General CD/Vinyl/Cassette Thread

[John95]

@CousinMerl Yeah, the town I live in is essentially a small one though it is big enough to be the county seat for the one it's a part of as well as home to the county's fair which actually happens this week starting Wednesday and runs through Sunday. Not sure how long my town has been doing city-wide garage sales, but the first one I went to was back in 2013 (where the highlight was getting used copies of volumes one, four and five of FG for about $1 each), and I've been going to all of them regularly since 2015.

Also, I posted about when my town (and a nearby neighboring town about two months prior) had their city-wide last year which is also the same weekend that my library has another book sale, though unfortunately I didn't find any CDs there this time.

 

[CousinMerl]

@John95, Interesting facts to know, for sure.

I think though you describe it as not that small of a town (in spite of being a county seat & the home of a county fair), it doesn't seem much of a problem to arrange one of those city-wide garage sales (looking on Google images and it kinda gives off the look of a small to mid-size country town), but had it been a larger city it probably wouldn't have worked so well (at least not enough to have it annually).

I do recall you mentioning being to one of those garage sales before, btw. With all those thrift shops, garage sales, library sales, and whatnot going on there, it should come to no surprise you make so many finds: Seem to always be a bunch of interesting stuff somewhere.

 

[John95]

A week later since posting about what I got during my town's city-wide garage sale, and two weeks since it happed overall, here's what I've already gotten since then.

With the exception of the Sawyer Brown and Tracy Byrd CDs which are from my town's other local thrift store, and the CD of the soundtrack for The Muppet Movie which is an eBay purchase, everything shown here is from my local Saint Vincent de Paul's after they finally restocked their CD section for the first time in about a month at least.

Despite there being some great stuff here, the most significant one honestly has to be the CD for The Muppet Movie (which is a reissue from 2013 when the movie was released on Blu-ray). Besides me being a Muppet fan, for anyone who might not remember my very first post on this thread which was describing the most significant pieces I have relating to a certain music format, finding the original cassette for The Muppet Movie in late 2017 is what got me into collecting for said format which under 6 years later I would say is close to 100 at this point. I've also gotten the original LP release of the soundtrack since then which also ended up being an eBay purchase as I had wanted it in time for when the film turned 40 in 2019.

 

[CousinMerl]

I always think its cool when one has the CD, Cassette & LP of a certain album and can show them off. You made a good find with that CD in particular, @John95. Looks to be in top shape as well, especially for an used thrift store item (And speaking of 'The Muppet Movie', I have it on the top of my "to watch" list on Disney+, not having seen it before. But I digress...).

Also, didn't know 'Twister' got a song soundtrack. Thought it was film score only. Huh. You learn something every day...

 

[John95]

speaking of 'The Muppet Movie', I have it on the top of my "to watch" list on Disney+, not having seen it before. But I digress...

I definitely recommend it even if you're more casual when it comes to the Muppets. It's my favorite of the three Muppet films made during Jim Henson's lifetime. That said, my favorite Muppet film overall (which I also recommend) would be Muppet Treasure Island which I don't have the soundtrack for and it's gonna be a while before I do (only released once, long out of print and $50 is often the lowest a used copy goes for).

Also, didn't know 'Twister' got a song soundtrack. Thought it was film score only. Huh. You learn something every day...

Was first made aware of it when I listened to a Van Halen compilation which included one if the songs they did for the film (Human Beings). Never seen it nor do I have any interest (same for 1998 Godzilla, the soundtrack of which is the one on the bottom right that's partially obstructed), but picked the soundtrack up based on that song plus it having a few other people or groups I like such as Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

 

[CousinMerl]

I definitely recommend it even if you're more casual when it comes to the Muppets. It's my favorite of the three Muppet films made during Jim Henson's lifetime. That said, my favorite Muppet film overall (which I also recommend) would be Muppet Treasure Island which I don't have the soundtrack for and it's gonna be a while before I do (only released once, long out of print and $50 is often the lowest a used copy goes for).

Yeah, I understand it's considered something of a classic and a must watch (well, it's in my book edition of '1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die', at least) plus I think 'Muppet Christmas Carol' is real nice (saw as a rewatch last December and which inspired me to want to check out this first movie). I also plan on revisiting 'Muppet Treasure Island' (remember seeing and liking it as a kid).

