Thrift Store Treasures

[HarvestmanMan]

Not a thrift store, but I did find Opus IV's "Mess Around" for a buck at a record store the other day. Unfortunately, the flip has a deep gouge in it, and the record as a whole is probably vg-. "Mess Around" is still a killer tune, though!

 

[Hicksville Hogwash]

let me know if you'd like to let one of the 8 go? trade perhaps?

I can trade, what do you have to offer?

 

[Hicksville Hogwash]

Recent finds for me
- Hot Rod Lincoln - Charlie Ryan and The Timberline on 4 star (which has become my 2 yr olds new fave rave, because of the steel guitar sound effects of ) great piece of rockabilly
- Keep Away From my Heart - Bobby Parker on frisky - nice R n' B soul.
Jupiter C - Pat and the Satellites on Atco - good powerful insto.
Delta Lady - Glass Menagerie on Magnetic Studios Corporation so-so garage!

all 50 cents from a Ohio trip to Amish Country.

plus T.S. Bonniwell - Close album on Capitol not really my bag but a seller and rare enough to get nearly $100 maybe brought for a $1 at Salvation Army, WV
-

 

[franku]

I just had some very good luck at a garage sale. Got there as it was about to end, but saw a Beach Boys Today in shrink sitting out with a couple Motown hits lps, so decided to ask if there were 45s. "Oh, I forgot to put those out..." The 60ish year old woman brought out three full 45 caddies, plus a couple small envelopes. I quickly discovered that, though there were no obscurities, the boxes were chock full of mid-60s hits with super clean pic sleeves. I got six each by the Beatles and Stones (including tougher ones like "Satisfaction" and "Slow Down"/"Matchbox"), three each by the Beach Boys (incl. "Barbara Ann," a rarer one), three Hermits, three Spoonful, Dylan "Positively 4th St." etc. etc. Over 40 picture sleeves in all.

On top of that, the small envelopes contained well over 100 '64-'68 radio charts from local top 40 kingpin WKNR, plus a handful each from CKLW, WXYZ, WCHB (great soul station), and one from May 1, '64 from WJBK (which was soon killed in the ratings and dropped the top 40 hits for easy listening).

I would have been happier if there were some local garage 45s in the stash (the closest to it was the Rationals' "I Need You" ballad hit on Capitol), or some rare soul, but the sleeves and charts were both the best batches of these I've ever found in 30+ years of junking.

 

[MopTopMike]

Great score, Frank! The charts are a nice find!

 

[franku]

Thanks, Mike! Yeah, I love radio charts - I would have been thrilled to have found just a couple, but getting a nearly complete run of WKNR from '65 and '66, plus some from late '64 and most of '67 was amazing, not to mention the rarer ones from the other stations. There were also a WKNR "British Dictionary" of British Invasion terms, some larger-size year-end surveys, and even a paper book cover the station gave out, which kids used to cover their textbooks in school. One of the picture sleeves in my stash was even autographed by then-WKNR DJ Dick Purtan, who went on to a 45-year career in Detroit radio, and only recently retired.

WKNR ("Keener 13") was the most popular Top 40 station in the Detroit area during the British Invasion/garage era, though it didn't have the most powerful signal in the area, and their charts turn up more than most others. I haven't gone through them closely yet, but a fair number of garage discs on local labels made their top 31 list, the Rationals' "Respect" on A-Square (pre-Cameo) was in the top ten, i.e. Local teen band the Shy Guys even released a limited recut of their poppy garage hit "We Gotta Go" (Panik/Palmer) as "the Burger Song" about WKNR DJ Scott Regen. Tons of info on the station is at www.keener13.com, including charts and airchecks!

 

[MopTopMike]

I used to have a near complete run of WKNR surveys from '63 to 69. I bought them off of a Detroit guy for about $50 in the early '90s - he obtained one every week & kept them all. I eventually dealt them all away after I scanned them.

 

[franku]

Cool! I don't have any from '63, though I would love copies from the pre-Beatle era.

