Attractions [Cowansville QC]

I visited Vermont about 6 months ago and got a rare chance to go back to the same place in St. Albans (by way of Burlington).  As I already had Vermont checked off the list, it wasn't on my radar to look for more to do.  I did however have a full afternoon to waste.  Surely I'd love to spend some more time in Burlington but I had a better idea - drive to Quebec!

My plan became this:

1. Drive from Burlington to Bedford for lunch
2.  Drive from Bedford to Cowansville to check out some vinyl
3. Drive from Cowansville to my hotel in St. Albans and prepare for the work day tomorrow.

All in all this would be about 2 1/2 hours behind the wheel but I had plenty of time as my flight arrived before 1pm.  And before 1 I was on the road, soon after in Bedford where I stuffed myself with poutine and headed east.

But rewinding the clock briefly I need to explain.  Records were not originally on the menu as it looked like the region was too rural to have much to do aside from finding lunch.  The only thing that came up anywhere in the area for 'record store' on Google Maps was this place.  But there were no photos and only two reviews both of which were vague (and French).  I surely didn't want to drive way out there to find a CD store or something (which is what my hunch was leaning toward).  So I enlisted a Francophone I work with to do some investigation:

That exchange took place as I was still at O' Hare the morning of my flight.  So quickly I navigated a new route around the area and began to get really excited as my prospects.

Attractions is in a small shopping mall called Domaine du Parc.  While there are less than 10 stores in the mall of course I wandered like an idiot around the place until I found it.  This is a book store up front....with a GIANT magazine rack along one wall.  Then there are tons of CDs, plenty of DVDs....and finally, vinyl.  I was worried that it would be all new reissues but I was delighted to find tons of used vinyl.  I find some real gems up front but I didn't buy any.  Why? I don't know.  And it has been eating at me and it's getting worse by the minute.  The Raspberries LP on the right was the one I missed the most (still do).  I have always loved 'Go All the Way' before I even knew the name of the band that sung it (honestly I still didn't know until fairly recently).  I found out who the artist was when I was reading an interview with Eddie Trunk and he mentioned how he loved the song when he was a kid.  There is a 'live' (lip synced) version out there of the band playing it on the Mike Douglass show and I recommend you check it out.  Eric Carmen has a wig (or is it real?) that looks like Barney Rubble's wife and is wearing what can only be called a blouse.  Most of all he actually bats his eyelashes when he sings the chorus like a woman.  You might be thinking this is criticism - it isn't.  You can't help but respect anyone who is so confident.  I am a fan of some glam rock, early Motley Crue is pretty feminine but this takes the cake and many years before hand.  And of course the lyrics, kind of a passive aggressive way to be really filthy and of course I love it.  Anyways great song, probably a great LP, I am an idiot for letting it pass.

Moving to the right, why did I leave behind a Canadian press of the jazz classic? Don't know.  And of course, Anne Murray.  Only fitting I find this almost as soon as I crack the bin.  I used to have two copies of her debut and it is a great album.  This is her second and I shouldn't have left it behind.  I found two more copies later on while I dug.  Another stab in the back is just now realizing that while the debut was released in both Canada and the USA (once I found the Canadian press I gifted the USA copy to a friend), the second album was only released in Canada, so of course I probably won't run across another one.  At this point to keep from self destructing as I write this I can only plan that I get wind of it if anyone goes back so I can quickly sell myself on the job, that I am more qualified to do it.  Cross your fingers for me.

Just around the corner there was some more vinyl.  There was a little new stock but still mostly used.  Lots of French Canadian artists I never heard of, interesting that when I was in Ontario I don't remember seeing much French stuff but here there was lots.  Not surprising since I was in Quebec but you'd think you'd see something in Ontario.  Not really.  At any rate, a cool store in a quiet mall that I recommend others check out - and I added a review and photos to Google Maps so the next poor bastard that drives up from the States knows what he is getting himself into.

Atticus Vinyl [New Haven CT]

Back in Connecticut, got surprised by the chalkboard outside this place.  I was excited for a minute, until I entered and found that their inventory consisted solely of fancy new reissues.  I did take the time to go through them then I got the hell out of there.

Books N' More [Bemidji MN] (POST 300!)

                         

After striking out big time at the Goodwill in town, I gave up as I have already been all over MN.  But our last day in town, we were at breakfast at the 'Minnesota Nice Cafe' (horrible name, nice place, good food) and I checked my phone and saw Books N' More just a couple blocks away.  Book stores often carry a few records (at least), so I was trying to scan their website and the pics on Google Maps to see if I could spot some vinyl.  It didn't take long - the first pic on their maps profile showed a wall of DVDs and two three-tier bins beneath.  Only problem is that it was about 8 degrees but of course we toughed it out.

                                

The bins were unfortunately pretty well packed with junk.  But I checked each one before I gave up.  The clerk was behind the desk running an industrial grade CD duplicator and swapping the CD-Rs out constantly, it was pretty impressive.  It looked like it was dubbing two CDs every minute or so.  We browsed through the books and I glanced at the vintage video game stuff which was kind of cool. Still, the vibe in the store was warm and inviting, they had some arcade stand ups running and they were nice on the way in and the way out.  Nice place.

