Rare LP finds that made you giddy...

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Submitted By: Jeff Wong

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Joined: Sep 6 2005

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Rare LP finds that made you giddy...

Posted: May 25, 2006 - 2:58pm

I figured you guys might appreciate this. I just wanted to share some of my record collecting joy and thought you might have some tales (or pics) of your own to share. This year, I managed to track down two LPs I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to get in my mitts. Sorry for the out of focus shots, but, it was tough to take pics without a flash to avoid glare without going through a lot of trouble.

Most of you know probably know the back story regarding the Mamas & the Papas censored cover, so I won't bother with an explanation of that.

I've only seen one other of these MAIT records in my 26+ years of Elvis Costello collecting. The initial Island pressing included a flyer that enabled the record buyer to have a free copy of the album sent to a friend courtesy of Stiff Records if he or she covered postage and wrote a short essay on the flyer (and returned to Stiff.) The friend received one of these albums with the special graphic pasted over the front photo of the cover. Most record shops used the flyers to get essentially free stock and very few of these variant issues of this album remain extant.

Unfortunately, I had to lay down some long green to acquire these. The only comforting thing I can think of is that that keeps me from being a record licker.

Submitted By: Buddha

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Location: Sin City, baby!

Joined: Sep 8 2005

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Re: Rare LP finds that made you giddy...

Posted: May 25, 2006 - 4:32pm

Thank you for the vicarious thrill!

I do not know the story of the Mamas and Papas cover. I hope you're going to be in L.A. next week to regale us!

Man, I don't have any good tales to tell.

My two best finds actually involve finding CD versions of some favorite LP's: Garland Jeffreys' "Ghost Writer" and Martin Briley's "One Night With a Stranger."

My best LP find is embarrassing: I spent two years hunting for a Billie Holiday LP that I didn't know/remember I already had.

Congrats on your great finds. Your joy is our joy.

Submitted By: mmole

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Location: New Jersey

Joined: Aug 31 2005

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Re: Rare LP finds that made you giddy...

Posted: May 26, 2006 - 4:11am

Tell me about it. I actually bought a second and third (!) copy of Don Cherry's "Where is Brooklyn?" each time forgetting that I already owned it.

Submitted By: Jeff Wong

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Joined: Sep 6 2005

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Re: Rare LP finds that made you giddy...

Posted: May 26, 2006 - 1:56pm

Buddha - I won't be attending the show. I'd truly love to meet you guys! But, there's some nice stuff to keep me East. My brother, Dan, and his family are arriving from California this Saturday and will be staying at my Mom's for a couple weeks. There will be family get togethers during this period. This'll be the first time such a large portion of my family will be in one place, since my Dad's funeral.

So, no regaling you with the history of the Mamas & the Papas LP in person... but, here's a link about Dunhill records that sums it up nicely:

http://www.bsnpubs.com/abc/dunhill/dunhillstory.html

I'm not entirely sure if the toilet sleeve was withdrawn or just part of a small initial run. In any case, I've seen more Beatles Butcher covers surface than one of these. I posted a pic over at the Steve Hoffman forums, and a member commented on having seen a few Mono versions over the years, but, never a Stereo. I grew up listening to this album. The copy at my Mom's has the censored cover with the cheesy scroll. It's funny... I still remember shopping with my Mom at a local store when the album with the die-cut cover came out and she bought it. I loved changing the faces.

Usually, I find it far more exciting to find a rare record or book cheap. There's a lot more thrill involved with making a great score for little outlay and it's much nicer than peeling off a big check - however, the high price tag doesn't necessarily diminish my enjoyment of the item once I've got the goods in my greedy hands.

Submitted By: Buddha

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Location: Sin City, baby!

Joined: Sep 8 2005

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Re: Rare LP finds that made you giddy...

Posted: May 29, 2006 - 5:31pm

Well, while I'm sorry I won't be getting my golf book autographed next week, I will happily wait until some other Hi-Fi extravaganza places us in the same locale.

If there's any particular vinyl item that me or Big Mike could be helpful with finding, we will be prowling SoCal and the show and would be happy to act as your avatars this coming weekend!

Cheers.