Record Store Day Blog

There is no denying the rise in popularity of records over the past several years. Almost every major album being released these days has a vinyl version being released as well Like many people my age, I have recently become enamored with the world of vinyl collecting.  Having Apple Music on my phone has completely replaced my need for CDs when it comes to listening to music in my car. However, when it comes to listening in my home, I still crave a physical nature of music. I need play something I can actually hold. I need to be able to look at the album’s artwork and read along to lyric sheets as I listen to an album for the first few times. I have fallen in love with going to one of the many local record shops we are lucky to have in the area. I can sometimes spend hours digging through crates of new and used records in the search of a rare piece or something I’ve been seeking for quite some time. I have enjoyed getting to personally know all the guys at Sound Exchange, Manny and Robbie from Daddy Kool, Keith from Microgroove, Rob from Planet Retro, the list goes on. It is great being able to call any one of these guys to ask if they have a certain item in stock or if they could special order something for me. If you have an interest in starting to collect and listen to vinyl, the employees at these stores are more than happy to share their knowledge on the subject. They will help you get set up with a good turntable, amp and speakers, most of which can be found in these shops as well.

 

All of these factors combine to form my love of Record Store Day. For those of you who may not know, Record Store Day is dedicated to raising awareness of locally owned record stores. Held on the third Saturday in April, many bands and artists will release special versions of albums or singles and only release them via stores participating in Record Store Day. You can’t buy these releases online unless you’re wiling to pay largely inflated prices on eBay. On a side note, don’t be the guy or girl who buys a Record Store Day release just to sell it on eBay. Stop it. Leave it for someone who truly wants to listen to it and enjoy it.  For vinyl enthusiasts, Record Store Day is a truly fun and exciting event. You will see many people forming lines at the wee hours of the morning in search of the most popular releases. Last year, the first person in line at Daddy Kool Records in St. Pete arrived at 4:30pm on Friday to get the much-coveted special release of Brand New’s Deja Entendu. Doors didn’t open until 8am on Saturday! If you love vinyl, or if you’re looking to start collecting, Record Store Day is not to be missed.

 

Mark’s Tips for Record Store Day Shopping

  1. Make a list of which releases you want in order of importance to you.
  2. If there is a release you absolutely have to have, get there EARLY!
  3. Make friends with the people in line with you.
  4. When the doors to the store open, do your best to enter and shop in an orderly fashion. Things can get hectic. Just remain cool.
  5. Be nice to the employees. Obey any rules they may have. Most of them work through the night to rearrange their stores to accommodate for record Store Day. They have put a lot of work into making this day happen. Thank them by acting cool and actually saying thank you.
  6. If the store you go to first doesn’t have what you’re looking for, try another store. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve found something I wanted at another store later in the day when it was sold out at the first place I shopped.

 

Fun Fact: Each year, Record Store Day has an official ambassador. Last year’s was Dave Grohl. This year’s ambassador is Metallica! \m/

 
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