Despite all my initial intentions, I have bought replacements of quite a few albums that I lost when I foolishly offloaded all my vinyl before a house move. Some of them I was very pleased to get again, not because they were brilliant, but because they were brilliant to me, or they had special memories for me. They were records that I played a lot when I first got them, but also continued to listen to for many years afterwards. Here are just a few examples, in no particular order:

• Vangelis – Spiral
  Even just looking at that wonderful cover, with the coiled headphone cable on a blue background, takes me back to my senior years at school. I still don’t know why this was not huge, because it is absolutely gorgeous.
• The Alan Parsons Project – Pyramid
  Despite loving this record, I never picked up any other APP records until the last few years, and I still do not know why. Maybe I was worried they would not be as good.
• Nine Below Zero – Don’t Point Your Finger
  Unfortunately the replacement I got at a record fair is a normal black vinyl copy, and not the green that I originally had, but this reminds me so much of the first time I had my own place, albeit a rented bedsitter, when I played it to death.
• Mike Oldfield – Platinum
  This was the first Mike Oldfield LP I bought when it came out. At the time I was living with my Dad, who had the first three LPs (in the ‘boxed’ set) so didn’t need to buy Tubular Bells. One of the few records we would be able to enjoy together. Three quid at a market in Wickford was a small price to pay to re-live those memories.
• Wings – London Town
  I actually got this as a freebie when it came out, via a relative who worked for a radio station. One of those records where I knew every word, and even now can still sing along to most of it. It reminds me of the days when I did actually listen to lyrics.
• Clint Eastwood & General Saint – Two Bad DJ
  One of the few reggae records I got round to buying either first time round or this time round. I think it may have been the first reggae LP I bought, and as a result I still have a huge fondness for the original Greensleeves dancehall-style music.

While thinking about this, I also thought about those records that I fully intend to replace, should I ever see a copy at a record fair or shop, that is not a silly price. These are records that also hold a special place in my memories and I actively miss owning them. Again, in no particular order.

• Doctor Feelgood – Down By the Jetty
  Essex royalty, on their debut LP, proudly released in mono. I didn’t just love this because they were local to where I grew up; this is such an exciting record.
• Passport – Infinity Machine
  I came by this record by a not-very-well-known German jazz act as part of a pile of records I got from that record station. I knew nothing about them but liked the cover so gave it a listen, liked what I heard, and this was as familiar to me in the mid to late 70s as anything else. I picked up another Passport LP while I was in Cologne, which was fine but doesn’t resonate with me as much as this. The next time I am in Germany I will have to keep an eye out.
• David Bowie – Hunky Dory
  I think this was the first Bowie LP I bought, and spent many an hour singing along to it, but can’t bring myself to pay two or three times as much as another record of similar vintage. I only want it to listen to so don’t need a special mint Japanese import or whatever. I would be happy with a lightweight repressing like the one I used to have.
• Siouxsie & the Banshees – Juju
  Surely one of the best albums ever made. I bought this on the day it was released, at the WH Smith at London Bridge station on my way home from work. Not a single duff track on it.
• Gang of Four – Entertainment
  Even better than Juju. My all-time favourite album. I do have it on CD so can still play it loud if I want, but that is not the same.
• Les Negresses Vertes – Mlah
  The only LNV album I ever had on vinyl, and the only one they released before the death of Helno. Except I never really had it properly on vinyl. The copy I bought was defective, and the replacement I got was also defective. In the meantime I had got my first CD player so just settled for a refund and bought the CD instead. I suspect I will not find this, unless pay a visit to France.

Honourable mentions to Can’t Stand the Rezillos, Speak & Spell by Depeche Mode (another local band made good), Revolver by the Beatles, and Dark Side of the Moon (of course). In the case of DSOTM I still have a a CD and an SACD so there is really no imperative to get it unless it turned up cheap. Which it doesn’t, despite being one of the least rare records ever.