Hunting the wily record album.

A visit to a local antique market netted me a couple of records. Yes, vinyl records are considered antiques these days.

The best one first: a Shadows of Night single “Gloria b/w Dark Side” which is a fine garage rock stomper, but I’m sure you already knew that. A little noisy sounding, but playable. Also purchased was a single by The Poppy Family “I Was Wondering” b/w “Where Evil Grows”. The A side is the sort of light and breezy song that got them airplay back in the seventies, but it is the songs typical of the B side that add to their legend of recording dark, cracked and creepy pop songs. “Where Evil Grows” definitely has a place on my next mixdisk, no question.

What else? Leo Kottke’s ”6 and 12 String Guitar” on John Fahey’s Takoma label. It’s a great collection of instrumentals with strange song titles such as “Vaseline Machine Gun” and “The Brain of the Purple Mountain” which may perhaps suggest a more whimsical approach than is apparent in the performances. At $3.00, a bargain to be sure.

The final two were found in the International bin. I always check this section because this is where the oddest or must unusual records can be found (either that or the bin labeled “Misc.”). Records such as “Türk San’at Müziginden Seçmeler – Turkish Hit Parade” on the Request label. Despite what the title may suggest, it is a collection of traditional music: one side of wild-sounding ensemble playing and one of Taksim (solo instrument improvisations). Glad I bought this one.

Lastly, “Grand Prix/Folk – 3rd All Japan Light Music Contest” on the Polydor label. Oh wow, but this is great! Yes, the folk music, hoedown, and jamboree boom of the early sixties (a la Peter, Paul & Mary, and Kingston Trio) had admirers in Japan and here’s the proof in glorious mono.