A Day At The Flea V

The P and I ventured out to our local flea market once again yesterday. It was a perfect day for a flea – overcast enough to scare off the casual market-goer, and plenty of record sellers on hand.

I never know exactly what to expect when I walk into a flea market, but I know from past experience that I’ll usually walk out with between 25 and 30 LPs, spend around a hundred bucks, and pick up a bunch of stuff I’d never previously thought about. Today was no exception…

Led Zeppelin | The Destroyer – I was lucky to get my hands on this 4LP bootleg box – documenting Led Zeppelin’s April 28th, 1977 show at Richfield Coliseum in Cleveland – for a measly $25. There are two bootlegs in circulation under this name, and the show from the night before (4/27/77) is famous for being one of the only Zeppelin bootlegs in existence that was professionally mixed from a soundboard. This show is an audience recording, but many think it the better of the two nights of music.

When I got home and dug into this box I thought I’d been ripped off because the fourth album is labeled It’s Our World With Hugh Downs (for broadcast: Week of August 19, 1974), but no, one side is actually ‘No Quarter’ and the other is ‘Moby Dick’. Hugh Downs never sounded so good…

Four Tops | Still Waters Run Deep – A fine psychedelic soul album in the vein of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and The Temptations Psychedelic Shack. There was a brief glimmer at the end of the sixties when soul artists started speaking to the state of the world, and some very interesting music was made (a shame Otis Redding died before this really kicked in). This 1970 album features a nice version of Fred Neil’s ‘Everybody’s Talking’ and a song (’I Wish I Were Your Mirror’) that sounds like a soul version of the Velvet Underground.

Marvin Gaye | Live – I don’t know what to expect with this one, but it’s got an amazing die-cut of Marvin’s platform boots on the inside. Groovy…

Neil Diamond | Hot August Night – Neil Diamond rocks. Or, at least he did once upon a time. Recorded in August of 1972 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, this album has a reputation as one of the great live albums of all-time. The little I heard this afternoon backed that up – including red hot versions of ‘Solitary Man’ and ‘Cherry Cherry’. It’s got most of his hits, it finds him at the top of his game and in excellent voice, and the cover looks like he’s having an orgasm. What’s not to love for three bucks??

Small Faces | The First Step – My monumental dislike of Rod Stewart is slowly, grudgingly giving way to my huge respect for – and enjoyment of – The Faces. Fantastic cover art on this one – Rod Stewart fingers a biscuit while Ron Wood reads up on how to play the guitar. The gatefold art (see below) is one of the great music photos of all time. And the music’s even better – slurred blues that wander just enough. But the last words here are saved for Ronnie Lane – brilliant, subtle, under-appreciated.

[click image to see gatefold at larger size]

James Brown | Sex Machine – Oh James.

Various Artists | Africa Witchcraft & Ritual Music – This album is especially potent when used in conjunction with James Brown’s Sex Machine.

Fats Waller | Handful Of Keys – Iconic early jazzman, iconic cover.

Ella Fitzgerald | Lullabies Of Birdland – No way this is anything less than a great album.

Various Artists | Disco Hustle – Twenty great hits by 20 original artists! Operators are standing by…

Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory | performed by The Golden Chorus & Orchestra – No comment.

Grandmaster & Melle Mel | White Lines (Don’t Do It) [12" Single] – How could I not buy this?

Various Artists | Collector’s Item: Songs From The Taverns Of The Pacific Northwest – Featuring songs by such (un)legendary bar bands as Les Clamtones (hi Furr), Rose & The Dirt Boys, Cement City Cowboys, and J.D. Story. According to the back of the record jacket, “It was all recorded in 1975.”

Uncle Dave Macon | Keep My Skillet Good And Greasy – Uncle Dave was one of the original stars of the Grand Ol’ Opry, and a real firecracker wit. I was introduced to him through Harry Smith’s Anthology Of American Folk Music compilation, and try to buy his albums whenever I see them. Picked up three today…

Buckner & Garcia | Pac-Man Fever – If you think America is doomed today, please keep in mind that this album worked its way into the top 10 in 1983.

Osibisa | Happy Children – Warning: prolonged exposure to this album art may cause intense hallucinations.

New Order | Brotherhood – Bet you weren’t expecting this…

Talking Heads | Stop Making Sense – I started to flip right past this today when that little red sticker caught my eye. Here’s what it says: “Special Limited Edition Package Includes 20-Page Booklet Featuring Photos and Drawings by David Byrne from Stage Production Storyboards”. I hadn’t realized that this album was ever released in this form, so of course I jumped all over it. The P was pointedly referring to this album in the car when she asked me if I “bought anything that we already own”. Well, yes honey, but…

[special 20 page booklet plus album]

Tags: Africa Witchcraft & Ritual Music, Disco Hustle, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, flea market, Four Tops, Grandmaster & Melle Mel, Hugh Downs, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, Neil Diamond, New Order, Osibisa, Pac-Man Fever, Small Faces, Songs From The Taverns Of The Pacific Northwest, Talking Heads, Uncle Dave Macon, Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory