Rant #2,478: Shop Around

Now that we all know what Oreo's mystery flavor was for this year--churro--and we know that Kamala Harris will not run for president in 2020, what else is there for us to know that will make our lives better as we near the actual winter season?

That's an easy one. We need to know what I purchased on Black Friday Record Store Day.

I figured I would do a "big reveal" simply because, quite frankly, I have nothing at all new to offer you on the job front. Everything is status quo, and unless something major happens--and Internet fortune that I read said that "today is my lucky day"--I have said enough about this saga for now.

The operative phrase is "for now," because I am sure there will be lots more for me to tell you as the days and months go on, but at least not today.

So what did I buy on Black Friday Record Store Day anyway?

Through the auspices of my son--who allowed me to purchase what I wanted as my Hanukkah gift, using money that he earned from his job--here are some of the things that I bought, and not everything was released specifically as an exclusive for Record Store Day, or RSD as it is also known as.

I purchased four 7-inch singles/extended play disks on that day. Two of them were RSD exclusives, and those were the "Gimme Some Truth" single from Cheap Trick and the double-single "Christmas Party Plus" from the Monkees. The former single adds to the treasure trove of material the Midwest band releases every RSD, while the latter includes not only three Monkees holiday songs, but the demo of "Unwrap You at Christmas by XTC's Andy Partridge.

I also purchased two non-RSD singles/extended play records: the "All My Loving" British extended play disk from the Beatles, circa 1964; and Sly and the Family Stone's "Dance to the Music" single, with picture sleeve, and this particular single was issued in the Netherlands in 1968.

As far as 12-inch records, I really had a good haul of vinyl on that day.

Here is what I purchased on RSD as exclusives for that day:

* Jimi Hendrix: "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" picture disk

* Cheap Trick (them again): "Are You Ready? Live 12/31/79"

Here is what I purchased from the bargain bin on that day, several non-RSD releases:

* "King Rat" soundtrack

* "Hang 'Em High" soundtrack

* Lainie Kazan: "Right Now!"

* The Merrymen: "Go From Dusk 'Til Dawn"

And as a bonus, I finally received in the mail something that I had sent out for about six months ago, while I was still gainfully employed, a recording which finally came out last week in the United States:

* Michael Nesmith with Red Rhodes: "Cosmic Partners - The McCabe's Tapes" picture disk

So yes, I have plenty to listen to--and plenty to digitize during the coming weeks. I have only listened to the Sly and the Family Stone single thus far, and I am very pleased with it, so I am sure that I will be at least equally as pleased with the other stuff that I purchased.

I know, this is not a groundbreaking revelation, but it makes me happy, and during a period where I have been thwarted at every turn from being happy (you do not know the half of it!), I have to look for little things to thrill me and to amaze me ,,,

And these are it.