Rainy Day Thrifting: A Vinyl Lover's Treasure Hunt
LINK TO FULL VIDEO
What's the best thing to do on a rainy day if you're a vinyl lover? Go thrifting! It's been a while since I indulged in this pastime. I used to thrift daily, stopping by local shops near work to search for oddities, hidden gems, or just quirky records at bargain prices. But lately, life has been too busy, and the last few times I went, the selection was pretty dismal.
Fortunately, I don't have to leave my house to thrift anymore. A generous viewer named Dave, who works at a thrift store on the West Coast, started sending me pictures of records that come in. I give a thumbs-up or down, he sets aside the ones I like, and after a while, he sends me a box. We've done this twice now, and it has brought me some fantastic oddities perfect for my Living Stereo popular series and other upcoming projects.
In today's box, which I opened on camera, I found a mix of quirky, nostalgic, and genuinely exciting records. Here are some highlights:
Liberty Premier "50 Velvet Brass": A die-cut cover, gold label, and classic audio from Liberty's short-lived audiophile line.
RCA Living Stereo titles: Including a Frank Symphony with the Chicago Symphony, a Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 4, and a Canadian pressing of "Inspiration" with Stokowski and the Norman Luboff Choir.
Reg Owen's "Girls Were Made to Take Care of Boys": An eyebrow-raising, kitschy cover I had to have for the novelty alone.
Ray Conniff selections: I'm planning a Ray Conniff video, so this haul included several of his albums, including rarities like "Just Kiddin' Around" with Billy Butterfield and some beautiful UK imports.
Esquivel records: "Strings of Flame" and "Exploring New Sounds in Stereo"—both perfect for a future deep dive into Esquivel's space-age pop.
Della Reese "Della with Brass": A gorgeous album featuring arrangements by Neal Hefti—beautiful voice, beautiful jacket.
Sound oddities: "Sounds in Space," a vintage stereo demonstration record, and "Excitement Incorporated" from RCA's Stereo Action series.
Liberty Premier's "Fantastic Strings Play Fantastic Themes": Another addition to my growing Liberty Premier collection.
Decca Phase 4 and Quadraphonic oddities: Including a rare German Phase 4 and the quadraphonic "Orbiting Harpsichord."
Living Stereo gems: A stunning original pressing of Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" with Pierre Monteux and the Boston Symphony.
Henry Mancini's "Blues and the Beat": A gorgeous minty cover to upgrade my existing copy.
The thrill of opening this box felt like old-school thrifting without the dust and elbowing. Records ranged from serious classical to kitschy easy listening, and the variety is what makes this hobby endlessly enjoyable.
A huge thank you to Dave for curating this haul. Stay tuned for upcoming videos featuring some of these treasures—including a Ray Conniff special and possibly another Phase 4 stereo exploration.
Remember: if you're patient and willing to dig (or have a friend who is), you can still find amazing vinyl without breaking the bank. Happy hunting!
