Author Archives: TVD HQ

Cincinnati, OH | The unofficial guide to Cincinnati, NKY record stores: There’s nothing quite like spending a few hours at a local record store flipping through thousands of vinyls on the search for that perfect find. Sometimes, that search ends in leaving empty-handed. But you’re in luck. There are plenty more record stores in the area to go dig through on the next what-do-I-do Saturday that pops up. We tracked down some of the best options in town and asked them all a list of questions so you can figure out which one is meant just for your taste. Check ’em out.

Portland, OR | Tomorrow Records Is a Great New Addition to Portland’s Record Store Scene: A terrific new place to score vinyl has just opened up in inner Southeast Portland: Tomorrow Records is the brand-new shop from Kurt Legler, a longtime Portlander who spent many years at Everyday Music and helped open up the Northeast Sandy branch of that store. Legler has spent recent years in Santa Barbara, California, where he owned and operated the well-regarded Warbler Records shop—still in business—but has returned to his hometown with his wife to raise their two kids. Their return is Portland’s gain…

Portland, OR | Isaac Slusarenko of Jackpot Records: Coffeeshop Conversations #167 / Happy 21st anniversary! Twenty-one years ago this week, Issac Slusarenko opened Jackpot Records…and he’s still loving it every day! At World Cup Coffee and Tea at NW 18th & Glisan today for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation. I’m Tom D’Antoni. With me today is someone I’ve always wanted to meet. It’s Isaac Slusarenko who opened Jackpot Records 21 years ago this week. Pretty amazing that a store like Jackpot still thrives… They’re having several in-store concerts this month to celebrate their anniversary and we’re celebrating it right here in the coffeeshop on our podcast!

Los Angeles, CA | Stellar Remnant record shop opens in Downtown Los Angeles: A new record shop called Stellar Remnant just opened in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s the project of Ed Vertov and Lena Deen, artists and DJs who relocated from Russia to LA. Vertov came of age in mid-’90s Moscow when techno was a “rebel statement,” he says, before relocating to LA in 1997. He’s since worked at Amoeba Records, Mount Analog and Virgin Megastore and cofounded Pro-Tez records in 2005. Deen, a native of Samara, Russia, threw parties in Moscow as part the of Habits Die crew and moved to LA in 2011…In recent years, Stellar Remnant has operated as a pop-up at various underground events like Acid Camp, and now the store is open six days a week behind Bar Franca on Main Street in LA.

Zoë Kravitz to star in ‘High Fidelity’ TV series: Zoë Kravitz, daughter of rock musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, is slated to star in a “High Fidelity” television reboot of the 2000 film that starred John Cusack, Catherine Zeta Jones and Lisa Bonet. Variety reported, “The series, which has received a 10-episode order, is inspired by Nick Hornby’s novel and the Touchstone film of the same name. It reimagines the story from the female perspective. Kravitz, who will executive produce in addition to starring, will play the ultimate music fan—a record store owner who’s obsessed with pop culture and Top Five lists.” The cult classic book and film was a highlight for Kravitz’s mother, who played the main character Rob’s love interest, Marie De Salle.

Boise, ID | The Record Exchange Adds 64,000 Vinyl Albums, 3,000 Cassettes to its Collection: Sometimes, one business’ heartbreaking end can be another’s fresh opportunity. That was exactly the case with the closure of the Yesteryear Shoppe, a 44-year institution selling rare books and vintage records in downtown Nampa. The Idaho Press reports that the shop shuttered in June to make way for a new development, but there is some good news: When Yesteryear flipped its open sign to closed for the last time, its staggeringly large music collection went up for sale—and The Record Exchange in downtown Boise snapped it up. “We were sad to hear of Yesteryear’s closing because we have known Dave Gonzalez and his family for many years and hate seeing another great independent retailer disappear, but we were thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase the collection instead of watching it leave on a truck for California…”

Interviews with women in the vinyl record scene: Jenn D’Eugenio is a badass record collector, indie label maven, and vinyl industry veteran who now works at the esteemed Furnace Record Pressing company in Virginia. Recently, Jenn started interviewing her peers in the record scene “to empower and highlight the women that are working in the vinyl / music industry to create, preserve, improve and enhance the art of music on vinyl.” Check out Women In Vinyl for interviews with the likes of Katy Clove of Merge Records, Italians Do It Better label president Megan Louise Doyle, audio archivist Amanda McCabe, and designer Kate Koeppel who makes fantastic products for vinyl collectors. “Not enough of the female + vinyl focus is on the women behind the record stores, labels, manufacturers, vinyl accessories, etc. and I hope to change that with interviews and stories about these women,” Jenn says.