The complete run of WKNR surveys is online, at any rate, at http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/sur...t1=band&srt2=call&srt3=tsc_psv DESC&vqry=wknr

This awesome site also has tons of other surveys from around the US.

 

[chas_kit]

Cool! I don't have any from '63, though I would love copies from the pre-Beatle era.

The complete run of WKNR surveys is online, at any rate, at http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys.php?srt0=chartweek&lttl=392&lcnt=20&srt1=band&srt2=call&srt3=tsc_psv DESC&vqry=wknr

This awesome site also has tons of other surveys from around the US.

ARSA has been one of my favorite sources for credible info on releases. A band member claims their 45 reached the top ten in Billboard? Well, no, but it did reach #14 in Charlotte, or wherever. It's also good for getting an accurate idea of release date, that is, at least I know when it hit the radio stations in a big way. And it's cool to see the difference from when the local label hit, and then the national distribution 3-6 months later.

I only wish it were more complete - if anyone has rare radio surveys please send them to ARSA!

 

[JGTiger]

I am trying to say is here in rural WV thrifting is all I have, most the Record Shops within my 50 mile radius cater in Metal and New Country, their secondhand bins are filled with ghostly religious psychopathic families of inbreeds harmonizing for Jesus wearing matching garments and 70's kipper ties.

I have never seen ANY Record stores in West Virginia!? Where are you looking? Most of them that WERE Record Stores, have turned into sex shops/Pipe dens that cater to the white trash, like Budget Records (Charleston), Cats Back (Nitro), The Music Emporium (Teay's Valley) and Now Hear This (Huntington), all of which have barely any vinyl, and NO 45's.
I couldn't agree with ya more mate, on the religious LP's, they are littering every haunt in 500 miles in the South.

Thrift Store finds today: Swallows on Federal. Yesterday: Kickin Mustangs on Plato. Sunday: An entire box of 45's for 10 bucks, and had several very nice shape Soul 45's, including Cadillacs, on Roulette, and Parliaments on Cabell. Saturday, I found a Sly Johnston Twlight promo LP, Allen Ginsberg reading William Blake LP, and another handful of juicy 45's from the 50's which included a Charlie Feathers on King.

 

[JGTiger]

And a few other finds this weekend... "Dragonfly" S/T LP on Megaphone and Jim Curnutte's Assassin Of Silence LP, on Neurological Records, both are amazing slabs of psychedelia.

 

[Hicksville Hogwash]

I have never seen ANY Record stores in West Virginia!? Where are you looking? Most of them that WERE Record Stores, have turned into sex shops/Pipe dens that cater to the white trash, like Budget Records (Charleston), Cats Back (Nitro), The Music Emporium (Teay's Valley) and Now Hear This (Huntington), all of which have barely any vinyl, and NO 45's.
I couldn't agree with ya more mate, on the religious LP's, they are littering every haunt in 500 miles in the South.

Thrift Store finds today: Swallows on Federal. Yesterday: Kickin Mustangs on Plato. Sunday: An entire box of 45's for 10 bucks, and had several very nice shape Soul 45's, including Cadillacs, on Roulette, and Parliaments on Cabell. Saturday, I found a Sly Johnston Twlight promo LP, Allen Ginsberg reading William Blake LP, and another handful of juicy 45's from the 50's which included a Charlie Feathers on King.

LOL yes I am looking in the white trash places.

- Budget - Charleston OK has a headshop/porn area but right now the secondhand vinyl is getting bigger, a whole wall now of LP's mostly at 1.99 the 45's are behind the counter if they are not out on a table - got a venezualian copy of Electric Prunes 1st lp a few months back and 3 fabulous wailer singles, the guy called me to say "come in good records alert".

Cats Back I tried, thought I had wasted a trip but discovered the antique stalls were full of vinyl finds.

Beckley has a vinyl store but no 45's also Parkersburg has a record store with secondhand LP's but the antique stores are a better bet there too.

