To the near end of the Line..

It's been awhile since I last traversed the main strip of Cambelltown (not within my living memory..), so as I had to make my way to the southwestern end of the city to recover Junior's bag that he'd left on the train last night in at St James (City Circle), it was an opportunity to op..

Some black vinyl courtesy of the Plaza book & Music Exchange (nicely old school in appearance) from $1 to $5, plus also a fine slab of superhero disco-shmaltz from Meco via The Salvos.

Superman and other Galactic Heroes - Meco - Casablanca records - 1979

Homer and Jethro at the Country Club - Homer & Jethro - RCA - date unknown

Press the Eject and Give Me the Tape - Bauhaus - Beggars Banquet - 1983

The Best of The Cowsills - The Cowsills - MGM Records - date unknown

Came across this Cristian curio at the Lifeline for $2..

The Music Machine - Candle/Sparrow/Birdwing - 1977

Some interior spread of 8 page songbook inside:

Also I much appreciated the effort that staff at the Lifeline went into displaying their treasures - here's a sample:

I got back home with one regret.. I really should have bought this rather than just take a photo:

A killer cover to be sure, what was I thinking...

From Campsie to Me..

Have been spending time lately heading out to Canterbury Hospital, and along the way have dropped into the St Vinnies in Campsie a couple of times in the last month. While not a great outpouring of blackslab evident they do have a large CD and VHS trove.  I thought I'd taken a pic of the storefront but can't seem to find it anywhere.. but these are some of the gems uncovered inside..

The Last Starfighter - MCA Publishing - VHS - 1984

Flight of The Navigator - Roadshow Entertainment -VHS - 1986

Revenge of The Barbarians - CDV International - VHS - 1989

Dark Star - Force Video - VHS - originally 1971

Top two are for Kaspar's indulgence. Not sure whether to show him Dark Star yet (he is only seven). It's also still in unopened plastic. The Revenge of The Barbarians was a strange Icelandic late 80's historic production that was very short in upbeat stylings, looked nothing like the cover portrayed and came over with a sombre Bergman-like mood that I did enjoy.. a nice find (never really on appearances and since it was only a buck, why not take the chance..)

On my last visit nothing much had changed in the stock in the store except I couldn't resist these handful of lovelys for only $3 each..

Welded metallic spiders - 10cm wide - by Celestial (Indonesia) - date unknown

Erko Berserko

Went this weekend with Kaspar to the local Erko Berserko school fundraiser and delved deep into targeted toy boxes and book tables and came out with the following -

We don't pick up much Thomas T.T.E./TTTE clones these days, but there were many in that middle box and at $2 for 3 we couldn't pass up these and a handful of cars...

Two unidentified Biro engine and carriage

Unknown orange car marked 'D28'?

Unknown Speed Racer purple car marked WBEi SRE(sGB)?

H2Go - Hot Wheels - date unknown

unknown green car marked 627-7-6?

Am always on the lookout for any publications with any Eric Gurney artwork in them. Mr Gurney is a almost forgotten legend of Australian illustration and fine black and white cartooning. Starting from WWII recollections and many cultural sideswipes of the 50's and 60's he is still tops in my book.

Having known and worked with his illustrating grandson in the late 80's, this one will head in the direction of Mr L.Finn.

How To Live With A Calculating Cat - Eric Gurney (writer/illustrator)

Four Square - 1965

Some interior art -

and finally something for Kaspar and his growing Star Wars bits and pieces..

A Sunday Surprise

Once in a while the universe works synchronistically to bring together two plans..
One was to catch up with an old friend that I once shared a warehouse with in the 90's, and the second was to go to a garage sale on last weekend. I had seen a flyer on King Street last Friday for a 'Toys For Boys' sale in Petersham and promised Kaspar that we would check it out on Sunday (if he was a good boy beforehand, of course).
It's not too often that he isn't and after some persisting we set off down the line mid Sunday morning.
A few days before all this I had been thinking of catching up with my friend Jessie and family, after she finally returned me a phone contact on Facebook a little while back. It had been a year or so since I last had an address for them so was thinking of dropping in soon.
Anyway as we turned into the address on the flyer who is manning the garage stall but Jessie and her sons. The last time we had seen them was up the road from where they used to live in Stanmore at, also a garage sale. This time it was their turn to return to the world selections of J & J's playtime objects that they had grown out of. This is more a Kaspar post as I didn't pick up anything for myself, as the 'Boys Toys' were not quite my genre, but he did score for $20 (mine not his) two bag loads of Lego with lots of Star Wars and medieval bits, a dozen pint-sized cars, the latest Herbie movie and a Star Wars plastic retractable light sabre.
A morning well spent.. thanks J & J & J (and lets catch up soon..)

