Isaac Slusarenko is a name that should be quite familiar to the vinyl collectors and music aficionados of Portland. For the past 14 years, he has been in charge of Jackpot Records, a store that caters to the discerning listener thanks to their knowledgeable staff, and reputation for bringing in amazing bands for in-store performances or meet-and-greets. In 2004, Slusarenko also began a record label using the same name as his shop, reprinting local and international albums of note, and cultivating relationships with The Wipers’ leader Greg Sage and the enigmatic Jandek, both of whom have allowed Jackpot to reissue their work on vinyl. This year will see one of the first original recordings released by the label, Dave Depper’s song-by-song recreation of the Paul McCartney album Ram (out on May 3rd), and reissues of the last two Wipers albums Silver Sail and The Herd.
The first record I purchased happened when I was in 3rd grade at my elementary school evening carnival. Each year our school had a carnival with the usual activities: bingo, cakewalk, moonwalk, etc. You had to purchase tickets in order to play the games. I think it was 25 cents a ticket.
One of the school classrooms had been converted into a garage sale. Tables were set up with the usual late ’70s items: candles, ceramic owls, and macramé. But I was drawn towards a table with a small box of records. I browsed through the box and found it – the object of my desire…a copy of The Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (a first pressing, as I found out later in life).
I paid for it with my red ticket and walked home happy. I felt like a grown up making a big purchase. I remember the feeling so vividly. I had played my parents’ copy constantly with my older brothers. Now it would be mine and so there in that moment started my hobby/habit of collecting of records. I still have the LP in my collection.
