Indigo Girls ‘Indigo Girls‘

1989 US Epic E45044

First pressing, with printed inner sleeve that includes pictures, credits, lyrics.

Impressive debut!

Howlin’ Wolf “Howlin’ Wolf”

1966 US Chess LP1469

First Stereo pressing of this compilation of singles & other tracks recorded 1959-1962.

"ELECTRONICALLY ALTERED FOR STEREO" sticker on the jacket front. Cover of the original mono pressing used; jacket has the mono LP catalog number "LP 1469". Blue fade "Chess" labels on the disc have the stereo catalog number "LPS-1469".

For the detail oriented, this is the variant where the last "4" in the runouts is upside-down.

Per Wikipedia “Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. He was at the forefront of transforming acoustic Delta blues into electric Chicago blues, and over a four-decade career, recorded blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and psychedelic rock. He is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians ever.”

Price tags lie. A vintage-looking price sticker on a record doesn't mean the record itself is vintage. The sticker dates the sticker, not the pressing. Sellers will sometimes preserve or apply old stickers to imply age the record doesn't actually carry. When you're evaluating a listing, ignore the price tag and look at: matrix runout, pressing plant markings, label font/color variations, and sleeve construction. Those are verifiable. The sticker is decoration. If a listing leans on a vintage price tag as the "proof," look more carefully. — Drew

The newest addition to my growing Public Enemy music collection is this 1984 promo record of Spectrum City featuring Chuck D and Hank+Keith Shocklee (future “Bomb Squad” members).

Chuck graduated from Adelphi in 1984 and this is the earliest vinyl that he’s featured on to my knowledge.

Phil Collins “Face Value”

1981 DE Atlantic WEA 99 143

Gatefold

Not all that rare, but a classic from my early collecting days. Got it the first day it was available in the US, only as an import. Back when “In The Air Tonight” was just a great song, not a phenomenon.

(though, in concert it certainly was phenomenal!)