jml297

It was slim pickings at the goodwill store, but Charlie knew that perseverance paid off. There were donations coming in all the time, and whilst the quality was questionable, there were still some gems if you looked closely.

He flicked through the stack of vinyl records, humming to himself. It was the usual mix of classical and musical soundtracks. He paused to look at a 1970s K-Tel compilation cover, wondering if it might have nostalgic value, even if most of the songs were forgettable. And then, right near the back of the stack, he saw Billie Holiday. Charlie flipped the album over, then carefully extracted the record from its sleeve. No visible scratches or wear. He slipped it back in its pocket and happily paid the $2 before heading home. He would look up the details online but even if it wasn’t one of the more famous recordings, he had a soft spot for her voice and it would be a welcome addition to his jazz collection.

A couple of weeks later, Charlie set up the album on his record player, and he settled into his recliner as the record hissed and crackled through to the first track. He took a sip of whiskey then leaned back, closing his eyes, ready for the opening of ‘Lady Sings the Blues’. But instead of the clarion call of the trumpet, and Billie’s unique voice, there was a different collection of sounds altogether. Charlie opened one eye, then the other, a frown forming on his forehead. There was a round of applause, and Charlie wondered briefly if it was a live album that he’d picked up. But as the clapping eased, a thin, reedy voice announced the beginning of the competition, and requested the first contestant to come onto the stage.

Sitting up straight, Charlie shook his head in disbelief as he heard the distinctive sound of a recorder. Someone was playing ‘Greensleeves’, quite slowly and laboriously. Charlie’s hand reached for the whiskey when the performance ended, and another restorative sip was needed when the recorder player was followed by someone with a flute. A little flute went a long way in Charlie’s opinion.

Intrigued, Charlie moved the needle to different tracks on the record, but there was an ongoing theme of polite applause and somewhat amateur musicianship. He stopped the record, peering closely at the label. It was bright yellow and black, matching the album cover. Flipping the album over, he tried the B side. It was more of the same.

Fortunately there were other records in his extensive collection that could fill the musical void. In the mood for jazz, he put on the first record of the Carnegie Hall Concert in 1938, letting the bright beat of Benny Goodman and his band fill the living room. With his eyes closed once more, Charlie speculated on how an amateur concert ended up on a Billie Holiday record, before deciding that some mysteries are best left unsolved.

This piece was written to a prompt on the Writer’s Digest website. For the Record: your character finds something unexpected on a mislabelled record.

Photo: album cover, ‘Lady Sings The Blues’