Still not found a PLATO release in WV, I guess they are the nirvana of a WV garage collection, a few non religious WV releases - The Charleston Esquires, Danny Harrison, A cool coal miner themed 60's beat thing by Bill Niel & the MarkIV who lives up the holler here (I am told) called "Coal Miners Prayer"

I am told Milton Flea is the place to be but I work weekends so yard sales and fleas are impossible for me, mid week thrifting is where I am at. It is a long slog but I have been surprised with the cool stuff that turns up here, sometimes....

Last woah for me was 1st Mojo Men 45 - Off The Hook which seems pretty rare ...err I think from Nitro antique shop?

 

[JGTiger]

Well Hicksville, see a PM I sent you via this forum. You are located very close to me, and I have a real certified record store that carries records, and only records, not bongs, and dildos... plenty of very cool and hard to find records. As for junking, I do that also during the week, as that is how I stock the store, or I buy large collections.
Here are some of the Garage 45's you want to look for in WV: The Mojos- common 45 here, on the Mojo label, Hurricane. Most all the Plato 45's also very common, (Milton). Esquires (Charleston) very hard to find, in fact I only saw one in a collection, and wound up trading @ a record show to get my copy. The Bill Neil is on the Stage 4 label, as well as a slew of other mid-60's beat sounds, that is a Charleston label, and The Wild Things are on a DLS label from Beckley. The Blue Creed on Moigo is a winner, and it had a PS. Of course WV has the Evil Enc on Scene, a Beckley label, that is a great Garage 45. As for Rockabilly there are TONS of 45's from WV, the Floyd Fletcher on FAF is bringing me a good buck on ebay, and well as Bobby Wayne on Bonita. Also Huntington has a terrific label, Cabell, The Rejects were on that label, as well as the Parliaments, of which I have a copy of their elusive #115 on ebay currently. Tim at that Nitro antique shop said a guy was in to buy 45's recently, so I was wondering who else had enough knowledge about 45's in this state!!!

 

[chas_kit]

Are there any other Plato releases besides the Outcasts, King James, Satisfied Minds, Kickin' Mustangs and Billy Midkiff Brothers?

 

[MopTopMike]

There may have been some religious sides. When quantity of all 45s were obtained from the label owner in the early - mid 1980s, these were passed over. The guy(s) who contacted the owner to purchase at least four 25 count boxes each of the Outcasts, King James, and Satisfied Minds did not bother with the soul or religious 45s.
I was informed years later that the leftover Plato label stock was thrown out.

 

[paul messis]

Gavin.... these thrifting stories are fascinating.

Most of my BRITISH 45s were found at charity shops and car boot sales, and I have a pretty cool BRIT 45 collection, although in the last two years or so, I completely stopped scavenging for records in shitty record shops and charity shops etc.

I've been just buying expensive 45s on ebay as an when I can afford it.

Car boot sales are occasionally dead for records now Gavin, even upon waking really early... also in England even car boot sales the record guys do the obligatory BOOK PULL, pulling out the price guide and ruining the fun.

In the UK, the more fun aspects of record collecting are finding rare 70s punk and 80s post-punk records, which seem to be easier to find in the wilds as it were... 60s stuff is difficult to find now.

Im visiting Atlanta in August and aim to hit the thrift stores like a possessed freak.

Gavin... are some of these soul, rnb and instrumental 45s you picked up pretty killer??? I am slightly envious by the fact that you have all this other killer music outside the garage realms to source... i find even getting G graded 45s like this exciting and fun, yeah it's a bit gritty when you played it, but it's much more satisfying.

Gav you and Teresa should take a road trip down to Atlanta whilst i am there, we'll hit the thrift stores together.


