I am a huge fan of the voluminous ARChive of Contemporary Music, a not-for-profit archive, music library and research center located in New York City.
The ARChive collects preserves and provides information on the popular music of all cultures throughout the world. Since 1986 their holdings have grown to 1,800,000 sound recordings, making the ARChive the largest popular music collection in the United States. AC is currently working on a publicly available online National Discography database, and their board of advisiors include such notables as David Bowie, Jellybean Benitez, Jonathan Demme, Ellie Greenwich, Jerry Leiber, Youssou N'Dour, Lou Reed, Keith Richards, Nile Rodgers, Todd Rundgren, Fred Schneider, Martin Scorsese, Paul Simon, Mike Stoller and Jerry Wexler.
Twice a year the ARChive weeds through the permanent collection and pulls third copies of recordings to sell. They also contact all of the record companies and supporters who send their latest releases. The result is a massive record sale of nifty items.
Their next sale will be June 18 -26, featuring:
NINE DAYS of bargains, everyday from 11am – 6pm
10,000 CDs, LPs, cassettes, books and videos — sealed, mint, used, rare, new, whatever — a few items signed by "stars."
New this year will be over 1500 African and world music CD, new and sealed, from Stern's African Music Shop who have moved operations out to New Jersey.
Most of the recordings for sale are pop and rock. CDs are NEW donations from record companies, NOT used, returns or defects.
You can join the ARChive and attend a preview cocktail party and get first dibs on all items. This year's party is Thursday, June 16, 6pm - 9pm. Call 212-226-6967 for details.
Prices
All new cassettes: $1.00 (12 for $10)
Most LPs: $1 - $3
Collectible LPs: prices below book value
Hundreds of CDs at $1 & $2 each
Most new CDs at $4.
Just released NEW & HOT CDs are $5 - $10.
Where?
54 White Street, ground floor
Three blocks south of Canal, between Church and Broadway
By Subway:
Take the 1 or 9 to Franklin Street,
the A, C, or E to Canal & Church,
or the J, M, N, R, Z, or 6 to Canal & Lafayette.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
oh my gawd, my floorboards are creakin just thinking about this!
good thing it's down in nyc (too far & scary for me)
2 - Eric Olsen
me too, MS
3 - The Theory
seriously! Man, if they do this twice a year, I am going to have to make sure to never move to NYC, or I'll die a poor poor man.
--not that i won't already. *sigh*
4 - Eric Olsen
life is complex for we pack rats!
5 - Mark Saleski
i'm takin' it all with me.
6 - Eric Olsen
that's the real celestial jukebox