 45" version of the 12" picture I think). It just has the band in normal 70s clothes hamming it up for a tightly squeezed together picture. What does make it special is the additional designs of titles and styles. The Spain version is issued as "Adios a La Noche" and the Argentina version "Buenas Noches Esta Noche". For another example, this is what the Portuguese version looks like.





  

 

 

I love peace! Peace is great, yet various covers of this with different styles of "Wings" can be considered a peaceful expression(and maybe finally spotting the full pattern of the musical note rug) as much as the peace sign. I don't really understand the last line I just wrote but this I do know- I started with the French 45" and didn't look back. My Paul McCartney 45" collection is rather funny now. It's like "One copy of 'Say Say Say'" "One copy of 'Take It Away'" "Fifteen Copies of Goodnight Tonight".

You get the picture and I probably only have 11 copies, but here's the old video of some of them

I now a few more copies since this was made and my French copy was "unavailable" at the time. I'm trying to get the Japan, Peru, Argentina, Ireland, Canada, USA, Australian versions but can enjoy the Portugal and Poland versions I recently got.

This song is nearly as old as me and I do remember a bit that it was played on the radio in the 80s. It's probably not my favourite Wings song (depending what day it is) but it is 100% my favourite Wings record.

The actual Goodnight Tonight Blog Update was the above Portugal has been added to the so-far-unnamed McCartney-record-collection-in-my-house(should I call it that?).

I have yet to consider a Goodnight Tonight tattoo...watch this space...

Es-Say #22- Consolation Prize

Mr, I mean, Sir Paul McCartney- what are you doing to me? I'm just mindlessly now traveling on trains on whims to find your vinyl releases. Just stop! I can't even blame Kanye West anymore for your PR ideas. Granted, these PR stunts are good..so good, that's why I'm sheepishly drawn to them. However, I'm going to have to think about if I really want to be in the "Paul McCartney Fun Club" or if I am just going to not care about these secret vinyl releases, multi-coloured glowing cubes, or the possibility that you might be at my local supermarket(stranger things have happened...).

I guess I should explain that mini-rant(yes, it was a mini one). Record Store Day is this Saturday April 18th. It is basically a promotional day for record companies to re-release or release new limited copies of Vinyl. It's quite a nice event that I just planned to not attend this year as I'm unable to make. I did look at the planned releases list and didn't see any Beatles or McCartney on the list so I didn't worry about not going.

WRONG! It's be revealed that the caped crusader will be releasing new mixes of "Hope For The Future" on white vinyl. This newly open "secret" became even stranger. Read the whole story about it here WogBlog- Secret RSD Release . So, upon reading all this, I decided to go find it....

One of the dumbest ideas I ever had, but it was worth getting out on the hottest day of the year(seriously, it's always cold in England) at least. I chose a favourite record store and couldn't find the vinyl on my own. I went to the counter and told the shop keeper all about it. He had no knowledge about it as the record label had not listed it as one of the RSD releases. One phone call confirmed most of what I had been explaining about the white vinyl. The only conflicting info seemed to be the actual amount of copies that would be or actually are "Out There". With some copies already on Ebay, I can't really reveal what I had been quoted only because a) It's a rumour that is probably wrong and will or could change by Saturday b) If you really want it, you will buy it from ebay anyway...who goes into record stores in 2015?(except me and a 1,000 65 year old men, but let's ignore that odd statistic for a moment).

Basically, as much as I think the RSD release of McCartney's is extremely clever, it's a bit too complicated to hunt down during the event and I'm pretty sure you'd need to be a major friend of someone who works in a store to just hand it directly to you, anyway. Since I don't want to participate this year and the fact I have few connected friends, I will just sulk, moan, and complain some more about it in my leisure (another unique thing about me, maybe? complaining about records? anyone?)

After I left the record store, I went to different one and spent £3($4.50) on a used copy of 2004 Black Friday's Beatles "Long Tall Sally" EP. It had some noticeable ring wear on the cover, a small tear, light scratches on the disc, etc- it seemed like a reasonable price. When I got home, I checked it online and looked at comparison photos. Turns out to be the 1st original uk pressing from 1964 and not last years reissue. If it was in mint condition, it could go for 10x what I paid for it, but it's actual condition knocks it down to what I paid. The 2014 version is more expensive to buy, but I'm much happier to have the original EP. Here's some information about my 51-year-old EP http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=568395

So, is there a point in this blog? Probably not, but sometimes collecting is more rewarding when you don't expect it to be. On the other hand, collecting is less rewarding when it's too complicated. RSD I'm looking straight at you!