"I'd buy that for a dollar!" Great purchases for a buck or less

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No, I got my copy of Tweet for $2 from JB too. Vast overstock, it seems, based on nobody buying the album after the single did well. It was worth a couple of times more than that just for the single, and also "Drunk".

edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 06:15 (twenty years ago) link

Original pressing of the first Neu! album in a suburban junk shop 10 years ago. Only cost me a pound!

NickB (NickB), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 07:39 (twenty years ago) link

I got the first three Slowdive vinyl EPs at a store in Montreal for a dollar each. Yee-ha! I'm sure there's some Slowdive-haters out there who are ready to post some witty remark, bit I don't care - those EPs were fab.

Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 07:50 (twenty years ago) link

oooh - I also remember buying a bunch of the early OMD singles in a charity shop for 25p each a couple of months ago...

Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 08:02 (twenty years ago) link

Shangri-Las singles on Redbird Records, 50 cents each! Woo!

kate (kate), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 09:47 (twenty years ago) link

stuff just bought for a quid each. new futureshock album, broadcast 'noise made by people' promo copy, and palace of pleasure on Sunday Best ..
the best thing recently is Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band live album from 1960's.
fine copy. no scratches. perfect sound. and superb old school soul music. pumped up. all for a massive 50pence. charity shops ...
god bless em.

mark e (mark e), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 10:38 (twenty years ago) link

First Randy Newman LP (in the original clouds cover!!) and a white label test pressing of the first Kraftwerk LP, 20p each from the late-lamented Goldhawk Road Record & Tape Exchange.

harveyw (harveyw), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 11:06 (twenty years ago) link

I think probably 95% of what I've ever bought has been really cheap. I try to avoid paying over £6 for a CD and/or vinyl if possible and it usually works, if you're patient and/or diligent. Also buying cheaply is a great way of investigating bands/artists you might never have considered investigating before.

Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 11:26 (twenty years ago) link

... that should read "over six pounds"

Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 11:30 (twenty years ago) link

well chuffed with the sunday best cd, 'palace of pleasure'. mad off the wall orb-like dubbed up ambience mixed with gorgeous melodies and all sorts of extra sonic fun.
well worth the coin. has this actually been released in the uk ?

mark e (mark e), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 11:40 (twenty years ago) link

the vinyl soundtrack to "Scarface" at the WFMU record thing last october. only a buck.

Kingfish (Kingfish), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 11:56 (twenty years ago) link

I picked up a very cheap copy of Donald Fagen's Nightfly - though mine was a buck, not 25 cents. I also got a somewhat worn copy of Randy Newman's Sail Away for a buck.

o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 13:00 (twenty years ago) link

That Goldhawk Road R&TE was the business. My best find in there (amongst many good ones) was probably a nice original gatefold copy of the Upsetters "Return of Django" LP for 20p. I think Harvey was there that day.

Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 13:22 (twenty years ago) link

Oh God it sounds like the best record store ever

Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 13:28 (twenty years ago) link

Raybeats~Guitar Beat
Body Meta~ornette
Best of The Troggs

thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 13:32 (twenty years ago) link

The Gordian Knot--Tones LP (Awesome Nancy Sinatra-discovered sixties group; AMG calls it a sought-after collectors item, fifty cents)
The Lovin' Spoonful--You're A Big Boy Now OST (fifty cents)
Whipping Boy--We Don't Need Nobody Else CDEP (one dollar)
Gary Numan--The Pleasure Principle 8-track (one dollar)

Sarah Pedal (call mr. lee), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 13:42 (twenty years ago) link

Unbelievable Truth's - Building single (limited to 1000) - 50 pence
Mark Gardiner's shifty disco single (limited to 1000) - 50 pence
Animals that Swim - I Was the King, I Really Was the King - 1 pound
Rex - C - $1 Canadian
Mansun - Six - $1 Canadian

so, um, nothing great, but didn't break the bank either.

Jonathan (Jonathan), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 13:48 (twenty years ago) link

How nice to see the Gordian Knot mentioned! That LP really is the business.

harveyw (harveyw), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 14:24 (twenty years ago) link

Nearly all of my best Classical albums were each less than a greenback. Lot's of Blue Angel and Columbia Masterworks titles, too -- Estate sales, mostly.