Two bags of mixed Lego looks like this..

top - L9U - Mattel (Made for McD's) - 2006

86A - Mattel (Made for McD's) - 2006

Kruzzer - Tonka - 2004

L9F - Mattel (Made for McD's) - 2006

2nd - Turbo Flame - Hot Wheels - 1995

Drift King - Hot Wheels - date unknown

Krazy 8S - Hot Wheels - 2000

no title - Hot Wheels - 2007

bottom - Transformers police car - unknown maker - date unknown

Urban Agent - Hot Wheels - date unknown

XXXOIO - Hot Wheels - date unknown

(not sure but possibly McD stands for MacDonalds)

Herbie Fully Loaded - Walt Disney - date unknown

The Force is strong in this one..

Along The Trainline..

This year's theme for Ironfest was 'Time Travel', and arriving in Lithgow as I have for the past 12 years for this year's event can sometimes be a flashback to another era - where opshops flourished and prices remained below secondhand charges. Having began a lot of my collecting while living in the Blue Mountains during the mid 80's I always journey out to these parts with some expectation that things will be better than in the city on these fronts.. sometimes there are disappointments.. and sometimes the travelling can be worth it.
This time out (apart from an excellent time had at Ironfest over two days) Lithgow, Springwood and Blaxland all gave up some treasures to be sure, mainly in the vinyl department.

On the way up Kaspar and I alighted at Springwood on Fri afternoon to once again confirm that it still only has one opshop. Usually not that productive like it had been in the dim past, but two Scheherazade  additions, a sweet Kaempfert coverpic and an oddball  Scripture in Song with promises to tell us what God says about bad language, witchcraft, temptation amongst other important subjects.

While waiting two and a half hours for the next train to continue on to Lithgow we ambled around, settlling for pie and sausage rolls at the only cafe that wasn't supplying gourmet p&s with salad for $6.50 each. Plus the friendly chinaman supplied tomato sauce in a squeezy for free.. now that's country service. While still ambling around we also found a secondhand bookshop that had the best Michael Moorcock pile I've ever seen on display..

although I didn't buy any..

After a weekend filled with explosive Napoleonics, radiationed steam punks & earth shattering victorian steamrollers, I sent the family home on Sunday afternoon. With a free Monday to casually make my way back to the big burg I firstly hankered down Main Street to The Family Store which gave forth a 'black suit' Spiderman tshirt ($2.50).

Not being too disheartened, I continued down to Vinnies in what is now a 2 opshop town. This presented yet another two Scheherazade LPs ($1 each), and a magnificent foldout Top of The Pops '71($2), along with a handful of Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars and VHS' of Star Wars I & II for Kaspar.

A quick step next door to the Hearts For Animals found me hurriedly skimming thru a vast vinyl stack at the back (finding a sweet narrated Alice in Wonderland) and a couple of more Hot wheels - all for 50c - does it get any better??

from top - yellow car unknown

Ballistic - Hot Wheels -2001

'47 Chevy Fleetlore - Hot Wheels - date unknown

unknown - Hot Wheels - 1989

Jeep Grand Cherokee - Matchbox - 1999

Jet Threat - Hot Wheels - 2008

Love this Jet Car

B35? - Hot Wheels - 1994

Well yeah, it did that day.. 

Along with some cheap (at 20c each the best I come across in many a year) discs, The Cancer opshop in Blaxland, my next port of call, served up a fine selection. This included an antiquated Pirates of Penzance, a sultry Songs and Moods for people Alone Together, a Classic Goon Show and a vibrant covered Peter & the Wolf. I also was willing to part $5 for a fantastic covered (and great sounding) BBC Radiophonic Workshop of Doctor Who The Music, as he was a central theme of this year's Ironfest. Also scored a knitted Egyptian queen wall hanging ($5) for Madame Beth to use in an upcoming Egyptian display at the library.

