Goodwill, Downers Grove

I swore I had never been to this place.  I was tooling around and had to make a run to Trader Joe's.  The local grocery stopped carrying the coffee that my girlfriend likes and Trader Joe's is is other favorite.  I don't mind going as I drink the coffee as well and I also like to buy myself some random stuff there.  I normally go to the Trader Joe's in Glen Elyn but due to my aforementioned 'tooling around', the Downers Grove store was closer.  As I pull up I was shocked to see a Goodwill in the same strip mall.  How could this be? Turns out I have been there before, but it has been over three years!

The wall of records I saw back then was gone, replaced by the standard issue LP bin.  I found a load of Engelbert I haven't seen in a while and some other gems.  Largest of all (which I walked away with) was another Marion Lush album.  Great condition too! I have spotted the mono version of the Brasil 66 debut a few times, I got my own a while ago, but it is always temping to just pile 'em up.  I passed.

Two soundtracks - both with great title cuts, did a catch and release on both, though it was difficult.  Up at the counter, they even had a couple REO albums hidden back there.  I've seen Goodwill do this before, but then when I asked to see they were labeled quite cheap.  Who knows.  A worthwhile stop!

Estate Sale, Wood Dale

Been a solid minute since I hit up an estate sale.  I got a tip from a coworker that there was not only one down the street, but that they also had records! I was swamped at work and didn't think I could get away when I decided - you only live once! So I dropped everything and sped over on my bike.

The best part was that I just had gotten my new GoPro camera about an hour before.  So I took it with and even wore it inside! The bad news is that someone came through and scooped all the vinyl a half an hour before I got there! Damn!

                                           

Goodwill [Greenfield IN]

Nice to get back in the swing of things after a short while of inactivity.  I drove 4 1/2 hours to Cambridge City Indiana, did my work in only about 2 hours, then drove back west to spend the night in Indianapolis.  This was on the way and well worth it.


Roger Miller ‎
I scooped this in Michigan about 2 1/2 years ago.  Don't see it too often.

Arnett Cobb Is Back
Not familiar with Mr. Cobb but this one did look interesting.  I had terrible cell reception so I was having trouble doing any kind of research on artists and releases.  I wonder if it was this misprint (linked here) I found, I might have grabbed it in that case.

Force Majeure
I was sure this was a 12" single due to the short track list (either durations were not listed or I did not see them), which did seem odd given the limited info I had on this groups genre.

Let Me Party With You
Fairly outrageous disco album in beat condition.

Solid Gold
This one I have a little regret on not grabbing, it is nearly 50 years old.  The track list is solid and something about the font and the colors on the cover called out to me.  Again, I couldn't do any research, not sure if it would have mattered, maybe the lesson is to go with my gut once in a while.

Good High
Something about Mr. Brick here makes me uncomfortable.  Maybe it is that he seems very uncomfortable, despite his efforts to look like he is having a pleasant day.  This gives me bad vibes.

What A Diff'rence A Day Makes

Finally one I did grab.  I wouldn't pass on much Kudu stuff, it is an extension of my CTI obsession.  Nice bunch of sidemen here.  Still has the original inner sleeve to boot.  The price did seem low and now that I look closely, it seems like the lazy cashier accidentally charged me for a 7" and not an LP!

First Baptist Church Thrift Store [Oakdale LA]

I write this while I sip a cold Abita after one of the longest, hardest days of work in my life.  I got into town yesterday (flew to Alexandria) and desperately wanted to check Louisiana off my list.  I sped to a Goodwill and they had no vinyl! I knew that I wouldn't have much time today to look around but I was banking on that possibility.

Well I was right as I did not get to my hotel until 10pm! But I snuck away for lunch and had one shot at a small church based thrift store and I struck gold! Well not exactly, as it was all junk, but I hardly care about that.  One more state done!

I took each stack out and dug through them all.  The lady at the counter not only answered my question regarding the presence of vinyl, but insisted on walking me the 10' to them.  Really nice small town vibes.  But man was it hot out there! I don't know how people live in this day after day.

There were a couple albums from Mr. Gray.  It looks like he passed away back in 2005.  I figured he must be a Louisiana since I saw more than one record.  Funny thing is, it doesn't look like he was.  Looks like he was a Dallas based musician but when I dug a bit deeper, it said he grew up in Little Rock, but was born in New Orleans! 

STATE #32 COMPLETED!

more barbershop

Well it sure has been a slow May.  I got down to Texas but missed opportunities to check out a record store in downtown Dallas and more.  I did stop into a thrift store in Plano Texas but they had no vinyl.  I made it back to Buffalo NY as well as the Detroit area but I've covered those areas before.  However I do have some interesting 'mailbag' topics that relate once again to my extensive documentation of barbershop vinyl.

As a kid I had a couple Shel Silverstein books and more recently I've watched my girlfriend's daughter discover his work.  This message was a real thrill to get.  I knew the album referenced right away and knew I did not have it but excitedly wrote back regarding the Four Renegades album where the arrangement was born, as well as the Vagabonds album where I first noticed this song.  Alas, I was told that they already had those albums in the archive.  Especially painful since I have not one but two spares copies of the Four Renegades record.  So I am keeping a keen eye on ebay hoping to find this one so that I might donate it.

I got this message quite a while ago as you can see here but never mentioned it.  The only thing better perhaps than an autographed copy is knowing you made this kind of contribution and got to chat (albeit electronically) with someone who knew the quartet closely.