Let me tell you a little secret about those so-called “Greatest Hits” compilations of your favorite bands that everybody seems to own. Though, they may very well be composed of the obvious hits-you know, the smash singles, the Billboard-charting favorites, the ones featured in the jazzy car commercials-it does not necessarily equate that the “hits” here in mentioned will be, in fact, your band of choice’s “greatest.” Do not be fooled into thinking this in any way means that these conveniently-priced budget comps are an artist’s best songs. This is something like going to a Chinese food restaurant and ordering the Pupu platter, falling in love with it and then ordering it every time. You never even once tried the tofu Pad Thai. Sure the teriyaki strips are delicious and everybody loves them but, you just got to try the tofu Pad Thai. And while you’re at it, you must get The Beatles’ White Album because the three and a half tracks (alternate takes of “Revolution 1”) off the album that appear in the Liverpudlians’ alleged “Greatest Hits” collections just don’t cut it. Some times it is in fact a band’s “misses” that can be the great lost (and waiting-to-be-uncovered) gems.

But I know what you’re saying-we don’t all have the time, money, desire, or attention span to purchase roughly all twenty-three Rolling Stones studio albums just to find out that the song “Hitch Hike” off their fourth album is a totally killer track (which it is by the way). Well along comes the UMass Boston Music Marketplace – Used Music Sale, the annual WUMB Radio fundraiser that, on previous occasions, has filled an entire McCormack Cafeteria’s worth of cardboard boxes upon cardboard boxes upon glorious milk crates with some of the finest and cheapest vinyl and glistening compact discs. Here’s your chance to beef up that music collection while at the same time knowing that your money is going to a good cause: keeping WUMB Radio ad-free and listener-supported. The money also goes to supporting the Boson Folk Festival. Don’t let the current folk orientation of the WUMB Radio give you the impression that this event will be a sea of stepped-on copies of Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sounds of Silence (but if it were, I would no longer have use for the Good Book, because Heaven hath found it’s place here on Earth), much of the stock albums here harken back to days when our very own airwaves were corrupted with the squalid sounds of-what are the kids calling it these days-oh, yes, Rock and/or Roll. This means everything from Kiss to Kansas, Madonna to Merle Haggard, Charlie Parker to Charlie Daniels, Great White to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” will probably, and very likely, be here. There’s no limit on the genres of music that will be featured at this music lover’s 33-and-1/3 revolutions per minute orgy of aural lust.

But it doesn’t stop at records and CDs. There will also be an overwhelming assortment of cassettes, VHS tapes, DVDs, and maybe some books if you’re into those old things. The best part of it all is the cheapness! From 50 cents up to about 10 bucks, you’ll be sure to find exactly what you’re looking for at a price your mom will let you afford.

So if you’ve made it this far into the article and still are not impressed by the prospects that the UMass Boston Music Marketplace – Used Music Sale has to offer, you can help too. Why don’t you be a good doobie and clear out the attic, sweep out your basement, take a shovel to your garage and donate all that music and video related “worthless junk” to WUMB Radio and rack up a few karma points for the impure thoughts you’ve had about Orlando Bloom. Remember, what is one man’s trash, another man can probably sell on eBay for a profit. Just kidding, that doesn’t happen. So, donate and give back to the kids. And to WUMB Radio.

The Music Marketplace – Used Music Sale will be held on Saturday April 9 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday April 10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. somewhere on campus. Admission is free. Drop off donations at the WUMB Radio offices any time until April 1. Call 617-287-6900 or go to www.bostonfolkfestival.org for more info.