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Since 1987, The Junk Box has been cleaning up and hauling Victoria’s unwanted furniture, appliances, construction debris, yard waste, and other junk. The company has grown over the years with founder Dale’s three sons joining the crew, but The Junk Box is still 100% local and family owned. So if you’re in Greater Victoria (minus Sooke – sorry!), and in need of a junk hauling service, give us a call. We’ll give you a 2-hour window and leave your property clean and pristine.

We’ve seen a lot now in over 30 years of business, with every day bringing new surprises. One of the most exciting parts of our job is finding cool stuff. That’s why we started this ‘Cool Finds’ series – to showcase some of that cool stuff we wind up with every day.

At The Junk Box, we do our best to avoid taking items to the landfill. With the landfill as a last resort, we prefer to recycle and donate items whenever possible. That’s especially true for our cool finds, which are collected and stored.

For the fourth release in our ‘Cool Finds’ series, we’re featuring some vintage records and album artwork. If you’re a classic rock fan, you’ll be amazed at what someone tried to throw away!

In this image, we’ve got five different records and three covers. The vinyl record found in the top-left is the song “I’ll Get You” by the Beatles. The record was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released by Parlophone Records. The song was originally titled “Get You in the End” and was released as the B-side of The Beatles’ 1963 single “She Loves You”. In the US, the song was released by Capitol Records on “The Beatles’ Second Album” in 1964.

This record is unusual compared to typical Beatles records because there is no lead guitar. Instead, a bass and harmonica do the heavy lifting while the guitars play rhythm. Throughout the song, John Lennon and Paul McCartney sing in unison.

Underneath that record is “In My Room” by the Beach Boys. The record was released by Capitol Records on their 1963 album titled “Surfer Girl”, as well as the B-side of their “Be True to Your School” single. It was written by Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson and long-time collaborator Gary Usher.

Peaking at #23 in the US, the record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and is ranked 212 on Rolling Stone’s list of The Greatest 500 Songs of All Time. The record was also recorded and released in German in 1983 under the name Ganz allein (“All alone”), with the help of co-founder Mike Love’s German girlfriend.

Below, in the bottom-left corner is an album cover and record called “The Horse in Striped Pajamas” by Captain Kangaroo. The record was released as a single in 1959 by Golden Records, a Simon & Schuster record label founded by award-winning children’s music producer Arthur Shimkin, who would go on to found Sesame Street Records.

The record was originally recorded in 1954 before being released in 1956 by Eddy Arnold and his daughter Jo Ann. Three years later, Captain Kangaroo’s version was released.

The album artwork and vinyl record located right side/middle is the “Five by Five” EP by the Rolling Stones. Recorded in Chicago and released in the UK by Decca in 1964, the EP reached #1 on the UK’s EP chart.

The project contained just five tracks – thus called an Extended Play (EP). These five tracks created the foundation for their second American album, released in 1964 and titled “12 x 5”. Two of the five were credited to “Nanker Phelge”, a pseudonym for band-written compositions, while the remaining three were composed of R&B covers from the band’s favorite artists.

In the bottom right corner is a vinyl record of “You Can’t Do That” by the Beatles. Written by John Lennon, the record was released in the UK in 1964 by Parlophone Records as the B-side of their sixth British single, “Can’t Buy Me Love”. The record was also released on their third album, “A Hard Day’s Night”. In the US, the record was released the same year by Capitol Records.

George Harrison wrote the intro and outro guitar riffs while John Lennon handled the writing. With themes of jealousy, the record is said to be semi-autobiographical of John Lennon. The record reached #48 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 33rd on Canada’s RPM Top Singles.

That’s the end of our most recent record haul, but we’ve also got quite a few more in our collection… Here’s a peek at some of the rest of our record collection we’ve gathered over the years:

“Sugar, Sugar” is a bubblegum pop record that was originally recorded in 1969 by The Archies. Written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, The Archies was a fictional band made up of musicians linked to the 1968–69 TV cartoon The Archie Show, inspired by the Archie Comics. The single was a hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks and the UK Singles Chart for 8. It is widely regarded as the most successful and biggest bubblegum pop record of all time.

But the image from above is Wilson Pickett’s cover version. The R&B and soul singer was released this version in 1970 and achieved great success on the American soul and pop charts.

“Makin’ Whoopee” is an old jazz/blues song that was popularized thanks to Eddie Cantor and the 1928 musical, ‘Whoopee!’ While “making whoopee” eventually became an expression for sexual relations, the term originally came about as a celebration of marriage. This year, the original lyrics and music enter public domain in the US.

“Makin’ Whoopee” has been recorded, covered and performed many times over the years by famous musicians like Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington, Bing Crosby, Elton John, and others. The record shown above is not the original version, but a version recorded by American singer, songwriter, and pianist Ray Charles in 1964.

