[Record Store Recon is a reoccurring segment brought to you by us or brought to us by you. Let's not forget physical media! Let's celebrate it! Send in a photo of your purchase, why you're excited about it, where you got it, and we'll post it for all to see. Is it rare? Is it your favorite record of all time? Is the packaging making you drool? We want to know ,so send 'em in.]

With eight episodes already in the bag, you (the courageous reader), are already well aware of the love for physical media that Brendan, Jim, and the rest of the DUL gang have. We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve spent way too much money and probably swore out loud rifling through the stacks at the nearest record store. Today is a big day, as our first reader submission for this segment has fallen into our laps. Fellow Pittsburgher and all around awesome tweeter, Sara (aka @NotFromNyc) was kind enough to relive her first record shopping experience in the city. From the picture above, you can see it was quite a haul. Check out what she picked up and huge thanks to Sara for being awesome. – Editor

Words by Sara

Exhibit A: The Beatles / Yesterday and Today (1966) [Capitol Records]

I picked this up mostly because A] it’s The Beatles, and B] it has “Drive My Car” and “Yesterday” on it, two of my favorite Beatles songs. At $20 I was hesistant to purchase it but upon listening to it, the record itself is in very very good condition, nary a scratch on it, and the songs still stand the test of time. Well worth the money. Sadly, my copy does not have the “butcher cover” which would make it a highly sought after collectible. Then again, I probably wouldn’t ever want to play it if that was the case, nor would I have been able to afford to purchase it!

Exhibit B: The Beach Boys / Pet Sounds (1966) [Capital Records]

The version I purchased is a re-release from 1999, but it’s never been opened and is one of the best albums of the 60′s, so of course, I had to have it. Even for $22. With such classic songs as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows” this album became an instant classic, and even helped start the pyschedelic rock music scene. I have yet to listen to it, mostly because I am waiting for that perfect day where it is hot, but not muggy, and I can crank up the stereo, throw open the windows and be transported back to my childhood in sunny southern California. When that day comes, I will put this record on, grab some sweet tea, and dance around my apartment. Probably alone.

Exhibit C: Squeeze / Singles – 45′s And Under (1982) [A&M Records]

I purchased this album for $4 and two tracks: “Tempted” and “Black Coffee In Bed”. Totally worth those $4. Hell, I’d have paid twice that (Elvis Costello vocals make any song better).

Exhibit D: Johnny Cash / At San Quentin (1969) [Columbia Records]

This album was also on the pricier side at $18, but being Johnny Cash, and being in nearly pristine condition, I couldn’t say no. It includes two of my all time favorite Cash songs, “I Walk The Line” and “Folsom Prison Blues” along with the perennial favorite “A Boy Named Sue”. It also got the first play on my father’s turntable and almost didn’t come back home with me. Thankfully I am not as generous with my possessions as my father is.

Exhibit E: Fleetwood Mac / Rumours (1977) [Warner Bros. Records]

Widely recognized as one of the greatest albums of all time, this is also one of the records I missed most when I lost my collection in the “break-up”. So when I saw it at Mind Cure for only $8, I knew I had to have it. I could listen to this entire album, on repeat, for weeks on end and never tire of listening to it. The vocals are soothing, yet energizing, dreamy yet jarring. I especially love “Go Your Own Way” and “You Make Loving Fun”. If you don’t own this album, you are seriously missing out.

Exhibit F: Airborne Toxic Event / All At Once (2011) [Island Def Jam Records]

This album was the first of the 4 CD’s that I played once I got back into my car, hell I was ripping the wrapping off as I walked back to my car from grabbing some lunch. I have a serious soft spot in my heart for this band, and I am unsure as to why. My favorite tracks are hard to narrow down, but I’d pick “Changing” and “The Kids Are Ready To Die” as my top two, today, if you really really pressured me. If you haven’t checked out this band yet, I recommend, especially if you are into straight up indie rock with orchestral influences.

Exhibit G: Yuck / Yuck (2010) [Fat Possum Records]

I picked this album up based almost purely on the recommendation of my fellow Tweeters and one dude from TX who attended SXSW this year. I’d only heard two songs at this point, and only heard those songs once or twice each. I’ve only given it one listen all the way through, but so far, so good. It’s very shoe-gazey, and I was hoping for something that rocked a little harder, considering the band name, Yuck, but overall, I like it. I’m sure it will grow on me this Fall, it feels like Fall music to me for some reason.

Exhibit H: Iron & Wine / Kiss Each Other Clean (2011) [Warner Bros. Records]

I hadn’t listened to Iron & Wine on a regular basis since early 2008, but after a chance to see them live back in April presented itself, I’ve gotten back into Sam’s lovely haunting voice and decided it was time to pick up his latest. I have not been disappointed. The opening track gets me so excited to listen to the rest of the album, that I’m almost tempted to skip it, but it’s so good, I usually end up hitting the “repeat” button, not the “next” button. The tracks here are more “pop” in feeling than the last couple of albums, and seem ready to hit the radio airwaves. Which they may very well be, I haven’t listened to the radio in over 5 years, so I’m a little out of the loop.

Exhibit I: Bright Eyes / Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002) [Saddle Creek Records]

Bright Eyes is in my top three bands of all-time and this album is one of my favorites. The reason I was buying it was to replace the copy I purchased back in 2004, because I’d played it so much it was scratched to hell and nearly all the tracks skipped. My favorite tracks are “Lover I Don’t Have To Love” and “From A Balance Beam”. If you don’t own either this album, Digital Ash in an Digital Urn, or I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, I’m not sure that you and I can ever be friends. That being said, leave a comment telling me why you don’t like Bright Eyes and I’ll argue that you’re wrong until we’re both blue in the face. Or until you offer to buy me a drink just to shut me up.

Well, what a success, huh? Have you been record shopping lately? CD shopping? Laser Disc shopping? Drop us a comment if you have or you need to say something about Sara’s latest additions.

Filed under: Not Blake, Jim, or Brendan, Record Store Recon