A friend and I had been meaning to plan a digging trip to Tacoma, about thirty miles south of Seattle where we both lived at the time. We finally got around to it on a sunny Saturday afternoon and hit every store on the map. We finished at one that turned out to be the jackpot.
The store is like walking into an old home. Walls lined with record cases and shelves, more shelves in the center of the room holding up LPs and vintage audio gear. Dingy thin blue carpet and just enough grime and must to confirm you’re in a bachelor pad. We hit the jazz section first, as always, and there were plenty of choice digs.
When I brought my stack up to the counter the old man ringing me up noticed it, and I noticed an Xtacy record sitting in a crate right by the register. Too late. He wanted $50 and I had already worked through my entire budget for the day. Then he paused and asked, “Are you guys gonna be in here more than once a month?” Odd question. I told him we were from Seattle so it was kind of a trip. He said, “If you come in more than once a month I’ll give you a $50 voucher for every $100 you spend.” We shook on it.
I’d spent about $150 that day, so I asked if I could use the voucher right then. I could. I walked out with Xtacy, or in ecstasy. Probably both.
My first time listening I already knew what to expect. It’s a Donald Byrd hard bop record from the ’70s. What else could you possibly want to know?
If you can identify the store by the description, know that the voucher deal is no longer in effect. The next time I went back he didn’t remember my name and asked where my latest voucher came from. Senile or business strategy? I’ll leave that one open.