Yes, that is a giant "For Lease" sign in Crooked Beat's window. But the Adams Morgan record store isn't going out of business, owner Bill Daly assured me this afternoon. Daly's landlord raised his rent, but he's got a new location lined up—"down the street" from the current 18th Street location, he says, and of a similar size. He wouldn't say much more about the move.

"We don't need the impulse traffic," says Daly, who moved his store to D.C. six years ago from North Carolina. The store's customers won't change their habits based on the move, Daly says, and he does about 30 percent of his business online. Last year was Crooked Beat's best ever, he says, and this year has been "pretty good." He just can't afford the higher rent.

He says he'll announce the new location next week.

Yesterday's DC Record Fair at the Black Cat turned out to be an overwhelming success, according to one of the event's organizers. "It was pretty crazy," says Neal Becton, Som Records' owner, "like 1500 people turned up. That's one of the reasons we left Comet. We love Comet but it was a little too small. We expected like 500."

The fact that organizers tripled their attendance expectations was not lost on a few record geeks. "A few folks complained about it," Becton says. "There were people lined up at some tables. But everybody was pretty pleased. The dealers were happy."

Becton says that if they hold the record fair at the Black Cat again, they may open up the club's first floor as well. The next record fair may be held in June.

This fair had 30 dealers including notable local shops like Red Onion, Smash, and Crooked Beat as well as Plan 9 from Richmond, Memory Lane from District Heights, and Own Guru from Baltimore. The crowds could have lead to an epic disaster like the one famously chronicled by the Onion.

"From like noon to 5:30 it was like packed with people," says Red Onion's Josh Harkavy. "Everyone's table was like two or three people deep waiting to look at records which is not something I see too often....It was impressive."

Harkavy adds: "I was pretty much blown away at how much merchandise we sold. I think I had four empty crates at the end of the day which is awesome."

Harkavy says his personal highlight was "seeing a baby flip through records. I'd never seen that before."

Becton says: "the DJ sets were great. Kid Congo's set was awesome. Seeing Ian MacKaye up there was kind of fun. He sounded great, playing some pretty rare punk rock singles."

Harkavy and Becton say the fair wasn't just crowded but very diverse for such nerd events. "It's really encouraging," Becton says. "I saw a lot of Xs on hands there. A lot of under 21s buying records, male and female. Most record shows you go to it's a bunch of old guys.... My wife even commented on it. I thought it was kind of nice. It makes for a better atmosphere."

*photo by Matt Dunn.

Som Records' Neal Becton is calling for volunteers to help shovel out the huge snow wall left on 14th Street in front of the Black Cat. What's the big deal?

Tomorrow is the D.C. Record Fair at the Black Cat. It starts at noon and features 30 record dealers and a full lineup of DJs (Ian MacKaye, Geologist, and Eric Hilton, among others). That's a lot of vinyl that needs to be safely unloaded.

"The back alley is pretty much impassable," Becton explains. This leaves the parking spaces in front of the Black Cat. The sidewalk is fine, it's the wall of snow left by city plows that's the problem.

"It would be nice to get some more [space] cleared out so we can unload multiple cars tomorrow morning," Becton says. "It's fairly loose right now. It's easy digging right now. It won't be tonight or tomorrow morning."

Becton had just gotten back from a trip down south where he picked up vinyl in Florida flea markets and thrift shops. Ninety percent of what he'll be selling he has yet to bring into his store. He says he found a lot of good Latin records on his trip—everything from Tito Puente to LPs from the legendary Fania label.

Red Onion Records and Books has scores of new records that are worth checking out.  Among the best of the bunch: Real Estate's debut LP, the Fred McDowell reissue on Mississippi, and some new Slumberland releases. Don't forget to check out the new Best Coast single, Fuck Buttons latest LP, and the amazing Forge Your Own Chains psych compilation.

