Curated list by C.J. Haldeman
This list of albums shows ones that are either really hard to find, not released in the US, or are a special set. They may not be the greatest albums ever, but they're ones that I liked enough to make the effort to get them.
Blood On The Bricks
Aldo Nova
This album has several really good songs on it. I don't love the whole thing, but it came out in 1991, a time in which I was working at Musicland at the Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette, IN. We listened to this CD often in store when it came out, so this is a bit of a nostalgia buy.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Here Comes Trouble
Bad Company
I have no idea why this one is so hard to find but I'm thinking perhaps it wasn't released on vinyl in the US? I had to buy it as an import. I remember way back around the time it was released, it was popular. Then it kinda became one of those albums - I should say, CDs - that you'd see as a cut-out in the cheaper bins. Regardless, I love this album and it rounds out a three-album Bad Company run with Brian Howe that I think is stellar.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Glorious (The Ultimate Collection)
Bananarama
I don't think this deluxe greatest hits set is available in the US. I actually bought it when I was in Glasgow, Scotland in the summer of 2024 and brought it home with me.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Britny Fox / Boys In Heat
Britny Fox
This is a cool set. It's the Britny Fox album AND the Boys in Heat album together in one gatefold set. Saved me buying them separately!
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
A Little Ain't Enough
David Lee Roth
I love this album. I think it's wickedly underrated. I had to buy this as an import because I don't think it was released on vinyl here in the US. Until now, of course, when Rhino just released a 5-album boxed set of DLR's that includes this album and Your Filthy Little Mouth. Nothing like paying loads for an import only to have a re-release come out not long after, right? I paid more for this and YFLM than that whole new set costs. Ugh.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Your Filthy Little Mouth
David Lee Roth
As mentioned in the comment for A Little Ain't Enough, this album has been re-released as part of a boxed set Rhino just put out in 2025. This, however, is an import and I paid about $90 for it. Sounds great, though. One thing I've noticed about imports like this one - the album sleeves are a thinner material than normal ones you buy. Thankfully, imports seem to always be packaged well from the sellers!
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Kamakiriad
Donald Fagen
This one was SO hard to find. I luckily found a collector in the UK that found a copy of it at a record show he went to. It's got a little paint drip down the front of the cover, but other than that, it's in great shape and sounds perfect. This was at least $100 if I remember correctly.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Kiss You (When It's Dangerous)
Eight Seconds
I love 12" singles from the 80s. I'm all about 80s new wave and pop music and thought I knew most every song, but I only discovered this song around 2022. I couldn't believe I didn't know it because I freaking love it. I could have been listening to it for 40 years. My loss. Anyway, this tune has everything a perfect 80s single should have: the guitar tone, the synths, the singer who sounds forlorn, awesome bass lines. Love it, love it, love it.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
III Sides To Every Story
Extreme
I bought this as an import, again, because I couldn't find it here in the US. I'm sure now that I've paid a lot for it, it'll be re-released for $30.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
555%
Ginger
I love The Wildhearts, and this is a triple album that Ginger Wildheart did through Pledge Music. I don't even know if that's still a thing, Pledge Music. But it was in the early 2010's. I paid a certain amount to be able to watch weekly videos of the making of it, and the tier I paid for also made it so my name is included in the thank you section of the liner notes, so that's cool. Lots of great, eclectic, interesting songs on here.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Indian Summer
Go West
I'm a big Go West fan. I'm also the only Go West fan I know of. This album is great, and has several songs on it that were hits - Faithful, King of Wishful Thinking, What You Won't Do for Love. So, I figured when I started collecting vinyl that I'd be able to pick this one up no problem. Nope. Problem. I could only find it as an import from Brazil for $40 (with $25 shipping). Yeesh.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Paint And Paint
Haircut One Hundred
I had no idea Haircut 100 even had a second album until 2024! I loved their first album so I figured I'd better hear this one, too. Nick Heyward had left the band, which was a bummer, but this album is still really good. I listen to it often. It didn't cost much at all - like $10 with $5 shipping, but it's a rare find and a rare gem at that.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Whenever We Wanted
John Cougar Mellencamp
I don't think this was released on vinyl in the US? I bought this European version on Discogs (which is where I buy most of these things). It didn't cost much, but apparently it's rare enough that I couldn't find it here anywhere.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Alive II
Kiss
This is a 45th anniversary release of Alive II which has been remastered and is on red vinyl with black and white splatter. It came with all the same inserts that the original album had, which is cool. I've been a Kiss fan my whole life so I'm a sucker for these special editions.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Creatures Of The Night
Kiss
Super sweet triple album version remaster of the Creatures of the Night album. Has the original album, a vinyl of unreleased songs, and a vinyl of live versions of the songs from the album. 40th anniversary edition of the record. The album cover is awesome, right?
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Lick It Up
Kiss
40th anniversary edition of Lick it Up. It looks like the Japanese version of the album and is numbered. The vinyl is clear with black splatter.
Comment by C.J. Haldeman
Solo Anthology: The Best Of Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
No Rest For The Wicked
Ozzy Osbourne
The Ultimate Sin
Ozzy Osbourne
Moving Pictures
Rush
Clockwork Angels
Rush
Everything Must Go
Steely Dan
Funplex
The B-52's
Move Like This
The Cars
Bitchin'
The Donnas
Beautiful Friction
The Fixx
Every Five Seconds
The Fixx
phuq
The Wildhearts
The Greatest Hits
Thunder
Tunguska
Treat