I started working in the record business proper in the latter part of 1979. MTS 138, Tower Records, El Toro, California; that was my new home and the start of my business years in the music industry.

But, my obsession with records and music in general started a few years earlier.

When I settled into a new home in San Clemente, August 1974, I started hanging out with some slightly older dudes whose essential weekend activity was cruising the dozens of record stores between San Diego county and the San Fernando Valley: Licorice Pizza, The Wherehouse, Music +, Tower Records and myriad independent shops such as Beggars Banquet and Zeds.

I am blessed with a good recall mind I was able to absorb the vast amount of information being given to me. I was also fortunate to have an expendable income due to my window washing skills in the semi-retirement community my parents had settled into. Even in 17,000-population San Clemente there were three disc shops luring me to part with my filthy lucre.

My collection expanded in short order. From the used bins at indie shops to trading directly with my friends, soon I was spending my time reading liner notes and back covers and committing much to memory. To this day, I can remember where a specific song was located: (LP reference) “side one, track three” and who plays what on which tune.

As I mentioned, good recall.

Over the ensuing years I’ve bought, sold, traded & acquired countless recordings, thousands of LP’s, CD’s, Tapes, Minidiscs (‘member those?) and now downloads / digital files.

I find comforting satisfaction organizing my collection of music, even the digital collection of music that I’ve amassed. The day always starts with music being played around the house, something from the past or a band that just came across my radar, and I still can’t resist digging in the crates at any record shop, posed in the “T-Rex” stance of a “Record Store Guy”.

Here’s something brand new (to me) and I love it!