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

I picked up the Screaming Trees SST Anthology (21 songs!!!) for $1 the other night.

$1, Top Drawer Thrift, on Burnett in Austin today:

xhuxk, since when are you in Austin?

Since the end of March...

Anyway, bought this CD for 50 cents at a garage sale here today:

Emerson Lake & Palmer Lucky Man And Other Hits (Flashback/Rhino, 1997) (Looks really cut-rate, like something that'd get sold in truck stops or at the drug store counter. Songlist goes: Lucky Man, C'Est La Vie, Paper Blood, Still...You Turn Me On, Karn Evil No. 9 -- 1st Impression Parts 1 & 2, Fanfare For The Common Man)

...and these three LPs at a Goodwill at 183 and Burnett, $5 total:

Richard "Dimples" Fields Tellin' It Like It Is (Columbia, 1987) (Actually, though I'll file it with the other two LPs I have under his whole name, he is just called "Dimples" on the cover and on the label; had no idea he would up doing that)
New England New England (Infinity, 1979) (Includes a song called "Punk {Puny Undernourished Kid}," ha ha)
The Sylvers Something Special (Capitol, 1976)

Would have definitely bought a few more if they'd been selling for $1 instead of $2, and may yet go back to get one or two in a moment of weekness: Robbie Dupree LP with "Steal Away" and "Hot Rod Hearts"; Shirley Murdock self-titled Roger Troutman-produced '87 LP with "As We Lay"; Duke Jupiter LP from 1984 on Motown (not sure if they were ever any good); Bob James Touchdown; Don Williams Cafe Carolina; self-released-looking LP by some Canadian jazz guy who covered a Frank Zappa song.

The Canadian jazz-guy LP was from 1976, fwiw (which made it seem more interesting, since self-released LPs weren't as common back then, jazz or otherwise.)

Also, the Maureen Steele Motown album I mentioned that I didn't buy a week ago was from '85, not '75.

And oh yeah, that Goodwill also had something like 20 different Keith Jarrett LPs from the '70s and '80s for $2 each; apparently some former Keith fan had dumped their whole collection.

25 cents each, garage sale, North Central Austin today:

Bill Doggett Honky Tonk Organ (Harmony LP, c. late '50s or early '60s I assume)
Fats Domino Fats Domino (United Artists Legendary Masters Series double-LP, 1971 -- this is the cool-looking set that got five stars in early editions of the Rolling Stone Record Guide)
S-Ban Hour Best Hit Parade (Hit Songs) (some Japanese label LP, probably mid '60s, beautiful translucent lime-green vinyl -- Maybe "S-Ban Hour," or "S-Ban Haur" as the label inside says, is the group? Three mod-looking non-Asian gals on the cover; songs include "Diana," "Calendar Girl, "One Way Ticket," "The Three Bells" "Day-O," "Sinno'Me Moro," "Mama Guitar," "The Rose Tattoo," "Uska Dara," etc., many of which I never heard of before.)

xpost to xhuxk re: Lane Caudell.

He was in a kinda interesting glam-pop group called Skyband in the 70's, along with Pete Beckett (later of Player) and Steve Kipner (I think you'll know his history? From Bee Gees to Natasha Bedinfield...) I have no idea if his solo album is any good, but it might be interesting depending on who was involved in the songwriting/production. FWIW, the Skyband album looks like it's disco if you judge by the cover, but doesn't sound disco at all. Granted Lane was probably the least musical of the three, but I'd be at least slightly interested, especially for less than a buck.

Hmmm, it looks like one of Caudell's songs was covered by The Cats (another one of those European groups like Gasolin' who were apparently huge at one time...somewhere?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cats

Thanks, dlp -- That does sound kinda promising. Maybe I'll pick it up next time I'm at that store.

And fwiw, S-Ban Hour are apparently not a group. Guess those mod gals are just for decoration. The LP turns out mostly to be a fairly musically pointless compilation of actual hits by the(uncredited) original artists (Anka, Sedaka, Belafonte, etc.) But it sure does look pretty, and weird.

i have a cats album on rare earth that sucks. they were dutch, right?

