thriftcrawler 08/13/05

08/13/05

01. Magnavox Odyssey^2 video game console + 6 games

So this intensely red-faced older guy has a shop in the air-conditioned part of the Jefferson Highway Flea Market, and I've bought several records from him before. A month or so ago, I also noticed he had a Pong clone from the 70s, an Atari 2600, and this - the Magnavox Odyssey^2 from 1978. I asked how much they were, and he said he was only selling them as a set for $150. "Fuck that," I said. Not to his face. So today, after weeks of asking and getting the same reply, I finally got him to sell me the Odyssey and games for $40. Not a great deal, but pretty much what you'd expect to pay on eBay (only without the insane shipping costs.) Of course, he went on and on about how I finally "got" him, and how it was an awesome deal, but you expect that sort of thing from wily old flea market shop owners.

You can learn a lot more about the Odyssey^2 at this site, but it was Magnavox's follow-up to their original Odyssey, released in 1972 (the first ever video game console.) It was originally going to be a dedicated console (meaning it would contain a set number of games - no cartridges), but since that market was dying at the time, they remade it into a cartridge-based system. Speaking of cartridges, these are the ones I got: Conquest of the World (boxed/complete), UFO!, Baseball!, Alien Invaders-Plus!, Speedway!/Spin-Out!/Crypto-Logic!, and K.C. Munchkin! Their exclamation points, not mine.

02. Sega Genesis (original design) + 1 game

I told you I was going to buy the original design model of the Genesis next time I saw one. Now I have all three Genesis models, and I just wanna say thanks to everyone who helped my dream of becoming the biggest geek in the tri-state area come true. $4.95 at the Red White & Blue on the West Bank. Oh yeah, that's the pack-in "Not For Resale" Sonic 2 that came with it up there.

03. Growing Pains trading cards/stickers

Let's take a break from all the video game nonsense, shall we? I picked up this set of Growing Pains trading cards from an estate sale in a dingy old warehouse on Tchoupitoulas street in New Orleans. The place was FILLED with junk, but this is the only thing I could find that I even vaguely wanted. Now I'm faced with the problem of what exactly I should stick the Kirk Cameron "Whatta Hunk!" sticker on. Suggestions? Oh, this was 50 cents - dingy Zip-Loc bag* included.

* Dingy Zip-Loc bag not pictured due to contractual obligations.

04. NES Advantage joystick, 4 NES games

I never owned the arcade-like NES Advantage as a kid (my weapon of choice was the NES Max,) and to my fingers it just doesn't feel quite right with most NES games, but it sure does look cool. A tad overpriced at $3.95 at the West Bank RW&B.

Instead of Nick Bussard, today's NES games come from a variety of 80s kids such as "Curt", Paul Billot and the enigmatic "Papale". But wait! What's that over on the right side of Rocket Ranger? Nick?? Could it be... our Nick?? For $1.95 a piece at the other RW&B, here are the games:

01. Hook (Epic Sony Record - 1992)
Pitiful game with a median score of 1.5 out of 10 on Gamefaqs. It does have a Yoshi sticker with "Curt" written on it, though.

02. Top Gun: The Second Mission (Konami - 1989)
It's Konami, so it can't be too bad.

03. Double Dragon II: The Revenge (Acclaim - 1990)
More of the same, but the original Double Dragon was so fun, I'm not complaining. Today's top NES find.

04. Rocket Ranger (Seika - 1990)
Boooooooooooooring.

    05. Colecovision ADAM keyboard

The ADAM was Colecovision's entry into the burgeoning home computer market of the early 80s. It was available as either an add-on to the popular Colecovision video game console, or as a stand-alone unit. Here are a few of the reasons it failed so spectacularly: people wanted a disk drive with their computer, and ADAM only ran slow-ass cassette tapes; the video game crash of '84 caused Coleco to focus their attention on their then-popular Cabbage Patch Kids line of toys and let ADAM waste away; competition from the more popular Apple and Commodore home computers; etc. This is only ADAM's keyboard, and it was $1.95 at the West Bank RW&B. Where'd the rest of him go?

