January Record Shopping in Arizona, Part Five.

Our last stop was another Zia in Tempe, I think near the ASU campus. It was getting late but we ended up being there for a while, not leaving until after 10:30. You gotta put in the work, people. Here's what I got:

Annie Lennox & Al Green - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" 7" (1988)

In the Scrooged sleeve! Had to buy it for that.

The DiMartinos - The DiMartinos (1974)

Private-press LP out of St. Paul, Minnesota, that I assumed was gonna be super down with Jesus, but it's actually a pop record that's all covers - seems like they were a gigging band that provided entertainment at events and whatnot. My copy is signed by all four members on the back. I love paying two dollars for records like this.

8Ball & MJG - Ridin High (2007)

2xLP, sealed, and it was 8 bucks. My first 8Ball & MJG full-length on vinyl, I think. Killer Mike is on this one.

This album - specifically the lead-off track, "Relax and Take Notes" - brings up something I've been thinking about for a while. On the sleeve, it says "Relax and Take Notes featuring Notorious B.I.G. and Project Pat." If you listen to the song, BIG is just sampled for the hook, which is taken from a verse I know (literally the only BIG lyrics I know) in "Dead Wrong" with him and Eminem. So, first off, it's not what you'd traditionally consider a rap "feature" at all, because the dude's been dead for a decade by the time this thing dropped. Also, "featuring" an artist of this caliber would imply - to me, at least - he'd be rapping a verse, though I think that line's gotten blurrier over the years and there's an argument to be made there. But, to me, there's also an implication that his contribution would be something new, or at least rare enough that not a lot of people had heard it. If not, why would I care about it? This is taken from his posthumous album, which sold 2 million copies. I just think it's a little misleading and maybe even a little cheap. And I doubt it's even the rappers themselves who do it. I know there's other examples of this. Anyway.

Bobby Gosh - Love Ballet (1982)

That cover is really something. The lead track on this is an amazing anthem that should have soundtracked a steamy love scene in a movie. Maybe it was. At 1:35 I'm pretty sure he says "Touching softly as we feel clothing disappear" which is incredible.

Digital Underground - Future Rhythm (1996)

This has been the elusive DU album I've never owned in any capacity. Not even sure I've heard any of it before. This is the official US vinyl release - plain black sleeve with a track-listing sticker. Actually the sticker's on the shrink. This thing was sealed, sucka.

Kra-Zee White Boy - Down & Dirty (1990)

This is, against all odds, worse and more offensive than I thought it might be.

Neil Michael Hagerty - Plays That Good Old Rock and Roll (2002)

At 12 bucks, this was one of my more expensive purchases, and the last thing I picked up on the trip. Dude from Royal Trux. My wife is gonna love this record!

I bought some tapes while we were there, and I had been picking up other ones during our trip. Here's all of 'em:

Yeah, I'm getting into W.A.S.P. It's about time. And that Fudge Tunnel tape was a legit score. Alright. Now I gotta find room for this stuff.

January Record Shopping in Arizona, Part Four.

Next we headed to Asylum Records in Mesa, which was a metal-head's paradise, with KISS memorabilia everywhere and all kinds of other rock-related ephemera. They also had a super sweet cassette section in the front:

And at reasonable prices! (Except for this special bin inside where they were trying to sell cassette copies of Check Your Head for $20. They're currently going for about $5 on Discogs and eBay. Dick move. There were a bunch of overpriced tapes in there - stuff I would have paid $5 for because that is what they are worth. Bummer.)

They also had a small wall of bootleg cassettes with handwritten labels, which I've always assumed were basically garbage in the age of the internet. I could download these for free and make my own shitty cassette labels instead of paying $15.

I felt like a lot of the records there were overpriced, which was frustrating because they have a huge selection of vinyl and some really cool shit. The records were just consistently 5 or 10 bucks more than they should be. But, my brother helped me comb through the sizable 12" section, which was much more forgiving with the ol' price tags, and I scooped some stuff.

Salt-n-Pepa - "Tramp" 12" (1987)

So the original version of "Tramp" was released on S&P's 1986 LP Hot, Cool, & Vicious. This 12" remix was released a year-ish later, with the original, 4:09 version of "Push It" (which I can't find anywhere on the internet) on the flip. The 7" version of this 12" features a remix of "Push It," and that's the version that would end up being a hit, getting its own single (which I bought in 1987 on 7"- no big deal) and leading off their next record, 1988's A Salt with a Deadly Pepa. So that's how that works.

Bell Biv Devoe - "Do Me!" 12" (1990)

I keep some records in the front room of our house that I play when I'm doing dishes. This will be one of those. More than ready for the 9-minute "Mentality Hip Hop" mix. Man I was so down for BBD the year they came out and so embarrassed I ever listened to them the year after that. Glad we can get back on track.

D.ST - Crazy Cuts (1983)

I bought one of this guy's other records a while back. He's the dude who scratched on "Rockit" and was a DJ pioneer all-around. Mostly known now as Grand Mixer DXT. Old school clap bap.

