Great Albums You Can't Find on Vinyl

Vinyl almost completely died when CDs became popular, sometime around 1988-1991.  Interestingly, though, vinyl sales have picked up again, selling as many as 2.9 million units in 2008.  Still, for audiophiles or collectors, the period from 1991-2008 is a bit of a Dark Age.  A number of notable albums are incredibly rare, much to my dismay.  I can't justify spending much more than $25-30 on a record, even a double LP, and I don't think anyone else should, either.  I even managed to get a mono, six-eyed original Kind of Blue (Miles Davis, 1959) for less than that--sure, not in the best condition, but very cheap at that price if you compare it to say, a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) in the same condition.

1. 
   Bob Dylan, Time Out of Mind [1997].  One of my favorites, if not my absolute favorite, of Bob Dylan's albums.  It won the Grammy for best album in 1998 and is #408 in Rolling Stone's list of greatest albums of all time.  This was Dylan's transformation from Rock and Roll poet to blues guru, with some of the most stunning, powerful, and kick-you-in-the-teeth songs ever.  If you've ever hated Dylan's voice, that's probably because you never heard him sing the blues--and never quite like this.  Unfortunately...for an album that went platinum, its release on vinyl was very limited and the demand is exceedingly high.  Though it is relatively easy to look for, eBay has it for $119 or more.  Given Dylan's personal views on vinyl, there is some hope that a reissue is in the works.  In the meantime, I'll try to stay happy with a copy of Nashville Skyline that I got in the $1.99 bin--the best Dylan bang-for-your-buck that you'll be able to find.


2. 
   Ben Folds Five, Whatever and Ever Amen [1997]. Oh well, maybe not...we'll try again...at least at $120 or more on eBay.  Eventually better known perhaps for his solo stuff, Ben Folds was never better than he was with the Five--or rather, Three--Darren Jesse and Robert Sledge--each a spectacular musician in their own right.  It was a quirky and underrated album, but it put Ben Folds on the map with "Brick," a hit that managed to talk about abortion in a mature and sensitive way.  But even without that track, the rest of the album is pure dynamite, from "Song for the Dumped" to the spectacular string arrangement in "Selfless, Cold, and Composed."


3. 
   Gorillaz, Demon Days [2005].  Club / dance / electronic / DJ music never appealed to me, but there are exceptions to just about every rule.  Gorillaz managed to become an earworm with me before I even knew who they were--I believe it was a clerk at Bierkraft in Brooklyn, New York that first introduced me, probably while I was purchasing an ice cream sandwich.  This album is not only brilliantly put together musically, but socially relevant as well with its stories about a giant monkey who lives in a mountain and raps about "kids with guns." Mix in some video game noises that sound like they are straight of an 80's arcade and what you have is...an album that is at least $50 on eBay.


4. 
   Astor Piazzolla, Tango: Zero Hour [1986].  Though this is the only one in my list not from 1991-2008, it is still well worth mentioning because of its scarcity and sheer musical power.  Argentinian master of the tango and bandoneon legend, stories tell of how the man was beat up by the local police for taking the traditional music of Argentina--the tango--and mixing it with jazz, rock, and inventing the new breed "nuevo tango."  The late Astor Piazzolla considered this LP his greatest album, and it is difficult for me to disagree.  Occasionally it will pop on eBay for $40 or so, but the real bear is finding it without at least $16 in shipping costs.


5. 
   Sunn O))), Black One [2005].  This album was released on a very limited basis, supposedly only at their concerts.  Admittedly, this kind of music is not for everyone.  It's experimental death metal drone weirdness, but is commonly considered the creepiest album ever (as reviews on Amazon will attest).  Rare vinyl sites put this album somewhere at $50-$120.  We'll see if I ever get a chance to listen to it again, assuming my eardrums survive the experience of seeing them live next week (I've been told time and again that they perform so loudly that you are physically shaken to the core).


6. 
   Tom Waits, Bone Machine [1992].  Winner for the Grammy in the Best Alternative Music category (Tom Waits is considered "alternative"?  I guess so), this album was my first real introduction to the genius of Tom Waits.  Unfortunately, it was NEVER released on vinyl in the U.S.  The only copies in existence are imports--usually from the U.K., Germany, or elsewhere.  That means that shipping is cost-prohibitive, assuming you can even get this album for less than $30 USD, which is a feat by itself.  I think I've bid on it half a dozen times on eBay.  I guess "Goin' Out West" is meant ironically here, since everyone is going to have to look East to find it.


7. 
   The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan [2005].  Jack White is one of those diehard vinyl enthusiasts, so it is absolutely fucking baffling that this album--the White Stripes' masterpiece--was only released as a limited edition, with 600 copies in existence.  An even MORE limited edition--300 copies--is available in a sort of "promo" edition with an alternative cover.  Usually if you can find it for less than $200, it's a steal.  Currently eBay has one with minimum bidding starting at $128.  A part of me wants to write Jack White an angry letter telling him what a hypocrite he is, and another part of me is willing to wait it out and hope that common sense will prevail in the end.  We want the tracks, Jack!