November Record Shopping in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I haven't traveled for work in years. The only thing I miss about it is record shopping in strange cities during the minimal downtime. It's always worth it. So, when I found myself in Las Vegas for a boring-ass work thing last week, I looked at the only two hours I had available and earmarked them for some time-constrained local patronage. Turned out my coworker - also a record fan - was on the same flight home as I was, so we hatched a plan to split a taxi to the airport right after we Ubered over to Record City, a place that was, honestly, the closest to Caesars Palace and, according to the photos on the internet, packed with LPs and every other kind of media. 

The photos did not lie, and in fact, may not have done it justice. I could've spent a full day at this place. There were thousands of LaserDiscs. I had to move stuff to get to other stuff. Teetering stacks were threatening collapse at every turn. And the prices were fair! My kind of place and I could have done some serious damage given four hours but I was only afforded about 90 minutes so I did what I could. 

I should have taken a photo of the LD/DVD area to the left of where I'm looking in this photo. I do have a small LaserDisc collection, but I generally don't care enough about LDs to drag any home. I did get four DVDs: Helloween High Live, C-Bo: Live and Uncut, Hittin' It, and Urban Massacre. I could have found more but I was too busy digging through the records, which were everywhere. Here's what I left with:

Criminal Nation - "The Right Crowd" 12" (1991)

NW rap via Tacoma on Nastymix. Been looking for this group's albums on cassette and don't ever see them. This song has got some new jack swing to it. 

B.O.X. - "Rock 'Dat A**" 12" (1991)

I admittedly am not familiar with this artist or this song, and that's why I grabbed this. And I think it was like three bucks. "Beyond Ordinary X-Istence indeed. 

C.P.O. - "This Beat is Funky" 12" (1990)

From BOX to CPO. I was definitely spending time in the haphazard 12" singles sections. This is one of two singles from CPO's only LP and I should really go back and listen to it; it's been a while. Love the idea of MC Ren having his own record label but I think this was the beginning and end of that.

The Master MC Stacy G. - "Prove It" 12" (1988)

Was not familiar with this outfit either but this was a signed copy at a fair price and I would have picked it up even it wasn't signed (very sincerely to a guy named Barry). This song is not strong. 

V/A - Hit Hip Hop on Hot Vinyl (1985)

Mixed by Dr. Dre when he and Yella were still with the World Class Wreckin Cru. The electro-rap revolution did not happen, and that's OK. I know there's a good reason why 2 Live Crew is on here but I can't think of it. Dr. Dre performing surgery on the humble beginnings tip.

Luke, etc. - "We Bring You Joy" 12" (1993)

Luther Campbell in sincere mode rounds up a gaggle of his label's artists to crank out a truly assy Xmas track I bought for two bucks.

Darwin Gross - Darwin's Blues (1986)

Didn't expect to find any private-press Oregon LPs while there but I guess I didn't expect not to, either. Don't recall ever seeing this one. It's easygoing jazz out of Oak Grove, led by a guy who, turns out, was the 972nd Living ECK Master. 

Let My People Come: A Sexual Musical - The Original Cast Album (1974)

Apparently I wasn't passing this up for a fiver. Looks pretty gay.

July Record Shopping in San Luis Obispo.

 
It was me and my wife's 15th anniversary this past week and since she has been dreaming for years of staying at the Madonna Inn, we decided to make it happen. We spent four nights and only had a few concrete plans during the days, so I knew I'd have some downtime with which to take the rented Kia Forte out and search for records. This isn't a heavily populated area, so I knew there wouldn't be an abundance, but I found some spots and had a good time doing it. Everything was pretty close. 

My first stop was Boo Boo Records, probably the "main" record store in town. They had a good selection, but not a ton of used stuff if I recall correctly. I got a few things:

Fanny - Mother's Pride (1973)

Think I still need to find the first few Fanny albums, but I didn't have this one. I really need to watch that documentary about them.

Grace Jones - "Crush" 7" (1987)

My 80's 7" collection is really coming into its own and I do suppose it could use a little more Grace Jones. Didn't know this song but knew it would be weird and it is. 

The Three Wise Men - "Thanks for Christmas" 7" (1983)

This is XTC under a fun Christmas name and I will tuck this away and break it out in December.

Next I stopped at a small vintage mall with a record store in the back, aptly named Ed Taylor's Back Room Vinyl. Ed's got a great selection of classic rock, including Beatles fanzines and other ephemera. I only found a few things, but had a great time flipping through that little room.

Lou Reed - Transformer (1972)

I have so many of Lou Reed's other solo records and strangely, I have never owned this LP. But I'm very familiar with it and was just waiting to find an early pressing that wasn't overpriced. Finally paid off. Got this, which is maybe a first press, for like 17 bucks and it sounds great. Cover is solid as well. Just had to get out of Portland to save 25 bucks on it. I understand why Lou Reed didn't want to be remembered primarily for this record but man, there are so many good songs on this album.

Martin Mull - Near Perfect/Perfect (1979)

Been thinking about Martin Mull since his recent passing and seemed like I should grab this when I saw it. Used to watch him on Fernwood 2 Night on Nick at Nite and not understand a lot of the jokes but laugh anyway. 