Was first made aware of it when I listened to a Van Halen compilation which included one if the songs they did for the film (Human Beings). Never seen it nor do I have any interest (same for 1998 Godzilla, the soundtrack of which is the one on the bottom right that's partially obstructed), but picked the soundtrack up based on that song plus it having a few other people or groups I like such as Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

'Twister' is a solid fun disaster film so I would recommend (I do enjoy 'Godzilla 1998' too as an action/disaster popcorn movie, but it's not nearly as liked). But speaking of these albums, often these song compilation soundtracks (which rarely if ever seem to be a thing anymore; was really popular some 20 years back though) have a lot of good to great songs on them (speaking of 1990's ones, I think the one for 'Space Jam' is a bit of a classic, but the one for 'Men In Black', which I also own. is also pretty neat).

 

[John95]

Everything shown here is a mixture of a visit to my local thrift store late last month (Billy Joel 45), eBay purchases (Kermit Unpigged and VeggieTales CDs) and the most recent rummage sale at my town's local Methodist church this past weekend (everything in the last two rows).

Billy Joel River of Dreams 45 - My "Latest" 45 single to date as it's from the year 1993 which surprised me to see that 45 singles were still being produced this late before vinyl's resurgence within the past decade or so. Another neat thing is that it also contained the tab you would use for putting it into a jukebox.

Kermit Unpigged - Titled as a parody of the MTV Unplugged craze of the 1990s (to which I have the albums of for 10,000 Maniacs, Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey and Tony Bennett), this was the final album ever released by the short-lived Jim Henson Records label (part of BMG's BMG Kidz line) which officially began in 1993 (the soundtrack for The Muppet Christmas Carol which they also released had already been put out beforehand at the end of 1992) and mainly comprised of compilation (Muppet Hits and Muppet Hits Take 2) and soundtrack releases (The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper) of past Muppet material and folded shortly after the release of this album in the fall of 1994. This was one of three albums put out by the label that actually consisted of newly produced Muppet material, the others being Ol' Brown Ears is Back and Muppet Beach Party both from 1993 and unlike Kermit Unpigged are very hard to find and often pricey (in comparison, my copy of Kermit Unpigged was about $15 which is very reasonable as an eBay purchase).

This main reason behind this purchase other than me being a Muppet fan is that one of the guest singers on the album is Jimmy Buffett who recently passed away, and my earliest known exposure to him happened to be through the Muppets when he covered Carribean Amphibian for Elmopalooza! in 1998. On this album, he and Gonzo perform a cover of The Byrds' Mr. Spaceman.

 

[goodfella]

couple of new additions to the family

 

[John95]

What I've gotten since my last post. Items in the first image are a mix of things from my local thrift stores in town (first two rows) and two different eBay auctions (Sesame Street CDs) and those in the second image are from my library's most recent book sale this past weekend.


The highlights here are two of the Sesame Street CDs (Sesame Road and Elmo Says BOO!) and the cast recording for the 1996 revival of Chicago.

Sesame Road and Elmo Says BOO! are CDs that don't show up on eBay very often, and when they do, they're not normally for the prices I was lucky to get them for ($13 for the former and $15 for the latter which was part of a lot listing of four CDs with one of the others being A Very Sesame Street Christmas). Of the two mentioned, Elmo Says BOO! is the harder to find and costs more as currently the only other listing for it has it priced at about $45!

As for Chicago, recently I've been on a bit of a musical kick, and I already like the film adaptation (which I also have the soundtrack for) so I figured it was worth getting though I'm also looking for the original cast recording from 1975. What further sold me on getting it was seeing Bebe Neuwirth listed on the back who played Velma Kelly in this revival. Some people might see her name and go "Oooh, Dr. Lilith Stemin (from Cheers)!" but when I look at her name I go "Oooh, Mirage (from the Aladdin series) and Mrs. Bladder (from Pepper Ann)!". The only other name in this revival that I'm really familiar with is Joel Grey which is mostly through his episode of The Muppet Show where one of the songs he performed was Razzle Dazzle from this musical, and now performs his own version of Mr. Cellophane.

One other thing worth noting is how a few of the items I got from the book sale were the cassettes to book and tape sets! Although none of the books that were originally packed with them were there, I already have at least three of those books, one of which being A Cow on the Line which I actually used to also have the read-along cassette for about 20 years ago.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

I went to a brewery/pub that was having a used record sale and got some great records.

