For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one HERE.
Since such a large part of my record collection was purchased used, I figured we should talk about buying used records a little more. Obviously different people have different ideas about what they're looking for when shopping used, but I think whether online or in local record shops, buying used should always be a bit on an adventure.
I do need to start first with the understanding that my Qobuz subscription has replaced a large part of what my used record shopping used to encompass. When I'm in the mood to find new things or dig up old memories, I can easily get lost for hours listening and hunting for stuff on Qobuz while thinking "Wow, they actually have this!" when I come across something unexpected.
I used to dig through the $1 bins, though over the past few years those have evolved into the "$5 or less" bins, looking for anything at all that seemed even a little interesting for any reason at all. Maybe a great cover, possibly an artist I'd never heard of, something in the credits that seemed noteworthy, a classical composer I was unfamiliar with, any of a dozen other things that might make me think that for a buck it was worth trying. These are records I would never have thought of paying full price to get but figured even if they turn out to be a once-every-ten-years kind of record, they would be worth trying out. Some of them turn out to be a fun one-time listen, others end up in the never-to-be-played again category. The key is to try, experiment, take a chance, and listen to some music that isn't something you already know, or might not be part of your regular listening experience.
Another main category of used records for me are the things I know I want and am willing to pay a fair price to get. A couple good examples would be Van der Graaf Generator's Godbluff (in Part 5) and Steeleye Span's Please to See the King (to be in a future part). In both cases my early UK pressings were stolen, and subsequent CD or LP reissues were usable, but not really satisfying. In cases like that I'll search the used record shops just in case I find something, but generally will go to Discogs and search for used offerings of at least NM- quality. In both of those particular cases I was able to find the specific UK pressings I was looking for, and even with shipping from the UK the price was agreeable enough. In another case, I found a very early (white label Transatlantic Records) UK LP in NM condition of Pentangle's Cruel Sister available in the US. Not only was it fairly cheap, but it sounds wonderful, and better than the 1976 US (Reprise) LP I previously had, though tough to tell since I hadn't heard that record since about 1987.
And though we all complain about the high cost of new records these days, when I started college in the fall of 1975, the record shop nearest to campus (Record Theater) charged $5.98 for most new records. Run that through an inflation calculator (from September 1975 to March 2026) and it come out to $36.17, not too far off what new records cost today. That was when the idea of used records first struck me as a reasonable alternative.
Louis Prima, Sam Butera And The Witnesses, Doin' The Twist With Louis Prima
Label: Dot Records – DLP-25410
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: Rock
Style: Twist
I love music by the great "lounge" acts like Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith and all the rest, even Wayne Newton at times. A lot of people only know Louis Prima as the voice of King Louie in the original Disney film of The Jungle Book. This LP is an original from 1961, with Sam Butera's band playing behind Prima. Kind of goofy, as it is basically 12 tracks, each some variation of a song associated with "The Twist." As a sign of its time, five of the twelve tracks are less than two minutes long, and the longest only extends to 2:24. The whole album is less than twenty-four minutes long. You expect "kind of goofy" with Louis Prima, don't you?
Tracklist
A1 - The Twist 2:05
A2 - The Continental Twist 2:04
A3 - Tag That Twistin' Dolly 2:01
A4 - Marie 1:45
A5 - Alright, Okay, You Win 2:24
A6 - Doin' The Twist 2:10
B1 - Lets Twist Again 1:55
B2 - Night Train 2:01
B3 - Route 66 2:08
B4 - Glow Worm 1:37
B5 - The Honeydripper 1:51
B6 - Side By Side 1:42
(Not available on Qobuz)
Luscious Jackson, Fever In Fever Out
Label: Grand Royal – GR 038
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Downtempo
Dark, moody, yet very catchy. Love this album for the music, and the sound, as produced by Daniel Lanois, is excellent. The song "Naked Eye" got enough radio and video play that it was pretty well known. Two of the main members of this band (Vivian Trimble and Jill Cunniff) also made music as solo artists and in other collaborations (Kostars, Dusty Trails) that were uniformly excellent.
Tracklist
A1 - Naked Eye 4:41
A2 - Don't Look Back 3:12
A3 - Door Sound 0:06
A4 - Mood Swing 3:21
A5 - Under Your Skin 3:58
A6 - Electric 3:10
A7 - Take A Ride 6:48
B1 - Water Your Garden 4:24
B2 - Soothe Yourself 4:15
B3 - Why Do I Lie? 3:20
B4 - One Thing 3:04
B5 - Parade 0:12
B6 - Faith 3:05
B7 - Stardust 3:49
https://open.qobuz.com/album/0724383553457
Johnny Cash, Unchained
Label: American Recordings – 9 43097-1, American Recordings – 1-43097
Series: The American Recordings
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country Rock
I have been a Johnny Cash fan for as long as I can remember. When his first album on Rick Rubin's American Recordings came out in 1994, I was bowled over by its authenticity and sincerity. It remains one of my favorite Cash albums. This is the second of his Rick Rubin produced releases on American Recordings label, from 1996. Cash is now backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and this is much more of a production than its predecessor. What can I say? Cash is not just the Man in Black, he is the man, 'nuff said.
