As you can see I’ve drawn a few friends together for the Holidays. Since then they’ve been bugging me to remind everyone it’s Giving Tuesday. Sure it’s a sketchy holiday. Not very colorful. But it’s a nice way to remind everyone about… read more >>

When we first began ARC, 38 years ago,   we solicited donations through our mail slot Since then they invented the internet, we have moved to upstate New York, and we are just a tad more sophisticated So, beginning Nov. 1, Every, our… read more >>

“In case you’re wondering, I’ve, uh, transferred my entire swing era collection of 78s to tape.  It’s probably worth more than this whole car if I decided to sell it” I came across the above quote in a 1973 film, Slither.  The… read more >>

A great many remarkable things arrived @ ARC over the weekend. The largest and loveliest is this (46 x 64 in) poster “Philips Stereosonic.”  Produced by the Dutch Philips Company it just glows – what you’d expect from a company that still… read more >>

Thanks to the family of Bill Evans the ARC is the happy recipient of 90 LPs by the great Jazz pianist.  Most are mint and first pressing.  Some sealed.  Some with ringwear.  All the vinyl is sweet.  The twist is that we… read more >>

That’s ARChivist Tim above, who just happened to be wearing an Avengers tee when this great donation arrived. These ‘onesheets’ as we like to call them, are from Doug Arbesfeld who miraculous preserved more than 125 late 70s flyers from bands and… read more >>

So nice that so many are posting on the Joni Mitchell appearance at Newport. When I was in Ann Arbor, in the late 60s (1967 I think) I used to set up chairs at Canterbury House in order to see the shows… read more >>

Fred and I will be loading up the Subarus and bringing a few choice albums along with some less-than-exciting ones to Tim’s sale this coming Saturday.  What makes it SPECIAL will be our first time selling some of the 1200 Rolling Stone… read more >>

We frequently visit the world of obsession and the unlikely paths to preservation.  One trippy trip began when Nick Cave asked his friend whether he still had the gum he had snatched from Nina Simone’s piano that strange and transcendent midsummer night… read more >>

One of the great things ARC supports is the Women In Music Summit, “We Got The Beat.”  There’s food, talks, workshops and performances – a  highlight of Women’s History Month.  Now offering discount tickets to all! It’s in Woodstock, at the Bearsville… read more >>

OK.  I’m of Ukrainian descent.  Covid.  A sleet storm outside. Everything costs 30% more.  And yet.  Nearly every day there’s a surprise in ARC’s mailbox.  Sure the mail is running 3 days late, but then again, packages like the one above, rare… read more >>

A remarkable Saturday at the Recycling Center (OK, dump).  This morning, before the blizzard, picked up an amazing array of music related items.  As you know ARC can only buy odds-and-ends, as we’re chock full of just about ordinary everything.  But when… read more >>

Soylent Green, the film, is set in 2022.  The Harry Harrison novel its based on, Make Room! Make Room, takes place in 1999.  Ah, if only Prince were around and singing us forward.  But its 2022 and we’re going all the wrong… read more >>

Be Good, Be Happy and “Be Lucky”    That’s what Lene Lovich once scrolled across her ‘Lucky Number” 45 here @ ARC.   And that’s our 2022 wish for you from your pals Freddie, Tim, Jon, Julie, Miranda + B. @  The… read more >>

In the early days, when we we’re in Tribeca we would post this sign on one of our doors, above the mail slot.  Every day someone would shove something through.  Maybe coins, often a few bucks. Occasionally a slice of pizza. As… read more >>

As we welcome 2022, our goal is to finally get out from under wraps – that’s physically, metaphysically and metaphorically.  With your help we’ll be unpacking millions of our recordings, launching our first ever Capital Campaign, and planning public events. Most of… read more >>

As most of you know ARC has relocated to upstate New York, on the Hudson.  Well, until the new building is in place, the collection remains largely in storage.  So that puts major research, events, parties and our in-house Record Sales on… read more >>

Giving Tuesday.  That means you should consider a donation to as many worthy organizations as you can.  And we hope you consider ARC.  To egg you on Every.org has initiated a #FallGivingChallenge.  That means for every donation through them your gift will… read more >>

Browsing through the Jacobson collection, the name Johnny Legend caught my attention, and the photo of a bearded, wild-eyed lunatic flanked by two lady friends caught my eye. Given enough time and money, some record collectors develop tastes for types of record… read more >>

The Mark Jacobson collection had a lot of great records—as the regular reader of the ARC’s blogs will certainly agree. Mr. Jacobson also had some strange records and we want to present one of those here. Please Feed the Animals (Arc Records,… read more >>

Recently brought on board here at the Arc, I was thrown into the archiving deep end by helping with the Mark Jacobson collection. As I like to tell Freddie Patterson, “It’s the collection that keeps on giving.” Not only are there many,… read more >>

As you may have been reading in the ARChive’s recent blog posts, the ARC has recently receive a very generous donation from the estate of Mark Jacobson, a North Carolina car dealer. He collected certain artists more than others—see a previous blog… read more >>

Nestled in the more than 300 Hendrix releases in the Mark Jacobson Collection of 12,000 plus recordings donated to ARC is this never played French LP – Part of the Series Panache. (Are You Experienced? Barclay; France, 0820143, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, Mint,… read more >>

Here’s another gem from the Mark Jacobson Collection of 12,000 plus recordings donated to ARC –  a set of 8 vinyl singles comprising an album, housed in a 1950s style pink tune-tote carrying case, nicely decorated. It’s a limited edition and numbered… read more >>

7/21/21 – Those numbers sound pretty lucky to us.  And why?  Because today we finished sorting out the 12,721 items donated by Mr. Mark Jacobson.  But you can’t impress us with just a pile of lucky numbers – they gotta be prime… read more >>

The ARChive of Contemporary Music (ARC) is pleased to announce our latest initiative and focus for 2021, From Her To Eternity.  Our mission is to create a physical collection of recordings and related music materials and to organize events and activities that… read more >>

So sorry for the dearth of posts these days.  Renovating the new space and new buildings are a full time occupation.  But more soon as we get ready to launch new initiatives and get ready for our first group of new interns… read more >>

Remembering a chant or two @ at The Dream House in Lower Manhattan, around the corner from ARC.  This his first LP, 1972, from our collection.  Still not clear if the planet’s groove is a rut.  And yet, Happy Earth Day!