More importantly, this is now the 300th post on this blog which I am infinitely impressed with.  As cliched as it may sound, I can't believe I've come this far and I never really even had intentions to.  I just did what I thought made sense and covered where I went, it wasn't until I was well down the road that I started seeking out new spots just so I could blog (and of course, check out the vinyl).  This is my life's work in a lot of ways, as small as it may be and I often think about that when I get down, how proud I am of all of this.  So here's to 300 more!

found a handful of picture sleeve 7" but nothing doing

This was literally the coolest thing I found.  It is a Time Life record - I didn't even bother to look inside.

Pilgrim's Progress [Charleston WV]

I was eating a bowl of pho across the street when my colleague noticed the sign through the window that stated "RECORDS". I could not believe my luck. I had already checked out Charleston on my way through a few days earlier, now I knew I'd have another shot. I called the number on Google Maps from my table at Pho Vihn Long on 'D' Street to make sure they were open and had an interesting aside with the person who answered. 

When I stated my question, she replied that I must've really been worried if they were open or not because she was late that morning. She said that she got pulled over for having expired plates and credited the grace of God with the police officer giving her a warning instead of a ticket. A few moments later, I was inside. 

I wandered around and saw quickly but this was not just a bookstore as Google maps stated, but a Christian bookstore.  I gave into the  realization  that I would likely neither buy anything, or perhaps even see anything worth looking at.  But I was saddened further with the thought that there might not be any records anywhere in this cluttered space. Just as I was about to give up, in the far back reaches of the room I did find what I was looking for: vinyl, of the Christian variety, and a good amount of it. 

It was obvious they had not been moving many units anytime recently, as the space where these bins resided were having their personal space impinged upon by old racking and other flotsam and jetsam associated with running such a niche business for presumably many years.  Satisfied that I had the photos I needed to prove to all of you (and myself) that I had indeed visited the place, I headed out with a tip of my cap to the cashier who shared such a pleasant chat just moments before.  I headed back to Pho Vihn Long and grabbed a Thai iced tea (in a Vietnamese restaurant) to go and go back behind the wheel.

Cheap Kiss Records, Villa Park

It has been nearly two and a half years since I first visited Cheap Kiss records inside Cornerstone Books.  I have been back at least once since to keep and eye on the bins.  This time, I was there to buy books, not records.  I had a bunch of gifts for an Christmas party and opted to get all my friends books.  I ended up having trouble with the last one and could not find anything suitable for the host so I started looking at the vinyl as she is a vinyl collector also.  I was becoming quickly reminded how crappy the selection is here and how overpriced it is.  Then I struck gold and found a record I knew she would love (this has since been proven true).  My work completed, I figured I'd glance around just in case I found something wild for myself.

I headed over to the 'miscellaneous' section because that is where the barbershop would be if they had any.  And guess what - they did! I found not one but two vinyls, neither of which I have.  I passed on the Suntones album,  I currently have 5 of their 9 LPs, this would be six but I couldn't live with the $8 price tag unless it was autographed which obviously it was not.  But the real reason I was able to exercise such discretion is that I found a record I'd much rather have and for only $3! I wonder what the criteria for pricing these was - I could ask that same question about much of the inventory in general.  A tiny address label on the Suntones record states that it was once owned by an "E. B. Rhea Jr." of nearby Mt. Prospect.  I assume both were that persons - glad to have one of their pieces in the collection (and I now only need one more Grandma's Boys LP).

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.

Cheap Kiss Records, Villa Park

[note: This post was originally listed as 'Cornerstone Used Books'.  I have since come to find that this is actually Cheap Kiss Records - it is a leased (and unmarked, as far as I could tell) space WITHIN the bookstore]

Got a keen tip that this book store had some records.  The intel was accurate but I did not expect this many vinyls in such a place! I did indeed search every bin...was about to leave with a copy of an old Al Kooper album before I came up on two gems.  The prices were generally a bit high, this is typical for retailers not normally 'in the game' as they attempt to cash in.  However, I walked away with mine for under $10 for both, and in excellent shape to boot!

I picked up another Little River Band album.  This one (and the one I got at an estate sale a while back) bookend the last album in the trilogy I am searching for...it won't be long, of that I am sure.

Also grabbed a Peter Gabriel album... you know, the one with the haunting cover.  That cover art used to scare the crap out of me as a kid - still does.  Turns out that 'Shock The Monkey' is the least disturbing track on the album....Peter is one weird dude.  As a kid, I embraced his weirdness so hard, it made me feel so relaxed and better as a person.  Not because of the music, but because someone was so willing to be different.  I still feel the same.

Got a punchcard of outrageous limits....I'll have to make 12 visits, even if I buy more than one record at a time.  Nice gesture, I guess.  Still a fruitful hunt!

Half Price Books [Appleton, WI]

Up in Appleton for work and stumbled upon this place.

Ironically found a bunch of the record i just got yesterday.  The jazz section was kind of phony, all sealed reissues for big money.  The best jazz they had was in the 'clearance jazz' section and they were all releases i owned.  Decent amount of vertically stored commons for a buck and i crawled around and checked threm all - not horrible but nothing that leapt out at me.

Walked away with a copy of H2O from Hall and Oates for $2.09 with tax.  Browsed the books for some old cookbooks I've benn looking for.  They didn't have them but more disappointingly didn't seem to have anything older than 5-10 years at all.

[note: this post may not qualify very well as 'record collecting in chicago', but i couldnt help myself]