Record Store Day Booty

This past Saturday was Record Store Day across the nation.  Mom and Pop Record Stores are one of the few places I feel like I'm home anymore.  In other words, I understand most anything in it.

As such, I visited my favorite Mom and Pop Record Store, The Vinyl Frontier, in McHenry, Illinois.  There were quite a few others also paying respects and buying albums and CDs.

I bought ten CDs and three albums.

ALBUMS:

The Best of Herman's Hermits Volume 2

The Box Tops: The Letter / Neon Rainbow

Beau Brummels:  You Tell Me Why / Don't Talk to Strangers

*****************************

CDs: 

These next six all had 22 songs apiece.

AM Gold 1966

AM Gold 1967

AM Gold 1968

AM Gold 1969

AM Gold: The 60s Generation

AM Gold: The Mid-60s

*****************************

Retro 70s  (two discs with 15 tracks each)

The Vogues Greatest Hits

Swing Time--  Wayne Hancock

House of Blues Swings!

--Love Those Mom and Pops.  --RoadRecord

It's Record Store Day Today

Saturday, April 22.

Check out your local mom and pop record store today, especially if you haven't been for awhile.

Chicago's WDRV, the Drive is spotlighting vinyl albums today.

I will be going over to my favorite old record store, Vinyl Frontier Records in McHenry, Illinois, later today.  I will definitely buy a couple used vinyl records and some CDs.  (I don't know about you, but I'm glad to see albums back for sale at Wal-Mart, but not at the $25-$30 price.)

I'm listening to WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback right now which is back to the year 1987.  It goes to noon CDST.  

I am also listening to the Beach Music Top 20 over the internet on WVCO, 94.8 FM, the Surf.  It goes to 11 am CDST.  The annual Spring SOS is going on in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, right now, so all the bands and shaggers are down there having a good old time.

Both stations stream.

--RecordDog

The Civil War, Some Hot Dogs, CDs and a Big Snow

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion meeting at Panera Bread.  Today's topic was the "The End, February and March 1865."  I, of course, brought up the Wilmington Campaign, also called the Battle of Wilmington, in North Carolina.  That was the follow-up to Fort Fisher's fall. 

It started snowing about half way through the meeting and coming down quite hard.  I decided not to go to Algonquin and visit Barnes & Noble or Half-Price Books because of it. Driving home, road conditions were getting quite bad.  

Stopped at Happy Jack's in McHenry for their great hot dogs and then The Vinyl Frontier Record Store, a real Mom and Pop store featuring albims, 45s and CDs as well as toys and stereo equipment.  One of my most fun places to go.

Snow conditions continued to get worse and I went home and stayed.  We had our biggest snowfall of the winter with around 8 inches by Sunday morning.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

Way too much snow to shovel by hand, and sadly, stoll couldn't get the snowblower started.  Later, I heard a snowblower out in front of the house and saw that a new neighbor was clearing my driveway and sidewalk for me.  I tanked him and said I couldn't start my snowblower so he took it home to take a look at it.  What a great neighbor.

Later I drove to Sunnyside and actually got a seat at the bar, something very difficult to do in Sundays when it gets reallycrowded.  Watched the NFC Championship game and part of the AFC one.  Came home and watched the rest of it.

--RoadSnow

Bringing April Showers: More Wendy's, Even Snow, a Historical Society and Board Games, Vinyl Revolution, Larry and Stucky's

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Dropped our taxes off at H&R Block and went onto Dollar Tree, former home of the everything $1, now everything $1.25.  Still cheap.  Then went to Aldi, another inexpensive place selling groceries.

Stopped at Wendy's and had one of their great breakfast sausage sandwiches, now just $1.  I would put that up against any fast food breakfast sandwich, especially at that price (sadly temporarily).

**************************

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Wike up to...SNOW!!  Didn't stick though.

Drove to the McHenry Savings Bank on Il-31 where the McHenry Area Historical Society was having a meeting and presentation on board games.  The presenter had around fifty old games, including one from Germany during WW II.

On the way home, stopped at the Vinyl Frontier record store and bought five CDs.

