Event Attendance: The 2018 Eugene Record Show - February 25, 2018.

Was telling myself I'd missed the Eugene Record Show last year but attended the year before, but after checking my records I determined that it had, in fact, been two years since I last made the jaunt. I was due.

So with federal-tax-return cash in wallet, I left Portland at 8AM to make it to the Eugene Hilton by 10. Rain was heavy but traffic was light, so I made it down there right on schedule, and at 10 sharp I was waiting in line with a my fellow rain-soaked, bearded losers.

I bought mostly LPs on this trip, but I did pick up some cassettes. Check 'em:

That Juice Crew tape for 3 bucks? That's some shit right there. I used to have that Velvet Underground 2-tape live reunion set when I lived in Eugene (1996-ish) and I remember being really into it for a while. No idea what happened to it. Seemed fitting to pick it up. Mercury Rev was an impulse buy.

I also picked up a short stack of 7" records. Some solid stuff here:

Coffin Break - "Kill the President" 7" (1991)

The back cover of this one features Jesse Helms fucking a donkey. Button pushers! Flip is a precious 90's anti-censorship call-to-action.

Dwarves - "She's Dead" 7" (1990)

I have the black vinyl version of this one; this is the white vinyl. Includes the B-side "Fuckhead." Total running time for both songs? One minute, twelve seconds.

Dwarves - Lucifer's Crank 7" (1991)

Blue vinyl. 9 songs on this 45, and I think they're older than 1991. Includes an alternate version of "She's Dead," along with the classics "Get Pregnant," "Dead Brides," and "Eat You to Survive." Sound quality can only be described as "dicey at best."

Kurt Vile - "He's Alright" 7" (2009)

Already had the black vinyl version of this record; this is the "sky blue" edition. It's got some white mixed in with the blue. You know, like a sky.

Kurt Vile - "In My Time" 7" (2010)

Couple of alt versions of some Smoke Ring for My Halo tracks and another unreleased song. I am a Kurt Vile fan.

And that was it for 7" records. Didn't realize how many LPs I bought until I got home and unloaded my trusty satchel. Fat stack. Good mix of stuff here:

Jr. Cadillac - Classic 1977-1978 (1979)

I am actively collecting private-press NW records at this point, and the dealer that I normally go to first at this show was right inside the door like he always is, and he actually had a whole section of vintage Northwest vinyl. I ended up buying a bunch of stuff from this dude, like I usually do: he's always got the best organized and priced Beatles, Doors, Zappa, and Talking Heads records, and I've learned to go through his stuff before I go anywhere else. I could've bought more from him, honestly. I stopped looking after my pile got a little wobbly. Anyway - this is a band out of Seattle who put a bunch of records out on their own label during the 70s and 80s.

Lloyd Jones - The Lloyd Jones Struggle (1986)

Blues guitarist out of Portland who is still active, I believe. Signed on the back to "Brian."

Lloyd Jones - Small Potatoes (1989)

Lloyd's follow-up. This is on Portland's Criminal Records label, as was the previous one.

The Razorbacks - More Love Less Attitude (1986)

LP out of Portland on the Nebula Circle label, which is listed at being on 34th and SE Hawthorne. Here they are performing the title track. I love the internet.

The Doors - Strange Days (1967)

I believe this is the second Taiwanese Strange Days bootleg I own. This one uses the original back cover for the front cover and prints the full lyrics on the back - and they're impressively correct. Usually with these records the printed lyrics are wildly, hilariously off. Though on the label "I Can't See Your Face In My Mind" is listed as "I can't see your face in my mine." So that's something.

Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts - Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts (1985)

When it comes to bands I saw the most as a young child, these guys are at the top of the list. Think I saw 'em twice. Fan club address is listed as being in Wilsonville.

The Doors - The Soft Parade (1969)

Not sure why I owned four copies of Waiting for the Sun and zero copies of this record, but that was the score going into this one. This is a mid-70's pressing, but I finally got a nice clean copy of what I consider a very underrated album from the band from Venice.

The Doors - Morrison Hotel (1970)

This is hard for me to admit, but I didn't own this one, either, and it's usually my favorite Doors album. But it's fixed now: this is a sweeeeeet original pressing of this - the cover and vinyl are both in great shape. And I can say that I now have solid copies of every Doors studio album. Phew.

Group Du Jour - Wonderful Vision (1987)

New-wave synth-pop out of Portland that I'm already liking.

Sand - Sand (1973)

I bought this band's other LP late last year (possibly from this same dude) and I've been on the lookout for this one, their debut, ever since. It's a weird one: gatefold cover housing two slabs of one-sided vinyl. You never have to stop the music, brother. Country-rock out of Portland on an MGM subsidiary label.

Billy Idol - "Heroin" 12" (1993)

Double 12" on white vinyl with 8 ridiculous long-ass remixes of an already ridiculous song. I am all about this. I need a copy of Cyberpunk on wax, stat.

