Believe it or not, actual squads of people — people much more qualified to rave about this album than I am — literally comb the country, hunting for records like this. They’ll buy up as many copies as they can find, and like a Johnny Appleseed of vanity pressings, they’ll redistribute them into the appropriate hands. Perhaps they’re more like a Robin Hood of vanity pressings, since anyone who pays thrift store prices for music this good is certainly getting it for a steal.
The Links put out four records that I know of, but this one is my favorite. It conforms to my perverse standards of pop cheesiness without even breaking a sweat. A cheerful trip though early 70s M.O.R, this album features two Tony Orlando and Dawn covers, a Carpenters cover, a Mac Davis cover and a Wayne Newton cover. And that’s just for starters. The trio’s chipper gospel style is irresistible. The backing band provides obtuse performances of organ dominated arrangements typical of the type that proponents of the vanity aesthetic have grown so comfortable with. And once you hear them bounce through “Vehicle” by Ides Of March, you’ll be hooked.
A record like this one will earn a place in my collection if it has only one good track. Two good tracks is a cause for celebration. But for an album this good, even I would be tempted to leave home in search of extra copies.
DOWNLOAD: Multiupload | Mediafire
Holey Moley, Vehicle just went to the top of my charts! Love it!!
I’m speechless. Immediate add to all digital devices. Thanks much.
These guys possess some chops
(and I’m not referring to the sideburns)
The vocals are great.
What a delightfully bizarre recording. Thank you.
This album stone cold blew my mind and sent me into a flurry of web sleuthing. As you can imagine, “Links” is up there with “All” and “The The” in the “Band Names That Don’t Lend Themselves Particularly Well to Web Searching” category. Anyway, my findings:
The Links, at least in the incarnation that put out “And Again Once Again”, were brothers John & Jim Link and Stan Galli. From what I can gather, they operated out of Reno for most of their career and now at least two members live in Omaha.
And it appears that Jim Link has kept The Links going, albeit with his wife and another woman instead of Stan and John.
http://www.thelinksmusic.com/home.cfm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdal4nnNNWc
http://www.stangalli.com/StanGalli/Stans_Bio.html
Stan’s Facebook page with quite a few photos: http://www.facebook.com/stan.galli?sk=photos
Jim Link’s Facebook page, which is private: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1595463730
OMG! Pick out your crown Yalestar!
Thank you for this post and the Links links!
Here are cover examples of four Links albums I’ve collected. If there are more that I should be looking for, please let me know.
http://themotellounge.blogspot.com/2011/03/links-all-4-lp-covers.html
Thanks, Mark
Here is a youtube video of The Links – “Rocky Top” with some interesting stills:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxu-cmG9b58&feature=related
I recommend pausing as the 1:04 mark to read the liner notes from “Presenting The Links”. Apparently bassist John link is the source of the low end vocals that I found so impressive (true bass-baritone).
Nothin’ wrong with this one either:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t4LYnC9Pfc&feature=related
I have an autographed copy of The Links “And Again Over Again”, the album seam is separated at the top, but it’s easy and cheap to get fixed by a professional. Anyone you know that would be interested in buying this can contact me at the above email. Everyone should own a copy of this album, classic!
Crash-
I would be interested in buying the lp from you. Shoot me an email to woahmer at g mail dot com.
Thanks!
I didn’t realize there were any NON autographed copies out there.
Lounge albums were sold in the lounge usually after a show by the artist. So many of them are signed. I’d say 80% of the albums I find are autographed.
Thank you so much for making this available. I don’t mean to be greedy, but could you please post more Links? I’m kind of vaguely IN LOVE WITH THEM.
Thank you!