The Vinyl Project: What Am I Starting With and Why Am I Doing This?

A Trip Thru Your Grooves - Episode 2

Ahhh... records. I just love everything about them. My new favorite downtime thing to do is to go to Acme Records in Bayview, WI, grab an LP, put it on a turntable and listen through a pair of real headphones.

Oh, and before I get started, I am taking donations. This gadget-ma-thing here will be at the top of every blog.



Donation Toward Purchases
Thank you kindly.

Look, I am not going to do a standard record review. Those tend to be cold, filled with a lot of excessive adjectives, and can be downright boring if I say so myself. What I want to do is to bring back the warmth to reading about music, similar to the warmth that vinyl long players provide with each listening experience. A collection of records should reside in your personal pantheon, organized, easy-to-find and something with which you are intimately familiar. The only thing better than listening to vinyl is going to a live concert, and even that can be intellectually debated.

So that identifies my purpose. Now, before I start providing a living journal of my adventures in collecting my favorite albums, I'll list the inventory that is the foundation of my journey.  I'll review three each week, plus three new purchases. My goal is to get three new albums without spending more than $20 each week. I shop Tuesdays and Saturdays, which means, in Michael Canter parlance, that Record Store Day comes 104 times per year.

Very apropos that I am starting with a foundation of 78 LPs. Maybe that's kismet. Thanks again for reading.




