Hog Days 2017 Flea Market, Kewanee IL

Always a highlight of my summer, Hog Days did not disappoint this year.  In between the metric ton of pork I consumed, there was actually a record vendor at the flea market! Very nice collection, everything was bagged and individually priced and they had a 'premium' section with some nice wares as well.  I didn't grab anything, and I eventually left the vinyl below behind which I have come to greatly regret.  The title and cover art caught my eye, I was convinced it was a band but this is actually a compilation of no-name metal bands from the early 80s.  Looks like it is also part of a series which contains further releases of no-name metal bands from the early 80s.  This one here seems to also be the first release from this label.  Should have grabbed it!

Traderbakers Flea Market [Carrolton KY]

This place sold itself as a 'flea market' but by my definition it was an antique mall.  We can argue about the actual goods and whether they qualify as 'antiques' or not but the biggest thing was that the items here were on consignment and a flea market to me has to involve interaction with the seller.  I found enough time to stop in here and on a 9 night/10 day/1800 mile trip this was the highlight.  I just KNEW there would be some records in there and my experience proved to have educated my intuition.

There were only two booths that had records - when I found the first one, there was a fellow digger already hard at work so I immediately departed the scene to let him be.  Those situation are tough but the cubicles are small and I wouldn't want to have someone infringe on my personal space when I am deep in the game.  Plus I have to make myself believe that the other person has tastes that are totally dissimilar from my own and if they did indeed walk away with a giant stack, I had nothing to worry about because it was nothing I wanted.  This is what I tell myself so I don't have a conniption fit while I pace in circles just outside their view.  Luckily I did not have to do it for long.



I jumped in there and got to work, didn't find anything besides some strangely bundled piles of LPs for sale at bulk rates (see below).  Finally in the 45s I found a bizarre import picture sleeve from Spain - no way I was passing this up.  Great track and easy to pack away on my long journey from which I would not be returning home for a long time.

                          

I found a second stop a short time later with some more vinyls in crates - not much here.  I ran into my buddy who I waited on earlier and asked if he found anything else, he confirmed that just the two spots had records.

                              

Later, I proved this wrong by finding a handful of other booths that had just a small pile or a single crate.

I love antique malls when they are quiet like this one and you can slowly just kind of root around in the place.  They had one booth full of laundry detergent in 5 gallon buckets, concocted from some kind of concentrate.  The seller even left the MSDS sheets but they were speared by a peg on a pegboard.  I've seen this in flea markets before (which again, this place wasn't by my measurement), must be a real side business the world over.  They had all types of junk in here, my colleague bought a belt buckle and some chocolate covered pretzels.  They have it all at Traderbakers!

Yikes!

Vinyl Spectacular, Palatine

I was approached by the people that put this together who asked if I would put together a seminar regarding record bin construction, a topic I have covered here at length.  At first I modestly assumed that it must be some kind of prank - who would legitimately consider me enough of an 'expert' to give my opinion on the matter? Well turns out someone did, so I followed through and made it happen!

After racking my brain on what I could possibly use as a visual aid in lieu of a PowerPoint (something I perhaps have learned to use as a crutch after giving too many presentations at work) and eventually came up with what I call my 'joint tree' - it demonstrates three different ways to anchor your shelves within your build, in both 2x4 and 2x6.

                                            

I threw this together from the pics on my blog and built it in MS Paint.  The resolution was something like 8000 pixels wide.  Then I sent it off electronically to FedEx Office online where they printed me a 24x36 poster for about $45 bucks.

I celebrated my birthday for a while and my girlfriend got me something really intersting.  I had seen commercials on TV a bunch of times and she picked up on my obvious desire for the device.  It is made by a company called Kreg and it is a simple jig that you use with a C-clamp and a drill to put 'pocket holes' in boards.  It is difficult to explain better than that but the below pic should help.

I had the kit for a few weeks but never made time to take a close look at how it worked.  So I thought that it would be a good point to touch on, something to discuss for people who are maybe thinking about building something but aren't quite sure what they want to do.  So I thought I'd throw together 3 boards, just a 'corner' perhaps, to illustrate how the screws are hidden and how strong it is.  But once I got the hang of the kit, I couldn't stop so I quickly put together the box!  I decided to take it a step further and stain it instead of paint it and it came out really nicely.  This was only a single $9 piece of 3/4" CDX plywood and it took me about 30 minutes to cut and assemble.  I could do a lot better but I could also do a lot worse!

