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August 15, 2004
Record Weirdo - Rhino Westwood Collectors Expo
Rhino Record Collectors' Expo (a.k.a. R/RCEXPO!)
March 21, 2004
By Kevin Hillskemper
The Rhino Records store in Westwood has always had periodic parking lot clearance sales, but I don't know exactly how often. This time it was combined with the first Rhino Record Collectors' Expo (a.k.a. R/RCEXPO!).
The action, so to speak, was mainly at the clearance sale. It was mostly cutout, used, and promo CDs for one to three dollars each, some fifty-cent vinyl albums, and a smattering of videos. I saw the usual geek types pushing wheelbarrows and pulling little red wagons to haul their loot but I would have been disappointed if I hadn't. Having recently sold a big chunk of my collection, I was determined to be more selective. I'll cut to the chase, here's a brief rundown of my haul:
Streetwalking Cheetahs - "Maximum Overdrive"
I am guilty of prejudging this band on their name alone, especially when they released an album entitled "With a Heart Full of Napalm". How stinking obvious can you get? I bought this anyway. It was a safe investment since it was only three easily recoupable bucks. Guess what? I like it. It's one of those leftovers type collections that I like better than most "real" albums. In addition to what you'd expect from them, they have some nice pop stuff too. One standout is cover of the Runaways anthem "Cherry Bomb" with guest vocals by Cherie Currie. I forgive them for taking their name from an Iggy lyric. You could do a lot worse than Iggy. Just imagine, they have been "Some People Call Me Maurice" or "Sucking On A Chili Dog Outside The Tastee Freeze".
Joe Jackson "Live 1980-86"
I forgot that I bought this. I remember picking it up to look at it but I thought I put it back. However, my merely showing interest in it makes it worthy of merit. I've always liked his stuff, but I think it was too complicated musically for me to really appreciate. This has aged well. He made some really good Elvis Costello/Graham Parker meets XTC type rock before he got bored with it.
George Jones "Greatest Hits"
These are some of his really early songs. The packaging is cheesy, the sound is muddy, and it's only about 20 minutes long but it's good for the price.
Bob Marley and the Wailers "In the Beginning"
See above.
Buddy Blue "Sordid Lives"
Here is a jazz album from the original Beat Farmers guitarist. The songs are good, well played, well recorded and everything, but I don't like his singing. It sounds like he's trying too hard to be "authentic". For all I know, it could be authentic but it just sounds fake. I want my dollar back.
Rhythm & Blues All Stars Vol. 4 "Jump the Boogie". A various artist compilation of late 40's R&B from L.A., Chicago, New Orleans, and other hot spots. Some of these people I've heard of, some I haven't. It has great titles like "Wake Up Old Maid", "Bar Fly Baby", "Fly Chick Bounce", and "Fat Girl Boogie". You can't go wrong.
Various Artists "Program Annihilator II - A Soundtrack for Destruction"
Yee haw. This historical oddball is from SST Records during their short-lived flirtation with heavy metal. Featured artists include Soundgarden, St. Vitus, SWA, BL?AST, Bad Brains (okay, I can see that), and the Descendents(?!). The late 80's were a very confusing time.
I GOT VINYL
From the fifty cent vinyl bin I got
Johnny Doe "Sings The Million Seller Country Sound Made Famous by Johnny Cash". Brilliant. I like the canned audience noises. I wonder if John Doe of X has this album. He really should.
There were less than ten dealer tables selling vinyl, but they were more than worthwhile. I upgraded my copy of the first album by The Damned on Stiff with a slick German pressing for only three bucks. For the same price, I also found the R&B/Sleaze/rockabilly compilation "Born Bad Vol. II". It was put together from a very Cramps-centric point of view, but it's good enough to stand on it's own merit. And then there's "Sitar Power" by Ashwin Batish. It's the rocking-est sitar album ever if you don't mind the new wave electric drums.
I bought a bootleg/counterfeit 4-song Dangerhouse EP by The Bags. I realize that The Bags never put out a 4-song EP on Dangerhouse, but it's kind of a cool artifact anyway. It was fairly cheap (about the cost of a CD) and I believe that original Dangerhouse 7-inchers currently change hands in the low billions.
The highlight of the day was meeting one of my personal guitar heroes -- Davie "King of the Fuzz Guitar" Allan. If you are not familiar with Davie Allan and the Arrows and their unique brand of pre-psychedelic fuzz-tone instrumental garage rock, then you have probably already fallen asleep reading this. Probably their best-known album is the soundtrack to the American International biker flick "The Wild Angels". Davie was at the show selling some sealed original copies of his albums, which command some serious bucks from serious collectors.
I guess I'm not serious enough because I didn't buy any of them. I already have a few of them and, as great as they are, they all pretty much sound the same.
Another highlight of the day was eating a gyro for lunch at Astro Burger in West Hollywood. The meat was seasoned and cooked to perfection, the dressing was abundant yet not overpowering, and the vegetables were fresh and crisp.
Posted by Big Kev at August 15, 2004 3:34 PM