Paul

 

[Hicksville Hogwash]

Well Hicksville, see a PM I sent you via this forum. You are located very close to me, and I have a real certified record store that carries records, and only records, not bongs, and dildos... plenty of very cool and hard to find records. As for junking, I do that also during the week, as that is how I stock the store, or I buy large collections.
Here are some of the Garage 45's you want to look for in WV: The Mojos- common 45 here, on the Mojo label, Hurricane. Most all the Plato 45's also very common, (Milton). Esquires (Charleston) very hard to find, in fact I only saw one in a collection, and wound up trading @ a record show to get my copy. The Bill Neil is on the Stage 4 label, as well as a slew of other mid-60's beat sounds, that is a Charleston label, and The Wild Things are on a DLS label from Beckley. The Blue Creed on Moigo is a winner, and it had a PS. Of course WV has the Evil Enc on Scene, a Beckley label, that is a great Garage 45. As for Rockabilly there are TONS of 45's from WV, the Floyd Fletcher on FAF is bringing me a good buck on ebay, and well as Bobby Wayne on Bonita. Also Huntington has a terrific label, Cabell, The Rejects were on that label, as well as the Parliaments, of which I have a copy of their elusive #115 on ebay currently. Tim at that Nitro antique shop said a guy was in to buy 45's recently, so I was wondering who else had enough knowledge about 45's in this state!!!

Thanks for the tips, my copy of the Bill Neil & the mark IV 45 is on Mar-Bil out of Jody, WV (or Jodie as is the proper spelling) any small label releases usually end up in my collection well except the churchy or square dance hollering. I still half want to locate Bill Neil who a workmate insists left behind his wild ways and lives at the end of my holler in a trailer....

How about Eddy Seacrist and his Rolling Rockets how rare is that Shaking with a Flavor 45? I worked with his Grand-daughter for a while and tried to get her to prise a copy from a relative, again he turned to the church became a preacher, there exists Eddy's scrap book that she was trying to get off her Gran for me to see but the family are not too easy with his wild past. They also had a TV show that I am sure was great, some family member tried to get tapes of the show from the Charleston based TV station but got no reply. If tapes still exist that would be amazing.

I eventually got through most of the 45's at Nitro in 3 trips, my poor 2 year old can only take so much record hunting before he blows his top. He wants to help but tossing 45's after inspecting them is not too helpful.

Oh and is your store open weekdays?

 

[JGTiger]

I was informed years later that the leftover Plato label stock was thrown out.

Mike- I also found the same info, when I did research on the Plato label. Sad, but some of the releases remain undocumented, lost forever. On occasion a Plato will show up, mostly trashed and well played.
Mojo's label however, I am working on, as there is a quantity still available, but the grandson seems to know that each one is worth a little bit, so he wants market price. At least they are unplayed stock.

 

[JGTiger]

How about Eddy Seacrist and his Rolling Rockets how rare is that Shaking with a Flavor 45?

Eddy played with Lloyd Price's band. The 45 is around, but mostly trashed, I have found it about 3 times, finally found a decent VG+ copy, so I kept that one. I see them on ebay for 20-30 dollars. I also have heard of the TV show, and do not know much about it. I just found "Honey & Sonny, The Davis Twins" on the H&S label, a Rockabilly 45, King/Starday custom press. I looked up Sonny, and he is still alive living in St. Albans! He was popular in the 1940's on Wheelings, WWVA Jamboree, and also released a scarce 45, on Starday with Sleepy Jeffers. They also had a TV show in Charleston. Bobby Wayne was a RnR Disc Jockey, and he made a wild slab of kicking Rockabilly, on the Bonita label, (rite) and I have dug up 3 of those in the past. He has since died, and wound up in the NYC radio market. I never had the other Bill Neil 45, so he apparently has more then 1 release- on Stage 4 & Mar-Bil!

Here is a picture of Bobby Wayne I found in a 1962 Poca yearbook! He is a DJ at a local HS sock hop! Dig the box of 45's! drool!

 

[Westex]

Im visiting Atlanta in August and aim to hit the thrift stores like a possessed freak.

Paul

Paul,

You might not want to get your hopes up to high... though you may get lucky hitting the thrifts, for the most part the Atlanta crowd has a wrap on the second hand shops in the area I'm sure. This is pretty much the case in every city with more than a few collectors. Not likely feasible as you're visiting from overseas, but if digging is what you want to do you would likely have better luck outside of Atlanta. Or hit up local collectors like Agent45- forum member?- and see about pulling stuff from their collections. More costly for sure, but you'll have a better shot at finding records you really want. Good luck nonetheless.