2018 Making Vinyl Conference: 2018 was yet another great year in the resurgence of the beloved vinyl record. This was Bags Unlimited’s second year attending the Making Vinyl conference in Detroit Rock City and we, yet again, learned a lot about the industry and helped solidify connections with some of the most passionate people you could ever want to meet in the vinyl industry. In the next few paragraphs you’ll find some of the highlights of our conference experience and some pictures of the event. In case you were not aware vinyl records have been on a major upswing in popularity for the past five or six years. There has always been the diehard collectors keeping the medium alive, and they are to be commended for their devotion, but vinyl is back in a big way among many new, mostly young, listeners.

Rega, Pro-Ject and Sony take home best turntable Awards. Rega wins another impressive haul of What Hi-Fi? Awards. Who would have thought we’d still be dishing out turntable Awards in 2018? Well, not us back in 1981. “From today, vinyl LP records are dead,” we declared with the launch of CD in the July 1981 issue of What Hi-Fi?. At one point we even stopped having a turntable category, such was the languishing popularity of the format at points in the 80s and 90s. But forget that, vinyl is back. And Rega is no doubt rather pleased about it. Rega takes home three What Hi-Fi? Awards in the turntable category this year, meaning the company has now won… a huge number of turntable Awards (we’ll leave Rega to do the maths). The eagle-eyed will notice the three winning decks took the same honours last year; a sure-sign of quality.

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Atlanta, GA | Vinyl fuels indie record store resurgence: Over four decades, Decatur’s Wuxtry Records, a crowded repository of all things auditory a mile east of Emory University, has ridden the peak years of vinyl, the rise and fall of cassettes and CDs and the surprising comeback of vinyl this past decade. Owner Mark Methe points to a 2015 New Yorker cartoon he taped to the entrance and chuckles like a man who has seen it all. The cartoon figure tells another dude: “The two things that really drew me to vinyl were the expense and the inconvenience.” …But thanks to vinyl’s zombie-like revival, metro Atlanta has seen a resurgence in mom-and-pop record stores in recent years, mostly in the northern suburbs. In the meantime, in-town staples, such as Wuxtry and Criminal Records, have found new life.

Brighton, UK | Cult Hero re-opens in new location after it was forced to close. One of the longest-established “new vinyl” shops is back in action after being forced to move due to building redevelopment. Cult Hero has reopened in Brighton Place after moving from North Street, Brighton. Owner Frank Taylor, 35, moved out of his old shop at the end of April after the landlord sold the premises for the Hanningtons Lane redevelopment. Frank said he loves his new home. He said: “It’s a much nicer shop. It’s quieter and customers can listen to the music. “I was in North Street for ten years or so. There was a lot of hustle and bustle and I enjoyed that but customers also want to enjoy music while looking at vinyl, they like to take their time.

Warner Music Exec: ‘The Business of Physical Music Is Quite Strong. We Have No Intention of Walking Away from This Business.’ The resurgence of vinyl records is obviously causing labels to reconsider the format. But for at least one major label, CDs aren’t being abandoned quite yet, with physical formats overall getting a second look. At the Making Vinyl conference in Detroit last week, Warner Music Group executive Billy Fields reaffirmed his company’s commitment to physical discs, both of the vinyl and CD variety. Fields is Vice President of Sales and Account Management for WEA, which was once the physical distribution bulwark for the major label. These days, WEA is described as an ‘artist and label services’ group for WMG. But that still includes physical distribution, with Fields routinely fielding customer issues on precious WMG vinyl releases.

Indulge in spooky ‘Stranger Things’ sounds at Halloween with this new pumpkin vinyl: Creepy sounds from Stranger Things are being released on special pumpkin-coloured vinyl this Halloween…While the third instalment of the hit Netflix series has been delayed until 2019, fans will be able to bring the Upside Down to their own homes this spooky season. ‘Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down’ features 14 ominous, synthy tracks on pumpkin-themed wax. ”Hide some speakers in your bushes, play this record, and scare those trick or treaters,” advise S U R V I V E, who are behind the show’s atmospheric score. Track titles include ‘Turn On The Lights’, ‘Shadow In The Tunnel’, ‘Tree Slime’ and ‘Turn Right & Run’. The pieces are taken from Season 2’s “brooding, darker atmospheric score.”