I got a pristine mid-50's Oscar Petterson album on Clef for around a buck.

....Much more - those are the first that come to mind.

christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 14:24 (twenty years ago) link

Body Meta~ornette

Great deal! I just paid $10 for the Artist House LP of this on E-bay.

o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 14:29 (twenty years ago) link

ABCADERIANS -'Smiling Monarch' 12" on Factory for 50p in Oxfam

Last weekend a mint copy of Hambi and The Dance LP 'Heartache' for 50p. (Collectors Recds, Kingston)


Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 14:52 (twenty years ago) link

I love scrounges like this. My fave result I think remains Roy Montgomery's Songs From the South Island.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 14:57 (twenty years ago) link

LFO "LFO"
Eno&Fripp "No Pussyfooting"
Mr Fingers "Introduction"
First Divine Styler solo record

Jay Vee (Manon_70), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 15:34 (twenty years ago) link

Wow, someone else has actually heard that record? Yeah, "If Only I Could Fly" is one of my favourite songs from the era.

I'd put the record up on slsk, but it's only on vinyl...

Sarah Pedal (call mr. lee), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 15:56 (twenty years ago) link

Metal Urbain "Panik" 7", Metal Boys 7", and Pil's "Death Disco" 7", all for $1.00 each at Jerry's Records in Pittsburgh, PA. And at a church flea market in Cleveland, OH, a sealed copy of a live double album by Curtis Mayfield, also $1.00.

"No New York" at Jerry's for $3.00. Not a buck, but not too bad, either.

Stephen Boyle (SBoyle), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 16:34 (twenty years ago) link

Plan 9 here in Richmond has a giant $1 vinyl section, and I can't remember everything I've bought there but here's some:
Lovin' Spoonful - Incense and Peppermints
Tommy Roe and the Shondells - some album with his hits and then being interviewed in between the songs, which is pretty hot
Neil Young - Decade

NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:03 (twenty years ago) link

Dammit, I mean Tommy Roe (which is the one with the interviews) and Tommy James and the Shondells. I am a dumbnuts.

NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:13 (twenty years ago) link

Latest: Voodoo Queens - Supermodel Superficial (on red vinyl) for 99p on ebay.

Ben Dot, Tuesday, 30 September 2003 23:33 (twenty years ago) link

Charity shops do indeed rule...

OMD - Architecture & Morality
Replacements - Pleased To Mee Me
Miracle Legion - Me & Mr Ray (Anyone else actually like this?)
Laurie Anderson - Big Science
Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
Gang of Four - Hard (Eeek!)
New Order - Substance

And dozens of classical things: Debussy, Penderecki, Ligeti, Bartok et al

...on vinyl for a round 50c or $1 ea.

Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 04:38 (twenty years ago) link

i've bought heaps of 7 inch singles for A$1 and more than the occasional CD, but nothing that especially sticks out in my mind.. a couple of the 45s were on the Sarah label but that's about as exciting as it gets really.

the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 04:40 (twenty years ago) link

the best thing recently is Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band live album from 1960's.

this is the record my folks would take to every party they ever went to when i was a kid...handclappinsomethingsomrthingfonkybuttlive? the whole first side is like an intro..."geno! geno!"

mine might be the vinyl of parliaments chocolate city 50c aust in ashwoods!

gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 07:31 (twenty years ago) link

Doors - LA Woman lp
Grease Soundtrack 2lp
Hendrix Smash Hits lp
McCartney - Tripping the live fantastic 2lp
ELO- Out of this world 2lp
Tom Tom Club (cassette)
and two books = £1.25

Charity shops, ahhhh

mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 08:47 (twenty years ago) link

Almost all my hundreds of awesome 80's albums. Flea markets & cutout bins rule. Just yesterday- the first 3 Eurythmics, Ministry, Platinum Blonde, Gen X, Crowded House, Red Rockers & a few more. Favorite scores ever, maybe the first 3 Wire albums! How about favorite albums found in the trash?

sucka (sucka), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 21:48 (twenty years ago) link


Found Randy Newman's Good Old Boys and Nico's Drama of Exile, both in the same day, for a buck each.