Used vinyl after the jump.

rock:
UPP: self-titled (jeff beck's backing band)
indoor life: self-titled
einsturzende neubauten: yu-gung 12"
madhouse: self-titled (fountain of youth records)
plan 9: frustration
the cure: kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
brian eno: ambient 1
brian eno: ambient 4
brian eno/moebius/roedelius: begegnungen II
the smiths: what difference does it make 12" (UK pressing)
james white and the blacks: off-white
yellow magic orchestra: self-titled
punch: self-titled (sunshine pop)
david byrne: catherine wheel
tom tom club: self-titled
vinegar joe: self-titled
jimi hendrix: cry of love
country joe & the fish: electric music for the mind and body (amazing album)
sister kate: self-titled (james taylor's sister, with linda ronstadt, john hartford, memphis horns...)
various artists: super rock (columbia 2LP sampler)
surf punks: my beach
DAF: voulez vous coucher... 12"
DAF: 1st step to heaven
kingbees: self-titled
tom rush: merrimack county
fabulous poodles: think pink
sue saad & the next: self-titled
yello: solid pleasure
tommy boyce & bobby hart: it's all happening on the inside (WLP)
lyres: someone who'll treat you right now 12"
psychedelic furs: self-titled
gary numan: pleasure principle (UK pressing)
anthony more: world service (henry cow, slappy happy member)
rorshach: remain sedate (original on gern blandsten, with inner sleeve)
the turtles: happy together (white whale pressing, vg)
ludovico's technique: self-titled
way of the west: feel the steel 12"
odgen edsl wahalia blues ensemble mondo bizarro band: self-titled
fresh today: self-titled (one sealed copy, one open)
jefferson airplane: crown of creation (orange label)
rubicon: america dreams
jimmy stevens: paid my dues
genya ravan: urban desire
various artists: punk and disorderly: further charges (vg)
chuck berry: golden decade volume 3
young rascals: collections
bruce springsteen: e ticket (german bootleg from 1975)
randy sparks: hazy sunshine
yazoo: the other side of love 12"
focus: 3 (dutch pressing)
focus: ship of memories
jan akkerman & thijs van leer: focus (1985)
rare earth: get ready
fleetwood mac: rumours (sealed)
country joe mcdonald: thinking of woody guthrie
country joe mcdonald: incredible! live!
various artists: 1969 warner/reprise songbook
invaders: test card (UK pressing)
artful dodger: rave on
rip rig & panic: beat the beast
nitty gritty dirt band: ricochet
eddie cochran: memorial album (french pressing)
sylvain sylvain
gary shearston: dingo
lizzy mercier descloux: press color (ZE records)
808 state: utd. state 90
the neighboorhood: debut
the fall: wonderful and frightening world...
the damned: eloise 12"
various artists: young, popular and sexy (factory records comp. with happy mondays, durutti column, a certain ratio...)
section 25: bad news week 12" (factory records)
shark vegas: you hurt me 12" (factory records)
wire: pink flag (US pressing)
grateful dead: anthem of the sun (later pressing)
kinks: lola vs powerman and the moneygoround (really nice copy)
neil young: harvest (original with inner sleeve)
byrds: younger than yesterday (360 stereo, vg)

jazz:
clark terry: tread ye lightly
ahmad jamal: portfolio of... (numbered 2LP collection on argo)
stanley turrentine: have you ever seen the rain
stanley turrentine: self-titled (blue note re-issue series)
herbie hancock: traces
don sebesky: the rape of el morro
john handy: live at monterey jazz festival
billie holiday: greatest hits vol. 1 (dutch pressing)
billie holiday: original recordings
billie holiday: lady sings the blues (japanese pressing, no obi)
antonio carlos jobim: tide
lonnie liston smith & cosmic echoes: visions of a new day
egberto gismondi: danca das cabecas
joe beck: self-titled (kudu)
keith jarrett: luminessence
mongo santamaria: at montreux
wayne shorter: phantom navigator
andre previn: the early years
gene krupa & his orchestra: that drummer's band
woody herman big band: hey! heard the herd?
lennie tristano/buddy defranco: crosscurrents
al cohn & zoot sims: either way (zim records)
ray bryant trio: potpourri
stan getz/sonny stitt: echoes of an era
paul horn quintet: here's that rainy day
ahmad jamal: piano scene of...
martha davis & spouse: a tribute to fats waller
billy taylor trio: the more i see you (UK pressing)
various artists: changing face of harlem
duke ellington: '66 (3 color steamboat label)
walfredo de los reyes & louis bellson: ritmos cubanos
ian carr's nucleus: in flagranti delicato
dollar brand duo: good news from africa
morrissey mullen: badness
ornette coleman: shape of jazz to come (original pressing, vg+)
johnny griffin: big soul
mccoy tyner: 13th house
lincoln mayorga & distinguished colleagues: missing linc (sheffield audiophile pressing)
milt jackson with the ray brown big band: memphis jackson (impulse)
brother jack mcduff: down home style (blue note)

