Category Archives: A morning mix of news for the vinyl inclined

Japanese Breakfast, Little Simz, St. Vincent and more get Rough Trade-exclusive vinyl pressings: “Rough Trade record shops have played a huge role in our musical lives,” list-toppers Dry Cleaning said. Indie retailer Rough Trade have announced a new suite of exclusive vinyl pressings, celebrating their recently published list of 2021’s best albums. The full list ranks a total of 100 records, with the top 20 – topped by ‘New Long Leg’ by Dry Cleaning, and rounded out with records like Japanese Breakfast’s ‘Jubilee’, ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ by Little Simz and ‘Daddy’s Home’ by St. Vincent – all receiving new colourways exclusive to Rough Trade. To celebrate their Number One spot, Dry Cleaning performed a one-off show at the Rainbow Room of New York’s Rockefeller Center, with support from fellow list-makers The Muckers. Tickets were free for those who bought the band’s ‘Tascam Tapes’ vinyl, which was also exclusive to Rough Trade.

Exploring the wonderfully weird world of America’s private pressing phase: …Enter the rise of private pressings whereby people took the matter of making records into their own hands and had their own vinyl made out of hard-earned savings. For better are for worse there are gatekeepers in the art world as there are in every walk of life. The difference is that art is subjective. If you want to be a surgeon, you have to pass a test, if you want to be the next Usain Bolt only your times will tell, however, if you want to be a musician you don’t even have to be able to play an instrument, just ask anyone who knew Johnny Rotten. Private pressing circumnavigated the gatekeepers of the art world and got straight to business. When this new notion of substance over skill combined with the inherent glossy-eyed aspirations of Americans and increasing disposable income, the maddening world of private pressing burst open almost as an inevitability.

Record fare: What’s the deal with eco-vinyl? There are many ways to upcycle an old vinyl record: melt it into a bowl shape for your chips, turn it into a clock, make a funky dreamcatcher, or add a little pedestal and voila! You’ve got a cupcake stand. But in terms of recycling vinyl, it’s a little hairier. PVC (poly vinyl chloride), the plastic from which records are made, isn’t totally environmentally friendly. But some artists are looking for ways to morph the process. The famously eco-aware Coldplay released their Oct ’21 album Music of the Spheres on an alloy dubbed “recycled splatter vinyl,” and Bristol punk-rockers IDLES latest album Crawler is about to land in “eco-mix” vinyl. But artists’ eyes have been on this idea for a while: in 2019 Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey released his single In the Anthropocene on a world-first format called “ocean vinyl,” made entirely from recycled plastic gathered from the waters off the UK‘s southern coast.

Record player stands – the smartest ideas to add the X factor to your vinyl collection: These record player stand ideas will add charm to both classic and contemporary rooms. Record player stands are a must if you’ve invested in a high-tech record player and are keen to grow your vinyl library. A simple, stylish way to showcase your passion, the latest record player and hi-fi unit stands are ideal for housing a range of music media including speakers, vinyl, CDs and all the kit that comes with owning a record player. From simple solutions to more complex arrangements, we have ideas to suit both modern and maximalist styles. ‘The most important factor when choosing a record player and hi-fi equipment stand is to ensure the turntable is placed on a sturdy, level surface,’ says Simon Webster sales and Marketing co-ordinator for Rega Research. ‘Ideally, the turntable should be isolated from the floor as much as possible to prevent unwanted resonances travelling into the turntable and damaging the sound quality.’

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Comodoro, AR | “Here’s your album”: Merlin, El Duende or Chiquitita, the record stores that made history in Comodoro. Ernesto Capovilla feels comfortable between records and sound equipment. Since he was 14 years old, he has been related to music: he worked in record stores that he also considered his home and a place of enjoyment. “The recording world was very exciting because nothing was like now that you push a button and listen to what you want. The album was released three months earlier. Then the diffuser would come and bring you the photos of the LP and you would see how it was going to be. Then we would stick the photos on the window and people would walk by and look at them. There was expectation: first they were heard on the radio and after months, the records were put on sale ”, recalled Capovilla. Mariano Crespo, a Comodorense who was part of that time, assured that “Entering a record store was entering a toy store. That was the direct analogy for music lovers.”

