Category Archives: editorial

Alsip Record Collectors Show

Events, Vinyl Finds, , , , ,

Alsip Illinois is not what you’d think of as record collector’s heaven, but for one day in November–Saturday November 20, 2010 to be exact–it is EXACTLY that. The Alsip Record Collectors Show was a goldmine for me—I dropped a nice pile of cash here on some obscurities that make my fellow collectors drool.

The thing I truly enjoyed most about this show were the deep discounts. A vinyl junkie buying large numbers of titles can get a good markdown from these very friendly dealers…and I didn’t even ask!

Contrast that to some of the people at the show who seemed, well, a bit too pushy for my tastes when they tried to negotiate discounts on stuff that was already going for half price.

A dealer’s got to turn SOME kind of a profit at these shows and I respect that–otherwise why go into the business in the first place? I was well pleased with the titles, selection and discounts I got from this show.

From the Tones on Tail colored vinyl 12-inch of “Lions” with GO! as the b-side to the Skinny Puppy LP Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse, I cleaned up.

I highly recommend the Alsip Record Collectors show. Whenever I find a new-to-me record show to attend, I hop on Facebook to see if they are listed there–the most savvy record shows take full advantage of Facebook.

I was stunned to see only TWO people like the Alsip record show FB page, which is sad…this is a show well worth attending even if it is on the outskirts of Chicago and an hour-ish drive away. Friend ’em on Facebook and give them some love. This is a small, easy to navigate and above all FUN TO SHOP record show.

Continue reading Alsip Record Collectors Show →

Turntabling Art

For Sale, Media, , ,

Yep, we’re branching out. You might have noticed the Turntabling Etsy Store to the right, and in addition to the used vinyl records and tees I’m selling there, I’ve also started offering turntabling and DJ-themed art. What you see here are the first two–there is much more to come in many forms including more art prints, some turntable-related tees and more.

Vinyl isn’t just a format, it’s a way of life…at least around the Turntabling.net office. I’m pretty wrapped up in the vinyl junkie lifestyle–crate digging on an obsessive basis, writing about it, blogging it, traveling thousands of miles out of my way to buy and sell it. Can’t help myself, either–call me hopeless.

So it was only natural that I’d resort to making art about it…click on the images or drop by the Turntabling Etsy shop to see more.


If you have a particular image or set of images you’d like to see made into a fine art print or series, drop me a line via Etsy and I’d be happy to discuss doing custom work. You can also reach me here: jwallace (at) turntabling (dot net).

WTF Album Covers: Donny Osmond Disco Train

WTF?, , , , , ,

Brace yourself.

There are three really awful things going on in this photograph. #1- Donny Osmond is wearing a cape. #2, he’s also wearing flared trousers. #3–Donny Osmond is wearing a FRICKIN CAPE.

Why were so many singers obsessed with trains in the 70s?Donny Osmond isn’t the only one, there’s a ton of singles featuring the locomotive; Love Train, City of New Orleans, Train in Vain, you name it…people, there are OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO SING ABOUT. Enough with the damn trains already. Nobody writes a ballad about a unicycle or a pair of rollerblades, do they? No. They write about bleedin’ TRAINS.

Donny here wants to simultaneously derail a train and kill all the passengers AND destroy this Elton-John-wet-dream piano in the process. This photograph is clearly an indication that Donny Osmond is predisposed to domestic terrorism and he should be investigated by the FBI and the TSA.

But I keep coming back to THE CAPE. Why? It’s bad enough that Donny Osmond has another record out, but the cape really tears it for me. “Does Liberace know you’re raiding his wardrobe?” Continue reading WTF Album Covers: Donny Osmond Disco Train →

Turntable Anatomy 101

Blogs, editorial, , , , ,

There are plenty of excellent guides to the turntable online, so I don’t need to rehash anything here, but I will just say for the record that one of THE most extensive and comprehensive guides to record players is the Turntable Basics post at AudioJunkies.com.Wow, that is extensive! A great start for newcomers to turntables, indeed.

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve run into at conventions and shows (not record collector shows, mind you) who are completely surprised that not only is vinyl in vogue once more but that thousands of new vinyl albums are coming out, both reissues and new material.

Not sure where these people have been hiding since even Best Buy carries vinyl these days, but at EVERY show there is at least on surprised punter.

So let’s answer a few basic questions: Is there new vinyl coming out? Yes. Do companies still manufacture turntables? Yes. Do these companies still make replacement record needles? Oh yes indeed!

If there’s one thing I would strongly urge people reading this to do who haven’t done so already, it’s to purchase a turntable and get back into record collecting. Simple fact–at almost every record store there is a bin of cheapies, some for a dollar apiece.

That makes getting into vinyl and collecting new-to-you music FAR CHEAPER than downloading single MP3s. I love MP3s for their portability and ease of use as a DJ, but vinyl is still my hands-down favorite for the whole music listening experience including the artwork, which is far more enjoyable in those 12×12 formats.

–Joe Wallace
Continue reading Turntable Anatomy 101 →