Missed (Vinyl) Connections
REM “Murmur” — previous owner David Smith
If you're reading this, David Smith, your suspension notification for cutting class at Middletown High School on April 11, 1989, has been discovered. It was hidden, probably right where you left it, in a REM [...]
The Beatles “Abbey Road” — previous owner unknown
Found at a St. Vincent De Paul thrift store in Pittsburgh, we're not entirely sure who owned and/or defaced this classic album from the Beatles canon. They did not leave a name or for that [...]
Commodores “Natural High” — previous owner Jasper T. Wilhite
First of all, a big congratulations to Jasper T. Wilhite. It'd been 34 years ago since he was awarded the coveted “World’s Greatest Lover Award” by a girl named Lisa. As she remarked in the [...]
Iggy and the Stooges “Raw Power” — previous owner unknown
It seems entirely possible that the previous owner doesn't want to be reunited with his copy of "Raw Power." But it might be nice if he was made aware that the record he so passionately [...]
Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon” — previous owner unknown
When a copy of Dark Side of the Moon contains two quaaludes, it leaves a lot of questions. Where the quaaludes left in the sleeve as a listening tool? A helpful gift for whoever owned [...]
The Rolling Stones “Let It Bleed” — previous owner Lisa
Was this Stones classic indeed owned by Lisa? And if so, who is apologizing to her, or perhaps explaining his behavior, on the cover of Let It Bleed? Surely there's a better venue in which [...]
The Sensational 70’s — previous owner “unknown”
This eclectic compilation — featuring the Jackson 5, Deep Purple, Diana Ross, and Benny Hill (yes, that Benny Hill, performing his "hit" song "The Fastest Milkman In The West") — was discovered at Revolution Records, [...]
The Four Seasons “Who Loves You” — previous owner “Bunny”
This beauty was found at the sensational Jampac Records in Monroe, North Carolina. The sleeve contains many well-wishes to a mysterious record owner known only as "Bunny." One note even features a drawing of a [...]
Led Zeppelin “Physical Graffiti” — previous owner Jan Christensen
We don't know much about this motherfucker. We know it was recently purchased from Funky Little Shop Records, a vinyl online store based in Houston, Texas. (You should check out their Instagram page for some fantastic vinyl [...]
Jimi Hendrix “Cry of Love” — previous owner Sherry and/or Buddy
This 1971 posthumous compilation from Jim Hendrix was unearthed in a warehouse in Schaumburg, Illinois. The warehouse belongs to Cheap Kiss Records, one of the best used vinyl distributors in the Midwest (and possibly the [...]
Prince “Sign o’ the Times” — previous owner Mr. Robuca(?)
Acquired in Portland, Oregon, at some point in the early 2000s. The previous owner — who may be Mr. Robuca or possibly Mr. Roberts. We're not sure, his handwriting is a little messy — was clearly not [...]
Soundgarden “Superunknown” — previous owner Mark Miner
This story is kind of amazing. A few weeks ago, Justin Peterson of Spokane, Washington, bought a used copy of Soundgarden's 1994 classic "Superunknown" on blue vinyl and found this note inside. It was written by [...]
Charles Mingus “Passions of a Man” — previous owner Abie Little
Bought at Omega Music in Dayton, Ohio in 2002. The guy behind the counter looked at me like I had stolen from them when I got a triple LP Mingus collection for five bucks. I [...]
Johnny Gill — previous owner unknown
Bought at Everyday Music in Portland, OR. 50-cent bin. Mid-2000s. I like to imagine a guy with an incredible New Jack Swing haircut like Johnny Gill owned this record. Guessing by the care he put [...]
The Temptations “Wish It Could Rain” — previous owner Liz McGrath
Found in an alley near Payne Street. Louisville, KY. Clearly, Liz McGrath was off her medication while listening to some of the biggest names in Motown. I would hate to see what happened to Chris [...]
Richie Delamore “This Is Richie Delamore” — previous owner Carolyn
Purchased for $1 at Everyday Music in Portland, Oregon. Probably around 2003. Calypso music was kind of the rap music of its day. Singers embedded stories about sex and violence and political unrest in those [...]
Prince “Purple Rain” — previous owner unknown
Purchased for $5 at the "Chicagoland Record Collectors Show" at the Best Western in Hillside, Illinois, in November of 2013. An index card with "Christmas Organ & Chimes" is taped to the front. But the [...]
Devo “Dury Now For the Future” — previous owner unknown
One of Devo's less-appreciated records, it was clearly the property of some college record station at some point, since it reads KUG(?). It is dated 5/6/79 in black sharpie. Also, if you hold it to [...]
Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow” — previous owner Dave
Discovered in Portland, Oregon in 2003. A collector placed an ad in the Willamette Week newspaper offering to give away his LP collection to anybody who came over to haul them away. He had converted [...]
Lionel Richie — previous owner Amy and Brian
Is your name Amy and/or Brian? Are you missing a well-worn copy of the Lionel Richie solo record, Lionel, which at one point was the soundtrack to your relationship? On the album cover's back, the [...]
Give us your defaced, your heavily doodled, your huddled masses of vinyl records covered in graffifi, yearning to breathe free.
Have you ever stumbled upon a record that clearly had a long and weird backstory? It looked like a park bench carved up with a switchblade. Or a cave drawing that ignored the bison-killing and focused instead on how a certain song reminded you of that time a girl named Amy broke your heart. Did you buy that record despite its questionable condition, even though it was really scratched up and probably unplayabale, just because the markings were so fascinating?
Here’s your chance to maybe reunite that vinyl orphan with his or her original owner. Add it to our collection of missed connections. They might never find their way home, but at least those old records will get one more chance at glory. We don’t celebrate records for their mint condition, but for their scars. Because scars are awesome.