What's the biggest bargain you've ever had?

[ladyboygrimsby]

Following on from Andrew's thread, what are the biggest bargains you've ever had? Charity shop scores, etc?<br /><br />I've found various things in Grimsby charities, like Ray Barretto's Acid, two Esquivel LPs, a Mort Garson album and, recently, I got a copy of Pool-Pah's Flasher for $6 (a bargain, apparently). <br /><br />

[Jolyon]

Probably 12&quot; of Sexy Dancer for £3 remains the best.

[Invincible Pigeon]

Biggest of recent memory was a haul from a cabbie - sold me 360 LPs for a pound each. Obviously there's some chafe there, but the wheaty goodness has thus far embodied itself in mint originals of Ray Brretto 'Acid' (snap!) and James Brown's 'Payback'....<br /><br />

[Belson]

The Jazzberry Patch album for 50 cents.<br /><br />A Lou Courtney 'In need of love' Manufacturers test press (sounds as clear as a button) - $2.<br /><br />Loads more, really. Best 45's score was probably Sounds of the City - Stuff &amp; thangs for $1 which went recently for over $500.

[Andrew@6MS]

Would have to be the UK 12&quot; promo of Mandre's &quot;Solar Flight&quot; I picked up earlier this year. Must have paid about a fiver for it - result!<br /><br />Also found a mint US promo 12&quot; of Rose Royce's &quot;Still In Love&quot; on eBay a few years back for $5. Mmmm....nice!<br /><br />Thing is, would you say something is bargain because it is valuable, or because you love it dearly and have been unable to find it for years???

[leebradlee]

Based upon the record not costing a lot but worth a few quid then :-<br /><br />Chicago / Streetplayer<br />Al Hudson / Spread Love<br /><br />Both under a £1.00

[Topester]

Loose Joints - Pop Your Funk 7&quot; on West End for 50p in record &amp; tape aound 1989... didn't even know it was that rare until years later<br /><br />two copies of Streetplayer for a quid each, one in record &amp; tape, one in a secret store now sadly closed down.<br /><br />Winners Get Ready For the Future for a quid... mind you I paid £12 for my first copy<br /><br />Brian Briggs - Aeo and Carl Bean Born This Way sealed Motown 12 both for 50p from a market stall in Exeter. Meters Rejuvination LP for precisely 19p in Caterpilla in Exeter years ago. <br /><br />Rare PLeasure - Let Me Down Easy for 10p rom Beanos sale around 1990<br /><br />Chocolat LP for 50p in charity shop, recently seen for £50 on lists... there's been loads really, just found a load of stuff in Buenos Aires for around a quid each.... some of which will be coming to an auction site near you soon... but then we've all wasted so much time and money over the years you desrve a bargain everynow and then don't you?

[leebradlee]

two copies of Streetplayer for a quid each, one in record &amp; tape, one in a secret store now sadly closed down.<br /><br />Just curious but was the secret store the one I've seen you mention in Colwyn Bay. Was gutted when I saw you mention that there used to be a shop as I've been through the charity shops there a few times and didn't even know about the record shop.

[Sean P]

Many bargains for pence over the years - too many to remember - but I was chuffed when I obtained the 3 Meters LPs on Josie, Weldon Irvine's 'Liberated Brother' and 'Time Capsule' for £45 in 1989. Not the biggest of bargains in one sense, but a helluva saving, even then, in another. One of my favourite sort-outs.

[Topester]

Hi Lee, yes, Colwyn Bay pier... I was reminiscing with Phat Phil Cooper about this shop recently, he said the whole of the first Crazy Penis album is made up of samples from this shop... I can't remember everything I bought from this shop, because it as about six large carrier bags full, all 12&quot;s, mostly US, all unplayed... all for a quid! I certainly remember Winners, Chicago, Material - Busting Out/Over &amp; Over, Candi Staton - When I Wake Up Tomorrow, Patti Labelle - Music Is My Way Of Life, but there were so many I couldn't carry them and in fact had to give up the search and leave it unfinished cos I'd been in there four hours and completely missed lunch at my girlfriend's mum's (who'd foolishly suggested I should have a look i the record shop if I was bored) sometimes I think it was just a happy dream! ;D

[DJ_Gonzo]

The Doors- &quot;LA Woman&quot; 12&quot;- 50 cents<br />James Brown- &quot;New Breed&quot;- 75 cents<br />Dillinga- &quot;The Grimey EP&quot;- $2<br />Ray Keith- &quot;Jah Dread&quot;- $3<br />Blackstar- &quot;Defenition&quot; 12&quot;- $2, 50 cents<br />Information Society- &quot;whats on your mind (pure energy)&quot;- $3<br /><br />Peace, Love and Wax,<br />Gonzo ::)

[Jolyon]

You're right Frank...we do deserve a few bargains for all the hard digging. I got that Joubert Sisters 12&quot; for 50p in the MVE Notting Hill last week after a 2 hour dig....nothing decent turned up until the last 10 minutes when up popped that one and a couple of lovely old Chicago House 12&quot;s for less than the price of a bag of chips.<br /><br />Just remembered, got my copy of 'Essence Of A Dream' by Risque III for the princely sum of ONE POUND at MVE 10 years ago....and found a near mint copy of Chip E 'Jack Trax' EP for £2 at Haggle last month.