ET (Eddie Towns) - "Beat Friends" 12" (1985)

Bought this strictly based on the cover and I have no regrets.

Jimmy Z - "Funky Flute (featuring Dr. Dre)" 12" (1991)

Man, I have to straight-up cop to not knowing this video existed. (Make sure to stick around till the end for Eazy.) Dre's looking like he's fulfilling some contractual obligations on that one. This is the promo 12" - on the Ruthless label, mind you - for that lead single from his full album that actually came out. Shit is nuts. A-side on this is a 9-minute club mix.

Arabian Prince - "She's Got a Big Posse" 12" (1989)

Really not that great of a 12" now that I'm looking at it. Two album versions, a radio edit, and "bonus beats" that is just two minutes of four-bar loops. Good-looking cover, though.

Bobby Jimmy & The Critters - "N.Y./L.A. Rappers" 12" (1988)

Speaking of Arabian Prince, he was one of The Critters before he joined and left NWA. This is the sole BJ&TC release on Ruthless, and this thing says it's produced by Dr. Dre, and he does show up briefly on one track (the dirty one). Bobby Jimmy was a comedy rapper, sort of an 80's hip-hop Weird Al. The A-side here finds him biting beats and styles from Public Enemy, EPMD, Ice-T, and even Eazy-E. You wild for this one, Bobby Jimmy.

Oaktown's 3•5•7 - "Turn it Up" 12" (1991)

One of the final releases from these lovely ladies. Only bonus track is a dub, but I'll take it. This jam just reeks of 1991.

Michel'le - "Keep Watchin'" 12" (1989)

Two remixes on here, as well as a bonus track (that Dre raps on and Jimmy Z plays flute on), all produced by Dr. Dre in 1989. Club bangers on the dance tip. You can hear him saying shit in the background. It's dope. And yeah: that's a watch on her ankle.

Urban Dance Squad - "Deeper Shade of Soul" 12" (1990)

One of what I'm sure are endless variations of this single. This one has a hype sticker on the black sleeve that says "A Deeper Shade of Squad" and some other stuff. Three mixes, one of which is the "single version." Oooh, you spoil me! I love UDS, btw. I feel like some people think they're a dated remnant of the 90's or something. These guys could do it. How dare you.

Tairrie B - "Swingin' Wit T" 12" (1990)

Very excited to find this. Corners are clipped on both sides on the bottom (?) so this might be an interim copy, but it'll do for now. Only one non-album track - a remix that's sufficiently dope. This is on Comptown Records, like the rest of Tairrie B's early output, and her early stuff is about the only thing the label actually put out. Short lived, sucka.

Def Jef - "Black to the Future" 12" (1990)

I keep looking out for Def Jef's first album, and it just ain't happening. I think I have one of his other 12"s, but that might be it. The remix on this is solid, but it's the almost-nine-minute lyrical clinic Jef puts on on "Phunky Az Phuck" that seals the deal. Very 1990. Jef's got some knowledge to drop, y'all.

Next up: we go one more place and eventually realize it's 10:30 at night and we're two hours from home.

January Record Shopping in Arizona, Part Three.

OK, we're back on track here. After we left PDQ, we headed for Phoenix, stopping at the Zia in Chandler. It's a big-ass store but I didn't really find a ton of stuff. Here is what I did find.

V/A - Summer School (1987)

This was - and I have no regrets about this - one of the more expensive records I bought on this trip. That's not saying much, but it does say that I was willing to spend 10 bucks on this because I've never seen it before. Such a great movie.

Dave Pratt and The Sex Machine Band - The Worst of "The Wild One" Dave Pratt Volume Three: Turbo Mother (1986)

Local Tempe, Arizona morning DJ goofball. Red vinyl!

Champagne Explosion - Champagne Explosion (1978)

I dunno. It's called Champagne Explosion and the first two songs are called "Action is Tight" and "Sexy Changes." I'm intrigued.

Dolly Parton - Just the Way I Am (1972)

Dolly comp of early material released on the Pickwick label. Cash grab alert!

Dolly Parton - The Great Pretender (1984)

Hellooooo Dolly.

Exude - "Boys Just Want to Have Sex" 12" (1984)

Karaoke-level keyboard synth jam with dudes singing about how they want to have sex. Trying to figure out who these maniacs are.

After the big Zia we headed to the Revolver Records in Tempe, which was a cool little shop, but just didn't have a ton of what I'd normally be looking for. I did pick up a few good ones, though:

Madonna - Who's That Girl (1987)

Scooped this for some reason. Gotta gas up my wife's Madge collection!

Whodini - "Freaks" 12" (1991)

Whodini in '91. I don't think I'd ever heard this song. This isn't "The Freaks Come Out at Night." This is awkward.

Young Black Teenagers - Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz (1993)

Been looking for this forever. Got a gold-stamp promo edition with the hype sticker still on the front. Now I gotta find their first one.

Michel'le - Michel'le (1989)

I'm pretty much down to buy any early Ruthless release for three bucks. 1989. What a year. Think I may have picked up another Michel'le record on this trip. Look out for it!