Josh Timmermann (Josh Timmermann), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 22:57 (twenty years ago) link

I once purchased a "Go West" album and a "Head East" album for a buck a piece just to see what the clerk's reaction would be. He didn't even seem to notice. This really pissed me off for some reason so i kind of subtley flipped him off on my way out.

Applepie Baseball, Thursday, 2 October 2003 01:20 (twenty years ago) link

Neil Young - "On The Beach" vinyl

$1 in a record store in Key West about 10 years ago. The same store wanted $18 for a Men At Work album. I took the Neil record up to the counter: "You don't want to buy that, it is crap." I begged to differ.

retort pouch (retort pouch), Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:32 (twenty years ago) link

(I mean, I actually had to persuade them to sell it to me. It wasn't even out on display, I found it while searching thru some boxes at the back of the store. "You can have it for a dollar." HAH!)

retort pouch (retort pouch), Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:35 (twenty years ago) link

i just found the loch ness mouse's "key west" for a couple of bucks, it's nice which is surprising since they are norwegian. it's almost like the how the hang-ups might sound if they weren't dreadful.

keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:39 (twenty years ago) link

Rolling Stones "Between The Buttons"
Buzzcocks "Singles Going Steady"
X "Under The Big Black Sun"
Reynols/No-Reynols
all of Simon & Garfunkel's albums
Kerosene454 "Situation At Hand"
AC/DC "Back In Black"
Grateful Dead "American Beauty"
Kinks "The Great Lost Kinks Album"
tons of Joni Mitchell records (good ones, even!)

Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 2 October 2003 05:52 (twenty years ago) link

three years pass...
I got a slew of dollar winners at various points during the EMP trip:

The Spacious Mind, The Mind of a Brother
The Seers, Psych Out
Converge, No Heroes
The Ladies, They Mean Us
v/a, Enraptured -- Sunday, Sept. 14, 1997
Juned, Juned
The Iditarod, The River Nectar (original Hub City pressing)
v/a, The Long Secret -- A Harriet Records Compilation
Cut Copy, FabricLive 29
v/a, Eyes of the Beholder III (lots of random demi-freak/psych stuff -- Rivulets, Devendra, et al)
The Wildhearts, The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed

...plus some other dollar stuff which I have yet to judge is any good or not, but give me time.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 26 April 2007 02:58 (sixteen years ago) link

http://www.thefader.com/blog/files/buyfordollar.jpg

river wolf, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:03 (sixteen years ago) link

to attempt to post how many great records i've gotten this way would be way too insane. all y'all should go to eastern europe, the only place where it's sometimes hard to find records for more that 5$ american.

the table is the table, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:05 (sixteen years ago) link

You know that Chuck Berry 28-track comp? I got it on vinyl for $4 (when I went up to the counter, the clerk realized that she made a mistake when marking it).

Tape Store, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:06 (sixteen years ago) link

thanks for that, river wolf.

BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:14 (sixteen years ago) link

the church: priest = aura and gold afternoon fix
laurie anderson: bright red
electronic: s/t

nothing I didn't own at some point in the past but couldn't pass them up for this price again

akm, Thursday, 26 April 2007 06:17 (sixteen years ago) link

the original promo 12" of blur's POPSCENE in generic FOOD RECORDS sleeve and on one sided vinyl. on day of purchase (6 months after release) = a quid, 3 years later = priceless!

pisces, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:53 (sixteen years ago) link

Black Grape - "It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah" (ALWAYS a winner)
Gerling - "Bad Blood!!!"
Tricky - "Nearly God"

Stevie D, Thursday, 26 April 2007 12:00 (sixteen years ago) link

Human League "Dare" 20p
Sheila B. Devotion 'Spacer' 10p

The Real Dirty Vicar, Thursday, 26 April 2007 12:09 (sixteen years ago) link

Woah. Was waiting for the bus in my college days (late 70s) and it started to rain so I ducked into the Western Auto (Olympia WA).... browsing through the $1.99 bin full of Conway Twitty and Buck Owens albums I scored a Gato Barbieri LP, Sun Ra's Heliocentric Worlds Vol 1 (ESP), and Ornette's "NY Eye and Ear Control".