CLASSIC VINYL: Superb glam band that influenced a generation: Roxy Music by Roxy Music. Roxy Music was one of the most highly regarded and influential UK rock bands of the seventies, formed by former art student and short lived teacher Bryan Ferry, who wrote all the songs, writes Michael Brooks. This was Roxy Music’s self titled 1972 debut album for Island records, acclaimed as one of the finest debut albums of the decade. What makes this unique is that it was recorded and produced in a single week. The band at that time, did not have a record deal, but after offering it to Island Records, a contract was offered; it was released on June 16, 1972.

Record Store Day announces first slate of Black Friday 2018 releases: “There’s something for everyone on our list this year, which means there’s something for everyone on YOUR list! We want to help you make holiday shopping fun, by encouraging you to do it in a record store. Even if it’s not one of the limited edition titles on this list, we’re pretty sure you’ll find something great to wrap up, and great to unwrap if you’re on the receiving end! Download a PDF version of the RSD Black Friday list you can use as a shopping list or a wishlist, and get more information on each title using the website version of the list. Thank you for supporting indie record stores!”

Milwaukee, WI | Riverwest’s We Buy Records is new to the block, but owner Andy Noble isn’t: There’s a new record shop in Riverwest. With a red neon sign in the window announcing the store’s name—simply “We Buy Records”—owner Andy Noble opened its doors to Milwaukee in August as a continuation of years of vinyl-related business endeavors. He is the longtime traveling record collector/trader behind the vinyl-spinning vegan restaurant Strange Town and the all-vinyl DJ event The Get Down, which is celebrating its 15th year in 2018. We had a chat with Noble on opening a brick and mortar record shop for the second time and about his adventures in record buying road trips that took him into stranger’s homes around the country. Andy Noble says, “Jumping into a store, again… It’s like a second marriage; why would you do it?” It’s because We Buy Records is different, he says.

Dublin, IE | The Vinyl Festival comes to Dun Laoghaire: It was annouced today that the Vinyl Festival will be coming to Dún Laoghaire this November. The festival will take place in a selection of venues around Dún Laoghaire including The Lexicon Library Studio, The National Maritime Museum and Eblana Senior College. The line-up of talented artists and special guests participating over the three-day extravaganza includes Joe Jackson, Horslips, Lenny Abrahamson, Don Letts, Gavin Friday, Bronagh Gallagher, Kevin Godley, Julie Feeney, Steve Averill and Adrian Dunbar along with many more. Established radio DJ’s Dave Fanning and Tom Dunne will act as moderators and interviewers for several of the discussions. The festival will bring together a wide selection of talent including International Musicians, Writers and Filmmakers, all of whom will take part in a broad series of discussions and play a selection of their own favourite vinyl records.

Lennon, Dylan, Hendrix Box Sets Revealed As 2018 Reissues Set Record: The multi-million-dollar musical reissue bandwagon is having its third straight record year in 2018. This year’s total of box set titles is boosted by artists such as the Beatles; John Lennon solo; Led Zeppelin; Kate Bush; Bob Dylan; Guns N’ Roses; The Rolling Stones; Jimi Hendrix; David Bowie; and Soft Cell. This week, the number of reissues by mainstream artists so far in 2018 will surpass 640 titles, already matching 2017’s final total. The number may rise again with more late arrivals for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holiday period. Apart from classic albums reappearing, archive music is also coming to the fore, such as the first recordings from Prince’s massive private vault, Piano and a Microphone 1983, and David Bowie’s live release, Glastonbury 2000.

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The Yale Herald | On The Record: …Elm City Sounds opened its flagship store in Westville in August, and it’s already attracted an unexpected number of casual walk-ins — customers who aren’t collectors or experts, or even necessarily music buffs, but just dabbling. Chris Della Ragione, the shop’s owner, likes it that way. The shop sells “regular good music,” he says affectionately. “Marvin Gaye, Billie Holliday, Dylan, everyone loves that. Before I opened the shop, I was selling really rare [records].” He points to the records on the wall: Abdullah Ibrahim, Prince, and a slew of albums I’ve never heard of. He used to deal in “sample-based hip-hop, and crazy collector jazz, funk, soul, reggae… This was more on an international basis, because I would sell on eBay, and I would sell online to collectors.” Chris wipes down a record from the small stack in front of him while he’s explaining, and then he carefully tucks it back in its paper sleeve. You can’t call him a dabbler — but in the shop, he’s managed to foster eclecticism, without the snobbery.