In the afternoon, I went to Larry Verjinski's wake.  He was a former student and friend of ours as well as one-time commander of the Fox Lake American Legion.

That evening, met Kevin and Kelly at Stucky's for dinner and karaoke.  George and I are getting quite good at that classic old song "It's Hard to Be Humble."

****************************

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

Went to the McHenry American Legion in the afternoon.

--RoadDog

About Last Week: Maxell Cassette Tapes, Alex's Gyros, The Vinyl Frontier Records and the Legion

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Went to McHenry, Illinois, and to Meijer and was all too happy to buy two more 5-pack bricks of Maxell cassette tapes for recording purposes.  Yep, I still record on cassettes.  This is one of the few places I know of where I can buy them.

We had plans to eat at our favorite Chinese buffet, the Grand Buffet, and got the door only to find they are closed on Tuesdays.  Disappointed, but I remembered I wanted to go to Alex's on 120 in town because I'd heard they had a great gyro sandwich.  They did.

Then, we went to The Vinyl Frontier on 120, a great mom and pop record store that had just moved in the fall from its long-time store on Riverside Drive.  I bought eight CDs.  

Then, we wanted to go to the PLAV (Polish Legion of American Veterans), but they had too many people so went to the American Legion instead and had a really great time with the folks there and especially enjoyed the $1.50 rum and Cokes during happy hour.

I Was Very Happy.  --RoadDog

K-Tel's 'Hit Machine' Album, 1976-- Part 1: 'Love Really Hurts Without You"

I bought this album at The Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois, on Saturday for Record Store Day for $3.

I had my eye on this album or possibly one about the old TV show "Hee-Haw."

For $3, I got twenty songs from 1976.

(SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY--  K.C.& the Sunshine Band
RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM--  Maxine Nightingale
MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT--  Starbuck

SUMMER--  War
WHEN WILL I BE LOVED--  Linda Ronstadt
HAPPY DAYS--  Pratt & McClain
OUR DAY WILL COME--  Frankie Valli

(YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY--  Paul Anka
LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU--  Billy Ocean
DISCO DUCK (PART 1)--  Rick Dees  & His Class of Idiots

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I've Been Cheated, Been Mistreated."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"When Will I Be Loved"

Well, I Went to My Local Record Store on Record Store Day Today

I drove to McHenry, Illinois, just a few hours ago and visited my usual mom and pop record store, The Vinyl Frontier.  I always thought that was a great name for a record store.  Quite catchy.

However, this year, the store was not participating.  Evidently there is a $1500 cost involved to be in it, and business has been so bad thanks to you-know-what, they are sitting this one out.

However, I did what I was going to do anyway and that was buy at least one album and five CDs.

***********************************

ALBUM

K-Tel Hit Machine  ($3)  1976  Those old K-Tel and Ronco collection albums were a great way to build up your record collection cheaply.  They usually had at least 20 songs.

Some of the ones on this album:

Shake Your Booty--  K.C. & Sunshine Band
Summer-- War
When Will I be Loved--  Linda Ronstadt
Disco Duck--  Rick Dees

************************************

CDs  The Vinyl Frontier always has a 5 for $20 special.

**Nuggets from Nuggets  Great Garage Rock.

**  The Copulation Compilation  Including "The Rodeo Song" and "The I-95 Song"

**  American Beauty--  Grateful Dead  I loved their studio albums, but hated their shows, but I hate jamming.

**  Some Girls--  Rolling Stones

**  Electric Barnyard--  Kentucky Headhunters

I Did My Part for the Mom and Pop Record Stores.  --RoadDog

PONDER THIS:  The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.  Amen to that!

Record Store Day is Saturday, August 29: Tomorrow

It was canceled back in April, but rescheduled.  And, this year, something a little different.  To avoid the big crowds these events pull, instead of all the record releases being released on that one day, this year, they will be released over three different dates.

You've got to remember, these mom and pop record stores are usually on the small size, and any crowd seems to be a bit too much.  And, in these days of social distancing, not a good thing.

