B-52’s – Party Mix

• Artist: B-52’s
• Title: Party Mix
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 ? Mary got it when she was working at Plan-9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

We have some other B-52’s records but this one makes me wish we had more of the early stuff. This one is really just a DJ 12 inch. The highlight for me is when they mix in Private Idaho. Other than that it’s kinda dull.

One of my most vivid music memories is of being in Virginia Beach around 1980 and seeing the new wave kids dancing at the Peppermint Beach Club. At that time the place was sort of an open-air joint. I remember standing in the sun on the boardwalk, hearing Rock Lobster blasting out of the building, while barefoot teenagers were jumping up and down inside. It was like something out of a ’60s beach movie. It was just cool. I gotta get that record!

ABBA – The Magic of ABBA

• Artist: ABBA
• Title: The Magic of ABBA
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 2003 ? “Inherited” from Mary’s mother. Her dad gave it to her when her mom wasn’t home.
• Keeper: Yes

A-B-B-A… There was no avoiding this as the first piece to be logged. I can’t say I ever really knew ABBA’s songs until Mary and I went with some friends to see the play Mama Mia. That was probably in 2003. I have to admit that they stick with you once you’re heard them enough. Dig it, dancing queen.

Music Made Me Do it

Behold! The beginning… of the most self-indulgent blog known to man.

My wife, Mary, and I have collected thousands of records and CDs in all shapes and sizes. There are even a few “cassette only” releases in the vault. How did this happen? It couldn’t be avoided. Both of us have worked at various record stores in our youth and I even owned a record store with my brother for a couple years. And my punk rock wife can’t be stopped. We continue to acquire new and old music, classic back catalog and fresh stuff none of our friends have heard of.

The result of having this much music is that most of it sits for years without being played. So, I decided to go through the entire collection and play everything on our shelves at least one more time. Maybe some of it won’t sound as good as we remember, maybe some things will have to be purged, but everything will get played.

There are no hard fast rules for what order the collection will be played. I will certainly log new music as it arrives. For the archives? I may move in a strict alphabetical manner, but probably not. I think playing the next item of the next letter of the alphabet could work, although crossing between formats will probably be confusing. Let’s try that.

Stick with me. If I can average one piece a day this will only take seven or eight years. Unless we keep buying stuff…