Common bargain bin records that sound great?

CarlPoz1 · « **on:** 23 Apr 2021, 06:27 pm »

For those of you who enjoy bargain hunting in record stores, what are some titles that you commonly see available priced low that sound great.

Saying you once found a mint Led Zep II RL for $5 doesn’t count. That’s for a different thread. I’m asking for your recommendations on commonly seen items, not haystack needles.

orthobiz · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 07:23 pm »

I found my RL LZII for 6 dollars (seriously) not 5...LOL

Paul

Photon46 · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 07:46 pm »

All of Andreas Vollenwieder's albums sound fantastic. I've seen Caverna Magica mentioned more than once as a reference recording for reviewers. His albums used to regularly show up the dollar bin but now that vinyl has gotten so popular, anything other than garbage is at least $5 in this part of the world.

Scottdazzle · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 09:55 pm »

Joan Armatrading’s self- titled album with Love and Affection. Pretty much any Warner or Reprise album from the early 1970s.

Jack the cat · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 11:09 pm »

Should be able to score Ambrosia's first two albums on the cheap, their first was nominated for a Grammy for Best Engineered Recording - Alan Parsons was the engineer for Ambrosia's first album and the producer for their second. Both are a mixture of well recorded lush progressive pop and some grand prog rock passages.

orthobiz · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 11:23 pm »

General advice for albums from the 70's, looking for original pressings. Many of these were done with more input from the artists or at least with the engineer's oversight.

1. Try to find record jackets that do not have a bar code, more likely not to be a reissue. I believe bar codes UPC became common around 1980.
2. In the case of albums like Led Zeppelin II, the later records have a gold sticker indicating it's a gold record, the earlier pressings were before the record went gold and hence not still. In a similar vein, my copy of Sweet Baby James has a solid green label and does not have "Fire and Rain" and "Country Road" printed on the cover.
3. If it has printed on it or label affixed saying "Nice Price" it's a reissue and may not be true to the original mastering.
4. A gatefold sleeve vs. a single album sleeve would indicate an earlier pressing. Same thing with a textured special cover vs. a slick run of the mill cover.
5. Look at the inner sleeve. They often have other albums in the label's lineup. If you buy The Yes Album and the inner sleeve advertises Close to the Edge, you know it's a later pressing.

Paul

orthobiz · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 11:26 pm »

A&M Tea For The Tillerman, Cat Stevens, "LH" in the dead wax for Lee Hulko.
These sound awesome! And are ubiquitous.

Paul

S Clark · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 11:36 pm »

Soundtrack for Casino Royale on Colgems label (COSO 5005). I stopped buying them after 4 or 5. Great trumpet, in the room sound, by Herb Alpert, and a great rendition of "The Look of Love" by Dusty Springfield. There are some typical crappy movie action themes, but it's on many of the greatest recordings list for a reason.

S Clark · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 11:41 pm »

Also "Look Sharp" by Joe Jackson. His albums are alway recorded well. Most of Joni Mitchell is well recorded- look for "The Hissing of Summer Lawns".
All of them sold well, so they show up often at stores.

Photon46 · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 11:26 am »

Quote from: S Clark on 23 Apr 2021, 11:41 pm

Also "Look Sharp" by Joe Jackson. His albums are alway recorded well. Most of Joni Mitchell is well recorded- look for "The Hissing of Summer Lawns".
All of them sold well, so they show up often at stores.

Yes, Joe's albums are very well recorded and are seldom expensive. Another bargain album I recently bought that sounds excellent is Roberta Flack's "Quiet Fire."

CarlPoz1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 01:40 pm »

I agree on Joe Jackson. I was going to include that on my list. Here's a few others I see in bargain bins:

Any of the Albums Linda Ronstadt recorded with Nelson Riddle.
Rickie Lee Jones s/t.
Any of the direct-to-disc albums Harry James or Les Brown cut for Sheffield Labs.

