Sometimes, your local record store isn’t enough. It’s a reality no collector wants to encounter, but it is something Emek Can Tulus has turned into a positive. Hailing from Istanbul, Emek is the man who can answer your Turkey-related vinyl questions. He’ll give you a list of shops to visit like your average collector, but he’ll provide a list of alternate ways to find vinyl.
After talking with so many serious collectors, you realize one characteristic divides the community: Those who care about the cover and those who don’t. Well, to be fair, everyone cares about the cover, but I mean the people who care deeply. To the point, they’ll buy a record for the cover alone as if it is a work of art. Emek is one of those collectors.
Here is Emek Can Tulus. He is a great, gentle guy. Beyond his knowledge of Turkish music, his taste is eclectic and broad. American jazz and soul are on one side, and Turkish psych is on the other.
What is your full name and where are you from?
Emek can Tulus, Istanbul, Turkey.
What do you do for a living?
I am an artist and illustrator. I used to be a partner of a record shop (Deform Music), but I quit the store business years ago.
“Vinyl is the most attractive format in every way possible; you can see it, feel it, and smell it.”
Emek with a special box designed to carry his most precious 45s.
What was your first album? How did you get it? At what age? Can you describe that feeling? Do you still have it?
The first vinyl album I bought with my money was Jefferson Airplane’s After Bathing at Baxters. I bought it at a flea market when I was 13 in 1990. Those were the days when most people tried to get rid of the vinyl albums because vinyl was out of time. I was an amateur underground comic fan then and was making some money in the comic business.
The most interesting thing about that record was the front cover illustration, a work by Ron Cobb, a killer illustrator for newspapers in the ‘70s. I used to have his illustration book, and because of it, I bought that Jefferson Airplane LP.
Jefferson Airplane – After Bathing At Baxter’s. “This is the first record bought with my money! Ron Cobbs’ great sleeve art attracted me to buy it. I had no idea about the music back then! Today, I still like it.”
“I bought Ron Cobbs’ German-pressed album on the same day as the LP. What a talented guy!”
What prompted you to start collecting? What age did you start?
After 1990, I started to collect vinyl; at the time, I mainly bought hardcore punk, grindcore, and death metal stuff via mail order. Then I started digging rock, garage, psychedelia, post-punk, new wave, funk, and jazz. I was buying every record that looked interesting to me, conceptually and musically.
Emek trusts his cat to use caution around unshelved vinyl.
Why vinyl?
Vinyl is the most attractive format in every way possible; you can see it, feel it, and smell it. It’s something real, not fake, like the CD format. I mostly prefer second-hand stuff because there is a story behind each record. Somebody created, recorded, produced, and manufactured them. Then somebody bought them from the market, threw them out, or sold them to someone else. When I started to collect vinyl, I always bought second-hand.
Fikret Hakan – “Dostun Gülü.” “Here is some Turkish psych from the early ‘70s. It’s a movie soundtrack with an interesting sleeve showing a historic rebel and poet named Pir Sultan Abdal from the 16th century.”
“The collecting scene is now bigger than back in the ‘90s, but I must say that most collectors are after the objects, not the concepts.”
Any specific genre? What attracted you to this specific genre?
Not really. I am always digging for something original, at least something real, something wonderful that players dedicate themselves to creating a work of their own with a pure soul. My records vary from free jazz to grindcore, from garage-punk to Turkish music, you name it. I love Naplam death, John Coltrane, Neil Young, and Jacques Dutronc at the same time. It’s all about the creativity, the energy, and the approach to creating interesting sounds.
Timur Selçuk Ve Orkestrası – “Panayır Günü.” Good luck finding this one in the wild, it’s a rarity.
Can you tell me a bit about the vinyl scene in Turkey? What are the most collected genres in Turkish music?
Late sixties and early ‘70s Anatolian rock records. This is a combination of rock music and Turkish folkloric traditions. Some of them are killers.
Most collectors are after these records because they are rare, especially the ones in good shape. The collecting scene is now bigger than back in the ‘90s, but I must say that most collectors are after the objects, not the concepts. I don’t like collectors looking for the original pressings of The Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin singles. It’s not about the music. They can go and live in the past.
From looking around record shops in Istanbul, I noticed that the prices are pretty high, considering the cost of living in Istanbul. Was it always like that? Or is it a trend of the last years? Is there much interest among international collectors in Turkish music?
The record stores are expensive because there are not enough records to sell and not enough collectors to buy them. Someone has to pay $20 to buy a common Pink Floyd LP, which is usually $2 in Europe or America.
There is a very strong interest in Turkish records on the international market. There is something extraordinary about Turkish records, such as the singles and albums by Erkin Koray, Baris Mancho, and Selda, just to name a few.
George Gruntz – Noon in Tunisia. “This one is recorded with some tribal Arabic musicians and released only in Germany. That record is pure music!”
