Vinyl Bad Penny's

On the hunt for vinyl records in the bowels of thrift shops you come across a lot of *ah-hum "Interesting" records. Notice I said interesting because for all I know you may enjoy Leonard Nimoy's The Way I Feel, or The Best Movie Scores of 1966 by 101 Strings, or many other selections that I personally don't feel the need to add to my collection. 

But in my search I have noticed some artist whose albums just continually turn up almost by the wheel barrel full in every place I look. My particular question is, why? I can tell you that I'm not a fan because its just not my kind of music. But I'll let you give me some reasons why you think they may not be popular, and or tell me what artist and albums you run across regularly. 

At number 1, in my hunt is Kenny Rodgers. Old Kenny "The Gambler" Rodgers just can't get no love from vinyl collectors. No matter what resale shop I look in there is his stuff, not just one album but usually multiple ones. I remember he was big in the early 80's with the whole cross-over country easy listening crowd. I even remember watching the famous Kenny Rodgers & Dolly Parton special on TV remember that? 

At number 2 Crystal Gayle. Just like Kenny, Crystal can't get no love. As a matter of fact in my hunts she is almost neck and neck with old Kenny. I have a vague recollection of one song she sang, but can't remember what it was.

At number 3 Mitch Miller. Ok, from what I heard of this guy he is a Colonel Sanders look-alike, who originated the whole sing along with the bouncing ball thing on TV. Apparently he had a TV show in which a group of singers all Colonel Sanders clones as well, would pull some really old songs out of antiquity, to sing to a Rock and Roll-phobic audience. From what I hear Miller was a very anti-rock person, I guess he felt the fad would go away. Guess that's why there are so few rock albums in the stores yet a ton of Mitch Miller

So what dogs do you run across on your searches? Comment back and let me know, I'd love to hear.

Rummaging through Resale for Records

August 10, 2013

Earlier in the week my eldest son and I ran in and out of a local thrift shop in search of records, and we where in luck. Four stacks about two feet high of vinyl, but hard to tell what was in them. One record I did dig out was a Louis Jordan album, it had a lot of good songs on it, but pressed for time again I put it back and we left just as quickly as we had arrived. 

Finally today on a Saturday with nothing to do we got back there. My eldest son was there mainly because he wanted to get out of the house. But he was helpful in sorting through the pile that had now become six stacks. But my goal of grabbing that Louis Jordan record was dashed, either someone bought it of it was moved in the creation of more piles. 

Being a late Saturday morning the store was crowded making it hard to look at the records, especially since they where stacked horizontally in such tall piles on a shelf closest to the floor. Feeling my wife's annoyance about going there I put a cap on myself to spend no more then $5. 

Sons of the Pioneers although an odd choice for me I figured would have a unique sound on vinyl. I kind of always dug the old timey Cowboy Music they sang and figured on vinyl something would be added. On vinyl it actual does sound unique, but this release can from the group as they where older, probably in the late 1950's early 60's. So although its all the classic songs of theirs, that element of Sons of the Pioneers in their prime ala the late 30's into the 40's is lost. 

I also grabbed the original Broadway cast recording of My Fair Lady. One of the reasons I grabbed it was because it was one of the records my parents had on their collection (perhaps this is that very same record????). I remember my sister loved this record and would put in on many a Saturday morning while doing housework. The other reason is that it is a great album and Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison are phenomenal in this, I must admit though I do prefer Audrey Hepburn as Eliza though. 

 

Lastly, I found some record sets towards the bottom of the piles. One of the ones I pulled out was a 6 LP, Dean Martin set. Ok, I will admit the cover looks very sappy early 60's, but there are a lot of great songs on the set.