A Record Haul

by Doug Hanners, May 2009

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There's been a lot of talk lately about the return of vinyl records and the reasons why they are regaining some of their lost popularity. I personally think it's the same reasons vinyl was popular in the first place, a good sound and the ceremony of slipping a disc on the turntable plus a cover you can hold and read. There's even an article in the new issue of Archeology Magazine (July/August 2009) about excavating a California hippie commune of the '60s. There's a photo that shows the boxes of relics they uncovered and on top of one box are some vinyl LPs! Sure they are a bit worse for wear after being buried for 40 years but wow, I knew history would catch up with records just didn't think it'd happen so soon.

Even though vinyl LPs are not being manufactured in the numbers they once were, their popularity is still on a steady rise. The efforts of the new turntable DJs, like superstar DJ Shadow, have helped reintroduce records to the new generation as well. Shadow told me at the last Austin show that he was glad to see vinyl rebounding in popularity and he downplays his responsibility for the rebound, but I still think he and the other turntable DJs have done a great job in reviving vinyl interest. It was reflected at the past Austin show with a full house of dealers and customers. I was also on a panel at the last South By SouthWest festival that dealt with the vinyl resurgence phenomenon as it relates to record stores. Of course stores are happy with any new market that gives them a leg up on the downloading Ipod fans. But new LPs, as nice as they are, still don't relate totally to older LPs and the collectors that covet the oldies. Do collectors buy new LPs or just the older variety? Hmmm, I'm not sure, tho I think there's been some mixing going on, but in general they are two completely different markets. Still I'm glad for any boost that record stores can get as it's been a rough ride for them in the past decade or two.

As the older warehouses, record shops, radio stations, and jukebox operators that have been supplying current record shops and collectors are getting thinned out, an odd phenomenon is occurring. The new suppliers of vintage records are, strangely enough, older gentlemen in the 70 to 90 age bracket. These older packrats have had the foresight or inclination to accumulate things for the past 50 years and the stuff they have been gathering up includes records. In the past few years I have seen several of these older folk with houses, garages, barns, and basements packed with stuff, including many thousands of records.

Why they do this is unknown, perhaps it's a leftover from the great Depression of the '30s, that they feel this need to accumulate these things. Bob Nash was the owner of the record stash pictured here and when asked why he accumulated so many records and other "stuff", he said it was for something to enjoy in his old age but at 86 he'd run out of time! Whatever the reason, at some point the families are forced to clear out the home storage areas because either the vintage folk have died or the families need the room, as in Mr Nash's case.

The record numbers vary from a few thousand to maybe 30 thousand and even more. The older folk don't buy with any specific music format in mind and you might think their vintage musical taste would run more towards MOR and Big Bands, in keeping with their age, but not so. Usually they bought everything, including jazz, funk, soul, hard rock, and esoteric records of every variety.

Lately we've been involved in several of these record clean-outs and depending on the size of the stash it's quite a job. This job pictured here was a big one with over 25,000 LPs and many thousands of 45s involved. Mr Nash had made the circuit of flea markets and garage sales for over 20 years during the '70s and '80s, which was obviously a good time to be hunting vinyl and other goodies. So for him, as it is for us regulars, the thrill of the hunt is the name of the game.

For a job with this many records we needed a large truck plus several helpers and we had to make a couple trips. You forget how much this many records will weigh and even spreading things out, the tires on the trucks were looking a little squashed! Loading and unloading reminded us how heavy LPs are, while in comparison 45s are a lightweight treat to be saviored! As for 78s, well there were some there but luckily only a few, as it was a constant game to avoid being the one who got stuck with picking up the heavy 78s! This type of work in the hot and humid Texas summer turned us all into sweat soaked slave laborers gargling ice water by the gallon.

Once we got the truck unloaded the sorting began, as well as a good education in the history of American record buying. I never saw so many "Sing Along With Mitch" albums, dozens of "Visiting the First Family" with Vaughn Meador or how popular Herb Alpert and Frank Sinatra really were! The musical tastes of middle class America during the last 40 years were spread out all over our warehouse floor.

It was an interesting look at all the different types of music that titillated popular tastes during the last several decades. The youthquake revolution dominated of course, with the Beatles, Shadows of Knight, Paul Revere, MC5, Ventures, Neil Young bootlegs, Bubble Puppy, rare psych, obscure soul, Family Circle on Sky Disc, soundtracks of all types, Zabresky Point, cool jazz, Chet Baker on various labels, Shep & Limelights Hull LP, Anita O'Day, Lou Donaldson, Fred Wesley & JBs, Stu Gardner on Revue, Bobby Timmons on Riverside, Lightnin Hopkins on Candid, Jazz Rock Symposium on Anvil, T.Monk on Riverside, Truman Capote Reading From In Cold Blood, Bridgette Bardot Sings and on and on, several thousand interesting LP treats of all types, all varieties and all eras. And all conditions, tho amazingly enough most of the LPs were in very nice condition, many were even sealed and many, many more were near mint. All of the best records will be available at the next Austin show on October 9/10/ 11 2009.

A record haul is always fun no matter what shape or form it comes in, but be glad for the oldtimer packrats, they have been saving America's musical heritage one garage sale at a time!