So, it is spread out over three days:

Saturday, AUGUST  29

Saturday, September 26

Saturday, October 24

I know I'll be heading over to my favorite local store, The Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois.

Old records.  Oh Boy!!  --RoadDog

PONDER THIS:  I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

Getting In the Yule Spirit-- Part 5: Christmas Songs, Christmas Parties, Bands, the Civil War and CDs

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

The Drive (WDRV, 97.1 FM, Chicago) did their Ten at Ten on A Merry and Bright which were ten Christmas songs, many of which you don't often hear.

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Greg Lake
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS--  America
I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--  John Mellancamp

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN--  Ronettes
WINTER WONDERLAND--  REO Speedwagon
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY--  Bruce Springsteen
THE RIVER--  Joni Mitchell

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME--  Paul McCartney
SILENT NIGHT--  Stevie Nicks
CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier

WE went to the Sunnyside Christmas party in Johnsburg.  The place was packed and we had a duo entertaining.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

Went to Crystal Lake for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group whose topic this month was Civil War engineers.  I, of course, talked about Maj. Gen. W.H.C. Whiting, CSA.  Someone should write a book about him.  Fascinating guy.  On the way home, I stopped at The Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, my local mom and pop record store.  I love these places and am sio embarrassed I missed Record Store Day this year.  Bought five CDs.

Liz and I went to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside for their Christmas party later in the afternoon and enjoyed the Average Joe Band.  Later to Sunnyside then home for "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones."

May the Christmas Parties Be With You.  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:  A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.   Sometimes, I think I do as well.

Record Store Day Today!!!

It is finally here.  The day to visit your local mom and pop record store and flip through those vinyl albums and take a trip back in time.  None of that there downloading here today.  It is a real touch thing.  And, buy some albums which will be cheaper than buying the new vinyl albums which are way too expensive.

I'll be heading over to my local record place, The Vinyl Revolution Records in McHenry, Illinois, to get my taste.

Check out the Record Store Website for one near you.

Also, WXRT, 93.1 FM in Chicago is doing 1991 on Saturday Morning Flashback from 9 to noon, CDST.  After that, in honor of Record Store Day, they will be playing vinyl record sides from noon to midnight.

They stream at www.wxrt.com.

Too Much Fun.  --RoadDog

Lest Ye Forget or Didn't Know: Tomorrow, April 13, Is Record Store Day

Always a big day for me.  A day to get back to my past.  A day to Flip Through the Albums.  A day to be amazed at all the young folks looking at albums instead of downloading.

It's RECORD STORE DAY.

I'll be heading over to my favorite mom and pop record store, The Vinyl Frontier, in McHenry, Illinois.  And, then maybe over to Siren Records, also in McHenry.  I feel lucky to have not one but two record stores that close to me.

I'll be buying several albums and several CDs.

My favorite record stores that are no longer with us:

Full Cyrkle Records in Crystal Lake, Illinois
Record Revolution in DeKalb, Illinois
Record Rack in Goldsboro, N.C.

If you're not sure where a mom and pop record store is nearest to you, go to the site and they will tell you.

I should also mention that you should tune into Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM tomorrow as they will do a Saturday Morning Flashback to 1991 from 9 am to noon and then the rest of the day and night will be all album sides.  And, I mean album sides played on vinyl.  It streams.

Not That I Need Another Record or CD.  --RoadDog

Record Store Day Booty-- Part 2: Them Cds

SATURDAY, APRIL 21

The Vinyl Frontier Records, McHenry, Illinois

CDs:

YOU REALLY GOT ME--  Kinks

ULTIMATE COLLECTION--  Delbert McClinton

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD

TRENCH TOWN ROCK--  Bob Marley & the Wailers

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT--  Legacy of Sun Records



CDs Bought at Siren Records, McHenry, Illinois

THE SINGLES COLLECTION--  Zombies

GOLD--  The Mamas & the Papas

Got Some Good Listnin' To Do.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone?  That's common sense leaving your body.

