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BUYING USED: THE HONOR SYSTEM?

Pop for a buck! This phrase, coined by former Barracudas guitarist Robin Wills, was a mantra for many attendees at this year's International Pop Overthrow, as we gleefully trolled the seemingly endless used bins in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, looking for bargains and rarities (the latter which actually might cost some real coinage).

I discovered my first used record store when I was in high school, and after 18 years of second hand shopping a healthy percentage of my collection is comprised of second hand vinyl and discs. I recently discussed buying used discs with Dave Stevens, a familiar face to anyone who attended IPO 2000. Dave runs Pure Pop in Australia, which distributes pop records from all over the place, a Down Under cousin of Not Lame or Jam. And Dave mentioned to me that it is frustrating to see people selling so much pop online, buying it used, or exchanging lengthy swap lists, when many pop acts sell such a limited quantity in the first place.

We both agreed that you couldn't stomp out the 'secondary market' for discs, and frankly, as a gigantic music consumer, I couldn't afford it. With discs in America commonly listing for about $15 on average (and higher in other countries), a major music freak doesn't need a calculator to figure out that a $20 bill goes further at the used shop then at Tower. Generally, I do my risk taking with used stuff, because I'd rather take a chance on a disc for only $5 or $7. And if I like a disc, that almost always engenders loyalty: going to shows, buying t-shirts and other product directly from the artist. In other words, I think that buying used can be positive, in the sense that anything that increases and artists exposure is good. Moreover, before I had a job that actually paid the rent, paying full price was reserved only for my favorite acts. I can't begrudge someone who loves music from trying to get as good a deal as he can, if he doesn't have much cash.

This rose-colored assessment begs the question - at what point does the artist really get screwed? I can guarantee you that many artists have been hurt by used shoppers - some labels seem to dole out promos like Halloween candy (and the promos are usually billed to the artist). Promo-itis isn't quite the same danger for many small pop labels, who are also more shielded from the dangers of used buying by retailing their efforts at exclusive outlets.

I think that every pop nut has to have some personal code of honor, to balance budgetary needs with an eye towards nurturing the artists.

When to buy used: big name acts, old records, incredible bargains, hard to find stuff.

When to buy new: small label product, favorite acts, niche or genre music (even if it's on a major label), major label stuff that's priced at $10 or less.

The gray area: a band that's received mixed reviews that intrigues you. If the disc is only $5 or 6, it's so tempting. Less than that - oh hell, buy it.

Finally, if you do buy let's say, a Cherry Twister or Linus Of Hollywood used and like it, then please - think of a friend you can buy a copy for as a gift.

Tape of the Month

Not long after I left college, and my college radio shows, I got into the habit of frequently making mix tapes. For the past 7 years, I've made about one tape a month - clearly a substitution for my radio show. I thought I'd start sharing these, and would love it if any of you folks out there in Fufkinland would e-mail me (at Mike_Bennett@fufkin.com) the track listings of your best mix tapes and CD-Rs and I will post some of the best. (BTW, all my tapes are on Maxell C-110's, high bias)

SORRYSOMEHOWARD (late Aug. - early Sept.)

Side A: The Sugarplastic - Holy Moses Whipping Boy - Fiction Jet - Hand On My Heart (former members of Sparks and John's Children - great glam pop) Grant Hart - Think It Over The Move - Cherry Blossom Clinic (from BBC Sessions) The Revelers - Ready Tonight Queens Of The Stone Age - The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret Smart Went Crazy - Immutable Beauty Wall Of Voodoo - Can't Make Love Sean Na Na - Rimshot Na Na (off-kilter folk pop) The Chamber Strings - The Race Is On The Greenberry Woods - Parachute The Lackloves - In Due Time The Dickies - Waterslide Johnny Kidd & the Pirates - Shakin' All Over Dolly Varden - Simple Pleasures The Beautiful South - Domino Man Sagittarius - The Keeper Of The Games Optiganally Yours - I'm Bad At Sports (ex-Heavy Vegetable)

Side B: Astrid - High In The Morning (Incredible Scottish pop group - a bit like The Las) Stray Cats - I Won't Stand In Your Way Lucy Pearl - Without You (Swell new R & B) Dwight Twilley - Looking For The Magic Mind Science Of The Mind - To The Tender (Beauty Marks/Blisters) (Shudder To Think side project) Gaza Strippers - Juvenile Detention (Great punk from Rick Sims of Didjits) The Ruts - Something That I Said You Am I - Ken (Mother Nature's Son) Steve Earle - I Don't Want To Lose You Yet The Chrysanthemums - (They Must Have Made It With Their) Hats The Golden Earrings - Nobody But You (Yep, the same band who did "Radar Love" - circa 1965) Embellish - Drug Dealer Matthew Sweet - I've Been Waiting Orange Juice - Holiday Hymn Nice Guy Eddie - Pleasant Valley Sunday Scrawl - Rot The Basement Brats - I Wanna Know (Norwegian garage punk!) Wilco (and Billy Bragg) - Feed Of Man

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Mike Bennett: October, 2000
Mike Bennett: September, 2000

Mike Bennett Reviews: November, 2000
Mike Bennett Reviews: October, 2000
Mike Bennett Reviews: September, 2000

About Mike

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