1. The Cars debut album
2. Rainbow: Debut album and Long Live Rock and Roll
3. Def Leppard: Pyromania
4. Bobby Brown: My Progative (for my sis)
5. Journey: Escape (for my sis, even though it has that God awful song)
6. Little Richwrd: A greatest hits album in mono
7. Pink Floyd: A Nice Pair (The Pipers At The Gates of Dawn & A Saucer Full of Secrets)
8. The Who: Live At Leeds
9. U2: War
10: King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King
11. Black Sabbath: Master of Reality
12. Primus: Animals Should Not Try To Act Like Humans (New)
13. Judas Priest: The Best of Judas Priest (New)
14. Megadeth: The Sick, The Dying, And The Dead (New)

I sent a little crazy, but I love music. Not all. Some of you know my feelings about disco. Disco sucks.

Now I just need to hook up the new needle to the turntable.

 

[CousinMerl]

@John95 & @Scrooge McDuck, Looks like you guys made a lot of nice finds. I see a lot of good and/or interesting thrift/sale albums and whanot (and all of those albums on vinyl certainly was a lucky find, Scrooge. You certainly don't reall live up to your penny-pinching namesake, haha).

I've been meaning to post my disc finds since the last time (it's been a while since I last posted here, especially in terms of showing what I've picked up while thrifting) but I've either been putting it off or been preoccupied with others things (such as posting on other places on these forums). Gonna see to it tomorrow so stay tuned (Update: Stuff got in the way, no pics today).

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

@John95 & @Scrooge McDuck, Looks like you guys made a lot of nice finds. I see a lot of good and/or interesting thrift/sale albums and whanot (and all of those albums on vinyl certainly was a lucky find, Scrooge. You certainly don't reall live up to your penny-pinching namesake, haha).

I've been meaning to post my disc finds since the last time (it's been a while since I last posted here, especially in terms of showing what I've picked up while thrifting) but I've either been putting it off or been preoccupied with others things (such as posting on other places on these forums). Gonna see to it tomorrow so stay tuned (Update: Stuff got in the way, no pics today).

I really never have the time to go to used record stores. You can spend hours just looking. This event was a bunch of stores from Central California (I live in the Bay Area). They just had a bunch of great albums that I like. I love Little Richard through my parents. I went a little crazy but I think I should be able to splurg sometime. Working, taking care of my dad and the house and all they rest of the shit takes up a lot of time.

All I can say is sometimes you'll just step into a store and find a gem. Look @John95 he has some interesting taste. The Moody Blues album is cool. Nothing wrong with the Muppet Movie soundtrack (damn it, I won't tear up to The Rainbow Connection). Also, GnR Lies is a great album. Just understand One In A Million is what Axl experience when he got to LA. Being robbed and verbally insulted, people thought he was gay. However, he could have done it differently and he has said so. However, I'll let him slide with the Barrry Manilow cd.

 

[CousinMerl]

Nothing wrong with the Muppet Movie soundtrack (damn it, I won't tear up to The Rainbow Connection).

Speaking of 'The Muppet Movie', I forgot to give an update on it (considering I spoke with @John95 about intending to watch it earlier in this thread, a bit further up in the discussions): I did see it shortly thereafter and I really enjoyed it a lot. Was a really good, excellently made, fun and funny movie with a lot of heart. The music and songs was solid stuff. It was obvious they put a lot of effort into it.

 

[John95]

All I can say is sometimes you'll just step into a store and find a gem

It also comes down to sometimes just being in the right place at the right time. An example for me was how once I walked all the way to the library to pick up a CD that was on hold. My mother happened to be there and told me she was about to run some errands for my grandmother which meant seeing her where she lived which was 15 minutes out of town. I agreed to tag along because said town had a thrift store and because I really did want to see my grandmother. Anyways, at that thrift store were 2 Sesame Street LPs (Ernie's Hits and Sesame Street Fever) which I never would've ended up getting had it not been for that stroke of luck.

@CousinMerl Glad to see you enjoyed it. Yeah, it's actually kind of amazing that the film turned out the way it did when you learn that it wasn't easy for them to get funding for a puppet lead film as well as some of the behind the scenes info like the film's director (James Frawley) not being used to directing puppets which often resulted in creative differences between him and the regular Muppet performers.

