About a year ago, I followed a lead on gsalr.com to a listing that claimed they had piles and piles of records. It was about a 5 mile ride, and it wasn’t very nice out: windy and cold, late fall Chicago. But I soldiered through it as thoughts of big scores and a library of vinyl danced in my mind.
But when I arrived, I was all alone. No signs, no flags, no….anything. I checked the address and double checked it. I went down the alley – no people, no open doors. Normally I’d dismiss this instantly but as the sale was described, it was too good to walk away from that easily.
So I decided I wasn’t going to leave without some kind of closure, or attempt at it, and I knocked on the front door. A man answered and we spoke awkwardly through the screen door. He explained that he did have some records but the sale was ‘postponed’ and that if I wanted to give him my number, he would let me know when it was rescheduled for. He handed me a paper and pen through a tiny crack in the door and of course I gave him my info. But I was sure he would never call – I get these kind of BS offers all the time. It never keeps me from offering to network but I am usually pretty sure that it is a load of nonsense and false promises. He gave me his number also though I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with it. Call him in a few days and beg to see the vinyl? I programmed him into my phone as ‘Dave Records’ and forgot about it.
Well I’ll be damned if my phone didn’t ring a few weeks ago and it was him! He said that he was ready to show me the goods and we exchanged email addresses. I threw together a small want list but assured him I wanted to see whatever he had regardless, at whatever time and place he chose. But I was leaving for vacation in just a few days and he said he was planning to go out of town soon as well.
So finally after a few weeks he offered me a date and I took it. I had a murderous hangover for no good reason on a chilly Saturday morning and I dragged myself onto the bike and off I went. He let me into his back porch and offered me a coffee which I gladly accepted while I looked through his stash. I grabbed six records:
Little River Band – Diamantina Cocktail – I swore that I had enough of the LRB discography already but I couldn’t resist adding to the trilogy. This album came out just before they hit their stride with a long string of giant hits but there are some decent singles on this one as well. I tried to leave it behind but as I dug through the crates I kept finding more and more of their stuff which only reminded me.
Poco (3) – Legend – a pleasure to add this to my Yacht Rock collection, everyone knows the two big hits but the whole thing just feels nice. I swore Jim Messina was always in the band but it looks like his involvement was short and limited. You learn something new everyday!
Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 – Equinox – I already have this of course, but not the mono version. I actually have the stereo and TWO mono versions of the debut which came out just before this one. Really clean condition too.
Elvis Costello – My Aim Is True – my girlfriend’s mom has a big framed posted of this album hanging in the spare bedroom I sleep in when I visit. I also have a obsession with the book ‘Less Than Zero’ which leads me to be further interested in Elvis Costello. Something just called out to me to have this and I am already very happy I grabbed it. It has such a similar feel as another new wave classic I have studied and played to death (and own in a couple formats as well). The idea of NOT having bought this is disturbing to me.
Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms – I actually found copies of this one, I grabbed one which was still in its (opened) shrink. I came straight to my girlfriend’s after this escapade and we listened to this a few times. She immediately expressed her jealousy and I told her to just have it. I can live without it, I have 600 records as it is (many of which I cannot humanly listen to) and I’m always looking to show some self control and scale back where I can.
Gerry Rafferty – Night Owl – this one I bought specifically for her. There was one other LP as well but I left it behind as it was further along in the chronology and largely irrelevant, I decided. She is a fan of Gerry and I’m realizing that I have bought every release she has for her. I got her a picture sleeve 7″ in Oak Park and I got the LP with the same hit at a garage sale in Franklin Park. I remember that sale well but it seems it was in the time before I began to blog about garage sales. I know I picked up an Eng record then which while not valuable I have never come across again (it sucks, actually).
So he had the two crates you see above plus another stack which he said were his “step son’s ex-girlfriend’s”. That makes my head hurt a bit to think about but they are not depicted and were of no interest to me. So I had 6 records and I offered him $10. He said he was looking for $2 each but I did not have exact change. So I offered him all the money I had on me – $23 – and said to just give me back a $10 which would be simple and we would call it even at $13. This seemed to please him and we said our goodbyes. He promised to stay in touch and said he would have more vinyl – but it might not be until the spring. That seemed like a long way away (well…it is!) but I thanked him and we both promised to stay in touch. So I am sure I will be blogging about my friend Dave again!
He told me he sells records on ebay and gave me the coolest business card I have ever seen. Click here to be taken to his eBay store!
