Charlie Parker Wins over Classic Rock today

Well, I just want to say Thanks again to all the people who sent me their condolences this past week. That was quite thoughtful of you all, and it is definitely appreciated. I had to get back into the field though, and even though circumstances were beyond my control, I managed to get some midweek digging in, as well as a rare Sunday morning session with the JJB and Devil Dick at the Spot.

I finally caught up with my man Psych Dave, who was holding some HEAT for me. It was nice to chat over some coffee, with out lurkers behind me, or the ominous, ever present Egg Beard or Stinkie Steve ravaging the spot for anything vinyl. I did manage to get some really great pieces, and you can check them out below. As for Sunday morning, that was a whole different story. I got up early after a rain soaked night watching the NY Red Bulls draw against Kansas City, and made tracks towards the spot. The Devil Dick and the swingingest lady record collector I know, the JJB met me at a greasy spoon diner along the way. The food is cheap, the coffee strong, and the atmosphere is second to none. The diner boasts such patrons as The Boss and Bon Jovi (and has the autographed ancient photos to prove it). It’s great because even at 7 am, we were the only patrons. Full of grease and coffee, we headed out out to the spot. We spotted Silent G doing his thing, but he said he was out, so we hit the rows of junk. We eventually ended up at the Old Man’s table, but he didn’t have anything for me (because Saturday is usually my day). We walked around, and found bad pile after bad pile of vinyl. If you wanted Beatles today, or even some Classic Rock, you would have been in heaven. I spotted the Flea Market Nazi, a Ukrainian woman who sometimes has ok 45’s, but they are always unsleeved, in the dirt, or in todays case: in a suitcase that could have been stolen from another vendor. I actually got into it with her at another flea market because she was trying to get like 3 dollars a pop for records in the sand, that’s right I said sand. Did I also mention it was about 95 degrees and the sun was baking them? I’m sure these were the same records and that confrontation was about 3 years ago. At some point she needs to cut her losses as a record dealer. I did manage to locate some reissue Blue Note pieces, as well as some 80’s and 90’s Hip Hop 12″ records, but the Spot was beat with a capital B. It did feel good to be back in the swing of things, and clear my head in the light of recent events. I’ve got two days to go, and then there will finally be some closure. I guess that’s why I’m a Saturday guy at the Spot. I mean the real day is Friday, but it’s hard to pull me away on a work day, I simply do not want to do anything except listen to my stash instead of going into the office. There are also about a hundred E Bay guys trying to do the old grip and flip, and I’m doing this to relax, so I don’t need the attitude. That’s why Saturday rules for me. As for Sunday, I got out of there fairly early, and can now enjoy my day. Here’s the midweek and Sunday scores:

Midweek Finds:

45’s:
The Sister and Brothers – Yeah, You Right/ Uni
Direct Current – Everybody Here Must Party/ TEC

Lps:

The Super Dudes – Super Dude Movie Sounds/ Pickwick
The Joe Cuba Sextet – Bustin’ Out/ Tico
Augustus Pablo – Thriller/ Echo Records
The Temptations – Psychedelic Shack/ Gordy
Gabor Szabo & the California Dreamers – Wind, Sky and Diamonds/ Impulse!
Myrna Summers & the Interdenominational Singers – Tell It Like It Is/ Cotillion
King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown/ Clocktower
Les McCann – Hustle To Survive/ Atlantic
Les McCann – Comment/ Atlantic
Sly Stone – High On You/ Epic
Jimmy McGriff – Let’s Stay Together/ Groove Merchant
Melvin Van Peebles – Don’t Play It Cheap/ Stax
Lou Rawls – The Soul of Lou Rawls/ Sears
The Cecil Holmes Soulful Sounds – The Black Motion Picture Experience/ Buddah
Toots & the Maytals – Funky Kingston/ Island
Jimmy McGriff, George Freeman, Lucky Thompson & O’Donel Levy – Friday the 13th Cook County Jail/ Groove Merchant
Shirley Scott – Sweet Soul/ Prestige

Sunday’s s Weak Finds:

Stanley Turrentine – Hustlin’/ Blue Note
Warren G – Regulate/ Death Row 12″
Lady B – To The Beat Y’All/ TEC 12″