"Hey, look what I found!"

Since my favorite pastime is hunting for used vinyl, I thought I'd post a picture of a recent killer find I purchased from a thrift store in Fullerton. Now, I'm not usually looking for anything in particular when I'm browsing, it's really the hunt I enjoy most. I might find some great music, some interesting cover art, or a poster or picture sleeve missing from something I already own; and there's always the hope that I'll discover something rare or unusual; but on this day, as I thumbed through the dusty stacks of worn out Montovani, Streisand and Neil Diamond records, not much looked good until I spotted those bold gold characters on the textured tan case. A quick exam revealed the clincher: no damage, not even minor.

Since I don't read Japanese, its release date or any other basic details remain a mystery. However, the one thing I could read, Toshiba, cued me immediately to expect exceptional quality. So what is it then? Here's what I know--it's a 3 record set of vocal, dance and instrumental music played on traditional Japanese instruments by a provincial or county orchestra. The music itself is quite startling. The Japanese are very much into the dark subtleties of discordant music--much the same as we Westerners are into the sweetness of close harmony. Listening to the vocal sides, I'm amazed at how the singers can blend their voices into something that can only be described as Divine Dissonance. This is deeply mystical music and not for the faint of heart. The sounds seem to emanate from an ancient sensibility that has little connection to anything in the modern world.

Whomever designed this box set did an excellent job. Great care went into every detail of its construction: nice heavy card-stock sleeves, large booklet with color pictures and text, 3 records pressed on red virgin vinyl, and the aforementioned textured tan case with gold lettering to keep it all snug and well protected. I can't imagine what it must have cost new, but judging by the fine quality, I'm sure it was expensive. My guess is that the original owner purchased the set on a whim, and after one listen, discarded it. Sad for him, good for me!