National Record Store Day

Lmao even by Whiney Brooklyn hipster myopia standards judging The State of Record Store Day by a store with this lineup is hilarious

Record Store Day
Sunflower Bean, Sneaks, Today is the Day, Charly Bliss, Beverly, Steve Earle
Rough Trade NYCBrooklyn, NY
Sat 4/22 Doors: 11:30 AM / Show: 12 PM All Ages

if vinyl turns out to be more than a passing fad (pretty close right?), would people still be able to make those parts and machines?

― flappy bird, Saturday, April 22, 2017 6:41 PM (twenty-nine minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

good question. I'm assuming (hoping?) some enterprising young people at these places are trying to soak up as much know-how as possible from the older guys and gals who know everything about these machines, but who knows? It could end up like grandma's cookie recipe she never wrote down and no one ever bothered to ask about.

as far as it being a fad, I've prematurely predicted the end a few times already, so I've learned not to speculate. I theorized after the Christmas when all the Crosleys were sold it would be 6 months before used Black Keys and Ryan Adams vinyls started choking the bins, but that turned out to be wrong. I do think ridiculously high vinyl prices will eventually drive more and more people to streaming just as $18.99 Beck CDs made it easier for music lovers rationalize illegal downloading. This is not an industry known for learning from its mistakes

I def know a few millennials who have asked me for advice on a record player so they could actually play the records they already bought

if vinyl turns out to be more than a passing fad (pretty close right?), would people still be able to make those parts and machines?

I don't think vinyl is a passing fad, in the sense that vinyl is the only medium that can be played without electricity -- that is, it's not a "fad" only because post-apocalyptic societies could conceivably dig up and play a few records.

But I do think that, in a year or three, we'll see dollar bins full of 2000-2017 (or later) vinyl reissues mastered from CDs or other digital sources.

The big local shop here already has a $10 bin for new, sealed vinyl that once upon a time would have been cut-out/closeout stuff--old RSD things, unsold recent-ish releases, stray unpopular reissues. Last week I got two Syl Johnson Hi Records on Fat Possum from that bin.

It was packed where I was working yesterday (Agharta Records here in Minnesota). We had a decent sized line before we opened at nine and soon as we opened people just kept appearing. People were wandering around with stacks of these records paying up to $500 a time. It wasn't just RSD stuff that we were selling. People were clearing out new stuff that's been sitting that we always have (lots of Radiohead, Pixies, The National, all our copies of that boring Neutral Milk Hotel album). Lots of used records and box sets we've had sitting around for a while went too. People did not want to leave empty handed and we remained busy throughout the day. The owner said it was much bigger than last year. I couldn't believe how much we sold.

Our biggest RSD sellers were probably the 7" picture disc of Little Red Corvette (all 15 copies sold within the hour), the $75 Ramones singles box set (six copies sold within the hour), the Bowie live album (four copies gone within 10 minutes) that Toto Africa shaped vinyl (it took a few hours to sell out but we did sell all 10 copies). We only got one each of The Cure Greatest Hits which were the first things to go. We got calls about those throughout the day. I don't know who Coheed and Cambria are but one guy was not happy when he couldn't locate the album as soon as we opened. We had three copies that were snapped up immediately. The highlight of my day was locating the Fawlty Towers picture disc for this older guy who seemed so delighted when I found it for him.

The only thing I got was the Miley Cyrus Bangerz vinyl. We only got one copy and my boss (who is the nicest guy) kindly let me have the only copy we had on Friday night. So yeah, even thought that was an epic week, I had a great time and based on what went through, I don't see RSD ending any time soon.

brotherlovesdub,

You're obviously from Seattle, can you tell me what the regional RSD exclusives were released here?

I saw volume 3 of a Dogfish brewery compilation "music to drink beer to" on vinyl for $21.99 and chuckled sadly. It's basically the same exact kind of throwaway CD comp that comes free with magazines, except pressed on vinyl and more expensive than the average LP.

"Official Sponsors of Record Store Day"

I picked up on RSD release... A vendor at the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest was selling the Kylesa live album on CD and 10". I got the CD version.

We got some Alice In Chains 2x7". I picked one up for my friend. Didn't pay attention to the others. Picked up the Smiths 7", Colleen Music Box LP, Talking Heads 7", Art of Noise 12", Sundays Blind LP.

fwiw, the Penthouse reissue/remaster sounds pretty great. Nice 2nd LP of additional stuff as well.

Dude, that have to eat a few copies of things for the price of making handfuls of money on one work day a year

― Jay Elettronica Viva (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 22 April 2017 20:06 (two days ago) Permalink

lol you have no fucking clue what you're talking about

I know my buying habits at record stores shifted (as in I bought less, and less often), when I stopped being a regular show promoter and going to record stores every other week (at least) to put up/drop off flyers. The last time I did go into Amoeba (which apparently also had a big line for RSD), they did have a bunch of RSD cut-outs, but those don't compare to glut of major label CDs from the mid - late 90s in the bargain bin.