Record Store Day Booty-- Part 1: Them LPs

Well, April 21st has come and gone.  It was Record Store day and I went to two places in McHenry, Illinois and dropped almost $50 in the process, but for a good cause.

First I went to The Vinyl Frontier Records on Riverside Drive.  As always, it was packed.  The owner said the people were standing in line around the corner, almost to the bridge when he opened a little before 9 a.m.

Specials today were $1 off every album and 5 CDs for $20.

I bought five vinyl albums and five CDs.

Albums:

HERE COMES THAT RAINY DAY FEELING AGAIN--  Fortunes

LIVE!  TAKIN' THE STAGE--  Pure Prairie League

CSN--  Crosby, Stills & Nash

THE SPIRIT OF '67--  Paul Revere & the Raiders

RETURN--  Dave Clark Five

Come On Turntable.  --RoadDog

Getting My Vinyl On Today: Record Store Day

The day is here.  No downloading today (I have never downloaded anything and wouldn't know how).

Today is the day to go visit your local mom and pop independent record store, flip through some albums and buy something.

In a short time, I will be leaving for the Vinyl frontier records in McHenry, Illinopis, located at 1326 N. Riverside Drive.  After that I plan to go to Siren records at 3819 Main Street, also in McHenry.  Very lucky to have not just one, but two places for old records here in the area (and within 12 miles of home).

There is also a Reef Records in nearby Antioch, but won't get there today.

And, as something to get the mind off this horrendous April we've been having, besides Record Day, we have signup for the annual Chain Crawl for the Chain of Lakes at Squaw Bar and Hilltop Lounge.

Records and Boats.  Alright.  --RoadDog

Record Store Day Albums-- Part 2: The Super Groups

Like the Smash Hits album, this one cost $3 (plus an extra buck off for Record Store Day).

AtCO records, 1841 Broadway, New York, New York.  Division of Atlantic Recording Corporation.  1969  SD 33-279.

See how many performers you can name.  Answers below.

Side One

1.  HOW CAN I BE SURE--
2.  WORDS--
3.  I FEEL FREE-

4.  MR. SOUL--
5.  ELEANOR RIGBY  (Not the Beatles)

Side Two

1.  I CAN'T SEE NOBODY--
2.  STRANGE BREW--
3.  COME ON UP--

4.  TAKE ME FOR A LITTLE WHILE--  (the psychedelic version)
5.  IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA--
6.  BLUEBIRD--

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "Oh, Won't You Come With Me, and Take My hand."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You ski uphill.

1.  Rascals,   2.  Bee Gees,   3.  Cream,   4.  Buffalo Springfield,    5.  Vanilla Fudge

1.  Bee Gees,    2.  Cream,   3.  Rascals,   4.  Vanilla Fudge    5.  Iron Butterfly    6.  Buffalo Springfield

"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"

Record Store Day Albums-- Part 1: Smash Sounds

I did buy that Harry Nilsson  Anthology CD, but  the main idea of Record Store Day is to pay homage to the vinyl albums.  That, and to get people into the mom and pop records stores.  Places old fogies like me can go to and still feel at home.  When I go into Best Buy, I don't know what a whole lot of the stuff they have is anymore, but usually have at least heard of them.

These are the songs on the Smash Sounds album that I bought.  1967 Atlantic Recording Corporation, printed in U.S.A.  SD 850

Songs with (*) are ones I haven't heard.

Side One

COOL JERK--  Capitols
THE BEAT GOES ON--  Sonny & Cher
SWEET SOUL MUSIC--  Arthur Conley

RESPECT--  Otis Redding
GLORIA--  Shadows of Knight
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield

Side Two

LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND--  Deon Jackson
BOOK OF MEMORIES--  Percy Wiggins *
STAND BY ME--  Ben E. King

JUMP BACK--  King Curtis *
NEIGHBOR, NEIGHBOR--  Jimmy Hughes *
LET'S GO GET STONED--  Coasters *

I especially like songs that I haven't yet heard (or don't remember hearing).

