AMHERST, NH — Some days you find treasure and some days you don’t. Safe enough to say that today was the day I found gold at the Amherst Goodwill. Ten records for ten bucks —including David Bowie and the Eagles, with Glenn Frey. Needless to say, I left a happy customer, with a fellow customer behind me gasping in disbelief.
“That’s right, I can’t believe it either,” I said.
“You got some good ones!”
I then gave a head nod and went on my way.
It didn’t end there, though.
I also scored Rolling Stones “Made In The Shade;” Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey;” and Talking Heads “Stop Making Sense” (check out the gallery for all 10 albums). As I grabbed for each record my inner joy was screaming, “Is this really happening?”
I have to say, when I saw Bowie my eyes lit up, and then I just got sad. What a prized possession this is, and what a memorable album at that! So, right around this point, I am in pure shock not to mention music heaven. Who in their right mind would let go of these? I mean, I understand that, for many people, records are no longer a thing. But c’mon: these are classics we are talking about. A solid score, if I do say so myself, holding each and every one while looking over my shoulder, no joke: it was that serious.
My gratitude toward vinyl records – and all the old forms of music – has really become an interest of mine, along with CDs. The number of records that I own has grown within the last two years, all thanks to Goodwill’s $1 sales. Otherwise all of this would have cost me well over $100 at a music store.
If you stop by your favorite Goodwill once a week you’re bound to find something interesting. Like the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” In this case, however this should be everyone’s treasure.
As someone who was raised as a CD consumer, and now an online buyer, I vouch for the old music, old sounds, and the pop of the needle hitting the groove you hear at the start of every song. At the end of the day, yes – music is music, plain and simple. But I’d much rather play music on a turntable then via smart phone with the digitally driven enhancements any day.
Millennials are rediscovering vinyl, and finding the passion for this stuff more than previous generations like to think. While vinyl never did leave in the first place, there is the undocumented love and passion for those who still collect. To the many who still have library-sized record collections, I salute you.
[Click to find your nearest Goodwill store.]
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Jake Pendleton, 21, is a student at Nashua Community College. Born in Beverly, Mass., and raised in Milford, he enjoys writing about his passions which include sports, music, movies and all forms of entertainment. He also enjoys filmmaking and photography. Jake posts regularly at indieball.wordpress.com, and will be doing an internship with Manchester Ink Link this semester. He can be reached at jpendoy21@yahoo.com.