I have never, ever, ever, ever, had that kind of weird luck again.

factcheckr, Thursday, 26 April 2007 14:13 (sixteen years ago) link

http://mx-80.com/images/discography/HardAttack.jpg

Purchased for one Canadian dollar, after which it went on to become my alltime favourite. The most lopsided deal since Dutch settlers bought Manhattan Island for $24 worth of beads. (Altho that's probably just a myth.)

Myonga Vön Bontee, Thursday, 26 April 2007 15:20 (sixteen years ago) link

500 usdeuro......cost..650 usd

this seems a poor investment

I hear from this arsehole again, he's going in the river (James Morrison), Tuesday, 20 September 2016 02:17 (seven years ago) link

Can I get a review copy of like $5,000

"raw buttin' these toilet seats" (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 20 September 2016 06:33 (seven years ago) link

two months pass...

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0002/166/MI0002166596.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

77 cents at the Buckhead Goodwill

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 4 December 2016 18:52 (seven years ago) link

feel like this song invented grunge. dude is singing like he's in Alice in Chains.

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 4 December 2016 19:06 (seven years ago) link

Found in the dollar bin at Somerville Grooves -- a clean copy of this in a beat up cover:
https://img.discogs.com/VImIGtgtvBu3mNqsGIyy_kQun10=/fit-in/320x240/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-4835729-1385743256-2384.jpeg.jpg

enochroot, Monday, 5 December 2016 17:27 (seven years ago) link

Great record right there. Found my copy in a dollar bin, too!

rudy githyanki (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 5 December 2016 21:38 (seven years ago) link

one month passes...

pretty good luck w/ dollar bins, Value Village and Salvation Army over the last lil bit

American Music Club - Mercury
Eels - Blinking Lights and other Revelations
D'Angelo - Black Messiah
Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Herbert - Scale
Rock Plaza Central Are We Not Horses?
Neko Case - Fox Confessor
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine (remastered)
Sebadoh - Harmacy
Explosions in the Sky - Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
Fugazi - In on the Kill Taker
Jolie Holland - Escondida / Living and the Dead / Wine Dark Sea
Marissa Nadler - Little Hells
Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
65daysofstatic - Wild Light
Cursed - I
Colleen - Golden Morning Breaks
Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
Lali Puna - Faking the Books
John Fullbright - From the Ground Up (signed!)
Fridge - Happiness
Son Volt - Trace
Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic
Oneida - Happy New Year
Susumu Yokota - Sakura
Keren Ann - Not Going Anywhere
Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
Frankie Rose - Herein Wild

a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Saturday, 21 January 2017 23:22 (seven years ago) link

one month passes...

Sandy Nelson "In Beat"
Sandy Nelson "Teen Drums"
Sandy Nelson "Be True to Your School"

i'll buy any record that has a cover of the Batman TV theme, but this is some good stuff!

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 22 February 2017 23:16 (seven years ago) link

yeah he usually has at least one banger

“Yeah. Huh, thanks.” (los blue jeans), Thursday, 23 February 2017 01:51 (seven years ago) link

sabres of paradise : haunted dancehall
the aloof : cover the crime
the omni trio : the deepest cuts volume one.

£1.50

best charity shop haul i have had in ages ..

going back tomorrow for the red snapper cd ..

mark e, Friday, 24 February 2017 19:48 (seven years ago) link

two months pass...

Goodwill yesterday vinyl for 77 cents

Richard Harris - The Yard Went On Forever
The Tymes - Trustmaker
Dolly Parton - Here You Come Again
Paul Simon - Greatest Hits, Etc.

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 12 May 2017 13:21 (six years ago) link

I average one charity shop find a year (discounting Oxfam Books and Music). I had two finds last year so 2017 could be a fallow year, however my local library has closed it's CD lending dept, I got 2 x Josh Rouse, New Pornographers, Mountain Goats, Ryan Adams and Shins - I got the lot for £1.25!