Our last post was about the changes that came with the new year, so, out with the old, (above) and in with the new ! (below) Above is a street shot of the outside of the old ARC in Tribeca – inside… read more >>

This is the first of a few posts by Henry Locke, ARC’s intern from Bennington, working remotely on contacting labels for us and doing some blogs – here’s his first…  We’ve added the above, a related 45 from ARC’s collection. At the… read more >>

In our humble efforts to massage, entice and cajole – how about this? Donate $100 and we’ll send you a Rolling Stone Tour tee shirt. The Band’s office sent 1,200 tees recently to help fund our relocation and reopening. Better yet, donate… read more >>

On these cyber and giving days, here’s what we think : if you can, please give to folks who need food, help out some musicians who need work, and then consider The ARChive of Contemporary Music.   We’ve finally completed our new office… read more >>

More serendipity – Quite by accident, on the day I got this Facebook notice below, I watched the Karen Dalton documentary that is part of the NY Doc Fest. This is what my pal Tim Broun wrote on his page. “Today’s mission… read more >>

Chance, coincidence and serendipity are curious things. Last night in search of a Halloween film, chilling and not gory, I watched The Thing (1951). Maybe for the 5th time. It hosts an incredible ensemble cast, effortless overlapping dialog, Howard Hawks the rumored… read more >>

The Essentials. “Fast Music In A Slow Town EP : Turn Off Your Radio / I Don’t Get // Johnny / It’s Essential.” (Safety Net Records, US, Net-1, 1982; picture sleeve, includes a 6.5″ square white paper insert printed both sides with… read more >>

Today Sothebys Auction House auctioned off the Hip-Hop classic, “Beat Bop” to benefit The ARChive of Contemporary Music. It was donated by Cory Robbins, the founder of Profile Records.   It sold for $126,000.00 Here’s the dope : Rammellzee vs K-Rob “Beat Bop”… read more >>

It’s not often you get to ask folks to have a look at your cupolas.  But here ya’ go.  Just painted in the newly renovated temp ARC office.  Still in an undisclosed location on the Hudson.  This is our 19th c. Piggery. … read more >>

Before they rocked the world of Hip-Hop, the boys in the dorm issued this very Punk single.  It’s the first Def Jam seven-inch release : Hose. Mobo // Girls / Zoo. (7″ 45 rpm, no mfg. #, matrix DEF-SP-1, no date [1982]). … read more >>

As I slowly catalog our Punk era singles I am amazed by the value of these scarce, independently released, 45 in ARC’s collection.  These are not the mass produced and widely promoted bands we are familiar with. These are releases by mostly… read more >>

9:40 pm.  3 screens running – the Yankees game, the nominating roll call at the Democratic convention, and the ARC singles database.  Going through a stack of 45s I start cataloging a few from Girls At Our Best and the first disk… read more >>

Not the Grateful Dead cover band but an LA punk group formed 1977, and this was their only single. While the “Kill the Hippies” cover catches your eye, the b-side sound of “Brainless” is the weirder wonder, with some nice arty No… read more >>

The above is not a minimalist canvas, but the cover of a scarce Bauhaus release.  I discovered it while going through our Punk era singles.  We’re cataloging this large group of 45s in preparation for a graphics book on our collection, and… read more >>

Well I haven’t worn shoes for a week as I go into the 4th of July weekend!  And it will be a few weeks before we can start workin’ at the new ARC.  So I thought I’d pass the time on my… read more >>

Juneteenth marked the final day of ARC @ NYC. Here’s Fred + B (above) finishing a clean sweep of our White St. home of nearly 20 years on White St. Remember the main room?   Now it looks this-a-way. For more than 40… read more >>

Well it may seem like the End Days are here out on the streets, but they’re pretty real down here at the ARC. Here’s a pic of some of the empty shelves that we’ll be taking down today. So far we’ve loaded… read more >>

As you know we are loading a 26′ van a day for 30 days and quite a few small vans are making deliveries to our new home.  Even Paul Stanley is plain tuckered out!  And this is what it takes to keep… read more >>

Well there are so many heartfelt pleas going out today.  For healthcare, healthcare workers, food aid, education, candidates who actually could make things better.  So after you help them, consider the ARChive. We are relocating.  We love New York City. It’s been… read more >>

Well here’s the crew – Ray, Corey and David loading the first truckload – first of 24 – out of the City and to our new location Upstate.  And the very first batch ready for cataloging?  The Forbes Elvis Presley UK Collection…. read more >>

Well ARC is busy packing up for our move to our new home.  One thing we discovered is a few boxes, much used and re-used, the above from 1989, when we moved from Chambers St. to a desolate Crosby St.   Looks… read more >>

Well ARC is busy packing up for our move to our new home.  Bad timing, but we have no choice. Of course it’s hard for everyone these days, we understand that. We hope you are all staying safe. But we do need… read more >>

OK, You can’t take a trip to Europe this summer – uh, anywhere really.  Not ARC.  We gotta move and we’re packing it all up and outa here by June (maybe).   One great donation off the shelf and into the boxes… read more >>

Well we’re not quite home yet.  I’m here at ARC, alone, so as to keep others safe.  I live a few blocks away and can walk here without any contact.  I am safe and not a danger to my neighbors.  So…. here’s… read more >>

The board above shows us that schools have closed down and our 9 interns are now safe at home.  Bad luck for everyone everywhere.  Even our latest hire is now quarantined.  On the bright side Benevity today announced they will make matching… read more >>

Last weekend we had 8 folks sorting 45s on Sat, 10 on Sunday.  Great fun.  Pizza for everyone.  You shoulda been there.

