This place is just a couple miles from my work….I had noticed it but I believe they either changed the name or at least the sign. I paid it no mind because it said ‘pawn shop’ and a place like that likely won’t carry records. But everytime I would use Google maps to look for something, my history would cause Google to recommend it because of the (new) name: Affordable Thrift. I was plotting a route (non-record related) and when it came up again, I just picked up the phone and called to ask if they had records. After a brief pause, the person on the other end answered ‘yes’. I said I was on my way.
While it may not be marketed as a pawn shop any longer, some old habits die hard and I had to be buzzed in like in the movies. I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a real pawn shop but if I have I was not buzzed in. Anyway, I made my entrance and asked to see the records. I fat crate was produced from the secretive back room and I got to diggin’.
I pulled out three awesome scores (one for my girlfriend, as I was on the way to her house):
This is just as exciting and excellent as I had hoped. It can only be described as ‘frantic’, hammering music that just does not relent. The cover drew me in but the music is the payoff. I will definitely be looking for more Jeff Beck now. Excellent fusion that is guitar-centric but not overtly so in terms of extended solos and pointless displays of fretboard prowess. Excellent stuff.
Robin Trower – Bridge Of Sighs
My uncle played me the title cut many, many years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. I don’t generally like blues but this isn’t quite straightforward blues….I have yet to explore the rest of the record but will soon.
I also grabbed my girl an Alice Cooper record I knew she was dying for. It is not 100% complete but close enough, at least until the day she can come up on another copy.
I asked how often he turns his records (he mentioned he has a ‘regular’ that comes in to buy up anything that has been sitting once in a while) and he said the best thing to do was just call, and he gave me a card (as usual, scanned below). Nice guy and a nice store. $6 for three classic records in real good shape is a success my by standards.