S Clark · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 03:24 pm »

Most of Allen Parson Project lps are well recorded. Also look for Bonnie Raitt "Luck of the Draw" and "Nick of Time". Both were big sellers. Paul Simon's "Graceland" and "Rhythm of the Saints" are both excellent music and great recordings.

nlitworld · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 03:33 pm »

I second the previous statement of Cat Stevens' A&M lineup but have to add "Teaser & The Firecat" as well. Found at Goodwill for $3 and it sounds excellent. Another fantastic one was Heart "Little Queen". Absolutely fantastic original pressing and Goodwill charged a huge price of $4 for that one.

orthobiz · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 04:10 pm »

Elvis Costello "Trust"

Roxy Music "Avalon"

Paul

gene9p · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 04:18 pm »

I have so many i don't where to begin. some were from the $1.00 bin at my local used record store, some where from the 4 for $1.00..hard to believe I know.
Cat Stevens, Teaser and the Firecat, Alan Parson's project, Eye in the Sky, several Earl Klughs , Grover Washington Jr's, Bob James and George Benson. Al Stewart's Live album and Year of the Cat,, ....and on and on. He had milk crates filled with LP's that i would check weekly. Covers were very good+ and the lps themselves were pristine like they were never played.

GeneS · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 06:34 pm »

Over the years, I’ve purchased several copies of “History: America’s Greatest Hits”.
It’s not that I’m a huge America fan, but every copy I’ve purchased, always for under $5, sounds really good. I’m searching for that copy void of any clicks or pops which is why I keep buying them. The tunes are good, but the sound is excellent. George Martin (of Beatle fame) produced the album and remixed earlier songs which seems to have made a huge difference.

S Clark · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 08:08 pm »

In classical music, look for the Reader's Digest "Festival of Light Classical Music". Recorded by RCA during their famed shaded dog era-about as good as vinyl classical gets outside of super expensive 45 rpm reissues. 12 lp's usually available for ~$10. All the big names, many war horses, and lots of smaller great pieces. Usually, only a couple of records actually got any play. No longer a secret among collectors and the prices are much higher on Ebay, Discogs, etc.

Photon46 · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 09:17 pm »

A lot of luck is involved in finding bargains now here in the Tampa Bay area. I am amazed at the asking prices for classical vinyl in some of the record stores I frequent. Many of the rock and jazz recordings previously mentioned in this thread aren't going to be found in the bargain bins anymore. Records I bought for $2.99 a few years ago are $9-10 now. A few years ago I was in the Sarasota area and a new record/book store had just opened and the owner wasn't familiar with the classical market. He'd just purchased the record collection of a first chair player in the New York Philharmonic that had retired in that area. I bought dozens of excellent condition DG tulips, RCA shaded dogs, etc. for $2-3 each. It wasn't much of coup in the end though. IMO, the Shaded Dogs were Sonic Dogs, "meh" at best. I've heard numerous modern reissues of the master tapes and they're quite good but I haven't had the luck to score one of those mythical original RCA pressings. As is often mentioned, DG pressings are hit or miss. I've found many classical recordings on Phillips, Columbia (two and six eye,) and later RCA's in bargain bins that sound really excellent, far better than the average Shaded Dog or Mercury 35mm Living Presence you're likely to find at much higher prices. Many of the maligned RCA "Dynaflops" from the oil shortage era can sound quite good if they were well taken care of.

doorman · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 09:29 pm »

If I see anything on the ECM label, I usually give it a go.
For my taste, their vinyl is usually very good, YMMV, as always

S Clark · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 10:02 pm »

Quote from: Photon46 on 24 Apr 2021, 09:17 pm

. It wasn't much of coup in the end though. IMO, the Shaded Dogs were Sonic Dogs, "meh" at best. I've heard numerous modern reissues of the master tapes and they're quite good but I haven't had the luck to score one of those mythical original RCA pressings. As is often mentioned, DG pressings are hit or miss. I've found many classical recordings on Phillips, Columbia (two and six eye,) and later RCA's in bargain bins that sound really excellent,...

I'll let you in on a secret that has guided me for many years, a guide to RCA pressings that I've found to be quite accurate.
https://www.irvmusic.com/mitchell.php
I agree that DG tulips are hit and miss, but they offer more upside than the later double circle labels. I also like many of the Columbia 6,2, and grey labels. About the only Phillips that I've heard with good sound is ... I can't think of one.
And sometimes the pressing matters. This Aaron Copland can be magnificent, sometimes meh...