Athens, GA | Celebrating 45 years of Wuxtry Records, a local music scene fixture: For the 45th anniversary of local record store Wuxtry Records, guest DJs Pip, Nate and Tim Schrieber accordingly spun 45 rpm singles at the Little Kings Shuffle Club to celebrate on Friday night. Attendees enjoyed beer provided by The Southern Brewing Company as they celebrated Wuxtry with both friends and family. Plates of home-cooked and party food were happily picked through and sat on a foldable table housed on the side of the club, as Wuxtry staff supplied food for early eventgoers. Wuxtry opened its doors in 1976 and has had several different storefront locations, but its heart has always been in Athens. The music groups R.E.M. and the B-52s, which helped put Athens on the live music map were intertwined with Wuxtry early on as some members were staffed at the shop. The connection to Wuxtry runs deep for some — attendee Paul Butchart said he traded in Top 40 albums for $1 punk albums during his college years because no one would buy them and he regarded it as a good deal.

Athens, OH | Republic of Athens Records opens in city of Athens: Michael Wood, owner of Republic of Athens Records, has been entranced by vinyl music since childhood, as shown by the photo of a young Wood with headphones atop his head displayed in the new store. As he grew older, Wood inherited his father’s record collection and his love for vinyl grew. The original turntable he used is on display in the shop as well, although it has had some serious upgrades since then. His personal collection, according to Wood, includes a lot of “sad dad rock”, neo-soul and music from the hit show, Insecure. “We used to listen to records all the time,” said Wood. “It was just always a part of what we did.” Starting off as a pop-up shop in Little Professor Books on Court Street, ROAR has grown into its own brick-and-mortar enterprise housed next to The Standard Salon on the corner of E. State and Stimson Ave.

Decatur, GA | The Record Loft opens near Avondale MARTA station in Decatur: A new record has opened in Decatur, providing a cozy loft space for music lovers to sell their records and find new treasures. The Record Loft, which opened in August, grew out of Steve Tockerman’s love for music and his online record shop. “It’s just a way for people to bring me records,” Tockerman said. “I was selling mostly online for years and going to Europe to sell [records].” Tockerman’s wife, Margo, also posts on various online boards seeking records and Tockerman constantly goes to garage sales, and other events, hoping to find some musical treasures to accumulate the stock for the store. The process of buying records varies in terms of finding records. People can drop records off at the store. They can either wait at the store or come back after the records have been evaluated.

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Toronto, CA | Not just Adele: Surging vinyl sales amid supply squeeze derail some artists’ plans: Everybody seems to be blaming massive orders of Adele’s new album for a historic backlog at vinyl manufacturers, but Nashville singer Lindsay Ell says people should go easy on the pop superstar. Last year, as the Calgary-born country artist planned the release of her own album “Heart Theory,” she learned of supply chain delays that would make it impossible to premiere the vinyl version on the same day as digital platforms. “In the middle of COVID, a lot of the factories making vinyl weren’t even in full operation,” Ell said. But she didn’t want to leave fans who pre-ordered vinyl packages hanging, so she turned to modern technology for a lifeline. “What I had to do was throw in a digital copy and say, ”We’ll send your vinyl when it’s finished,’“ Ell said. By all accounts, the vinyl pressures have only intensified in 2021 – and there is little relief in sight.

Charlotte, NC | In a world of streaming music, Charlotte’s Lunchbox Records keeps on spinning: Just in time for holiday shopping and the Black Friday edition of Record Store Day, we venture to Lunchbox Records, one of the most recognizable record stores in the Charlotte area, not only because it’s aquamarine blue exterior, but also because of its impact in the music community. It’s known for hosting in-store performances for all ages, stocking records from local acts and receiving signed music memorabilia from Grammy-winning fans (hello, Taylor Swift!). In the age of music streaming, Lunchbox Records owner (and Late Bloomer vocalist) Scott Wishart shows that we’re actually in a record renaissance. “…One of the things that helped bring vinyl back to the spotlight was “Record Store Day.” People love to hate it, but they’ve done something that no one else was able to do: they turned around an industry. Lunchbox Records has done it every year they’ve had it.”