    This Monday NPR’s  “All Things Considered” will run a feature, and the New York Times will post a short update on the two semi-secret locations of the ARC’s new homes.  Tune in and then join in at out Packing Party… read more >>

Fact 1162 has been flashing on Link kiosks all over the city lately.  Fun to see even if not exactly true.  What is true is all the great folks contacting us and offering space at great rates.  Will ARC stay in NYC? … read more >>

There have been a ton of stories on ARC’s need for a new home and 100s of offers of space.  Like the offers pouring in from home and abroad, from Memphis to Stuttgart, Troy to Brazil.  So fingers crossed. Still not a… read more >>

As you may know ARC has to relocate.  To that end the nice folks at the NY Times placed a story today online and will publish in hard copy this Sunday, Jan 5.  Thanks to writer Derek Norman and photographer OK McCausland…. read more >>

This is what we do.  We go around the world, meet amazing people, and save the things they love.  Here’s a bedroom in Carmel CA.  Eccentric, essential, exceptional.  We pack things up, we clean them, we catalog them.  Our only mission is… read more >>

Yes folks, today and tomorrow, Dec 21 + 22.  Then it’s all over until the next sale in ???   So PLEASE drop by and support the ARC!   On SUNDAY we will offer some major discounts as we empty out the store and… read more >>

The ARC Holiday Sale continues as we bring out new materials and discover extra copies that we need to dispose of as we work towards the massive task of moving the ARC.  So PLEASE drop by and shop.  We’re here until Sunday… read more >>

Before we tell you about Bill Adler’s great new swingin’ Holiday compilation DON’T FORGET that ARC’ Holiday Sale is still on and runs till the 22 of Dec, everyday 11-6.  We just put out half boxes of Punk/New Wave 45s, original Rolling… read more >>

For the past week ARC has been sifting through the more than 300 boxes of recordings recently donated as the Saul Nowitz Collection, a gift of the Sidney E. Frank Foundation. While predominately 78 rpm discs there are nearly 5,000 LPs. The… read more >>

Today the all-Brazilian all-excellent crew from Collins Bros. movers loaded in the Saul Nowitz Collection today.  302 boxes.  32,000+ recordings.  Mostly 78rpm discs. Ah, but 78s are mixed in with LPs, and CDs and singles. So now we’re building better boxes and… read more >>

Well our Summer Sale is over and we want to thank all YOU shoppers and especially the many great interns and volunteers who made it happen.  Pics above and below are from the idle hands of some of our favorite interns, penned… read more >>

Today, Sunday is the FINAL day of ARC’s Sizzlin’ Summer Sale!  Ask for a discount on our already LOW prices and you’ll get it! Fab stuff @ Fab prices… WHAT: ARC Sizzlin’ Summer Record + CD Sale WHEN: Sat June 8 –… read more >>

Last night ARC hosted a guided tour and concert as part of the Tribeca Art+Culture Night Festival.  18 folks took the tour and a full house squeezed between the aisles to hear the Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. play Country +… read more >>

Yes, we got vintage mags and fanzines and a whole lot more @ ARC’s Sizzlin’ SUMMER RECORD + CD SALE! NOW – June 23  everyday 11-6  Come if you can – tell everyone you know We have TONS of Jazz recordings. hundreds of… read more >>

This is the final week for our Matching Grant Fundraiser and today we just happened to find a whole pile of Matching 45s!  These 1956, all-different Belafonte singles sport the same face photo sleeves, not to mention some gentle folk-revival and Caribbean… read more >>

Here’s a streetart homage to Amy Winehouse at the Portobello Market area, London, in 2011 that we shot shortly after her death.  ARC not only saves the real, but the ephemeral, including graffiti and all sorts of painted and scribbled imagery.  … read more >>

We’ve shown you Labor Movement discs, turbans, garage rock, Reggae 45s and music from outer space lately, how about an example of our hundreds of songbooks from West of the Hudson?  A major contributor to ARC  is Ed Ward, who along with… read more >>

Just discovered here at the ARC. As we were sorting Broadway albums we found this rare 12” 78rpm disc of  “The Red Mikado” (Labor Stage Inc, R-2147, 1939) from the stage production of Pins and Needles. It’s a song written by Harold… read more >>

Did you know we collected Memorabilia?  Not JUST those round and square things, but fluffy and ragged things.  Like our Beatles’ sweat above.  As well as ticket stubs and handbills (below). Oh, and we also have very nice square things, like the… read more >>

One of the main reasons we are asking for your help is Space. As Sun Ra said, “Space is the Place.” OK, a lot of people say that. But our rent in this space is sky-high (in Outer Space) and there are… read more >>

One of the main reasons we are asking for your help is Space. As Sun Ra said, “Space is the Place.” OK, a lot of people say that. But our rent in this space is sky-high (in Outer Space) and there are… read more >>

Well its Ash Wednesday, and that mean farewell to meat, and let the fasting begin.  We prefer Samba to somber, so here’s a recent addition to ARC’s collection, a lovely Japanese pressing of Orfeu Negro (Philips, Japan, SFX-5034 (M), 12″ 33.3rpm, 1972). … read more >>

In homage to our pal Rutherford Chang, who is showing the project, “We Buy White Albums,” ARC offers the above – “We have Ventriloquist Albums.”   No one knows how they got here, but just one, Jimmy Nelson’s “Instant Ventriloquism” seems to be… read more >>

This is a double dose version of our weekly blog – what I did yesterday and in honor of the Queen biopic success at Sunday’s Oscars. Above is our signed copy of A Night At The Opera LP (Elektra, 7E-1053, 12″ 33.3rpm,… read more >>

The weather is yo-yo-ing, no one has any idea where the government’s going, but the ARC is the Wendy Hiller of archives (Look her up. Hint : 1945).  Yep, on the good foot and the right track.  And here’s a few 8-tracks… read more >>

Fred and b. went into deep Brooklyn this week to pick up the second round of donations from Henry Finkelstein & Shirley Ranz.  You can now visit their Gallery of Activist LPs, from our first pickup and here’s a few images from… read more >>

Well the discs just keep on coming.  Here’s a pic of Seth, Fred and the delivery crew, Patrick, Robert + Tony, posing with 200 boxes–that’s 40,000 CDs.  This is The Richard W. Zirinsky, Jr. Collection generously donated by the family to the… read more >>

Here at ARC we wish to thank the folks who have helped out last year and hope everyone has a swell 2019.  The good folks at Dub-Stuy were one of the many supporters who lend a hand, and lent their great Tower… read more >>

