Here it is! The first post in what i hope to be a long standing series of confessions. My first confession is that I'm a vinyl junkie. My name is Mark and i am powerless over Vinyl. I'm specifically speaking of Vinyl as it pertains to recorded music. My problem is not limited to just one genera either. No that would be too simple. That would mean there is the possibility of hope. My problem runs much deeper for i am a fan in the deepest sense. I like the way it's lathed, packaged, and marketed. I love the way it smells new or old. I love the other junkies i meet, the faint glint of insanity i catch in their eyes. I love the way vinyl records look when they are spinning round and round the needle digging down into that groove and bumping back and forth like some kind of supernatural hula dancer, cosmic.

It is clear i'm deranged. But i forge ahead.

Recently one of my favorite people in the world, Henry Rollins, wrote an article for LA Weekly(http://www.laweekly.com/2011-02-03/music/henry-rollins-the-column/). The article was the typical love letter to vinyl, a nostalgic romp and at the same time a militant pledge of allegiance to wax. I totally get it.

I've been collecting vinyl since i was a wee lad break dancing inside of midwestern Wal-Marts. Funny story actually. My first LP i earned was won in a break dancing contest. Prince's "Purple Rain" was my prize. I asked if i could trade it for a He-Man. It wasn't until many years later i understood the true power of Purple Rain.

So it's time we got to the nitty gritty of this here weblog: my never ending search for wax. The way it usually works is i read something or hear something and find out it's only available on vinyl or that it uber rare. This is why i am obsessed: the hunt. I get a real gas digging through dusty, moldy, and funk bins looking for that hard to find title. My most recent quest, "David Mancuso Presents: The Loft Vol.1." David Mancuso is a legendary DJ/innovator who rose to underground notoriety for his pioneering club in NYC known as The Loft. The Loft was a place you went to dance, but you didn't just go to The Loft. You had to be invited to The Loft. The exclusivity/inclusivity of The Loft gave it part of it's appeal the other part was David Mancuso. Without going into meticulous detail lets just say that David Mancuso concentrated more on creating an atmosphere, a vibe if you will, than chucking hits into the ears of his clubbers. It was about the feel of The Loft. Anyway finding these archival releases is not easy. The CDs sell for about $100-$200 US online and the vinyl is even harder to come by. Undeterred i solicited every vendor online until i found someone who would work with me to reach a reasonable price. Six days after sending the money via paypal i had the Box set in my eager little hands. However that didn't quench my thirst. No i had to have Volume Two now....