"they were key figures of what came to be called the Palingsound (eel-sound), an umbrella for artists residing in Volendam (the country's top seafood city)."

meow!

The Cats seem easier to find on youtube. Bee Gees alert! Based on this song, I'm suddenly slightly interested:

Trying that again:

I'm finding a lot of crap and a few things I kind of like. Wonder of this is a job for Geir to sort out?

And fwiw, S-Ban Hour are apparently not a group. Guess those mod gals are just for decoration.

s-banned you for this fwiw

john coltrane - kulu se mama
jackie mclean - it's time
herbie hancock - maiden voyage
melvin van peebles - br'er soul
canned heat - living the blues
al green - gets next to you
al green - is love
thelonious monk - alone in san francisco
nitty gritty dirt band - uncle charlie and his dog teddy
john mayall - blues in laurel canyon
john mayall - crusade
james brown - black caesar

― "Together we could rape the universe" (omar little), Friday, May 1, 2009 6:31 AM (2 weeks ago)

this is one sweeeeet haul. unbelievable.

The best second-hand shop in Vienna (moses records) had another one of their, come in and take free records day today - the third such event they've had this year...

Today was 20 free records per visitor from the bargain bin section at the back of the shop.. Me and the gf left with two big piles including...

Peter Gabriel - So
Tracey Ullmann - You Broke My Heart In 17 places
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn The Torpedoes
ABC - Up
The Cars - Heartbeat City
Chic - Real People
Linda Ronstadt - Living in the USA
It's Immaterial - Song
Kadydids - Katydids
Nils Lofgren - Night Fades Away
The Immortal Billie Holiday
Fuzzbox - Big Bang
Carole Bayer-Sager - ST
Pete Wylie - Sinful
OMD - The Pacific Age
Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club - English Garden
Gerry Rafferty - City to City
Celi Bee - Alternating Currents
The Colour Field - Virgins and Philistines
Amii Stewart - Images
plus a load of other rubbish..

I also bought a copy of Modern Lovers Live from the 2 euro bins there..

I love free records...

Sonic Youth, "Murray Street"

99 cent promo at Record and Tape Traders in Reisterstown, MD (RIP) like a week before it came out

$1 each, Recycled Reads on Burnett in Austin (overrun from Austin Public Library, every LP $1 -- 10 of these, plus a sturdy free complimentary green canvas carrying bag) and Antone's on Guadalupe (4 of these -- $1.99 albums on sale now for $0.99 each):

Bellamy Brothers -- Featuring Let Your Love Flow LP
Champaign - How 'Bout Us LP
Mink Deville - Coup De Grace LP
Dave Edmunds - Tracks On Wax 4 LP
Head East - Live! double LP (their most metal album, according to Martin Popoff)
ZZ Hill - I'm A Blues Man LP
Meredith Monk - Dolmen Music LP
T.S. Monk - House Of Music LP
Rank and File -- Long Gone Dead LP
Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Dee Dee LP
Slave - Just A Touch Of Love LP
The System - Don't Disturb This Groove LP
Tierra - Together Again LP (from 1981; incl covers of "La La Means I Love You" and "Tequila")
Yello - One Second LP

Also, for $3 at a generally way overpriced and totally disorganized but ridiculously overpacked junk store next door to Recylcled Reads

Collin Raye - Extremes CD from 1994

T.S. Monk - House Of Music LP

I love you.

We can post $1 CD purchases on here, right?

Sure!

TS: TS Monk House of Music vs Meredith Monk Dolmen Music

Overall, Meredith. For the greatest single of all-time, T.S. Monk.

Planet Replay on Research, Austin. Entire wall of $1 CDs. Tons of boy band. Passed up that Pimpadelic CD. bad move?

