- Location
- Milwaukee, WI USA
- Name
- Luke
As many of you know, I own a used record store in Milwaukee, WI. It all started because I had too many records (and not enough work). I had to give up collecting records for myself when I started the business (or all the good ones would have gone home with me.....not good for business). But back when I was an avid collector, one of my favorite bands was the Kinks (and they still are). I had all their LPs, but I had heard tales of something that existed that was beyond what you could find in the record stores.
As the 60s progressed and the Kinks continued making better and better records, their sales in the US market fell off. Reprise records came up with a fancy little piece of promotion for their then soon-to-be-released LP "The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society" (one of, if not THE greatest rock albums.....period). The promotional piece was a box labeled "God Save the Kinks" and came with a Union Jack pin, a Kinks postcard, and sorts of other silly little bits for the program manager or promotions man to play with and decide how hard to plug the new album from these eccentrics from the UK. Also in the box is a collection of past glories and a few unreleased tracks.
I had seen the "God Save the Kinks" listed in price guides and heard it described as "rare as hen's teeth". Every once in a great while, the LP that was included in the box would show up for sale, but it seems people looked through the box and checked out all the "goodies" and then after some period of time they just tossed it all in the trash. I mean, what would be the point of hanging on to all this extra stuff. The LP was the only important part, right?
Anyways, I was always keeping an eye out for this rare bird at record shows or record collecting chat forums. It didn't matter really.....I've now since heard all the music, and I don't collect records......it would just be neat to see it.
Today, it showed up. It just walked into the store. A very nice young woman has been selling me some amazing records every couple of weeks for months. Someone in her family owned or worked in the business years ago. I never know what will be in her next batch. It's a fascinating glimpse into what was being released at the time. Because rather than seeing the usual collection of records that people curate based on their taste. She's bring in a complete cross section of what was coming out. Rock, folk, classical, blues, jazz, easy listening, show tunes......the good, the bad and the ugly....truly some of everything.
She and her son have been researching a few boxes every week (to make sure she doesn't get fleeced). Obviously I'm not the kind of guy to take advantage of people by giving them pennies for their rarities and selling them for hundreds. I'm giving her pretty big piles of cash for bringing me the goods (and to keep her coming).
I'm quite sure no one here really cares, but I had to share this with someone. I'm just so excited.......for the me of 15 years ago. But I overpaid for it......she was considering putting it on the Bay. I HAD to have it if just for a little while. I'll get my money back, but probably not much more.
Do you have a story about finding a personal Holy Grail that you want to share? I'd love to hear it.
As the 60s progressed and the Kinks continued making better and better records, their sales in the US market fell off. Reprise records came up with a fancy little piece of promotion for their then soon-to-be-released LP "The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society" (one of, if not THE greatest rock albums.....period). The promotional piece was a box labeled "God Save the Kinks" and came with a Union Jack pin, a Kinks postcard, and sorts of other silly little bits for the program manager or promotions man to play with and decide how hard to plug the new album from these eccentrics from the UK. Also in the box is a collection of past glories and a few unreleased tracks.
I had seen the "God Save the Kinks" listed in price guides and heard it described as "rare as hen's teeth". Every once in a great while, the LP that was included in the box would show up for sale, but it seems people looked through the box and checked out all the "goodies" and then after some period of time they just tossed it all in the trash. I mean, what would be the point of hanging on to all this extra stuff. The LP was the only important part, right?
Anyways, I was always keeping an eye out for this rare bird at record shows or record collecting chat forums. It didn't matter really.....I've now since heard all the music, and I don't collect records......it would just be neat to see it.
Today, it showed up. It just walked into the store. A very nice young woman has been selling me some amazing records every couple of weeks for months. Someone in her family owned or worked in the business years ago. I never know what will be in her next batch. It's a fascinating glimpse into what was being released at the time. Because rather than seeing the usual collection of records that people curate based on their taste. She's bring in a complete cross section of what was coming out. Rock, folk, classical, blues, jazz, easy listening, show tunes......the good, the bad and the ugly....truly some of everything.
She and her son have been researching a few boxes every week (to make sure she doesn't get fleeced). Obviously I'm not the kind of guy to take advantage of people by giving them pennies for their rarities and selling them for hundreds. I'm giving her pretty big piles of cash for bringing me the goods (and to keep her coming).
I'm quite sure no one here really cares, but I had to share this with someone. I'm just so excited.......for the me of 15 years ago. But I overpaid for it......she was considering putting it on the Bay. I HAD to have it if just for a little while. I'll get my money back, but probably not much more.
Do you have a story about finding a personal Holy Grail that you want to share? I'd love to hear it.