Blondie - Parallel Lines (MFSL MSFL1050 originally Chrysilis - 1978)

From Richard D. In near mint condition. In a twist, Amazon has this for 8 bucks or you can download it and not get any physical media if you pay a dollar more.

The Pretenders - Learning To Crawl

Learning to Crawl (Sire Records - 1982)

This came out of Lans' collection but I doubt he bought it for himself. In any case, I think it's a very solid album full of memorable tunes. The condition of the vinyl was "like new" but the jacket has a bit of wear and tear on it. It comes with a picture inner sleeve which has been taped up one side. Amazon has this one new for $11 or downloadable at $10 and used ones are starting at a buck and a half from resellers.

According to Wikipedia, the album peaked at #5 on Billboard in 1984 while the single of "Back on the Chain Gang" made it to #4 in 1983.

Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues (1983 - Sire)

This one has a somewhat bizarre blister pack style packaging in lieu of a normal record jacket. The packaging is slightly oversized and after moving some records around this stuck out kind of like a sore thumb so it leapt to the top of the queue. It's actually a pretty good album and it turns out that the packaging is a limited edition which won a Grammy award. Initially the oversized dimensions were really annoying but after looking at it more closely, it's really kind of cool. Wikipedia talks about it some. The condition of the record was pretty good especially since it's on clear vinly. The basic CD is selling on Amazon for $11 but the used special edition vinyl like mine from Amazon resellers (4) are being offered at from $55 to $275.

The Clash - Black Market Clash (Epic 1980)

Another one from Lans' collection and another presumed adoption by him from... should we give this person a name? Suggestions? Collection X? The condition of this odd 10" disc's vinyl was pretty average. Amazon is selling a substantially expanded reissue version of this on CD titled "Super Black Market Clash" for $12.00. Yes, that's the end of the Clash albums from the "to do" pile.Per Wikipedia:

Black Market Clash was released only in the US between the releases of London Calling and Sandinista! It compiled recordings which were then unavailable in the US except as imports. It was one of series of 10" records that Epic released by various artists, including Gary Glitter and New Musik, under the name Epic "Nu-Disk".

The Clash - Combat Rock (Epic 1982)

This also came from Lans' collection and before that, it probably came from the same person who had the Asia, Jon Anderson, BTO, Boston, Bad Company, etc. The quality was not an issue. Amazon is selling this on CD for 8 bucks. Per Wikipedia:

Combat Rock was originally planned as a double album with the working title Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg, but the idea was scrapped after internal wrangling within the group. Mick Jones had produced the first cut, but the other members were dissatisfied and producing duties were handed to Glyn Johns, at which point the album became a single LP. The original cut has since been obtained and subsequently bootlegged.... Original U.S. pressings of the album had the full length track "Inoculated City" lasting 2:43. This version contained the audio from a television commercial for a toilet bowl cleaner called "2000 Flushes." After the maker of the product complained of copyright infringement the track was edited to 2:11. Approximately 100,000 copies of the first version were pressed with custom designed record labels. However the majority of copies sold had the edited track and were re-issued on a standard dark blue Epic Records label. The full length track also appeared on the B-side of a US "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" single. Early US CD copies had the edited track. But when the album was released as a remastered CD in 2000 the full length track was restored though no mention of this was made anywhere on the CD package.

Mine contains the 2000 Flushes! A quick scan of eBay didn't create an impression that this earlier version of the LP is a serious rarity that commands a premium price.