ChIRP Record Fair
A couple friends had been talking this record fair up for quite a while. When it finally came around last weekend my expectations were high and it didn’t disappoint. Things were mostly skewed towards rock so that’s what I concentrated on for the most part. Most people seemed willing to cut deals or throw in freebies which was nice. I think I only paid full price at one table, but all I bought was a $4 copy of Crazy Horse’s record without Neil. Plus I got turned on to a couple shops and vendors who I’ll hit up later on. Here’s the breakdown:
- Caravan: In the Land of Grey and Pink - The first seven records all came from the first table I looked at. I could have spent all the money I’d budgeted for the entire fair but wisely showed some restraint. For some dumb reason I didn’t get a card. Plus his jazz records were generally in better shape most other jazz stuff I saw. This Caravan record is something I’ve been keeping an eye out for. Not really sure why other than a curiousity about the late 60’s Canterbury scene beyond The Soft Machine. I’ve only given it one spin but this one might take some work to really get into.
- The Incredible String Band: U - Another gamble and this time a loss. I don’t know anything about ISB other than The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter which I really like. This one seems to have all the worst of their idiosyncracies and very little of the what makes The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter so good, namely quality songs.
- The Electric Flag: The Trip OST - A British reissue. I’ve seen the first twenty minutes of The Trip but don’t remember the soundtrack. Still, it doesn’t seem to work on it’s own without the film which is a bit of a bummer.
- It’s a Beautiful Day: It’s a Beautiful Day - This one mostly redeems the first three. I’ve had mp3’s of this for some time and really dig it. It’s a good album, but not great.
- Herbie Mann: Live at the Whisky A Go Go - Herbie Mann gets a bad rap from serious jazz lovers but I usually really like his records. He always has some weird combination of players who really shake up what could be some really middle of the road lite jazz and this is no exception. Roy Ayers, who I always like, is on this, as is Sonny Sharrock who is even more out here than he is on Memphis Underground.
- Sonny Stitt with Brother Jack McDuff: The Best of Sonny Stitt - Solid soul jazz comp on Prestige.
- The Rolling Stones: Miss You 12″ Special Disco Version - In case I ever become a DJ. They threw this in for free.
- Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa: Pink Floyd Meets Frank Zappa - I’ve seen this show up on Dime but never downloaded it. There was another guy looking at it (he ended up getting the picture disc version) and since I’m a huge fan of both Zappa and Floyd I went for it. Frank jams on Interstellar Overdrive and it’s pretty awesome. From a Belgian festival in ‘71.
- Miles Davis: In Concert - Found this at one of the only tables that had an extensive jazz selection. Wasn’t sure if I already had it (I didn’t). One step closer to having all of the electric Miles records. No track listing or musician credits, what an ego!
- Crazy Horse: Crazy Horse - Mentioned above. Bought from a vendor who had stuff in categories like “Good While Stoned”. His business card read Saucerful of Secrets yet he had no Floyd.
- Talking Heads: More Songs About Buildings and Food - The next five I found at 2nd Hand Tunes‘ table. They’re up in Evanston. While they didn’t have anything really unusual, everything they had was really good, in good shape and reasonably priced. Filled in some holes and found a couple of gems.
- Pink Floyd: A Nice Pair - This will have to do until I find another copy of Saucerful of Secrets to replace to POS copy I bought off eBay a couple years ago.
- Pink Floyd: The Final Cut - Another hole filled and a much better record than most people give it credit for being.
- Little Richard: Little Richard is Back - I’m still trying to track down release information on this one because I’m finding it hard to believe I found an original pressing of this for $10. Released in 1965 after Little Richard had ‘retired’ from rock and roll in response to The Beatles stealling his schtick on ‘Twist and Shout’. Also notable for the presence of James Marshall Hendricks on guitar.
- Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder - The vinyl is a bit banged up, but the cover is in great shape. Not be an original pressing, but from the 70’s when Blue Note was owned by United Artists. Still a rad find.
- Slint: EP - The last thing I bought of the day. Picked it up at the Touch and Go table. Given the news of their recent drastic downsizing and my longtime love for the stuff they put out I felt I should do a little something to help out.
Afterwards I stopped by the Reckless in Wicker Park because it was Record Store day but didn’t buy anything. All in all I’d say I had a pretty good day.
