Faces of The Leslieville Flea: Selector Records
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Photo: Selector Records
The Leslieville Flea is back this summer at Ashbridge Estate, a time to stroll the lawns and search for treasures. Each month we'll be profiling familiar faces from the market to learn how they got the start and what to expect from them at The Leslieville Flea.
We're kicking off June with a Q&A with Steve from Selector Records. Selector Records has sold vintage records and clothes since 1998 through eBay, Discogs and through markets such as The Leslieville Flea since 2013.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO RECORD COLLECTING?
I love music, it makes me really happy. I bought my first record in 1973 and haven't stopped since. Hearing any new music is a privilege that's really inspiring. There's so much music and so many records to discover. Selling music to people is really fun — they light up when they get a record they're stoked about. To be part of that process is gratifying. And finding the records is always a huge thrill, you never know what's behind the next record in the stack and you get to meet so many cool cats along the way. The people who love music and records are often characters.
WHAT'S YOUR CRAZIEST STORY ABOUT BUYING AND SELLING VINYL?
I got to sell Bazil Donovan (Blue Rodeo bassist) Willie P. Bennett's record, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, at the Leslieville Flea two years ago. He told me the sad story of Willie's passing and the formation of the tribute band, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings with Colin Linden. Bazil has to be the coolest guy ever. It was a thrill to hold him hostage with music questions in my tent for an hour.
WHAT'S THE BEST FIND YOU'VE SCORED? AND DID YOU SELL IT?
Recently it’s the 45 for Climax Blues Band "Couldn't get it right." A classic slice of AM gold from 1976, we have played it every single day for the past 68 days. Ask your mom. I do kind of regret selling every single record — I want to keep them all. There have been a lot of neat records that have passed through our hands but it’s most exciting to see what tomorrow will bring. My wife keeps reminding me about a few vintage leather jackets I shouldn’t have sold, because they looked so good on me — her words, I swear.
TELL US ABOUT ONE FANTASTIC THING YOU'RE BRINGING TO THE MARKET ON JUNE 10.
I'm bringing some great vintage rock T-shirts in June. There's a lovely 1986 New Order Low Life tour shirt, and lots of other '80s bands like Blancmange, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Poison, Rush, AC/DC and many more. Come down to The Leslieville Flea at Ashbridge Estate or follow us @SelectorRecords on Discogs/IG/FB/Twitter to see where we will be next.
