2015 Purchases

Here are the music purchases of 2015 quantified in some detail. Check the 2015 cover grid dropdown to just see a grid of the cover images.

January 2015

1. Shriekback: Care DLX RM – Shriekback – UK – CD – Shriekback.com/$18.39
2. November Group: November Group – Modern Method Records – MM 015 – US – EP – Static Age Records/$5.95
3. Propaganda: Wishful Thinking – ZTT – ZAS 20 – UK – LP – Static Age Records/$4.95
4. Cosmetic With Jamaaladeen Tacuma: So Tranquilizin’ – Gramavision – 18-8310-1 – US – LP – Static Age Records/$5.95
5. Heaven 17: Pray – Heaven 17 – H17-001 – UK – 12″ – heaven17.com/$15.40

Was this the most bountiful January since I’ve been blogging? It feels like it! Lots of heavy hitters with the loooooooooooooong awaited “Care” CD from Shriekback finally manifesting in my Record Cell. I’d stupidly traded my LP of “Wishful Thinking” when I bought the first CD of it in the 80s and had been ruing that short-sighted decision for decades. One from the want list in a local store! The Cosmetic LP was another! I’d loved the 7″ since it came out in ’85 and had never seen the LP ever. The November Group I remember from an ad in Trouser Press when it was released. I bought their A+M EP and was ready to jump back into the November Group groove. Funny how they released three EPs but no album.

Finally, I was going to pass on the Heaven 17 12″ when they announced it on their website. Money is tight, and I imagined that the new songs would appear on the next H17 album [under construction now]. What I didn’t know until it was released, was that the 300 copies sold on their last tour merch table [with unsold stock appearing on their webstore] would feature October 2014 mixes that were “in progress,” making this highly limited edition something that I definitely needed!

Subtotal: $50.64

February 2015

1. Hot Chocolate: Every 1’s A Winner – Infinity Records – INF-9002 – US – LP – Bull City Records/$4.95
2. Laid Back: Sunshine Reggae/White Horse – Sire Records – 0-20178 – US – 12″ – Quirks/$3.00
3. Barry Andrews: Rossmore Road – Virgin Records – VS 378 – UK – 7″/gift
4. Cowboys International: Nothing Doing – Virgin Records – VS 267 – UK – 7″ + flexi/gift
5. Mari Wilson: Beat The Beat – Compact Records – PINK 2 – UK – 7″ + postcard/gift
6. Webb Wilder: More Like Me – Blind Pig Records – BPCD 5129 – US – CD – Webb Wilder merch table/$15

Like most Americans, I only ever heard one Hot Chocolate song growing up on the top 40 – “You Sexy Thing.” A classic, but was it a fluke? I couldn’t tell! My wife and I were watching the movie “Frances Ha” and the song “Every 1’s A Winner” figured prominently on the soundtrack, and when it appeared, we were both immediately struck by the track. It was a fantastic disco/funk vibe, and then we were obsessed with getting the album. We looked for it everywhere there was music for sale until Chaz’s Bull City Records in Durham, NC came to the rescue. The Laid Back single was mandatory for the minimal synth funk classic “White Horse,” which had obsessed me for 32 years after seeing the video back on its release. I found it at my good friend Elisa’s eclectic Quirks shop in Mebane, NC while visiting her and her husband during Valentine’s Day weekend.

The Barry Adamson 7″ completes my 7″ solo Adamson collection. These records never turn up where I am and this single has two versions. One with a blue tinted cover and the band Restaurant For Dogs on the B-side, and this one, featuring “Win A Night Out With A Well-Known Paranoiac.” The Mari Wilson is perhaps my fave rave single by her, but this one’s special! It has a nifty postcard insert with tour dates! The Cowboy’s International 7″ features a track that didn’t make it to their “Revisited” CD of a decade or so ago that remains the closest that “The Original Sin” ever came to the silver disc format. That it also has the flexi disc makes it ultra wonderful.

Finally, I saw Webb Wilder last night so I was obliged to gain fan karma by buying from the merch table; the only time that the artist gets 100% of the intake! His latest album came out in 2009 but the last two times I saw him, I was low on cash. Back in the day, I more than made up for it in CDs and especially T-shirts from the 90s merch tables. Webb’s good people. He once busted up a rubber-stamp truck driving school.

