Vinyl in Augusta, Independently owned record stores in Augusta offer everything from vintage vinyl to newly released albums featuring all genres of music: Music lovers don’t have to buy vinyl records anymore. Ever since iPods and MP3 players first came onto the scene almost 20 years ago, music has become easily accessible, portable and seemingly endless. But there is something sacred about scouring through bins of vintage vinyl and fondly remembering when listening to music was a social experience. Sitting down and sharing an album with your friends that actually needed to be flipped over and appreciating the occasional crackle sound of a record being played gently by a needle is something that many people still cherish. Vinyl isn’t dead. In fact, it’s back with vengeance.
The World Famous VIP Sign That Anchored the Birthplace of G-Funk, Snoop Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dogg Becomes the First Hip Hop Landmark of its Kind! Long Beach, CA — At the corner of PCH and Martin L. King Ave., in one of Long Beach’s most culturally rich black neighborhoods, sits the icon: and now historic VIP Records sign, that once anchored the former VIP Records Store. VIP Records opened its doors in 1978 breaking R&B, gospel, jazz, reggae and blues acts. By the early 90’s, VIP became the World Famous VIP Records and the birthplace of G-Funk by providing the launching pad for Warren G, Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, who later recorded his first video “What’s my name?” on the roof of VIP Records, with the now historic sign. “The VIP was the place to go if you were a rapper to showcase your skills. VIP is special to me and I take the VIP with me everywhere I go,” comments Snoop Dogg in an upcoming documentary titled The VIP Legacy.
Sam the Record Man sign shines over Yonge-Dundas for 1st time in over a decade, Landmark sign showcases ‘magic’ of Toronto’s music history, Mayor John Tory says: Toronto’s landmark Sam the Record Man sign is shining again in the Yonge and Dundas area more than a decade after the iconic music store shut its doors. The enormous sign, featuring red neon writing on two spinning vinyl discs, was re-lit Wednesday evening atop 277 Victoria St. overlooking Yonge-Dundas Square — just steps from its former location…Sam the Record Man opened in 1959 and it quickly became a hangout for music lovers in Toronto, becoming a mecca for millions of Toronto music aficionados that lasted almost half a century. The flashing sign that towered over it was regarded as a symbol of Yonge Street and a cultural touchstone of the city’s music history.
Music To Your Ears: BJ’s Records and Nostalgia is tucked away near the Five Points at 13 Clapperton Street and is a throwback to the days of heading to your local record shop and browsing at the massive selection they had on hand. Owner Bill Loiselle says that he is constantly amazed at the youth that are coming in despite living in the age of online music. “I do hear all the downside from people assuming that the music industry and particularly the record shop industry is dying because of the surge of downloading music and the popularity of music sites,” said Loiselle. “But we have a steady stream of people in here all the time and what amazes me the most is to see kids and teens, even the twenty-something crowd, come in and buy a classic rock album or something else that generations gone by have listened to. Owning a record store allows me to see first-hand that good music never goes out of style.”
Franz Ferdinand set for Glasgow record store gig and album signing: The exclusive event will take place next month to celebrate the launch of new album Always Ascending. Fans of Glasgow rockers Franz Ferdinand are in for a treat next month. The group are set to perform an intimate gig at HMV on Argyle Street in February to celebrate the release of new album Always Ascending. Members will be in store for an exclusive meet and greet and album signings. The event kicks off at 5.30pm on Friday, February 9. Access is granted on a first come, first served basis so if you’re a Franz diehard, make sure to get along there promptly! And if you fancy having some one-to-one time with the Take Me Out and Do You Want To hitmakers, you have to buy a copy of the new record on the day.
Electronic music pioneer and Can co-founder Holger Czukay 5xLP retrospective box set announced: A new 5xLP Holger Czukay box set is being released this March via Gröndland, to coincide with what would have been his 80th birthday. A musician who “bridged the gap between pop and the avant garde”, Czukay was a co-founder of German krautrock band Can, as well as pursuing a number of experimental solo projects and collaborations. These are featured on the new retrospective Cinema box set, with five LPs which include his work with Brian Eno, Conny Plank and Jah Wobble, a 36-page booklet with liner notes plus photographs by Anton Corbijn, and the ’80s made for television film starring Czukay with his original soundtrack.