Buxton, UK | Chesterfield record shop celebrates fifth birthday- and launch of its own music label: An independent record store ‘turning’ five this year is marking the milestone with the launch of its own music label which will attract and recognise talented Chesterfield artists. Tallbird Records, based on Soresby Street, has become a hub for music fans and musicians in the area since its launch in 2013- and hopes to further its success with the Tallbird record label. Owner Maria Harris says a loyal customer base, personable service and a generous loyalty card scheme is what has kept the indie thriving in a digital age—and she now hopes to give something back by investing in the town’s undiscovered artists. Maria said: “We’re proud of the town and keen to promote artists from Chesterfield and the surrounding area who’d like to advertise under our banner.

Wax Trax! documentary ‘Industrial Accident’ due out on DVD in April — plus a soundtrack: Fans at long last will be able to get their hands on a copy of the “Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records” documentary, as the film — and a much-anticipated soundtrack — will be released in April, according to an email sent today to the project’s Kickstarter backers. In that message, Julia Nash — daughter of late Wax Trax! co-founder Jim Nash — writes: “I can report with 100% certainty that we will be releasing both the DVD and the soundtrack in April of 2019. We have officially cleared the last of our commercial licensing hurdles. Just to be crystal clear, this isn’t ‘we’re working on it’ or ‘if everything goes as planned,’ or any other ambiguous language in case we run into obstacles. The soundtrack WILL be released in conjunction with the DVD next April.”

Coventry, UK | MUSIC MATTERS by Pete Chambers: My holy grail of records is here! It’s a special day as I write this and the man on the street who cares not about vinyl and record collecting may look away now. Those of you who like a spot of crate digging and cherish their record collecting will understand where I am coming from when I say I have found my holy grail of a record and my search is over. Yes, last Saturday, a package arrived and it contained a single 45 record that I have been wanting for the Music Museum for years and years. It’s the Belgium picture cover of The Orchids song ‘Love Hit Me’. I have the English, German and American release, but never this very rare copy that comes with a picture sleeve! Picture sleeves were standard in Europe in the 1960s but not in Britain.

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Carrollton, GA | New Record Shop Brings Vinyl to Life: Eric Shepard’s love for vinyl records goes back to his earliest childhood memories when he would sit in front of the record player and listen for hours to the great musicians like Elvis Presley. He gently slides a decades-old album from its case, gazing at its grooves under the light in his newly opened record store. “There’s a warm, resonating sound that you get from vinyl records,” says Eric. “You can really feel the ambiance. With vinyl, the musical nuances transport you in a way that streaming never does. The anticipation of hearing the needle drop and the first note sound through your speakers always leaves you wanting more. Nothing feels as good as vinyl sounds.” Eric fondly recalls first experiencing vinyl after his brother handed him a KISS album at the tender age of three. “I was hooked…”

Burlington, NC | Burlington’s Main Street Vinyl finds its groove: Edward Bishop flipped through albums in the bargain bins at Main Street Vinyl in downtown Burlington on Tuesday. A regular at the store, Bishop, 63, has collected albums since his youth. “Vinyl has never gone away despite the record companies always seeking to work on another way to package their product,” Bishop said. A brick and mortar store, Main Street Vinyl, 321 S. Main St., Burlington, offers audio enthusiasts the opportunity to own physical analog copies of the music that may be on the playlists of digital devices. Josh Garrett and his girlfriend, Amy McLamb, co-own the store, which opened in November, 2016…“I really like records and sharing with people,” Garrett said. “My dad was big into music and that broad taste of the different genres I listened to is reflected in the store inventory from rock n roll, jazz, soul, imports to the blues.”

Minneapolis, MN | Northeast Minneapolis’ only record store is closing: Michelle Obama never chose to fight that particular urban malady, instead focusing her efforts on the inarguably more troublesome food deserts. Who, then, would combat the area’s vinyl deficiencies? Raoul Benavides would. He opened Flashlight Vinyl at 1519 Central Ave. NE that same year, thus giving Northeast its only dedicated record shop. Until October 31. That’s when Flashlight will go dark forever, according to a Facebook post from Benavides.”Gratitude is all a person can have at this point,” the shop owner wrote Monday. “It was my honor to serve northeast Minneapolis with music. After three years, We are closing our doors. So many great people, new friends, and stories came to visit and share their love of vinyl.” Halloween will be Flashlight’s final day in business, and you bet there’ll be a spooktacular liquidation sale.

