CHIRP Record Fair

Concerned in Schaumburg writes:

And so the plan was born! Early bird tickets got you in for the first 2 hours starting at 8am, and then they were half price for the first week or so! Only $12 - what a deal!

A standard Friday nights bevy of beers and big eats led to a general feeling of desperate malaise come 0600 hours the next morn, but I struggled through it with an apple, a cup of coffee and early morning reruns of 'Land of the Lost' as I sat on the couch totally stupefied.

The cruise into the West Loop was brief and without incident of impediment; parking was free and copious.  We arrived within 10 minutes of the gate opening, there was a short line and then our entry.

Now surely this was a highly organized event and the involved vendors took some effort to bring their best stuff - and I was within only a few moments of the doors becoming unlocked....but never before have I found such good fortune in a hunt.  The very first booth I visited I pulled out  Audio Master Plus Series Sampler Vol. 1 - another in my CTI 3000 series collection.  I have at least 50% of these tracks on their original releases already, but being a completest is a full time job.

It becomes a blur after that.  The Richard Barbary and Tamiko Jones releases are anomalies within the aforementioned CTI series - soul rather than jazz, perhaps a precursor to the Kudu label Mr. Taylor would start years later.  I have never seen either in a store - but on this day found both almost back to back in a bin.  Furthermore, both were promo copies and even marked (yet unverified) as mono.  Stunning! 'Soul Machine' I enjoy very much even while this is not my genre of choice, but the release by Miss Jones (yes, a veiled reference to Artie Butler) is a bit similar to Aretha Franklin or something else of that ilk, or perhaps I just enjoy male vocals within this style a bit more.  Neither is my favorite - but I'll be damned before either leave my bins!

Extremely envious of my friend's copy of Colour by Numbers, I found this, Kissing to be Clever and Waking Up With The House On Fire all in a row.  I grabbed the debut for my friend and without an ounce of irony, found that she had already scooped me a copy of their sophomore effort elsewhere within the fair. Awwwww!! (I passed on their mid 80s comeback).

Always careful to search for additional jazz in 'Latin' bins, I came across yet another WW album to add to my growing subset as well as the second Jobim album I was dying to grab.  Having already passed on it more than once, I found a copy of The Other Side Of Abbey Road.  But while it was only $3 (and in time capsule style mint condition), my biggest score of the day had to be my fourth Azymuth album, Tightrope Walker.  While I must admit, I have held some disappointment since the tremendous grooves in Telecommunication and Pieces Of Ipanema first graced my ears, this and Flame have grown on me in short order since their arrival at my homestead.

Having passed it once already, I returned to the same booth where I grabbed the Culture Club album to pick up a beautiful (and $4) copy of the Iron Eagle Soundtrack.  This is not a novelty release to me - this is a movie I have watched religiously for the past 25 years and one with a supreme soundtrack.  The selection speaks of its era so articulately and 'Road of the Gypsy' makes it worthwhile by itself.  That is, if you don't already own a copy of the LP!

After a little over 90 minutes inside (seemed like 15) I was drained of my lifeforce and we made a swift exit to breakfast in Oak Park on the way home.  Wheelbarrow style scores at the Record Fair - see ya next year!

Savers, Franklin Park IL

I took a bike ride to Bank of America to deposit some cash (it actually counts the bills! So cool).  My plan was then to ride to the grocery store 1/2 block away, then hit the liquor store on the way home.  Abscent minded, I just left the bank and started heading home.  I remember right away so I swerved down some side streets to find my way back.

I did and when I came out in the parking lot I remembered (and saw) that the old K-Mart was now a Big Lots and a Savers.  I vaguely remembered "isn't Savers a thrift store....?" when I saw that it was on the sign.  Was shocked to see that there was a rack of record just inside the door!  

Above it was a bunch of 8-tracks including a 3-tape Engelbert set.  There were 2 others as well for a grand total of 5 tapes and 3 total compilations.  But back to the vinyl.  I ended up leaving with a B.J. Thomas record for $1.07 with tax and its in great shape and is excellent musically.  The top seam needs to be reglued but thats no problem.

Totally unexpected vinyl search that paid dividends and was a lot of fun!