Subtotal: $22.95

March 2015

no purchases

April 2015

no purchases

May 2015

1. Ghost Harmonic: Codex – Metamatic Records – META56CD – UK – CD/gift
2. John Foxx: London Overgrown – Metamatic Records – META58CD – UK – CD/gift
3. Jacqui Brookes: Trains + Boats + Planes – MCA Records – MCAT 855 – UK – 12″ – Discogs/$3.50

After two months of draught, finally some new music, thought – truth to tell, I’m still chewing on the haul from last October’s vacation! My wife had gotten me two new John Foxx albums from his ambient phase. Ghost Harmonic is a new band he formed with Benge and violinist Diane Yukawa. The Jacqui Brookes 12″was the last of her solo material that eluded me. Now I just need the Siam material.

Subtotal: $3.50

June 2015

1. The Buggles: Living In The Plastic Age DLX RM – Island Records – UICY-9181 – JPN – CD/gift
2. Shriekback: Having A Moment DLX RM – Shriekback – UK – CD-R – Shriekback webstore/$18.72
3. Bruce Woolley + The Camera Club: Bruce Woolley + The Camera Club  DLX RM – Cherry Red – CDMRED 427 – UK – CD/gift
4. Can: I Want More – Mute Records – DL – iTunes Store/$1.29
5. Rezillos – Zero – Metropolis Records – MET975V – US – LP – Amazon dealer/$38.75

Subtotal: $58.76

Half Year Subtotals: 18 releases | $134.85 | average cost – $7.49/title

Wow. That’s an all-time low for me. I’ve barely bought any music at all. Almost half of this “haul” were gifts! If not for the generosity of my wife, friends, and readers, this would be a very different set of statistics. The average price would probably skyrocket, since most of what I bought was >$20 per title!

The Buggles title was a much-appreciated gift from ronkanefiles. A huge tradeup in quality from my 1st US issue of that title from the mid-80s. “Having A Moment” appeared originally while I was incapable of buying records and thus I missed Shriekback’s first stab at crowdsourcing way back in 2002-ish. Chasinvictoria could not believe that I had never heard the Bruce Woolley album, so he took care of business! What a wonderful album that, of course, dovetails immaculately with the story of The Buggles debut.

Finally, the first Rezillos album since “Can’t Stand My Baby” [if you overlook the live “Mission Accomplished…But The Beat Goes On” posthumous live album] appeared and sold out from the label in a split second… and I was paying attention! I ordered a copy from an Amazon dealer at higher cost… and waited a month for its non-arrival. One refund later, I had to order another copy from an Amazon dealer… at twice the cost of the first one! I have not listened to it as I am planning on buying a CD to actually listen to. This one was for “the collection!”

July 2014

1. Heaven 17: Designing Heaven CD #1 – WEA International – WEA 078 CD1 – UK – CD5/gift
2. Heaven 17: Temptation ’92 – Virgin – VSCDT 1446 – UK – CD5/gift

This would have been another sad month of no new music if not for a commenter Nick noting that I lacked these and then sending them to me. Like the champ he is. I’m now that much closer to a H17 total canonical collection, thanks to Nick!