Circuit Sessions 7: Barry Harris - Afterhours Harder Deeper Faster (4 Play 2001)
A Night at the Tunnel (mixed by DJ Jason Ojeda) (Nervous, no yea but the CD booklet is a sticker!!!)
Rigo Star: Attention! (Ima 1998)
Sugar: Beaster (Rykodisc 1993)

Overall, Meredith. For the greatest single of all-time, T.S. Monk.

Sorry, Kevin, but this makes no sense, and carries your delusion about "consistency" to an absurd extreme. Af if Meredith Monk could really make an album as good as THE BEST SONG EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE (not that I'm saying that, but you did) plus filler. Though oddly, Xgau gave Meredith an A- and TS an B-. And neither album seems to be in his '80s book? How weird is that?

I have a delusion about consistency?

Well, what do you want me to say? Ok sure I'd take House of Music to a desert island because it contains THE BEST SONG EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE. But I wouldn't be listening much to the rest of the album. And all that wear and tear on just "Bon Bon Vie" might erase the song from my universe forever. Maybe not such a wise choice.

You're in the ratings game. How would you star or letter grade a crap album that just so happened to contain THE BEST SONG EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE vs. a pretty damn good album, esp. one that DJ Shadow sampled to create the greatest album of the 1990s?

P.S. The House of Music review is in Xgau's 80s book. It's under "T" since T.S. Monk was the name of the band.

I have a delusion about consistency?

See also: Chambers Bros.

a crap album that just so happened to contain THE BEST SONG EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE

Is an oxymoron. If it's got the best song ever on it, it isn't crap. And the T.S Monk LP, which I just listened to, definitely isn't. It's got a few good pop-disco tracks ("Stay Free Of His Love" and the rock-disco "Hot Night In The City" especially) and pretty ballads that surround "Bon Bon Vie" just fine. "Only one great song" does not equal "crap."

Haven't played the Meredith Monk LP yet (at least since the last time I owned it, a couple decades ago), but I'll be really surprised if I like it more. (And while I love "Bon Bon Vie," I pretty clearly don't love it as much as you do.)

under "T" since T.S. Monk was the name of the band

Ha, I had no idea this was the case. I've always just assumed T.S. was Thelonious Jr's pseudonym, but judging from the notes, you're apparently right. Still don't get why Dolmen Music is missing from the '80s book, though. (I checked under "Meredith" too, by the way, just in case.)

Also; never logged in there here: $2 each, antique/ junk store in Giddings, TX two or three weeks ago:

T Graham Brown - I Tell It Like It Used To Be LP (1986)
Tom T Hall - Homecoming LP (1970)
Tom T Hall - For The People In The Last Hard Town LP (1973)
Billy Joe Royal - The Royal Treatment LP (1987)

See also: Chambers Bros.

Oh right. Well, the Chamber Bros. and T.S. Monk's albums, even at a dollar, are why Napster, etc. was invented (but for what it's worth, I have purchased House of Music twice).

Also, I noticed you sidestepped the more difficult question of what to rate these things.

Still don't get why Dolmen Music is missing from the '80s book, though.

A lot of jazz and new music or new classical or modern music or what Meredith Monk is was left out of the book. But that doesn't explain the jazz and new music, etc. that was left in. I seem to recall a page on his site about it but can't find it now.

what to rate these things

Depends how good they are, just like anything else. Also depends on the rating system. But if we're talking letter grades, a 40-minute LP with one all-time great track of fairly substantial length plus consistently enjoyable if generic filler that elucidates the context the great tracks emerged from would sure seem pretty darn A- to me, in most cases.

"Stay Free Of His Love" and "Hot Night In The City"

These are actually great hard disco tracks in their own right, btw -- maybe not on a level with "Bon Bon Vie," but still dark and propulsive and substantial, not lightweight filler at all. And "Candidate For Love" and "Can't Keep My Hands To Myself" and "House of Music", if lighter and sweeter, are real good as well. This is a solid album; not one song I don't like. (Unlike the Dee Dee Sharp Gamble LP I bought, which as Xgau points out in his review, starts with two great disco burners then a nice soul ballad, but devotes all of side two to show-tuney ickiness. His B grade still underrates it, though; "Breaking And Entering" and "Let's Get This Party Started" are worth the price of admission in their own right. Especially if the price of admission is just $1.)