06. 14 LPs

01. The Smiths - s/t (Sire - 1983)
Man, what the hell was up with the Jefferson Highway Bridgehouse today? Way more good records than usual, including this, the first Smiths album. I've been a fan of the Smiths since highschool, but this is my first album of theirs on vinyl. Featuring "This Charming Man", "Pretty Girls Make Graves" and other classics from dandy fop Morrissey. All of these records were one dollar per slab of vinyl, by the way.

02. The B-52's - s/t (Warner Bros. - 1979)
See what I mean? I never find B-52's records at thrift stores, unless it's Good Stuff or the Flintstones soundtrack. This, their debut record, is chock full of campy, vampy, surfy spy rock featuring "Planet Claire", "Dance This Mess Around" and perennial favorite "Rock Lobster". In my mind, they never topped this masterpiece.

03. The B-52's - Wild Planet (Warner Bros. - 1980)
It would've been hard to top the debut, but this follow-up is still a great record in its own right. In addition to the semi-hit "Private Idaho", "Devil in my Car" and "Party Out of Bounds" are the highlights here.

04. Elvis Costello - Taking Liberties (Columbia - 1980)
A collection of 20 songs that had never, until this point, been released in America. Songs stripped from American versions of albums, EP songs, B-sides and the like. Good stuff.

05. Weather Report - Night Passage (Columbia - 1980)
Fusion fusion fusion! The highlight of this one for me is the Jaco Pastorius bass workout "Port of Entry".

06. The Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe (Capitol - 1963)
This album contains only "hot rod" songs such as "409", "Custom Machine" and the title track.

07. Electric Light Orchestra - ELO's Greatest Hits (Jet - 1979)
I bought this on the strength of "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic" and "Telephone Line" - all great songs. Unfortunately, this record leaves out the first two ELO albums (which feature Roy Wood) and also sounds kinda muffled. Should be called "Jeff Lynne's Muffled Hits".

08. The Clash - Sandinista! (Epic - 1980)
This, the follow-up to the legendary London Calling, isn't very highly regarded amongst fans and critics alike. The fact that it's a triple album with thirty-six songs makes me a little scared to dive into it and find out for myself. As far as I know, I've never heard any of these songs.

09. The Who - Who's Next (MCA - 1971)
Didn't I already buy this one? I wasn't sure, so I went ahead and picked it up. Contains "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". I don't mind telling you I'm having a hard time getting into the Who...

10. Jane Birkin featuring Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime (Beautiful Love) (Fontana - 1970)
Featuring heavy-breathing, lounged-up, sexxed-out orgasm song "Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus" and other risque ditties such as "69 Annee Erotique". Pleasant stuff, actually.

11. Bee Gees - Gold, Volume One (RSO - 1976)
Tons of good shit on this one: "Holiday", "To Love Somebody", "Massachusetts", "I Can't See Nobody", "I Started a Joke", and "New York Mining Disaster 1941" are all classic Gibb.

12. Bee Gees - Main Course (RSO - 1975)
This, the first Bee Gees disco album, features "Nights on Broadway" and "Jive Talkin'" among others. Picked it up not too long ago on 8-track, and it's nice to have a copy on a format that doesn't sound like ass.

13. Barry McGuire as The Polka Dot Bear - The Story of Creation (Sparrow/Birdwing - 1980) [test pressing]
Why? This is why:

That's good old-fashioned nightmare fuel right there, folks.

14. Queen - A Night at the Opera (Elektra - 1975)
Everyone knows "Bohemian Rhapsody" by now, but this album is good all over, with songs like "You're My Best Friend" and "I'm in Love With My Car".

Until next time...