Southampton, UK | Vinilo in Southampton will stock Adele’s 30 album: It is one of the biggest albums in history – but also one of the most controversial. A whopping 500,000 copies of Adele’s 30 are being pressed during a ‘global vinyl shortage’, and dozens of shops are boycotting it. But Southampton’s biggest independent record store Vinilo will stock the product. The album has pushed back releases by other artists by months, which is the driving force behind the boycott. A spokesperson for Vinilo explained why it will sell 30 from November 19. “Adele’s album has a vast amount of pre orders for it and lots of interest for the limited clear vinyl,” they said. “We support new releases and new music every week, and Adele is looking like one of the key releases this year. Also let’s not forget this is her first album since Adele 25.

San Antonio, TX | Tejano institution Janie’s Record Shop unveils new renovations with Grammy-winning musicians: Janie’s Record Shop is hosting a “Grand Re-opening” party after months-long improvements to the shop and the passing of beloved founder, Janie Esparza. New renovations include an expanded inventory, new seating, and a coffee station. A small platform stage for in-house open mics and music community events will also make an official debut. From noon to 4p.m. on Saturday, November 20, the shop will host meet and greets with five-time Grammy winner “Little Joe” Hernandez and two-time Grammy winner “El Mero Gato Negro” Ruben Ramos. Throughout the day, DJ Chuco will be spinning all your favorite hits. Individually packaged snacks and refreshments will also available. “We’re looking forward to it, unfortunately our Mama wasn’t able to see it, but she had given us her blessing,” says Robert Esparza, Janie’s son and successor. “So we’re excited to do it.”

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Liverpool, UK | Record store with a bar and live music opening in Liverpool: The venue is on Seel Street. Phase One in Liverpool officially opens its door next month following an 8-week refurbishment. The venue on 40 Seel Street is home to Jacaranda Records and as well as selling records it’ll have a bar with a “more mature” drinking environment. The idea originally started as a pop up in 2018 to expand the record shop above the city’s iconic music venue, The Jacaranda. The venue has now been transformed into a “shinier” and “grown-up” space with the record store making a permanent return under the new leadership of local DJ, Namina Koroma. The record store will greet you from the street and is chart registered, so every purchase of a new release counts towards its chart placing.

Salem, OH | Salem record store continues to grow: Music lovers looking for their favorite tunes on vinyl, wanting to find a classic record in any genre or even talk about music can visit State Street Records in historic downtown Salem. The old-fashioned record store is located upstairs at 417 E. State St. and not only sells records, cassettes, CDs, T-shirts and music memorabilia, but also buys records and more. Hours are posted on Facebook/ Instagram pages for statestreetrecords or call 330-942-0509. The business can also be reached via email. For owner Joshua Buck, it’s all about the music and providing a place where young and old alike can find that special record that makes them happy or evokes treasured memories or special feelings. “People are excited to have somewhere to go,” he said.

Nashville, TN | An East Nashville record shop is the latest example of a small business trying to gain ownership in a rapidly growing city: The Groove is a small record shop nestled into a modest house near Five Points. It’s got a reputation for being a community space, hosting live music and showing scary movies on a projector in the backyard. But their landlord is selling, and The Groove is at risk of becoming one of the latest victims of the city’s sky-high real estate prices. Part of their lease agreement gives The Groove an opportunity to buy the building before it hits the competitive real-estate market. Unfortunately, the price tag is about half a million dollars, say Jesse Cartwright and Michael Combs, who run the business. They need to raise the money by the end of January. “When you think about East Nashville, you think about the location, everyone says, ‘Well, that’s not bad for Nashville,’” Cartwright says. “And it, I guess, isn’t. But for a small business it’s just unimaginable, honestly. It’s just not something that is doable.”

Where Is America’s Oldest Record Store? Depending on who you ask, one’s in Pennsylvania, the other’s in New Jersey. Both places matter. In many ways, the folks who own and work in record stores are some of the most important keepers of recorded music history. Digital music helped wipe out the big chains. Thankfully we still have mom and pop indie shops. They’ve kept the torches burning for genres that predate streaming, for artists that never had mainstream success — or ones whose work was never reissued — for sourcing rarities from unexpected places, and for rolling with the times, while still holding reverence for what came before. About 90 minutes east of Pittsburgh is George’s Song Shop, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is believed to be the oldest record store in America. First opened nearly nine decades ago in 1932 by brothers Eugene and Bernie George, the store’s current owner John George (no relation) has been behind the counter for six of them.