Ugh don't make me listen to this again.

I got that Gamble record for free when a college radio station was getting rid of all their vinyl. Good price.

Lane Caudell... I'd be at least slightly interested, especially for less than a buck.

Went back to Top Drawer yesterday, but the Caudell LP was gone. Bought this for a buck instead:

Bruce Cockburn - World Of Wonders (MCA, 1986)

Very sad to hear about Caudell, 'cause I can't work up the enthusiasm to go on a quest for it, but will now always be slightly curious. Damn.

nearby low-rent record/baseball card/comic book/sundry collectibles shop was trying to get rid of half their floor space so a new renter could take over. they were letting a bunch of vinyl go at 5 lps FOR A DOLLAR. the vast majority was crap (most of the gems had been moved to the front of the shop and priced accordingly), but I managed to score:

Electric Light Orchestra II
On the Third Day
Eldorado
Face the Music
A New World Record
Out of the Blue
Discovery

...all for 20 cents a piece.

$1 each LPs, three different places: an activist-run thrift store on E. 12th in East Austin yesterday (10 of them), a garage sale in North Central Austin today (3), and again today Recycled Reads (10), which supposedly picked up the entire remaining Austin Public Library LP collection his weekend:

Alpha Band - The Statue Makers of Hollywood (Arista 1978)
Be-Bop Deluxe - Drastic Plastic (Harvest 1978)
Black Rose - Black Rose (Casablanca 1980)
City Boy - Young Men Gone West (Mercury 1977)
Dixie Dregs - Night Of The Living Dregs (Capricorn 1979)
Les Dudek - Say No More (Columbia 1977)
Ellen Foley - Nightout (Epic 1979)
Godley & Creme -- History Mix Vol. 1 (Polydor UK 1985) (weird promo-looking black and white cover thing featuring "Cry" and sundry random 10cc tracks but inexplicably not "Neanderthal Man")
Dobie Gray - From Where I Stand (Capitol 1986)
Pearl Harbour - Don't Follow Me I'm Lost Too (Warner Bros. 1980)
John Hiatt - Warming Up To The Ice Age (Geffen 1985)
ZZ Hill - The Brand New ZZ Hill (Mankind, no year listed but looks early '70s) (First side is a six-part "Blues At The Opera: Communincation In Regard To Circumstances")
Jesse Johnson - Shockadelica (A&M 1986)
D.C. Larue - Star Baby (Casablanca 1980) (conceptual disco singer-songwriter genius, includes his cover of "She's About A Mover" by Doug Sahm)
Charles Lloyd - Wearings (Pacific Arts 1978)
The Records - The Records (Virgin 1979)
Linda Ronstadt - Mad Love (Asylum 1980) (her new wave album obviously; if I really love this, I'm going to regret passing up a Cretones LP from 1981)
Shinehead - Troddin' (Elektra 1994)
Smokey - Smokey (MCA 1975)
Chris Spedding - Hurt (RAK UK 1977) (includes his cover of Garland Jeffreys' "Wild In The Streets," which must have also been covered by 50 or 100 other people between 1977 and 1980 or so)
Gary Stewart & Dean Dillon - Brotherly Love (RCA 1982)
Wild Seeds - Mud Lies + Shame (Passport 1988)
Wishbone Ash - Number The Brave (MCA 1981)

That Z.Z. Hill record looks real interesting. Apparently it's a Swamp Dog production concept album. http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/z_z__hill/the_brand_new_z_z__hill/

I only know him from the great single "Cheatin' in the Next Room" from 1982.

i got two more later city boy records since you were last here.

you gave me a pearl harbour album once!

all of those records you got are such chuck records. i mean, literally now, but you know what i mean.

Yeah, I noticed Swamp Dogg's alter ego name Jerry Williams in the liner notes to that ZZ Hill record; thought it might be a weird one. Hope it is. So far I way prefer Hill's early '80s Malaco stuff (incl "Cheatin In The Next Room" of course) to the late '70s Columbia stuff and late '60s/early '70s indie label stuff I've heard (I've got a couple CD collections), but maybe this album will change that.

