Series of business cards for London-based record dealer Every One A Classic (Chris Plummer), acquired sometime in the mid-to-late 90s.
When I moved back to New York City in 1996, I started becoming a regular at the annual WFMU Record Fair. Having previously avoided record fairs due to the preponderance of “oldies” or classic rock-type music advertised for such things, I was drawn to the overall weirdness of WFMU as a station. I was hopeful upon setting foot in the low-ceilinged basement space in the East Village that first time: would these be my people?
The answer, of course, was a resounding “yes.” I was awed by both the wide variety of wares—including, of course, my beloved post-punk and indie—and comforted by the relative lack of attitude amongst the vendors.
One table that was a particular favorite was Chris Plummer’s, so much so that, over the years, I acquired the three different business cards shown here. Each year he’d come all the way from the UK, showing up with tons of records that were otherwise hard to find here in the States. My hands always first wandered to the magical $10 post-punk box of 45s, from which I bought countless classics by bands both well-known (Girls At Our Best, Buzzcocks) and obscure (The Chefs, Fatal Microbes).
My WFMU Record Fair days ended when I moved across the country to Seattle in 2003, but I hope to return at some point when it resumes post-pandemic. (The 2020 and 2021 editions were both cancelled.) Perhaps I’ll see familiar vendors like Chris, but I’m sure I’ll see lots of new faces as well.