RECORDS USED AS IRONIC DECORATION IN STORES
pickwick33
8,946 Posts
You ever walk past a used store or a "hip" boutique or some jock bar where they have records on the wall? And right next to some Outfield 45 that used to belong to the owner's little sister is some raer or semi-raer rekkid that somehow got stashed in the same display? If you want it that bad and know you're not going to see it elsewhere, do you try to get it for yourself?Couple times it happened with me:- bought an obscure Del-Vikings 45 at a record store that was previously used as window decoration along w/a bunch of other stuff...they charged me a $1 for it- scored the first Magnificent Men album from some hipster clothing/record store for $0.00...guy had the cover in his store window as a goof...the record wasn't in the best shape (although it played fine) and I was friends with the owner, so he just gave it to me...So if you strolled past the window of Macy's and saw a pseudo-70's window decoration that featured the Boscoe album cover sandwiched between LP's by Firefall and the Little River Band, tell your story!!!
Comments
Over the 5-6 years I've been going to this store I have never found a 45 worth buying.
But the day I walked in and saw their new decorating scheme I got sick.
Of the 20 or so broken 45's were an unbelievely rare local 45 by Don Eee titled "Stop At The Hop" and a red vinyl copy of the Eagleaires on the JOB label.
I get the feeling that couldn't happen today, 'cause record collecting has only gotten bigger in the last twenty years, and there's always gonna be the ONE guy in the crowd who's gonna try to look thru the stack, see if there's anything worth saving.
I used to have a 45 of "Walk On With The Duke" by the Duke Of Earl (Gene Chandler) on my cubicle wall at my last job, but only because it was warped and the Vee Jay rainbow logo is a work of art anyway. But if that thing was even half-playable, it would have remained at home in my collection, believe me.
sure hope you didnt see that rock & roll art exhibit that the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago had a while back...one whole room had sleeveless vinyl LP's on the floor. i didnt see anything insanely rare, but i could see how the idea of people walking all over records would make a vinyl junkie scream.
How about electrical tape?
I need that shit though!
But I'm assuming that gold record was presented TO HIM, right? Considering that his store is reportedly a big rap outlet, I can understand why he'd either laugh or get pissed when you offered to buy it. That gold record was likely on the wall for a reason, not as a goof.
Ah, yes - one defunct rekkid sto' had the Savage! soundtrack up on the wall, along with these other kitschy elpee covers...I caught 'em off guard when I asked how much was it. Two dollars, they said. SOLD!
Good thing the manager wasn't there, 'cause I came back the next week asking about that Roosevelt Franklin album upside the wall, and the manager guy tells me, in a businesslike tone of voice, that those albums weren't for sale. Too bad, 'cause what was on the wall looked a helluva lot more interesting than what was on the floor.
Yeah totally, I was the only goof here.
skippy white can hardly bear to part w/ average soul 45's, you think he's going to sell you a gold record?
Where is your shop?? Looks great.
Hah! Very True!
I remember once hanging out in some jock bar (wasn't my choice, I was with some friends who were with THEIR friends) where it was the same deal, 45's on the wall for decoration...one of them happened to be some semi-rare minor hit from the '60s that doesn't pop up everyday (either "Work Out" by Ricky Dee or "Mojo Workout" by Larry Bright, I forget which). Since the place was pretty well-lit, I figured I wouldn't get away with prying one single off the wall, so I gingerly asked one of the bouncers if I could do so. "Nah, can't let you do that," he replied. "If you take a record off the wall, then others will probably want to do it too." Yeah, like these Chads and Beckys own turntables?
Yeah, I know the type. You don't want to run into those guys at a record convention, 'cause they don't seem to know much about any rock before Sgt. Pepper (and soul? forget it!), their stock isn't that deep, and their idea of "rare" is a bootleg by an obvious classic rock act. But if they're running a store, that's even better, 'cause you'll find some amazing stuff off their radar for $5 or less.