Hi, my name is Mark… and I’m a classic rock addict. Not in a bad way—just completely hooked on the music. If you’re reading this, chances are you are too.
I grew up in the ’70s in South Florida, a time when some of the greatest music ever recorded filled the airwaves and lined the shelves of every local record store. The first record I ever bought was a 45rpm of Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by The Hollies. My first full-length album? We’re an American Band by Grand Funk Railroad. I can still remember adding Brothers and Sisters by the Allman Brothers, Grand Funk Railroad Live, and Los Cochinos by Cheech and Chong to my growing collection. Not bad for a teenager, right?
As I moved into high school, 8-track tapes started taking over. I remember stacking my car with clunky tapes from The Eagles, UFO, Ted Nugent, and Led Zeppelin. Unless you had a giant storage box, your 8-tracks usually ended up scattered across the seats or—more often—on the floorboard.
Then came my first concert: Aerosmith at the Hollywood Sportatorium during their Toys in the Attic tour. I was just 15, and the two things that stuck with me most? The sheer, deafening volume… and the strange-smelling smoke surrounding me.
After high school, I joined the Marines, serving from the mid-to-late ’70s. My love for rock only deepened as the genre exploded, with bands reaching their creative peaks. During my early training years, I managed to catch some incredible live shows: Bob Seger, Foghat with Boston, Blue Öyster Cult, ZZ Top, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I even saw Skynyrd on May 14, 1977—just five months before the tragic plane crash.
My time in the military took me to Japan for a year, where I—like many servicemen—took advantage of the favorable exchange rate to build a killer stereo system. My setup? A Sansui 8080DB receiver, a Pioneer PL-520 turntable, a Pioneer CTF-1000 cassette deck, and a pair of powerhouse Pioneer HPM-100 speakers. I’d buy records, record them onto cassette, and store the vinyl as a “master”—never playing it again. When Van Halen dropped, we cranked it up in the barracks, each trying to outdo the other in sheer volume.
When I came home, Uncle Sam shipped my entire setup back with me. I kept it all through college and into my early married life. But as kids came along and space got tight, I reluctantly sold my gear and most of my records. The ’90s weren’t the best time for rock anyway—grunge, hip-hop, and electronica took over, and my music experience shrank to just radio and a few worn-out cassettes.
Fast forward to about ten years ago. A friend of mine at the TV station where I worked had a vintage stereo setup in his office, spinning records daily. His passion reignited mine, and I knew I had to rebuild my collection.
I decided to go full vintage, starting with a Pioneer SX-780 receiver (a birthday gift from my wife), Kenwood speakers from an estate sale (later upgraded to Boston Acoustics HD-10), and a Technics SL-J2 turntable from eBay.
What started with a few yard sale finds quickly turned into serious collecting. I dove into the world of first pressings, record grading, Goldmine standards, reissues, and cover conditions—sometimes learning the hard way through trial and error. I spent countless hours on YouTube Music and Pandora, carefully curating my wishlist. After all, you can’t buy everything—not without unlimited space and an endless budget.
As my collection grew, I started selling off duplicate or lower-grade records, which led me to open my own online record store.
I created this site and podcast to share what I’ve learned—the music, the bands, and the ins and outs of collecting. But more than that, I want to share the memories-with my fellow classic rockers, and a new generation of music lovers who want to listen to good music.
Rock music shaped my generation, and I hope to introduce a new one to its timeless energy and amazing musicianship. Long after myself and these bands are gone, the music will live on.
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