Emek getting ready to drop the needle on the great Guntz.
“Like me, my collection is alive. I will keep it in the best shape possible. I am not the kind of guy who is proud to have a collection of ten thousand records. If I feel some of my records are unnecessary, I get rid of them. The records and I live in unity.”
Can you recommend a few record shops or dealers who deal with Turkish vinyl?
Zoltan Records and Deform Music.
Tell me a crazy story about a certain record that you found.
I called a guy who was advertising in the newspaper. I went to the meeting point, and there was a black limo. Only the driver was allowed to talk to me. The driver showed me the records, and I made an offer. The driver was the middle man between me and the owner of the records, like a crazy mafia boss. I have a good pile of funk records, including an original copy of Blue Ryhthm Combo’s Magumba, which was pressed in Barbados islands. Killer funky album.
Where do you go today to buy records? Do you do most of it online, or do you still dig in flea markets?
Antique stores, advertisements, flea markets, and I have contacts for the stores in the city. Suddenly my phone rings and someone says they have some records to sell. I have been buying records for about 19 years. I smell well. They smell good. I love records, and records love me.
Has record digging changed much in Turkey since online shops started to dominate the market? Or is it still old-school?
It changed. For me, it’s best to buy face-to-face via cash.
The ultimate vinyl lounge.
Every great collector needs the greatest equipment!
Love, hate, obsession, passion, pride, joy, anything else… what would best describe the relation to your collection?
Like me, my collection is alive. I will keep it in the best shape possible. I am not the kind of guy who is proud to have a collection of ten thousand records. If I feel some of my records are unnecessary, I get rid of them. The records and I live in unity. Sometimes, I buy some of these records again, haha. Neither the records nor I am proud of each other.
What’s your partner’s reaction to this obsession?
She has good taste in music, so no problem with the records. But sometimes, she yells at me and says this record sucks if I listen too much to funky stuff.
Cem Karaca & Apaşlar – “Gılgamış.” “Here’s a groovy instrumental mod punk garage track by a Turkish ‘60s band named Apaslar, which can be translated to ‘The Apaches.’ The band took their name from The Shadows‘ track ‘The Apache.’”
Can you educate us with a few cornerstones in Turkish psych/funk/jazz music?
There are a few ones that come to mind. First is Meçhul: Singles & Rarities by the great Erkin Koray. It has never been re-released and is a crazy psyched-out LSD nightmare. Okay Temiz’s “Denizalti Ruzgarlari” has a killer groovy experimental jazz, funk, and avant-garde sound. Cem Karaca & Apaşlar have a 7-inch “Gılgamış.” That is a nice example of late ‘60s modish instrumental garage. Another gem is “Metelik” by Ersen & Kardaşlar. It is a groovy psychedelic funk song with lots of wah-wah and fuzz guitars. Last is Fikret Kizilok’s “Aybatti,” a speedy keyboard-driven dance song.
“I love music that does not get boring after the first listen. I can listen to my favorite albums again and again, and it feels like the first time. I want new discoveries every time I listen.”
Okay Temiz – “Denizalti Ruzgarlari.” “One of my all-time favorite Turkish 7-inches. ‘Denizalti Ruzgarlari’ by Turkish master jazz drummer Okay Temiz. It has strange drum & percussion effects blended with local grooves and Moog sounds.”
“Here’s the back sleeve for the very same Temiz 7-inch. A nice sleeve, indeed!”
I’m very curious about the evolution of Turkish music and its subgenres. Can you tell us more about different genres and their leading artists? Can you refer to the psychedelic era, and why are there so many psych albums?
Turkish culture has had a very strong musical journey over the centuries. The effects of Eastern, Arabic, Persian & Indian music blended with local sounds and authentic instruments with the strong support of the black sea region, caucasian, and Balkan music.
In the early to mid-’60s, most Turkish rock and pop musicians carbon-copied the Western stuff, but around the late ‘60s, it seemed there was a new sound. Local folk tunes were covered by the young artists with Western instruments and arrangements uniquely.
This movement was later referred to as “Anadolu rock.” Some significant names include Mogollar, Baris Manco, Erkin Koray, Cem Karaca, Ersen, and Selda.
Turkish classical music remained from the Ottoman Empire. It’s urban music and aristocratic, combining elements of Soufi music, Persian music, and urban culture of the old Ottoman country. Some big names like, Munir Nurettin Selcuk, Safiye Ayla and Muzeyyen Senar.
The Arabic music of Oum Kaltoum, Fairuz, and Rahbani Brothers clearly influences Arabesque music. The lyrics are primarily dark and suffering, and the major figure is Orhan Gencebay.
For the kitsch genre, Zeki Muren is the key figure. He was an extraordinary performer of Turkish classical music and one of the transvestites loved by Turkish families. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, he was dressed in self-designed costumes and was highly respected.
