VMP Magazine

To define a man as complex as Charles Mingus is a challenging task. He was a musician of sublime talent, with a temper and a doctrinaire nature often as reputable as his musicianship. Mingus’ career is laced with tales of rage, pedantic perfectionism and frustration. Frustration about inequality, musicality and identity. Mingus was without a doubt one of the most volcanic men on the jazz scene, with this often being exemplified by his mercurial back catalogue.

The late Sun Ra was many things: band leader of his infamous and ever-changing Arkesta, composer, visionary, gifted pianist, cosmic poet and pioneer of afrofuturism.

Albert Leornes Greene, also known as Al Green, is one of the greatest soul singers of all time. With more than 30 recorded albums spanning over four decades, Green’s body of work earned him a reputation that would see him enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Green is a singer who is vivacious and versatile. From broken-hearted ballads to stomping jams laced with innuendo, he is a singer who will take you on a different ride each time you choose to get on. Vocally, Green offers a diversity that is unrelenting. Every song feels carefully curated, and while the thematic elements of his music can be broad, individual songs can feel personal. Each record has its own unique disposition, its own unflinching identity. Green was remarkably confident and self-assured. Subsequently, he created albums that were the musical embodiment of these personality traits.

You can’t be blamed for not knowing where to start with the back catalogue of this soul ambassador. Fear not, the beauty of ol’ Green is that every album will offer something that can be enjoyed. Love, heartbreak and often desire, laid bare for us to hear over consistently well-written songs. Sometimes smooth, sometimes raw, sometimes funky — there is truly something for everyone in the armory of Al Green.

We record collectors are an incredible bunch. We’re dedicated, hardworking and often toe the line between obsession and addiction. From the minute that first record graces your turntable, the hunt begins and the collection grows. As we collect, we find ourselves developing as people and music enthusiasts. We develop, change and ultimately propagate our own unique collecting personality.

Eventually, we all find what kind of collector we are. Are you someone who needs everything? Are you someone who doesn’t care what shape your records are in? Are you a person who doesn’t have Beatles albums, but has every single Korean psych album ever released between 1971 and 1974?

We made a guide for you to determine what kind of collector you are, and in order to identify other collectors by their type. Which type of record collector are you?

Used record sales are soaring. Whilst the demand grows at a rapid pace, the supply is inevitably dwindling. Records are being found, cleaned and stored, sometimes never to be seen again. Safe and snug in its polythene sleeve, the record sits on a proud owner’s shelf. It has been taken from the wild and will never be yours. Consequently, great records in even better condition are demanding a premium. This is a sentiment that fills all collectors with dread. However, there is hope.

How often do we find a record we want, but with a sleeve in poor condition? The record itself is usually great, with the sleeve taking the brunt of the damage. Often we walk away, with tears in our eyes. How could someone be so careless? Truth be told, yesterday’s collectors are not to blame. Vinyl was never the precious commodity it is now. Think of how we have treated CD’s; that was yesterday’s vinyl.

To help numb future pain, here is a guide of how to best fix up the used and abused sleeves that await you. Hopefully, this guide will help you think twice before walking away from a sleeve that looks beyond repair, or help you turn that very good plus in to something excellent.

Diggin’ for records is an addiction, there’s no doubt in that. I’m sure we can all remember the first record we ever found, that jolt of excitement and the consequential thirst for more. Subsequently, we find ourselves searching high and low for new spots, untouched by rivals and fellow enthusiasts. To go into a fresh location when you’ve been marauding the same spots for years is a real thrill. Logic dictates, that the best place to find new spots, is... in new countries? Sure, it’s a long way to go, but diggin’ abroad is well worth the mileage. It feels like the first time all over again. You may even see some sights whilst you look for records?

Recently, I travelled to Venice and Budapest. I was keen to check out the local music scene and maybe snag me a few black circles. I found heaps of record shops and diggin’ spots and met some captivating people along the way. My search, however, was not easy. There were highs and lows and ups and downs a plenty. I wanted to put together a list of tips for my fellow wax loving degenerates, to help take your obsession to the next level.

It’s a tough gig, the vinyl game. Whether you’re an avid collector of seventies prog’, or a connoisseur of Norwegian black metal, there will always be competition for the records you desire. As collections and collectors alike begin to grow, this rivalry with a faceless enemy will only grow fiercer and more relentless.

Like all record junkies, I ponder the question: Do I share my secrets? Everyone has a favorite spot, their own digging haven. Some have a thrift store that hasn’t cottoned on to the vinyl revolution, some have a store where the owner still prices his records like it’s 1976. However, in this instance, I’m happy to share. My spot is no secret. My spot is eBay.

I know, right? We all use eBay. It can be an insufferable place to buy records, there’s no doubt. Being outbid in the last ten seconds is a frustration only equalled by the assembling of flat pack furniture, or an argument about putting the toilet seat down. To beat this frustration I had to learn how to get ahead. I sat down with a steaming hot cup of coffee, a note pad and a fire in my belly. I will be better at eBay.

The list below is what I came up with. I’m happy to report that I’ve been winning at eBay ever since. Some of it is smart, some of it is plain obvious when you think about it, but it is a list that will reshape the way you search, hunt and win on eBay.