funk/soul/disco/rap:
motown instrumentals
motown chartbusters volume 5
bill withers: live at carnegie hall
george clinton: r&b skeletons in the closet
west street mob: self-titled
mtume: in search of the rainbow seekers
labelle: phoenix
hugh masekela: grazing in the grass
emotions: sunshine
percy mayfield: sings percy mayfield
earth wind & fire: that's the way of the world (quad pressing)
molecular beats squadron: coming by storm 12"
dionne warwick: here i am
dinah, joe & sarah: we three
cameo: we all know who we are
kool & the gang: spirit of the boogie
gene chandler: your love looks good on me
aaron neville: like it'tis
james brown: showtime
mary wells: two sides (mono, beautiful copy)
otis redding: live in europe
captain sky: pop goes...
lime II
brother to brother: let your mind be free

folk/country/blues/gospel:
bonnie dobson: at folk city (rare album on prestige, deep groove, excellent shape)
alf edwards: the art of the concertina (rare album on prestige)
joan baez: blessed are... (quad pressing)
fred neil: other side of this life (green label, with gram parsons on one track)
barry mcguire & the doctor: self-titled
tom paxton: morning again (gold label, vg)
charlie king w. paul despinosa: old dreams and new nightmares
newport folk festival 1963, evening concerts vol. 1 (with dylan, jack elliott, miss. john hurt, joan baez...)
malvina reynolds: self-titled (vg, hard to find album with members of the birds, dillards, sunshine company...)
vern gosdin: never my love
clarence "gatemouth" brown: blackjack
clarence "gatemouth" brown: the blues ain't nothing (french pressing)
doc watson: southbound (sealed)
jim kweskin & the jug band: jug band music
gram parsons: self-titled (shilo records)
oscar brand: laughing america (sealed)
angelic gospel singers: i'm bound for mt. zion
johnny cash: songs of our soil (360 stereo)
dave van ronk: no dirty names

world music:
hari prasad chaurasia: flute recital (sealed, indian odeon pressing)
bhavalu/impressions: south indian instrumental music (sealed, nonesuch explorer)
exotissimo vol. 1: jaipur, inde (french pressing)
maloko: soul on fire
incantation: canarios/atahuallpa
music of hungary (capitol, sealed)
sergio mendes: the great arrival
francoise hardy: star

miscellaneous:
bessie jones: step it down: games for children
a french monkey story
kronos quartet: white man sleeps
stories of guy de maupassant
ralph shapey: praise (CRI)
the hush of midnight
famous ghost stories with scary sounds
virgo rising: the once and future woman
poems and songs of middle earth
copernicus: deeper
les baxter: the primitive and the passionate (stereo)
ping pong percussion
howard stern: 50 ways to rank your mother
yevtushenko: readings from his new york and san francisco poetry concerts
the poetry of pat parker & judy grahn
john cage/christian wolff: cartridge music/duo for violinist and pianist

There are some killer new arrivals over at Red Onion Records and Books. First off, there's the reissue on vinyl (!) of the Raincoats' classic debut album. The store has also got in new pressings from Folkways, the new Atlas Sound LP (pictured) as well as Cedric Brooks, Albert Ayler, Arthur Russell, Sun Ra, Wilco, and a killer soul-funk comp.

Used vinyl list after the jump.

rock:

neil young: self-titled

neil young: decade

allman brothers: at the fillmore

allman brothers: beginnings

black sabbath: self-titled

rolling stones: flowers

beach boys: surfs up

beach boys: wild honey/20/20 (2LP)

beach boys: summer days...

