While we're all licking our wounds about not being able to get the Sly & The Family Stone set for ten bucks, I though it might be fun to tell stories of some legitimate deals we have found over the years on CDs, new or used.

I once picked up a like-new used copy of the gold Columbia Mastersound version of Billy Joel's 52nd Street for $2.00 at a used CD store in Clearwater, Florida. I think it ended up in the $2.00 bin because it didn't have a booklet, but I knew that the initial Mastersound releases did not have booklets anyway. They did have a white outer box which was not present, but for two dollars I wasn't going to gripe.

About 3 or 4 years ago, I found sealed original Capitol pressings of Bob Seger's Ramblin' Gamblin' Man (2 copies), Mongrel, Smokin' O.P.'s (before it was reissued) and Seven. They were $6.99 each, and I get a 10% discount at the store.

I sold them on ebay, and got between $80 and $220 for them.

Y Kant Tori Read? Used CD, mint, 8 bucks.

Chicago's "Group Portrait" Box Set for 8.99 at BB. This wasn't long after it originally was released. I was at the store browsing, and noticed a sale sticker on it for 24.99. I grabbed it, (as it originally went for almost 50.00!) When the salesperson rang it up, it rang up for 8.99. I gave him the cash, and practically ran out the door with it, figuring someone might catch it as a mistake before I made it to my car!

Jeff

On the subject of Chicago...

I loved getting the Chicago's At Carnegie Hall, Vol. 1-4 4CD boxset at Fry's last year when they had them mispriced for $13.99.

I don't know how much of a bargain it was, but I bought the Hoffman DCC gold "Band on the Run" used for £9 in '96. It's the only DCC gold disc I've ever seen used.

Miles Davis - The Complete Live at The Plugged Nickel (I think it was cdnow or maybe amazon) that had this listed for 12.98, I bought 2 sets and sold the second on ebay for around $75

Queen - The Crown Jewels , when HMV at 34th st was closing I got this for around $25 (it had a price sticker $133 but was stamped off center so it looked like $33 with just the faintest hint of a 1 at the edge of the sticker). I asked a very disinterested cashier how much this fuzzy box cost and she rang it it at $33 less a 30% discount. made my day!

I've found used copies of Bob Seger System - Ramblin' Gamblin' Man & The Who - Two's Missing at Scotti's in Summit for around 3.99 each

Many years back at Planet Records Kenmore Square i picked up a copy of the original UA pressing of "A Hard Day's Night" for about $5.00. Both the record and sleeve in near mint condition. And i'm fairly sure that it's a first pressing, or an early one at least (due to the record label). Unusual for Planet, they usually knew when they had a rare find and priced them more accordingly. On the same visit also got a NM Apple label pressing of "the Beatles Story" for $10 or so.

Shortly after the original MFSL went out of business got a new copy of "Steppenwolf" for about $28 at a local retailer; not a bargain per se at the time, but now it runs for about $100 on ebay (not that i'd ever sell it).

Bought a VG++/NM copy of "Runt" on eBay a few years ago, expecting the normal pressing and it turned out to be the alt pressing with the two unreleased songs and the alt (non-medley) of "Baby Let's Swing"; about $20.00, shipped.

John Mellencamp promo cd "Radio's Greatest Hits", which at the time (1999-ish) was fetching upwards of $75 in Goldmine. I paid $10 for it, brandy new at a flea market. Turns out that the dealer also had a box of ten that he sold to me for $80. I then sold them to a Goldmine dealer at $45 each.

When DCC and MFSL both announced they were ceasing production of gold CDs, Discorama still had a large selection and would sell them to me for $15 flat, each (more for doubles). I'd pick up about 3 a week, got plenty of good titles. Then one day they were all gone, some guy bought their entire stock in a package deal.

Bob Dylan - 2 CD Up Close radio show for Oh Mercy $15
Heart - Dreamboat Annie Black Triangle Japan CD $8

I've had many Beatle finds over the years (no Butcher covers other than the 2 I paid good money for, though). Examples that come to mind:

Mono original pressing Magical Mystery Tour (US) - $3
Original Strawberry Fields US single with picture sleeve - $3
Meet The Beatles - very first mono pressing with no ASCAP or BMI credits - $9.99 (very rare)

These all regularly go for at least 10 times what I paid.