Here was my wish list:
- The Pogues: “The Stiff Records B-Sides”
- Hal Blaine: “Psychedelic Percussion”
- Jerry Garcia Band: “How Sweet It Is”
- Jonathan Richman: “Jonathan Goes Country”
- The Donnas: “Early Singles 1995-1999”
- Willie Dixon: “Catalyst”
- The Strawberry Alarm Clock: “Incense And Peppermints”
- T. Rex: “Rockin’ & Rollin’”
- The John Doe Folk Trio: “Six Fables”
- The Happy Dragon Band: “The Happy Dragon Band”
- Willie Henderson And The Soul Explosion: “Funky Chicken”
- Wild Carnation: “Tricycle”
- various artists: “Surfin’ The Great Lakes”
I had called Freak Beat yesterday, and learned that the store got only one copy of the Pogues record, and only two each of the Hal Blaine and Jonathan Richman records. So I wasn’t sure what my chances were of getting all three of those. While I was in line, I called my brother who is near Boston, and so three hours ahead of me. He offered to go to the Newbury Comics near him and see what might be left there. I didn’t want him to go out of his way, but soon he called me back and told me he had the Pogues and Jonathan Richman records for me. So before I even got into the store I was able to cross two items from my list. Two of my top four choices. And I felt a little more relaxed. (My girlfriend reminded me on the phone that purchasing records was nothing to be nervous about, and she is right, of course.)
The standard procedure at Freak Beat is for someone to come out and make a list of each person’s number one choice. That way, everyone is certain of getting at least one thing. That did not happen today. Suddenly the line started to move. When I got to the door, I asked about the change in procedure, and was told that everyone was there for the same one record so it didn’t matter. “I’m not,” I said. “What is your number one choice?” “Hal Blaine.” “I have one left. I’ll make sure you get it.” So at least one of the first ten people in line did get something other than the Taylor Swift record. Taylor Swift and Hal Blaine? What an odd combination of interests.
Of the list I handed him, I was able to get three records: the Hal Blaine, Jerry Garcia Band and Strawberry Alarm Clock records. So I was thrilled. I was able to get all four of my top choices – two that my brother grabbed at Newbury Comics, and two that I was able to get at Freak Beat. A good day already, but I decided to stop at Licorice Pizza on the way home just to take a look. And though the records had been picked through a good deal at that store, I was able to get two more items from my list: Willie Dixon and The John Doe Folk Trio. And actually, I missed the John Doe record when I first went through the bins. But the woman at the desk told me they did still have a copy, and helped search for it. So nice.
I usually stop off at Amoeba Music later in the day once the craziness has died down, but I am happy with what I was able to get today, and so am at home, enjoying my records, with no plans of going out again. The first one I put on was the Hal Blaine record, and it is even more wild than I had hoped. Hal Blaine is of course known for being one of the members of the Wrecking Crew, musicians who played on an incredible number of studio albums by a wide range of artists. I became aware of him in my childhood because he played drums on some of the early Monkees records. He also played drums on recordings by Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, The Grass Roots, and on and on. In addition, he put out a few albums of his own, including this 1967 gem which features tunes with titles like “Freaky,” “Hallucinations” and “Trippin’ Out.” And it is on translucent turquoise vinyl. Yeah, I’m loving it.
I hope everyone else is enjoying the day as much as I am.
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