The Bevis Frond double white vinyl Triptych is really amazing, glad I shelled out for that

chose between that an Luna, hoping their copy is still there next payday but thought Bevis Frond was probably rarer

Dude, that have to eat a few copies of things for the price of making handfuls of money on one work day a year

― Jay Elettronica Viva (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 22 April 2017 20:06 (two days ago) Permalink

lol you have no fucking clue what you're talking about

― based grandpa (noz), Monday, April 24, 2017 2:26 AM (seven hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

From anecdotal evidence I heard that [big indie, remaining nameless] rakes in money and [teeny weeny indie, remaining nameless] wouldn't even be in business right now if millennials didn't start buy vinyls and they love to do RSD.

I'm not saying that it might not be different for store that has a fucking RBL Posse bin card

And also the pretty much universal posts in this thread saying RSD is wildly popular in their area

Worked my 4th at my local (and one of my favorite, anywhere) shops. Crowd-wise, despite a less-nice weather day, we were busier than the last 3 (which were all hugely busy), despite having less overall quantity of RSD releases, and there not really being a marquee release this yr that we had tons of (Dave Matthews, maybe?). Cure, Bowie, Coheed all went fast. Also...Marcy Playground, wha? Though I think we ended the day with one left of those.

Anecdotally, I saw people spending more per person – and tons of collection-building purchases i.e. new pressings of huge titles (everything from Radiohead to Led Zep to Kanye...). We had a line until 6pm (opened at 8am), and even after that, huge numbers of people in the store until close. Many of our weekly regulars stayed away, although many came by to hangout & check on the staff, watch music outside, etc.

I'm not saying that it might not be different for store that has a fucking RBL Posse bin card

― Jay Elettronica Viva (Whiney G. Weingarten), Monday, April 24, 2017 3:11 PM (forty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

what is your point here? that the increased homogenization of the american record store is a good thing? you'd rather the bins be filled with toto picture discs than interesting local classics?

either way it has nothing to do with mine which is this - playing rsd roulette is a high risk, high stress, low return investment for a small business owner. profit margins are narrow and stock often has a one day shelf life after which it becomes entirely unsellable. while the amoebas and rough trades of the world can absorb this shock and cake off custom guitar picks alone i would not be surprised if many of these smaller stores with lines around the block still struggle just to break even on the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewOzi5-AZXU

i made $5 profit on a $24 investment with the space jam soundtrack

maybe i should've ordered ten?

where's a store with an RBL Posse bin card? I would go there :)

they should reissue bigg ocean mobb 415 for rsd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGRC6yFDCRQ

ha we still have sealed ogs on bigg ocean mobb

i have that on tape.

My friend who works at a record store that shall remain nameless said the unsold stuff at their store is not a *whole* lot because they order conservatively, but it's "maybe a tenth of what we netted"

http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/20/vinyl-boom-new-music/

I'm still getting calls for th weed scented Peter Tosh lp

i'm having a big sale this Friday and Saturday in honor of record store day! come on by! prices are slashed! 8th year anniversary! that college radio collection i bought is now HALF off! #spam #streetteam

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18301855_10154753143973802_2085944817933107265_n.jpg?oh=fe21d9679f7bf4c706e0070d9512ff5d&oe=597AC7E7

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18199019_10154753144683802_8604731905757226331_n.jpg?oh=3d43dd4fc1e3629e3317102bbc23f0a7&oe=59742AD6

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18268512_10154753145153802_2593242525430792136_n.jpg?oh=b71c114905f56d2536d371f8c0e65c24&oe=59B8CD57

Would browse, if weren't 5000 miles away.

Someone should go and buy that Doc Corbin Dart LP if it's cheap though.

Likewise. Can't have enough copies of "Pay It All Back vol 1" either. "Bedward the Flying Preacher"! What a winner.

Would browse, if weren't 5000 miles away.

This. Also, MULE!!!!

thinking fellers! <3

yep, and that Fall 12", and Sylvie & Babs <3

Mule, damn I saw PW Long & Reelfoot back in the day, he was amazing, never saw Mule

Same here. Those Reelfoot LPs were electrifying too

Verlaines!

Likewise. Can't have enough copies of "Pay It All Back vol 1" either. "Bedward the Flying Preacher"! What a winner.

― Tim, Thursday, May 4, 2017 3:51 PM (fifty-nine minutes ago

haha .. indeed.

Man I wish I was on that coast. That Overkill LA album!

i'm ready, bitches. not a new record to be found.

