So, I ended up with some time to kill in the area of the West Side Half Price Books, and though I had already been through, literally, every discount record they had, and I didn’t expect stock turned over very rapidly… what better way to kill 15 minutes. So, I crouched down and started digging.

And lo and behold, I found some new stuff there I couldn’t leave behind.

“Loverboy – Get Lucky”

This album came out while I was in High School and of course I bought it for the song “Working For The Weekend”, but it was the song “Take Me To The Top” that blew my mind. The grindy keyboard line really got under my skin. The choppy guitar work was awesome too. I loved the unhurried 6 + minute track that rose and fell and jammed and though it was simple, it worked for me. This album was a crossover on the hardrocking High School juke box. It played in the mornings (normal for non-metal) AND at lunch too (normally the HARD rock set) alongside AC/DC and Scorpions and Zeppelin. Not bad for some Canadian boys with this album cover to break through to that crowd. Well done.

“Billy Squire – Don’t Say No”

Billy Squire blew up the radio with this album. It was in movies and his warbly distinctive voice was everywhere. This whole album is great and was another rock, but not too hard crossover jukebox favorite. “In The Dark” and “My Kinda Lover” were on every station, but it was of course “The Stroke” that sent Billy into the atmosphere, at least with my crowd. This album and “Emotions In Motion” would be a fantastic coup. I’ll keep my eyes open for that one.

“Jackson Brown – Running On Empty”

I never owned this one, though I have heard most of the songs from it. My friend Paul Beck was never without this one. He loved it to death and thought the whole hotel room recording was awesome. I put this one on and in fact it IS awesome. It was too mellow for me when he tried to turn me on to it, but I think I am ready now.

“Rickie Lee Jones – The Magazine”

I have to be honest, I have no idea about this one, but I do like the other 2 Jones albums that I have. I’ll give this one a chance.

“Rare Earth – In Concert”

At some point I copied a Rare Earth album from someone and really dug their long version of “Get Ready”. This was a double for a buck. I had to get it. It has the “Get Ready” track. The album is supposed to look like a backpack. When you lift the outerflap you see the “opening” which looks somewhat convincing in this shot.

There are 2 LP’s stuffed into it.

They are super thin though. Seriously, I don’t think I have owned any this thin. I mean, look at this! They must have pressed them super thin so they would both fit in the small album cover. Sheesh!

Ok, now this next one isn’t vinyl, but I have heard several songs by this band and it was laying on the counter and was only a buck.

“Los Lonely Boys – Los Lonely Boys”

I love the song “Heaven”, but I had also heard the song “Real Emotion” and really liked that one too. I had heard a few people talk about their recent show in the area and it was well received. I was curious, had to buy it. So there is one song I will probably always skip, but the rest is fantastic. Sort of Santana meets Stevie Ray Vaughn. The spanish is good, the guitar work is good and it has a very nice groove. I recommend it highly.

Glad I stopped in.