Over the years some people have referred to me as "Captain save a record". I'm not sure why but I can't seem to pass by a stack of records without at least having a peek. More often than not I will end up buying the most obscure labels in the stack. Here are 5 places I find myself finding the best unexpected gems. The rough in which you may find a diamond.
Craigslist:
A very popular site originally designed mainly for escort services and sketchy characters in general, it has grown massively over the years and has now become a household name. Simply type in "records", "vinyl", or any similar keywords to get started.
Thrift Stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.):
More than just disease ridden teddy bears and clothes that smell like moth balls, thrift stores are great place to get lost in. Usually in a bottom corner of most thrift stores will reside a hidden cache of dusty records that time has forgot. No rush here. Go ahead, have a seat and get to digging. Most thrift stores are very friendly and some will even have an old record player laying around that you can use to listen before you buy.
Old People:
Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie, and Uncle more likely than not have saved the best jams of their era, along with albums from artists you never knew existed! Just ask and so long as they aren't crabby or over-medicated they will break out their favorite format of the ages. Caution: Most albums from this source usually require you to listen to some veerrry long stories with no predictable end in sight. Just nod and laugh, nod and laugh.
Storage Sheds:
I do not condone theft or burglary. With that in mind some old small towns will hold tattered abandon storage buildings and sheds. Very exciting yet somewhat dangerous, you never know what you're going to find, including the occasional homeless person. Just bring some beer and sandwiches to fend them off and you should be fine.
Garage Sales:
Most people unlike myself are dying to get rid of these outdated platters taking up space in the attic. They are handed down a lot of times and the person running the show usually has not even looked at the pile in years or even ever. To get the most bang for your buck, grab all the ones you want and hold them all in one hand when you go ask to purchase. A haggle is in order at this point. Don't mention what specific albums you have just offer a lump sum for all of them. Most likely they will throw you a cheap price just to get them out of there.
There are plenty more places that I have not listed but scouting them out is half the fun! Please comment below with more places, ideas, and finds! Thanks for your time and have an awesome day!