Los Angeles, CA | Stones Throw Records opens listening bar in LA: …Open this week, the bar is situated under Stones Throw’s offices, and is a partnership between the label’s founder Peanut Butter Wolf (Chris Manak), label manager Jason McGuire and restaurateur Tyler Bell. The bar’s design nods to vintage recording studios, Japanese hi-fi bars as well as the surrounding neighborhood; the press release says “cross sectional sofas invoke both mid-century minimalism and the custom car culture that rolls past the bar on Figueroa, part of historic Route 66.” The bar’s centerpiece however, is 7,500 records from Peanut Butter Wolf’s own collection, a Thorens turntable, McIntosh Amps and Altec Lansing speakers. The records will be split into rock, soul, reggae, rap, electronic, world and jazz categories. On weekdays, bartenders will select from the collection, while on weekend, Gold Line will host guests mixing exclusively from the in-house vinyl, with a strict policy of no outside records and no computers.

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HD Vinyl Partners With One of the World’s Largest Record Pressing Plants: Back in 2016, ‘HD Vinyl’ emerged as a back-of-the-envelope idea hatched outside Vienna, Austria. Interesting, but mostly theoretical. Now, the company, part of Rebeat Innovation, has received millions in funding, owns critical patents, and is striking major partnerships. That includes a number of deals with major vinyl record pressing plants, including GZ Media, announced this week. The massive GZ, situated in Loděnice, Czech Republic, has joined forces to retrofit HD’s ceramic, laser-cut stampers to select machines. “Since HD Vinyl stampers will be made out of laser-cut ceramic instead of electroplated metal stampers, new molds and fittings have to be developed,” explained HD Vinyl (and Rebeat Innovation) founder, Guenter Loibl.

Norwich, UK | Opinion: why technology sometimes makes things worse: David Clayton says you haven’t lived until you’ve heard music through a juke box – which means most of the younger generation haven’t lived. …in one technological evolution, I put it to you, we have gone the other way. I was chatting to a pal, who’s something of a vinyl record and music aficionado. In fact, he’s known as “Dr. Vinyl” around these parts. Whenever we meet, he’s eager to play me some long-lost track he’s just discovered. From out of his trouser pocket came his miniscule mp3 player and a speaker the size of a golf ball. One connected to the other, he scrolled down hundreds of titles and then filled the room with a sound which was wildly disproportionate to the size of the thing playing it. I once had a garage full of records and this little gadget offered the same storage capacity!

Atlanta, GA | Kosmo Vinyl Brings Punk Rock to Rose Library: Artist Kosmo Vinyl shared his international perspective on punk and D.I.Y. culture, as well as his experience with The Clash and other bands, at the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book (Rose) Library, which boasts a growing collection of punk and Do-It-Yourself (D.I.Y.) culture in Atlanta, on Sept. 26. Rose Library Curator of Modern Political and Historical Collections Randy Gue introduced Vinyl as a man who holds many titles including, but not limited to: “A press agent, a conceptual publicist, rogue manager, manager, a force of nature, emcee, ringmaster, conciliary, chaperone, factotum, fromage du pompadour, the creative director of The Clash, a producer and an artist.”

Kate Bush’s entire discography to be reissued: Many of Bush’s albums have been unavailable on vinyl for at least a decade. Kate Bush’s entire back catalog will be reissued on vinyl and CD in November. Many of Bush’s albums have been unavailable on vinyl for at least a decade. Not only that, but the archival campaign marks the “first (and definitive) programme of remastering and includes the release of many rarities and cover versions on vinyl and CD for the first time,” according to a press release. Bush personally remastered each album herself with assistance from James Guthrie (Pink Floyd). The reissues will be packaged in four distinct vinyl boxes and released in two waves. The first two box sets are due out on November 16th, with the latter two sets following November 30th. Specifically, the fourth box is made up of rarities previously unreleased on vinyl, including an entire disc of cover versions.

Rolling Stones’ Classic ‘Beggars Banquet’ Gets 50th Anniversary Edition: The reissue of the 1968 landmark will feature a reproduction of a super-rare flexidisc interview with Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stones’ landmark 1968 album Beggars Banquet will be released in a new 50th Anniversary Edition by ABKCO Records in multiple formats, including vinyl and CD, on 16 November. The limited edition vinyl format will have a gatefold jacket with a bonus 12” of the album’s celebrated opening track ‘Sympathy For the Devil’ in mono. That disc is cut at 45rpm and backed with an etching of the original “toilet” cover. Also in the package is a replica of the rare Japanese bonus flexidisc, which contains a telephone interview with Mick Jagger from 1968, and a download code for the album plus interview. Newly mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Bob Ludwig, the disc’s lacquers were cut at Abbey Road and it’s pressed on 180g vinyl.