This record is an original version of “She Has Funny Cars”, released by the American rock group Jefferson Airplane. The record was released in 1967 as the first song on the group’s breakthrough album, “Surrealistic Pillow”. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen wrote the music and vocalist Marty Balin wrote the song, which includes themes of independence and hypocrisy in the 60’s.

“Dueling Banjos” is a bluegrass recorded originally recorded by Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith in 1954. The record received widespread notoriety after it was used in the 1972 film Deliverance. The film version of the record was recorded by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell, and only one version of the 1972 single was credited to Eric Weissberg (pictured above).

The record spent 4-weeks in second place on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, while topping the adult contemporary chart for 2-weeks. After being nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, an album of the same name was released in 1973.

This single appears to be extremely rare, with very little information out there. The song, titled ‘LA Douce Gypsy Rose and performed by Dorothy Lerner was released in 1973 on Le Solfege records. This song was also featured on what appears to be her only full-length record called, First Impressions. The song from this single was the last tune on Side A. Her style was a taste of the classic folk/rock that was very popular over the late 60’s and early 70’s in England and North America. Catch a listen of the song, City Girl, from 1974. This is a very rare gem, indeed!

“Family Affair” is a record released in 1971 by San Francisco band Sly and the Family Stone. The record was the most successful of the band’s entire career, which spent 3-weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and 5-weeks atop the Billboard R&B Singles chart. The record also spent time at the top of the Canada Top Singles chart. The number one hit single was ranked 57th on Rolling Stone magazine’s ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’ in 2021.

The record went on to be covered heavily in years following by artists like The Brothers Johnson, MFSB, and Iggy Pop, while the drum machine-created rhythm was borrowed by Stevie Wonder and others.

“Sweet Soul Music” is a soul record released in 1967 by American singer Arthur Conley. Written by Conley himself along with Conley and famous American singer/songwriter Otis Redding, the record was based on the song “Yeah Man” by Sam Cooke. In the US, the record peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard R&B charts, while touching #7 on the UK Singles chart. Sam Cooke’s business partner ended up suing for the appropriation of the melody, but the dispute was settled when Cooke’s name was added to the writer credits.

“Do You Believe” is a R&B/soul record by Maurice Williams and his band The Zodiacs. The record was released in 1960 as the B-side of the song “Stay”, which was originally written in 1953 by 15-year old Williams. Released by Herald Records and produced by Phil Gernhard, the record reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by the end of 1960.

At just 1 minute and 36 seconds, the A-side song called “Stay” remains the shortest ever song to reach #1. This highly successful record has sold 8 million copies, which was helped along when ‘Dirty Dancing’ added the record to their soundtrack.

“Rocket Queen” is a record released in 1987 by Guns N’ Roses, and was featured on their debut studio album, ‘Appetite for Destruction’. The record received notoriety by using recorded noises of sexual intercourse between Adrianna Smith and the band’s singer, Axl Rose. “Rocket Queen” is often regarded as one of Guns N’ Roses best ever songs, having been ranked #4 by Paste magazine and #3 by Kerrang! magazine.

“The Urge” is a single released in 1960 by American rock and roll singer Freddy Canyon, or Frederick Anthony Picariello, Jr. It was the A-side record in the UK, but “Jump Over” was the A-side record in the US. Freddy Canyon was well known for his international hits such as “Tallahassee Lassie”, “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans”, and “Palisades Park. “The Urge” was not among the artists most popular, but still managed to reach #28 on the US Pop charts and #18 on the UK charts.

“Carry Me Away” is a song from Australian rock musician Rick Springfield’s 1981 album titled “Working Class Dog”. Springfield wrote the song himself, which includes themes of heartbreak and falling in love. The record appeared 4th of the first side of the “Working Class Dog” album released by RCA. The album sold 3 million copies in the US, achieving Certified Platinum status. It was Springfield’s most successful album, which helped him win a Grammy in 1982 for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male.

“Endless Love” is a duet between American signer/songwriter, producer, and TV personality Lionel Richie and American singer and actress Dianna Ross. Written by Lionel Richie, the record was recorded for Motown Records, an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. The record has been covered many times by famous artists such as Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, and Shania Twain, and was also used in Franco Zeffirelli’s film adaptation of Scott Spencer’s novel called ‘Endless Love’.

The original version spent 9 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was named the greatest song duet of all time by Billboard. It also topped the Billboard R&B chart, Adult Contemporary chart, and Canada Top Singles chart, while reaching #7 on the UK charts.

“Dancing in the Street” is a record by legendary British artists Mick Jagger and David Bowie, with “Instrumental” on the B-Side. The song was originally written by Marvin Gaye, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter, and became widely popular when Martha and the Vandellas released their version in 1964. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a signature song of Motown.

