A NEW AND EXPENSIVE RIFF SERIES
Here Are the 7 Latest Additions to My Record Collection
I never did get what I wanted but now I get what I need
My usual record store is on the other side of town from me. That’s just enough friction to prevent me from going bankrupt, but not enough to keep me away for more than a week or two at a time.
There is another, smaller, store right by me though — as in close enough to walk to. The only thing I have going for me is that it specializes in metal-a genre I’m not too interested in — and operates on irregular hours. This is truly a passion project, and the owner works running the store in when he can.
Like many shops, he’s taken to social media to tout new arrivals into the store. Most of the time I don't recognize the covers and can't read the script on the covers (what is it with metal bands all using the same unreadable font?).
This time was different.
On this Instagram reel, he was slowly flipping through a crate of new arrivals, and mixed in with the death metal, the following grabbed my attention:
- The Replacements- “Tim”- I’d just recently picked up “Don't Tell A Soul,’ and have been listing to “Pleased To Meet Me” a lot lately. This would make for a nice addition.
- Bauhaus- “The Sky’s Gone Out”-Their cover of Brian Eno’s “Third Uncle” is one of my favorites by the band.
- Skinny Puppy- “VIVI SECT VI”- Easily one of the most memorable bands I’ve ever seen. I can go years without listening to these guys, but this isn't a record you see often, and “Testure” is a banger.
- The Police- “Ghost In the Machine”-I know this isn't exactly a tough record to get, but but I've never seen it in the wild. In fact, I'm not sure I've seen a vinyl copy since first pulling a copy out of my uncle’s rack as a kid.
- Husker Du- “Everything Falls Apart”- It's Husker Du. C’mon.
And they were open. I had to go.
The store itself is a hole in the wall- literally. The storefront itself is really the space between two buildings, with a ~300 sq ft. room on one side towards the back. It’s tiny, and it’s fantastic.
The little room was packed, with everyone digging through different racks. With close quarters like this, you can't really stand back to back, and instead have to stand just off to the side and reach over. Anywhere else, and I’d declare it too people-y and bail. But I’ve always rooted for this store, and so being packed made me smile. And the line was long too. people were buying! That’s partly down to the owner chatting with everyone about what they’re picking up.
At Safeway this would be obnoxious. Here, it’s part of the appeal (more on that in a second).
What didn't make me smile was going 0-for-everything on what I'd come in for.
That Replacements record? Priced out of my range.
Skinny Puppy- Same Story.
The Police & Bauhaus- Nowhere to be found.
I did happen to come across a copy of The Jesus & Mary Chain’s “Darklands,” but it too was out of my range. It’s on the running “maybe next time” list I have in my head. who am I kidding; if it’s there next time I drive by, I’ll probably grab it.
So I struck out on everything I was looking for. But this is a record store, a place full of things you don't know you need until you come across them.
I came in looking for 5 records, and walked out with 7 totally different ones instead. All for just under $80.
Here’s what I picked up:
- Split Enz- True Colours. I grabbed this almost solely on the strength of “I Got You,” and was pleasantly surprised at how good the rest of the record is. At $2.99 this was a steal. During my turn at the register, the owner told ne he used to grab copies whenever he could and at one point had several at home.
- The Producers- S/T: Having recently written about the band on my Substack, this was a nice treat to find. This the record that has “What’s He Got” on it, and while it never quite cracked the Hot 100, the video got decent airplay during the early days on MTV. Added bonus: bassist Kyle Henderson now lives in the same city as me.
- Teenage Fanclub-Bandwagonesque: 30 years after buying the CD (and promptly letting it collect dust), I grew to love this record. Picking up a reissue seemed like the right thing to do.
- Swervedriver- Future Ruins: Shoegaze at it's finest. I found their debut Raise while in high school and never shut up about it. I’d talk it up to anyone who'd listen. I picked right back up where I’d left off, this time with my kid when I found Future Ruins just sitting there begging to be picked up. You could almost hear his eyes sprain from rolling them back so hard.
- Albert Hammond- It Never Rains in Southern California: This was in the $3.99 bin, and I felt it was my duty to rescue it and put in a forever home. As a bonus, it was actually supposed to be in the dollar bin, so it was even cheaper than I thought it would be.
- Bruce Springsteen- Darkness On the Edge of Town: Speaking of endless advocacy, Paul Combs’ writing about The Boss has got me back into him far more than I would've been otherwise. And now I have my first copy of of anything Bruce on vinyl. Amber Walters has it slotted in at #4 on her list of all 20 records. I think she’s on to something.
- Talking Heads- Fear Of Music: I have now owned this on every form of media it was issued on. Except DAT. Did they release this on DAT? I dunno. No matter; it’s a classic, and a welcome addition to my collection. “Air” is one of my favorites. I hope my neighbors like it too.
Turned out the Husker Du record was behind the counter, but I decided against it…for now. Maybe when I go back to pick up “Darklands.”
And the Police and Bauhaus records? The store is across the street from our high school, and the show choir had been holding a car wash fundraiser. Several of them came over while on a break and each walked out with an armful of records. Those were just 2 of many.
The kids are alright.
Huge thanks to Terry Barr for kicking off this series and inspiring me to share my story. Want to join in the fun? Give his a read here:
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