The Ames Fan Club

Ames => Back in the day => Topic started by: TRJ_22487 on July 22, 2011, 01:46:42 PM

Title: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on July 22, 2011, 01:46:42 PM
I have found these to pop up tons of defunct stores. I've seen Bradlees, Caldor, Record Town, Sam Goody, and many others. I bought this one today from 1982.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/IMG_8480.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: NJxxJon on July 24, 2011, 08:07:18 PM
Yep some melted in my mess in my office. Some I saw weeks ago at a yard sale......and some are on Craigslist...
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on November 03, 2011, 05:52:57 PM
From 1964....it's worth hundreds
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/517833661_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on February 05, 2012, 07:57:47 PM
I bought this David Bowie 45 single of Blue Jean from 1984 a few weeks ago

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/027.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on March 09, 2012, 03:47:36 PM
Few more from my personal collection

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/021.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/022.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/023.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on March 11, 2012, 03:36:45 PM
Another one I own

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/001.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on March 22, 2012, 05:52:16 PM
Here's one from my collection that should get interest (hate this album, disco ugh)
What on earth does the N behind the Ames logo signify? I've never seen that anywhere before.
Album is from 1977
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/001-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/002.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: BillyGr on March 22, 2012, 08:28:04 PM
Quote from: TRJ_22487 on March 22, 2012, 05:52:16 PM
Here's one from my collection that should get interest (hate this album, disco ugh)
What on earth does the N behind the Ames logo signify? I've never seen that anywhere before.
Album is from 1977

Any chance that it's a later date?

Ames acquired a chain called Big N (which would be the logical source of the N marking), but (at least via Wikipedia) that wasn't until November of 1978 (unless of course that information is wrong) - though even on here it says growth from 1978-1988.

Otherwise, no idea.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on March 23, 2012, 06:25:09 AM
Well the album was released in 1977 but this copy could surely be from a year or two later. Thanks for the guesses, that is a possibility. Most likely you're right. It's as if they were mocking the chain they bought out by putting their logo literally on top of theirs haha. However the only Big N logo I have ever seen (there were a few christmas records released specifically for their store) the N has a different font than this one.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on March 23, 2012, 01:55:12 PM
Another from my collection. I like the oddball price.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/001-2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/002-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on March 30, 2012, 01:42:44 PM
Another from my collection. Album is from 1977.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/017-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/018-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: swedaman on June 07, 2012, 09:44:34 PM
Quote from: TRJ_22487 on March 22, 2012, 05:52:16 PM
Here's one from my collection that should get interest (hate this album, disco ugh)
What on earth does the N behind the Ames logo signify? I've never seen that anywhere before.
Album is from 1977
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/001-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/002.jpg)

During the Big N acquisition, everything was logo'd with the Ames/N logo. The jingle even went "The savings are amazing at Ames, Big N" during that time. The price sticker is interesting because it has a full eight digit SKU on it. I think Ames converted to the IBM 3680 system in 80 or 81.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: jmcnamara96 on July 16, 2012, 11:42:03 AM
Quote from: TRJ_22487 on March 23, 2012, 01:55:12 PM
Another from my collection. I like the oddball price.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/001-2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/002-1.jpg)

Do you think Bradlees is the only store to use those Dept. 26 stickers?i own a bunch of 8-Tracks with that same sticker on them
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on July 17, 2012, 10:17:54 PM
Quote from: jmcnamara96 on July 16, 2012, 11:42:03 AM
Do you think Bradlees is the only store to use those Dept. 26 stickers?i own a bunch of 8-Tracks with that same sticker on them

I think so. I've seen many other identical records that were missing the separate Bradlees tag, but they all had the same Dept 26 sticker, so I'm sure they are all from Bradlees. All the ones that looked that way seemed to be late 70's/early 80's
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on August 12, 2012, 12:59:29 PM
This one was bought by my mother a few years before I was born and tucked away, and now I have it.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/002.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on October 27, 2012, 12:51:58 PM
Capitol Records "Greatest Music Ever Sold" campaign during 1976 - Caldor label from 1976

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/006.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on December 30, 2012, 12:57:28 PM
Longtime residents of New England or New York should remember Lechmere, which closed in November 1997.
The only ones I can remember going to a few times were in Manchester and Nashua, NH, but I feel like I have been to others in Massachusetts or Connecticut as well.  

