Two of my favorite blogs, Dust & Grooves and Flea Market Funk, are putting on a pretty cool photo contest called Wax on Film. Some great sponsors are giving away some pretty fresh prizes so there’s really no reason not to enter. I’ll be one of the judges and can’t wait to see everyone’s collections out there. Details below.

Wax On Film: A Vinyl Photo Contest is an opportunity for vinyl collectors of all walks of life to showcase their true love for vinyl. It’s put together by Jamison Harvey of Flea Market Funk and Eilon Paz, of the acclaimed vinyl documentary photo site Dust & Grooves.

The mission of this photo contest is to help preserve vinyl heritage, as well as the artists that make it, just as our contestants do with their collections.

We want you to submit photos of your own vinyl collection!

We urge you to be creative with your photography. It could be a straight on shot, a collage, a digitally manipulated image, or any other creative art piece in the medium of photography.

Submissions will be judged by Jamison Harvey (DJ & creator of Flea Market Funk), Eilon Paz (Photographer & creator of Dust & Grooves), influential world famous DJ Rich Medina, Brian Ho (art director & creator of Dreams In Audio) and Brian Cross aka B+ (photographer & film maker from Mochilla). All finalists of the contest will be featured in articles on Flea Market Funk as well as Dust & Grooves.

More after the jump.

Prize Packages:

First Place:
1 Tucker and Bloom North South DJ Bag
1 Nixon RPM Headphones
1 Rare Byrds 45 Poster
1 Listen Clothing and 1 101 Apparel Tee
1 Cultures of Soul 7” test pressing of The Darling Dears “I Don’t Think I’ll Love Another”
1 Hot Peas & Butta Limited Edition Print
1 Tropicalia In Furs: Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas 3D LP
5 Truth and Soul Records 7” records
1 Super HI-FI Latest single “Single Player” on 7”

Second Place:
1 Nixon Crux Messenger Bag
1 Nixon RPM Headphones
1 Rare Byrds 45 Poster
3 Truth and Soul Records 7” records
1 Cultures of Soul 7” record
1 Listen Clothing and 1 101 Apparel Tee
1 Hot Peas & Butta Limited Edition Print
1 Tropicalia In Furs Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas 3D LP

Third Place:
1 Nixon Crux Messenger bag filled with Nixon Trooper Headphones
1 Rare Byrds 45 Poster,
1 Truth and Soul Records 7” record
1 Cultures of Soul 7” record
1 Hot Peas & Butta Limited Edition Print
1 Listen Clothing and 1 101 Apparel Tee

5 Runners Up:
1 Truth and Soul Records 7” record
1 Listen Clothing or 101 Apparel tee

* Prizes are subject to change without notice, based on availability.

Submission Rules:

* Submissions will be accepted until March 15th , 2012.
* Finalists will be announced no later than April 2nd, 2012.
* There is no limit to the number of images each artist may submit.
* Submission is open to all persons over the age of 18.
* Artwork should be submitted as a digital file.
* Maximum file size: 2MB
* File Format: JPEG
* Images should be saved at 72dpi
* Color Profile: sRGB
* Images should be no larger than 1400 pixels on their longest dimension.
* File names should consist of: Artist name_Artwork name_Sequence Number
* On the caption field please write your full name and a valid email address so we can contact you in case your submission wins.

Send all submissions here

Released in 1972, the sole document between Rochester, NY vocalists The Darling Dears and backing band Funky Heavy resulted in one of the most unique sweet soul 45s in existence. As original copies have been known to fetch $3000, it is getting the full reissue treatment from Now Again and Orivious Records, it’s inaugural release. It took seven years for Orivious founder David Griffith to track down the master tapes, which were officially licensed from the band; lacquers were cut directly from the original master, and test pressings were discarded until perfect sound quality was achieved. A true labor of love available now at the Stones Throw shop.

Darling Dears – I Don’t Think I’ll Ever Love Another by Now-Again Records

Darling Dears – And I Love You by Now-Again Records

Came across this great poster designed by Pop Chart Lab meticulously charting the expansive world of rap names. I haven’t studied the poster that closely yet, but the attention to detail here seems pretty impressive. You can order a copy here.

I’m trying something new for this post. I’ve been on a sweet soul kick as of late, and the sad reality with many of these records is that they’re just too damn expensive to ever realistically obtain. I’ve realized that YouTube is an indispensable resource for music lovers like myself, as there are many users who happily share some of their rarest records with people who would never have the opportunity to hear or see a copy in person. The internet, as much as it de-fetishes the physical object, seems like the next best thing.

