Alternative Tentacles: Tell us about your most prized record

One of my favorite record labels, Alternative Tentacles, announced a contest today. They want people to write about their most prized piece of vinyl in their collection. You needn’t worry if you don’t have a large vinyl collection:

Even if you only own three records, we would consider that a collection so enter away!

There will be two winners of a handful of colorful vinyl records issued by A.T. The rules say that you’re supposed to write the story of your favorite vinyl in a short paragraph. I couldn’t write the story in a short paragraph, but the story is worth it. So without further ado, here is my entry into Alternative Tentacles’ Vinyl Love Contest:

It was 1991. I was the new music director at the very old, very tiny KWLC 1240 AM, that is, the Luther College radio station in Decorah, Iowa. I set about getting our little slice of radio heaven onto the mailing lists of my favorite record labels. I called Alternative Tentacles. I called 4AD, plus a few others.

One of the first records A.T. sent was something called “I.A.B.F.” from a French band I had never heard before, Les Thugs. I still remember listening to it for the first time. It was one of those jaw-dropping “I’m in love!” kind of moments. I highlighted my favorite tracks for the DJs, and put it into rotation.

A.T. albums got a lot of play during my year and a half as music director. Our reach was minuscule, but I loved A.T. even more for believing in our station enough to send us your latest.

Unfortunately, that Les Thugs record didn’t make it into my personal collection. I always felt it my duty to pass along the best music to our DJs and keep the good stuff in our library, instead of hoarding it for myself, as much as I wanted to.

Many years later, while perusing eMusic.com, I came across “I.A.B.F.” The tracks were all still burned into my memory, and it was great to hear one of my all-time favorite albums again. But who can be satisfied with just MP3s? I quickly found a vinyl copy of the album on eBay, and I’ve been enjoying it ever since.

So while my personal copy of “I.A.B.F.” by Les Thugs is by no means the oldest slab of vinyl in my collection, and I don’t even know who owned it before me, it’s by far my favorite gem in my collection because it’s a great, great album, but also because it reminds me of a time in my life that was filled with the most amazing sounds.

Sincerely,
Daniel Stout