3 Genres of Music You Almost Never Find While Digging Through Used CDs

As most of you know, I absolutely love digging through used CDs. I can spend hours looking for nothing in particular other than something that sparks my interest. Maybe I’ll find something that fills a hole in my collection, or maybe I’ll find an album I can use for my One Hit Wondering column. Whatever the reason, I go in with no expectations, and usually leave with a stack of CDs.

I’ve been doing this since the mid ‘90s – wait … does this mean I’ve been digging through used CDs for 30 years now???? – and I’ve learned a lot about what’s easy to find, and what’s remarkably difficult to find in your favorite record store’s used CD section, or when your local library has a fundraiser sale.

What’s easy to find? Well, let’s just say if you’re looking for a U2 album you shouldn’t have much of a problem. Same goes for Bonnie Raitt – and I love me some Bonnie Raitt – and at the most recent library sale where I was doing some digging there was an entire box that was just Barbra Streisand albums (although you’ll see a few others snuck in).

After emerging from swimming in that sea of Streisand, I came home with a plethora of (non-Streisand) CDs, but certain genres of music weren’t among the stack, because they were nowhere to be found.

Having that experience so many times over the years inspired this column.

So if you’ve dug through all the used U2 albums, and still haven’t found what you’re looking for, it might be because of what you’re looking for.

The following are three genres of music you almost never find while digging through used CDs.

Hair Metal / Glam Metal

A genre that was much maligned during its time in the ‘80s, hair metal / glam metal featured dudes who sported hair as big as the ladies, who also shared those ladies’ makeup cases. Many of the dudes, however, not only rocked out harder than previous generations, they also partied harder than them, as well.

It was the epitome of sex, drugs, and rock n roll, and a lot of critics thought that it was image over substance. In some cases they were right, but four decades later those bands can still tour, their music has taken over classic rock stations, and the fans who loved those bands in the ‘80s have held on to the albums.

You might find the occasional Greatest Hits album in a bin of used CDs, but if you think you’re going to find Appetite for Destruction, Look What the Cat Dragged In, or Dr. Feelgood, you’re going to be disappointed.

On a personal note, I’m constantly searching for Def Leppard albums while doing my digs, and I swear I’ve never seen one in a bin of used CDs. NEVER. If I ever see a copy of Hysteria it may send me into histrionics! 20 million copies sold, and not a single one in a used CD bin!

Classic Punk

Classic punk rock albums are almost never in used CD bins because the people who own them still listen to them on a regular basis. This is because punk is more than a genre, it’s also an ideology, and lifestyle. If you’ve ever been to a punk rock show you’ve seen plenty of old punks, most of whom will be able to tell you about the exact dates, and at which legendary venues, they saw certain bands.

The only classic punk band I’ve seen in used CD bins is The Clash, and even that’s been rare.

When it comes to the occasional Clash album finding its way into a bin of used CDs, I think it’s because the name resonates outside the genre. People who’ve never listened to The Clash will wear a Clash t-shirt, and this makes others inquisitive. Someone who wants to know more buys an album, but turns out to not be a fan, so it winds up in a used CD bin.

That sort of thing doesn’t really happen with Sex Pistols, Ramones, or X-Ray Spex, which is why you’d be hard pressed to find any of their albums in a bin of used CDs.

Goth Rock

“It’s just a phase” is a phrase that’s been said about every goth kid since goth became a thing.

Well, if it’s a phase, it sure is a long one, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a goth rock album in a bin of used CDs.

Sure, the kids grow up, and they probably aren’t wearing all black to work, or applying the same type of makeup, but they’re clearly still listening to their favorite bands.

With goth rock, much like with punk rock, fans of the genre have a more personal connection with the music, which is why they hold on to it. This is something I feel we’re losing with streaming shifting people into becoming passive listeners, rather than active listeners.

That, however, is another conversation for another time. For right now, just know you probably aren’t going to find any Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, or Joy Division albums while digging through used CDs.

Of course, that won’t stop any of us from trying!

Happy digging!