Wasn't sure whether I already owned a copy of that Pearl Harbour LP, and the Records one, too, but thought I'd take a chance. Pretty sure I prefer Pearl with the Explosions, though.

No idea why the hell I picked up that Les Dudek album. Guess I liked the cover, and the song titles, or something.

The garage sale guy who sold me the Alpha Band, Smokey, and Dixie Dregs albums also had a bunch of prog and fusion stuff (Rennnaisance, Passport, etc.) and Christian hippie LPs. Considered picking up the 2nd Chapter Of Acts LP he had, but I have no idea which ones of theirs are supposed to be any good, if any. Probably won't make sense out of that Dregs LP (not even "Punk Sandwhich"), since I never make sense out of Dregs LPs, but I'll probably keep trying as long as $1 albums are available, in hopes that one will eventually click. (I know I like the idea of Dixie Dregs.)

Passed up the Dwight Twilley '84 album with "Girls," a Sylvester LP from 1981 (Too Hot To Sleep), an '80s reissue by Shepherds, a '80 or so Carolyn Mas LP, one by Nova Combo, a Van McCoy best-of, lots of things. Really trying to limit myself to 10, at most, per store per trip. Anyway, if anybody in Austin thinks the ones I passed up sound interesting, they're probably still at Recycled Reads for $1 each.

chuck, if you don't already have it, find this for a dollar. you would love it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2908478215_71d2b4f115.jpg?v=0

Wonderful surprises and Bargains at flea markets

If you want to check out 2nd Chapter of Acts, the ones to go for would be early to mid-seventies where they look like hippie teenagers. In the eighties they were more like ABBA (nothing wrong with that) or something. Well sung and written melodic soft rock all the way through though.

fake edit. I just put on With Footnotes from 1974. It's piano driven soft but big rock with strings. The female vocals are high and sweet and the male vocals are Stevie Wonderish. Closest to Elton John if he was a female harmony act maybe.

The real find is Matthew Ward's (the male singer in 2nd Chapter) first solo album Towards Eternity. Phil Keaggy crunchy hard rock guitars and Ward was a great soulful vocalist. Of course it is Christian as all get out, but in an inspirational way. Along with Keith Green and Daniel Amos, the only Christian music from my childhood that I still have.

2nd Chapter of Acts... With Footnotes from 1974

This is the one he was selling, actually -- oh well. (Just did a Google image search to make sure.)

yer not really missing much with that album. it's pleasant, but that's about it.

this is the dollar xian album that you want. the brits just made better 70's god rekkerds.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ciD4Uvw85wk/R7CvsBbcmOI/AAAAAAAAAcs/XOfDk2m3HMs/s320/shamblejam2.jpg

$0.50 a pop at a Goodwill in Hernando, MS this past weekend:

Jerry Jeff Walker - Viva Terlingua lp
Donovan - Barabajagal lp
Japan Revisited (Mamoru Miyagi) lp
Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki lp
Firesign Theater - Dear Friends 2lp
Dick Gregory - In Living Black and White lp
Brewer & Shipley - Tarkio lp
Mood to be Wooed lp (Cadet comp of Illinois Jaquet, James Moody, Budd Johnson, Sandy Mosse)
The Byrds - Turn Turn Turn/Eight Miles High 7"
Prince - I Would Die 4U 7"

Good haul!