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Middletown, NY | Hudson Valley Record Shop Celebrating 36 years: With about $2500 cash and the blessing of his parents, Stephen Keeler, a lover of hard rock and heavy metal, opened his hard rock/heavy metal concert shop back in 1985. Now if you wanna go back even further, Keeler actually opened a shop called Rock and Roll Fantasy in 1979 on rt 211 in Middletown. That shop would last a few months before a robbery would shut the business down which nowadays is a Wendy’s fast food restaurant. Rock Fantasy was the idea of Keeler, who wanted to open a shop that would be a place for heavy metal fans to get hard to find releases from band’s like Metallica, Slayer, Venom, who weren’t really main stream in 1985. After years of doing the flea market circuit selling records, t-shirts, pins and such, a heatstroke would sideline Keeler and would eventually motivate him to open the physical store at 79 West Main St. Rock Fantasy Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Concert Shop would be successful at the location for many years, eventually moving next door to 75 West Main St. where the store would remain…

San Francisco, CA | Omg: Happy 24th Birthday, Amoeba Music in San Francisco: On November 15, 1997, a San Francisco landmark opened: the Amoeba Music store on Haight Street. Over the ensuing two-plus decades, the record store existed as a balm — a source for audiophiles to find polished studio recordings; where cassette collectors could build their sets; when DVD and CD devotees began coming in droves later on — for vinyl enthusiasts and those who consume media in more analog fashions. Even though COVID-19 threatened the establishment’s future physical presence in the city, Amoeba Music at 1855 Haight Street saw those financial hardships through; they’re still, obviously, around today. And doing what appears to be quite well, as a matter of fact. The past 24 years have seen Amoeba Music become a touchstone in San Francisco. The Bold Italic, too, has waxed our love for the Haight-Ashbury’s bastion of yesteryear media on many, many occasions.

McKinney, TX | Red Zeppelin record store in McKinney to expand with more retail space, music venue: Woman-owned music shop Red Zeppelin Records has plans to expand its store and offer more to its customers. Owner Katie Scott recently took over the space next door to the shop and is looking to expand its floor plan. This will allow her to add more records, CDs and cassette tapes, as well as a music venue. The first phase of the expansion is tentatively slated to open in late November, store manager Bayleigh Cheek said. Next year the expansion will also be home to a bar with beer and wine, Cheek said. The business is located at 206 E. Lousiana St., in downtown McKinney and offers vinyl records of all genres, both old and new, in a punk-rock environment. The store also carries some music gift items.

Nashville, TN | Help Keep The Groove in Place: Donate to the fundraiser to help the owners of the much-loved East Side record store buy their building. It’s a story you know all too well: Several years or even several decades after a small business has become widely loved, the owners and/or operators of the business learn that their landlords are getting ready to sell the property. Several variations on this theme have come into play just this year. The team that runs the Mercy Lounge suite of venues is not signing a lease with the new owner of its longtime home on Cannery Row and plans to move elsewhere in the summer; beloved dive bar and karaoke spot Fran’s East Side is looking for a spot to relocate to; Exit/In’s Chris and Telisha Cobb continue their campaign to buy the land that the club resides on from the development firm that bought it earlier this year.

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CBS News poll: Just a quarter of Americans own a working turntable: Though Americans have largely embraced the digital age when it comes to listening to music, a quarter of Americans still listen to vinyl records – or at least retain the ability to do so if they wish. Twenty-four percent of Americans have a working turntable that can play vinyl records. Older Americans are more likely to own a working turntable than those who are younger. Four in 10 Americans over 55 years of age own a turntable, but under the age of 45, this drops to just 13% of adults. This poll was conducted by telephone September 14-19, 2021 among a random sample of 1,006 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both landline and cell phones.