After that I drove about ten minutes to Pismo Bay, where I found Phantom Stranger Records, a comfortable little location with a healing crystal shop inside. I saw a lot of crystal content while in the SLO area, and I wasn't even looking. Must be big biz down there. I did not check out the crystals, but I did spend a good hour poking around and ended up with some stuff. Also had a great chat with the dude behind the counter. And he cut me a hot deal on some 45s. Really cool spot. Here is what I purchased:

Compton's Most Wanted - "Growin' Up in the Hood" 12" (1991)

Banger from the Boyz N The Hood soundtrack. I've got a solid CMW collection when it comes to cassettes, but not much on vinyl. This was mildly spendy but it's in great shape. 

Madhouse - "6" 7" (1987)

Promo single for the song "6" from the album 8 from one of Prince's many side projects, and one that gets overlooked more than the others. Maybe it's the instrumental nature of the music that doesn't ultimately connect with people, but man, this is some funky stuff. 

Don Henley - "The Boys of Summer" 7" (1984)

Been talking with anyone who will listen lately about what a dildo Don Henley is and what an absolute 10/10 song "Boys of Summer" is. It doesn't keep me up at night, but it concerns me. Was talking about it with my wife on the way down and told her that I was sure I'd find the 45 - which I've been lazily looking for for a while - on our trip, and of course I did. The deadhead sticker line in this song is iconic, but the "got your hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on" gets me every time. 

Kim Wilde - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 7" (1987)

This should be any respectable person's 80s 45 collection. Wasn't in mine. 

LeVert - "Casanova" 7" (1987)

Hadn't thought about this song in a minute, but it remains smooth. 

Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F Theme" 7" (1984)

Thought I had this but I guess I don't. 1984 really was the greatest year for pop music. What a track. Just watched the new Beverly Hills Cop and really enjoyed it. Ridiculous movie, but that's what you want. 

I also picked up Positive K's The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills on cassette, as well as a tape by a rap group called SFC, which I just now put together stands for Soldiers for Christ. It's from 1989 and it's going in the collection. Oh and I also got a DVD called Through the Years of Hip Hop Vol. 1 - Graffiti that looks pretty budget but it was cheap. 

Next I hit a spot called Games Exchange, which had a lot of records but they were mostly common classic rock stuff and they weren't very well organized and I just really didn't feel like dealing with 'em. I instead focused on DVDs, which they had plenty, and other stuff they had around. Got a magazine promoting the original Woodstock documentary at a great price, and I also got some DVDs: The Detroit Pistons Bad Boys episode from the 30 for 30 series (which I may already have in a set?), the final season of Grounded for Life, Zappa Plays Zappa, The Up Series documentary set, and Planet Brooklyn, costarring Bonz Malone. 

And I picked up some cool buttons and two sealed packs of 1987 Topps baseball cards, which I will be opening tonight. The guy behind the counter and I had some good jokes about not eating the gum inside. 

I moved on to A Satellite of Love, an expertly curated vintage shop/record store where I fittingly picked up a March 1975 issue of Creem magazine with Lou Reed on the cover, ready to go to war with Lester Bangs. I also grabbed these two records:

Kate Bush - Kate Bush EP (1983)

A mini-album intended to give Kate more shine in the US, I guess? I need to listen to more of her music and this one seemed like a good option. Cover is great, of course, too. 

Michael McDonald - "I Keep Forgettin'" 7" (1982)

More smooth sounds for my 80s 45 collection. 

Next up was Vinyl Isle, recommended to me by the clerk at the previous store. Wasn't far away, and look at that storefront! This is what you're looking for. It was indeed a cool little spot and I picked up a May 1981 issue of Rolling Stone with Susan Sarandon on the cover and a handful of 45s:

Nu Shooz - "Driftin'" 7" (1988)

Lesser-known single from the Portland crew, and one of their last. 

Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me) 7" (1985)

This is the "Breakfast Club cover" version, which feels right. I have a bunch of Simple Minds singles but somehow didn't have this one. 

Juicy - "Beat Street Strut" 7" (1984)

Bought this on a whim, knowing it would be more disco than rap, and that's OK. 

David Lee Roth - "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" 7" (1985)

Diamond Dave in his prime and a remixed version on the flip. Wish Dave had more B-sides from his solo era. That band was bonkers. 

David Lee Roth - "Stand Up" 7" (1987)

I enjoy the entire Skyscraper LP, including this song (though it is a little goofy ultimately) and side B on this is "Knucklebones," which is a real beast of a track. Lil Stevie Vai just putting in work. 

Didn't take a picture and didn't get any records there, but at some point during this day I stopped at Cheap Thrills, one of the other major record stores in SLO. They also have a video game/DVD/All Sorts of Anime Shit I Don't Understand side of the store, and I ended up getting some DVDs: Juggalo Championshit Wrestling Vol. 3, Best of IWA Wrestling, and a vintage street fighting video that I will say no more about. Had those in hand and was ready to leave when I remembered a movie I've been looking for and just gave it a last ditch chance in the ol' comedy section and there it was: Whiteboyz, a movie that I really love and own on VHS, and that people are trying to get too much for on the internet. Got it for 7 bucks. 

My wife and I were sitting in the bar at the Madonna Inn on Thursday night, when who should walk in but Micky Dolenz, who was playing a show near there the next night. (You can see him there in the black hat.) I didn't bug him - my wife insisted I shouldn't - but seeing him made me realize I really wanted to catch his show the next night. After our anniversary dinner we went to see Micky Dolenz at the Fremont Theater and it was a blast. He ran through all the hits, paid tribute to his fellow Monkees who are no longer with us, and cracked corny jokes like only he can. It was incredible to be in the same room and hear his voice. 

Think I'm about to take a deep dive into the Monkees. I'm due.