I figured I should have something to hand out to help promote the site so I went and got some cheap 7" records and put some simple labels on them with the domain name and logo.  You can see them in the box above.

At the 25th hour, I got the word that there WOULD be a projector and laptop available - so I had just the day before to assemble my presentation.  I am pretty happy with it - you can see it here. 

So Sunday morning with my 'business cards', LP crate, 'joint tree', power and presentation, I took the early (for a Sunday) drive out to Palatine.  The event was at Wolff's Flea Market and the market was up and running as always, the record fair was tucked away in a back corner of the facility.  I wanted to get there early enough to catch the first speaker, Nick.  His presentation exceeded my expectations on what kind of material he might cover - very interesting.  But almost as interesting was the fellow who sat next to me, also quietly listening - and eating a bag full of cucumbers! 

                               

I was so fired up and ready to go I could hardly wait.  I congratulated Nick on his excellent seminar then spent the next 30 minutes or so trying to dig some vinyl of my own, before it was my turn to take the stage.

Well it was time to go and of course it was a blur.  I know I enjoyed being up there and I had some nice chats with folks afterwards and a few people seemed to like it too.  It was just really nice to be validated for 30 minutes out of the over two years I've been writing, and well over a decade that I've been collecting.



So I went to head out afterwards and said my goodbye to Chris who has invited me.  I thanked him profusely and offered him the box as payment after he had mentioned how much he liked it.  He refused to take it - but said he would buy it! I told him I'd be happy to get my $10 back which was essentially what I spent on materials.  I will enjoy building another and I can do better (this was basically just a prototype), so unloading it for a few bucks was a bonus.  Then he took it a step further and offered me a Vinyl Spectacular 'Crew' T-shirt! Totally gracious offer which I readily accepted.  But he wasn't done!

As I was walking out he asked if I had found any good vinyl.  I actually had not - I was pretty tired and hungover and really just wanted to get some breakfast.  And honestly, I get kind of overwhelmed at these things, when I see that much vinyl I kind of blank out everything I am looking for and become a zombie.  Well he took his new box and walked over to a table full of vinyl (apparently he was a vendor as well), and dumped the contents of a cardboard box into my box, and put it on display! Then he told the girls behind the table that I had $20 credit to take whatever I wanted! Hell, I was just happy to be asked to speak - all these gifts, it was almost too much! I swiftly found a Blue Note classic for $10 and decided to call it a day.

It was really awesome to get to chat with people and hang out - I guess I realize that I make this too much of a solitary endevour and there is a whole world out there of like minded individuals who aren't elite, and are just like me.  It was a privilege to get to speak and the gifts I received were just totally unexpected and so appreciated.  What an excellent day!

Halloween Flea Market 2014, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton IL

For the second year in a row I hit both of the major Zurko flea markets at the Dupage County Fairgrounds.  They comprise a bi-annual ritual I have committed to for the rest of my lifetime.  The All-Nighter being a rite of summer; and this, of autumn.  Both events have proven rich with vinyl and fun for a full two years.

I picked up a few nice items but I'll let the pictures below tell the story.  A quick outline of what I scored:

Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman - I actually saw this item (a reel-to-reel tape) back at the All-Nighter (and even posted a pic of it then!).  The same vendor had their booth in the same spot and alas, there it was.  Of course I have no use for it but I could not resist.  Had to add this one to discogs myself as it did not already exist.

Engelbert Humperdinck - Christmas Tyme - My girlfriend scored this at an estate sale not 2 blocks from my house earlier this year.  She got into the bin before me - finders keepers.  Now I have two of the three Epic Christmas albums - still on the lookout for number three!

Ray Price - "It Must Have Been The Rain" / Say I Do - an obscure album which is oddly titled differently on the jacket and vinyl label.  Got some weird vibes from track B5.

My girl grabbed an array of stuff including a great soundtrack (I passed due to condition but still covet it just a bit) and another album from Ray I finally acquired recently - for a higher price! Damn!

And of course - the requisite mix of our spoils.

2014 Halloween Flea Market Mix by Satan165 on Mixcloud

Been trying to scoop up these pocket gatefold comps when I can - of course this one had no record inside!

