Mel Trotters, [Grand Rapids MI]

Even as I tried to leave town, I was confronted still with more and more thrift stores.  This spot offers the unique combination of used cars and thrift store.  I found this single crate in the backroom with the books.  Another customer sipped coffee loudly behind me, lurking over my shoulder.  I shot her a couple dirty looks and garnered zero response.  Apparently she felt she was well within her rights to violate my personal space and drink thrift store java at high volumes.  Alright then, do what you will.

                                     

Pine Rest Thrift [Grand Rapids MI]

Grand Rapids is so jam packed with thrift stores its crazy.  I found this one as I ate my shitty omelette at Russ Diner across the street and noticed this place through the window.  Like many of the stores I checked out in the GR area, it was riddled with religious offerings.  Still worthy of a toss through the platters.  But nothing doing.

Goodwill [Wyoming MI]

Smallest record selection ever! Only six records and all of them bizarre!

Savers, Carol Stream

Haven't been round this way in a while and I don't know if this Savers did not exist previously or if I just missed/ignored it.  A bevy of finds lurked within.  The Anne Murray you see above I just purchased this summer at a garage sale (I'd still love to have the Arc version) and at least 50% of Marty Robbins discography was contained here.

Passed on the Ray Price compilation but grabbed the remaining three.  The trombone octet album is pretty worn but glad to have rescued it.  The early 80s LP from Eng I found at a garage sale this summer so I grabbed it for my girlfriend.  And I did not notice until just before I gifted it to her but it had a huge color 'book' inside with details for fans/obsessives! A very small part of me, angered, wanted to keep it for myself but I wouldn't have enjoyed it then so I did the right thing and passed it on.  I'll stay on the lookout for the picture disc.  The X-mas album I have never before seen in person so that's a nice add - only two Epic albums left for me to find! I left a bunch of other EH Parrot albums floating in there so to any other fans/obsessives reading this post - enjoy!

Half Price Books, Bloomingdale

Hooked a U-turn upon coming across this one.  Crawled around on all fours (as per my usual MO) to examine the commons.  Only discovery of note down yonder was a sickening mint jacket/destroyed vinyl version of the OG Bossa Nova release.  No idea what could have inspired someone to do this kind of intentional damage.  Both sides covered with these wild scuffs - I'd opine that this kind of damage could be removed with something like this which effectively would not only salvage but increase the value of this record 100x.  But as I do not have a $2000 record cleaner available, I left it to the wolves.

Nothing else of note.

Garage sale, Norridge

After a hellishly long shift, the last thing I wanted to do on a Friday afternoon was go on a long bike ride to examine an unknown quantity/quality of records.  But alas, this is what I do; duty calls.

So I headed out to encounter this single box with less than 10 records.  Alas, one of them was not only a candidate, but has proven to be excellently listenable.  More than just a consolation prize.  A trip well chosen.

St. Vincent score - via a liaison

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-Box/release/709869

Had my wonderful girlfriend pick up another A&M comp to my growing collection of releases in that category.  Also includes a couple CTI selections as well.  Can't wait to give it a listen!

Marklund Resale, Wood Dale

Came here ages ago and bought nothing.

Bought nothing today as well.  JUNK.

Savers, Franklin Park

Swung through Savers on a Saturday afternoon to see if the records had been rotated.  There was a big load of vinyl in generic white cardboard sleeves, with little labels on them identifying the artist/release.  I'm going to guess they came from a municipal or school library.  Only one interested me - Claudette's last A&M release but I couldn't come to terms with having the record without its sleeve.

I did come across something else then....and clearly they had recirculated the vinyl as I know I'd have remembered this one.  The cover was too absurd to pass over easily - I looked it up quickly to determine rarity or at least genre.  Looks like I picked up a test pressing of an Italian disco classic! A beautiful mess no doubt.

Also grabbed a book and perused for Pyrex.  They had one large bowl in plain yellow, badly scratched up (how does that even happen?) for $5 which I passed on but now which continues to haunt me.  I may return for the bowl - I'll definitely be back before long for more inappropriate covers.