Gallery 1

My mother Margaret when she was young

My brother George & I, me on the left

Early me - I look like the white version of Curtis Mayfield (same front teeth)

That's me on the right

The song that changed my life

My first car - 57 Ford. Actually my brother George
had it first. . .It was a hand me down!

High School graduation photo.
That little smile = It's almost over.
I hated High School.

Only good memory of High School.
I had such a crush on her even though we never spoke.
Fast forward 40 years. . .

Early Blavet publicity shot

Val's very first lists after hearing Jerry Blavet in 1962

Times Square Records. This is what it looked like
when Bob Campbell and I went there Sepember 1962.
This store is where I went crazy!!

Slim. . .resting, Times Square Records, early '60s

Harold Ginsberg, who worked for Irving "Slim" Rose
at Times Square Records

Times Square Record Wall, early '60s

Times Square Records, early 1963

Bob Campbell on right

Kids at Times - 42^nd Street and 6^th Avenue, 1964

Slim and I at Times Square Records. Like my derby?

Leave me alone. . .I'm trying to find something good
that I can afford!

Slim & Charlie Chance at Times

Me behind the counter at Slim's 2^nd store.

Bob Campbell at Times Square Records

Jack and Tank robbing Slim, "nothing like stealing garbage."
The good stuff was behind the counter.

Me eating between record shops on 42^nd Street, circa '64 or '65

Val's next lists influenced by his visits to "Times".

My group collection in 1963 (probably half white then).
"I've Searched" By The Heartspinners, (Xtra)
is sitting on the top.

Bob Campbell and his collection, early '60s

From Billboard Magazine '63/'64

John Lamonte, my boss at Coast to Coast Records, 1963

The Kaptions on Ham-Mil. Jack Strong, lead singer, on the left.
In my bedroom, 1963

Frank Torpey - Lytations, Contenders (early 60's)

These were the friends I grew up with -
this is what THEY were doing
while I was buying records.

My mother with my friends before I moved to Kentucky

My family in Kentucky: brother George, Mom & Dad

Who said dogs and cats don't get along?
I took this photo when I lived in Kentucky

My Mother - not so young

Randy's Record Shop (1952- )
A goldmine in the South!!!

Me. . .looking for work

My first "big" purchase "Miss You" by The Crows (Rama),
red plastic, $30 from Mike Adler, 1964

This is what HEAVEN looks like to a record collector

Where I started R&B Records.
The back room of a record one-stop, 1966 through 1972.

My inventory in the late '60s

Over stock!

Signs in the warehouse

I was too busy to keep the place clean!

Note the three-legged chair. Bob Hite of Canned Heat
sat on it and broke one of the legs off.
Nice rug - all the comforts of home.

We had a pipe like Slim!

Lenny Goldberg (left) publisher of the first group record fanzine in the early '60s,
KBBA (Keep the Big Beat Alive). . .I think it was 25¢. It was sold at
Times, Arcade & other similar type record stores (if there were any. . . )

The Contenders

Louie Tavani of The Contenders. These were the records I played
in the car - I had a record player installed under the dash.
I used it to sell records to my friends & to hear the mucic,
not the garbage that was on the radio.

Louie "Chance" in these pictures

Celebrating a new release. . . by The Contenders. Afterwards two things happened
1. I got sick as a dog smoking that cigar & threw up
2. Took a bath on that record, never sold any. . .so I junked it to John LaMonte
for 5 cents each. Now it's a Northern Soul record that goes for 100 quid.
Unfortunately I never kept any!

Leaving Kentucky for Philadelphia - after visiting.

The last time I washed my car (that includes car washes)

Baby it's cold outside! Mid '60s when snow was snow
(not nose candy)

Louie & I in Kentucky

Some of the people I worked with at the one-stop.
Norman Cooper is on the left. . .that's me on the right (front)
with the wall paper shirt and mustache.

Norman in the prison suit with some of the workers.

Postcard I sent out to my customers around 1970

Left to right: Louie Silvani, Sonny Til and Val, 1970
at a concert in the middle of a snowstorm
in Philly. MAYBE 10 people showed up

Pookie Hudson, Louie Silvani, Bobby Thomas

Left to right: Walt Ritter, John LaMonte & Val
in Puerto Rico, late 60's

My first store, 146 Garrett Road, 1972

My first employee Bonnie Gusten, circa 1974 at 146 Garrett Road.

A love affair cut short - Rich Rosen & Bonnie.
Unfortunately Sunny got wind of it.

Robbie Romesburg (left) & Val

Bob Campbell, around 1974

Early 70's in my store. Goldilocks on the left is me.
Jeff Wood on the right taking in my prices.

The ceiling in the store, mid 70's

Nice huh? Who wouldn't want to come in this place!!

Store minus the records - neighborhood kids broke them off.

Bleeker Bob Plotnick

Chuck Dabagian: my Manager - without him forget it - I give up!
Late 70's. He started in 1975. Still here.

Chuck sorting records

The following 7 pictures are courtesy of Dennis West
Circa mid 70's

The old store

Dennis West

Mike Rascio "King of the Boots". . . And we're not talking about footwear!

Patty & The U-Hauls featuring Val, Lou Haggis & Dennis West

Val & Patty

From left: Frank Sweeney, me and Chuck.
Sometime in the 1980's.

I spent half the day on the phone.

Cramped quarters, late 70's

Working

GO TO:

Gallery 2

Gallery 3

Gallery 4: Patty's Journey

Gallery 5: Allentown Record Show; Tiffany's Diner Pics

Gallery 6

Gallery 7

Gallery 8

Gallery 9

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