Enjoying a Portable Record Player Lifestyle, Part 2: Exploring 7-Inch Singles with the KORG handytraxx play

KORG’s portable record player, the handytraxx play, has become a hit even within our company. In this installment, let’s listen to five records that can serve as great conversation starters when enjoying vinyl with someone.
This player comes with various features, but in Part 3, I will introduce records that allow you to have fun using its functions. For now, let’s simply play some classic records in the traditional way. As mentioned in the previous post, this player is incredibly easy to use, making it a great choice even for first-time users.

KORG / handytraxx play

This time, we’ll be playing 7-inch singles, which often have larger center holes than LP records. For those, be sure to use the center adapter that comes with the player before playing them.

Now, let’s spin some records and dive into the stories behind them...

1. The Royal Teens “Short Shorts”

In Japan, many people recognize this song as the theme for the TV show Tamori Club. People of all ages might assume it was composed specifically for the show, but in fact, it’s a rocking saxophone instrumental classic released back in 1957. You can also hear this song on various oldies compilation LPs, but spinning it on a 7-inch single adds to the authentic vintage feel. Why not enjoy it while imitating the Tamori Club opening sequence?

2. The Mojos “Everything’s Al’right”

This track was later covered by David Bowie on his album Pin Ups, but originally, it was a single-only release from the 1960s British Invasion era, fueled by the Beatles’ global success. At first, it sounds like it’s going for a moody intro reminiscent of “Blue Light Yokohama”, but suddenly bursts into an exhilarating rock & roll track. The wild drumming? That’s Aynsley Dunbar, who would later play with Whitesnake. Interestingly, Dunbar also played drums on Bowie’s Pin Ups, which might explain why Bowie chose to cover this song—a classic Bowie move!
Fun fact: Japanese Group Sounds band The Out Cast also covered this song.

3. The Equals “Police On My Back”

A 1967 single by The Equals, best known for “Baby, Come Back”. This song was later covered by The Clash on Sandinista! and frequently performed live. More recently, Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day) covered it in 2020. If you’re hanging out with punk rock fans, this record makes for a great conversation piece—a roots-of-punk classic!

4. Paul McCartney “Home Tonight”

This one’s a picture disc, making it fun to look at while you listen. Released as a Record Store Day exclusive on November 29, 2019, this single features an unreleased track from the Egypt Station sessions. With its psychedelic pop vibe reminiscent of The Beatles, this song feels too good to have been left as a limited-edition release. The brass arrangement in the ending even evokes George Harrison’s “Savoy Truffle”. Despite being a limited release, quite a few copies were pressed, so you might still find it in used record stores. If you’re interested, be sure to look for it!

5. The Rolling Stones “Hello! This is Mick Jagger”

While listening to these records, a question popped into my mind—can this player handle flexi discs?
A flexi disc is an ultra-thin, flexible vinyl record. Back in the day, they were often magazine freebies, instructional tools, or music book inserts.
Unlike regular records, it’s really thin, so it mostly plays at 33 RPM, but depending on its condition, it can be a bit questionable whether it will play properly. Let’s give it a try. This time, we’re playing a flexi disc that was included as a bonus with The Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet in Japan. It contains an international phone interview with Mick Jagger. Fortunately, it played all the way through! Just being a flexi disc is a conversation starter, but hearing it for the first time made me realize what international phone conversations sounded like back then, and Mick Jagger’s high-energy talk was hilarious. There’s also a translation booklet inside the LP jacket, so even though my English isn’t great, I had a blast listening to it!

In Part 3, we’ll explore what unique things we can do using the built-in features of this portable record player. Stay tuned!