Tony Rounce
1. The Temptations The Temptin' Temptations (US Gordy/UK Tamla Motown)
2. Elvis Presley Elvis Is Back (US/UK RCA Victor)
3. U Roy Version Galore (JA. Treasure Isle)
4. The Beatles With The Beatles (UK Parlophone)
5. The Impressions The Impressions (US ABC Paramount)
6. Elmore James Memorial Album (UK Sue)
7. Rick Nelson Rockin' With Ricky (UK Ace)
8. Pink Floyd Piper At the Gates Of Dawn (UK Columbia)
9. Billy Butler Right Track (US Okeh)
10. Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band Safe As Milk (US Buddah/UK Pye International)
AND MY THREE GREATEST SINGLES EVERY WEEK:
1. Little Richard Keep A-Knockin' (US Specialty/UK London)
2. Elvis Presley Little Sister/His Latest Flame (US/UK RCA Victor)
3. Buddy Holly Brown Eyed Handsome Man (US/UK Coral)
When asked to write a previous piece like this for the Ace website, several years ago, I ended it by stating: “Working at Ace would be the dream job of most record collectors. It goes without saying that it's certainly mine”. Having now put in more than a decade at Ace Towers, I can honestly say that nothing has changed. There’s still more fun to be gleaned from an average day’s toil at the Ace A&R coalface than there ever was at any and all of my previous jobs. As long as I can get out of bed and drive my trusty-but-rusty VW Polo in the direction of NW10 7AS, I intend to keep having some kinda fun at Ace’s expense.
Most of the things I said previously remain true, in that I was raised on records and I still like to listen to pretty much anything and everything, as long as it’s good. My favourite records then remain my favourite records now and, quite honestly, I can’t see that ever changing. Of course, I’ve added lots more records to my wants list, and lots more great tunes to my frequent playlist, thanks to eBay and the numerous tape copying trips through the American south that I’ve undertaken on Ace’s behalf in recent years – but you know what they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
In recent times I’ve been thrilled to have been involved in the creation of three ‘Reissue Of the Year’ nominees from Mojo magazine, and even more thrilled to have been on the winning end of an actual award for two of them. OK, they’re not Grammies, but they look nice on the sideboard and they’ll do for me.
I’m still the long suffering Millwall fan, only now I’m suffering longer and more frequently, it seems. I’ve more or less put my dancing and DJ’ing shoes away in recent times; nevertheless both are ready to be dragged out of semi-retirement on special occasions.
I’m also still a devoted husband to Helen and, since 2005, a devoted father, too. Don’t tell the wife but my gorgeous, funny, cheeky, talented, music loving daughter Kim will forever be my greatest treasure, even though the ‘I Hate You’ years are bearing down on the older Rounces at an alarmingly rapid rate. Kim has promised that she will always respect the records, even if she doesn’t always respect me when those years become a reality. Can’t ask for more than that, can you?
Although I’m nudging closer to that bus pass with each new year I promise that I have no intention of retiring, and that I will continue to devise and develop projects for Ace as long as there are people out there who will buy them.
It’s too late to stop now…
