What initially looked like a disaster turned into an attractive cover thanks to a little can of Goof Off. I sent Ms. Page this cover back in January along with a note mentioning, among other things, my father’s memory of escorting her to the stage in the early 1950s at a University of Detroit carnival. I received it back yesterday with two(!) inscriptions on it: one for me and one for “Ms. Griffin,” whoever that is--certainly no relation to me. It appears that Ms. Page got her mail mixed up and inscribed my record to someone else and then corrected her mistake by adding a second inscription. Maybe it took her eight months to decide if she should mail it back to me or not. Fortunately, this being one of those Mercury records with the thin glossy laminate coating, I was able to wipe off the accidental inscription with a rag and a dab of Goof Off. That would not have worked with any non-laminated record and very few are laminated--Mercury, Elektra, and CTI are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head. The fact that this trick worked at all lets you know how vulnerable some autographs can be. I’m just glad the “2010” was on the incorrect inscription and not the one meant for me. This way I don’t feel guilty wiping it off. Who wants to see “2010” on a 1959 record?
That is hilarious! Now why don't you contrast this autograph removal with your Larry Sparks experience? It could prove visually instructive...
ReplyDeleteI'm just trying to imagine the early 1950s University of Detroit carnival.
ReplyDeleteAaron
Actually, John, I was thinking of trying my luck with Goo Gone on the Larry Sparks record. Maybe I can fix this thing once and for all!
ReplyDeleteGoo Be Gone is as miraculous as paper clips. I imagine you among your collection as I do art historians working on the restoration of the Sistine Chapel. Carefully, carefully...
ReplyDeletewhere does she live? how old is she? good story...love that album cover.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Meg. I just realized I've been using Goof Off, not Goo Gone, all this time. I'll have to edit my posts.
ReplyDeleteAaron, I can get the details from my dad if you're interested. I picture ballroom dancing, cotton candy, and a ferris wheel.
Patti Page lives in Waltham, Massachusetts and she's 82 years old. It's a nice cover, though there are some better ones out there. I'm fond of this one:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HZFj5y1hfPQ/SxFX2-urZpI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/mloAmuVKuBk/s1600/Patti+Page+Sings+Christmas+Favorites+fixed+.jpg
I like the fact that you received the record despite the fact that Patti Page neglected to follow your directions, and mailed the record in the box you sent her without putting any postage on it. I thought it was funny that the return address and recipient address both said "Mike XXX." Even more hilarious was the fact that the recipient address was written on an index card and was only taped on one side, so it functioned like a little flap door that one could lift up to see what was underneath, only to find the name and address of Mike XXX a third time! This was either very amusing or very frustrating for the Post Office. I guess ultimately they found it amusing because they finally delivered the package to Mike (the sender and recipient) after holding onto it for months.
ReplyDeleteThese details about the lack of postage had mostly slipped by me -- I was far more focused on fixing the autograph. Maybe P.P. read Abbie Hoffman's Steal This Book and the chapter on how to mail a letter for free.
ReplyDeleteFYI: "XXX" = my disguised last name since this is a public forum.
those details make the story much better!
ReplyDelete