So I recently bought a record player from a thrift store. To my suprise, it actually worked really well. While I was there I got a couple of Beatles records(Fantastic records, but thats about all they had.), so I was wondering if I could ask the music fanatics at stripcreator a question. What records are worth investing in? What are the must haves when it comes to records. Im open to plenty of things, so you could name old records, or maybe a more modern band that has put out a cd on record. There are a lot of great music critics on this site, and I knew this was the place to go if I wanted to learn something. Thanks.

:)

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"No obscene images." I guess I'll just have to settle for saying cocksucker a lot.

My parents have a bunch of Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, and Queen albums. Don't know if you're interested in them though. They're quite valuable to us.

Such a shame, I was looking for someone worthy to pass on all my vinyl too late last year and when I couldn't find any takers, I gave it all to a friend to sell in his garage sale and never asked for the money. He gave the unsold albums to a friend of his.

Do you mean investing as in monetarily for future gain or as in "I hope this record is worth the $ and time I spent on it?"

That said, many artists still release their latest works on vinyl, but the vinyl might cost as much as or more than a CD version. Any quality independent music store in your area should carry some vinyl inventory.

If you don't want to spend that much on new records, then check out your area thrift stores. They'll usually sell their records for $1 (US) or less. You can usually find quality classical recordings or something that will pique your interest. I'd avoid the Rick Springfield records unless you're really into him. I recently picked up Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven" and a nice Bartok album this way. Be sure to check the condition of the record before you buy it.

If you're into or curious about Jazz, then try finding Len Lyons' book The 101 Best Jazz Albums (ISBN 0-688-03720-8. 0-688-03720-5 for paperback). Published in 1980, it's somewhat dated, but he covers the history of Jazz quite well and gives his selections for the best records of each stylistic period. He also lists other quality/noteworthy albums at the end of each chapter. Or, just buy something by Miles Davis from the 50s, 60s, or 70s (at least two records from each decade would be best).

Finally, check out your local used record store. Most college towns will have at least one. While the prices are higher ($4-$8 or so), the selection will be much better than the thrift stores, and you can find better variety and quality.

If you liked the Beatles records, then look for XTC's Drums and Wires or Black Sea. If you want something more rockish or bluesier, then try some ROLLING STONES with Beggar's Banquet or Let It Bleed. LED ZEPPELIN'S II and Houses of the Holy are quite good. If you want something more Progressive, then try any of the early stuff by YES, GENESIS, PINK FLOYD, or KING CRIMSON.

If you haven't heard them, then ELVIS COSTELLO's This Year's Model and Armed Forces are revelatory recordings and excellent examples of early Post-Punk sensibility. Not knowing what you really like or already own, these are just a few of my suggestions. As always, if you see something that looks interesting and fits your budget, then try it.

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Chicken Feather Bed Bugs Bunny Hop Sing Out Side Street Walker Texas Ranger Cookie Dough Boy Wonder Years

I have a gimungous collection of mid to late 80's house music. If you wanna drive to my house you can pick it all up. Send me a PM is you're interested.

We've got a lot of vinyl inherited from my grandma. Some stuff is better than other stuff, but if you really want some fine vinyl tunes, two words:

The Kinks.

You can find vinyls by them at pretty much every thrift store in America, none of which anyone actually buys. They pile up, you're sure to find them anywhere you go. It's simply not a thrift store without a vinyl copy of 'Arthur' or 'Face To Face'. And they are definitely worth the dough.

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It's grime time.

My record collection is filled with a lot of Moody Blues, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Janis Joplin, Ozzy Osbourne, Blue Oyster Cult, Pink Floyd, Cheap Trick, Peter Frampton, Tom Petty And the Heartbreakers, Alice Cooper, and Tchaikovsky.

But that's just because I like them all to begin with. I collect records to listen to. Well, the Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were more collector items than music. I'm not too much of a fan of either.