Subtotal: $0.00

August 2015

1. Thomas Dolby: The Golden Age Of Wireless DLX RM – EMI – 50999 2 67915 2 4 – UK – CD/DVD – Manifest Discs/$7.50
2. Laurie Anderson: United States Live – Warner Brothers Records – 9 25192-2 – US 4xCD – Manifest Discs/$39.99
3. Trevor Jackson Presents: Metal Dance 2 – Strut – STRUT107CD – UK – 2xCD – Lunchbox Records/$15.99
4. DEVO: Smooth Noodle Maps – Restless Records – 7 72757-2 – US – CD – Lunchbox Records/$4.00
5. The Power Station: Living In Fear – Guardian Records – 7243 8 59356 2 6 – US – CD – Repo Record/$5.00
6. Scritti Politti: Hypnotize – Warner Bros. Records – 0-20292 – US – 12″ – Repo Record/$5.00
7. Scritti Politti: Cupid + Psyche ’85 – Warner Bros. Records – 1-25302 – US – embossed LP – Repo Record/$3.00
8. Grace Jones: Sex Drive – Island Red Label – 162-535 500-1 – US – 12″ – Repo Record/$4.00
9. The Art Of Noise: Beat Box – ZTT –  ZTIS 108 – UK – 12″ – Repo Record/$3.00
10. The Method Actors: Rhythms Of You – Armageddon Records – AEP 12005 – UK – 10″/gift
11. Way Of The West: Don’t Say That’s Just For White Boys – Mercury Records – MERX 66 – UK 12″/gift
12. Way Of The West: Drum – Mercury Records – DRUM 12 – UK – 12″/gift
13. Traffic: Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys – Island Records ‎– 422-842 779-2 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
14. ZAPP & Roger: More Bounce To The Ounce – Flashback Records ‎– R2 73236 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
15. Todd Rundgren/Emil Nikolaisen/Hans-Peter Lindstrøm: Runddans – Smalltown Supersound ‎– STS258- NORWAY promo – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
16. Neil Young: Unplugged – Reprise Records ‎– 9 45310-2 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
17. Sharon Jones + The Dap-Kings: Naturally – Daptone Records ‎– DAP-004 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
18. Go-Gos: Beauty + The Beat 30th Anniversary DLX RM – I.R.S. Records ‎– 5099902702728 – US – 2xCD – Harvest Records/$1.00
19. Underworld: A Hundred Days Off – V2 ‎– 63881-27137-2 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$1.00
20. Landscape: It’s Not My Real Name – RCA ‎– JD-13296 – USP – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
21. Units: A New Way To Move – Epic ‎– 5E 38992 – US – EP- Harvest Records/$1.00
22. Scritti Politti: Perfect Way – Warner Bros. Records ‎– PRO-A-2357 – USP – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
23. Stephen Tin Tin Duffy: Hold It – Sire ‎– 0-20142 – US – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
24. Torch Song: Tattered Dress/Don’t Look Now – I.R.S. Records ‎– SP 70978 – USP – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
25. Dubset: Flesh Beat Fever – Elektra ‎– ED 4962 – USP – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
26. DATA: Blow – Sire ‎– PRO-A-2315 – USP – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
27. Fashion: Move On – Arista ‎– CP-719 – USP – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
28. Freur: Riders In The Night – Epic ‎– 49-04974 – USP – 12″- Harvest Records/$1.00
29. November Group: Work That Dream – A&M Records ‎– SP-12128 – USP – 12″ – Harvest Records/$1.00
30. Paul Haig: Paul Haig – Les Disques Du Crépuscule ‎– ITMA 4 – US – EP – Harvest Records/$1.00
31. Firesign Theatre: I Think We’re All Bozos On The Bus – Columbia ‎– CQ 30737 – quad US – LP- Harvest Records/$1.00
32. Firesign Theatre: How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You’re Not Anywhere At All? – Columbia ‎– CS 9884 – US – LP – Andee/$5.00

The Record Cell input sensors went into high gear to account for August’s influx of new music. The annual Harvest Records Anniversary Sale was a vinyl revelation this year. In past years 40-50 $1.00 CDs were had from the basement. Vinyl was always a footnote. Not this year. This year there were as many CDs as in the last year [5-6] but the vinyl had exploded. Tons of DJ 12″ vinyl made me a very happy Monk. I only had a finite amount on money since I was saving for the trip to Charlotte [more on that below] but what I did buy was very happy-making stuff, including several actual want list records!

The Traffic CD was the only thing I’d want from them, but it was better than I had anticipated! Happy to have a 2nd Roger Troutman CD in the Record Cell. This one a well-balanced comp of funky talk-box abuse of the finest kind. The new Runddans CD from Todd Rundgren and a pair of Norwegian dance collaborators was just the sort of left field success that Todd can pull out of his top hat like a white rabbit every now and then. I’ve been waiting to hear Sharon Jones + The Dap-Kings for over a decade now. Maybe I should have attended those local shows way back when at the Grey Eagle? The Go-Gos DLX RM was nothing that I was waiting for, but for a buck I’m a believer. I finally dipped my toe in the Underworld MK II waters and found them as wanting as I had suspected for decades. Sigh. Though fans tells me “dubnobasswithmyheadman” is the one.

