We collect the popular music of all cultures throughout the world.
What’s a desk jockey to do? It’s been five sedentary years since my last out-of-office experience (see Colombian stories; Picolandia and Vallenato) — much too long to go without nudging the equator, swizzle-sticking fuzzy drinks and scooping up rare petroleum based audio… read more >>
In a 2010 obituary, Cat Coore, the guitarist and cellist for the seminal reggae band Third World, called Gregory Isaacs “the Frank Sinatra of Jamaica.” It was one of those “it’s a stretch” references, necessary throughout the world to make a foreign… read more >>
Yes, it’s that time of year again – Happy V day from your pals @ the ARC – B, Fred + Quinn!
Happy Chinese New Year! And wasn’t it nice of New York City to fly in a heard of Broncos to celebrate the year of the Horse on Super Sunday! I visited Chinatown for some casual music and big bangs. http://youtu.be/0sk6frz4o2A Wading through… read more >>
The history of jazz is a long, often-told story for which there are quite possibly over a hundred books. Here at the ARC, we have cataloged more than one thousand books that make reference to jazz in one way or another. In… read more >>
Two things on the horizon over the next few days, to begin and round-out the MLK weekend. Once again I will be at the Balkan extravaganza that is GoldenFest. Its tonight, but I ‘m going tomorrow, Saturday January 18, 2014, 6pm-2am, when… read more >>
Back from Paris and have added a pile of new pulp paperbacks to my ouiouipulp.com page featuring French girl pulps, like this two-covered, covering all the bases take on the Loos novel that you probably never read, but perhaps saw.
As we deflate 2013 and welcome 2014, a big thanks to all of you who supported the ARC! Don’t forget to mail that check you wrote last year, or post a donation for this year. What’s coming up? We will FINALLY update… read more >>
Keeping with yesterdays flexi theme, here’s another audio bauble, both plastic and Christmasie – the Nov-Dec 1961 issue of Sonorama (No. 35, includes text and 5 white, two-sided flexi-discs, 33-1/3rpm, France, 1960. Hole for playback drilled though entire package). Aside from the… read more >>
Today a visit to the immense and impressive music complex at the Parc de la Villette to see the exhibition Europunk @ the Cité de la Musique. Cité is a wonderful space hosting a musical instrument museum, concert, teaching and listening areas,… read more >>
Yesterday was a BIT opaque, so today, Crystal Creche on a platter, 4 Christmas @ N. Dame… [youtube=http://youtu.be/6G5Q5rXg0BM] At one time selling things in a church, by a church, cost the church half of Europe – these days only 95 Euros!
The Marché de Noël des Abbesses in Montmartre was offering a course on Roland Barthes this Christmas Eve, with vinyl examples… Here a vendor uses the disc to advertise his wares. Enamored by it’s surface, and delighted by its re-application, I forgot to… read more >>
Passed over the Pont des Arts today, a bridge sagging from tens of thousands of padlocks, left by lovers, a recent trend here in Paris. So while I’m taking this picture, a man falls off a tour boat under us in the… read more >>
Visited Decorum, a tapestry exhibition by artists @ Musée D’Art Moderne and there was an unexpected soundtrack running throughout. My ear caught by Sun Ra’s aptly named “Tapestry From An Asteroid.” Pretty hip, not to mention Can, Dave Holland, John Cage, Aphex… read more >>
As you may or may not know ARC (et moi) maintain websites of rock pulp paperbacks , and those depicting French girls – the infamous Oui Oui Pulp page. Odd maybe, yet you must collect something when you give away all your… read more >>
I’m back in my favorite neighborhood in Paris, after a grueling flight, wrong metro turns and no sleep. And yet. Visiting friends in the 16e I met the downstairs neighbor, a Madam Paturel, who, like most French women, just happens to have… read more >>
Sun Dec 15 – Outside it looks like this…Inside it’s warm and colorful– not only records, but lots of lovely housewares from donated estates like this “Slick and Fancy” Jeannette glass punchbowl set with enough cups to egg-knock over your whole family…. read more >>
Archivist Quinn MacRorie pictured before the start of our sale. Notice the custom ARC wine label courtesy City Winery! After the ARC Party, no more wine, but we still have lots of great stuff on the wall! Last night’s members party at… read more >>
Our Holiday Sale Starts this weekend, and we hope to see you there! Great stuff, good people, all to help support the not-for-profit ARChive of Contemporary Music. A full week of X-mas shopping fun. more than 25,000 items – More vinyl and… read more >>
The LONG wait is over. More than 20,000 never before offered recordings just in time for the Holidays. Join us as for one week every December ARC is the largest record store in New York City! when: Sat Dec 7-Sun Dec 15,… read more >>