Mojophenia

I`m not in anyway politically driven, I rate the physical side of voting in the same way as my Online tax returns, dull and non-stimulating. Religion? don`t go there, only my wife has the god given right to preach to me and yes! she does that religiously – Live and let live, a superbly simplistic motto and i`m sticking with that. Anyway, before I start sounding similar to my better half, this is how we turned a collection of slightly Fascist (some more slightly than others) Right-Wing Skinhead/White Power Vinyl LP`s into a tasty Caribbean family meal. I would hazard a guess, like myself most vinyl collectors visit charity shops or thrift stores quite often during the year and although a considerable number have the means to valuate donated items, many still just say thank you and stick them on a dusty shelf with fifty pence sticker.

A spur of the moment visit to a local Salvation Army shop brought a few minutes of vinyl excitement last week, I flicked casually through Barry Manilow and Engelbert Humperdinck`s greatest hits, stopping briefly to smile at the semi-naked Top Of The Pops K-Tel covers – What ever happened to denim bikinis? Nestling next to teenage fantasy and someone`s parents record collection were eight pristine vinyl LP`s proclaiming a white political future, European Skinhead angst delivered through Punk, Skinhead and Oi! genres – A quarter of a century later it`s refreshing to see how their Right-Wing attitudes and hate filled Power-Punk is continuing to be a dying minority. Some of these labels were shut down in the early 80`s with owners arrested although the music still remains a connection for white power and fascist movements around the world. A jaw dropping musical education for the two elderly volunteers behind the counter, going by disgusted expressions on their faces, you would assume that i`d found Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun playing strip poker behind the toys and games section. With the efficiency of A1 Pest control and their Christian karma restored, I removed the offending vinyl at the cost of five of the best British pounds. I know, it`s hard being such a versatile Samaritan.

Skipping to the financial part of our tasty vinyl experiment, I could almost smell the Peas/rice, sweet potato and goat curry by now! eBay remains my chosen outlet and it wasn`t long before our Rock-O-Rama and RAC labels were attracting large bids worldwide. Bubble wrapped and posted for a princely sum totaling £147.82 I knew a crate or two of quality Jamaican beer would also be joining the culinary delight. An ironic story with some wholesome capitalist gain, the Salvation Army made some money, Errol our West Indian master chief benefits and a hungry party of five gets a four course Caribbean extravaganza.