Esprsso Tales #2 - Give us an hour for magic
It was my greatest ever visit to Focus. I had bunked off school cos it was Friday morning and grey and raining. I had 21 promos stolen from Revolver (their post just gets shoved inside the crappy unlocked wooden door so we nick it most days).
Focus is run by the typical record shop owner - balding, ugly, way past 30, supernaturally knowledgeable about music. He knows me.
I sell him the promos even though most of them are by bands no one has heard of. Then I go to look for my music with 20 notes in hand. You can smoke in Focus - they have an ashtray on the counter which is civilized. First time I tip my ash he sort of speaks to me (but not looking at me).
'Got some new stuff from a guy who was selling half his collection. Lot of Bootdust label stuff. Kept it over as you usually show up on Fridays'.
'Double fucking Chemistry on Fridays man'.
He smiles. Pulls a stack of records off a pile under the counter and places them in front of me like a royal flush.
Without even touching it I can see this is amazing shit. For a start there's one in a red sleeve- an original copy of Bathsheba Suarez 'Queens Of The Night'. Original sleeve. In England.
'Who sold you these?' I ask inhaling a massive lungful of smoke to calm myself.
I pick the top record off the pile. The silver writing is a little blurry on the label. Vin Cedarhead & The Lone Wolves 'Salina Hellraiser'. Mint condition. It could have come off the press an hour ago in Wichita.
I cannot possibly afford all these records but I need them more than I need blood or oxygen. This happens once in your life.
I turn Tess & Leones 'Shoot up the jail for ya' in my hands. Not a scratch. Rae Moonstones 'Movin like a lil Devil' the same.
'This is the whole label. The history of the whole label. Leatherface, Prairie Evie Lambert, Bad Belle Kirby. The whole fucking lot.'
He nods.
'I can't afford them all. I'll take 'Queens Of The Night' today. Can you keep the rest back for me?
He nods.
It was my greatest ever visit to Focus. I had bunked off school cos it was Friday morning and grey and raining. I had 21 promos stolen from Revolver (their post just gets shoved inside the crappy unlocked wooden door so we nick it most days).
Focus is run by the typical record shop owner - balding, ugly, way past 30, supernaturally knowledgeable about music. He knows me.
I sell him the promos even though most of them are by bands no one has heard of. Then I go to look for my music with 20 notes in hand. You can smoke in Focus - they have an ashtray on the counter which is civilized. First time I tip my ash he sort of speaks to me (but not looking at me).
'Got some new stuff from a guy who was selling half his collection. Lot of Bootdust label stuff. Kept it over as you usually show up on Fridays'.
'Double fucking Chemistry on Fridays man'.
He smiles. Pulls a stack of records off a pile under the counter and places them in front of me like a royal flush.
Without even touching it I can see this is amazing shit. For a start there's one in a red sleeve- an original copy of Bathsheba Suarez 'Queens Of The Night'. Original sleeve. In England.
'Who sold you these?' I ask inhaling a massive lungful of smoke to calm myself.
I pick the top record off the pile. The silver writing is a little blurry on the label. Vin Cedarhead & The Lone Wolves 'Salina Hellraiser'. Mint condition. It could have come off the press an hour ago in Wichita.
I cannot possibly afford all these records but I need them more than I need blood or oxygen. This happens once in your life.
I turn Tess & Leones 'Shoot up the jail for ya' in my hands. Not a scratch. Rae Moonstones 'Movin like a lil Devil' the same.
'This is the whole label. The history of the whole label. Leatherface, Prairie Evie Lambert, Bad Belle Kirby. The whole fucking lot.'
He nods.
'I can't afford them all. I'll take 'Queens Of The Night' today. Can you keep the rest back for me?
He nods.
so, i think you win the most creative set comment competition! my set Double Cross says thank you! sounded like the plot to ayumi or something!