[Jolyon]

And got Barry Waite 7&quot; for £1.00 online. Anyone know what this is worth?<br />And $2 for Gloria Jones 12&quot; on AVI with an extended instrumental on the flip - NICE!

[leebradlee]

Frank, Your story reminds me when I first found my favourite record store. Me and the missus had driven past earlier in the day and she promised to let me look on the way home. I said I'd be 10 minutes tops. Two hours later she came to ask what the fook I was doing. I've had a good few hundred from this particular shop all at 50 pence <br />e.g. Motown Sounds/Bad Mouthin, Originals/Down To Love Town, <br />Cory Daye/Pow Wow etc.

[Al Kent]

Smoked salmon 'Buy one get one free' from safeway a few months back.<br /><br />Anyone who was buying northern stuff a few years back will have some nice bargains now, although they didn't seem so at the time.. Ruby Andrews 'Just Loving You' for £6, BettySwanne 'Kiss My Love Goodbye' for £8, Linda Griner 'Goodbye Cruel Love' for £40, and so on.<br /><br />A box of around 40 records I got from someone in the states who's brother had died leaving all his records contained a Four Below Zero, a Rare Pleasure, Walter's mix of Gladys Knight, Get Down friday Night, and a few more worthwhile pieces for $40 including shipping. But my fave is Clyde Alexander for £15. That was nice.

[sonofstan]

<br />) sometimes I think it was just a happy dream! ;D<br /><br /><br />It wasn't. I had a similar quantity of stuff from there myself. (I also got a Spanish issue Chakachas LP from a nearby charity and a Planet of the Apes 7&quot; from a cahrity sale in the street in the Bay that day ). Last time I went the shop appeared to be under new ownership, no sign of the 12&quot;s . Ah well...<br /><br />...still, there's this charity shop no one else seems to know about that's been coming good for me on the 12&quot; front recently..... 8)<br /><br /><br />

[Topester]

Actually Lee/Al you've just reminded me of my mum, an infant school head, who years ago gave me some records that 'looked like the sort of rubbish you buy' that had been left behind after the school fete... small pile of disco and reggae 12s including Al Hudson Spread Love and Hudson People 'Trip To Your Mind on Hithouse... thanks mum!<br /><br />Al I'm up your way in a couple of weeks, any where I should investigate while I'm there?<br /><br />EZ<br />FT

[mekanikalgirl]

I can remember grabbing some amazing stuff at a charity record fair in Wolverhampton once :<br />Sugar Billy - Supa Dupa Love, <br />Grover Washington Jr. Mister Magic, Blue Magic Lps, Miles Davis - On the Corner, Belle Gonzales, Dick Hyman Lps ! It was heaven . All for a quid each!<br />My favourite moment of all was when returning home from playing a gig in Sheffield about 5years ago . We stopped off in Buxton for some lunch and were returning to the car when I saw a sign RECORD FAIR - THIS WAY<br />Of course I followed the said sign only to find about 3 crates of Wasp and Poison records and other assorted metal shite in a small hall The final crate was more or less the same pure rubbish . Then . . . like a vinyl phoenix rising from the cess Anambra - Ozo on 12&quot; mint for 50p!<br />I quietly purchased the record and left the building stopping only to punch the air and ring all my mates to gloat! Awesome ! ;D

[Al Kent]

<br />...RECORD FAIR - THIS WAY<br />Of course I followed the said sign only to find about 3 crates of Wasp and Poison records and other assorted metal shite in a small hall The final crate was more or less the same pure rubbish . Then . . . like a vinyl phoenix rising from the cess Anambra - Ozo on 12&quot; mint for 50p!<br />I quietly purchased the record and left the building stopping only to punch the air and ring all my mates to gloat! Awesome ! ;D<br /><br /><br />That just reminded me - similar story, shopping with kids etc, when I saw a similar sign, and found similar boxes (was it the same fair??). I was just about to give up and was on my last box when I found an Aquarian Dream UK double pack, again for 50p. Which was nice.

[Al Kent]

<br />Al I'm up your way in a couple of weeks, any where I should investigate while I'm there?<br /><br /><br />Record shopping in Glasgow? Not the greatest place on earth to do it I'm afraid. There's Vinyl freaks, which is really the only place worth a look. If it's balearic tat you're looking for then you may strike gold, as there's plenty stock. Just don't expect any disco juice.