 

[CousinMerl]

Yeah, it's actually kind of amazing that the film turned out the way it did when you learn that it wasn't easy for them to get funding for a puppet lead film as well as some of the behind the scenes info like the film's director (James Frawley) not being used to directing puppets which often resulted in creative differences between him and the regular Muppet performers.

Well, for someone who had no experience and was wholly unused to do a movie with puppets & them having trouble to have it founded (kinda odd they struggled with that as 'The Muppet Show' was as popular as it was), it was a surprise it turned out so well (and it was obvious they went the extra mile with it quite a bit, even with some extensive location shooting and improved effects that pushed boundaries: I think one of my favorite bits of trivia I found is that   they actually built that giant moveable Animal head for the short scene when he grows to super-size rather than use the puppet's actual head along with a miniature set, which Henson refused . Now that's dedication). I also really like the genuine 1970s vibe (well, it was made in the late 70's so it kinda comes naturally, plus it also aged surprisingly well).

Could probably say a few more things about it (which you John probably would like), but now I digress...

 

[goodfella]

I went to a brewery/pub that was having a used record sale and got some great records.

1. The Cars debut album
2. Rainbow: Debut album and Long Live Rock and Roll
3. Def Leppard: Pyromania
4. Bobby Brown: My Progative (for my sis)
5. Journey: Escape (for my sis, even though it has that God awful song)
6. Little Richwrd: A greatest hits album in mono
7. Pink Floyd: A Nice Pair (The Pipers At The Gates of Dawn & A Saucer Full of Secrets)
8. The Who: Live At Leeds
9. U2: War
10: King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King
11. Black Sabbath: Master of Reality
12. Primus: Animals Should Not Try To Act Like Humans (New)
13. Judas Priest: The Best of Judas Priest (New)
14. Megadeth: The Sick, The Dying, And The Dead (New)

I sent a little crazy, but I love music. Not all. Some of you know my feelings about disco. Disco sucks.

Now I just need to hook up the new needle to the turntable.

i liked this post then had to unlike for that slur on disco

 

[CousinMerl]

I don't think disco is as bad as it's made out to be. Not a favorite but it can be fun to listen to (don't have any disco albums, tho).

 

[John95]

I think one of my favorite bits of trivia I found is that they actually built that giant moveable Animal head for the short scene when he grows to super-size rather than use the puppet's actual head alon with a miniature set, which Henson refused . Now that's dedication

Don't want to go off-topic any further but yeah I've only just learned out they pulled that off last year after wondering for so long how they did. Apparently it was at least 15 feet tall.

Quick tangent: That scared me the first time I saw the movie which was when I was four and the film had been rereleased on VHS for the 20th anniversary. As a result, until 2007 whenever I'd rewatch the film I'd always stop it right as Doc and co. pulled up into the ghost town.

Also noteworthy to point out as that actually predated my fear of blood by at least a year which I still have (thanks Rugrats).

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

i liked this post then had to unlike for that slur on disco

I just can't get into it. It seems so fake. It was over produced. The same bloody drumbeat from a drum machine. Crap, I Iisten to some industrial, but at least it's not a monotonous beat. If you like it, good on ya. I just don't like it. There are other genres I could care less about... but maybe I'll leave that to another post.

 

[CousinMerl]

Quick tangent: That scared me the first time I saw the movie which was when I was four and the film had been rereleased on VHS for the 20th anniversary. As a result, until 2007 whenever I'd rewatch the film I'd always stop it right as Doc and co. pulled up into the ghost town.

I thought it was a funny moment, but I can see how for younger kids it could be a frightening scene (with the visuals and the sound). Too bad you had to stop the movie at that part each time (though why not fast-forward through that part?). I guess you got over your fear later.

Speaking of scenes from the movie that people found scary, I found it interesting that on the film's Nightmare Fuel page on TVtropes, they list Miss Piggy's brief angry face during her fight scene: I found the scene hilarious, but I guess some saw it as kids and got freaked out.

Also noteworthy to point out as that actually predated my fear of blood by at least a year which I still have (thanks Rugrats).

THat's a reveal I did not expect (maybe especially interesting as you seem to watch a lot of shows with blood and gore, but I guess it is just realistic/real blood and not animated blood that's a problem for you).

But that'll conclude the off-topic stuff from my part here (I just wanted to reply to your post). Gonna post a couple of long-overdue images.