Good Music, Sam.  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING AND IRONIC PREDICTIONS:  "I think there could be a world market for 'maybe' 5 computers....  Doesn't seem like a good investment."--  Thomas Watson, Chairman IBM in 1943.

I Made It To Record Store Day-- Part 2: CD and K-Tel Albums

I went to the Vinyl Frontier Record Store in McHenry, Illinois, for Record Store Day this past Saturday.

I bought the Harry Nilsson Anthology CD with two CDs worth of his songs.  Always love the two-fers.  It has all of his Top 100 hits including "Me and My Arrow," "Without You," "Coconut," "Jump Into the Fire" and "Everybody's Talkin'."

Unfortunately, it did not have the song "Rainmaker" which was on the flip side of "Everybody's Talkin'" and was played so often at Rick's in DeKalb, Illinois, back during my freshman year at NIU.

I have a great love for the collection albums, where you really get your money's worth.  I often refer to them as K-Tel albums because of that company that put out so many of this type of album.  I know some record buffs don't like them and, at the mom and pop record stores, they are usually very cheap.

But, Give Me a K-Tel Anytime.  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING AND IRONIC PREDICTIONS (From the Wassup magazine):  "We don't like their sound and guitar music is on it's way out."  --Decca Records memo declining to sign the Beatles, 1962.

I Made It To the Vinyl Frontier On Record Store Day

Saturday, April 22, when I first went by the Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois, the line waiting outside was down the sidewalk and around the corner, so went on the Crystal lake for my Civil War meeting.

I did stop on my way back and bought three vinyl albums and a CD.

Albums:

SMASH SOUNDS--  Atco Group  SD 850   1967  $3

THE SUPER GROUPS--  Atco SD33-279  1969  $3

BEAU BRUMMELS FROM THE VAULTS-- 1982 Rhino Records   $4.50

The first two were collections.

The CD was The Harry Nilsson Anthology  RCA/BMG   $7.99.

Even better, all records and CDs on Record Store Day were $1 off.

Going to Play Them This Week.  --RoadDog

STUPID UNITED STATES LAWS:  In New Mexico females are strictly forbidden to appear unshaven in public.

Today Is Record Store Day!!!

I am glad I was listening to Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM today as this date had completely slipped by me.  I knew it was Record Store Day, but had forgotten.  They reminded me.  Thanks, guys.

This is the day to go back into the past, go back to my time, when I used to love to go to mom and pop record stores, or even the big ones, and flip through those vinyl albums.  I could flip through them for hours, or until Liz got bored.  But, I had to go to clothing stores with her so this was a kind of payback.

I have gone to Record Store Day most years.  My local mom and pop record store is in McHenry, Illinois, and called The Vinyl Frontier.  I always felt that was a good name for a record store.  They get huge crowds for this day and open at 8 instead of the usual noon.  I tell you, it does my old soul good to see young people flipping through the albums and BUYING them in this digital download age.

I used to have a favorite record store in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where I'm heading in an hour for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group's meeting at Panera Bread at 10 a.m., about the month of April 1865, a really momentous month in U.S. history.  That record store was called Full Cyrkle Records.

I had another favorite one in DeKalb, Illinois, called Record Revolution and one in Goldsboro N.C., called The Record Rack.

So, I will stop at The Vinyl Frontier on my way to Crystal Lake.

There is a website and you can find record stores near you.  Just search Record Store Day.

WXRT has had many commercials about Record Day and starting at noon to midnight today, in homor of it, will only play vinyl records.  It streams.

Give Me That Vinyl.  --  RoadDog

National Record Store Day Saturday

A favorite time of the year for me.  This is a day to visit your local mom and pop record store and talk with others who are still fans of the vinyl record albums.

I'll be headed over to our local record store, The Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois, and no doubt will be buying some albums and maybe a CD or two.

Hope you're headed for one as well.

And, we have finally gotten spring with temps today in the 60s and 70s tomorrow.  Tomorrow after the record store, we're heading over to Route 12 Bar and Grill on US-12 (Rand Road) in Fox Lake where they will be having their first outside entertainment of the year.

About Time We Got Some Warm Weather.  --RoadDog