Under the impression that there were three opshops in Blaxland (alas only 2) I quickly made way down to the Vinnies, which held many a secret stash in it's basement of black gold at $1 each. These included two more Peter & the Wolfs (I see a post developing), The Moog Strikes Bach, Walt Disney's Stories of H. C. Anderson, Hymns by Tennessee Ernie Ford and a corker of a record - It's Cool In The Furnace II - just got to find the first volume to make life complete...

The train was incoming and I ran out of time to photograph the front of the stores, alas.

Here is the full details of platters obtained in this jaunt..

Scheherazade - The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra - World record Club - date unknown

Scheherazade - Leonard Bernstein & The New York Philharmonic 

Music For Pleasure - date unknown

Scheherazade - Vienna State Opera Orchestra - Calendar - date unknown

Scheherazade - London Symphony Orchestra - Victrola - 1962?

The Best of Top of the Pops '71 - Not Original Artists - Hallmark - 1971

Songs and Moods For People Alone Together - Pietro Delmont Orchestra - Rainbow - date unknown

Alice In Wonderland - Joan Greenwood & Stanley Holloway etc - Caedmon - date unknown

Doctor Who The Music - The BBC Radiophonic Workshop - BBC Records - 1983

The Moog Strikes Bach -  Hans Wurman/Sonart Productions - RCA - 1969

The Pirates of Penzance (2nd of 2set) - The D'oyly Carte Opera Company - Decca - date unknown

A New Sound Conquers the World - Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra - Polydor - post 1961

Tennessee Ernie Ford: Hymns - Capital - date unknown

It's Cool In The Furnace II - L. Mayfield & G. Hawthorne - Word Records - 1984

Sing a Song of Scripture - Various Artists - Scripture in Song - date unknown 

(missing 9 feet long wall poster, alas)

Walt Disney presents The Stories of Hans Christian Anderson - Camarata - Disneyland - 1965

Peter And The Wolf - Sir Ralph Richardson/London Symphony Orchestra - Decca - date unknown

Peter And The Wolf - Paul Daneman/The Little Symphony of London - MFP - 1969

A Musical Story of Peter And The Wolf - Peter Pan Symphony Orchestra - ALF - date unknown

Goon Show Classics Vol 7 - P. Sellers, S. Milligan, H. Secombe - BBC Records - 1980

From Glebe to me..

After bundling Kaspar off to a sleepover with his cuzzy for Sat night, an afternoon of frolicking with Bethy over on the Glebe strip resulted in some of these market finds and vinyl discovery at the newly opened Record Crate bar.. nothing like flicking thru vats of nostalgic platters with a bevy in hand (and a band playing upstairs). Admittedly the Moog album was purchased by Madame B the week before on her discovery of the joint.
The copy of Hoffnung's Musical Chairs was bought at Sappho's on a whim with my poor memory not quite identifying it as one already obtained, but doesn't matter as it is so good, even to have twice.. and as I'm being totally honest here now I will declare that only two of the Matchbox vehicles came from the Glebe Market - the towing truck having come from Enmore Rd Cat Protection shop during the last week.. destined for Kaspar's car box.
After bidding adue to Glebe we headed for dinner at the Carlyle Castle with a birthdayed friend, then finished the night with a late session at The Dendy Newtown to see 'Warm Bodies' - well worth it zombie flick that almost gets a tear to the eye.. or was that just the air-conditioning...

Everything You Always wanted to Heat on the Moog - A. Kazdin & T. Shepard 

 CBS - date unknown

Hoffnung's Musical Chairs - Gerald Hoffnung - Dobson Books - 1958

Breakdown Van - Matchbox - 1985

Chrysler Atlantic - Matchbox - 1987

1955 Ford Fw100 Panel Delivery - Matchbox - 2007

Down amongst the Duckbills..

