Record Shopping Round-Up (Feb - March '23)
I don't have a problem, I can quit whenever I want!
By the time you read this, I’ll have officially started to run the L.A. Marathon! Ironically, by the time you also read this, I’ll have officially run out of room for new records.
Honestly, though, I’m shocked it took this long (i.e. less than a year).
If I’m even more honest, I’ve had a pretty consistent overflow of records since 2020, but I’ve been pretty good at rotating records in and out, rearranging furniture, and archiving records I’ve outgrown to not make our apartments feel like storage units (my amazing, patient and incredible wife would maybe slightly disagree with that notion, and I agree with that for the record).
But with Spring upon us (hello, Daylight Savings!), the time has finally come for a major spring cleaning. That said, stay tuned here for more details because I’ll be making an exciting announcement VERY SOON.
Before a new chapter in my record collecting journey begins, though, I should close this one first, so this will be my last (hopefully) record shopping round-up (for a while). Once again I am asking you (said in Bernie voice), here is my therapeutic brain dump of the records I bought these past two months, the stores I visited, and the stories that popped up along the way.
Starting from the top row left to right, working my way down, in no particular order
Green Day - Saviors: Pop-punk heroes of my childhood make an album that harkens back to the success of their past (Dookie, American Idiot) and tries to remain true to their roots while also looking forward. It’s the best Green Day album in a long time, and “Bobby Sox” is top-notch. There is nothing revolutionary about it, but it’s refreshing and nostalgic that they can still crank out catchy tunes bop after bop. Bonus points for finding a newly used blue variant during my first time visit to Soundsations in Westchester. Lots of new stock for decent prices.
Pink Floyd - Ummagumma: tbh, never listened to this album, but it was Floyd for $1, and it’s a live album of their pre-Dark Side Syd Barrett stuff, so I’m intrigued. (Update: I listened to this one the other day, and my cats did NOT like it.)
Permanent Records Roadhouse, Glassell Park, CA
Sly & the Family Stone - Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back: don’t know much about this one but I’m now one album away from the whole Sly discography to better understand the human behind the genius. Check out my last post for more thoughts on Sly.
Pamela M., Valley Village, CA
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King: a few Sundays ago, I was introduced to a woman named Pam, who was interested in potentially selling her late brother’s vinyl record collection. Going through the collection together, pulling out album after album, was an emotional experience. I not only saw her deep attachment to this collection, and by way of that, her love and connection to her brother, but also (and I mean this sincerely) the power of music and the emotional attachment we can create with it. The collection was ASTOUNDING. I’m talking first pressings of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, The Guess Who, and so much more in near mint condition. She also had her brother’s pristine Pro-Ject turntables and an Amp tower, including a beautiful McIntosh Amplifier. I wish I could have met this guy - he seemed like an audiophile in every sense of the world and a good person. While I didn’t leave with the full collection, I was kindly able to purchase some albums like this King Crimson LP with the iconic illustrated face cover. More though, I was able to establish a nice bond with someone who holds records in their heart as much as I do.
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac: I also took this classic self-titled home as I can’t believe I didn’t own it already. “Landslide” and “Rhiannon” on the same album, and it’s NOT Rumors?!
Klaatu - 3:45 E.S.T.: this Canadian prog band has been on my radar because of the excellent use of “Calling All Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” in the forgotten Netflix serial killer series Mindhunter. When I pulled it out, Pam exclaimed, “Omg you know Klaatu?!”
Klaatu - Hope: tbh, never listened to this one either but took a gamble because of the previous album and the intriguing cover art.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way: As I entered my Sophomore year of high school, this album came out left an indelible mark on me. I loved this album so much that I used to play songs like “Can’t Stop” from my Sony CD Walkman over the phone to girls I was crushing on. Don’t judge me - talking on landlines was a big deal back then, and so was this album. WHO CAN RELATE?!
Celia Cruz y Tito Puente - Alma Con Alma: I saw the incredibly intricate illustrated cover of this record at Amoeba on Sunset seven years ago and have wanted it since then but held off until I found an original pressing. Seven years later, I happened to finally find it at the new Amoeba on Hollywood Blvd. Any collab with Celia & Tito is always going to start a dance party - it was worth the wait.
Lijadu Sisters - Sunshine: the color on the cover art of this OG Nigerian pressing alone made me stop scrolling on my feed, and when I saw it was posted by John at Mono Records, I knew it was gonna be a highlife highlight. Best known for their reggae slow jam “Come On Home,” twins Taiwo and Kehinde from Nigeria outputted a string of amazing funky Afro-beat grooves in the 70s Nigerian music scene, but this record is a peak for me.