Arc needs a hug now and then.  Here’s Laurie Anderson hugging DJ Bunny Ears at our Benefit Dance Party.  They’re big ARC fans and we hope you will join them in supporting the ARC.  Help us grow and prosper.  We’re the only,… read more >>

“Just once I’d like to spend Christmas listening to carols instead of bongos!” Not me! Therefore I suggest you abandon those old saws and try a few new Holiday traditions, or at least films. Our go-to is “Bell, Book and Candle “(1958)…. read more >>

Hi everyone – It’s the final weekend of the ARC’s Sale and still plenty of swell records left at our Holiday Record and CD Sale.  So do drop by and support the library!  ARC is @ 54 White St, Tribeca. All weekend… read more >>

ARC’s Holiday Record + CD Sale is still going, but ending soon.  We’re here all week until the 23d, everyday 11am – 6pm.  Come on down for tons of great bargains.  New LPs added daily and great folks drop off great albums. … read more >>

OK, the Dance Party is over, but ARC’s Holiday Record + CD Sale is ongoing.  Come on down for tons of great bargains.  New LPs added daily.  Here’s an example of the variety above.  Do drop by and support the ARC!

Here’s the first snap from the evening. More info soon when more pics arrive.  This great one of Laurie by a dancing photographer and photo historian, Guido Harari.  On Monday night we threw a Benefit Dance Party with spinning vinyl-only sets by… read more >>

Well sorta.  ARC is hosting our end of the year Benefit Dance Party to help us stay in NYC.  And we’re making it affordable for all, just $25.00! ARC BENEFIT DANCE PARTY THIS MONDAY DEC 10  2018 7 pm – Midnight  Our… read more >>

Sat Dec 8 – Sun 23 everyday 11am – 6pm Yes, we’re back – and better than ever.  All the swell folks who donated discs this year gave us plenty of extra copies that we can offer to YOU.  Remember LPs and… read more >>

Dear Arcsters,  As you may know I have been 10 days in Roskilde, Denmark, packing up a large donation of recordings to be digitized by the Internet Archive. You can listen to more than 100,000 sides @ Great78Project. Here’s a picture of… read more >>

Busy packing up 78s here in Denmark to be digitized and have found TONS of great images on the record sleeves.  More than half of the 5,000 discs in our first shipment are advertising images for the shops selling the discs, not… read more >>

Here’s a very nice embossed image from one of the 78rpm record sleeves, from a collection of 50,000 discs I am packing up in Roskilde, Denmark.  Like American releases these EU discs seldom contain the recording that should be in them, or… read more >>

I’m getting ready to go to Denmark, but YOU should be saving up for that trip down to the ARC for some tasty vinyl treats as we’re a month away from our annual Holiday Record and CD Sale! Sat Dec 8 –… read more >>

Here’s an Al Jolson sleeve for a 78 rpm disc on Brunswick Records.  Freddie found it this morning and will be doing a blog soon on all the very decorative sleeves from this bowling company cum record moguls.  Al Jolson usually performed… read more >>

Every few months or so we unearth the greatest record cover we’ve ever seen.   Here’s the latest, “Buonumore e Canzoni,”  by Neapolitan singer/actor Gino Maringola.  It arrived by mail with about 60 other Italian 45s and 78s last week.   Thanks to… read more >>

This week ARC received another donation from Wisconsin based Ed Ward.  In the past Ed has focused on this C&W materials. His 15,0000 or so discs are one of our treasured Special Collections and we’ve posted a gallery of his Cowboy +… read more >>

On September 16, the great saxophonist Big Jay McNeely passed away. It would be remiss of The ARChive if we did not bring him to the attention of those who may have missed his contribution to the world of music. His wild,… read more >>

Back to school is just around the corner.  So what better time to remind you about the Student Teachers!  We only thought about ’em because of a new book out by Laura Davis, the woman drummer, 17 when she began hittin’ the… read more >>

Since joining the ARC team as an intern in July, I’ve been busy listening to, translating, and researching the Internet Archive’s collection of over 300 Russian 78rpm records. My Russian-immigrant family’s story and culture were always fascinating to me, and I wanted… read more >>

… that means it’s Hawaiian Shirt Day here at the ARC!  Once a week we’re forced to don colorful garb, lunch on exotic grub and catalog tropical discs in our little grass shack on the isle o’ Manhata.  Enjoy the shirts from… read more >>

Some musical notes from Utah as I hiked, climbed and sweated (who knew chocolate melts at 106º ?) in the great outdoors in search of new sounds to add to the ARC.  First off the above.  This is a 1984 hardcore EP… read more >>

So I’m sorting and re-boxing about 16 pallets of 78rpm discs, LPs, CDs and 45s that have been donated to us and the Internet Archive out in the San Francisco warehouse.  Looks like this: Quite unexpectedly a car pulls up and all… read more >>

I’m off for San Francisco, but leaving a pile of patriotic cupcakes for all the great new batch of interns that are hard at work as we enter the second half of the season (baseball talk).  Pictured above is: Brendan, a recent… read more >>

Here we are.  The FINAL two days of ARC’s Sizzlin’ Summer Sale.  Above a glimpse of all the new LPs we’ve put out today.  And if it rains?  We’ve got the CURE.  And if you’re WORLDLY… Sale NOW  til Sunday June 24… read more >>

As you may know every two years ARC focuses on a region or genre of music and pulls together hundreds or essays, performances, articles, blogs and recordings highlighting the culture and music of our chosen topic.  Last year it was Cuba, before… read more >>

Everyday ARC adds new things to sell at our Sizzlin’ Summer Record + CD Sale – such as hundreds of African CDs donated by Sterns Records in London and these tasty vinyl items above, in really beautiful condition.  If you’ve dropped by… read more >>

ARC has just been donated this SUPER CD of African music that is the perfect Father’s Day gift for those football crazy Euro-dads + old fashioned American Dad soccer fans.  Features Youssou N’Dour, Super Diamono de Dakar, Sam Fan Thomas, Papa Wemba,… read more >>

For the first time ARC is featuring a vast quantity of music magazines at our Sale that we have recently unearthed from down in the vaults.  Not only the expected tons of Rolling Stone, but a vast offering of off-beat and punk… read more >>