So I’ve put together a YouTube playlist of some sweet sweet soul 45s that I’ve really been digging lately, and that I will hopefully cross paths with somewhere down the road. If you press play on the video above it will play the entire mix in sequence, or you can go directly to the playlist link and pick and choose as you please.

I’ve had a few mix ideas swirling around in my head the past few months, and for whatever reason this one came to fruition the quickest. In keeping with my interest in African music, this mix is dedicated to the “deeper” side of things. The term “deep” is a bit of an ambiguous term, but in my mind it can be used to describe music that possesses soul and spirit. It can have personal significance, not necessarily religious but sometimes so. In selecting tracks for this mix I choose songs that felt like they could be classified this way, staying away from things that were overtly funky or clearly had outside influences. Most importantly, none of these songs are sung in English. I realize that they could be singing about any damn thing, but hearing songs sung in one’s native tongue automatically gives it a “deep” quality, at least to my ears.

A pretty eclectic selection here. I know a bunch of these tracks are available on other mixes or comps, but there are definitely a handful that, as far as I know, are unavailable anywhere else. I had trouble culling the selection down, so you’ll find that this mix is a bit longer than usual. But if you’re into this sort of stuff that shouldn’t be a problem. This mix is 100% recorded form original vinyl, so pardon the crackle and enjoy!

Tracklisting
01. Cissé Abdoulaye – Jeunesse Wilila
from “Djo” b/w “Jeunesse Wilila”  (Disques CVD, 1977)
02. Sandwidi Pierre – Yamb Ne Y Capitale
from “Mam Ti Fou” b/w “Yamb Ne Y Capitale” (Disques CVD, 1977)
03. Sir Victor Uwaifo – Omoseruwa
from Ekassa (Philips, 1972)
04. Sextet Camayenne – Bâra
from “Bâra” b/w “Kanimba” (Editions Syliphone Conakry, 1974)
05. El Rego Et Ses Commandos De Cotonou – Do Do Baya
from “Djobime” b/w “Do Do Baya” (African Songs LTD, 197?)
06. Uppers Chapter Two – Samari Bolga
from “Walahi Talahi” b/w “Samari Bolga” (Polydor, 1976)
07. Uppers International – Dankasa
from “Dankasa” b/w “Neriba Lanchina” (Polydor, 1976)
08. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou – Houe Towe Houn
from “Kou Nawo” b/w “Houe Towe Houn” (Albarika Store, 197?)
09. Nyame Bekyere – Broken Heart-Aunty Yaa-Omo Yaba
from Broken Heart (Essiebons, 197?)
10. Orchestre Anassoua Jazz De Parakou Dahomey – Norou
from “Norou” b/w “Saka Ne He” (Albarika Store, 197?)
11. Orchestre Les As du Benin – Baba Na Ayele
from Tropicana Souvenir (Philips, 1973)
12. Pedro Gnonnas Et Ses Panchos – Okpo Videa Bassouo
from “N’gbahanouo” b/w “Okpo Videa Bassouo” (Disques Tropiques, 197?)
13. Andy Vans – Dofo Nyi Ekyir
from Come Closer (Polydor, 1975)
14. Vis-A-Vis – Kankyema Ntoaso Ne Awadee
from Obi Agye Me Dofo (Makossa, 1977)
15. K Frimpong – Aboagyewaa
from K Frimpong Backed by Vis-A-Vis (Ofo Bros, 1978)
16. Cross River Nationale – Nyong Eyen Unen
from Self Titled (Anodisc, 1977)
17. Alex Konadu – W’awu Da Ho No
from Asaase Asa (Makossa, 1979)
18. Mamo Lagbema – Sind N’Bassa
from “Sind N’Bassa” b/w “Incomparable Maman” (Disques CVD, 197?)
19. Orchestre Les Volcans de Porto-Novo – Salou
from “Salou” b/w “Seda Nou Mindé” (Palais Du Disque, 197?)
20. Leon Keita – L’amour Ne S’achete Pas
from Self Titled (Papa Disco, 197?)
21. Edzayawa – Obuebee
from Projection One (EMI, 1973)
22. Orchestre National Les Volcans de la Gendarmerie Republique Populaire du Benin – La Benin Socialiste
from Self Titled (Les Volcans, 1976)