Sauntered down on a Sunday mission with the family to The Rock N Roll And Alternative Markets held at the Manning Bar, Sydney Uni today. Enjoyed going to it in the past at its old location at The Jets Club, Tempe but today was a first at this newer (and closer) haunt.
Ran into some old friends and past work colleagues now following their artistic bent (let's hear it for Shelley & Jay at Grimm Noir). And good to see ya Trev and your lovely lady, and Liz.
Madame B & Kaspar enjoyed the fine dance floor in the bar, both cutting the rug nicely...

Downstairs I wasn't really thinking of any purchases until I stumbled over a stash of boxes selling good stuff at $2, and as marked.

This now completes my Tranmetropolitan series (#2, $10), Astro City series (#3, $2) and Warlock and The Infinity Watch series (#39, $2). Also couldn't pass up on a couple of Fantastic Four sideline series fillers at $2 each.
Was going to leave it there, but a $2 Top Condition sign at a nearby LP stand had me digging for my life and coming up with those wonders of past loungeroom enjoyments...

So, with a $3 addition later it resulted in a decent Sunday well spent...

Bold 'n Blue - The Versatile Mr. Noel McKay - Calendar - 1967?

Mike Batt's The Hunting of The Snark - Various incl Roger Daltry and Captain Sensible, and

Chris Spedding - Adventure Records - 1986 (great Patrick Woodroffe cover)

Hawaiian Fire - Tau Moe's Original Hawaiians - Viking - 1963

 Omnibust - Spike Joness ...and the band that plays for FUN - London - date unknown

Thanx Auntie Kate

Beth's Auntie Kate had some black platter laying at the bottom of her cupboard that needed to be sorted thru as some apartment renovation is imminent.. she parted with these which may have been more to the taste of her recently departed Ken.. and which fell well within my tastes.. thanks Auntie Kate!!

Zizi Je T'aime - Zizi Jeanmarie - CBS-  date unknown

Etoile de Plumes - Zizi Jeanmarie - Fontana - date unknown

Mosaique - Jacqueline Dulac - CBS - date unknown

Barbara No 2 - Barbara - Philips - date unknown

"La Revue" - Zizi Jeanmarie - CBS - date unknown

That's Nice, Maxie - Max Miller - Marble Arch - 1966

In The Theatre - Max Miller - EMI - date unknown

Frankie - Frank Sinatra Philips - date unknown

Portrait of Cat Stephens - The Mike Batt Orchestra - Calendar - 1972

Our Southern Sojourn

As may have been detected in prior posts I am constantly complaining about the state of opshopping in Sydney of late.. even trips out of the inner west and north have lately had slim pickings, and I'm constantly reminded of the Glory Days before the present, always on the lookout for a chance discovery that harkens back to them days.
Heading south to visit my father usually involves a quick scrum around his local area under the Dandenongs and in the past has been fruitful, even when space travelling has been premium.
This trip time was short and it wasn't till the 2nd day that gold was struck..

Aussie Veterans - Boronia, Vic.

Aussie Veterans Opportunity Shop just had that look to it as we pulled up out front and I subjected my dad to waiting out an intensive check of a large range of black vinyl that were all for that almost forgotten figure of a $1 each. After 3 full shelves inspected, half a dozen purchases under the belt and then, as a sidestep to the usual items for this blog, I came across what has to be my best boot (not car boot) buy for many a year.. and for a grand (almost makes me weep) price of $3!!

Decent leather tieups

A quick jump up the suburb to the Salvos procured a neat Western Film Theme and an English Folk Dances platter, although a shift in economy now forced the payment of $2 each.. indeed..

a Melbourne assortment

Maori Songs of Enchantment - St Joseph's Maori Girl's College Choir - Viking - date unknown

Big Western Film Themes - Film 77 Orchestra & Strings - International Artists - date unknown

English Folk Dances - McBains Country Dance Band et al - EMI Records - 1974

Hey! Hey! It's Daryl & Ossie - Daryl Somers + Ernie Carrol - Hammard - 1975

My Own ABC Record - Ernest Burden - Axis - 1972

Sweet Sounds of the South Pacific - St Joseph's Maori Girl's Choir - Viking - date unknown

The Warriors - Original Soundtrack - A&M - 1979

And for Beth I also picked up a Best of John Prine (Atlantic, 1976), Mr Prine being one of her favourite recording artists in a country vein..