And all of those LPs were from that same guy. I had to move on.

The Paul DeLay Band - The Paul deLay Band (1985)

More mid-80's blues out of Portland, and also on Criminal Records. Wanting to learn more about this label. Because it's such an obvious name and has been used so many times, Discogs is a mess when trying to figure it out.

The Paul deLay Band - Burnin' (1988)

Another one on Criminal Records, and it appears to be the follow-up to the S/T LP. Red-hot blues!

Larry Coryell - The Restful Mind (1975)

If you read this blog, you know I've become something of a fledgling Larry Coryell fan in the past year or so. Great music for puttering around my house to. Dude's a wild guitar player. Saw this one for three bucks and I didn't already have it, so yoink.

Thurston Knudson - Primitive Percussion: African Jungle Drums (1961)

My percussion record collection is two crates deep and I'm always trying to add to it. These are going for close to $20 on Discogs but I nabbed this one for less than 5, I think. Should be a banger.

Missy Mist - "Gettin' Bass" 12" (1989)

Didn't find a lot of rap records this time around, but I did grab a few. This one's direct from Miami with the boomin' bass. Contains two tracks and two "dancetramentals." Big plans to bump this thru the 24" kick in my low-rider's trunk.

Wu-Tang Clan - "C.R.E.A.M." 12" (1994)

Original version of this 12". Pairs nicely with the die-cut one I paid too much for a few Record Store Days ago. Still in the shrink with that classic cover.

Ace Weems and the Fat Meat Boys - It's All Gone Now (1981)

Couldn't pass this one up on name alone, but the LP is sealed, too, which is pretty sweet. Private-press old-timey blues/country out of Natural Bridge, VA.

Rouvaun - The World's Greatest Singer Rouvaun Sings Love Songs (1966)

I was shocked to see that this guy actually went on to a somewhat successful recording career with RCA records, because that's a fairly bold claim he's making on the cover there, and the textbook sign of a madman. But the leather suit lets you know who you're dealing with, as does the photo on the back of him riding his Harley down Sunset. World's greatest? You be the judge.

Mark Korven - Passengers (1984)

This one just looked cool as shit, so I picked it up. Private-press LP out of Canada on the new-wave tip. Bummed I can't find any clips online because it's fun, pop-fused Talking Heads-type stuff. Dude has gone on to become a very successful film and TV composer. He's listed on this one as providing "vocals, guitar, guitar & keyboard synthesizers, spray can, alarm clock." Good stuff.

And that was it! I only had two hours to spend at the show, so I do think I scooped some stuff without thinking too much about it, but I feel good about the haul, overall. Sometimes the rap records just aren't there. But man: my NW private-press collection is becoming super legit. Fear me.

Event Attendance: Portland's Night Owl Record Show - October 14, 2017

Man, this is the biggest vinyl-shopping expedition I've been on in the last six months (since the previous Night Owl show), and it felt good to get back in the game. The Night Owl was - god bless it - crazy tolerable this time around: the air was dry and the attendance was not overwhelming. Didn't have to wait in line to get in; didn't have to jockey for position at every table.

Did I have to deal with tactless dudes looking over my shoulder and crowding the shit out of me? That's par for the course. But let it be known that I hate dudes looking through the records that I'm flipping through. And I say "dudes" because it's literally never been a woman. They have more sense than that. Anyway, even that wasn't so bad this time around.

I was struggling to find any big gems, but I did happen across an old guy's table where he had a full section of fairly priced private-press stuff, a lot of which was from the NW. Ended up dumping the majority of my budget there, and ended up with some rare-ass DIY local records, which is becoming a hot part of my collection. Got some other stuff, too. Let's get into it.

Kurt Vile - God is Saying This to You (2009)

Grabbed this LP/cassette combo package from one of the first dealers I happened upon and glad I did: It's a limited-to-300-copies pressing of one of Vile's earlier albums, hand-numbered on the back. Didn't even have this record, let alone the most rare version of it. Feeling good. Though do I keep the cassette with the record in my collection? That seems tough to pull off without some collateral denting. We'll see.

Kevin Johns - Desert Sands (1978)

Private-press folk LP out of Grand Canyon. Arizona. My copy is autographed by the artist and producer (?) to a woman named Sue, who is a "fellow Oregonian." Producer mentions he is "late of Silverton." Vinyl's in hot shape. Here's a sample.

The Jim Hearn Band - The Telephone (1981)

Couldn't pass this one up. The back cover is equally great. Private-press new-wave rock out of Pebble Beach, CA.

Rancid - Rancid (1993)

This was the last record I bought at the show. Original pressing, still in the shrink, insert inside. I've been known to get down with early Rancid.

Sonic Youth - "Flower"/"Halloween" 12" (1986)

One of those many Sonic Youth records that I've seen here and there over the years but never pulled the trigger on. This is a really nice copy - "clean," as they say.