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01.	Hook (Epic Sony Record - 1992) Pitiful game with a median score of 1.5 out of 10 on Gamefaqs. It does have a Yoshi sticker with "Curt" written on it, though.
02.	Top Gun: The Second Mission (Konami - 1989) It's Konami, so it can't be too bad.
03.	Double Dragon II: The Revenge (Acclaim - 1990) More of the same, but the original Double Dragon was so fun, I'm not complaining. Today's top NES find.
04.	Rocket Ranger (Seika - 1990) Boooooooooooooring.

01.	The Smiths - s/t (Sire - 1983) Man, what the hell was up with the Jefferson Highway Bridgehouse today? Way more good records than usual, including this, the first Smiths album. I've been a fan of the Smiths since highschool, but this is my first album of theirs on vinyl. Featuring "This Charming Man", "Pretty Girls Make Graves" and other classics from dandy fop Morrissey. All of these records were one dollar per slab of vinyl, by the way.
02.	The B-52's - s/t (Warner Bros. - 1979) See what I mean? I never find B-52's records at thrift stores, unless it's Good Stuff or the Flintstones soundtrack. This, their debut record, is chock full of campy, vampy, surfy spy rock featuring "Planet Claire", "Dance This Mess Around" and perennial favorite "Rock Lobster". In my mind, they never topped this masterpiece.
03.	The B-52's - Wild Planet (Warner Bros. - 1980) It would've been hard to top the debut, but this follow-up is still a great record in its own right. In addition to the semi-hit "Private Idaho", "Devil in my Car" and "Party Out of Bounds" are the highlights here.
04.	Elvis Costello - Taking Liberties (Columbia - 1980) A collection of 20 songs that had never, until this point, been released in America. Songs stripped from American versions of albums, EP songs, B-sides and the like. Good stuff.
05.	Weather Report - Night Passage (Columbia - 1980) Fusion fusion fusion! The highlight of this one for me is the Jaco Pastorius bass workout "Port of Entry".
06.	The Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe (Capitol - 1963) This album contains only "hot rod" songs such as "409", "Custom Machine" and the title track.
07.	Electric Light Orchestra - ELO's Greatest Hits (Jet - 1979) I bought this on the strength of "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic" and "Telephone Line" - all great songs. Unfortunately, this record leaves out the first two ELO albums (which feature Roy Wood) and also sounds kinda muffled. Should be called "Jeff Lynne's Muffled Hits".
08.	The Clash - Sandinista! (Epic - 1980) This, the follow-up to the legendary London Calling, isn't very highly regarded amongst fans and critics alike. The fact that it's a triple album with thirty-six songs makes me a little scared to dive into it and find out for myself. As far as I know, I've never heard any of these songs.
09.	The Who - Who's Next (MCA - 1971) Didn't I already buy this one? I wasn't sure, so I went ahead and picked it up. Contains "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". I don't mind telling you I'm having a hard time getting into the Who...
10.	Jane Birkin featuring Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime (Beautiful Love) (Fontana - 1970) Featuring heavy-breathing, lounged-up, sexxed-out orgasm song "Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus" and other risque ditties such as "69 Annee Erotique". Pleasant stuff, actually.
11.	Bee Gees - Gold, Volume One (RSO - 1976) Tons of good shit on this one: "Holiday", "To Love Somebody", "Massachusetts", "I Can't See Nobody", "I Started a Joke", and "New York Mining Disaster 1941" are all classic Gibb.
12.	Bee Gees - Main Course (RSO - 1975) This, the first Bee Gees disco album, features "Nights on Broadway" and "Jive Talkin'" among others. Picked it up not too long ago on 8-track, and it's nice to have a copy on a format that doesn't sound like ass.
13.	Barry McGuire as The Polka Dot Bear - The Story of Creation (Sparrow/Birdwing - 1980) [test pressing] Why? This is why: That's good old-fashioned nightmare fuel right there, folks.
14.	Queen - A Night at the Opera (Elektra - 1975) Everyone knows "Bohemian Rhapsody" by now, but this album is good all over, with songs like "You're My Best Friend" and "I'm in Love With My Car".