Tracklist
A1 - Rowboat, (Written by Beck) 3:43
A2 - Sea Of Heartbreak (Written by Hal David, Paul Hampton) 2:42
A3 - Rusty Cage (Written by Chris Cornell) 2:48
A4 - The One Rose (That's Left In My Heart) (Written by Del Lyon, Lani McIntire) 2:26
A5 - Country Boy (Written by John R. Cash) 2:31
A6 - Memories Are Made Of This (Written by Frank Miller, Richard Dehr, Terry Gilkyson) 2:19
A7 - Spiritual (Written by Josh Haden) 5:06
B1 - The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea (Written by Anita Carter, Helen Carter, June Carter, Maybelle Carter) 2:31
B2 - Southern Accents (Written by Tom Petty) 4:41
B3 - Mean Eyed Cat (Written by John R. Cash) 2:32
B4 - Meet Me In Heaven (Written by John R. Cash) 3:21
B5 - I Never Picked Cotton (Written by Bobby George, Charles Williams) 2:38
B6 - Unchained (Written by Jude Johnstone) 2:52
B7 - I've Been Everywhere (Written by Geoff Mack) 3:17
https://open.qobuz.com/album/0060253735116
Johann Sebastian Bach, Max van Egmond, Baroque Orchestra, Frans Brüggen, Kantaten "Kreutzstab" (BWV 56) & "Ich Habe Genug" (BWV 82)
Label: Pro Arte – PAL-1012
Series: Seon
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 1977
Genre: Classical
Style: Baroque, Cantata, Choral
Another fine offering of music by Bach on the Pro Arte label reissued from a Seon recording. They always had great performances and great sound. I believe I've already mentioned, but I'll buy any album Frans Brüggen is on.
Tracklist
"Ich Will Den Kreuzstab Gerne Tragen", Cantata BWV 56 (Dominica 19 Post Trinitas)
A1 - Aria: "Ich Will Den Kreuzstab Gerne Tragen"
A2 - Recitativo: "Mein Wandel Auf Der Welt Ist Einer Schiffahrt Gleich"
A3 - Aria: "Endlich, Endlich Wird Mein Joch"
A4 - Recitativo: "Ich Stehe Fertig Und Bereit"
A5 - Choral: "Komm, O Tod, Du Schlafes Bruder"
"Ich Habe Genug", Cantata BWV 82 (Festo Purificationis Mariæ)
B1 - Aria: "Ich Habe Genug"
B2 - Recitativo: "Ich Habe Genug! Mein Trost Ist Nur Allein"
B3 - Aria: "Schlummert Ein, Ihr Matten Augen"
B4 - Recitativo: "Mein Gott! Wann Kommt Das Schöne Nun!"
B5 - Aria: "Ich Freue Mich Auf Meinen Tod"
(Not available on Qobuz)
Ludwig Van Beethoven, Paul Badura-Skoda, Moonlight & Appassionata Sonatas
Label: Pro Arte – PAL 1017
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: Classical
Style: Classical
Played on an 1823 Broadwood piano. One of my favorite performances of the Moonlight (along with Brendel's Vox recording). Badura -Skoda takes his time and manages to take almost 22 minutes, compared to Brendel's performance at only just over 16 minutes. Yet they both work for me. This recording is a distant sounding, as if you are on opposite sides of the room, but it really works for me.
Tracklist
A1 - Moonlight
A2 - Andante In D Minor From The Sonata No 15 In D
B1- Appassionata
(Not available on Qobuz, though there are several other offerings of his Beethoven sonatas there)
Various, Pro Arte 1983 Sampler
Label: Pro Arte – PAL-ONE
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Classical
Just a random collection of 21 tracks from their various releases. Takes in all eras, ranging from Gastoldi (1500s) to Stravinsky. Says "Audiophile pressing half-speed mastered" right on the cover! As I mentioned once before, I always liked the Pro Arte LPs from a music and sound quality standpoint, even though they often had manufacturing/pressing issues.
Tracklist
A1 - Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Pulcinella Suite, Minuett e Finale, Igor Stravinsky
A2 - Konrad Ruhland, Balletti for 5 Voices, Giovanni Gastoldi
A3 - La Petite Bande, Pygmalion, Acte de Ballet, Jean-Philippe Rameau
A4 - Russell Sherman, Piano Sonata No. 23 In F Minor, Ludwig van Beethoven
A5 - Günter Wand, Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Anton Bruckner
A6 - Ensemble 13, Emperor Waltz Excerpt, Johann Strauss Jr.
