A friend of mine has been wanting to go to a CD/record exchange store in Hattiesburg, MS since Christmas. Well, we finally made it today. I took along about 30-35 LP's that I had doubles of for trading purposes. This guy trades 2 for 1, provided they are in good condition and something he can use. Anyway, I walked away with the following:

1. The First Edition - "First Edition" - $4.95
2. The First Edition - "First Edition's 2nd" - $3.99
3. Bruce Springsteen - "Darkness on the Edge of Town" - $4.98
4. Dionne Warwick - "Very Dionne" - $4
5. Country Joe & the Fish - "Together" - $9.99
6. Blood, Sweat & Tears - "Child is Father to the Man" - $5.99
7. Buffalo Springfield - "Retrospective" - $8.95
8. Various Artist - "The Great Rock Stars" - Columbia spc. prod. - $4.09
9. V.A. - "History of Rock N Roll Vol. 3" - Pickwick - $3.40
10. Canned Heat - "Boogie with Canned Heat" - $9.99
Went to a flea market and got these four for $1 each:
1. Paul Anka's 21 Golden Hits (RCA)
2. Brenda Lee - "Johnny One Time" - Decca
3. Dino, Desi & Billy - "Souvenir" -Reprise
4. Bobby Goldsboro - "Come Back Home" - Reprise

He found 20 of my albums that he could use; so, we even-traded. The albums were common '70's rock albums; so, I think I got the better deal. He said he was more interested in record condition than actual artist. The ones he didn't want, I just left with him to give away, throw away, or whatever. Now, I have a reason to buy those fifty cents and one dollar copies of albums that I already have. The records that I got from the record shop appear to be in great playable condition. The ones from the flea market don't look quite as good; but, should still be enjoyable. I've found a big plus in buying used records from a real music store. Even though they may be more expensive, they are usually in nice condition. Many of the cheap records at places like the SA and other thrift stores need to be thrown out since they are in very bad condition.

A new vinyl store opened up in "hippy town" on the other side of the river from me. Haven't been there yet, but I stumbled upon one (in a rundown side street storefront building) across the boarder in CT.

I'm just trying them out. I'll buy with less hesitance if I can get a comfort level with their quality rating. I would suspect that a higher profile establishment might tend to be more conservative with their ratings, because they would be more concerned with their reputation.

Give us an update after you spin a few. For me, so far so/so.

1. The First Edition - "First Edition" - $4.95
2. The First Edition - "First Edition's 2nd" - $3.99

It is fun to remember that Kenny Rogers was a rock star before he turned into the pudgy silver-haired country star and restaurateur.

Some of the flea market and thrift store record finds clean up pretty well. If its a record I really want, even if it is badly worn, I will usually keep it until I find a better copy.

It is fun to remember that Kenny Rogers was a rock star before he turned into the pudgy silver-haired country star and restaurateur.

I know and he sounded pretty good. I got dozens of his record in a lot I bought and I knew I didn't like him, someone told me to play the first edition and in my head I was like this isn't kenny rodgers. Some with cher, have one of her first songs on 45, if it wasn't for the her name on the 45 you would never know it is cher.

I was very proud to find the two First Edition albums. For some reason, the only one I'm finding in my area is "Kenny Rogers & the First Edition's Greatest hits" (grey cover) on Reprise.

I've been going through my records and removing any that I think I can live without. I need the space and I need some trading material. I'd much rather trade records that I have next to nothing in than to pay $5, $10, $15, $20, or more for used copies.

I did find a couple copies of the Elton John "Firends" soundtrack on the Paramount label. I started to get one; but, I ran out of trading material and I didn't want to spend $8-$10 on a copy. I was hoping to find something other than "Incense & Peppermint" by the Strawberry Alarm Clock, something by "The Sunshine Company", and something by "Eternity's Children"; but, no luck. The only place I've seen those three groups is on greedbay and I'm not paying those kind of prices; especially considering theres a good chance the records will not be in as good of condition as the seller claims. Me and the guy at the record store had a discussion about ebay and he agrees that it's very risky to buy records there.

Me and the guy at the record store had a discussion about ebay and he agrees that it's very risky to buy records there.

The same goes with radio's and tube gear, you never know what shape it will arrive in. I never buy anything off ebay but parts, or if it's local. I sell my records in groups when I sell them on ebay but by chance I decide to sell a rare recording on ebay, I always take a video with sound and post it on ebay. so the bidder can get an idea of sound quality.