Andover, UK | Three Successful Years For The Record Box: Are you a lover of vinyl records or a collector maybe? If you are then The Record Box in George Yard, off the High Street, is an Aladdin’s cave for you to browse around. Owned by Phil Nightingale, the shop has been open for three years. Phil stocks all types of music – in his words “from ABBA to Zappa” He has been a dealer of toys and collectibles for 38 years since he was 18. Previously he has had shops in both Torquay and Newbury.He started out selling only toys, moving on to records and other collectibles but these days he deals mainly in vinyl albums and singles although he does have a small selection of collectible toys for sale in the shop. It’s amazing how much stock he carries within such small premises. Phil, as you can imagine is extremely knowledgeable on the subject of music. There is nothing he enjoys more than chatting to his customers about this.

Pueblo, CO | Unwind with a beer and a book at Analogue Bar in Downtown Pueblo: When the Analogue Bar opened at 222 N. Main St., one local seemingly fearless entrepreneur officially took over half of a block of Main Street with his businesses. Mike Hartkop, who is the operating owner of the Solar Roast Coffee house at 226 N. Main, also recently opened the Analogue Books and Records store which occupies 218, 216 and 214 N. Main. The bar is nestled between the coffee and book stores. It’s an amazing full-circle accomplishment for Hartkop, 40, who was one of the first graduates from the University of Tasmania, Australia, entrepreneurship and innovation program in 2004. It is all inspired by his job at a similar coffee and music store where he worked making bagels as a 20-year-old college student. “It was the best place right downtown and it was wonderful and simply the most fun I’ve had in my whole life,” he said. “I always wanted to open a bar and a record store – something I’ve been talking about since college.”

Lancashire, UK | Record shop boss angry and upset after double burglary: A record shop was burgled twice in the space of three days and more than £6,000 worth of stock stolen. Blackburn magistrates heard the offences committed by Rafique Ricky Shaban had a financial and emotional impact on the owner of the Music Box in Nelson. In a statement he said as a small business trying to make a living the offences had hit him hard. “It has made me want to stay in the shop and confront the people responsible,” he said. “It has had more of an impact as we were trying to get back on our feet after the pandemic.” Shaban, 47, of Lime Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to burglary at the shop on Friday and Sunday. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Alex Mann, prosecuting, said over 300 records were stolen in the raids, some of them high value collectables. A door was damaged on the first occasion and a window on the second.

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Kyiv, UA | A new record shop is opening in Kyiv: Launching this weekend, the Podil store will specialise in hard electronic music. …Specialising in hard electronic music, the store sits in a shared creative arts hub in the heart of Kyiv’s clubbing district, Podil. Two of the founders, Beth Alana and Adrian, recently moved from Berlin, while the third, Illia Novikov, is a Ukrainian DJ with experience running parties and clubs. “A record store is important,” Novikov told Resident Advisor. “It’s a unique source of rare and interesting vinyl releases that were previously unavailable for local listeners, having the potential to significantly influence key parts of Kyiv’s club scene.” Alana told RA that the idea for the shop struck her soon after moving to Kyiv, when she realised there was nowhere to buy the kind of records she loves. “There is nowhere to really dig for hard music!,” she said. “As I asked more DJs, this seemed to be an apparent problem for the vinyl DJs in Ukraine.”

Barrow, UK | Popular record shop in Barrow to host hotly anticipated Black Friday event: A popular Barrow record shop are set to host their last Record Store Day of the year at the end of the month, and it not one to be missed, according to the shop owner. TNT Records presents its final special event of the year on November 26, offering even more extremely limited-edition releases to get your hands on. This event is the Black Friday version of the Record Store Day – which is when hundreds of independent record shops across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and many shops and cities host artist performances and events to mark the occasion. Thousands more shops celebrate the day in what’s become one of the biggest annual events on the music calendar.

New York, NY | Check out this new record store in the East Village: Find records of all kinds at Ergot on East 2nd Street. Although it might seem counterintuitive to establish a new business at the tail end (hopefully) of a global pandemic, the venture seems to be paying off for 30-year-old Adrian Rew, the founder and owner of record store Ergot. “The pandemic actually provided me with an opportunity,” says the store owner over the phone. “Rent was cheaper and people have been spending more time at home, therefore treasuring their music collections more. I also think that, more than ever, people crave the intimacy of the physical object.” Ergot, which opened less than two months ago on East 2nd Street and Second Avenue, is the evolution of Rew’s eponymous music label. The entrepreneur, who graduated from Oberlin College a few years back, received a grant from the school to start a label. After working in a record store and at a non-profit, he decided to strike out on his own and set up a brick-and-mortar.