Marion Brown – “Sweet Earth Flying.” “Pure spiritual jazz by the great Marion Brown. We used to listen to that one with a very close friend of mine who died because of a brain tumor. My friend Ismet, who looked exactly like Marion, told me, ‘Stop playing that album. If not, I will steal it!’”
Can you name a few records you like to return to at any time? What makes them so special for you?
I love music that does not get boring after the first listen. I can listen to my favorite albums again and again, and it feels like the first time. I want new discoveries every time I listen. Robert Wyatt’s Rock Bottom is one of these. Many Coltrane albums are that way. Pink Floyd’s The Piper at The Gates of Dawn, Marion Brown’s Sweet Earth Flying, the Velvet Underground debut, both albums by Joy Division, Ege Bamyasi by Can, and Erkin Koray’s Elektronik Turkuler, just to name a few…
Can – Ege Bamyasi. “The title is originally in Turkish, meaning ‘Aegean Okra.’ Never bored listening to this one over and over.”
Ruhi Su – Şiirler – Türküler. “This record is from my father. Autographed for him by an artist in the ‘70s. It’s Turkish left-wing political folk.”
What is your favorite album art? Any special reason?
Oh, there are so many. Maybe it’s just because I am also into the visual arts. Many of the classic Blue Note albums are wonderful stuff, but I have to say Donald Byrd’s A New Perspective is exceptional because it combines the title and the sleeve in a unique way. I love Albert Ayler’s New Grass with the upside-down close-up photo of Ayler’s beard. The photo inside the gatefold sleeve of Soft Machine’s Third is also one of my favorites.
The album sleeve for Gang of Four’s Entertainment! still stands very well in the punk rock genre. Lastly, a Turkish 7-inch sleeve by Ahmet Sezgin is a minimalist, kitschy combination of red, white, and black. When I get bored, I look at this sleeve and laugh every time.
Erkin Koray – “Elektronik Turkuler.” “One of the masterpieces of ‘70s Turkish rock/psych, Erkin Koray, who has still performed and recorded since 1957.”
Which album best makes the soundtrack of your childhood?
Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music.
Album that scared you in your childhood?
Death’s Scream Bloody Gore. I clearly remember being scared when I listened to that album alone at home.
Album playing right now:
We just played Nick Drake’s Bryter Layter a few minutes ago. Very deep stuff; it’s a shame his departure was very early.
A motherload of Turkish vinyl!
12 Comments
TEA
Awesome! Thanks, again!
El Goku
yeah! great interview!
Margaret
"Aegean Okra"! This blog is educational!
Popculturedude
I don't know which I love better. Listening to new records or finding new records. Awesome piece.
Shelf-Stacker
Hi Eilon,
Another fascinating read! I love your blog and have particularly enjoyed the last couple of psych-centric posts. It's both daunting and thrilling to think how much amazing music is out there waiting to be discovered. Perhaps some of your followers might be interested in my vinyl blog which, although not as focused, is very much inspired by Dust & Grooves. Keep those great interviews coming.
http://leftearrightearvinylfrontier.blogspot.com/
chinapig55
This dude got ggrrreat taste in music! Can, Koray, Soft Machine. Awesome!
Alfonso
Nice collection and interesting read. Wich Pioneerr amplifier model are you using??
Alfonso SC
Just see is a pre amplifier spec1, thanx anyway
Alfonso SC
Nice collection and interview!!, what's the model of Pioneer amp (pre) you're using¿ thanx
Cam1
Nice it itw and sélection. Any tips for diggin in antalya ?
Gokhan Turhan
Great interview. As someone who has lived in Istanbul for over 20 years, let me make an addition/correction to the following comment: "The record stores are really expensive because there are not enough records to sell and not enough collectors to buy them." (1) Not enough records to sell This is true. Turkish music does not expand to several different genres like U.S. does. We do not have 10s of great Blues, Soul, Funk, Indie, Electronic, Jazz etc musicians. All the city is pretty much after the same 10-20 artists/bands. And those artists did not release thousands of albums in the first place. (2) Not enough collectors to buy them This is what I wanted to correct. First of all, this is against the demand/supply balance. In fact there are a lot more collectors per person than any other country. Main reason behind that is that unlike US, there are hundreds of bars who are playing only the vinyl records they own so those are the main collectors. Outside of that, all the customers are in the same customer segment. In US, different demographics will have different taste in music. However, in Turkey regardless of their age, everyone is looking for that Erkin Koray or Baris Manco record. Also, it's harder for Turkish people to travel abroad due to visa regulations, so majority of the buyers need to get them from the same stores. Marketplaces such as discogs are a lot less popular. Now that Turkish music is gaining popularity thanks to Internet, I would expect these records to get more expensive in the near future.
Paul Moody
Great collection! Could you tell me what the poster is on the wall? (could you email response please?) Thanks! Paul Moody (England)