A big thanks to all the ARC members who JOINED ARC and shopped at our opening Party.  They were treated to some tasty vinyl and suspect (but beautiful) cupcakes. Not to worry there are tons of 45s yet to consume.  Here’s a… read more >>

Of course, you’re ALL dropping by for our Sizzlin’ Summer Sale starting this Saturday (June 9), but we wanted to let you know about our generous Sale sponsor, Beggars Arkive.  The Beggars Group has been a thriving label for over forty years… read more >>

Yes, that’s our all-Irish intern team, Brendan + Sophie, sorting the many hundreds of 45s we’ll be offering for the first time at ARC’s Sizzlin’ Summer Record + CD Sale.  Lots of rarities as always, including a nice group of British Invasion,… read more >>

Well it’s Wednesday here at the ARC, and that means it’s Hawaiian Shirt Day.  And that reminded us that there will be a big pile of Hawaiian LPs offered at our Sizzlin’ Summer Sale this year.  In fact there will be a… read more >>

Well yesterday, driving through driving rains, we picked up a swell modern Jazz collection in Delaware. This group of about 1,000 LPs was generously donated by Brad Pires.  The recordings were collected by Brad and his father over the years, and Brad… read more >>

Join us in about a month when ARC becomes the largest record store in New York! WHAT: ARC Sizzlin’ Summer Record + CD Sale WHEN: Sat June 9 – Sun June 24 • everyday 11 am – 6 pm WHERE:   54 White… read more >>

A very nice little donation came in today – about 1800 items.  Now we thought they were all Big Band and Jazz LPs, but there were also boxes of CDs, 78s, cassettes and discographies.  So here’s a sample of these 1970s era,… read more >>

Forgive our posting the obvious, but the torrential rain today, AND the appearance of Stormy Daniels at the courthouse a few blocks away here in Lower Manhattan, leave us no other choice.   Here’s a few (hundred) of the recordings (artists + songs)… read more >>

It is a hope of the ARChive of the Contemporary Music to some day find an actual 78 RPM record of the great blues singer Robert Johnson among a pile of 78s that get donated to us. The possibility of this ever… read more >>

Well It’s Black History Month and maybe you missed the story on the LP we have on display in our front window on White Street.  So here it is … Fred Schneider, lead singer and driving force behind The B-52’s rock band,… read more >>

The Pres. says that his greatest fear is, “sharks.” Well, maybe it was Stormy Daniels’ pillow talk.  What we do know is that just after saying he hoped “all the sharks die.” marine life conservation groups reported that donations to preserve sharks… read more >>

While sorting through a few thousand Brit tabloids (NME, Sounds, Melody Maker, Hot Press, Disc) from the 1980s, and hoping the dust wasn’t the cause of my 3 days in bed, I found some of these early video mags and newsletters.  A… read more >>

Well no.  Not exactly.  We have no idea how the hastily passed and completely unvetted new Tax laws will affect donations to ARC.  Funding may diminish, donations of materials may drop off.  We have faith, crossed-fingers and and a few tricks up… read more >>

Hi! As we plan our escape from 2017, please consider a donation to the ARChive of Contemporary Music.  We are not as essential as world peace or feeding the hungry, but we believe our work of preservation has great cultural value. In…

Here’s a disc from out of the ARC vaults, that somehow reflects the the times we live in or maybe a long forgotten past. Now we are not political, nor religious, but I can tell you one thing – THIS RECORD SMELLS!… read more >>

This is it.  Last weekend.  Where else can you find a skippin’ Hitler next to a prayin’ Madonna?  We’re putting new things out daily.  So come on down and support the ARC.   There are still some rare and wonderful World Music albums… read more >>

Sure we’re corny.  But interns Tony and Kathryn looks pretty sharp today as they catalogued CDs back-to-back, looking for extra copies to sell at our Holiday Sale here at ARC! Speaking of corny – Here a pic of some of the Christmas… read more >>

Above snap of all the $1 CDs STILL left at our Holiday Sale.  Sooooo….. until the end of the Sale, on Dec 17th, everyday, ALL of our $1 CDs are two for a dollar!  That includes the tons of Classical and Latin… read more >>

Lots of really good LPs for even better prices at the ARC Holiday Sale and we put new things out daily.  Still TONS of CDs also.  Look for extra discounts this Sunday. And don’t forget we have amazing 1960s Rock posters from… read more >>

Al kinds of music at great prices!

Yep, Today, Sat Dec 2, 11am and going to 6pm.  Continues everyday until Sunday, Dec 17.  What better gift than music?  What better place to shop?  Cheaper than downloading.  Cheaper than online auctions. Great stuff at great prices, all in support of… read more >>

The above photo shows shopping frenzy by ARC members at last nights Holiday Party.  ARC members are those generous individuals who actively support the ARC with annual donations. But today, Friday, we’re goin’ nuts restocking with great new items for the general… read more >>

As we all know, saving recordings is not as important as saving people, or at least doing all we can to make things better.  So this Giving Tuesday, give to a charity that helps people get by.  THEN, if you can, support… read more >>

Ah, those were the days.  Poor James Brown.  Harassed, humiliated, ashamed – practically undressed by those fan’s eyes.  “Please, Please, Please” a thing of the past.  But he’s smiling through it all.  So forget those turkeys in DC and on TV.  Even… read more >>

Well you may not be able to read it, but this is what it’s all about.  The donor of a large collection wrote, in meticulous detail, at the bottom of each LP back sleeve, a little about each record he owned,  like,… read more >>

That’s Seth + Ari sortin’ 45s, getting ready for ARC’s Holiday Record + CD Sale.  But there’s so much more at this year’s sale than those hundreds of singles – you’ll find tons of LPs and thousands of CDs – most for… read more >>

I park my car on the pier at the end of Houston St.  I live on Chambers St.  This is the route that the truck took that mowed down the bicyclists and strollers in Manhattan, yesterday at about 3pm.  I walk this… read more >>

About the only thing scary around here these days is all the NEW discs being donated to the ARC.  Pics later this week – like 35,000 CDs just dropped.  And YES we’re gearing up for the ARC Holiday Sale (DEC 2-17). But… read more >>