$11 total for 11 records, at a Value Village in Houston yesterday and Antone's in Austin today:

Kenny Burrell - Stormy Monday (Fantasy LP, 1978)
Doug Clark & His Hot Nuts - Rush Week (Gross LP, 1964)
Jerry Harrison - The Red And The Black (Sire LP, 1981) (solo album by Talking Heads guy, w/ Nona Hendryx, Adrian Belew, Bernie Worrell, etc)
Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection (MCA LP, 1973)
Jump 'N The Saddle Band - Jump 'N The Saddle Band (Atlantic LP, 1984) (w/ their stupid novelty hit "Curly Shuffle"; this is probably horrible.)
Klique - It's Winning Time (MCA LP, 1981)
The Pointer Sisters - Their Greatest Recordings (At Ease LP, 1978) ("This album compiled exclusively for military personnel" -- Must've been sold at PX's; appears to be part of a series of comps by mostly soul and jazz artists, plus Barbara Mandrell, who may well have crossed over to black audiences in certain NCO clubs.)
Ray Goodman & Brown - Ray Goodman & Brown (Polydor LP, 1979)
The Royal Court Of China - The Royal Court Of China (A&M LP, 1987)
Randy Travis - Storms Of Life (Warner Bros LP, 1986)
(Various Birds) - Guide to Bird Sounds (National Geographic Society 10-inch flexidisc triple-EP, 1983) ("These recordings include the sound of 179 species".)

Currently available in Poundland:

Outkast - Idlewild.

Haven't played it yet.

^ it's alright, needs pruning even more than Love Below though

ta.

$1 each, Waterloo Records, Austin, today:

Bruce Cockburn Dancing In The Dragon's Jaws (Gold Mountain LP, 1979) (w/ "Wondering Where The Lions Are")
The Deele Street Beat (Solar LP, 1983)
Peter Gordon Innocent (FM/CBS LP, 1986) (feat. Arthur Russell, David Van Teighem, "Blue" Gene Tyranny, Elliot Easton, Tony Levin, etc.)
Ledernacken "Do The Boogalo!"/"Mogadishu Boogie"/"Do The Boogaloo (Moan-Along Mix)" (Strike Back 12-inch, 1987)
Dave Loggins Apprentice (In A Musical Workshop) (Epic LP, 1974) (w/ "Please Come To Boston")
M+M Mystery Walk (Current LP, 1984) (w/ "Black Stations, White Stations"; still don't know why they changed their name from Martha and the Muffins)
Nile Rodgers B-Movie Matinee (Warner Bros. LP, 1985) (reviewed this negatively in the Voice when it came out, but Xgau gave it an A-)
Junior Samples Moonshining (Hilltop LP, no year listed)
Gary Stewart Your Place Or Mine (RCA LP, 1977)
George Strait Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (MCA LP, 1984) (w/ "The Cowboy Rides Away")
Gil Trythall Country Moog: Switched On Nashville (Athena LP, no year listed)
Junior Walker Blow The House Down (Motown LP, 1983) (w/ his own version of Foreigner's "Urgent," after playing sax on the original)
(Various Artists) Body Moves: Electric Boogie (K-Tel LP, 1984) (w/ O'Bryan, Run-DMC, Dazz Band twice, Cameo, SOS Band, Newcleus, Midnight Star, Bryan Loren whoever he is, Deele, and uh Talk Talk)

Splurged and spent 3 whole dollars on this at Friends of Sound in Austin today:

The Boyzz -- Too Wild To Tame (Epic 1978, w/ cool inner sleeve and promo poster)

And spent $1 on each of these at Friends of Sound, Breakaway, and/or the St. Vincents Thrift Store on South Congress

Bronksi Beat - The Age Of Consent (MCA/London 1984)
Daddy Dewdrop - Daddy Dewdrop (Sunflower 1971) (w/ "Chick-a-Boom [Don't Ya Jes' Love It]")
General Kane - Wide Open (Motown 1987)
Ian Gillan Band - Child In Time (Oyster/Polydor 1976)
Tom T. Hall - Country Is (Mercury 1974)
Bonnie Hayes With The Wild Combo - Good Clean Fun (Slash 1982)
Garland Jeffreys - Escape Artist (Epic 1981)
Sammy Johns - Sammy Johns (GRC 1973) (w/ "Chevy Van")
Junior - Acquired Taste (London/Metronome West Germany 1985)
Pebbles - Pebbles (MCA 1987)
Smokie - Greatest Hits (RAK West Germany 1977)