the beatles: rubber soul

the beatles: let it be

the beatles: love songs (2LP with book)

the beatles: in the beginning

the beatles: rarities

jefferson airplane: takes off (later pressing)

jefferson airplane: surrealistic pillow (later pressing)

dr. john: night tripper

glencoe: spirit of

grand funk railroad: live album (2LP, german pressing)

lou reed: take no prisoners (2LP, live)

bruce springsteen: born to run/the river/born in the usa/greetings from asbury park

rory gallagher: tattoo

family: fearless

family: music in a dolls house

family: entertainment (uk)

the paupers: ellis island (amazing cheap psych album)

leonard cohen: death of a ladies man

chris farlowe: greatest hits (uk, rolling stones related)

dusty springfield: a brand new me

dusty springfield: cameo

dusty springfield: see all her faces (uk)

lesley gore: girl talk

the byrds: untitled

the band: the last waltz

the doors: self-titled (gold label, vg+)

pink floyd: nice pair (piper at the gates of dawn)

pink floyd: atom heart mother

pink floyd: ummagumma

king crimson: discipline/beat/in the court of the crimson king/three of a perfect pair/red/lizard

del shannon: one thousand six hundred...

joni mitchell: blue

various artists: not so quiet on the eastern front (2LP, with inner sleeve and book)

various artists: rat music for rat people

various artists: eastern front

various artists: permanent wave

black flag: everything went black (2LP, first pressing with band's name airbrushed)

whipping boy: the sound of no hands clapping (rare 1st LP by CA band produced by klaus flouride)

faith: subject to change

jawbreaker: bivouac

shudder to think: get your goat

halfoff: the truth

meat puppets: huevos

bad manners: klass

the smiths: strangeways here we come

let's active: every dog has his day

new model army: ghost of cain

the clash: this is radio clash 12:

the clash: self-titled (us)

the clash: sandinista

the clash: give em' enough rope

depeche mode: broken frame

depeche mode: black celebration

depeche mode: catching up...

kraftwerk: trans-europe express

kraftwerk: autobahn

the specials: more specials

the specials: ghost town 12"

devo: are you experienced 12"

devo: freedom of choice

dead end kids: breakout (with poster!)

cocteau twins: blue bell knoll

cocteau twins: treasure

sex pistols: never mind the bollocks...

blondie: tide is high 12" (german)

specimen: batastrophe

redd kross: neurotica

the replacements: i will dare 12"

the replacements: let it be

the replacements: hootenanny

new york dolls: self-titled

alan vega: saturn strip

insect surfers: sonar safari (local new wave)

calculated x: self-titled (private press new wave)

julee cruise: floating into the night (produced by angelo badlamenti and david lynch)

au pairs: playing with a different sex

rem: dead letter office/green/fables of the reconstruction/document

talking heads: and she was 12"/remain in light/speaking in tongues/naked/little creatures

the police: syncronicity/regatta de blanc/outlandos d'amour

janes addiction: nothings shocking

grateful dead: in the dark

grateful dead: workingman's dead

george harrison: cloud nine

neil young: hawks & doves

blues image: open

sunkilmoon: tiny cities (mark kozelek doing modest mouse)

elvis costello: secret, profane & sugarcane

ryan adams & the cardinals: cardinology

jazz:

billie holiday: broadcast vol. 3 (esp)

jelly roll morton: 1938/1940

david matthews & whirlwind: shoogie wanna boogie

paul humphrey/shelly manne/willie bobo/louie bellson: drum session

gabor szabo: macho

lenny white: venusian summer

k. & j.j.: israel

ramsey lewis: funky serenity/upendo ni pamoja (2LP)

charles kynard: your mama don't dance (mainstream)

larry willis: inner crisis

richard groove holmes: six million dollar man

jimmy smith: black smith

junior mance: touch of

jack mcduff: fourth dimension

ray bryant: in the cut

mike longo: awakening (mainstream)

richard groove holmes: american pie

richard groove holmes: onsaya joy

pete yellin: dance of allegra (mainstream)

night blooming jazzmen: freedom jazz dance (mainstream)

george duke: save the country

eric kloss: essence

lonnie smith: mama wailer

johnny hammond smith: what's going on

funk/soul:

mandre: m3000

free movement: i've found someone

soul children: best of two worlds

purifys: pure sound of...

smokey robinson & miracles: anthology (3LP)

4 tops: best of (2LP)

jackie wilson: story (2LP)

solaris: self-titled

marz: make it right

marvin gaye: what's going on (later pressing)

marvin gaye: here my dear

various artists: lost soul vol. 1

black ivory: baby, won't you...

