Thrift Store Records

4-22-09 Thrift Store Records

A woman where I work recently heard that I liked phonograph records. She offered to give me all of “her” old records. The majority of the stuff was what I classify as “Thrift Store Records” – old Christmas LP’s, some easy listening, some beat-up original US Beatles LP’s, Herb Alpert etc. But there must’ve been somebody younger in her household, as there were some unusual records, too.

The keepers were:

BROWN, JAMES – JAMES BROWN MEDLEY, POLYDOR CAN PDSX 2288 12" 985 5 TRKS with pic sleeve, R&B

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – WILLY AND THE POOR BOYS, FANTASY US 8397

LP 1969 10 TRKS

DYLAN, BOB - GREATEST HITS, COLUMBIA US

KCL 2663 LP 1966? 10 TRK Collection, US version, mono

MORRISSEY – SUEDEHEAD, SIRE US 20877-0

12" 1988 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

O.S.T. – EASY RIDER, DUNHILL US DSX 50063

LP 1970 10 TRKS Various Artists

REED, LOU – ROCK AND ROLL HEART, ARISTA US AL 4100

LP 1976 12 TRKS

The most unusual record in the shopping bags of “Thrift Store Records” that I was given: Alien Sex Fiend “Now I’m Feeling Zombified”. I honestly can’t imagine the woman who gave me these records having that played in her home.

I can defend each of the 6 ‘keepers’ – All of the ones I kept were in decent shape. Always been a bit of a fan of James Brown, and a mid-80’s “Medley” could definitely be interesting, as it’s early enough to not be a “techno” remix. I was a fan of CCR at the time, and it’s fairly nostalgic for me to revisit them on vinyl occasionally. Quite unusual to find a mono copy of Bob Dylan “Greatest Hits”, alas – the poster is long gone. If I was only going to own one Morrissey record, it would be “Suedehead”. Always amused to find old soundtracks, and “Easy Rider” is no exception. I recently got a Japanese CD of this title! And finally, dear old Lou Reed…

When I was about 13 or 14, I got the self-titled Lou Reed LP that had the song “Berlin” on it. At the time, I was listening to a lot of David Bowie. I wanted to like the Lou Reed LP, but it didn’t happen. I sold it (and the few V.U. LP’s I had obtained) and never looked back. Once I got my first hippie record store job in 1976, I was being exposed to a lot more “new music”. “Rock And Roll Heart” was one of the ‘new’ LP’s I heard when it came out. It’s probably closest to say “I didn’t hate it” – which isn’t exactly praise. But I have found myself over the years sometimes quoting the song “Rock And Roll Heart” (i.e. “Roll Heart, Roll Heart…”) and not quite knowing why. Well, it somehow got in there (as in “my brain”).

So, this bag of “Thrift Store Records” has really expanded my experience – I now own records by both Morrissey and Lou Reed!