A Record Shopping Road Trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to meet up with ronkanefiles, bore some nice fruit. Funded by the first time I’d sold off records at a store in almost 20 years. Memo to self: possibly do this more often! The store in question, also had two prime titles: the Thomas Dolby DLX RM of his crucial “Golden Age Of Wireless” album and the one Laurie Anderson title we lacked.

Subtotal: $111.48

September 2015

1. Razormaid: 3rd Anniversary Issue – Razormaid Records – RM-3D – USP – 2xLP [yellow vinyl] – 641 RPM/$8.99
2. Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Welcome To The Pleasuredome – Island Records – DMD 830 – USP – 12″ – Voltage Records/$4.00
3. Les Rita Mitsouko: C’est Comme Ça – Virgin Records – 0-96768 – US – 12″ – Voltage Records/$2.00
4. November Group: Work That Dream – A&M Records ‎– SP-12512 – USP – EP – Harvest Records/$2.00
5. Lene Lovich: Blue Hotel – Stiff Records ‎– 6.13 741 – GER – 7″ blue vinyl – Voltage Records/gift
6. Bruce Woolley + The Camera Club: Bruce Woolley + The Camera Club – Columbia ‎– 1-11264 – US – 7″ EP – Voltage Records/gift
7. Kid Creole + The Coconuts: My Male Curiosity – Virgin Records – VS 690-12 – UK – 12″ -Time Traveler/$2.99
8. Marianne Faithfull: The Blue Millionaire – Island Records – DMD 627 – USP – 12″ – Time Traveler/$4.99
9. The Assembly: Never Never – Mute Records – 12 tiny 1 – UK – 12″ – Time Traveler/$2.99
10. Robert Palmer: Simply Irresistible – EMI Manhattan Records – B-59133 – US – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
11. Associates: Those First Impresions – WEA – YZ6 – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
12. Restricted Code: Love To Meet You – Pop Aural – POP 009A  – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
13. Ad Infinitum: Telstar – Factory Records – FAC 96  – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
14. Stewart Copeland + Stanard Ridgway: Don’t Box Me In – A+M Records – Sp-6-4983 – US – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
15. Josef K: The Farewell Single – Les Disques Du Crépuscule – twi 053 – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
16. Au Pairs: Diet – 021 Records – OTO 4  – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
17. Icehouse: Crazy – Chrysalis Records – VS4 43156 – US – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
18. Last Man In Europe: …A Certain Bridge – Cocteau Records – Coq 2 – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
19. “Weird Al” Yankovic: King Of Suede – Rock + Roll Records – ZS4 04451 – US – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
20. Double: Woman Of The World – A+M Records – AM-2869 – US – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
21. Double: The Captain Of Her Heart – A+M Records – AM-2838 – US – 7″ – Time Traveler/$1.99
22. Grace Jones: I’ve Seen That Face Before [Liber Tango] – Island Records – WIP 6700 – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$4.99
23. The Boomtown Rats: Banana Republic – Ensign Records – BONGO 1 – UK – 7″ – Time Traveler/$4.99
24. Iggy Pop: Aprés – Le Rat Des Villes ‎– RDV005 – FRANCE – CD – gift
25. The Revillos: Rev Up – Dindisc – DIDX3 – UK – LP – Beautiful World Syndicate/$10.00
26. Duran Duran – All You Need Is Now DLX – Tape Modern – 0731517022 – US – CD + DVD – gift
27. Duran Duran – Paper Gods [Target] – Warner Bros. Records ‎– 551955-2 – US – CD – gift

In September I really got the bug to sell off vinyl that had been dogging my heels for decades to no good end. I got several hundred dollars for what was chaff at two local stores I normally buy at. In fact, the owner of Voltage Records threw in the two 45s I saw there that I had wanted when selling off! The blue vinyl German Lene Lovich sleeve was nothing to sneeze at, either! A day earlier I had been in Voltage and bought a couple of 12″ers. The FGTH was a promo-only remix that I had a really bad copy of, so it was probably a better copy to be had here. Why on earth had I gotten rid of the US 12″ of Les Rita Mitsouko’s “C’est Comme Ça?!” I must have had a case of the vapors! I rebought this single, easily. The Razormaid edition was possibly the last such release out there that I would have bought unhesitatingly as it had too many groups that I “collect” on it. Disc 2 was a little worn, but I was really buying it for the Ultravox mix. A karmic payback for a dreary day spent in Boone, NC; a city we won’t be returning to.