A7 - Salon Music Orchestra of Cologne, Salon Music, J.C. Ibanez
A8 - Arthur Moreira Lima, Apanhei-te Cavaquinho, Ernesto Nazareth
A9 - La Petite Bande, Four Orchestral Suites, Johann Sebastian Bach
A10 - Hartmut Haenchen, Sonata Per Chiesa Et Camera For 5 Trumpets, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer
B1 - Sigiswald Kuijken, Lucy van Dael, Anner Bylsma, Gustav Leonhardt, Allegro From Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Johann Sebastian Bach
B2 - The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony No. 8 In E Flat, Gustav Mahler
B3 - Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, L'Enfant Prodigue, Claude Debussy
B4 - Collegium Aureum, Symphony No. 3 In E Flat, Ludwig van Beethoven
B5 - Vienna Symphonic Orchestra Project, Suite de Concert For Violin And Orchestra, Sergey Ivanovich Taneyev
B6 - Vienna Symphonic Orchestra Project, Il Campanello, Gaetano Donizetti
B7 - Helmut Winschermann, Bourree, Georg Friedrich Händel
B8 - Vienna Symphonic Orchestra Project, Capriccio Italien, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
B9 - Minnesota Orchestra, Wedding Dance From Swan Lake, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
B10 - La Petite Bande, Concerto For 2 Violins, Johann Sebastian Bach
(Not available on Qobuz)
Professor Louie and The Crowmatix, Wings On Fire
Label: Woodstock Records – MVD5740LP
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, 180grams
Country: US
Released: 2013
Genre: Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Founder Aaron Hurwitz (given the nickname Professor Louie by Rick Danko) has been around for a long time and played with lots of good people. He also produced three albums for The Band and been nominated for five Grammy awards. Here he's playing modern blues/rock with a vintage feel. At his best when he's at the Hammond Organ. This high quality LP from 2013 is the band's eighth studio album.
Tracklist
A1 - Down At The County
A2 - Uncommon Love
A3 - Open Hand, Open Heart
A4 - A Book Faded Brown
A5 - Top Of The World
B1 - Time Moves On
B2 - The Bird Song
B3 - Moment In The Sun
B4 - Center Of Your Circle
B5 - 4% Pantomime
https://open.qobuz.com/album/trkqgq1reqzzb
Billy Idol, White Wedding
Label: Chrysalis – 4V9 42685
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Pitman Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Hard Rock
Twelve-inch 33-1/3 I bought when it came out. I couldn't find the 45 RPM disk, and would have preferred a UK pressing, but you get what you can find. Just a great song from a great performer, with exceptional sound quality. I've brought this a few times to audio shows, and it is usually a struggle to get exhibitors who don't know me to play it. Fortunately, many that do, understand that I bring interesting and fun records. In the rooms that have been willing to play it, it amuses me seeing a roomful of gray haired old guys (like me) rocking to this when played loud on a killer system.
Tracklist
A - White Wedding (Parts 1 And 2) 8:20
B - White Wedding (Part 2) 4:27
Qobuz doesn't have this extended mix, so here's a link to the original album track: https://open.qobuz.com/track/40272044
The Dubliners, Seven Drunken Nights
Label: EMI – ONCR 510, EMI – 0C 054 - 06 685
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 1978
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
I've had a longtime love of Irish and English folk/traditional music. These guys are the real deal. There's a casualness about their playing that just makes it more fun. You can practically smell the beer and whisky in the songs. I need to track down more records from this group.
Tracklist
A1 - Seven Drunken Nights
A2 - The Galway Races
A3 - Poor Old Dicey Riley
A4 - Drink It Up Men
A5a - Paddy's Gone To France
A5b - Skylark
A6 - McCafferty
A7 - Go To Sea No More
A8 - Mormon Braes
A9 - The Irish Navy
A10 - Young Men Of Twenty
B1 - Seven Deadly Sins
B2 - Whiskey In The Jar
B3 - Poor Paddy On The Railway
B4 - Maids When You're Young Never Wed An Old Man
B5 - Muirsheen Durkin'
B6a - The Pipers Chair
B6b - Bill Harts Jig
B6c - The Nights Of St. Patrick
B7 - Maloney Wants A Drink
B8 - Black Velvet Band
B9 - A Pub With No Beer
B10 - Weila Waile
(Qobuz does not have this album, but there are several "best of" compilations where you can hear most of the tracks on this one)
Jefferson Airplane, Surrealistic Pillow
Label: Sundazed Music – LP 5135
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock
This is the mono reissue from Sundazed. I have an original mono LP from 1967, but I guess I played it too much on the Westinghouse record player I had back then. Got that for sixteen and a half books of Triple S Blue stamps! Anyone here remember trading stamps from the grocery stores?
Like the early Beatles albums, this is better heard in mono. Also, for people who only know "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" from this album, hearing the whole album for the first time can be a bit of a surprise, as none of the other songs, as great as they are, sound anything like the two famous hits. This is an album that has stood the test of time and remains one of my all-time favorites.
Tracklist
A1 - She Has Funny Cars 3:03
A2 - Somebody To Love 2:54
A3 - My Best Friend 2:59
A4 - Today 2:57
A5 - Comin' Back To Me 5:18
B1 - 3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds 3:39
B2 - D.C.B.A. - 25 2:33
B3 - How Do You Feel 3:26
B4 - Embryonic Journey 1:51
B5 - White Rabbit 2:27
B6 - Plastic Fantastic Lover 2:33
Note - Qobuz has the stereo version. It is probably a remixed or remastered though it does have the original mono mixes of "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love"
