Dallas, TX | Texas Manufacturing Plant Behind the Revival of Vinyl as Demand for Records Increases: What’s old to you, is new to others, or what’s new to you is old to some. This is true about vinyl records. As more things change, this medium of music is the same and looks like it’s here to stay. In a world where it’s super easy to stream, a group of music lovers in Texas is making it easier for you to get your hands on a record from your favorite artists. You can feel the music by listening, but it’s an even greater experience if you can feel the record by touch too. Despite the advancement of technology, there’s always someone somewhere looking for a specific vinyl to add to his or her collection of music records. “When the iPad came out, people said, ‘Oh it’s going to be the end of books,’ it’s just a different experience. It’s just a cool way to enjoy music,” said David Grover. Grover owns a record store called Spinsters in the Dallas neighborhood of Oak Cliff. He is not surprised to see an analog product thriving in the digital world. He says music has no bounds or limitations, vinyl records are one example. He also says his point is proven by seeing how close it connects people.
Ellwood City, PA | Grooving in Monaca with new vinyl record store: All sorts of longtime musical greats grace the shelves at the InnerGroove — the first indie vinyl record store the Beaver Valley has seen in decades. Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Judas Priest, Heart, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Warren Zevon, Fleetwood Mac, Prince and Van Halen. A pretty sweet lineup, right? All sorts of longtime musical greats grace the shelves of the InnerGroove Record Store in Monaca — the first indie vinyl record store the Beaver Valley has seen in decades. InnerGroove will open its doors Dec. 12 at 1307 Pennsylvania Ave. Stacks of wax will beckon to Boomers and Gen Xers who remember the thrill of flipping through bins of vinyl albums — the kind you can hold in your hands while admiring the frameable artwork. Though credit the Millennials and their curiosity for sparking a revival of vinyl. Last year, vinyl record sales surpassed CDs for the first time since 1986. Millennials boosted the popularity of semi-annual Record Store Days, prompting major artists and hipster acts to put out special vinyl releases sold exclusively by indie record shops.
Wichita Falls, TX | New record store owner hopes to bring back ‘record store experience’: A new record store has opened in Wichita Falls. What started off as an idea has come to life and brings a nostalgic feeling back to the local music industry. “I didn’t do any market research and I didn’t really do anything other than just have it as an idea that I thought would be a beautiful thing,” Johnny Robertson, Warbonnet Records owner, said. The sound of a needle dropping on a record is unlike any other. Music has become easier to access over the years thanks to computers, and record stores have become almost obsolete. The nostalgic longing for vinyl records is what inspired Robertson to open Warbonnet Records. “When digital music happened, record stores started going away and people eventually realized they miss their vinyl records,” Robertson said. “But they also realize they miss the record store experience and so that’s what kind of what we’re about.” Flipping through familiar records and discovering some new artists are just one component of the record store experience.
Port Charlotte, FL | Vintage record hunt a family affair in Port Charlotte: For father and son Manny and Josue Rosa, there’s more to hunting vintage records than just the love of music. It’s also the experience. “Me and my Dad go out hunting for records, action figures, comic books … stuff like that (all the time),” Josue said, “This is just another good experience for both of us.” Josue and his parents − along with another 70 or so other people throughout the day − were on the hunt for rare vinyl finds at the SWF Record & Hi-Fi Expo Sunday afternoon at the Fraternal Order of Eagles 3296 building in Port Charlotte. “I’m trying to find stuff I haven’t found before like Billy Joel’s ‘Nylon Curtain’ or the Dead Kennedy’s ‘Frankenchrist,’” Josue said. “Those are so good to have.” Manny said he’s been collecting records since he was a teenager. “I came (to this) last March for the first time and I liked what I saw,” Manny said. “I’ve been collecting since I was 16. I stopped buying for awhile when compact discs and MP3s took over but only because records basically disappeared. But then there was an upsurge (over the past few years) and I started buying again.” Expo organizers Mike Cline and Tom Baumhardt said they had around 10 vendors and were able to fill all the tables at their fourth event in the area.
Owen Sound, ON | Shopping ‘passport’ encourages downtown business: Sour Cat Records. …Sour Cat Records owner Russ Walsh opened his record shop in October 2019. Business slowed in February and he closed in March, as all non-essential businesses were required to by emergency orders. The 9th Street East entrepreneur left a job he wasn’t happy with and jumped into business for himself a few months later. He spoke enthusiastically about the shop, as if he hasn’t let COVID bother him. “When COVID was really crazy, we did OK. The community was super good. We had a few customers reach out and ask if they could buy gift cards in advance.” His web store helped and orders were available by curbside pickup. He offered free delivery in Owen Sound. “Yeah, made it through all right. And ever since I’ve been able to, like totally reopen, it’s been off-the-charts.” He never applied for any government help, he said, because he worried he might be told later to pay it back. But he got a Starter Company grant through the Grey County Business Enterprise Centre, which paid for new signage which helped draw people.
Back to the Future, check out the magnificent 35th anniversary soundtrack LP: The holiday season is approaching and Mondo is ready to launch the soundtrack LP of Back to the Future, which should not be confused with the soundtrack album, which contains all the songs from the movies. The LP is different, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the film’s theatrical release. The playlist includes Power of Love and Back in Time by Huey Lewis and The News, as well as songs by Lindsey Buckingham, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Alan Silvestri’s suite of soundtracks and of course Marty McFly’s ear-smashing song in Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the film’s release, Mondo collaborated with legendary poster artist Drew Struzan, creator of the film’s original cinematic poster, to create completely new packaging for the soundtrack reissue. Featuring unused illustrations and posters created in 1985 for the film, this vinyl reissue has been remastered and printed on 180-gram DeLorean vinyl.