Our vacation to Ohio and Philadelphia was much more exciting! As usual Time Traveler didn’t disappoint, though it was the 7″ action, and not the CDs, that knocked my socks off this time. More amazing 7″ singles than I had ever seen in the store, and at insane prices. Happy to get a Robert Palmer non-LP B-side and I will always buy ANY Associates record that I don’t have. There aren’t too many of those left! The Restricted Code 7″ was the sort of record that are like hidden treasures to me 35 years later. I had never heard of this but its pedigree suggests that it’s right up my alley. Same for the Ad infinitum 7″, which I later found out after simply buying was the fruit of a collaboration between Tony Wilson’s wife and Peter Hook of New Order covering the Joe Meek/Tornadoes classic proto-proto-synthpop instro classic.

I was all over non-LP Stan Ridgway and the early Au Pairs 45. The Benelux Josef K single was also catnip. The Bill Nelson-produced Last Man In Europe single was the one record here that was almost a steal at $1.99! I just had to buy the Yankovic single, if only for the sleeve. SInce Double had just two albums, their rarities never seem to surface, and when they do, it’s strictly in 7″ form, as I have the “Devil’s Ball” US 7″ as my only other Double vinyl. The Grace Jones 7″ was a coup for me. I’ve never seen this disc before.  And the last three titles were birthday gifts. My wife thoughtfully got me the Iggy Pop Francophile album we’d both been eager to hear and it pretty much hit the marks I was ready for as a fan of Iggy’s crooning side; which got far too scant a showing for my tastes. The last two Duran Duran albums hit like a ton of bricks and having them as gifts frees me from the conundrum of deciding which format to buy. I may have to craft an addendum to the DD Rock G.P.A. with these in house. Watch this space. September saw a lot of fine music following a very active August. These last two months are towering over the whole rest of the year in terms of influx. But the outflux of vinyl I’ve been selling off even manages to dwarf this group of music. Next month’s arrivals are already in the chute and I’m just awaiting their arrival at this point. It’s a lovely feeling to know that the collection is flowing again after a still first half of the year.