Grantman, Friday, 12 May 2017 18:13 (six years ago) link

recent charity shop cd groove :

evil nine : y4k
dj food : kaleidoscope
chapterhouse : whirlpool (original cd)

£1.50 for the lot.
so so chuffed.
each and every one of these albums i have been wanting for ages.

mark e, Friday, 12 May 2017 18:38 (six years ago) link

six months pass...

Goodwill is now selling LPs at $1.01 or less, one place had them for 75c. my last haul:

The Rocking 50s - Atlantic Records compilation
Dire Straights - Making Movies
Mickey Gilley - Gilley's Smokin'
Apollo Saturday Night - ATCO 33-159 live at Apollo Theater NY Coasters Otis Redding etc.
Ray Charles - Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul
Steve Winwood - Roll With It
Lotte Lenya - Sings Berlin Theater Songs by Kurt Weill
Sweet Emma Barrett and Her New Orleans Music - S/T GHB-141

got some random weirdo gospel records as well including a group called The Apocalypse. The Apocalypse Thank You, Lord and The Apocalypse On Tour

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:04 (six years ago) link

six months pass...

If we equate a dollar to a pound a nice selection of records :

Ben Webster Meets Coleman Hawkins

Locked in a trunk of a car - The Tragically Hip (promo 12”)

Leo Kottke - Burnt Lips

Minister of the Pillow (fionnland), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 18:47 (five years ago) link

Sorry, we strictly insist on a current exchange rate in this thread.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 18:50 (five years ago) link

I'd buy that for $1.32!

nickn, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 19:03 (five years ago) link

That's a great (and underrated) Kottke record. Surely my favorite of his late 70s / early 80s period.

Also, looked up that Webster / Hawkins record, as I've never heard it before, and I now have a new favorite AllMusic review: https://www.allmusic.com/album/coleman-hawkins-encounters-ben-webster-mw0000191969

(V) (°,,,,°) (V) (Austin), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 20:14 (five years ago) link

Oh that's good to hear re: Kottke! .. I'm not familiar with it and to be honest was in two minds as the cover had seen better days but the record itself is pristine. Excited to have a listen tonight now.

Minister of the Pillow (fionnland), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 21:09 (five years ago) link

Just so you know, the cover art is not indicative of the music in any way whatsoever.

(V) (°,,,,°) (V) (Austin), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 21:35 (five years ago) link

The cover art is cool

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 21:43 (five years ago) link

(btw - that's not meant as a snarky way of saying the music isn't cool)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 21:46 (five years ago) link

I actually meant it in a different way. On the cover, Leo is all smiles, driving in the sunshine with the top down on his convertible. However, the music is some of the most melancholy he ever made.

(V) (°,,,,°) (V) (Austin), Thursday, 21 June 2018 03:55 (five years ago) link

Yeah no I get that... I also just happen to think it’s a particularly cool/compelling cover. Makes me wonder where the photo was taken.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 21 June 2018 04:07 (five years ago) link

Yeah, I'm loving this Kottke album - where do I go next?

Minister of the Pillow (fionnland), Tuesday, 3 July 2018 11:50 (five years ago) link

Backwards.

If you're not opposed to his singing, Greenhouse and Mudlark are great. My Feet Are Smiling is great, too. But that's a live album, so not sure how you feel about that.

If you just want Leo doin` some pickin`, his Takoma album (6 and 12 String Guitar) is a classic for a reason.

(V) (°,,,,°) (V) (Austin), Tuesday, 3 July 2018 16:29 (five years ago) link

god bless Value Village

Low - Things We Lost / Trust / Great Destroyer / Drums and Guns
Spiritualized - Let It Come Down
Jeff Buckley - Sketches...
Rye Coalition - The Lipstick Game
The Detroit Cobras - Baby
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...
John Cale - Paris 1919
Lhasa - The Living Road
Clinic - Walking With Thee
Sparklehorse - It's a Wonderful Life

Simon H., Wednesday, 4 July 2018 20:37 (five years ago) link

Found this on CD

https://i.imgur.com/zN1ghIA.jpg?1

Ote Maloya comp of music from Reunion Island. Beautiful blend of African, French and Latin music sung in the local creole.

