The Survival Sampler SR-1A Sound Rations

 

So earlier today, @troyxmccall tweeted out to the millions, AND MILLIONS, of his followers, this choice nugget…

 

What is the oldest album you still listen to? (greatest hits not allowed) Mine is "War – U2"

I wanted to answer, but despite his amazing tastes in music, my answer in less than 140 characters would not make sense to anyone who didn’t own the Survival Sampler SR-1A. While I listen to a TON of older music, it is an eclectic mix of songs from all over the decades and the genres. This is the only one complete album that I have listened to in ages.

 

Since it is a collection, I don’t think it counts as ‘greatest hits’ but they are certainly GREAT hits. The Survival Sampler SR-1A was a tape cassette from Warner Brothers that I bought for my sister Christmas 1984. I grabbed it because I loved the packaging, but had no idea what any of the music was. She hated it, so I popped it in the Radio Shack tape player in my car one day just to see what it was like. I listened to it on the way to work, wasn’t half way through it before I got there, and wound up 45 minutes late because I sat there in the mall parking lot listening so intently that I lost track of time. Eventually I wore the cassette out, but about a year ago I found a digital repository (which apparently no longer exists, or I would have linked you to it </wink>) that had all the tracks online. If it’s possible to wear out a CD, I think I am getting close.

Above is what the package looked like. You literally had to peel back the top of the can like an old water ration from a fall out shelter. The tracks on the tape are a mix of English and Australian alternative rock.

SIDE 1:
1. What Difference Does It Make? – The Smiths
2. Electric Lash – The Church
3. Wishful Thinking – China Crisis
4. Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) (12" Version) – Scritti Politti
5. More More More (7" Version) – Carmel
6. Sleepless (12" Version) – King Crimson

SIDE 2:
1. Pillar To Post – Aztec Camera
2. The Caterpillar – The Cure
3. I’m Falling (7" Version) – The Bluebells
4. Rainbow’s End – Modern English
5. Never Never (12" Version) – The Assembly (embedding disabled so linked here)
6. Everything Counts (12" Version) – Depeche Mode

There are two tracks that I just can NOT find even a trace of on YouTube. Here’s links to short samples on Pandora, but you can’t do the songs justice in thirty seconds.

Modern English-Rainbow’s End

Aztec Camera-Pillar to Post

Or, you can listen to the album on my Grooveshark widget.

If you know where I can find a video online, please drop me a link in the comments. So what about you? How would you answer @troyxmccall? If you can do it in 140 characters or less, send him a reply. If you want more….leave a comment!

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