Subtotal $73.81

October 2015

1. Prince: Ultimate Prince – Warner Bros. Records ‎– R2 73381 – US – 2xCD – philadelphiamusic/$5.00
2. James Brown: 20 All-Time Greatest Hits – Polydor – 314 511 326-2 – US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$3.00
3. Adam & The Ants: Prince Charming – Epic – EK 37615 – US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
4. King Crimson: B’Boom – Discipline Global Mobile – DGM 9503 – US – 2xCD – philadelphiamusic/$6.00
5. Bruce Gilbert: Insiding – Mute – CDSTUMM 71- US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$4.00
6. Frank Sinatra: Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely – Capitol Records – CDP 7 48471 2- US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
7. Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand [DLX ED] – Epic – EK 93630- US – 2xCD – philadelphiamusic/$6.00
8. Billie Ray Martin: Undisco Me – Silver Label – TB-2544-2 – US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$10.00
9. Client: Pornography – Toast Hawaii – LCD TH 008 – UK – CD5 – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
10. Client: In It For The Money – Mute – 9252-2 724596925225 – UK – CD5 – philadelphiamusic/$3.00
11. Client: Heartland – Metropolis – met 477 – US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$5.00
12. Client: Client – Mute Records – MUTE 9219-2 – UK – CD – philadelphiamusic/$4.00
13. Client: Zerox Machine – Metropolis – MET 470 – US – CD5 – philadelphiamusic/$3.00
14. Client: Radio – Mute Records – MUTE92692 – UK – CD5 – philadelphiamusic/$7.50
15. LeTigre: This Island – Universal Records – B0003385-02 – US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$3.00
16. Robert Palmer: Addictions – Vol. 2 – Island Records – 314-510 345-2 – US – CD – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
17. Fingerprintz: Shadowed – Virgin – VS 420-12 – UK – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$4.00
18. The Blow Monkeys: It Pays To Be Twelve – RCA – PT 42232 R – UK – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$3.00
19. Tom Tom Club: Sunshine + Ecstasy – Sire Records – 0-40444 – US – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
20. Tom Tom Club: Don’t Say No [Marshall Jefferson Remixes] – Fontana – TCBXR 1 – UK – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
21. Chaka Kahn: Love Of A Lifetime – Warner Bros. Records – 0-20487 – US – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$1.50
22. Three O’Clock: Susie’s On The Ball Now – I.R.S. Records – L33-17204 – USP – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
23. Three O’Clock: Hand In Hand – I.R.S. Records – IRT 101 – UK – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.50
24. Three O’Clock: Love Explosion – Paisley Park – 0-20957 – US – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
25. Ken Lockie: The Impossible – Virgin – V 2187 – UK – LP – philadelphiamusic/$3.50
26. Cosmetic And Jamaaladeen Tacuma: [In The] Nightlife – Gramavision – GR 1204 – US – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$3.00
27. Cosmetic And Jamaaladeen Tacuma: So Tranquilizin’ – Gramavision – 18-1210-1 – USP – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
28. Was [Not Was]: Boy’s Gone Crazy – Chrysalis – V 23411 – USP – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.00
29. The Suburbs: Waiting – Twin/Tone Records – TTR 8229 – US – 12″ – philadelphiamusic/$2.25
30. Firesign Theatre: Eat Or Be Eaten – Mercury – 422-826 452-1 M-1 – US – LP – philadelphiamusic/$4.50
31. Visage: Lost In Static – Control Room Recordings ‎– CRRR003 – UK – 12″ – Control Room Recordings webstore/$9.19
32. Visage: She’s Electric – Blitz Club Records ‎– BZCR017 – UK – CD5 – amazon dealer/$10.19
33. Prince: 1999 – Warner Bros. Records ‎– 9 23720-2 – US – CD – Repo Record/$6.00
34. Psychedelic Furs: Forever Now DLX RM – Legacy ‎– CK 85916 – US – CD – Repo Record/$5.00
35. Razormaid: Chapter Six – Promotion – Razormaid Records ‎– RM-006 [Disc 2] – USP – 12″ – Repo Record/$6.00
36. The B-52s: Whammy – Warner Bros. Records ‎– 9 23819-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$2.00
37. Parliament: The Mothership Connection – Casablanca Records ‎– 824 502-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.99
38. The Jam: Greatest Hits – Polydor ‎– 849 554-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.00
39. John Foxx: Modern Art – The Best Of John Foxx – Music Club ‎– MCCD 454 – UK – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.00
40. Derek + The Dominos: The Layla Sessions 20th Anniversary Edition – Polydor ‎– D 125249 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.50
41. Austra: Feel It Break – Domino ‎– DNO292 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.00
42. Prince + The Revolution: Music From Purple Rain – Warner Bros. Records ‎– 9 25110-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.00
43. Jools Holland’s Big Band Rhythm + Blues – Rhino Records ‎– R2 78264 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.00
44. The G0-Betweens: The Friends Of Rachel Worth – Jetset Records ‎– TWA31CD – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.50
45. Sinéad O’Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got – Chrysalis ‎– F2 21759 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.00
46. Sinéad O’Connor: Am I Not Your Girl? – Chrysalis ‎– CDP 521952 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$2.00
47. Sinéad O’Connor: Faith + Courage – Atlantic ‎– 83337-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$2.50
48. Various: If I Were A Carpenter – A&M Records ‎– 31454 0258 2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$2.00
49. Warren Zevon: Mr. Bad Example – Giant Records ‎– 9 24431-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$5.59
50. Big Brother + The Holding Company: Cheap Thrills – Columbia ‎– CK 9700 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$4.00
51. Rushmore OST – London Records ‎– 314-556-074-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$4.75
52. Steely Dan – Aja – MCA Records ‎– 088 112 056-2 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$2.00
53. Iggy Pop: American Caesar – Virgin ‎– 7243 8 39002 2 0 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$4.00
54. The Kinks: Come Dancing With The Kinks – The Best Of The Kinks 1977-1986 – Arista ‎– A2CD 8428 – US – CD – 2nd&Charles/$3.00
55. Eurythmics: I’ve Got A Life – Arista ‎– 82876 73924 1 – USP – 2×12″ – gift
56. Fingerprintz: Who’s Your Friend? – Virgin ‎– VS 252 – UK – 7″ – gift
57. Fingerprintz: Tough Luck – Virgin ‎– VS 278 – UK – 7″ – gift