Fred and I are just back from San Fran where we helped celebrate the Internet Archive’s Anniversary, this year titled, “the 20th Century Time Machine.”   Good Centurions all ARC hauled hundreds of discs, turned heaps into rows out at the warehouse, and… read more >>

This is a pic of the forearm of Johnny Maguire honoring the boys from Sun Studios.  Johnny was a founding member of the Rhode Island based Rockabilly outfit, The Amazing Royal Crowns.  It’s resting on two psych record totes – a matching… read more >>

Began the day early at DOKK1 , the gigantic fantastic library in Aarhus, above.  Hey, they even have whitelined parking slots for baby carriages and strollers, inside, like at a supermarket lot!  The library itself was packed, as much a social center… read more >>

Began the day in København at Denmark’s National Radio Station, DR. Their collection is probably the best in the country – they even had 3 copies of ‘O’Superman’ released on my old One Ten Records label. But alas, like all radio stations,… read more >>

Well the Fall has finally arrived here in Denmark.  After a few warm days the chill has come, and what better way to spend the Fall than to curl up alongside the fireplace and enter The Wonderful and Frightening World Of… EMBROIDERY. … read more >>

Just off the plane and went with old pal, radio host and guitarist Morten Alfred Høirup for a six hour walk throughout the city.  Sure we inspected the hash dealers in the independent kingdom of Christiania, learned that amber from Copenhagen is… read more >>

Well just about the same time that someone donated a set of record coasters, another person dropped off a Coaster’s record.  Another nice thing is that there are now 160 images of musicians wearing space helmets on our space gallery page. There’s… read more >>

Well the latest polls show that the Pres. has dropped in popular approval from around 45% to 33%.  Politics aside, “Pop”, “33” and “45” sure makes us think about those lil’ spinnin’ things we preserve here at ARC. Well you can’t think… read more >>

ARC recently processed a trove of 78rpm discs with heavy printed cardboard sleeves from the UK, part of our work with partners @ the Internet Archive. While we’re not experts on 78s, we have handled 100’s of thousands and we’ve not seen… read more >>

It’s the 4th and we’re celebrating out here in San Francisco where we just finished repacking and sorting the legendary KUSF archive – 22 pallets full, maybe 60,000 (whose counting?) discs.  This collection was accessed in 2012 by our partners the Internet… read more >>

We’ve recently added a few discs to our ‘adopted’ collection by Gwen Sciora (aka Verlaine Hell).  Gwen is “on the Air” on WUSB 90.1fm – that’s a station in Stony Brook, NY.  Gwen came down recently to pose with two album from… read more >>

A big Kiss to all of our friends who stopped by for our Summer Record Sale the past few weeks.  Our sales help us prune the collection, and are great fun.  Our next Sale begins Dec 9th.   And just what are we… read more >>

Come on down for the FINAL WEEKEND of our SALE Sunday, Father’s Day, it’s 10% off any purchase $10 or over Also all $1 items are 2 for $1 (or $1 each – hey we’re trying to get rid of these things!)… read more >>

Today we sold this record off our wall to someone who saw it on ARC’s site while lounging in Moina, Tasmania.  That’s in Australia, Mate.  Look, all YOU have to do is come down to lower Manhattan!  So I hope you do… read more >>

So do drop by for our : Sizzlin’ Summer Record + CD Sale June  3 -18, 2017 NEW extended weekday hours 11am -7pm   •   Open weekends 11am-6pm @ ARC Headquarters located at 54 White Street, Tribeca, NYC Cheaper than downloading! Most discs… read more >>

Well it’s International Archives Day, not that everyday isn’t International Archives Day around these parts.  But we are celebrating here at the ARC by giving away, for free, all 8-tracks and cassettes at our Summer Sale.  These are extra copies, and what… read more >>

Here’s a pic of happy shoppers over the weekend.  But that’s so yesterday!  Now we’re open every weekday, 11am – 7pm for those seeking after-work fun.  So drop by and buy and give the ARC a hand by taking some of this… read more >>

Do have a look at this section of the Great Wall of Groovy Discs and come by tomorrow for the ARC’s Sizzlin’ Summer Record + CD Sale June  3 -18, 2017 Open weekends 11am-6pm • NEW extended weekday hours 11am -7pm @… read more >>

One remarkable group of recent donations includes a wonderful stash of Latin recordings from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.  And a lot of these are extra copies that we will be offering at our sale this weekend, all… read more >>

Hope everyone had a great few days off, and now it’s back to the real fun –  The ARC’s very Cool Summer Record + CD Sale to heat up the official start of summer!  Sizzlin’ Summer Record + CD Sale: June  3… read more >>

A Texas Tornado of activity last week as the Internet Archive and ARC introduced the Great78project at the 51st Annual ARSC (Association for Recorded Sound Collections) Conference (May 10-13) in San Antonio.   Our talk was entitled MASS DIGITIZATION OF 78RPM RECORDS WITH… read more >>

RECENT ARC PRESS   • Latest article on ARC, the Internet Archive and our great78project- saving the 78s in Atlas Obscura by Kelsey Kennedy, 5.4.17   • Interview for Variety, April 25, 2017 by Roy Trakin, on Eight Ways to Get Rid of Your CD… read more >>

Soooooooo much happening here at ARC these days, thought we’d fill you in. Well we’ve never seen a pink 45 insert, but now we have. This from a great new collection of more than 8,000 recordings from South America, the David Chomowicz… read more >>

Yes, It’s a freaky good times today as our pal and long-time ARC Board member Nile Rodgers is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  Just wanted to share a few images from a few of the things Nile has… read more >>

A few weeks ago, a fellow named John Prael contacted the ARChive about donating his record collection. He said it consisted mostly of bluegrass and country records. He was able to deliver the records to us here on White Street on Monday,… read more >>

Did I praise Spring in the last blog?  Well, snowstorm today, a Nor’easter Tuesday?  Regardless, we’re doing some spring cleaning in these-here parts, and wanted to re-visit some recent discoveries we’ve unearthed.  We term our endless comparing of existing recordings in the… read more >>

   As we’ve been going through thousands of 78s to begin digitizing them with our partners at the Internet Archive, we’ve notice many odd little things.  Our favorite little thing is the little floating heads at the top of these old labels. … read more >>

