Released on Facebook — May 19, 2011

Vintage Vinyl

Exhibition highlights rare and unique records
in the Wittliff Collections' music holdings

May 9 – June 30, 2011, on the Alkek Library's First Floor

SAN MARCOS, Texas—Drawn from the growing holdings of over 1,400 vinyl LPs and 45 rpm singles spanning the many popular music styles of Texas and the Southwest, Vintage Vinyl from the Wittliff Collections presents rare releases from well-known artists like Willie Nelson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Doug Sahm, as well as from offbeat artists such as Lester Bangs, Joe “King” Carrasco, and the Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Some of the genres covered include Texas-Mexican border music, rhythm-and-blues, Cajun accordion, singer-songwriter, and beerhouse parlor jive.

One particular strength of the vinyl collection is Willie Nelson, who is a genre unto himself. At the Wittliff Collections, you can go all the way back to Willie’s beginnings in recorded music, listen to his first record—self-released in the Pacific Northwest in 1957—and a 1955 demo for Sarg Records out of Luling Texas. Examples of both records are on display in this exhibit. The inventory of the Willie Nelson Recording Collection is online .

In addition to vinyl, the Wittliff also holds an extensive CD library of music from Texas and the Southwest. Any title from the music collection is available to listen to in the Wittliff’s reading room on seventh floor, Monday – Friday, 8:30-4:30. All the titles are either in the Alkek Library's online catalog or in the process of being cataloged. Call 512.245.2313 with any inquiries, or make a research appointment online.

For further information, contact archivist Joel Minor at jm206@txstate.edu or 512.245.3229.