What Will I Find?: Random record shopping with a plan
By Bobby Forand
Amoeba Music in Los Angeles is the world’s largest independent record store. They have a video segment called “What’s in the Bag.” The segment features reputable musicians and actors who shop at the store and discuss the albums they bought, giving some background about the artist,their personal history, and insights into why they purchased what they did.
I’ve always liked this segment and have wanted to pay it homage for years, while not completely ripping off the idea. I wrote an article for a webzine I had back in the early 2000s, where I went to Newbury Comics with the intention of buying CDs from bands I hadn’t heard before. This was well before smartphones and streaming (think Napster days), so I was able to go in blind. I made choices based on record label, band name, and cover art.
I made the plan to go to a record store with the following criteria: find something local, unique or cheap. I didn’t want to buy something that I could easily stream. Decades of collecting have left me with little space. I’m in the slow process of trimming down and determining non-essentials worthy of a new home.
Because I was driving by, I made the impromptu decision to stop at Black Lodge Collectables on Broad St in Cranston. Even though I could walk there from my house, this was my first visit to the establishment. The inside was similar to the picture I had in my head. The space was small but jam-packed. The side walls were full of collectible toys, the back wall featured video games, a rack of comic books lined one wall (with collectables on shelves above) and the center featured a long rack of records separated by genre. A few CDs were near the records. There was a display case featuring the more expensive collectibles.
I had a friend with me that I needed to keep an eye on, so I quickly rummaged through the metal records while making sure he was able to navigate through the narrow space without dropping or breaking anything (I also had visions of myself tripping over something and wreaking havoc or damage). Nothing really caught my eye, though the Dropdead discography vinyl seemed cool (I have most of their recordings already so that wasn’t needed). I flipped through punk records and briefly looked at the seven-inch records.
I made my way to the other side of the record rack. This side had some older stuff and some expensive Metallica vinyl (this led to the listening of Kill Em All on the ride home). I found a section of soundtracks from TV shows and started digging. I was intrigued by Popeye. I looked at the front and back covers before returning it to its alphabetical home as I continued my search. I kept thinking about that record as I made my way back to the metal and punk sections to see what else I might find striking.
I regret not spending $20 on a Batman television soundtrack at a record convention years ago. A few different vendors had it for sale and I gave it a gander every time I saw it. I had it in my hands more than a few times, but never pulled the trigger, feeling that $20 was too much (I had already spent some cash). This vision was clear in my head while the Popeye record rested in the Soundtrack section.
My friend picked up a CD as I thumbed through more records, hoping to find a gem. The disc immediately fell out of the case, telling me it was time to go. I went straight to the Popeye record while my friend talked to the clerk about drums and asked questions that were difficult to understand. I paid $8 and we headed for the car. I felt good about my purchase and looked forward to giving it a spin on my low-quality record player upon returning home.