This bin produced the album in the foreground (a reprint of an older version I already have - this was for my girl).  I also found my Ray Price album in here and I distinctly remember going through this bin (with different vinyl) at the All-Nighter.

I actually asked this guy if I could get a pic and he was more than happy to oblige me.  Truly horrifying.

All Night Flea Market 2014, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton IL

I first attended this annual event last year, right around the time that I started this blog.  As such, it was not chronicled here but remains one of the best nights of all of 2013.  I could not wait to return this year and the days were painstakingly counted down until the night arrived.

My memory of the night is a mix of excitement and 'madness' - the event is just SO big and there are so many vendors and other people that before long a mix of claustrophobia and overall anxiety sets in.  The goal is to have rooted around in enough bins of records to find some scores before your time runs out.

one of the first vendors with vinyl we encountered.  exactly 33% childrens albums.  yikes.

Our initial investigations yielded 2/3rds junk and 1/3 stuff I do not want or have.  I started feeling lucky when a vendor with a single bin of about 15 records had copies of the first Pat Metheny record as well as Spiro Gyra's best seller.  Unfortunately - I have both.  I trudged on and tried to balance my anticipation that the best was yet to come, with the thought that I might come out with nothing, so I ought to enjoy the experience as a whole.

another vendor right near the gate.  4 crates, but nothing doing.

Flea market record shopping is always the epitome of hit or miss but at a flea market this large, the randomization of what (and how much of it) you find is staggering.  Many vendors will have a single bin, some don't even have the bin - just a heap of records on the gravel encrusted ground.  Others might have 3-4 bins mixed in with their other wares; some still have entire booths devoted only to vinyl.  Ironically, the latter can be a disappointment...if I wanted to go to a record store, I would.

freaked the hell out when i found these mint condition reel to reel tapes. was difficult to not buy them, even though id never play them.

Finally hit pay dirt at a mostly record devoted vendor with 5-6 well organized bins of good (to excellent) condition vinyl.  I came across a beat up copy of an early 60s Coltrane release for $12 but ended up putting it back in its bin.  I was able to add to my growing near novelty level American bossa nova releases and then even pulled a long wanted release which contains no shortage of excellent side men:   Rick Marotta, Eric Gale, Grover Washington Jr., Chuck Rainey, Toots Thielemans, Bob James, Joe Farrell...WOW!.  $13 worth of vinyl - only $10.  Not bad.

picked up two excellent jazz records here.  super cool vendor gave me the second record ($3 value) for nothing with the purchase of the other ($10 value).  didnt even have to bargain with him.

At this point the madness was setting in after finding less and less records, and only poor selections at that.  As according to your standard fairy tale, when all hope was lost we came upon the motherlode.  I am beginning to regret not grabbing that copy of 'Meddle' for $12 but I did grab two others.  Backstory follows....

this bin contained nothing but classic country.  my girlfriend pulled out a waylon jennings but passed on a ray price compliation.  nice vinyl.

A couple months ago, I bought some 7" records from a shady online distributor and to meet his minimum order requirement, I picked up a copy of Neil Sedaka's 70s re-release of his signature song.  I needed a record my girlfriend had and I knew this would entice her.  The only problem was that I had now become infatuated with the Neil Sedaka record...I already loved the song but it came in the original generic Rocket Record Company sleeve and the green label on the vinyl with the smiling locomotive...oh my.  I controlled my emotions and made the deal happen.  But I vowed to get myself a copy - of the entire LP! The glue on both the outer and (heavy duty) inner sleeve had totally rotted away.  Easy fix and only cost $3.

I closed out my night with a record I never knew I wanted...but oh, did I want it! Had it on cassette as a kid and know every song.  Uncanny mint condition, also three bucks.  What a deal.

our savior - we were actually doing some 'catch and release' at this booth due to overwhelming amounts of awesome records.

Bailed the hell out of that mess (Pro Tip: don't waste your time with that chaotic parking lot...park around 100 S. Hazelton ya dingus!) and headed back east towards home.  Part of the tradition is to stop at Malloy Liquors on Roosevelt Road so as soon as I got home I chucked two big bottles of saison into the freezer along with a frozen pizza.  I got into some cheap German beers (already chilled) and some bourbon while I threw down the mix below - constructed from the records myself and my girlfriend had purchased at the fair.  Perhaps the best souvenir of all.

Dupage County 'All Night' Flea Market Mix by Satan165 on Mixcloud