Latest vinyl haul like no other

Once again, my daughter Maddie was a champ, and we traded off, one toy store for one record store, and traipsed around Manhattan for most of the day with this happy rhythm. The haul was from Gimme Gimme Records. With hindsight, the condition of much of the vinyl was not great. A bunch had clearly been discarded by an audiophile after a clean and left in their VRP rice-paper sleeves. Many of the older titles shared the symptom of the top seam being completely split.

Gene Clark's No Other
(Elektra 1974) $1
VG-, but hoping it cleans up well. I expect the alternate takes will eventually prompt purchase of the 2003 CD.
Edit: 3-21-06. I've cleaned the LP and it plays pretty well. In between tracks there's a intermittent, light crackle, but it doesn't bother me. Bizarrely, the cover is pristine.

Sonny Rollins' Our Man In Jazz
(RCA reissue on Classic Records). $4
Retails at $33, so this was a steal. And a pleasure to hear too. Just three tracks, but Rollins hold my attention. I'm regretting parting with the RCA Rollins box now, but perhaps album by album is the easier way to explore this era.

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Franscico
(Riverside Stereo blue/silver VG-) $7
Having given this a spin now, I'll stick with the SACD, although the Analogue Productions 2x 45RPM version will no doubt remain the definitive. Underneath the crackle is some formidable action, but it may not get another listen (sad).
Edit: 3-21-06. I cleaned the LP, but the marks are definitely damage and not dirt, so I don't expect much of an improvement.

Michael Murray playing the Great Organ in the Methuen Memorial Music Hall
(Telarc Germany 1977 direct to disc). $1

Cat Power's The Greatest
(Matador 2006, mastered by Kevin Gray onto RTI 180g vinyl). $9
Surely this is Matador's cost price for the pressing, given how much RTI must charge. The first side of the LP sounded great, but didn't engage me.

Gaite Pariesienne
(RCA LM-1817). A second copy, but this time the earlier pressing with original cover art. Washed and rice-papered, if an audiophile dumped it they were upgrading, or this particular one sucked.

Grace Slick's Software
(RCA sealed) $1.
The Airplane kick continues, having watched the documentary film last night, I'm gearing up to investigate even the more dubious stretches of Airplane member catalogue.

Keely Smith's Politely
(Capitol rainbow logo at 12pm) $3
Top seam split all the way and vinyl VG, but may clean up. Hmm. Overpaid here. I'm looking to pick up all her material, particularly with Louis Prima.

Big Bill Bronzy and Washboard Sam
(MCA 1986 mastered by Steve Hoffman). $6
At last, replaces an inadvertent Italian MCA pressing.

Bruce Springsteen's Greetings from Asbury Park
The bazillionth opportunity to buy this for a $1 raised its head after all the hype around the Born to Run 30th anniversary, and I buckled. Could have held out for a 1A pressing, ah well.

Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection
I could say this was a $1 audition for the $6 SACD, but the tumbleweed may stop here. Yet to see.
Edit: 3-21-06. Disappointing. No upgrades for this title.

Charlie Parker The Verve Years 1952-54.
(Verve) $4
Remastered by Bob Ludwig. I have the St Nicks set that was the original issue of one of the two discs, and the sonics are muddy to the point of being unlistenable. I'm curious to see if Ludwig managed to make improvements.

Junior Mance's Harlem Lullaby
(Atlantic mono) $4
Giving this a spin now. The monos from this era are hard to find in decent condition, so this VG++ copy is a rarity. Mance plays bluesy jazz on harpsichord. Yowzer. Just wrapping side two. I had thought "St James Infirmiary" would be the draw, but the funkier piano tracks are the stand outs.

Charlie Parker The Complete Savoy Studio Sessions
(Arista 1978) $15.
Rudy Van Gelder remastered, but nagging doubt tells me the latest CD version will be the winner (after the 78s of course).

Jethro Tull's Warchild
(1974 Chrysalis). $1.
George Peckham mastered in UK, and scrawl is in the deadwax on this US version, so I expect that they're similar. Supposedly the MFSL is strong. This LP was strong in places, but not as consistent as Passion Play (my current favorite).

Count Basie's King of Swing
(Clef) $5.
VG. Hard to find any Clefs, let alone any not completely gouged, and this one looks to have promise. Cleaning up vinyl from the early '50s has become something of a pet project. It is so satisfying to see the gunk that comes out of the grooves, and then hear the difference.
Edit: 3-21-06. Upon further inspection, the vinyl didn't really need much of a clean, but got one anyway. No smudgey crud coming off the grooves...shame really.

Ella Swings Lightly
(Verve) $3

Stan Getz - The Chick Corea /Bill Evans Sessions
(Verve twofer remastered by Bob Ludwig) $3