Jeffrey's Antiques [Findlay OH]

Stranded for a day in/around NW Ohio, my thoughts turned to records.  After a largely disappointing trip to Bowling Green, I headed back to my hotel in Findlay to catch a nap before I finally completed the work I had come out to do, that night.

On the way down the highway to Bowling Green, I spotted this behemoth on the side of the road.  I felt a twinge for optimism but immediately forgot about it as the miles went by.  However, on the way back I spotted it again and jumped off at the following exit.  Are records included with 'Antiques'? I'd find out, in a hurry.

I entered the complex of 'booths' and randomly chose one of the many tendrils of pathways that led through the maze.  Just about 50' from the entrance, I found this motherlode.

The place was quiet, just a subtle hint of soft country music piped in to keep me company.  The scents of old books, records and yes, 'antiques' was overwhelming, calming and delicious.  I pulled out a Stan Getz compilation from the late 60s and felt that familliar rush of relief, knowing that I had a prize no matter what else happend.  Little did I know how many more records I'd sort through that day - surely in the thousands. That aside, this first booth was the cleanest and had one of the best selections.  I even got down on my knees to admire the handiwork of the record bin.

One of the many super polite and helpful employees that wander through the complex approached and asked 'So, you like records?'.  I answered that I surely did, and quizzed were there more?  Her answer: "Oh yeah....lots".  

She ran off to get me a notepad and a tiny golf pencil to keep notes.  I silently scoffed at her genorosity - the place couldn't be THAT big.  Could it?                                         

It was, and then some.  I don't know how long I was in there, but I'll let the pics do the talking.  After a while I got overwhelmed and I did not take pics of every single bin I sorted through, but nearly all.  I pulled out a number of gems besides 'The Sound' as described above:

1) Elvis - Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite: Many years ago, I caught some of this performance on VH-1.  Already aware of Elvis at the time - and having relegated him to novelty status in my mind - I was utterly blown away by the concert.  When the show ended, I departed for nearby Best Buy.  My mission: to purchase the album.  If they did not have it, I would purchase nothing else and my fascination with The King would wane forever more.  Well they did have it, and I've since listened to it 1000s of times.  I also have a DVD of the show, a Hong Kong bootleg purchased on eBay long ago, before an official copy of the concert existed on that format.  However, one of the two discs looks like someone pinched it with a pliers, and put the most unique warp in the edge I've ever seen.  As a result, the first 2-3 tracks on each side are unplayable - the coutour is so radical that the needle will literally jump, like a skateboarder on a launch ramp.  The packaging however is near mint besides  asmall tear forming in the upper seam.  I paid $11 - I saw a (ripoff) copy for $40 moments later in another booth's bin.

2) Joe Jackson - Look Sharp! - I got into Joe via 'Steppin Out' and 'Night and Day'  long ago.  I intuited that if I liked this album so much, I'd surely like more of his work and I set out to explore.  Logically I started at the beginning and downloaded this album.  I took a long train ride to Western Springs a short time later where I really got to know the record - and I fell deeply in love.  I long ago purchased the special edition 2x10"  - to me still one of the coolest format decisions - and it was only fair that I snag this standard 12" when I came across it.  The vinyl and jacket are in far better condition than the beat up old rag I got at Reckless long ago.

I also grabbed a copy of 'Colour by Numbers' for a friend.  I threw it on when I got home and realized this was no joke - I dubbed it and since have already found myself a copy.  I topped it off with a vintage 8x10 promo shot of Engelbert which I gifted the same friend immediately.

Goodwill [Bowling Green OH]

Found a couple bins of records, the only possible candidate being 'French Kiss' by Bob Welch (RIP).

It was hard to walk away from this one, however.

Finders Records [Bowling Green OH]

Had a layover at work and a day with nothing to do.  Was mildly disappointed that they only sold new vinyl but it was a beautiful store.

Did find Neko Case 'Middle Cyclone' but was not prepared to pay $30 for it.

Did find the picture disc version of one of my favorite albums in the $5 off bin - walked away for under $10 with tax.  Even the clerk (who told me 'not at the moment' when I asked if they had any used vinyl at all) commented 'why is this priced so low.  Intelligently he did not dare to not honor the price.