Fair Trade
Which tracks would these DJs love to find at the WMC Record Fair?
As part of the Miami Winter Music Conference, organisers are holding a gargantuan record fair chock full of plastic to get collectors drooling. It takes place on Saturday 29th March at The Miami Beach Hotel Resort & Spa, 4833 Collins Ave.
Essentially an arena for vinyl junkies, collectors and dealers to meet up and dig, buy, sell and trade, it's well worth a visit.
We asked a selection of DJs what they'd like to find there...
JOHN ACQUAVIVA
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"The 'Neon Lights' 12" by Kraftwerk on glow-in-the-dark vinyl. I have two, but it's one of my all-time favourites. The 'Man Maschine' LP too, which was released on red vinyl in France, but I have yet to find this."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"I'm thinking of selling it all! I've talked to a few shops and individuals, but I think my collection is too big to take to a record fair and would entail way too much work. I'd need a truck and army to move and set up."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"I used to go to North American ones in the Toronto, Detroit and Chicago areas. I hear the European ones, notably the UK, have some really good shows - if you can afford the crazy prices. Think I'll check out the one in Miami though."
OMID 16B
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"The Cure 'Killing An Arab' original 7". I've been after this one since I was 15 and I could never afford the asking price, but now I can't even find it. If I found it I'd probably faint!"
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"All the old Alola stock - what's left of it anyway! Quality house from the likes of House of 909, Pete Moss, Kevin McKay, Vince Watson, Mr C, Nav, Charles Webster, Nacho Marco, Echomen, DJ Q and 16B."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"Can't say I've been to one, but I've been to a few car boot sales and found great vintage guitar pedals through one guy, who happened to also have 500 old hardcore records he sold me for £200. Well worth it!"
PAUL WOOLFORD
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"Larry Levan's 12" mix of Gwen Guthrie's 'Seventh Heaven' with that amazing Moog intro - bliss. It's not so rare actually so I should get my finger out and get on the internet."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"None whatsoever. I've waded through the shite and long since got rid of what needed to disappear so I'm keeping the lot, thanks."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"I only went when I was when a nipper and bought whatever junk I could afford and, accordingly, mainly utter bobbins. You live and learn!"
KOS
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"The first Perfecto records always make my hair stand on end - Man With No Name, Virus, Grace. I lost all of my records so I would love to stumble across them again."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"There are a few embarrassing old handbag records that I have from when I first started in the mid-'90s. The Candy Girls' 'Wham Bam' is one that I can remember - I wouldn't sell it, I'd give it away!"
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"When I lived back in my hometown of Newport, in Wales, there used to be one every month and I used to pick up some absolute gems like old Beatles records. I've never been to one since the internet arrived!"
MARTIN WHEELER (AKA VECTOR LOVERS)
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"The Residents' 'Duck Stab' EP - a completely bonkers record from a very obscure band. My copy got cracked when we moved to Berlin so I'm looking for a replacement. Otherwise, I'd settle for a bit of mint Kraftwerk vinyl anytime!"
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"Right now I'm desperately trying to get rid of some Vector Lovers vinyl - I seem to have two extra copies of every release. If someone doesn't buy them soon I'm gonna have to make them into novelty salad bowls."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"I went to a great record fair in Bristol a few years back, where I found a psychedelia LP, which I bought on a whim for a couple of quid. It had an amazing track called 'No Silver Bird' by The Hooterville Trolley, featuring synthesized strings, electro beats, bird-style vocals and a wicked guitar sound - the track is a real gem from the late-'60s. I've never heard anything else by them so maybe it was a one-off.
"That's what I like best about record fairs... sifting through boxes of vinyl, holding musical history in your hands, talking to people, and buying something just because you like the sleeve art and hearing it for the first time when you get home. It's much more convenient to download music from Beatport, but a Saturday afternoon browsing 12"s can still be a nicely rewarding experience."
FRANÇOIS K
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"I've been looking for 'Zone/Can You Feel It' by The Rhythm Makers on a 1976 Dee-lite promo 12" for the longest time. It's tough to find, and expensive when you do!"
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"I'm sure I could dig up some doubles or triples of classic disco, which I know would fetch reasonably good prices and be useful to someone else who doesn't have them."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"The WFMU record fair in New York City. It really has a great variety of dealers, including some high-end stuff and some incredible bargains if you dig deep enough in the wrong bins. Yes, the wrong ones - where no-one else is looking!"
GRAEME REEDIE (SILICONE SOUL)
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"My wee brother found me an original copy of Jeff Wayne's musical version of 'The War Of The Worlds' at a record fair - if he hadn't, that's what I'd be looking for. It has a lovely gatefold with fantastic artwork, an illustrated storybook inside with all the narration and lyrics, as well as a guide to the original cast. It's absolutely class and although it was recently remastered and released on CD - which does sound great - all the other stuff isn't nearly as cool scaled down into CD packaging."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"None really."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"Glasgow has always had a lot of good secondhand record stores and fairs, which always have been worth keeping an eye on. Many gems have been unearthed over the years like this."
