A memoir of 25 years (1975-2000) spent working in the world of records & music in Seattle, with occasional side trips into writings on Led Zeppelin and other adventures from my musical life.
The most surprising thing to me about this is that you guys actually went to people's homes to do deals! That was certainly not in practice by the time I got there. How did that start and when did that end?
Very few housecalls except with the promo people described here. Started in '76 and went into the early '80s, maybe '82 or so. We also went to some non-promo selling customer's homes if their collection was too big to bring in.
Yep, not surprising, especially in relation to MCA. What part of the country was that in? Less mob influence in the NW than, say, the NE, but the music biz was definitely an appealing opportunity for organized crime.
This is priceless stuff. These guys sound like fictional characters (Coker? Really?) but I know damn well they're too on-the-nose to be made up. Great stories from the glory days!
Those were the days. I knew a batch of the reps as crossover from video biz and can only imagine sitting in, a fly on the wall, as one of those transactions took place. If I knew that that kind of chicanary took place on a regular and lucrative basis, I may have pressed my hand with my friend, Mr. Big, from WEA for a piece of that action. Great stuff Hugh. I am at the most two weeks away from starting to spin my recollections here on Substack. Oh boy!!!
I remember these guy as. Domore Coker became my contact. I went to his place a few times. He was a big jerk.
He hated rock and roll, except Steely Dan, who were "intelligent".
He was a snob about cocaine also.. I won't bother with that story.
The most surprising thing to me about this is that you guys actually went to people's homes to do deals! That was certainly not in practice by the time I got there. How did that start and when did that end?
Very few housecalls except with the promo people described here. Started in '76 and went into the early '80s, maybe '82 or so. We also went to some non-promo selling customer's homes if their collection was too big to bring in.
Very interesting and entertaining. Looking forward to reading about the Great Melts Scam!
The Roys and Big Eds of my ten years in a very, very good record store in the seventies and eighties were in the mob. Yes, that mob.
Yep, not surprising, especially in relation to MCA. What part of the country was that in? Less mob influence in the NW than, say, the NE, but the music biz was definitely an appealing opportunity for organized crime.
Missouri.
Atl, and MCA were the most obvious.
You're cracking me up on this installment HJ!
This is priceless stuff. These guys sound like fictional characters (Coker? Really?) but I know damn well they're too on-the-nose to be made up. Great stories from the glory days!
Thanks Michael! Every word is true. . .
Those were the days. I knew a batch of the reps as crossover from video biz and can only imagine sitting in, a fly on the wall, as one of those transactions took place. If I knew that that kind of chicanary took place on a regular and lucrative basis, I may have pressed my hand with my friend, Mr. Big, from WEA for a piece of that action. Great stuff Hugh. I am at the most two weeks away from starting to spin my recollections here on Substack. Oh boy!!!
Awesome installment. Yowza - gun on the desk.