It’s been a record breaking October thus far with large amounts of music entering [as well as leaving] the Record Cell. A visit to Philadelphia for vacation the previous month found me not being able to actually buy anything at the Beautiful World Syndicate shop that sold online as philadelphiamusic at Discogs.com. Their storefront was just a placeholder. I had to come back home, and buy the huge quantity of music I wanted online and have it shipped to me. Fortunately, their shipping prices are the best in the world [any amt. 12″/CD for $5.00/$3.50]. When I checked my Discogs want list feed, they had a ton of high-value music for dirt cheap prices. While looking, I viewed all of their CD stock just in case, since it was close to finite] and found many delights.

Primary this month was getting some Prince music back in the Record Cell for the first time since 1985! I always wanted to buy some on CD, but never seemed to find it in the used bins where cheapskate me shops primarily. I had no idea of the “Ultimate” 2xCD until I saw it in their store. A better Prince selection could not be had as it contained mostly 7″ edits of singles on disc 1 and 12″ remixes on disc 2! Most importantly, it had the full LP version of “Controversy.” The only cut it seemed to be missing for me was “Sexuality,” so the burning need to have the full “Controversy” album yet exists. In Charlotte, I could not resist a new copy [!] of “1999” that I bought at Repo Record for the Princely sum of $6.00. At that price, I can’t hold back!

I got almost a full case of CDs shipped to me as well as a thick box of sweet 12″ vinyl. Is it my imagination, or is my music shopping dollar going to new lengths in these days? It seems fairly easy to get 3-5 CDs for a ten-spot these days. Just my speed! It’s basically the shipping costs that hold me back, but that’s not a concern with philadelphiamusic!

Another long-time coming re-entry into the Record Cell was The Jam! Just a week or so after grousing on The New Vinyl Villain about not having any Jam to listen to for 30+ years, I was visiting Charlotte and my wife suggested we try a huge store called 2nd&Charles. They were like a Media Play outlet that had 96% used merchandise. Great selections and very low prices! All contributed to a torrent of music coming into the Record Cell this month.

Subtotal: $200.96

November 2015

1. Robert Palmer: Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming – EMI USA ‎– V-56140 – U  – 12″ – Harvest Records/$2.00
2. Sinéad O’Connor: Throw Down Your Arms – That’s Why There’s Chocolate And Vanilla ‎– THCVCD001 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00
3. Sinéad O’Connor: The Lion + The Cobra – Chrysalis ‎– VK 41612 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00
4. Sly + Robbie: Dubs For Tubs – A Tribute To King Tubby – Rohit International Records ‎– RRTG 7791 – CAN – CD – Harvest Records/$3.00
5. Laurie Anderson: Heart Of A Dog – Nonesuch ‎– 552027-2 – US – CD – HArvest Records/$15.99
6. FFS: FFS DLX – Domino ‎– WIGCD349X – US – CD – Harvest Records/$12.99
7. Wire: 154 – Restless Retro ‎– 7 72362-2 – US – CD – Harvest Records/$7.99
8. Real Life: Heartland – MCA Records ‎– MCA-5459 – US – LP – Harvest Records/$2.00
9. Visage: Demons To Diamonds + Bonus EP – August Day ‎– ADAY023 – UK – 2xCD – Visage Webstore/$15.24
10. Visage: Fade To Grey [Orchestral] – August Day ‎– ADAY020 – UK – CD5 – Visage Website/$7.62
11. The Delusionaires: Flooze Party – Beaverama! Records ‎– BVRLP 1233-001 – US – LP – band merch/$10

Things cooled off in November. The appearance of a stash of as mint US vinyl from the 80s that looks unplayed – with the shrink wrap slitted to prevent warpage at Harvest Records has been very interesting. Lots of eclectic finds are turning up in their $2.00 bin! It looks like they acquired some vintage stock from a defunct store and they are dribbling it out to fill their budget bin.

I already had an LP of Real Life’s debut album, but I bought another for a mint copy to digitize. I’ll never get my hands on the rare CDs of that title for less than a fortune, so I might as well suck it up and make my own DLX RM of “Heartland” with all of the attendant bonus tracks. Maybe soon since it looks like no one else will take up the challenge.