As we end the month of Feb. and all the love stuff we’ve been posting on Instagram, #ARCnyc we’re gearing up for a few new things coming your way.  After all Spring is in the air and that means hula-hoops and whoop-de-doos…. read more >>

This Thursday ARSC will present a talk on the early recordings of Richard Pryor’s comedy LPs on Laff Records.  Sounds like fun.  Here’s the details for any and all in the NYC area.  Dan Blazek presents Richard Pryor’s Laff Recordings.  7:00 P…. read more >>

Happy Everything as we wind down 2016 and prep for 2017!  Look for our first new posts in the coming year  highlighting all we’ve done lately – Big things like collecting more than a quarter million seventy-eights and smaller things like finding… read more >>

ARC’s Holiday Record + CD Sale is OVER!!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME BY AND SHOPPED AND MADE THE SALE A SUCCESS. NEXT SALE, BY THE WAY, IS   –  JUNE 3-18, 2017 ALL ARC MEMBERS CAN HELP US CLEAN HOUSE THIS TUESDAY,… read more >>

No, we’re not talkin’ bout the new administration, or some other Apocalypse, but the final two days of ARC’s Holiday Record + CD Sale This Sat + Sun, Dec 17 +18, 11am-6pm Still plenty of bargains to be had, like these above… read more >>

You know, the Holiday sale is not just for getting rid of extra copies, it’s a clarion call for MORE. Responding to that call was ol’ pal Ben Young who dropped off ten cartons of record and distribution company catalogs accumulated over… read more >>

Here’s another batch of great Jazz LPs we’ll be offering at our Holiday Sale STARTING NEXT WEEKEND.  So do drop by.  I am sorting and pricing this weekend and also found lots of amazing reggae, Brazilian, modern classical and experimental music to… read more >>

While dodging the hoards of Whole Foods workers delivering $80 turkeys to the 1% in Tribeca this AM I saw this in the trash.  Marriage breakup?  Death?  Eviction?  Space problems?  New beginnings?   Whatever the reason a portion of history, albeit personal, was… read more >>

It’s sale time again and ARC has an unprecedented group of Jazz LPs for sale at this years Holiday Record + CD Sale!  Sure we have all styles of great music, but Jazz is really strong this year.  You can see a… read more >>

ARC’s Holiday  Record + CD Sale Well, it’s sale time again and we need your help.  This year we have tons of nice jazz LP – really beautiful stuff.  Not to mention the World Music CDs – the best we’ve ever had… read more >>

Before a recording was marketed by eye candy designed to appeal to your audio sweet tooth, 78rpm singles were housed is generic sleeves touting the record label, not the artist.  But people, the great wild-card in any scheme, felt the need to… read more >>

The above is one of the recently donated 80,000 seventy eights – yet another scary collection! You can read a bit about our work with all this frighting material and Fred’s great DJing gig a-way out West where we packed up the… read more >>

Loving an artist enough to build your world around them is not a new idea. Even those Roman’s knew how to cheer with a little Latin “fanaticus” meaning ‘inspired by god,’ So while we knew you could swoon for Sinatra, be bitten… read more >>

Today The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts announced they would launch a Hip Hop Collection.  Congrats.  Well we LOVE this great library, so to honor their being 39 years behind the times, and 31 years after we started collecting… read more >>

Last Thursday, September 8th, saw the passing of Prince Buster (real name Cecil Bustamente Campbell), one of the most influential figures in ska and rocksteady music. Starting in the early 1960s, when sound system DJs began recording their own, distinctively Jamaican music,… read more >>

Slowin’ down here as we approach the Holidays, and thought the most we could muster was a nice pic of a pallet-full of mostly early 10″ children’s records that have recently arrived here at the ranch.  So what are we doing for… read more >>

On this 25th anniversary (not the best term) of the violence and riot in Crown Heights I want to show two 78rpm recordings donated recently here at the ARC.  Why?  Well I was on Utica Avenue the morning of August 19, 1991,… read more >>

If you’ve been following Alex’s excellent Instagram posts, you know that last month we focused on flexidiscs and paper recordings, and in August we are exploring the outer reaches of space from inside a space helmet. Well, lo and behold, we came… read more >>

B. here. In San Fran. Goin’ through tens of thousands of 78s in our collection, stored a-way out West in partnership with the Internet Archive, and these caught my eye. Old as the hills, buried in the dirt, throughout history bones made… read more >>

In my capacity as Head Archivist, I am often asked to go out into the field in order to pick up donations for the ARChive. On July 13, two of those donations were picked up, with the aid of semi-official van driver… read more >>

Hills + Heels.  That’s what they got here in San Francisco, and as you can see from these LP covers from our collection out here.  I’m going through boxes and boxes of LPs and 78s for the next few weeks.  Speaking of… read more >>

For the last dozen or so years, I have been asked to DJ at least one night at the Lincoln Center’s excellent Midsummer Night Swing series of outdoor events. Each event consists of a DJ, a dance instructor to teach the proper… read more >>

This Indi Day I found a few very nice blues LPs at a flea market upstate. Above; here I am shopping in my usual 4th outfit.  Below; some records I found. Like all good Americans I also watched the latest Independence Day… read more >>

A tip-o-the-tricornered-cap to Rachel Austin Shapiro who donated a box of Holiday Happiness to light up our 4th!  These LPs were mostly polkas, mostly Patriotic PA based bands, all on independent labels – just perfect for celebrating our Independence Day.  And who… read more >>

Well, the walls are nearly empty as dealers start buying up all the left-overs from ARC’s Sizzlin Summer Record + CD Sale!  We’ve got buyers from Lebanon, Brazil and even far-flung Jersey City.  You may not know it but we clear out… read more >>

As England swings to the right, we’ve still got a few British pop record left at the ARC’s Sizzlin Summer Record + CD Sale!  So come on down and support America’s largest (and best) popular music archive.  Only a few days left… read more >>

Pa-lenty of very nice 45s available at the ARC’s Sizzlin Summer Record + CD Sale!  Thousands in fact – punk, country and good ol’ rock n’ roll – all at great prices.  So do drop by, the sale going on now and… read more >>

