CHRIS BUTLER

guitarist with rock groups Tin Huey and the Waitresses

“I was living in the suburbs of Cleveland and would have to take the Rapid downtown to Public Square once a week to get my braces tightened. My dentist was a grinning, born-again sadist who would hum hymns as he’d be jamming little bits of wire into my already-bleeding gums.

“Two things made it all worthwhile. While downtown, I could also take the escalator to the music department at Higbee’s and stare at the pile of gleaming Vox amplifiers. I could also go to Record Rendezvous and spend my allowance on the newest British Invasion LP. They were $3-something for mono or $4-something for stereo. I was poor, so I always bought the mono recordings. As it turns out, the mono mixes are the most valued amongst vinyl collectors.

“My teeth are still crooked, but I can listen to ‘Mona’ by the Stones in mono - on vinyl - anytime I want.”