Still Searching

Last week, I told you about the end of my decade-long quest to find a copy of "Love Gets Strange: The Songs of John Hiatt" in a record store. It was a great find indeed, and I've been playing the hell out of it since getting it home that day. But the thing about collecting music (or anything else, I suppose) is that there's always one more piece out there. In my case, there are several. Crossing the Hiatt tribute off my list gave me an opportunity to look over those scraps of paper and take stock of the treasures I still seek. Here are the titles I hope to turn up in a bin somewhere in 2007:

Guy Clark, "Craftsman" � This 1995 2-CD collection on Philo comprises CDs Clark's three Warner Bros. albums: "Guy Clark," "South Coast of Texas" and "Better Days." "South Coast of Texas" and "Better Days" are slated for release on CD in February, which would leave "Guy Clark" as Clark's only title never to be released as a single CD (and it's not on iTunes, either, though the other two are). I've had good luck in the past biding my time and waiting for other out-of-print discs, such as George Harrison's "Cloud Nine," and I might try that approach again. I'm not above ordering hard-to-find titles online, but the cheapest used copy on Amazon.com is $45; the most expensive is $79.99. I don't expect that I'd fare much better on eBay.

Charlie Rich, "Pictures and Paintings" � Another out-of-print disc by a great American artist. Released in 1992 on Sire, "Pictures and Paintings" was Rich's last album, and by many accounts it was the best representation of his multifaceted musical personality. Country, blues, jazz and gospel sit side-by-side on the Silver Fox's masterpiece. At least that's what I read. I haven't had the pleasure to hear it for myself. Used copies on Amazon are starting at $19.99, so I'd prefer to find one in a college town where the store figures it won't sell and drops the price accordingly. It's on iTunes for $9.99, but I like liner notes so I'll pass for now. I take comfort in knowing that there's a viable option if I get desperate to hear it.

Marshall Crenshaw, "The 9-Volt Years: Battery Powered Home Demos & Curios" � When I think about "pop music" in the best sense of the words, I almost always think of Marshall Crenshaw (unless I'm thinking of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Matthew Sweet, Fountains of Wayne or, at times, The Shins). Tight, hummable hooks have been Crenshaw's trademark for 25 years, and his "Someday, Someway" is a damn near perfect pop song. I can only imagine that these stripped-down versions of his songs are just as good and possibly better. Again, the used copies on Amazon are starting at $28, so I"ll be taking a careful look in the "C" section of every used-CD store I visit this year. I could definitely see this one driving me to the iTunes Music Store, too.

David Mallett, "Vital Signs" � This is the one thing I always look for when I go into a place that sells used vinyl, even though the chances of finding it are probably slim outside of New England. You might not have heard of Mallett. He's one of my people, a native Mainer, and like a lot of singer-songwriters he's got more talent than audience. He does pretty well for himself, and I imagine he made some pretty good bank off John Denver's cover of his "Garden Song," but he really should be a household name. He tried to go that route, leaving Maine for Nashville in the '80s. This album was released during that period, in 1986 on Flying Fish, but it never made it to CD. That's a shame. Dad always talked up "Hometown Heroes" from this album, and I didn't recall the song too well until hearing it on Mallett's 2006 live disc, "Midnight on the Water." Once again, Dad was right. I'd love to show up at Thanksgiving with a copy of "Vital Signs" under my arm.

Bruce Springsteen, "Boss' Birthday Party (9/21/78, Passaic, N.J.)" � This bootleg has a reputation as being one of the greatest examples of The Boss and the E Street Band tearing it up when they all were still young'uns. Last year's official release of the 1975 Hammersmith Odeon show took a little urgency out of my search, but I think I'll still keep an eye out for it where "field recordings" are sold.

Lenny Breau and Chet Atkins, "Standard Brands" � A tremendous guitar-duets album showcasing teacher and student. Breau started out as the pupil, but ended up teaching Atkins more than a few things about guitar playing during his too-short life. I've got a copy on vinyl. Otherwise, I'd probably be willing to get gouged for a used CD.

Uncle Tupelo, "Long Cut + 5 Live" � The remastered release of "Anodyne" with the bonus-track live versions of "Truck Drivin' Man" and "Suzy-Q" rendered this promo disc pretty much obsolete. I'm no completist, but I'd still like to get my hands on one.