The Wreckin' Cru - "Surgery" 12" (1984)

You'll see a decent amount of World Class Wreckin' Cru records out in the wild, but not usually this one, at least not around these parts. My old pals from Boom Wow! Records (RIP, miss you every day) hooked me up with this one and this next one. They didn't have a ton of rap records with them this time around, but I was happy to find these. Early Dre that he used to be embarrassed about but now it all seems pretty sweet.

The World Class Wreckin' Cru - "Juice" 12" (1985)

Another Wreckin' Cru disc, another entry into the unlikely history of N.W.A. Dr. Dre doesn't rap on this one, but he does do the drum programming. Yella's on the scratch. These are, somehow, the first Wreckin' Cru records I've ever purchased. Plenty more to go. I need to get back to Amoeba in LA, where they give these things out like candy.

Jeanne & Joanne - Look Around You (1969)

Twin girls from Portland singing for Jesus. Notable: every song on here is an original, written and performed by the twins. No "Amazing Grace" bullshit.

Ron & Cathy - More Than a Man (197?)

Another NW couple singing about the ol' lord. These folks are from Vancouver, WA. Also all originals. This one's sealed.

The Clark Family Gospel Singers - I Wouldn't Miss It Would You (196?)

Private-press gospel out of Cottage Grove. Can't find a lick of info about this one. All covers, for what that's worth.

We Three - Work in Progress (197?)

Rare private-press female worship "xian" folk from the Oregon Coast (Gardiner, to be exact). Record is in amazing shape. Handwritten lyrics on the back. I love records like this. Wish there was a date, though!

Johnny and The Distractions - Johnny and The Distractions (1980)

Self-released first effort from this Portland band that would eventually go on to sign to A&M and then back to the indies again. I have another Johnny and The Distractions record in my collection, called Totally Distracted. This one will look real sweet next to it. Here's "Shoulder of the Road" from this self-titled LP. Real solid early-80's rock.

Dennis Doyle - Chanticleer (1978)

Private-press Portland/Tualatin folk/blues LP. Dude actually had two of these, but one had writing on the front that was not the signature of ol' Dennis there, so I went with the cleaner one. Record is in damn fine shape.

Gary Parks - Toneweave (1983)

Private-press folk out of Eugene. Seems to be Gary's sole release. He sprung for the color cover!

Henry Kinsley - Never Gonna Stop Dreamin' (197?)

Country music out of Vancouver, WA on the private-press tip. This one is sealed. I especially enjoy the NW self-released records that let you know on the cover that it is indeed the NW.

Various - Lane County's Greatest Hits (1978)

This is a crazy little LP compilation of some really disparate artists from Eugene and Springfield, Oregon, ranging from a 16-year-old hippie kid doing an instrumental guitar number about mushrooms to a 53-year-old lady tickling the ivories as she sings a heartfelt tribute to the Eugene area. This is exactly the kind of record I hope to find.

Cathy Lunsford - You Men At The Bar (1975)

Singer/songwriter private-press LP out of mid-70s Portland. She's got another one, too, that seems a bit harder to find. Keeping my eyes peeled. This one: also sealed.

Kidskin - Murder in a Tight White Dress (1985)

This was one of my bigger-ticket items for the day and I have no regrets. Private-press hair-metal EP out of Seattle with the title track, "One Nite Stand," "Twist of the Blade," and "The Edge of Wetness." Amazing. This music video for "Murder in a Tight White Dress" seals the deal. Oh, and speaking of sealed, this one is.

Providence - Ever Sense the Dawn (1972)

Not private press, but these dudes were based out of Portland at the time this was released. Sensitive, intricate folk. Full album here.

Cymantha - Cymantha (1977)

Seattle private-press folk from the late 70s. Photo of her on the back playing a fat stack of keyboards. This one looks fun. Oh and my copy's signed, too.

Barney Armstrong's Machine - Live at Jordan's Alpine (1978)

"Recorded live at Jordan's Alpine in Everett, Wash. December 28, 1977 thru January 1. 1978." Between the cover, that statement, and a written endorsement on the back cover from hydroplane racing legend Bill Muncey, I was fully in for this one. They're a cover band, and from the looks of some of the cuts, a party band at that. It was 1978. You better believe "Disco Inferno" is on here. But they also kick the whole thing off with a six-song Stevie Wonder medley. Decent recording and these dudes go for it. Feeling real good about this one.

Sand - Head in the Sand (1976)

If you fancy record album covers, you might recognize this one. I see it every once in a while, but never put together that the band was from Portland. Anyway, the one with the sandwich cover was Sand's first LP, put out by MGM. This one is their follow-up, and they put it out themselves. It includes a lyric sheet, an 8x10 promo photo, and a bumper sticker. All accounted for; all in great shape.



And that was it! Wish I would have found more rap records, but that's usually the case. Next up: Am I going to RSD Black Friday? Maybe! But honestly probably not.