Diggin' the Crates: Introducing a New Listen In Series

Records.

Photo by Jem Stone. (License: Creative Commons Attribution)

Yeah, I'd buy it. God help me.

Photo by Tom. (License: Creative Commons Attribution)

Listen In

My name is Evan, and I have an addiction: I'm a vinylholic. For me, there's nothing quite like the sound of a needle touching down on a record. There's nothing quite like the smell of a room full of dusty album jackets. There's nothing quite like discovering an unexpected gem in a crate in the back corner of a thrift store filled with Perry Como and Herb Alpert.

I recognize my addiction. I own it. Once, I tried to quit… but that just wasn't for me. So, instead of getting over it, I'm going to do what everyone with access to a public forum does with their problems in the 21st century: I'm going to put them on display for the amusement of others. I hope you'll learn from them, and grow with me as I explore the nature of this terrible affliction and its grim consequences.

Every Wednesday, I'm going to publish an article about my experiences digging in dollar bins, at thrift stores, at swap meets, and anywhere else I happen to strike a vein of pure grooves. I'll show you pictures, review the albums, and talk about their historical significance as well as that of the artists who created them. I'll talk about where I got the records, how I found them, and why I chose to pick them up.

Sometimes, I may focus on just one record. Sometimes, I'll write about a few. Sometimes, I'll cover other topics of interest to degenerate "black crack" addicts like myself. I expect this series to be something of a departure from my usual writing style, and each week's piece will be different.

I invite other vinylholics to come forward and share their stories. I'll probably even have guest columnists from time to time, if I can bring myself to let go of the headphones and crossfader long enough. Together, I hope we can learn more about who we are, and why we always do the same thing when faced with a choice between buying lunch and locking up another pristine LP or rare 45.

Don't forget to join me next week as I recount the story of my recent score in an attic in Oakland, California. Until then, keep on diggin'!

Cross-posted from the new ListenInMusic.com.

Read more articles in the "Diggin' the Crates" series on Newsvine.

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Evan Mix's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Independent Music Fund, Newsvine Music: Listen In, Tunes
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Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

3.7

{"commentId":1440522,"authorDomain":"emix"}

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

{"commentId":1440522,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

#1 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 8:35 AM EST

{"commentId":1447483,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I thought the first step of fight club was.. .oh, wait, wrong list.

Good idea for a series.

{"commentId":1447483,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Fri Feb 8, 2008 1:19 AM EST

{"commentId":1440639,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

I've been maintaining a safe distance from record stores (and people selling records on the street) for most of the time I've been in New York because I know I'd end up spending all my rent money or something. I think I'm in a spot now where I can finally start easing back on my restrictions.

God help me.

{"commentId":1440639,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

2 votes

#2 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:34 AM EST

{"commentId":1440643,"authorDomain":"emix"}

It's a slippery slope...

{"commentId":1440643,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:35 AM EST

{"commentId":1440647,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Pretty soon I'll be buying records of goats and donkeys.

{"commentId":1440647,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:36 AM EST

{"commentId":1450535,"authorDomain":"wonnacottyledon"}

wonnacottyledon

Man, I know what you're saying. I used to dig through any yardsale, thrift store, or record store vinyl section to find some cool record. The problem for me was that I was always broke-ass-poor and inevitably unable to buy many a record I drooled over upon finding it. Still I was able to wig out on records due to working in a radio station with a giant collection of vinyl. The sound of hot wax at two in the morning for only three listeners is a great one.

{"commentId":1450535,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"wonnacottyledon"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Fri Feb 8, 2008 8:26 PM EST

{"commentId":1450951,"authorDomain":"emix"}

The sound of hot wax at two in the morning for only three listeners is a great one.

You're a purist.

{"commentId":1450951,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

#2.4 - Fri Feb 8, 2008 11:40 PM EST

{"commentId":1440679,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

My name is Ryan, and I'm a vinylholic. Not to be confused with a 'Vineoholic. Which I also am.

{"commentId":1440679,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

3 votes

#3 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:50 AM EST

{"commentId":1440706,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Welcome, Ryan.

{"commentId":1440706,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:59 AM EST

{"commentId":1440770,"authorDomain":"MarxistMonkey"}

Marxist Monkey

Listen, buddy....I just need a few bucks to get some lunch...really. Haven't eaten in days...can you spare a little something?

{"commentId":1440770,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"MarxistMonkey"}

2 votes

#4 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 10:25 AM EST

{"commentId":1440792,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Help is on the way!

{"commentId":1440792,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

3 votes

#4.1 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 10:33 AM EST

{"commentId":1440793,"authorDomain":"emix"}

"Lunch"

{"commentId":1440793,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

3 votes

#4.2 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 10:33 AM EST

{"commentId":1440795,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

I don't think that's good for the record...

{"commentId":1440795,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

3 votes

#4.3 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 10:33 AM EST

{"commentId":1440806,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Great for the teeth, though.

{"commentId":1440806,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

3 votes

#4.4 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 10:39 AM EST

{"commentId":1440874,"authorDomain":"MarxistMonkey"}

Marxist Monkey

Thanks. You guys are real pals.

{"commentId":1440874,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"MarxistMonkey"}

2 votes

#4.5 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 10:59 AM EST

{"commentId":1441884,"authorDomain":"finalcut"}

I'm not a vinylholic - though I do own a few cases of albums and a decent technics turntable

If nothing else the idea for this column sounds cool so I'll enjoy reading it.

{"commentId":1441884,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"finalcut"}

2 votes

#5 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:45 PM EST

{"commentId":1441953,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Pleased to have you aboard.

What sort of albums?

{"commentId":1441953,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

#5.1 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:57 PM EST

{"commentId":1442163,"authorDomain":"finalcut"}

Mostly classic rock - but some older big band stuff/swing type stuff

{"commentId":1442163,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"finalcut"}

1 vote

#5.2 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:46 PM EST

{"commentId":1442202,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Good stuff. You like jazz then, eh? Or just swing?

{"commentId":1442202,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

#5.3 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:56 PM EST

{"commentId":1442225,"authorDomain":"finalcut"}

both.. well I like pretty much any genre really. While there are some I like less than others (techno/trance as an example) there always seems to be a nice collection of tracks that get me listening again.

{"commentId":1442225,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"finalcut"}

1 vote

#5.4 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 5:00 PM EST

{"commentId":1442276,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Did you catch this piece? You might enjoy it. Some cool videos in there.

{"commentId":1442276,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

#5.5 - Wed Feb 6, 2008 5:11 PM EST

{"commentId":1448218,"authorDomain":"finalcut"}

I read the article. The videos are neat - it is always cool to see that people have saved this old footage and then gone through the trouble of putting it online for us.

The Waltz For Debbie started slow but I really like it, particularly after the around the 1:30 mark. The whole group seems to just come alive. Good stuff. Thanks

{"commentId":1448218,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"finalcut"}

#5.6 - Fri Feb 8, 2008 9:58 AM EST

{"commentId":1448251,"authorDomain":"emix"}

My pleasure. The Scott LaFaro footage is what really gets me. There are only about 3 15-second clips of him floating around online, recorded right before he died. That's a sad story. He would've been huge.

{"commentId":1448251,"threadId":"214728","contentId":"1269270","authorDomain":"emix"}

#5.7 - Fri Feb 8, 2008 10:07 AM EST

{"commentId":1448597,"authorDomain":"finalcut"}