smokey robinson & miracle: one dozen roses

4 tops: nature planned it

mary wells: greatest hits

peggy scott & jo jo benson: lover's heaven

little anthony & the imperials: on a new street

esquires: get on up and get away

timmy thomas: why can't we live together

isley brothers: very best of (early tracks)

gloria lynne: dynamite!

big j: in 3-D

michael jackson: thriller

michael jackson: off the wall

Nerds rejoice. (Let's hope the vinyl skews a little rarer than '80s Kinks and Wes Montgomery LPs!) I'm sure the record fair is going to be well stocked. After all, the fair is being sponsored and promoted by some fine and discerning local tastemakers—Som Records, the Vinyl District, and DC Soul Recordings.

And amazingly, Mingering Mike has given his blessing.

Here's what one of the sponsors promised in an e-mail to Arts Desk headquarters:

"25+ Record Dealers w/ funk, punk, reggae, salsa, soul, indie, psych, freakbeat, hip-hop, techno, samba, rockabilly and more...
Celebrity DJ's, great pizza, ping pong, beer/wine and lots of records!
A perfect way to spend a Fall Sunday morning!
Fancy limited edition flyer by Mingering Mike!"

On Sunday, the New York Times ran an article about Jim O'Rourke, an underground overachiever who, in addition to recording his own solo music, has played in Sonic Youth and Gastr Del Sol, and worked in various other capacities with Wilco, Joanna Newsom, and Superchunk.

His latest project is the new solo album The Visitor, a recording that, at times, features as many as 200 tracks of instruments.

As one might imagine, an album such as this would require quite an intricate mix, which is perhaps why The Visitor will only be available on CD and vinyl—no digital download.

Here's part of the Ben Ratliff article from NYT:

He’s taking a stand against the sound quality of MP3s; he’s also taking a stand in favor of artists being able to control the medium and reception of their work.

“You can no longer use context as part of your work,” he said, glumly, “because it doesn’t matter what you do, somebody’s going to change the context of it. The confusion of creativity, making something, with this Internet idea of democratization ...” he trailed off, disgusted. “It sounds like old-man stuff, but I think it’s disastrous for the possibilities of any art form.”

He's not the first artist to attempt a download pushback. But is he a part of the vanguard or a dying breed?

Red Onion just put out a list of its new arrivals which include some new Honest Jon's releases (Trembling Bells, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, among others), the new Dinosaur Jr. LP, the Rondos reissue, White Hills, The Field, Deerhunter, Es, Earth, Major Lazer, Betty Davis, the new Papercuts, Blank Dogs and an amazing George Mitchell-produced blues LP.

Full list in annoying font/font size after the jump (apologies).

Some more new vinyl:

cat power: what would the neighbors think
booker t.: potato hole
dan deacon: bromst
dirty projectors: rise above
neutral milk hotel: in the aeroplane over the sea
she and him: volume one
postal service: give up
thermals: more parts per million
thermals: fuckin a
obits: i blame you
eprhyme: shomer salaam 7"
no age: nouns

rock:
john prine: self-titled
john prine: sweet revenge
yes: the yes album
elton john: madman across the water
simon and garfunkel: the concert in central park 2LP
traffic: the low spark of high heeled boys (island pink rim)
traffic: john barleycorn must die (ua black/red label)
steely dan: greatest hits 2LP
bruce springsteen: born in the usa
bruce springsteen: the wild, the innocent & the e street shuffle
jimmy buffett: living and dying in 3/4 time
neil young: self-titled
neil young: after the gold rush
neil young: harvest (original cover, inner sleeve & insert)
neil young with crazy horse: everybody knows this is nowhere
crosby, stills & nash: self-titled
van morrison: tupelo honey
al kooper: easy does it 2LP
david peel & the lower east side: the american revolution (red elektra label, big e)
thee prophets: playgirl
murray mclauchlan: song from the street
the rascals: rock and roll treasures 2LP

ac/dc: flick of the switch

ac/dc: fly on the wall

allman brothers band: brothers and sisters

beatles: let it be

john lennon collection

byrds: fifth dimension

bad manners: self-titled

the beat: self-titled

the beckies: self-titled

jeff beck: beck-ola

chuck berry: the great twenty-eight

blind faith: self-titled

blodwyn pig: getting to this

bloodrock: self-titled

bloodrock: 2

bloodrock: passage

blues image: open

borghesia: surveillance and punishment

bow wow wow: twelve tracks

Burundi black: self-titled 12”

