Quicksilver Messenger Service - Solid Silver (Capitol ST11462 - 1975)

One of mine. The condition was pretty good. Maybe about average for my stuff. I saw Quicksilver in Pittsburgh around the time this came out. Amazon shows this a discontinued by the manufacturer but available from resellers starting at $9. They show the original release date as October '75 and I saw them in February, presumably in '76, but the souvenir poster that's been tucked in this album for more than 30 years doesn't have a year. By this time, it feels to me that the QMS sound is a bit dated. While this album is as solid as the name implies, it also feels a bit contrived for some of the central figures from the summer of love. When psychodelia and Madison Avenue collide, it always feels a little funny to me. Don't get me wrong, I love the Monkees but the commercialism is just a little weird for me sometimes. The highlight for me on this album is the David Freiberg, Robert Hunter collaboration, I Heard You Singing.

Lou Reed - Rock n Roll Animal (RCA APL10472 - 1974)

Iconic. Released the year I graduated from high school. Condition: Really clean but a couple of minor ticks. Not one of mine. Amazon has it for $14 on CD with bonus tracks.

New Light Box

Four flourescent under cabinet lights; 12" long, 8 watts each with connecting cords. Plywood base with foam core and duct tape.

New Grass Revival - New Grass Revival (Starday SLP482 - 1972

This was Lans'. The album contained a few clicks and pops here and there but the material is quite nice. I really enjoyed the Vassar tune, "Lonesome Fiddle". At over 7 minutes, it dominates the A-side. I can't find this on Amazon, except to say that it's been discontinued by the manufacturer.

New Grass Revival - Barren County (Flying Fish FF083 - 1979)

Let's see if I remember how to do this.... This was definitely one of Lans' albums. The condition is really good... there might have been a few artifacts, but nothing really notable. Amazon has this for 17 bucks on CD. The material was pleasant and well executed but didn't bowl me over.

I made a new lightbox for taking the album photos. These are the first images from this new contraption. It should make setting up easier and I thought the colors looked pretty true. I'm not sure why the lefthand inside image is so much brighter than the righthand one.

J. Geils Band - "Live" Full House (Atlantic SD7241 - 1972)

The J. Geils Band - Bloodshot (Atlantic SD7260 - 1973)

This is number two of my J. Geils albums. And yes, this IS on red vinyl. The condition of the vinyl is near mint. Amazon has this for about 9 bucks in either CD or download.

The J. Geils Band - The J. Geils Band (Atlantic SD8275 - 1970)

This has been in my collection for years but I doubt I bought it new. The condition of the vinyl was near mint which is better than the ringwear on the jacket might hint. Amazon has this for purchase on CD or download. It's 9 bucks either way so you just have to decide to pass up the media or not.

Steve Forbert - Jackrabbit Slim (Nemperor Records JZ36191 - 1079)

I can't even be sure that I actually went to the show at The Brandywine Club. Maybe I just picked up the flyer somewhere. But, it was my habit to store stuff like that in the record jackets. The 7" single was how the industry did bonus tracks in the pre-CD era. This one is particularly odd in that it only has one side. The condition was near mint. I hardly heard anything about Forbert after this album but it seems like he continued to pump out records. Amazon has this for $7 or you can download it for $10. In no case, that I've found, do you actually get the bonus track though.

Steve Forbert (Nemperor Records JZ35538 - 1978)

This was one of mine. I still had the opened cellophane on this album up to the point of taking the cover photos. The cellophane had a price sticker of $4.96 from Record Revolution. I can't remember where Record Revolution was but I would have thought I got this while still in college but based on the copyright date of 1978 I would have to have been in the last half of my senior year so I expect it was after graduation. The condition was mint. Amazon has this on CD or 10 bucks or downloadable for 9.

Sea Level - Sea Level (Capricorn Records CP0178 - 1977)

This was Lans' but I always wanted this album. I saw Sea Level about when this album came out. I think Allegheny College tried to book Dickey Betts and Great Southern and Sea Level for the same night and they couldn't agree who would be the top bill and so the deal fell apart and only Betts played that show. I can't remember where I saw Sea Level play. The album was in near mint condition. Amazon has it for $12 or .99 per track for downloads. I particularly liked Grand Larceny and Scarborough Fair which is the meat of the B side. The track marks were short and I had to back up several times.

Flatt & Scruggs - Greatest Hits (Columbiia CS9370 - 1966)

This puppy from Lans' collection didn't have an inner sleeve but after a round with the Discwasher, the vinyl quality was surprisingly good. It doesn't look like this package is available on CD but certainly a best of CD could be had.

Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece (Warner Bros. BS2805 - 1974)

I'm not sure if this was Lans' or mine. I guess it doesn't much matter. The condition was near mint. This is only available through resellers at Amazon starting at $18.

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 Moody Blues The Other Side of Life (Polygram 82191Y1 - 1986)

It seems like 1986 was about the edge of the end of LPs. I wasn't buying much music at that time and I suspect Lans adopted this but he might have bought it for himself. The condition was mint. Amazon doesn't have this but resellers are starting the offers at 9 bucks.