Los Angeles Record Fair - February Edition
The Rimshots - Down to Earth: Another discovery from the excellent Substack
who wrote this article about their very funky drummer Clarence Oliver and all of his musical contributions to the early funk/soul scene in the U.S.Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Harlem Bush Music Uhuru: I’ve seen this unique black/green/pink cover art floating around record fairs, but I finally found a very good price on it (due to some extra love and character on the sleeve). Been a big fan of this funky jazz saxophonist since I discovered Music is my Sanctuary, so I’m excited to dive deeper into this discogs.
Kool & the Gang - Open Sesame: this disco-funk masterpiece was an underrated gem from the Gang that gave us the quintessential wedding jam “Celebration.” I was reintroduced to it from Questlove’s latest book Music is History, which raved about this adventurous period in the band’s career.
Earth, Wind & Fire - The Need of Love: in my last round-up, I got their 1971 self-titled sophomore album, which WAS AMAZING. Legit every song was funky as hell, so when I saw their debut album, I knew I had to have it, too. Jason from Kultura convinced me because he said that their first three albums were funkier than their disco selects, and it was worth digging into. He was right.
Disco Prescription (Instagram)
LaBelle - Nightbirds: Sometimes, it’s good to hold on buying a record because it may cross your path organically. Vinyl Me Please put this out as their January Essential and I considered buying it until I saw this OG pressing for significantly cheaper. Has “Lady Marmalade” on it so you know it’s got heat.
Interpol - Turn Off the Bright Lights: Pop-punk, goth-y teenage me loved this album so much and wanted very badly to live in New York in the early aughts.
Interpol - Antics: Older 2004 teenage me loved this one EVEN MORE especially with the way Paul said “Rosemary” and made me want to put rosemary on everything. However, the best song on the album is “Take You on a Cruise” which somehow made a cruise not only romantic but also haunted and seductively murderous?
Siouxsie & the Banshees - juju: Possibly a huge influence on Interpol, have wanted this one since seeing Siouxsie at Cruel World last summer, where she played an entire career’s worth of hits and legendary songs.
Sounds and Records (Instagram)
The Smashing Pumpkins - Adore: When I was a kid, we spent every Thanksgiving at my godparents’ house. In 1998, as the parents started eating their pumpkin pie, my sixteen year-old godbrother Tony told me to lie down on the ground and close my eyes because he was going to ‘open my mind.’ Naturally as an eleven year-old, who looked up to his godbrother like a god, I inclined to do so. Tony proceeded to set speakers to max volume, turned off all the lights, and left the room. I listened to this entire album, one part terrified and one one part mesmerized. This is how I was introduced to Adore. To this day, it’s still one of my favorite albums ever (maybe via Stockholm Syndrome). I’m so grateful to Tony for recognizing that I needed to hear it back then, too, although, now in hindsight I recognize he was either pranking me or getting rid of me for an hour because I was probably an annoying eleven year old.
Klaus Schulze - Body Love: the provocative cover and the reasonable low price sealed the deal for this ambient Kraut soundscapist.
- wrote an excellent piece on the disco club pioneer Sylvester, best known for their song “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”, but this album has the underrated sleepers “Stars” and “I Need Somebody To Love Tonight.”
Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa - “Mama say, mama say, mama MAKOSSA!”
Gary Bartz - Another Earth: February’s Classic Pick of the Month with a stunning cover. Cosmic jazz at its purest.
ISC Lover’s Market - February Edition
The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me: OG Spanish pressing with “Just Like Heaven”!!!
Cole Kinnear
The Cure - Pornography: in my post about The Cure, I said that “Disintegration” was their Halloween record. I was wrong. It’s this one.
The Cure - Seventeen Seconds: so I guess this is their February President’s Day record?
That’s it for this issue of First Pressing, thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed. Come back next time where I’ll be making a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Here’s a hint: it was referenced in my very first Substack post.
Until then, happy spinning :)
Kadrian
P.S. I’m curious, what’s your method for making sure you don’t have records lying around everywhere? Do you have a system or rule for record shopping? Sound off in the comments.
Incredible haul, Kadrian! I'm not sure i've ever seen a copy of "Kiss Me..." out in the wild.
Hope the marathon is going (went?) well!
Good haul. I love the first three EW&F albums. And, I totally agree on Questlove's assessment of 'Open Sesame.' In fact, the first several K&TG records are absolute fire (up to 'Love & Understanding'). If you don't have it already, check out 'Light of Worlds.' It's worth it for the amazing title track alone!
What is the condition of the Lijadu Sisters LP?
EDIT: Where to start - first clean them all really good! Then, I would play the Lijadu Sisters! 😊