Paul Reverse and the rediaRs (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 23:55 (five years ago) link

one year passes...

What great LPs are still available for a buck?

Wasn’t too long ago you could still find copies of “Rumours” and “Purple Rain” and “Lodger” and “Born in the USA” for a dollar, but that’s all out the window now... and for me, well, I have copies of those albums anyway. I passed on a copy of “Misty Blue” by Dorothy Moore for a buck the other day cuz I already have one, but I was inspired to spin it when I got home. What a great little record! Which got me thinking...

I realize this is pretty regional, but are there similar sleepers in your area dollar bins that a person should take a flyer on if they stumble across one?

Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Friday, 7 February 2020 20:04 (four years ago) link

Me, eight-plus years ago:

On a related note, I was browsing through all the ridiculously overpriced new vinyl at a mall store last week (actually situated right near the entrance now), seeing albums I bought 35 years ago and others I should have bought 35 years ago, and one question seemed obvious to me: who's going to buy this stuff? Maybe I'm way wrong, but my guess is no one--I'm looking forward to five years from now, when the bottom drops out a second time and all those records can be picked up for next to nothing.

Way wrong.

clemenza, Friday, 7 February 2020 20:16 (four years ago) link

basically this is a case of vinyl vs cd.
even crappy vinyl is now £££/$$$.
cds are still dirt cheap though some charity shops are getting wise to the situation.

mark e, Friday, 7 February 2020 20:19 (four years ago) link

I was looking at new records at a bookstore recently and thought "who's buying vinyl at $23/per?" but then I started thinking of when I last bought used vinyl regularly, trying to remember what I paid, and I kind of remember ~$12 in 1985, which by an inflation calculator is $28.50 today, so maybe prices are no different now.

nickn, Friday, 7 February 2020 23:46 (four years ago) link

srs bragging but this is what i bought for less than $1 a couple of weekends ago:

Absolutely crazy 30p carboot find this morning among a pile of Perry Como albums - 1971 synth comp w/ Delia Derbyshire, Harrison Birtwistle, Dudley Simpson, David Vorhaus pic.twitter.com/ZazC3L1YWz

— fell into a green dream (@Mount_Analogue) January 19, 2020

ymo sumac (NickB), Friday, 7 February 2020 23:50 (four years ago) link


What great LPs are still available for a buck?
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Friday, February 7, 2020 3:04 PM bookmarkflaglink

If you're into 80's pop, there's still lots of great stuff in the dollar bin (at least in my area). The following routinely show up:
- Bongos - Drums Along The Hudson
- The first 2 Joe Jackson albums
- Prefab Sprout - 2 Wheels Good
- Diana Ross - Diana (the 1980 Niles Rodgers produced one)
- ABC - Lexicon of Love
- Heaven 17 albums
- Squeeze - argybargy / east side story

This one is less common, but I picked up "Etceteraville" by Random Hold for buck, and I think that fits into the sleeper category -- it's somewhere between prog and post-punk, so fits on the Roxy/Gabriel/Wire 154 spectrum.

enochroot, Saturday, 8 February 2020 02:14 (four years ago) link

two months pass...

Ok, so since I can’t crate-dig, I made the crates come to me! Bought ~2500 random old records for $300 and have spent the past week sorting them. About 75% were total trash, just bunk, Percy Faith and Living Strings and James Last and the Norman Luboff Choir. A whole bunch more I can flip for maybe a buck apiece if I’m lucky, $20/box if no takers. There were a surprising number of half-decent things, stuff I can sell for $3-5 easy. I upgraded a few records in my collection that were in questionable condition, added a few nice staples (Bill Withers, Dusty Springfield, Four Tops, New Order). And I’ve been loving throwing random semi-interesting-looking things on to see what they are, something I haven’t really done for many years. I had almost given up on the magic of the bin find... this restores my faith in the Holy Crate.