camper van Beethoven: key lime pie

caravan: self-titled (70’s pressing)

chameleons UK: strange times (with bonus 12”)

chameleons UK: script of the bridge

climax Chicago blues band: self-titled

clover: self-titled (huey lewis)

cream: wheels of fire 2LP

creation: self-titled (funky rock, not british group)

clash: combat rock

the cure: boys don’t cry

the cure: happily ever after 2LP (contains seventeen second and faith)

donovan: sunshine superman/in concert 2LP

dave clark five: 25 thumping great hits

devo: freedom of choice

neil diamond: do it!

dr. john: gris gris (80’s pressing)

echo & the bunnymen: self-titled EP

echo & the bunnymen: self-titled LP

eddie and the hot rods: teenage depression

ellis: riding on the crest of a slump

flying lizards: self-titled (alternate cover)

fresh out of borstal (drums)

fleetwood mac: tusk

fleetwood mac: bare trees

henry cow: concerts 2LP

the jam: sound effects

kinks: greatest hits

kinks: live at kelvin hall

kraftwerk: computer world

l.a. getaway: self-titled

dave loggins: personal belongings

mamas & papas: best of 2LP

mamas & papas: self-titled

modern english: I melt with you 12”

new order: confusion 12”

new order: temptation 12”

new order: low-life

new order: blue monday 12”

new order: fine time 12”

gary numan: pleasure principle

gary numan: telekon (sealed with bonus live single)

OMD: joan of arc 12”

OMD: dazzle ships

only ones: baby’s got a gun

prince: minneapolis genius 94 east

psychedelic furs: self-titled

ramones: end of the century

ramones: too tough to die

jonathan richman & the modern lovers: jonathan sings!

rio grande: self-titled

tommy roe: it’s now winter’s day

bob ruzicka: soft rocker (sealed)

bob ruzicka: cold hands, warm heart (sealed)

selecter: too much pressure

sex pistols: never mind the bollocks…

siouxsie and the banshees: once upon a time

siouxsie and the banshees: the scream

slade: slayed?

sly & the family stone: life

sly & the family stone: a whole new thing

the smiths: hatful of hollow (UK)

soft cell: non stop erotic cabaret

soft machine: volumes one and two (1973 command 2LP)

sugarcubes: life’s too good

violent femmes: bling leading the naked

tom waits: the heart of Saturday night

anna black: meet anna black

future: down that country road

sandy denny: rendezvous

repairs: self-titled

plug: drum ‘n’ bass for papa 2LP (luke vibert)

slam versus unkle: narcotourists 12”

queen anne’s lace: self-titled

wild turkey: turkey (drums)

ronee blakley: self-titled

anita lane: dirty sings (mute, nick cave)

tonto: it’s about time

chameleons: up the down escalator

humphrey and the dumptrucks: six days of paper ladies (sealed)

sore throat: sooner than you think

portion control: purge

the jazz butcher: fishcotheque

mary hopkin: those were the days (apple)

sweet: desolation boulevard

jeff buckley/gary lucas: songs to no one 1991-1992 2LP

captain beefheart and the magic band: unconditionally guaranteed (canadien pressing)

tim buckley: lorca

c.a. quintet: trip through hell 2LP (sundazed reissue)

pierre et le loup (with brian eno, Manfred mann, keith tippet, bill bruford, cozy powell…)

husker du: warehouse songs and stories 2LP

nico: the end

iggy and the stooges: raw power

velvet underground: 1969 2LP (live)

only ones: special view

go betweens: 16 lovers lane

go betweens: tallulah

pogues: poguetry in motion

pogues: peace & love

pogues: if i should fall from grace with god

mark spoelstra: this house

anna domino: self-titled (disques de crepuscle)

the specials: live in manchester

iron maiden: powerslave

iron maiden: aces high (UK pressing)

slayer: hell awaits

metallica: creeping death (UK/french pressing?)

