Ohhh, That Smell!

Second hand record shops.

Those lazy afternoons flipping through endless copies of the Clash’s Give ’Em Enough Rope while two dudes at the other end of the racks debated the relative merits of Frank Zappa's You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Nos. 1 to 98. Your olfactory senses in overdrive with the scents of used gatefold albums. Feeling your pulse quicken when you come across that rare album you've been looking for for 10 years. Taking the vinyl out of the sleeve and gently flipping it over to make sure there were no scratches or warps, and after hours of perusing taking your choices under your arms and bringing them to the front counter to be scrutinized by the cashier. Getting the records home, gently placing them on the turntable and playing them for hours while you read every single liner note and lyric. Once finished, placing the record in one of those milk crates you scammed from behind 7-11 for safe storage after, of course, you slip it in one of those protective plastic outer sleeves.

Those were the days...

For better or worse theses stores and times are a dying breed, nothing more than a pleasant memory and let's face it, MP3 internet stores are here to stay but there's no soul there.

In unrestrained homage to the plywood racks and surly till-minders of days past, here are a few photos to take you back to those halcyon days.