Mick Jagger and David Bowie’s duet cover version was released in 1985, which reach #1 in the UK and #7 in the US. Since the original recording, the song has been covered many times by significant artists including Van Halen, Grateful Dead, Little Richard, and more.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” was a record released by the Beatles in 1967 as a double A-side single with “Penny Lane”. Featuring psychedelic influence for the first time, Lennon and McCartney wrote this song about a Salvation Army children’s home in Liverpool that John spent time at. The record reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 in the UK, and #1 around in world in country’s like Sweden, Netherlands, and Norway. Shortly after John Lennon’s death, a section of Central Park was named after the song, which Lennon considered one of his best.

 

Have you got extra junk laying around? At The Junk Box, we’re known for quick and reliable service. Just give us a call at 250-658-3944, and we’ll give you a two-hour window of time you can expect us at your property. When we’re done loading your junk, we’ll fold up your tarps, sweep the area, and leave your space cleaner than we found it.

An accumulation of junk in and around your home can be a real problem. Nobody wants to live in a cluttered environment, plus heaps of junk make for unfortunate tripping hazards, homes for vermin and mould growth zones.

In this article, we’re going to break down each step in the junk removal process. The first step in the junk removal process is owning up to the fact you have a junk problem – maybe it’s not a problem yet, but heaps of unwanted household waste laying around is sure to cause a hazard.

Realize you’ve got a junk problem

A junk problem can take form a number of ways. Maybe your family is moving, getting ready to purge old household items and start fresh elsewhere. Someone could have passed away, meaning it’s time to separate the things that should be kept from the rest. If you’ve been renovating or re-landscaping your home, there’s sure to be some leftover debris or yard waste. Or maybe you’re just a bit of a pack rat.

Aside from the headaches and stress that will build within you over time, having too much junk laying about can be dangerous. To start, certain junk like yard waste and construction debris can represent a tripping hazard and can threaten to injure if there are metal scraps and broken glass laying around. But junk piles are also a classic hideout for pests like rats, mice and unwelcome insects. Mould can also be issue if things are damp or left uncovered.

Once you come to terms with your junk problem, the most difficult step in the junk removal process is over.

Figure out what can be hauled away

Once you’ve realized the junk in your home has seen its final day, you’ve kicked off the most difficult part of the process. From here on out, you’ll hardly need to lift a finger. But you will need to figure out what exactly can be hauled away and what cannot.

At The Junk Box, we provide a comprehensive clean-up service, which means we can haul a variety of junk, debris, and recycling. There are a ton of items we can take.

Some of the most common junk we haul away from Victoria properties are old unwanted household items like furniture and appliances – this stuff is all no problem plus we haul plenty of yard waste and construction waste. We also place an emphasis on recycling whenever possible, so as little as possible end up in our landfill. Chances are a good amount of your stuff qualifies for recycling and we can take it all.

If you don’t see an item on this list of junk we take, contact us and let us know. There’s a chance we’ll still be able to take it off your hands, but if not, we’ll recommend someone who can.

Optional: Speed up the process

If you want to speed up the junk removal process even further or you just can’t sit still, junk can be pre-hauled out to your driveway or yard. This will really expedite the process, especially if you’ve got junk hiding upstairs or deep within your home. This step isn’t necessary, but it can dramatically shorten the time we spend on your property.

Make the call and get ready for pickup

If you’re ready to remove the junk from your property once and for all, give The Junk Box a call. We’re a family-run business that has been removing junk since 1987, and it’s our quick and reliable service that’s earned us the reputation we enjoy to this day.

If you’re in Victoria, we can pick up your junk (with the exception of Sooke), including Sidney, Central Saanich, Colwood, View Royal, Esquimalt, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Oak Bay and Saanich.

When you book with The Junk Box, we’ll provide you with a two-hour window of time for when you can expect us to arrive at your property. Then, sit back and watch your junk disappear for good!

Say goodbye to your junk

When you call The Junk Box, you won’t have to move a muscle to get the junk off your property. That’s because we offer an all-inclusive service, meaning we’ll do all the loading and cleanup. Just show us to the junk!

When all your junk is secure in the back of our truck, that’s when we’ll start the cleanup. Any tarps or area the junk or garden waste may have been on is cleared and swept, leaving the area looking clean and pristine.

Call The Junk Box at 250-658-3944, or fill out our contact form to make a booking or ask a question.

The Junk Box has been hauling people’s unwanted furniture, appliances, electronics and other junk for over 30 years now. We’ve seen a lot of what you might expect – stained old mattresses, broken refrigerators, yard waste and boxy old TV sets. But the junk removal business has introduced us to some pretty neat stuff as […]