Having the day off and been a good host to family and friends earlier this week it seemed proper to take a little time of my own. My first stop was really bad but heck that happens more times than not and I just move on. The next stop was a thrift that has only been good for a handful of cassettes here and there. Made my way past the token Thruster speakers and noticed that there seemed to be more albums than I recalled from my last visit. Took a look at a The Moody Blues A Question of Balance and notice it was in just opened condition with only slight wear on the album cover. Was trying to remember the story on the cover painting and it dawned on me that this album has been played once and no doubt recorded to tape and put up. Found This is the Moody Blues, cover slight scuffing albums looked liked they had just been pressed. The Other Side of Life, looked like the plastic cover was just opened and brand new. I have these albums and they are no doubt in excellent condition but they got placed into the buy cart none the less.

Maybe my wife and I have watched too much CSI but I can quickly tell if a certain persons collection is mixed in with other records in a bunch. These stood out for even the blind hog to see. Ok the good thing is I enjoy many types of music. So what type of music did this collector pick-up and spin once? Dire Straits, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Stanley Clarke they all went into the buy cart. Kim Carnes never bought one of her albums I may have them all now. What it came down to is we look at many fair to good records in our searchings and simply was blown away with the fine condition of these. I bought most all of them. The list is longer but the rest are mostly just one or two of an artist.

Would you have past up the ones you have and only gotten the ones you did not have? These are buck records so you are able to judge the relative value in a better light.

I have done that. When I am buying at the thrift for a buck I always err on the side of buying if I am in any way interested. I have found a lot of good music I never would have bought otherwise. Believe it or not that is how I got into Sinatra for one. I never really liked him but I bought a few of his records for a buck and he really grew on me and now I love him and have many of his records. Same with John Prine. I had never even heard him before and I got a like new album of his and now I love him too. On the classical side I got hooked on Chopin that way and on Vladamir Horowitz.

I have purchased albums because I like how the cover art looks, because I think I may.... have heard of the band.... if they are cheap I will buy , I have purchased albums that if the records had been returned to the gatefold or sleeve properly I have bought them even without inspection in some cases. It's fun to have something to dig further into at home. Too bad there's not a hot secondary market for Gospel and Christmas records ....

Sometimes I'll buy 3 - 4 copies (.25 - $1) of the same album at the same time in an attempt to get one to clean up to NM. Plus, I'm never too frugle not to snag a duplicate of something that looks in top condition even if I have a good one on the shelf. Problem is, you never know what you've got till you get it home.

I brought about 15 practically mint classical LPs home last week from a thrift. Classical really isn't my bag, but I know I'll find them a good home somewhere where they'll be appreciated.

I brought about 15 practically mint classical LPs home last week from a thrift. Classical really isn't my bag, but I know I'll find them a good home somewhere where they'll be appreciated.

Yea I always liked classical but never loved it but one day I walked into the thrift and somebody had donated an entire collection. All in perfect shape and in aftermarket plastic sleeves. The works. I now have a huge classical collection that I play all the time as well.

Yes, I do the same, for all the reasons posted.:D

Yup, all of the above. If it's especially favorite of mine, I'll usually always grab "another copy as a spare".

I don't use my TT anymore, but I will sometime in the future. So I buy vinyl that's in good shape whenever the price is right or if I really like the LP. Sometimes the disc is so pristine you just can't turn it down!

Same here, if it looks like it could be cleaned up and the jacket is good I'll buy it...but if it's more than $3.00 then I won't. Usually, I'll look in the dollar bin and find some good looking albums that either have the shrink wrap still on or the cover is really good, and then again if the record looks good then it's mine!!! I got all of Linda Rondstadts albums this way...never did buy them in the 70's but now I have them all, same with Anne Murray. LOL

I buy lp's if the cover is appealing, very good condition and I want to experience the music one day. It may take a few months to sit down and try it but my appreciation has expanded for various music. If i don't live it someone else might. I usually will buy most live performace lp's.

I am always on the lok out for quadraphonic albums, therefore I have bought quite a few Enoch Light and other things that I would not normaly buy. I think that is one of the reasons for the demise of Quad there was too much MOR music produced for the format. One album that I bought was the Seekers "I'd like to teach the world to sing" I played it once and thought I would puke, but it was in Mint condition.

Yes, if anyone remembers me begging folks to take opera at the last fest, please, please, take it!, this is the reason.

Pete

Yes they did quite a horrendous cover of Melanie's The Nickel Song, but funny you should mention The New Seekers because I bought a sealed copy of their "Pinball Wizard" album...Yes and it's the Who song...ugh...

I wandered into GW and saw a bunch of lp's for 49 cents. No spindel marks on the labels, and had that played once look to them.

I took a few home washed them up, and they were near perfect.

They were late 50's early 60's (early) stereo Vox/Turnabout's with fimsly vinyl so they weren't any sort of sonic dream. But all classical, my music of choice.

But they were in such nice condition I went back yesterday and bought all I could afford and sat and had a good listen last night.

I'm a real sucker for sealed mono's from the Salvation Army. They're never anything great, heck the last one was a Cougat sampler from '59. I use them primarily for checking out my mono system but there is something special about pulling the shrink off of a nearly 50 year old record.

As a side benefit (or liability) I've actually started to like the Mancini type movie music from that period. I now actually listen to things like Hatari or the Command Records Enoch Light stuff for enjoyment...