Records By Rachro

Friday, November 21, 2014

There's the sky where the sea should be

This Herb Alpert record is heading off to New York, to live with some newlyweds. This record featured the song "What Now My Love", but I'll tell you what - listening to Herb Alpert is one of my guilty pleasures. This is a link to one of my all-time favorite songs ever:

http://youtu.be/RPHogQ02DFw

I occasionally go on earworm kicks where I listen to it repeatedly for 2 days at a time.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Now showing at the Hillman City Collaboratory

Some of my records are being shown in an installation at the Hillman City Collaboratory through the month of September, via the courtesy of Backstreet Bazaar, and my friend, the fantastic artist and muralist, Mr. Jake Millett. Thanks, y'all! The other art being shown is incredible, and I'm honored to be included with such impressive work.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Success hasn't spoiled me yet.

The pure awesomeness of Rick Springfield is within these fine, fine grooves. This commission was painted for a person who, like me, loves the color orange, and who has a crush on Mr. Springfield. Have you seen how incredible he still looks and sounds (please watch Sound City). I have turned scratched up audio love into visual love, here.

Under the Tin Umbrella skies...

This perky album now permanently resides at the Tin Umbrella coffee shop in Hillman City, Seattle, WA. I adore Tin Umbrella and their delicious coffee, and other fun goodies. And did I mention that their story WON AN EMMY?? The owner, Joya, is a truly inspirational person. Make this place part of your visit to south Seattle, for sure.

Steve Lawrence, featuring Tango of Roses and Tender Moments

Plenty of pink and plum on this one. It looks like yummy candy, with flowers.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Open your eyes. Look up to the skies and see.

Queen. News of the World. Luckily, this record came to me with a huge scratch - or I would not have painted it. Because Queen is kind of.......shall we say.....sacred and awesome. Some records you just don't mess with. But this one was already a car ride away from the garbage, due to its unplayability. And now it's art. And it lives in San Francisco, with a handsome genius who I'm very proud to call my cousin.

The mind's true liberation

This record is The Age of Aquarius, by The 5th Dimension. Oh, I love this record. The song Aquarius has special meaning for me. I grew up singing and performing an "Aquarius medley" (in a musical theater group in my hometown of Houston) as a young teen many, many, many times. (Oh, the days of "medleys"...do theater people still do those?)

Thank you hippie people, for writing this awesome song from Hair, and letting The 5th Dimension record such a fabulous edition of it.

This record went to Colorado!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Long as there are stars above you

Legendary album! We actually own Pet Sounds in several formats and now our kids love the Beach Boys as well. It pretty much speaks to me on a molecular level.

This record was affectionately painted for some newlyweds in New York who are lovely and brilliant people who want to make the world a better place. I'm glad they found each other.

And if that doesn't give you hope for the next generation of youngins, I don't know what will.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

LoA

I was just asked to contribute to an art show in May. Stay tuned for more details!

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

When Smokey Sings

I had a lot of fun making this record for the lovely Amy in Los Angeles. It was inspired by the colors of the old psychedelic 60's Peter Max art (love that guy), with a theme of peace, love, and flowers. The underpainting has shimmery violet iridescence added to it, which the camera sadly doesn't pick up.

But trust me, when you tilt it into some light, it glows like a happy, glowey, tripped out butterfly.

Here's a close up. One more super cool thing about this record: It used to be Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Amy wanted to give it to a friend who was born in the late 60's.

I found this album and it was made in 1968. PERFECT.

Year of the monkey, baybee.

You, You........You

This record has fluorescent hot pink outlines. Wooooo! It used to be a Slim Whitman collection.

Songs on this side of the album include, "I'm Walking Behind You," and "You You You".

This record now belongs to the Ark Lodge Cinema.

Built in 1919, it was a former Freemason lodge and is now the super niftiest movie house in Seattle. One of my favorite places in the city.

You are so beautiful

This record has lots of bright metallic silver to enhance the vivid greens.

It used to be a Billy Preston album - and it's hard to get cooler than that.

It has gone to live in New Hampshire with a very cool person.

We've been a while

This record is totally far out! It is a 10-inch, red vinyl album. Very rare and so beautiful! It was painted with browns, reds, and metallic gold for a guy who is possibly the coolest dude in Seattle (thanks, DC!). The record was originally sent to me unexpectedly from a friend in Columbus, Texas.

Show 'em how we do it now.

This record was formerly Peaches and Herb. It is going to live in Colorado.

It wants you to shake your groove thing.

Paganini Rhapsody

This record is unique, because I didn't choose it. It was sent to me with the request to paint it.

It was Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. It has lots of silver!

The night is young and full of possibilities

I don't usually paint 45s, but this one came out really perky. Anita Ward - Ring My Bell!
It lives in Edmonds, WA, with the fabulous Elliot and Jodi.

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do.

This record has come through the pod bay door, Hal.

It was formerly the soundtrack to 2001: A Space Odyssey. (One of the best films ever made, in my opinion.)

And - - just like the 4-million-year-old black monolith that emits a single, very powerful radio emission, the origin of this record is a total mystery.

It now lives in Los Angeles.

Whispering Hope

The Mom & Dads - - Whispering Hope. My mom said that this record looked "fresh".

Well, alright alright alright..

It went on its way to some lovely folks in Texas.

The charm of spring

This record was inspired by the cool, blue Paris label and the fact that it is FINALLY spring. Everything is blooming. April in Parrrrrrris....

He was called Satchmo because of his...??? (I know the answer. Do you?)

"What a Wonderful World".

This record is a 45 with a small (and unusual) spindle hole and it was pressed in 1968. It came all the way from across the pond in England! Normally, I'd count this as a collector's item and not dare paint on it, but it had an enormous scratch going across the entire song, rendering it useless for listening to.

It is the favorite song of a very special guy, to whom this is being birthday gifted, from his lovely wife. The yellow rosebuds were a special request in the design.

It is headed out to central Texas, pronto!

And if you know the story of how Louis Armstrong got the nickname "Satchmo," well then...2 extra coolness chips in your jar, my friend. One of my favorite songs of all time is Skokiann.

Leavin' on the Midnight Train to Georgia

This beautiful purple-violet-green gem toned painting was formerly Gladys Knight and the Pips! This was made for a strong and feminine gal, who is giving it to her own strong and feminine friend. Viva la woman! I think it came out super cool and I do love me some purple.

Big Country Hits with Burl

This record was Burl Ives' The Big Country Hits, but now it is very psychedelic. A funny connection to Burl: my uncle Irving was once one of Mr. Ives' private physicians. So I felt a closeness to this record as I painted it, because Burl Ives was a great guy. I've heard the stories. You are my sunshine, Burl.

Slow Ride...take it easy...

This crazy Foghat album, on the Bearsville label, is being auctioned off at the Scott Daniels' Musical Memorial to raise money for his young daughter, Emma Rose. Jay will be performing several Joint Chiefs, Fleshmop, and Dresden 45 songs at the show! Psyched for the performance (not so much for the outdoor Houston heat in August, but whatev...we'll be there).