Well if you don't remember them, the 1988 corporate video has been dug up on Youtube that shows off the entire Danvers, Mass store and some of the Liberty Tree Mall, which still exists, though the Lechmere was demolished in 1998.
Really cool to look at. This is before Montgomery Ward bought them out and ran them into the ground.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1988_lechmere_0.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1988_Lechmere_5.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9Z_2XZ4KY
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1988_lechmere_1.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1988_lechmere_2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1988_lechmere_3.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1988_lechmere_4.jpg)



In this shot from then and 2009, you can see the hall area still looks very much the same!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1988_lechmere_1.jpg)(http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette_impact/2009/01/large_retailslump.jpg)




This particular store #003 also has a Facebook page with literally dozens of photos from the 70's to the late 90's
But most of the photos seem to come from the same era that this video was shot, or even earlier!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lechmere-003/108905319133994?sk=photos_stream
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/251509_477956668895522_2040939361_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/24359_115345498489976_4398739_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/24359_115588028465723_1359362_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/24359_115588691798990_2291233_n.jpg)

Lechmere and Filene's Basement were anchor stores of the mall until 1997 when they were demolished and rebuilt into Target, Staples, Dollar Tree and Best Buy in 1998/1999. An f.y.e. replaced part of an area of smaller stores, converting them into a music store/video arcade (formerly Dream Machine), both of which have since closed. Another group of stores was converted to Bed Bath & Beyond.

Ann & Hope closed its 211,300-square-foot (19,630 m2) store in 2001 due to poor sales. It was later rebuilt into Kohl's. Stop & Shop and Pier 1 Imports were later built to the left of Kohl's. A Loews Theatres 20-screen multiplex was also added to the mall.

In January 2008, Stop & Shop closed. The 91,000-square-foot (8,500 m2) store was originally built in 2003.[1] The former Stop & Shop space was converted for use by Nordstrom Rack and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, which opened in November 2008.[2] In 2009, the former f.y.e. was replaced by a Steve & Barry's, but only operated briefly until the company's bankruptcy. This location featured a more modern design compared to other locations.






Here is a Duran Duran record I have with a Lechmere sticker.
Fun Fact: Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown was arrested at the Liberty Tree Mall location (shown above) for shoplifting vinyl record LP's! It is in his autobiography.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/002-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/001-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on June 07, 2013, 06:57:01 AM
I bought some 45's on eBay, and the seller sent them to me with the correct sleeves wrapped separately, and the records came inside of these spare sleeves they had lying around. I have no idea what records these sleeves originally belonged to unfortunately, but that 94 cent one must be an SS Kresge sticker, right? I've never seen one in person before.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/001-2_zps492d98b2.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: retailfan on June 09, 2013, 04:36:05 PM
actually it could be either mart also used the ssk logo  in the early days as I have several things from k-mart  of my moms
I don't believe Kresgee was ever in Anderson  at least not at the time these items were purchased
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: BillyGr on June 10, 2013, 01:38:59 PM
Quote from: retailfan on June 09, 2013, 04:36:05 PM
actually it could be either mart also used the ssk logo  in the early days as I have several things from k-mart  of my moms
I don't believe Kresgee was ever in Anderson  at least not at the time these items were purchased

That would make sense, since it was still the SS Kresge Corporation for some time, even after many Kmart stores were opened, before they decided to change the corporate name to Kmart Corporation as that division took over as the main sales force of the company.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on July 26, 2013, 05:03:46 PM
Once upon a time you could buy a movie soundtrack for $.50

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/CorporateA001/002_zps6cec79b2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/CorporateA001/003_zps5a89ceec.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TRJ_22487 on July 27, 2013, 05:39:22 AM
Here's another I bought yesterday

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/001_zps89be3c02.jpg)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TheFugitive on May 02, 2014, 01:32:31 PM
We had already quit selling vinyl records when I joined Ames in the late 1980's.
Though they were available at other chains for a few more years.

