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Brasilian 78 Sleeves

The other day a box of Brasilian 78s and LPs was dropped off unannounced.   While many of the 78s were rare – like the first Dorival Caymmi release – the condition was so-so.  But some of the generic label and store sleeves… read more >>

This ‘n That Day

ARC celebrated Labor Day with long drives and short stops, adding a great many wonderful items to the library. Here’s a few.   Uptop, the Clash patch.  A mere buck and on the back label the news that “The Clash” is a registered… read more >>

John Coltrane is 100 years old!

It is generally regarded that John Coltrane is one of the greatest American musical artists of all time. Here at the ARC, we tend to concur. His saxophone playing, compositions and philosophy have been extremely influential over the years. He was born… read more >>

Very first visitor to the new ARC

In 1986, when the ARC began, the very first visitor was Brian Eno. He trekked up three flights to the loft at 110 Chambers Street to hear a record.  He said it was something he’d been looking for for many years. I… read more >>

Oui Oui 250

  What better way to commemorate our 250th anniversary than to honor one of the most essential people who made it all possible.  It doesn’t hurt that he (pardon my pronoun) has a remarkable association with popular music of the era.  Of… read more >>

Porky The Poet + Housekeepin’ the Housemartins

ARC was recently given a great donation package by Tony Fletcher—DJ and founder/editor of the now-defunct UK magazine Jamming. One item that caught our eye was a framed ink-on-paper ad, seemingly signed by “Parley” or Porley.” In actuality, it was signed “Porky,”… read more >>

Just In + Just Salvaged

Today received a swell box of 43 Golden Records, 6″ Children’s 78rpm discs from Ms. E. Schneider.  My favorite, the one from Tomorrowland with the rocket on the label.  And over the weekend removed some nasty tape from a lovely 7″ forty-five… read more >>

FILK Music

As someone who frets over misspellings and is often outsmarted by self-correcting aps, it’s fun to discover a genre named by a slip of the pinkie, one line up on the keyboard.  Filk music is a loosely defined music exploring themes of… read more >>

Shameless Self Promotion!

  Chronogram Magazine is a serious periodical that emphasizes arts and happenings in the Hudson Valley. In fact, it calls itself “The defining voice of the Hudson Valley.” An occasional feature is called Sound Check, where a member of the local community… read more >>

Space is NO LONGER the place

Holdings from the library at the Goddard Space Flight Center, which includes unique documents from the early 20th century to the Soviet space race, will be warehoused or thrown out.   • Good thing we’re saving all them Space Helmet discs! Please help… read more >>

In Case You Didn’t Know…

A big thanks to the cast of Christmas In July for a Seasonal reminder of who we are and perhaps why you should consider offering support. ARC has been preserving our audio cultural heritage for 41 years now.  And with your help… read more >>

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The Erik Brady Music Collection

As we prepare our year-end review we realize we never posted an important new Special Collection that came in at the beginning of the year. The Erik Brady Music Collection is a vast group of primarily new and somewhat unheralded music that… read more >>

Another Giving Tuesday

Well it’s Giving Tuesday, and once again we ask you to consider ARC.  Please donate to causes that save lives, then consider saving music.  As we move towards building our new home upstate, sure we need funding.  But holding money is not… read more >>

Remember Extras!

This double spread of newspaper front pages above are part of a Beatle-based treasure trove of clippings donated by ARC supporter Rob Atwood.  Included in six small binders, two folio sized scrapbooks and a box of loose clippings and photos are more… read more >>

The Wild Side of Life

Now that we’re actually living on the wild side of life thought it would be good to thank a very generous donor who has been delighting us with his donations for the past few years.  The photo above is the latest from… read more >>

The Loot Table 9.13.2025

After a day visiting yard sales, the recycling center and a major flea, well, things just add up.  So while relocating the ARC is an overwhelming concern, I took the day to once again go a’huntin.’   This batch is not a crazed… read more >>

Space Odyssey + Punk Oddities

Here are a few recent things both seen by and donated to ARC that are quirky and wonderful. Like the Sid Vicious jewelry display above I saw at the fleamarket! How about these proto-Devo covers by the Spotnicks? This instrumental surf band… read more >>

Too Much Yellow?

Well a great many of very nice things, curiously most of them colored like a Donovan song, have been donated or rediscovered lately…  Above is our 17,643th book we just catalogued, first US edition. Below is a matchbook donated from a close… read more >>