August Record Fairs: The Report

The Record Fairs held in August were varied affairs.  At Music Palooza we fought the weather inside and outside the Warehouse, a malfunctioning ironclad building, at times noisy with hail penetrating the shoddy roof, dismal, cold with inadequate light.  The concrete floor was a mish-mash of upheavals and cracks with small lakes of water in many spots.  Fortunately no-one needed rescue and the two days were brisk with business.

And between sales and thunderstorms there were some gems for the taking – Rory Gallagher’s 10 inch mini album Stompin’ Ground [Record Store Day 2012]; Bob Dylan’s – 1970s / 80s / 90s Broadcasts: Waking up to Twists of Fate fabulous boxed bookset style triple album (2015); Aretha Franklin’s marvellous 1972 album Young Gifted & Black (particularly poignant as the great Soul diva died 4 days later); Deodato, joining with Astrud Gilberto and Stanley Turrentine (1971); a mint condition of Elmer’s Tune with the celebrated combination of Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee (Japanese mono pressing – double album), another Rory Gallagher album – Top Priority, and a 25^th anniversary triple album reissue of the Pixies in full flight – Doolittle – titled Doolittle 25, comprising B Sides, Peel Sessions, Demos and the original album.

   

All in all it was a good weekend spent in a drafty shed.

But two weekends later it got a lot better.  We were at the Northern Adelaide Record Fair on 25 August in the Northern Sound System Building 73 Elizabeth Way Elizabeth.  The lighting was excellent and there was new carpet on the floor.  The inside temperature was warm and the ambiance was improved by local DJs trying out their own versions of what makes music exciting and vital.  And the toilets were inside the building – within walking distance.  Creature comfort levels were at an all time high, considering our earlier experience at the primitive Warehouse.

A different crowd of punters joined us for the day although many faces from Music Palooza (the ones who can’t get enough – you know who you are!) were also present.  Sales were brisk during the day especially up until lunch time.  In the afternoon we were able to cruise the tables and check out the gems and new found treasures.

Apart from purchasing three laser discs – out of curiosity – but good movies all the same – Michael, The Bridges of Madison County and Dances with Wolves, there were few records that caught my eye.  But a re-sparked interest in the Jesus & Mary Chain lead to the purchase of Psycho Candy and also a Mongo Santamaria lost gem from 1970 – Mongo Santamaria explodes at the Village Gate.  In passing, a few CDs were worth picking up – The Paul Butterfield Band and Pigboy Crabshaw and two Beck albums – Mellow Gold and Midnighte Vultures.

 

In summary both fairs were well worth going to if you were selling or buying.  It is noticeable that there are fewer older albums in mint or near mint condition available, as older stocks dry up and disappear into unknown bedrooms.  There are more new albums in the crates as record companies continue the time honoured prescription of re-issue, re-issue, re-issue (with bonus tracks naturally), and of course new albums entirely.  Meanwhile the price of CDs slides inexorably.  Notwithstanding, the CD is still a thing of beauty and its swift disposal on the scrapheap is not warranted on the current scale.  Hold on to your music on LP and CD, as you might wipe your hard disc in error, or your music account may be encrypted by the Web Mobsters!!  Sail On Sail On Sail On.