By mhc (172.147.196.171) on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - 09:20 pm:

When I lived in the Detroit area, I used to buy rare 45s at Mays Talking Machine Co. on 8 Mile Rd. What an amazing place that was. Is it still there? If not, where is the best place now to shop for rare stuff in or near Detroit? Thanks.

By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 12:31 am:

What, and have you raid the favorite haunts of Stingbeelee and me? Although I think SBL already let the cat out of the bag on another thread ...

I was at one of our secret used record haunts when Millie from this forum and I asked the 20something record clerk to play the copy of "Scorpio" we found. The clerk was quizzical until the song came on, then it was "Cool, man!"

But the best thing was seeing all the middle-aged guys in the store stopping their music searches to slip and sway to Bongo Eddie's solo, flashing big smiles ...At this same place, a female clerk always to me, "It's so nice to see a girl in here for a change."

I guess pawing through old vinyl is sort of a male occupation ...

By David Meikle (213.122.24.2) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 05:15 am:

Bob May is still there.

By LTLFTC (12.245.225.79) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 10:55 am:

David; Does he still have a store on 8 Mile? I stumbled across that place about 20 years ago -it blew my mind. Many a time I've cruised up and down 8 Mile trying to find it again (I couldn't remember the name of the place).
Steve K.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.73) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 12:20 pm:

Hey Sue,keep me in mind wont you if you ever come across one of those nice,cheap,Scotts On Swingers we talked about a while ago.Cheers.MEL.(ho,ho).

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 12:20 pm:

Bob Mays is on the other side of 8 Mile now, in Hazel Park I believe. And Cap Wortman of Cappy's Records, on 8 Mile near Kelly, has a fantastic inventory too.

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 01:17 pm:

Mel,
And same thing mate, you pick me up one of those cheap Scott's On Swingers if you see 'em LOL ...

I hear Pat St. John, the deejay now in New York, actually has a "real" copy ...

By LTLFTC (12.245.225.79) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 02:28 pm:

Fury; Thanks for the info on Bob Mays
Steve K.

By StingBeeLee (68.43.129.202) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 02:33 pm:

Me and Bob Mays go way back, and he is a good friend of mine. His store's location is on Eight Mile, about a block and a half west of John R., on the north side of eight mile. His hours are from 12:00 to 6:00, closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Hazel Park made him take down his hanging sign and the sign is in the window, although somewhat difficult to see. When you go there, tell him Leon sent you!

By LTLFTC (12.245.225.79) on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 02:35 pm:

StingBee- Thanks! I'll be heading that way in a couple weeks and will definately tell him "Leon sent me"
Steve K.

By Julian the Great (205.188.209.38) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 11:52 am:

That must be the place everyone tells me about. Last year I drove up and down 8 Mile between John R and Livernois over and over again for quite a while, but couldn't find it!

Desirable Discs in Dearborn used to have a lot of rare 45's, I've acquired quite a few there, but last week I discovered that someone had bought the whole lot for just $1200. Bet it was someone on this forum!

By SteveS (205.188.209.38) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 04:17 pm:

Mays!!! I used to go in there in the early 70's and find outrageous stuff like 78's of Spike Jones, Charlie Christian and an incredibly rare album by the 7 sting guitar player George Van Eps. Even then the place looked like it was shut down. I've noticed a place on the opposite corner of the interesection that looks like it's closed down, but I guess that's just the Mays trademark. Gotta check it out.

BTW Marshall, in the late 60's I went to watch a band called Astigafa (I think) rehearse in a furniture repair place (shaky memory again) that they rented along 12 Mile in Berkeley . Was that you?

SteveS

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 10:45 pm:

I just read a review of a Charlie Christian boxed set that sounds amazing -- I think it was in the Friday Wall Street Journal a week or so ago ...

Jeez I'm going to have to go over to Mays and get all the good stuff before you guys all fly in!

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 10:46 pm:

p.s. I bought a 45 online of Nolan Strong's "Mind Over Matter" (to replace the one that's somewhere in my garage) -- turned out it was Cub Koda's own copy, his widow has been selling a lot of stuff off ...perfect shape!

By SteveS (68.41.251.33) on Saturday, November 02, 2002 - 12:47 pm:

Sue - yeah, I saw that review in the WSJ. Definitely made me want to go out and but it. Think I'll go find the 78 from Mays first.

By StingBeeLee (68.43.129.202) on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 11:45 pm:

An update on the location of Mays Records. He is located on eight mile, on the north side of the street, on the FIRST block off of John R (it is a long block); and about a quarter mile west of 8 mile and I-75. His store is in a little grey nondescript building, next to a brown building that has "Walk in Medical Clinic" on the side. The address is 126 E. Eight mile. Beware of the addresses, as they change with the city lines around this section of 8 mile. All this reference to 8 mile reminds me of a certain movie...

By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 11:47 pm:

Speaking of which, is it wrong for me to be totally bored with the idea of going to see 8 Mile? I'm thinking of Stingbeelee talking about music "washing over" him -- I've had that experience, esp in the last few days. So why would I want that to end?

By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 11:48 pm:

But to get back on topic - thanks for those directions, Lee -- that place is a treasure.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 02:26 am:

Sue - I understand what you're saying about StingBeeLee. I've been reading his exciting posts and I know exactly how it feels about the music. But, just the name "8 Mile" should be an incentive. After all the guy grew up around soul. I haven't heard any of his tunes, but it must be something about that guy that Detroit fans likes. I wonder if the record shop will be in it. So, I'm anxious to read your review about "8 Mile."
(LOL) Regards, Sis

By SteveS (68.41.251.33) on Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 02:53 am:

Does Mays keep any kind of regular hours? I've driven by many times but they looked closed (or worse).

By StingBeeLee (68.43.129.202) on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 12:59 am:

For Bob Mays hours, He is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thurdays, Fridays and Saturdays at approximately 1:00 to 5:30 p.m. These are approximate hours, your best bet is from 1:00 to 5:30. The "posted Hours" are from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. and you can be adventurous and get there at 12, but Bob may not show up until 12:20, and he may close a little early if business is slow. So to be on the safe side, 1:00 to 5:30 will get you in the door. Do not expect to come at 5:30 and stay past six unless you are buying hundreds of dollars of records, because he will close on you and wave goodbye.