  1. Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas by the Allman Brothers Band (Capricorn 2CX-0177, 1978)
  2. Arabia Mountain by Black Lips (VCA 1 80026, *NEW* 2011)
  3. Home by the Bodeans (Slash Records 1-25876, 1989)
  4. Can't Get Past the Lips by Broncho (Guestroom Records CQ 001 B, Pink Vinyl, 2011)
  5. Hold Out by Jackson Browne (Elektra-Asylum 5E-511, 1980)
  6. Backless by Eric Clapton (RSO RS1-3039AS, 1978)
  7. My Aim is True by Elvis Costello (Columbia AL-35037, 1977)
  8. Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & the Attractions (Columbia AL-35709, 1978)
  9. Chronicle by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy Records CCR-2, 1976)
  10. So Far by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Atlantic SD 18100, 1974)
  11. Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan (Columbia LP 5110 *MONO* Recording, 2002 Reissue)
  12. Nashville Skyline by Bob Dylan (Columbia KCS-9825,1969)
  13. Eagles (Eponymous Debut) by the Eagles (Asylum SD-5054, 1972)
  14. Desperado by the Eagles (Asylum SD-5068, 1973)
  15. Hotel California by the Eagles (Elektra Asylum 7E-1084, 1976)
  16. The Long Run by the Eagles (Elektra Asylum 5E-508, 1979)
  17. Live by the Eagles (Elektra Asylum BB-705, 1980)
  18. Rumours by Fleetwood mac (Warner Bros. BSK-3010, 1977)
  19. Full House Live by J. Geils Band (Atlantic SD-7241, 1972)
  20. Workingman's Dead by the Grateful Dead (WS 1869/S39719 *180 GRAM* Reissue 2015)
  21. American Beauty by the Grateful Dead (WS 1893 *180 GRAM Reissue 2015)
  22. Aoxomoxoa by the Grateful Dead (WS 1790 *180 GRAM* 2011 Reissue)
  23. Terrapin Station by the Grateful Dead (Arista AL 7001, 1977)
  24. Best of...Skeletons From The Closet by the Grateful Dead (Warner Bros. 2764, 1974)
  25. In the Dark by the Grateful Dead (Arista AL 8452, 1987)
  26. Best of by The Guess Who (RCA LSPX-1004, 1971)
  27. Dreamboat Annie by Heart (Friday Music FRAM 5005 *AUTOGRAPHED* 2011 Reissue)
  28. Arrow by Heartless Bastards (Partisan PTKF 2101 *NEW*, 2012)
  29. Arrow by Heartless Bastards (Partisan PTKF 2101 *AUTOGRAPHED* 2012)
  30. 11-17-70 by Elton John (UNI 93771, 1971)
  31. Honky Chateau by Elton John (MCA 2107, 1973)
  32. Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John (MCA 2142, 1975)
  33. Rickie Lee Jones (Eponymous Debut) by Rickie Lee Jones (Warner Bros. BSK 3296, 1979)
  34. The Kings Are Here by The Kings (Elektra-Asylum X6E 274-AC, *AUTOGRAPHED* 1980)
  35. Low Budget by The Kinks (Arista AB 4240, 1979)
  36. Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin (Atlantic SD 7255, 1973)
  37. Bring Yo' Ass to the Table by Left Lane Cruiser (Alive 0081-1 *AUTOGRAPHED* 2008)
  38. Double Fantasy by John Lennon & Yoko Ono (Geffen Records 5357102 *NEW* Reissue)
  39. One More From The Road by Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCA 2-8014, 1976)
  40. Molly Hatchet (Eponymous Debut) by Molly Hatchet (Epic AL-35347, 1978)
  41. Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues (DERAM DES 18012, 1967)
  42. Full Circle by The Outer Vibe (Self-Released *AUTOGRAPHED* 2015)
  43. Slanted & Enchanted by Pavement (Matador OLE-038-0 *NEW* Reissue, 2015)
  44. Lightning Bolt by Pearl Jam (Monkeywrench Records Limited Release *AUTOGRAPHED* *NEW* *180 GRAM* 2013)
  45. Elvis at Stax by Elvis Presley (RCA 888837422241S1 *NEW* *180 GRAM*, 2013)
  46. Pretenders (Eponymous Debut) by Pretenders (Sire SRK6083, 1970)
  47. Purple Rain by Prince (Warner Bros./NOG 9362-49302, *180 GRAM* *NEW* 2017)
  48. Fables of the Reconstruction by R.E.M. (IRS-5592, 1985)
  49. Life's Rich Pageant by R.E.M. (IRS-5783, 1986)
  50. Tim by The Replacements (Rhino R1-25330 *180 GRAM* *NEW* Reissue, 2017)
  51. Songs for Slim (New West Records Record Store Day Release, *NEW* 2013)
  52. Short Sharp Shocked by Michelle Shocked (PolyGram 834924-1, 1988)
  53. Paul Simon (Duncan) by Paul Simon (Columbia KC-30750, 1972)
  54. Still Crazy After All These Years by Paul Simon (Columbia PC-33540, 1975)
  55. The Weather Below by Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds (Party Fowl 96859-94591, 2015)
  56. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band (Columbia PC-33795, 1975)
  57. Live 1975-1985 by Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band (Columbia C5X-40558 *5 LP BOX SET* 1986)
  58. Gaucho by Steely Dan (MCA-6102, 1980)
  59. Marquee Moon by Television (Rhino R1-1098 *180 GRAM* New Reissue, 2018)
  60. All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes by Pete Townshend (ATCO SD38-149, 1982)
  61. White City: A Novel by Pete Townshend (ATCO 90473-1, 1985)
  62. The Bottom Line '78 by Van Morrison (Concert Vault CVLP-002, 2013)
  63. The Wanton Looks (Eponymous) by The Wanton Looks (Whoa! 16892-05104 *AUTOGRAPHED *NEW* 2012)
  64. Whitey Morgan & The '78s (Eponymous) by Whitey Morgan & The '78s (Bloodshot Records BS176 *AUTOGRAPHED* 2010)
  65. Live at Leeds by The Who (Decca DL-79175, 1970)
  66. The Who By Numbers by The Who (Polydor 2480309, 1975)
  67. Live at Austin City Limits by Widespread Panic (New West 51931 *NEW* 2015)
  68. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse (Universal-Republic B0008428-02 *NEW* 2006)
  69. Wings Over America by Paul McCartney & Wings (Capitol 11593, 1976)
  70. At the Speed of Sound by Paul McCartney & Wings (Capitol 11525, 1976)
  71. Arc of a Diver by Steve Winwood (Island ILPS-9576, 1980)
  72. Lights Out by Peter Wolf (EMI S1-17121, 1984)
  73. Going For The One by Yes (Atlantic SD-19106, 1977)
  74. Yessongs by Yes (Atlantic SD 3-100, 1973)
  75. Harvest by Neil Young (Reprise 517397 *REISSUE* 2006)
  76. Decade by Neil Young (Reprise 558030-1 *REISSUE 2017)
  77. Excitable Boy by Warren Zevon (Elektra-Asylum 6E-118, 1978)
  78. 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti by Various Artists (MCA 2-8001, 1973)

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