The Constorium of Greater Minds

It’s been too long since I stopped by my local record store. I happened to be in the neighborhood last weekend, so I popped in. I found one of my holy grails: Oran Juice Jones self titled LP, featuring the “hit” In the Rain. If you don’t know, better ask somebody:

http://youtu.be/9dZW1C3neao

The LP, produced by Russel Simons, Vincent F Bell, Kurtis Blow, and a than you credit for Rick Rubin, only has a couple of electro R&B tracks. The rest of the songs are in a late 60s sweet soul style, which is kind of odd next to the early gangsta aesthetic of In the Rain.

In addition to a couple of soul LPs, I picked up a bunch of 80s rap 12″s. Some record stores under price the early rap stuff, especially out here on the west coast. Dealers out on the east coast all run in the same collector/record show circuit and can figure out what’s collectable. Picked up a couple of Freddy Fresh 2 star joints (see Rap Records), including this one from the LA Dream Team.

A big case we were working on at the office settled last week. I had been working 9 days straight, staying in the office sometimes until past 2AM but regularly until 10PM or 12AM (hence the lack of posts). Anyway, once the case settled, we got half the day on Thursday and all of Friday off. That helps, but I can never get my soul back. Working all that time just saps the spirit.

And, so, to re-energize myself, I headed out to Clarendon, VA to Orpheus records.

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shimokitazawa is one express stop from shibuya on the inokashira line. home to tons of second hand clothing stores, antique shops, record shops (supposedly dj shadow makes a pilgrimage here whenever he’s in town), one of the best spots in tokyo for denim – Bears, it’s easily one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. some photos from a day in shimo.