We left Revolver and went to a place called Tracks in Wax, that was a cool little store on the inside:

But, the prices were outrageous. Shit like Men at Work's first album for seven or eight bucks. Just total garbage. This picture sums up a lot of it:

Hot dealz! Thanks for the hookup!

So we left there. I bought nothing. Next we went to Stinkweeds in Phoenix. Nice, hip-to-Pitchfork store but the prices were a little high, and they didn't have a ton of stuff I wanted.

Bobcat Goldthwait - Meat Bob (1988)

It's not like I'm even really a Bobcat fan, but this was in good shape and cheap. And the cover is frightening.

Barry Louis Polisar - I Eat Kids and Other Songs for Rebellious Children (1975)

I found one of this wonderful kook's other records when I was in Philadelphia a few years back and it was equally wacky in its approach. So I felt I should get this one.

Marlene Hershey - Merry Christmas Melodies (196?)

Private-press Christmas album out of Pennsylvania. Gonna treasure this one in 11 months.

Next up: a few more places and some rap 12"s!

January Record Shopping in Arizona, Part Two.

This is actually part one. I realized/remembered after trying to make sense of the photos I had - and then matching them to the multiple bags of records - that we had actually hit two different Zia Records in Tucson in the two days previous; I just hadn't remembered to take photos and I bought more on those trips than I realized. The timeline doesn't ultimately matter, but I guess I like to keep it straight for posterity.

So this is the stuff I bought on those two trips. I don't have photos of the Zia stores, but instead I offer up a picture I took (above) during the tail end of our trip, of a record I don't ever recall seeing before this weekend (though I probably have): Jim Steinman's Bad for Good. My brother showed me the cover during one of our first stops and then I kept seeing it at at least every other store we went to. That happens sometimes. For me, for this weekend, it was that record. I guess it has something to do with Meat Loaf. The records I bought, as far as I know, have absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Loaf.

Marshmallow Overcoat - Alive 7" (1989)

Very into this one. Local Tucson Doors-esque psych/garage rockers on white vinyl - one side 33&1/3, one side 45. It's on Dionysus Records, natch. Here's "Won't Go Away/Walking in This World."

Gas Huffer - Integrity Technology and Service (1992)

Wasn't even sure this one came with a comic, and boom: there it was, in the sleeve. eMpTy label.

Rick Porter - Truth of Lies (197?)

"The Potpourri Singer." Private press on the Potpourri label and also contains a copy of his extensive press kit.

The Black Watch - Short Stories (1989)

College rock with violin on what appears to be the band's own label. Got a Michael Penn vibe to it.

Blood on the Saddle - Poison Love (1986)

Punky chug-a-lug that feels very SST. Need to figure out more about this one. Looks cool.

Two Crisp Bills - Because of the Music (1979)

These guys are both named Bill. Private press and they went all out on this one. Great cover.

Radiance - He Loves Me So (1977)

Private-press religious LP out of Seattle. Back cover is where the pictures of children show up and it gets a little creepy. I've now got both a Washington Private Press and a dedicated Religious Private Press section in my collection - this album qualifies for both! I've got some big decisions to make.

Michael Quatro - Bottom Line (1981

Suzi's brother! His interests include disco and never wearing a shirt.

DC Star - DC Star (1982)

Picture disc from a Baltimore rock band who appear to be pretty incredible. My copy still has the original price tags on the back, as well as the original receipt from 1982. Keeping that shit intact.

Rap Reiplinger - Poi Dog (1978)

Hawaiian comedian who comes off like a real weirdo. I have one of his other records. It's all very Hawaii-specific and I don't get many of the jokes.

Jean Michel Jarre - Magnetic Fields (1981)

Sort of had my eye out for this one for a while. Haven't listened to it yet.

V/A - Homegrown (1977)

San Diego-area rock comp to benefit the local United Way. From what I can tell.

Richard De Vos - Selling America (1967)

Folks, he's here to talk to you about Amway. I collect records like these because they terrify me.

Joy Rose - "Sexual Voodoo" 12" (1987)

12" disco-rap from '87 that is ready to put a spell on you.

Dolly Parton - Bubbling Over (1973

I just saw the cover for this for the first time like a year ago, and I've been keeping an eye out. Finally found it. What a piece of work.

Dolly Parton - New Harvest...First Gathering (1977)

Another one I didn't have. Looks farmy!

Carol Hensel - Dancersize (1980)

Includes the original instructional pamphlet! Bonus! This ain't Jazzercise, you pussies. We're going hard.

Madonna - "Dress You Up" 12" (1985)

Guys, my wife's record collection is getting really great. Plus you know I'll get down for a Madonna 12" remix from the 80's.

Ralph Harrison - Fee Spirit Movin' (1972)

Just a guy taking his guitar for a ride in his dune buggy.

Servant - Shallow Water (1979)

Christian rock group whose members all lived in a 40-person commune outside of Grants Pass, Oregon. I'm gonna keep an eye out for more from this group, because it feels weirdly culty and I'm intrigued.







Phew. Still so much more to come. Next up we begin to think about starting to head to Phoenix!