Lots and lots of cassette tapes though.  Those Handleman reps were just about the
hardest working guys in show business.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: Stork of The Weak on May 02, 2014, 03:04:04 PM
What's up with CD albums that were originally on vinyl listing the copyright date that the album was converted to CD, but not the original copyright date? For example, I have "The John Lennon Collection" on CD and it lists a date of 1989, but the songs and cover art are completely unchanged from the original 1982 vinyl release.

But also, it can be irritating that CD albums originally on vinyl will sometimes list the original copyright year, but not the year the album was converted to CD. For example, "Rod Stewart Greatest Hits" copies on both vinyl and CD list the original 1979 date.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: Ames303 on May 22, 2015, 05:08:54 PM
Quote from: TRJ_22487 on March 22, 2012, 05:52:16 PM
Here's one from my collection that should get interest (hate this album, disco ugh)
What on earth does the N behind the Ames logo signify? I've never seen that anywhere before.
Album is from 1977
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/001-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/002.jpg)

That was the logo Ames used during the Big N take over.  I remember the radio jingles singing, "The savings are amazing at Ames, Big N, the savings are amazing at Ames, Big N"
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: Ames303 on January 20, 2016, 10:45:03 AM
Quote from: TRJ_22487 on March 22, 2012, 05:52:16 PM
Here's one from my collection that should get interest (hate this album, disco ugh)
What on earth does the N behind the Ames logo signify? I've never seen that anywhere before.
Album is from 1977
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/001-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/002.jpg)

During the Big N acquisition, that was the Ames logo used on everything, aisle signs, bags, price stickers.  It was the Big N logo with the Ames logo on top of it.  I can easily remember seeing that all over our Ames store in 1978-1979.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TheFugitive on March 15, 2023, 11:23:59 AM
The figures are in, and for the first time since 1987 vinyl records actually outsold CD's in 2022.

https://metv.com/stories/vinyl-records-outsell-cds-for-the-first-time-since-1987
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: Brammy on March 20, 2023, 02:48:57 PM
Yep. Never thought I would see the day when stores like Walmart and Target would have a bigger vinyl section than CD section.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TheFugitive on March 21, 2023, 09:13:56 AM
Quote from: Brammy on March 20, 2023, 02:48:57 PMYep. Never thought I would see the day when stores like Walmart and Target would have a bigger vinyl section than CD section.

I've already seen it.  Then again, I'm old.  ;)
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: BillyGr on March 21, 2023, 09:46:10 AM
Quote from: TheFugitive on March 21, 2023, 09:13:56 AM
Quote from: Brammy on March 20, 2023, 02:48:57 PMYep. Never thought I would see the day when stores like Walmart and Target would have a bigger vinyl section than CD section.

I've already seen it.  Then again, I'm old.  ;)

That may also depend on location - given the original poster is in CT, where Walmart and Target are more recent stores (probably mid 1990's at the earliest, similar to this area of NY around Albany), by the time those stores arrived, CD's or other forms were likely the leader.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: TheFugitive on March 21, 2023, 10:11:30 AM
Quote from: BillyGr on March 21, 2023, 09:46:10 AMThat may also depend on location - given the original poster is in CT, where Walmart and Target are more recent stores (probably mid 1990's at the earliest, similar to this area of NY around Albany), by the time those stores arrived, CD's or other forms were likely the leader.


None of the Ames stores where I was assigned carried LP's.  I joined the company in early 1988.  I can't speak to every store in every region but for sure none of the Ames locations in the Midwest that I was involved with were selling vinyl at that point.  Our music rack jobber was Handelman and this may have been their decision. I don't recall if they handled the entire Ames chain or just our region.

Of course you could go to the mall in 1988 and find vinyl in lots of other places.
I had gotten rid of mine because as an Ames manager you had to be mobile and an LP collection was kind of tough to lug around.
Title: Re: Vinyl Records
Post by: jconsolmagno on August 23, 2023, 09:37:06 PM
I had got the Beatles Anthology 3 on CD from Ames. I know that for a fact. Also got Ringo Starr's Blast From Your Past from there as well.

Now, I do have a late 1980s Best Of Frankie Vallie vinyl I picked up a few years ago sealed with an Ames sticker. I think that was a mid-1980s release.