It’s the Summer Solstice, and uniquely (every 70 years) it’s also a full moon, AND a Strawberry Moon (corresponding to the berry harvest).  So while we sold our Prince’s Strawberry Beret single right off, and The Longest Day LP is pretty rare,… read more >>

Do drop by this week as ARC’s Sizzlin Summer Record + CD Sale rolls on!   Come by anytime during our sale…   Sat June 11- Sun June 26   everyday 11-6   54 white st, tribeca Above is a shot of some of the hundreds… read more >>

Sure it’s clever to sell that Tripod Jimmie record with a dog on the cover next to a Skinny Puppy LP, but what’s really cool is this Ray Charles over-the-top box set! Pure Genius: Complete Atlantic Recordings 1952-1959 is in a faux… read more >>

Sunday morning, and like all New Yorkers, these nice folks came to shop at the ARC’s Sizzlin Summer Record + CD Sale right after church!   You can join them or come by anytime during our sale…   Sat June 11- Sun June 26  … read more >>

Yes, Rounding out the alphabet, and front-and-center at our checkout counter, you can catch some “Z’s” today – OPENING DAY – of the ARC’s Sizzlin Summer Record + CD Sale. Sat June 11- Sun June 26 everyday 11-6 54 white st, tribeca… read more >>

Here’s a pic from the Member’s Party last night, and now we’re restocking for the opening for the general public.  Lots of new stuff that members donated, so DO NOT THINK that the best things are gone!  Paaa-lenty of great 45s, jazz… read more >>

As you may know yesterday was Wednesday, and  Wednesdays are Hawaiian Shirt Day here at the ARC, a long standing tradition for the past 60 or so years.  And this Weds was no exception, and Alex and Fred and B donned some… read more >>

Back at work @ ARC weds, now focusing on our Record Sale. June 11-26.  On our final night in Havana we had one of  our best meals of the trip (onionskin-thin swordfish carpaccio) at Mediterraneo Havana Restaurant.  Then a few jazz clubs,… read more >>

Kind of a lost day here in Havana as the lunch place we were going to had closed it’s dining room, the rumba place was crowded beyond belief, the temp hit 90+, and shows scheduled for 5pm were now to begin at… read more >>

Saturday night we passed on the big show and Cubadiscos awards for a more intimate event at the lovely Teatro Marti. The space is small with luxurious seating and lacy filigree ironwork reminiscent of New Orleans. The concert was lacy also, as… read more >>

Today was a daytrip seventy-seven miles outside of Havana to Mantanzas.  We stopped at the beach along the way of course, but the real reason for the trip was a performance by Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.  This folkloric dance, chorus and percussion… read more >>

Sometimes you need to get folks to pay attention.  And in old Havana, where the exquisite decay is compelling, a little 3d floor eatery, above, decorated their stairclimb in a way that got my attention. Not exactly archival.  Then again a joy… read more >>

No sleep, loading in, and finally the launch of Cuba Music Week.  Nap and then off for my first concert, Mambo Memories, Reliving the Palladium Era at the Hostos Center in the Bronx.  If you don’t live in New York City let… read more >>

Well after a year of planning, some of which panned out, Cuba Music Week is here.  The soft launch version is @ www.cubamusicweek.org, with a lnks and data complete version avail SATURDAY, MAY 14.  So there is a list of all that’s… read more >>

We’re busy getting ready to launch our Cuba Music Week website – next Monday we hope –  and so some recent thoughts on recent happenings here @ ARC. I came across this quote recently from a paper by Columbia professor Gustavo Pérez… read more >>

Well it’s MayDay, and we’re going to Cuba, so I thought this just might be a good time to show you this! This a facsimile of a very popular comicbook /save-them-all sticker book celebrating the Cuban revolution. It has 32 pages with… read more >>

As a sort of an adjunct to Tuesday’s O Superman graphs in the Guardian, I will be part of a discussion about John Peel – the man and his music, as they say – at NYU this Monday eve, April 25. This… read more >>

Sorting thousands of ten-inch recordings in San Francisco, an extension of the ARC in NYC, so naturally I applied for a tax extension, and turned up these two timely tunes… Yes, that’s Mr. McVouty himself topping the page, using his given first… read more >>

As I was at the car rental counter in San Fran, a crack in the corporate infrastructure allowed a peek into the internal workings at Enterprise. Seems they celebrate all their sales ‘records’ and goals by scribbling stats on actual records. Cute…. read more >>

I followed the path down the middle of the Arc’s basement: Between the disco singles and the stack of 45s marked ‘???’, avoiding the urge to peer into the ‘totally f#$%^d’ box, and turning right at Brazilian music literature. There it was…. read more >>

Just back from Miami and Havana, as I’ve been working on Cuba Music Week (May 14-22) and was invited to see the Stones in Cuba.   OK, they’re old, but hey, I saw James Brown bounce when he shoulda been in a rocker,… read more >>

In Havana and not far from home at the Central Park Hotel. Only here they use creative spelling, not doubt something to do with Spanish, and call it the Parque Central Hotel. So far a trip with the usual ups and downs,:… read more >>

Well, like my bud the Pres., Havana is where I’m at.  Sadly I’ll miss the ball game as I gear up for the Rolling Stones’ concert. As Cuban aficionado Ned Sublett points out, an added on-stage treat will be Entrevoces performing “You… read more >>

OK, let’s tie together National Pi Day and the National elections in our own, odd little vinyl way.  Today is Pi Day, 3.14 etc…, another fabulous fake holiday that sells more eatin’ pie than math scholarships.  But back in the 1970s there… read more >>

George Martin has died at 90.  Leave it to experts to offer proper tributes to the exemplary work that he did, and the wonderful legacy he has left us. Searching our shelves, here’s one of the three odd little and lesser known… read more >>

Scott Kelly’s back on Terra Firma, but that’s no reason for ARC to come back to earth.   So here’s a new batch of musicians who thought it was a really good idea to put on a space helmet, and THEN put… read more >>

Coolidge went to Havana, Obama has that tropical trip on his agenda – so how about you?  We’ve got two slots left for our Music Tour of Cuba, May 17-24.  We promise to treat you like a king, uh, I mean, like… read more >>