 

[zach]

i love disco.

 

[CousinMerl]

i love disco.

That's a nice set up.

I think if one goes back to the 1970s catalogue of disco, there's ought to be some good stuff. Some probably bad, but likely much good. But some would inevitably always have a problem with the genre and won't open up to pretty much any disco.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

That's a nice set up.

I think if one goes back to the 1970s catalogue of disco, there's ought to be some good stuff. Some probably bad, but likely much good. But some would inevitably always have a problem with the genre and won't open up to pretty much any disco.

Not true, Chic was very good at bringing some funk elements to the genre. Niles Rodgers is not only an excellent guitar player but also a great producer. The disco Bee-Gees are ok but their earlier music is better. Crap listen to "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)". That disco baby. And I love Pink Floyd. Only number one hit.

I just don't like the genre. It sounds fake. If some people don't like that, so be it. I'm not going to run away from it like it's a plague but I'm not going to waste my time listening to it on my own.

And there I'd no excuse for "I Was Made For Loving You."

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Boys and Girls, what @zach has in his picture is what we use to called in that great decade of the 80s, a boombox (or the slang term ghetto blaster). Now that larger nob at the top is next analog radio dial. You turn that nob for a radio station, like 107.7. Sometimes it was be crisp and clear or it was shitty, depending on such things as distance or weather. Then you would listen all day for them to play your favorite song to record on a blank tape and hope the damn dj wouldn't yammer over it to much. The 80s were a great time to be a kid.

Nice radio mate.

 

[CousinMerl]

Not true, Chic was very good at bringing some funk elements to the genre. Niles Rodgers is not only an excellent guitar player but also a great producer. The disco Bee-Gees are ok but their earlier music is better. Crap listen to "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)". That disco baby. And I love Pink Floyd. Only number one hit.

I was definitely not meaning some who are not into disco would never be into any sort of disco-esque or disco-related music (you gave a couple of good examples) nor that there wasn't some good disco music outside the 1970s (Just figured that some of the better disco-related or disco-esque music would come from the 1970s but I fully know that there were some good/solid material afterwards, for sure).

You don't have to explain yourself either. I understand why some don't like disco and your reasonings make good sense (and as said, I'm not a huge fan myself but I don't dislike it and can listen to it, even if I don't go out to actively look for disco albums).

I'm sorry if I upset you. I guess my wording of my previous post should've been made clearer.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

I was definitely not meaning some who are not into disco would never be into any sort of disco-esque or disco-related music (you gave a couple of good examples) nor that there wasn't some good disco music outside the 1970s (Just figured that some of the better disco-related or disco-esque music would come from the 1970s but I fully know that there were some good/solid material afterwards, for sure).

You don't have to explain yourself either. I understand why some don't like disco and your reasonings make good sense (and as said, I'm not a huge fan myself but I don't dislike it and can listen some of the to it, even if I don't go out to actively look for disco albums).

I'm sorry if I upset you. I guess my wording of my previous post should've been made clearer.

You did not upset me. I was again being more of a smartass. People like different music, and that's ok. I am and always be a Beatles fan. Been one since I was like 7. I listened to Chicago, the Doobie Brothers, the Beach Boys and Earth Wind and Fire when we cleaned house on Saturday mornings before my sis and could go out and play. Listen to what makes you happy, sad, angry or the one you can space out to (ie Pink Floyd's Echoes with good earphones).

However, right now if CVS were to change to disco I be ok. I'm tired of listening to Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Christina Peri and Kacy Musgraves (her song Tainbow gets to me every time). And the worst song "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen. It burns into your brain like a Glasgow Bikini Wax.

Boy I sound old.

Cheers

 

[CousinMerl]

I'll be posting the thrift albums I got since the last time I posted any pics here, starting off with those from June & early July.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Just got this today. Has some greats songs. When the Leevee Breaks is in my top five favorite Zeppelin songs. I remember in high school when I heard Stairway in high school thinking it was the greatest thing to slice bread. Then, I grew up. I'm sure there are plenty of songs they most of us have grown out of.

 

[CousinMerl]

Following up my previous post, here's the thrift stuff I got from July and through October. Several blind buys, got some interesting stuff.

 

[John95]

@CousinMerl Some cool finds there, particularly the Simon & Garfunkel and Paula Abdul ones which I also have on CD (as well as the LP and cassette for the former).