AUDIO VISUALS IN THE 70'S

This ad for The Audio Visual Centre in Perth Road is dated 1973.
They were a photographic specialist, although obviously, as their name implies, they must have sold recording equipment, stereos or something like that too.
In fact, it was the name of the place that reminded me of this item below, a piece of newsreel I have from 1979 introducing the Laser Disc. This was technology I didn't indulge in, but it got me wondering, who would have been the first shop in Dundee to stock Laser Discs? I thought it might be an audio/visual store like Dixons or Comet rather than a record shop such as Bruces. Laser Disc content featured bands as well as movies, similar to video releases at the time.
Also, I don't recall video rental stores renting out Laser Discs, they just seemed to go onto DVDs after videos.
Anyway, I'm sure one or two of you out there must have treated yourself to Laser Disc gear, before they ended up in the shed alongside your 8-Track!

EXALT DEMO TAPE - 1987

 

Exalt made this demo tape available for sale back in 1987.
Titled "Support Your Local Police", the DIY cassette cost £1 and had around half a dozen tracks on it.
Hedgy McFadyen in Lochee was one of the main guys involved.
Below is a sample from the demo - called "Glenochil", it's a fully energized beast of a track.
Not for the faint-hearted..!!

DATA - DHSS INTERVIEW - 1980'S

DATA was the brainchild of Dundee artist, Pete Horobin. It stands for - Daily Active Time Archive. The concept behind it was to document 10 years of his life on a daily basis, from 1st January 1980 to 31st December 1989, using art, films, audio recordings, journals, photography and a few other methods. A rather hefty project to undertake! He was based at 37 Union Street, with his living quarters & studio known as "The Attic", which was also open to like-minded artists who he collaborated with. A couple of examples of DATA output here - The image above is his introduction page from a book published by AAGA Productions called "Views From Urban Dwellings - 2" dated 1983. PH was one of 9 contributors to the book, containing poetry, stories, observations, graphics etc. Below is an audio recording he made during an interview with the DHSS using the name DATA DD1 4BS. A great piece of work using layers of cut up loops, similar in style to Steve Reich. The repetitiveness of certain sections is a good reminder of what it's like signing on over & over again, a situation that feels like you're trapped in a never ending cycle, and one that could possibly drive you crazy!! It lasts 7 minutes, so you've been warned..!!

 

SONY TA-2650 - R.I.P.

Earlier this year, my hi-fi amplifier blew up! Yes, sadly, it has finally died. I say finally because I have actually been using this same stereo since the mid 70's.

I bought it from Larg's in Whitehall Street. The first major purchase off my own wages. It took me 2 years to pay it up mind you!

The sound quality was brilliant, so I didn't feel the need to get a new one over the following 34 years, although I did add to it over time with a cd player, cassette deck, mini disc player, tuner, the usual gubbins.

It does mean though, I won't be able to convert my old records into mp3 format now, until I get another one.

Anyway, you probably won't be surprised to find out that I kept my original Owners Instruction Manuals that came with it, dated 1976. So if there are any old audio boffins out there, here's a couple of pages from the manuals that may interest you.

The top one shows the front of the Sony TA-2650 amp, and the middle one is the back panel.

It came with 2 large wooden cabinet speakers (Sony 5300) which were made in Norway.

The turntable deck, Sony PS-1700, still works fine. The rubber slip mat has suction cups to help the vinyl grip better.

If I was told when I bought it that it would last 3 & a half decades, I wouldn't have believed them!!

Click images to enlarge.

TIVVY DEMO TRACK - 1981

From the 1973 to 1978 period, Tivvy were mostly a covers band, playing a broad range of styles from glam, rock, pop, soul, disco to punk.
They did tons of gigs in Scotland, not only as headline act but occasionally sharing the stage with the likes of Slik, Bilbo Baggins and Salvation.
Add to that (as I mentioned in a previous post) an appearance on national TV in 1978.
However, 1978 was also the year Tivvy decided to break up.
But after a couple of Tivvyless years, the guys brought life back into the band again in 1981 upon reforming.
Tivvy then promptly went to Edinburgh to record 2 demos of their own original material.
Band members changed over the years but included - Alec Martin, Bob Kelly, Joe O'Dea, Billy Thomson, Danny Mitchell, Jim Ogg, Mick McGuigan, Steve Knight (pre Associates), Bruce Money, Wayne Hutton.
Below you can tune into the outcome of their '81 recording session.
A track called "Out Of Touch" - a new wave / power pop gem with an off-kilter guitar hook.