SIAN
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"Miles Davis' 'Filles De Kilimanjaro' because it reminds me of living in Sevilla, learning about music."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"All of them. I'm not a hoarder."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"A flea market in Rathmines, Dublin, because nobody knew what they were selling or why."
STEFAN GOLDMANN
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"Any of Miles Davis's early-'70s 7" singles. I've been searching for them for the last 15 years. It took me six years just to get hold of a compilation of them on vinyl!"
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"Probably my test pressing of the last, unreleased Transmat 12". In Japan they offer fortunes for this one."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"The last time I went to one was in Berlin and I found a mint copy of Wayne Shorter's 'Moto Grosso Feio.'"
STEVIE KOTEY (CHICKEN LIPS)
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"My God, there are so many records I would love to find. The 'Dogs of War' LP from '78 would be nice, I keep bidding on eBay late at night for it when it comes up, only to wake the next morning to find I've been outbid. Next time I won't go to bed."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"There is nothing I would really let go, though I have amassed a silly collection of house music that has remained under the stairs for too long. I also have lots of disco 12"s and doubles that somebody else should benefit from."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"In Camden I did buy a beautiful disco record by Foreal People called 'Love Begins With You' from Chris Energy.
"My dream fairs would be the famous Dutch fair in Utrecht and the Miami fair, which looks pretty decent. The great weather would really help my record finding mood!"
ANDY MORRIS (NARCOTIC THRUST)
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"An original copy of Steve 'Silk' Hurley's 'Jack Your Body', I noticed mine was warped recently. Naturally I'm gutted and I need to replace it. An original pressing of Nitzer Ebb's 'Join In The Chant' would go down a treat as well. That one was 'borrowed'. I'm sure you can relate."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"Way back in the mists of time I used to be a punk and I have an excellent collection of picture discs and picture cover 7" singles I may decide to part with. Payment could be made in gold bullion."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"When I first moved to London I was living and working in Camden Town. They have regular record fairs near the market so I was like a pig in clover. I used to love picking up bootleg LPs of live concerts by people like New Order, Depeche Mode, Cabaret Voltaire, etc."
RICKY STONE
"Anything that was 78rpm! But then I would need to find a suitable turntable. Preferably in an oak finish."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"None! Never! No way!"
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"Chesterfield in the early-'90s where you could find loads of early acid house and real electro EPs."
MURRAY RICHARDSON
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"'Cuban Gigolo' by Sound Factory, an old Mantronix produced mad-up house track from 1989 that I've been searching after for years and have always found impossible to track down."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"Absolutely none whatsoever! Selling records from your own collection is illegal, don't you know!"
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"The yearly one that takes place at the Estaçion De Frania railway station in Barcelona. There, I managed to track down, after many years of searching, a copy of 'House Without A Home Vol. 1' EP on Maachan Records - result!"
TIMO GARCIA
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"Already got it. As soon as I heard Graeme Park drop the 'Stress Mix (Morales)' of Ice T's 'New Jack Hustler' at the Hacienda back around '91/'92 it went on my most wanted tunes to buy list. It then took me about eight years until I finally tracked it down in Paris on a double promo pack for £50. That's the most I've ever paid for a slab of vinyl (or two!) but I was so excited when I finally found it I would have probably paid double!"
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"I've got hundreds of vinyl from the early-'90s and even ran an old skool night with my mates Nathan and Luke called Come Together a few years back to make sure they didn't gather too much dust on the shelves. Still not sure if I could bring myself to sell them though, specially as it took a lot of time and devotion to track some of them down.
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"Every other week at the Electric Ballroom in Camden was a firm favourite of mine. Although the Grande Braderie in Lille, every September, is good. It's a street market in France where, for one weekend, pretty much the whole city turns into a flea market and there are some amazing record stands there."
ROWAN BLADES
What record would you most like to unearth at a record fair?
"Prior to being a DJ, when I was just a raver, there were so many tracks that I was unable to find out the title of at the Energy and Raindance events. The DJs were too moody to approach and I was in no state to do anything but dribble. However, I still have the tunes in my head and clearly remember the feeling they gave me. I could spend all day going through old rave records in the hope that some of these would turn up."
What records from your own collection would you try to sell?
"Probably my Tripoli tracks and other hardbag records I have lurking in a dusty loft."
What's the best record fair you've been to?
"Brighton was always a great place to find old tunes a few years back, probably due to the fact that a lot of retired ravers live there!"
"I'd be interested to know how much my copy of 'New Jack Hustler' is worth now... any offers?"