Started off at the Goodwill in Eagan MN. I got into town a few hours before my colleague so I grabbed the rental car we were sharing and headed over.
I instantly hit it big with some polka platters and even some barbershop! As I have done more than once, when I start seeing a lot of polka, I always hope for some of the homegrown variety. And my prayers were answered with not one but two, neither of which I have been able to add to the discogs database previously. Neither show dates but based on catalog numbers they are both likely from 1974 and are in supreme condition.
I started noticing some barbershop and jumped with delight. I have so many of the Decca ‘Top Quartets’ albums but I knew I had this one without checking – the Mark IV song is one of my all time favorites. This is the final year before the SPEBSQSA took over the release of the albums. I will admit to buying some on ebay but I actually found this one at a thrift store as well.
But I knew (like with the polka) that where there’s smoke, there’s fire! And I hit the jackpot about 30 seconds later…I have 2 of the 3 Sidewinders albums already and I could not believe I happened to find the only one I needed. This is at least 10 years older than the polka albums I found…one seam was torn but I couldn’t care less.
Unfortunately the rest of my trip was not quite as good as this beginning. I stopped by the Goodwill in Hudson WI where we were staying – they were using magazine racks and they were JAMMED. Some of them were so far in the corner I couldn’t even reach in there. I did my best and probably checked 50% – all junk – so I rolled out of there.
Almost not even worthy of mention was my 30 second stop inside the Salvation Army in Hastings MN where we were working. One crate – all religious and/or junk. Yuck.
