Some of my happiest times were spent in record stores going through the bargain bins that were filled with records that were on sale. Some were by artists that most people had never heard of like Geoff Muldaur, and also The Tailgators. Some were by famous artists like The Serendipity Singers, who were no longer making hits. And a few were on sale because the store was going out of business; it’s where I found my first Ahmad Jamal and Dr. John albums. All were worth a look if not a listen. Oh, and I should mention that not all of my purchases were vinyl; some were on cd.

My first Geoff Muldaur album was found in a bargain bin. It was a wonderful find. I picked up the album because I knew Muldaur from Jim Kweskin’s Jug Band. Reading the back of the album cover I found out that at that time he was married to Maria Muldaur. I found the Bud Dashiell and The Kinsman album in a bargain bin and snatched it up because I hated it that Bud & Travis had broken up. I found the Everly Brother’s live album a few years after they got back together and performed their first reunion concert at Royal Albert Hall.

I had heard of Los Lobos but had never actually heard them. I knew Dianne Reeves from the soundtrack of Good Night, And Good Luck and knew she had a great voice. I picked up The Ballad of Cat Ballou album because it was such a good movie. I loved The Sons of the Pioneers from all of those old Roy Rogers movies I had watched as a kid. I bought the album that contained World of Misery because there was a song on it by Gordon Bok who I knew from an earlier bargain bin find. I have no idea why Neil Diamond was in the bargain bin because he was still putting out hit albums. Beethoven you ask. I was looking for variety.

As part of my new mixtapes project, I have asked select friends to curate playlists for me. This mixtape is specially curated for us by Norm. He quickly became a true friend and confidant 7 years ago when I correctly recognised a floppy disk for what it was. Since then, he has seen me through all my ups and downs through perfectly timed memes, several postcards, lessons on the American presidency, and music, music, music. When not spreading positivity by sharing his song of the day on Twitter, you can find him blogging at Classical Gasbag.