Ep254: Lenny Kaye - Record Collector

As a guitarist, composer and long-time collaborator with Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye has a record collection compiled from a lifetime of travel and seeking out new and interesting music. Today Lenny shares all about his record collection, tells tales of the rare records of his career, discusses the genesis of the "Nuggets" compilation and much more.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Lenny's location (Pennsylvania) vs. Nate's (Sydney, Australia)
• Australia's strict COVID quarantine requirements for visitors
• Record stores as part of Lenny's travel itinerary
• His habit of smoking joints before browsing record stores
• Record collecting as Lenny's equivalent to others' golf game
• Supporting independent record stores through purchases
• Lenny's routine when entering a record store
• Started collecting records at age 12 in 1958
• His first records purchased (Sheb Wooley, Conway Twitty)
• Saving lunch money in high school for record purchases
• Early interest in group harmony/doo-wop records
• Traveling to Newark for record shopping
• Seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan changed his direction
• First guitar experiences and early folk music interest
• First recording as "Link Cromwell" with "Crazy Like a Fox"
• Working at Village Oldies record store for five years
• Jack Holzman at Elektra hiring Lenny as talent scout
• Origin story of the influential "Nuggets" compilation
• Kaye's attempt to get Elektra to keep The Stooges
• Nuggets' longevity and influence on future musicians
• First Patti Smith single funded by Robert Mapplethorpe
• Self-pressing and distributing "Hey Joe/Piss Factory"
• Long-lasting musical partnership with Patti Smith
• Lenny's substantial record collection (approximately 6,000 records)
• Organization system for his record collection
• View on first pressings vs. reissues
• Record collection disasters (water damage, floods)
• No specific "holy grail" record he's pursuing
• Records most precious to him (Patti Smith records)
• DJing with selections from his collection
• Records from artist friends who have passed away
• Australian music scene (Scientists, Radio Birdman)
• Music's ability to transcend national boundaries
• Missing live performance during pandemic
• Plans to return to Australia when possible

If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related.

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8