Next Sunday (March 6), The Craufurd Arms in Wolverton will play host to a Record Fair – an opportunity for vinyl fans to seek out new product and connect with like-minded disc lovers.
“Record fairs are a great way of finding records, whether they are standard releases, re-issues or mega rarities,” organiser Jim Mallard told Total MK.
“Plus you can mingle with like minded individuals and the dealers are always extremely knowledgeable about their stock on sale.
“The Craufurd Arms Record Fair is new to Milton Keynes which has been starved of such an event for far too long. All tastes in music are catered for and you'll be surprised at the range on offer.
“Try it; what else would you do on a Sunday afternoon in Milton Keynes?”
The fair begins at midday and entry is free.
Total MK is launching a new series for vinyl lovers to share their love of the black stuff and wax lyrical about their rarities and most wanted. To get us started, here's Jim's Sound Purchases...
Explain when your love affair with vinyl started, and how big your collection is now
My record buying started about 1962, buying the hits of the day from Woollies on the Embassy label; cover versions of chart singles.
My record collection isn't massive, probably about 2000 albums and the singles mostly centre around the NWOBHM, about 300 or more.
Tell us about the first record you bought
The first record that I can remember buying was Tell Me What He Said by Helen Shapiro in 1962.
And the favourite/most special records in your collection - and why
Favourites change over time; currently, I'm into melodic doom metal and building up a collection of established artists such as Trouble, Pentagram and Candlemass and newer offerings on specialist labels e.g. Metal Blade such as the mighty Sorceror.
Explain the buzz of record collecting for those who don't do it
Records, especially gatefold albums have such an appeal that the accompanying artwork is deserved of a 12" format (cf Roger Dean and Rodney Matthews); condensed to to a 5" format it loses its impact and try reading the credits and lyrics.
That first play, the static, the smell and feel of the product; it's a reverent ritual. Records do sound better than CDs although whether that is true of digitally recorded albums remains to be evaluated.
Certainly, music from the 60's and 70's sound better on vinyl and without the dreaded shuffle option, albums can be played in the sequence the artist intended.
Have you ever spent money you shouldn't have, on a release?Funnily enough I spent loads on a couple of Pentagram albums, albeit re-issues, and are absolutely amazing; the packaging is superb and impossible to equal on cd format.
In this instance, size does matter!
Tell us about your favourite album cover - and has a cover alone ever influenced your decision to buy a release
My favourite album cover of all time has got to be King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson King by Barry Godber.
He wasn't an artist and apparently the cover artwork is his only known product.
Some covers during the 80's with NWOBHM competing with the new emerging thrash metal was very confusing; the gore of thrash was often imposed on some really good rock albums but were overlooked at the time for their extreme imagery.
What record is the one you hope against hope of stumbling across one day?
Dark-Round the Edges. Recorded in 1972 by a Northampton band.
Very limited issue at the time, less than 100. Current value £10,000 and it's a good album!
When you are no longer rocking in this world, what will happen to your collection?!
That is very much in my thoughts, as yet, don't know.
The industry told us that vinyl was on the downturn, and yet it is currently experiencing its highest sales for years.
What do you think is so special about the vinyl record, as opposed to a CD, or grabbing a download.
Got to be down to the quality of the sound vinyl offers. CDs and downloads give you convenience but when compared to vinyl, a shite sound.
> If you want to feature in a forthcoming Sound Purchases, email us: info@thisistotalmk.co.uk