Smith - A Group Called Smith
These folks must have been a hoot to see live, great party music. It’s all covers, but generally really well done. Well worth a fiver if you’re into finding the missing like between BB/Holding co and the J Geils Band. And if you don’t care that they don’t write any of their own material.

Ramsey Lewis - Mother Nature’s Son
Weird jazzbo covers of songs from the White Album. Ranges from quirky to schmaltzy to downright sinister. I’m a sucker for Beatles cover albums (Holyridge Strings, Torero Band, George Martin & Orchestra) but this is by far the best one I’ve found. Bonus points for the cuckoo sleeve art.

There was an original Ella on Verve which sounds incredible (although it being Ella Sings Broadway I don’t really need to keep it). But the pick of the litter was a really nice copy of Thirsty Moon, a krautrock band on Brain. Total score!

Still sorting, cleaning & playing. Will post more finds if I dig any up.

The little engine that choogled (hardcore dilettante), Saturday, 18 April 2020 03:41 (three years ago) link

Aw that sounds like fun!!

brimstead, Saturday, 18 April 2020 03:45 (three years ago) link

I remember Smith's song "Baby, It's you" from the 70s. An actual hit.

nickn, Saturday, 18 April 2020 04:30 (three years ago) link

Weakest performance on the album! It was a hit, huh? I just assumed they were a no-hit no-wonder.

The little engine that choogled (hardcore dilettante), Saturday, 18 April 2020 04:31 (three years ago) link

I don't know how it charted but it got regular airplay on SoCal top 40 stations.

nickn, Saturday, 18 April 2020 04:33 (three years ago) link

From wiki: The highest-charting version of "Baby It's You" was by the band Smith, who took the song to number five on the US charts in 1969.

nickn, Saturday, 18 April 2020 04:38 (three years ago) link

two months pass...

to whoever left pristine copies of First Reformed, Xen Cuts and a whole lot of early aughts/late 90s emo and math rock, I thank you

also anyone in toronto who needs a CD copy of Leaves Turn Inside You, mcluskyism or The Rising Tide get your ass to the salvation army thrift store at lansdowne stn

k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Saturday, 4 July 2020 15:36 (three years ago) link

four months pass...

Have bought a bunch of collections this year. Some of my favourite discoveries for a buck or two:

Wild Tchopitoulas
Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band
MC Lyte - Eyes on This
Moev - Zimmerkampf
Jane Fair Jazz Quintet
Brother to Brother - Let Your Mind Be Free
Bang Bang You’re Terry Reid
Little Richard - The King of Rock & Roll (absolutely bonkers)
Montrose - s/t
Carolyn Franklin (aretha’s sis) - Baby Dynamite
Ramsey Lewis - Mother Nature’s Son

the thing that the angry Left forbids (hardcore dilettante), Saturday, 28 November 2020 19:40 (three years ago) link

two months pass...

Well in terms of classic albums, the other day I managed to get a full copy of Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life on Vinyl for $1 at a thrift store. Also got a copy of Jan Johansson's Jazz på svenska, which is something I usually wouldn't expect to find at a thrift store in Alberta.

MarkoP, Saturday, 30 January 2021 14:57 (three years ago) link

one month passes...

.@oryxofelia wanted to hit a thrift store so while she was perusing dated fashion at the local @GoodwillIntl I hit the CD section not expecting much. I found far more than I could have hoped for for only 99¢ a pop. pic.twitter.com/LGtQsqPyxm

— Brian O'Neill (@NYC__Native) March 27, 2021

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Saturday, 27 March 2021 16:48 (three years ago) link

The Sarah Brightman was for her; the Therapy? CD single was the most unexpected thing to find and the Willie Nelson tribute has some great bands on it.

Already started listening to the Methods of Mayhem. Wow, does it suck, haha!

— Brian O'Neill (@NYC__Native) March 27, 2021

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Saturday, 27 March 2021 16:49 (three years ago) link

two years pass...

Hardly obscure, but here I am listening to The Good, the Bad and the Queen for the hundredth time, got it for a dollar in some cutprice store a decade ago. I love the Allen/Simonon grooves so much.

assert (matttkkkk), Thursday, 22 June 2023 03:21 (nine months ago) link


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