current event: hits of simon & garfunkel

talking heads: girlfriend is better 12"

jazz:
coleman hawkins: today & now (later impulse pressing)
j.j. johnson: proof positive (later impulse pressing)
lawrence brown's all-stars: inspired (later impulse pressing)
joe venuti: hooray for joe
herbie mann: the family of mann (mono, purple/red label)
dizzy gillespie/lalo schifrin: free ride
pete and sheila escovedo: happy together
doc severinsen: brand new thing
joe thomas: get in the wind
jack dejohnette: new directions

gato barbiere: el gato

annette peacock: x-dreams

sandy nassan: just guitar

george benson: the other side of abbey road

al hirt: raw sugar/sweet sauce/banana puddin’

bill evans: paris concert edition one

moe koffman: jungle man

billy gordon: plays lovers hits

monty Alexander: love and sunshine

don ellis: tears of joy

stanley turrentine: joyride (DMM pressing)

kai winding: penny lane & time

chris hinze combination: bamboo magic

joe Farrell: upon this rock

gary burton quartet with eberhard weber: passengers

leon sash: i remember Newport

terry gibbs: el nutto

andy narell: hidden treasure

dave burrell: windward passages 2LP (hat hut records)

cal state/Northridge jazz ensemble: studio city

ahmad jamal: at the Blackhawk

leon Thomas: full circle

dizzy Gillespie: swing low, sweet Cadillac (impulse)

jay Berliner: bananas are not created equal

lew soloff: Hanalei bay (Japanese pressing)

charles earland: kharma

louis armstrong all-stars: in concert 1956 (sealed)

billie holiday: the lady lives (ESP, sealed)

louis armstrong/duke ellington: at newport (french pressing)

louis armstrong: at the crescendo vol. 2 (UK pressing, sealed)

ray charles: live in concert (ABC)

keely smith: be my love

count basie: basie's beat

sonny rollins: self-titled 2LP (50's recordings)

dizzy gillespie/bobby hackett/mary lou williams: giants

james moody: beyond this world

Today we passed on the news that Orpheus Records has officially closed for real. We just got off the phone with Owner Rick Carlisle. Apparently, Carlisle decided to close up shop on Saturday afternoon.

"I'm closed," Carlisle says. "Saturday was my last day. I didn't actually decide until two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday. I originally intended to close the previous Saturday....As the day progressed, it just felt right to do it. I alluded to it on the website and a fair number of people were able to read between the lines and were able to come in and wish me well. It just felt right to close."

Carlisle says he just had enough.

"The people that were coming in just I don't know," he says. "It was just a feeling. It felt like it should happen....There were so few people coming in anymore....I figured I've gotten rid of a lot of the inventory. I've said my goodbyes. My customers said their goodbyes...It didn't make any sense to keep waiting. I've been losing money for three months. I finally had to pull the plug."

Carlisle goes on to describe the last day of Orpheus. "The last day all the records were for a dollar," he says. "On Friday night, I spent several hours putting out new stuff just so it wouldn't be the same boring junk....Two guys did pretty well getting some good stuff. There was still pretty good stuff... I saw a few $30 records go out for a buck."

Carlisle did take a few things for himself. "The new releases and high end collectibles are leaving with me," he says. "I'm still getting the new stuff for my regulars. I have an order coming on Thursday–for my diehards. They'll come and pick up their Steve Earle record. I have someone coming in for the Felice Brothers."

I finally asked Carlisle what he was gonna do next. "I have no idea," he admits. "I decided months ago, I have no time to think about that.... For the first three to six months, I'm not going to do anything....I will be keeping the website up for informational purposes if nothing else for the....next 30 years..."

Red Onion just updated its new arrivals list. The stacks now include the new Ganglians self-titled LP. Shop  owner Josh Harkavy endorses the album, writing:

"Sacramento's Ganglians want an island somewhere where they can soak in the sun and prowl the canopy by night. It's not often that they do get out, but they can get down for that. Recording sometimes as one, sometimes as four it's a real game to figure out where the entity comes from and where it's going. First and foremost it's about uncertain pleasures."

Don't feel like decoding another Woodsist LP? There's more. Other new arrivals include the new Field LP, new Ducktails LP, and the new Real Estate 7-inch, as well as the new Dischord remasters.

Used vinyl list after the jump.

USED VINYL: