The Genie Appears, Where’s the Magic Solution?

Well he was a genie, but not full of records unfortunately. I did manage to get a nice little pile of 45s, the highlight being a Mizell Brothers produced Bobbi Humphrey among other sides. Last night I was thinking how I needed another turntable (yeah right) so I can dedicate it just for sampling. You know, set it up in the studio just to upload my records, and mess around with drum beats. Wouldn’t you know, I was leaving, and what catches my eye? A used Technics 1200. You never see them at the spot, let alone in the shape this one was in, which is really good. Plus the price tag of $12 was not too shabby. Hello sampling only turntable.

The spot was kind of scarce once again for records, and only a few of the regulars were milling around. My dealer and I were speaking about the usual suspects, and how since Stinky Steve went into hiding, there hasn’t been any spark, or any funny situations since he went underground. It is well known that if you give him your number (I did and still haven’t gotten a damn call yet!), he will pester you and leave crazy messages. I mean that’s what I was hoping for. Apparently he has a great schtick, where he tells you that there are certain people you mess with, and certain people you don’t, him being someone you don’t mess with. He will then go on to say how his father was a big shot in the Mafia; blah blah blah blah. Then after he hangs up, five minutes later he calls and apologizes. He can’t make up his mind whether he wants you whacked, or is in love with you. Seriously though, he needs us, because in the end he gets hurt in the wallet. His absence once again got me thinking today, if they can’t find Stinky Steve, how can they catch Bin Laden, or even defeat the Taliban? The mind of a genius teetering on insanity, but somehow able to allude all law enforcement officials on the East Coast. I’m wondering if he has some disguises, like he changes up his rope belt with a crocheted yarn one, or trades in the Kung Fu shoes for Crocs. Maybe he dons a sombrero he finds at the fleas and then sports a long, thick mustache. Maybe he dresses up like Claude/ Claudia, complete with a Mu-Mu dress and open toed shoes. This really boggles the mind and I’m kicking myself for not doing the documentary earlier. We all were speaking on cleaning dirty records (every one has their own method): from Windex and water, to distilled water, to butter (not recommended), gasoline (also not recommended), and then there’s the magic solution. My guy said, oh you mean Disco Ted’s Magic Solution? Like it was patented or something. Disco Ted was a cat who sold nothing but beat up Disco singles and Lps out of this school bus back in the day. Nobody was buying really, but he always tried to get you to buy his home made record cleaner. It would be in some recycled lighter fluid (another flea market record cleaner..don’t try it at home kids) container, with some masking tape as a label. He wanted $22 for a bottle. Yeah, I said it, $22. Suffice to say, I never bought it, and he’s been booted out of the flea market for quite some time, so I will never get the chance to try it out.

All and all, I was home by 8am, and got some good scores. Next week ought to be a good time, we are rolling deep to the flea after the Asbury Park 45 Sessions on Friday the 14th. More details on that night as the week rolls on. Here are the scores of the week:

45s:
Bobbi Humphrey - Uno Esta/ Blue Note
The Continental Four - The Way I Love You/ Jaywalking
Otis Redding - Higher and Higher/ ATCO
Joe Thomas - A Place in Space/ LRC
The LTG Exchange - Waterbed/ Fania/ Wand
George Jackson - Find ‘Em, Fool ‘Em and Forget ‘Em/ Fame
Flamingos - Straighten It Up/ Ploydor
Chi Coltrane - Time To Come In/ Columbia
Side Effect - Life Is What You Make It/ Fantasy
Shirley Brown - Yes Sir Brother/ Truth
Darrell Banks - Open the Door to Your Heart
War - Slippin’ Into Darkness/ United Artists
Rufus Thomas - Sophisticated Sissy/ Stax
Inez Foxx - Hurt By Love/ Symbol

Lps:

Jimmy McGriff - Sky Walk/ Milestone ( I couldn’t resist the song “Jersey Bounce”)
Jimmy Spicer - The Adventures of Super Rhyme/ Dazz

Bonus:
1 Technics 1200 Turntable that actually works, just needs to be dusted off.

Keep Diggin’!