I am woefully behind in cataloging the records and tapes I have purchased lately. I will find the time at some point, but for now I wanted to highlight one particular album that I found, that I have purchased in every other form almost throughout my history.

As I was just about to get off the floor at Half Price Book on the West side, legs cramping and having not found much, which is strange… I decided to make it to the next divider then call it quits. As I leaned on the upper rack and let the blood flow back into my legs, out of the corner of my eye I noticed it. I slowly reached out and pulled it from the bin. The clouds parted and a ray of sunshine broke through and lighted the record in my hand making it seem glowy and of a magical quality.

I literally could not believe it was here in my hand.

I clutched it tightly, approached the counter, paid, then scurried away. I felt like I needed to get it home before it suddenly morphed into something awful and I woke up from my dream with a Carly Simon or Air Supply album in my hands and not this amazing find.

I got it home safe and put it lovingly on the turntable. Ah…

I don’t know exactly what the power of this album is over me. It’s overtly prog rock, it’s vocals are high and lilting, it’s SO 70’s. It has gotten under my skin for years, forcing me to buy it over and over again and I feel like I am the only one in the world that knows it and likes it.

The album?

“Jon Anderson – Olias Of Sunhillow”

It was only $3.99 ! Seriously.

I would love to know the story of how this record came to the HPB. Was it a record that someone decided they didn’t want anymore, something that someone left behind at a party in the 70’s and the conversation went like this: “I thought it was YOURS. It’s not mine dude. Let’s sell it.” Maybe it was someone’s dad’s album who doesn’t have a record player anymore. Whatever the case may be… it’s mine now.

Yes I am JUST that nerdy to take a selfie with my vinyl.

I wonder if this is on 8-track?

Hmm…