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31073141_10155765637403802_7677658216133830179_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=ea91f12d38b551571d16feace6668db2&oe=5B5ACED3

i had a hand in one RSD release this year. buy or die!

http://www.bullmoose.com/p/26903937/laser-pace-granfalloon-lp

OFFICIAL RSD 2018 release. Reissue of the only prog LP Takoma Records ever released -- the 1974 slab by L.A.'s Laser Pace. The album's title, Granfalloon, is a term created by the late Kurt Vonnegut to describe a bunch of people who pretend to be an affinity group without having any actual affinity for each other. We're uncertain if that is supposed to refer to factions inside Laser Pace, but no matter. The album is probably the strangest pieces of wax dripped by Takoma (apart from Charlie Nothing, natch) and seems wildly out of synch with the label's presumed focus. But is a goddamn monster of odd charm, no two ways about it. The core of the band was Doug Decker (aka D. Distorto) and "Chris Christensen" from Opus 1 (the only garage band to ever cut a single -- "Back Seat '38 Dodge" -- about the work of assemblage artist, Ed Keinholz) and Maureen O'Connor of the She's (who recorded a single for International Artists). The Takoma connection came about via Doug's day job as a recording engineer. He worked for Wally Heider for a while, and then engineered Fahey's Of Rivers & Religions LP (2003). Fahey asked him to do some more work for the label and he ended up working on a bunch of projects. During this time, Laser Pace slowly accrued, with a focus on using electronics doo-dads (from wah-wahs to Buchlas) in as many ways as possible. With various other players, they recorded Granfalloon on spec and shopped it around. Eventually they played it for Fahey, who reportedly said, "It sounds like someone running through an electronic jungle." He was also blasted by Maureen's voice, so it came out on Takoma. Granfalloon never really found its audience (Takoma weirdos being a very special brand of weirdo) but over the years, people would hear its strange prog-rock blends and invariably wonder what the hell had happened. Thankfully, Western Mass crate-digging hodad, Scott Seward, decided to get to the bottom of things, and he did. And now here is this insanely scorched artifact, available on vinyl once again, with full explanatory notes appended. Doesn't mean you won't be scratching your head, but now you'll have an idea of why you're scratching. Edition of 500.

#byronblurb

Great display, Scott. Love the Bowie Fan Club inserts.

Went for the first time. 't Was nice, and not crowded at all! Shelled out way too much, but hey... Did not see the Laser Pace disc I think..

Scored:
Bert Jansch - A Rare Conundrum (Earth)
Anne Briggs - Sing A Song For You (Weatherbox)
The Groundhogs - Scratching The Surface (Fire Records)
David Axelrod - Songs Of Innocence (Now-Again Records)
The Residents ‎- The W***** B*** Album (New Ralph Too)
Serge Gainsbourg - La Pacha (Wewantsounds)
ESG - Come Away With ESG (Fire Records)
Tears for Fears - Head Over Heels (Mark Barrott Remixes) (Virgin)

That Residents was a good find, I think, we only got one and the bigger store in town got 2 (compared to 20+ of the Bowies as an example). We didn't get Laser Pace either.

Also Scott that display is awesome. Love that Vince Martin album!

This is my first year out of the record shop world after 12+ years. Yesterday did have me thinking about it and missing the celebration aspects of RSD, as it was always a largely fun day, but definitely not missing a lot of the other frustrating, desperate and exploitative parts.

Tears for Fears - Head Over Heels (Mark Barrott Remixes) (Virgin)

Did not see or even know about this one. I think I need this.

This is my first year out of the record shop world after 12+ years. Yesterday did have me thinking about it and missing the celebration aspects of RSD, as it was always a largely fun day, but definitely not missing a lot of the other frustrating, desperate and exploitative parts.

― brain (krakow), Sunday, April 22, 2018 8:08 AM (fifty-nine seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Had the opposite experience! Took last year off, came back this year to pick up a few things (Marvin Pontiac, MC5 singles) and realized--despite the frustrating, desperate, exploitative parts which absolutely do exist--I missed the insanity and adrenaline of the whole thing. It's a spectacle, sure, but I found myself enjoying the spectacle this time. Maybe I was just in a good mood.

That's great! I was on the other side of the counter and I did always have great fun on the actual day, it was awesome to be so busy and the whole days was a party atmosphere.

my pass-agg facebook post:

"Rufus and I had a nice time at the store on Record Store Day today. We sold a TON of stuff and everyone was happy and nice. We also swear that we are not bummed out that not a single resident of the town of Greenfield stopped by. The people have spoken. We will be adding bongs and kale chips to our stock of fine vintage vinyl. We would like to thank all the people who traveled the highways of Western Mass to get to us!"