[Topester]

Is that shop Beat Museum still there? had some good stuff last time I looked (which to be fair was back in the last century) <br /><br />Cheers

[sonofstan]

My best unpromising record fair was about two years ago, up north. Wasn't expecting to find anything but left with 100+ 7&quot;s (mainly US, mixture of funk, northern / modern, disco, latin, eg samson and delliah &quot;there's a dj&quot;; pacesetters &quot;push on jesse jackson&quot;;diane jenkins &quot;i need you&quot;, about 4/5 mongo santamarias, a load of chess/checker/cadet stuff plus many great obscurities. these were mostly about a quid a pop ). Also a smattering of 12&quot;s and LPs (inc. Disco Gold on Scepter and Fred Wesley &quot;House Party&quot; 12&quot;). I don't think I paid more than a fiver for any single item and spent about a ton fifty in total. bargain!<br /><br />as i paid the man he said &quot;those'll keep you happy for hours&quot;. he was right. they still do. :)<br /><br />

[Andrew@6MS]

<br />Also a smattering of 12&quot;s and LPs (inc. Disco Gold on Scepter and Fred Wesley &quot;House Party&quot; 12&quot;). I don't think I paid more than a fiver for any single item and spent about a ton fifty in total. bargain!<br /><br />as i paid the man he said &quot;those'll keep you happy for hours&quot;. he was right. they still do. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I managed to find a spare copy of that &quot;Disco Gold&quot; LP at a record fair about 4 months ago for £1..... great!

[sonofstan]

<br />[<br /><br />I managed to find a spare copy of that &quot;Disco Gold&quot; LP at a record fair about 4 months ago for £1..... great!<br /><br /><br />I'm still looking for volume 2. anyone know what's on it?

[Kev]

<br />Is that shop Beat Museum still there? had some good stuff last time I looked (which to be fair was back in the last century) <br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Sadly closed, still online I believe.

[bigbrett]

this post makes me happy..just thinking of getting all sneezy digging through old stacks of wax..which i'm hoping to be doing at my lunch our in a couple of hours.<br /><br />some my of favorites:<br />$1 Phase II &quot;Roxy&quot;, the inner sleeve signed, at Kim's on St. Marks in the village<br />following the same theme..&quot;Escapades of Futura 2000&quot; for $1Canadian in Montreal..which I gave to a friend since he had recently given me a sealed Bob James II and a Scorpio 7&quot; (which were good bargains for free)<br />

[todd terje]

John Forde - Woman/Stardance/Don't You Know Who Did It 12&quot;<br />Arthur Russell - World Of Echo LP<br />Harry Thumann - Andromeda LP<br />John Gibbs - Trinidad 12&quot;<br />Fonda Rae - Over Like A Fat Rat 12&quot;<br />all of them around $2.

[Very Ape]

&quot;Timewarp&quot; by Eddy Grant on Ice in a record shop in Rome for €1.<br /><br />Also managed to buy a copy of that Derrick Carter mix of 'Life' on eBay for $10 which I promptly resold for $150!

[matthew]

hmmm. these spring to mind<br /><br />sun palace - rude movements / winning mint uk original in pic sleeve from small record shop on gandy street exteter for #1 (frank, are you a devon boy too btw?)<br /><br />jesse saunders - funk you up (street fire test pressing 12&quot;) $2 <br /><br />cerrone - hooked on you, which i traded for a joe claussell promo bouoght a year earlier for #8<br /><br />oh and i got given a copy of the instrumental directions LP by the nite liters (thanks sian!)

[ladyboygrimsby]

<br />hmmm. these spring to mind<br /><br />sun palace - rude movements / winning mint uk original in pic sleeve from small record shop on gandy street exteter for #1 (frank, are you a devon boy too btw?)<br /><br /><br /><br />Frank's Croydon, innit? I believe the Topester went to Uni down your manor, though.

[Topester]

Indeed Exeter University is my alma mater... I cut my DJing teeth on the appalling University Radio Exeter and then runing nights at Boxes, Warehouse, Timepiece and the Stewdent hellhole that is the Lemon Grove around 1987-1990. Did you ever go to the Shakedown for example? I think it ran on until some time in the early to mid 90s although not with me DJIng <br /><br />I believe the shop you mean is Caterpilla and their annual sale was just ridiculous - boght a few Atmosfear things in there for 10p each<br /><br />Also Hendersons was very good - he once had 30,000 7&quot;s off a shop from wales that had closed down and I spent two days going through them to come out with 100 at 5p each...and the hipy american guy in the market was and remains ace!<br /><br />towards the end of my time in the land of cream teas Mighty Force was pretty cool, if a bit ahead of its time for the area, but I think the guy wasc a bit dodgy and went awol owing money all round! Still, he put out the first Aphex record!<br /><br />

[Jolyon]

Frank - don't you mean Mark do you?<br /><br />I was DJing with a chap called Richie from Exeter for a couple of years until the end of last year and he introduced me to a few of the Exeter lot.<br />

[Topester]

Mark from Mighty Force that's him... oh dear I hope I haven't just slandered him on the interweb... I'm not sure what happened there cos I was no longer there but it wasclear from the off he was just ahead of his time in that sleepy old town!

[Jolyon]

I met him a couple of times. <br /><br />I know he ended up in prison at one point, then moved to London. Now works for a big oil company or something...left the whole music thing behind years ago.

[Topester]

nice re-edit Jo!

[REPLAY]

My best bargins have been-<br /><br />LTG Exchange &quot;Waterbed&quot; $4<br />Whole Darn Family &quot;Seven Minutes&quot; (Yellow Label) $4<br />Montana Mixdown EP $2<br />Miroslav Vitous &quot;New York City&quot; $3<br /><br />maybe a few others, but those are the major ones...