Tonight, I was pleased to come home to find my Vinyl Exchange records by the door! I needed some cheer to counteract the stress caused by a relative's surgery earlier in the day.

I'm new to vinyl collecting, and I only have 10 (now 12!) records to my name, most of which are Pendulum singles. I was excited about this exchange because I thought it would give me a chance to expand my collection in new ways.

I gave my match a wide variety of genres and musicians that I enjoy, and tried to encourage them to get me something fresh and exciting. And, they did! I received two records that were totally unexpected, and quite different from one another.

First, I received The Traveling Wilburys - Volume One (1988), a classic rock LP from a supergroup I didn't know I already knew! I've always been fond of Handle With Care (http://youtu.be/L8s9dmuAKvU), apparently without knowing who actually performed it, or what they called themselves. It was fun to listen to the full album and read the liner notes.

Second, I received Sunkings - Starbuck (1997), a techy, trancey single that I really enjoyed. Both the original mix (http://youtu.be/6YPJJhNQst8) and the Juno Reactor remix (http://youtu.be/JMHs1jnXDyo) get quite dark, and are driving and energetic. The tracks are quite different from one another too, which is interesting.

Thank you very much, match. You've definitely helped add some variety to my tiny little collection.

Edit:

My match, redjimdit, contacted me today with the story behind the Traveling Wilburys LP. I was touched, and would like to share it with you all:

"11-12 years ago I was running a restaurant (Qdoba Mexican Grill) in Madison, WI on State Street, one of the busiest in the chain. One of my assistant managers and I would go to his house to play cards and drink a couple beers after work, and we'd meet up on the weekends to play group Texas Hold-em poker. His name was Dave [redacted], my friend.

"Dave had a friend named Clay, and it was an unwritten rule that when Clay came over, the next record to be played would be Traveling Wilburys Volume 1, no matter who was in the queue or who was there.

"I began associating this album with Dave, so I would listen to it on my tape deck in the car while driving, and while biking around town.

"Dave died unexpectedly of pancreatic cancer on July 26th 2011. I listened to this album for the last time in the parking lot of the funeral home, and vowed to never listen to it again in his honor and memory.

"This is his pressing of the Traveling Wilburys. I can't have it in my home, I see it and I just break down crying. I wanted to pass it along, but I wanted it to go to someone who might just appreciate it.

"It seems as though I found someone. Thanks for keeping my friend Dave's memory alive."

Thank you for this honor, redjimdit. I will handle it with care.