Be sure to get "Concierto de Aranjuez" composed by the Spanish composer Rodrigo and interpreted by Jonh Williams. Anythingh by Bach is always a great adition, since he was the greatest composer who ever lived. If you can get your hands onto some Gene Krupka is well worth your while.

And of course, nothing is more nostalgic than listening to Metallica's "Master of Puppets" or Megadeth's "Peace Sell's" in a Vinyl player.Well, except if you have Judas Priest "Screaming for Vengeance" or "Unleashed in the East". Also worthy of note is the spectacular "Crimson Idol" by W.A.S.P., a rock opera of such magnitude not seen since The Who's "Tommy".

Blue Oyster have some pretty outstanding classics like "Godzilla", "Black Blade" and of course "Dont Fear the Ripper" and they are still churning out some good rock albums.

Frank Zappa's "make a jazz noise here" is a pure rockish tongue-in-cheek classic, along with some Hendrix. And be sure not to miss the unbelievable good "2112" by prog rockers Rush.And for some Hard rockin, check out Deep purple's "machine head" featuring the most famous rock riff of all times in the music "Smoke on the Water".

For some newer acts check the stuff from Dream Theather ("Scenes from a memory pt2" and onwards) and Ayreon (especially "Universal Migrator" pt.1 and 2 and the brilliant almost-unanimously-elected-best-prog-metal-album-of-2004 "The Human Equation")

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There was once a man who said:"nothing is true!". Although later it was found out that he was lying.

Crabby, I want your manbabies.

You can get a lot of classical cheaply on vinyl from charity shops, if you're into that sort of thing. I recommend classical guitar if you can get it.

You can also if you're not careful buy some really bland and naff compilations. Avoid anything by "...and his orchestra" unless it's Geoff Love. But you can get a lot of good prog rock and 70s stuff (and increasingly some 80s pop) for about a pound. 45's are also increasingly collectable.

Other than that, record fairs and old relatives are invaluable. I inherited a lot of great stuff from my granddad ( a lot of crud as well but I got first dibs on his Sibelius), and spent £20 on the Soundtrack to "$" by Quincy Jones at the last fair in town.

I would avoid buying new records from record shops unless you are DJ-ing and making money doing so. I was spending about £30 a week on new music when I was playing clubs. Dance vinyl goes out of favour really quickly. I have about 4 cartons of 200 dance records from the 90s that are worth about $10 a carton.

My other vinyl band recommendations:

Rick Wakeman }
Tangerine Dream } - prog rock
Yes }
Mario Parodi or Andres Segovia (classical guitar)
The Who

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Please replace the handset, and try again.

Crabby, I want your manbabies.

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There is no way I'm giving up my original pressing of manbabies. I could never part with that particular piece of the collection. It's much too rare.

When I'm in the record stores and such, I usually check through what Elvis Costello they have. Recently picked up King of America. Strongly recommend.

Putting on a record usually means I'm in a particular mood, so a lot of my collection is The Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and that kind of ilk. Also the Beatles, which you already mentioned.

If my wife has control of the turntable, she steers toward John Mellencamp, the Stray Cats, and other 80s kind of hubbub.

Finally, jazz seems to taste better on vinyl, so maybe some Dave Brubeck or Miles Davis might make you happy. As has been said, it's hard to say not knowing your tastes.

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Peeing sitting down is the gift you give yourself.

Ooooooh yeah... Miles Davis!
And I discovered Solomon Burke about a year ago, fantastic stuff.
DexX turned me on to an Aussie band called The Whitlams, they have some decent tunes as well.
Oh, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are most definitely worth your time.

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“It is only with the heart that one sees rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1945)

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis is a weird record, but if you can get into it, you'll be amazed. I feel like it's the kind of record whose vibe is killed quite a bit by the CD.

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Sex Piano.

I just got Nick Lowe's "The Rose of England" on vinyl. Good stuff.

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I has a flavor!