My wife has been getting into Sinead O’Connor, so I re-bought “The Lion + The Cobra” and another one produced by Sly + Robbie. Speaking of whom, I bought a Canadian dub album by the twosome that completely and utterly failed to convince!! Never have I been so let down by listening to an album! They always make such a kicking rhythm section on other band’s albums, I was not prepared for the MIDI hell of their King Tubby “tribute” album. On the recycle pile, and pronto with that one!

The two albums that are vying for my favorite titles of the year hit almost all at once last month. Will FFS or Visage top my year end chart coming up [if I don’t forget to make one]? Stay tuned. I have finally crossed the line in November and bought/heard one of the first three albums by Wire. Not disappointing nor did it render their later phases pale by comparison. Apparently, they have been consistently excellent all along. Finally, I got the second album by Orlando slop-merchants The Delusionaires. They actually played in my burg on Black Friday and I had to ask Sen Artie Mondello if he had any merch for sale. The fun times we had back in Orlando were plentiful and his earlier combo, The Vodkats, were engaged to play at our wedding party held in our hometown for all the friends who couldn’t make it to the actual wedding. We rented out Johnny’s Rockin’ Bistro, booked both factions of the post-split Exotic Aarontones to perform and had a blast. Good times!

Subtotal: $82.83

December 2015

1. Various: A Christmas Record [2008 DL ver.] – Ze Records ‎– 320 DL  – ZE webstore/gift
2. Joe Jackson Band: Beat Crazy – A+M Records ‎– CD 3241 – US  – CD – Mr. K’s/$4.95
3. Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much Better – Domino ‎– EK 94800 – US – CD – Mr. K’s/$4.95
4. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin DLX RM – Atlantic ‎– R2-536127 – US – 2xCD – Mr. K’s/$7.95
5. Visage: Darkness To Diamond – August Day – ADAD025 – UK – CD – Visage Webstore/$23.59
6. John Foxx: The Virgin Years 1980-1985 – Metamatic Records – META52BX – UK – 5xCD – gift
7. Underworld: Dubnobasswithmyheadman – Wax Trax! Records/TVT Records – TVT 7217-2 – US – CD – gift
8. The Sensational Creed: Nocturnal Operations – Beggars Banquet – BEG 125 – UK – 7″ – gift
9. Pulp: Common People – Island Records – PRCD 7163-2 – USP – CD5 – gift
10. Pulp: The Trees [CD2] – Island Records – CIDX 786 – UK – CD5 – gift
11. Pulp: Babies – Island Records – PRCD 6829-2 – USP – CD5 – gift
12. Pulp: Babies – Gift Records – GIF 3CD – UK CD5 – gift
13. Pulp: Lipgloss – Island Records – CID 567 – UK CD5 – gift
14. Still Obscure – Dance In Light DLX RM – Still Obscure Records – US – CD-R – Gift

One of these things is not like the other… I should point out that it was me who brought the DLX RM of “Led Zeppelin” to my wife’s attention, so I knew what I was doing. I also saw the DLX RM of “In Through The Out Door” in the bins and had I been thinking straight, I would have snatched that one up for myself! December was a month of mostly music gifted to me by my friends. I did drop coin for the Visage remix album, though. Some really nice stuff on that one! Nice of ZE Records to give away a DL of the almighty “A Christmas Record.” In every dream home a heartache. Lots of Pulp singles for the inevitable BSOG thanks to a friend who was thinning out format duplicates and holding the vinyl. They also asked if I wanted their copy of The Sensational Creed 7″ as if they had to ask twice!! This single was dynamite in the 12″ version, but I need all Billy Mackenzie related issues. Plain and simple. And finally they sent me a copy of the first Underworld MK II album to finally hear!  Chasinvictoria sent me a copy of the almighty Foxx boxx that I had not moved on yet, and it’s filled with lots of goodness that’s new to these ears. More on it later, I’m sure.

Subtotal: $41.11

Half Year Subtotals: 143 releases | $510.19 | average cost – $3.57/title

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Year-End Subtotals: 161 releases | $645.04 | average cost – $4.00/title

Wow! Almost exactly the same number of titles as last year, but way lower cash outlay. I bought almost eight times the music I did in the first half of the year! I bought almost a third of everything in October alone.