Chicago, IL | Digging into the legacy of Chicago’s Gramaphone Records: “…The role that record stores take is an experience that probably [involves] all five senses of a person — your visual, your oral, your scent, your smell. You walk into a record store and there’s a smell that you smell from the records. There’s the visual, which is the records physically themselves, or the design or the artwork displayed in the store, and the interaction socially between people shopping. There’s always the customer that doesn’t ever want to talk to anybody, the person who starts chatting up another person or has questions for you. Even though there [are] algorithms online that can help a person shop, there [are] still people who are like, “Oh, thanks for the recommendations. I wouldn’t have even thought of this or found this if I was shopping online.” It definitely is an experience for some people who are not just in the digital realm, if they’re looking for something physical for themselves that pertains to music and art.

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Athens, OH | Stuart’s Opera House record sale unites music lovers: Stuart’s Opera House is hosting its annual record sale after a year off due to COVID-19. The opera house, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, will be holding the record sale in its Grand Lobby on Sunday, Nov. 14 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The record sale will host a plethora of vendors from in and around the Athens area and other regional areas in Ohio, like Columbus, Marietta and Parkersburg, W.Va. It has been an annual tradition for over a decade. Tim Peacock, artistic director of Stuart’s Opera House, said the event started through a collaboration with Aquabear Legion, an Ohio music collaborative and record label. The record sale was originally hosted at ARTS/West when Peacock and his friends, who are all avid music collectors, wanted to expand their love with others by selling and trading records.

Manahawkin, NJ | Red Rocker Record Fair Features Dying Light Album Release: ManaFirkin Brewing Co., at 450 East Bay Ave. in Manahawkin, welcomes the public this Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. for yet another Red Rocker Record Fair event. The event was conceived by Chris Fritz in memory of the long-gone Red Rocker Record Shop in Manahawkin, owned by the Red Rocker himself, Bruce Ciangetti. As attendees sip their favorite local brews and peruse the handful of vinyl vendors on premises, they’ll also have the pleasure of hearing live music by three local alternative acts: No Bingo at noon, Colonist at 1 p.m., and at 2 p.m., Dying Light. Dying Light’s performance will be in celebration of its brand new album release, Far From Life, which will be available for purchase along with other band merchandise.

Leeds, UK | Leeds Record and Book Fair returns this weekend with local sellers boasting their best collectibles and rarities: The popular record fair returns to Leeds this weekend with 80 tables selling rare vinyl and books. Leeds Record and Book Fair has long been a source of sought-after collectibles for music and art lovers across the city. Held inside the famous Kirkgate Market, the fair has nearly 40 regular stallholders all trading a huge selection of specialist genres, ranging from indie to punk, soul to heavy metal and reggae to electronic. Saturday’s event boasts 80 packed stalls in two of the halls in the market, with traders travelling from the four corners of Yorkshire and beyond to participate. Inside the venue this weekend visitors will find tables of extended 12″s, rare 7″ singles and plenty of comics, books and CDs to dig through and find gold. Local sellers with stalls at the fair include Leeds’ own Noise For Heroes, as well as Bingley’s Five Rise Records and online seller Tapestry of Delights

Cleveland, OH | Final Vinyl Show To Take Place on Saturday at Winchester: What started off as an event where local vinyl collectors could buy, sell and swap records over a couple of pints at a local club escalated into what founder Jason Burchaski describes as “more or less a giant record show.” Now, after eight years, Burchaski will host one last Vinyl Show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Winchester. “The exact reason we started doing these things was to become the anti-record show. People show up, pay to get in, look at records, buy some and leave,” he explains via email. “We were trying to break free of that transactional mentality of what a record show was and we did for a while. It was an amazing run, but it’s become less of a hobby and labor of love and turned into a job and overall. I am no longer having fun doing it.” Burchaski says the event has raised thousands of dollars over the years for local area charities and stoked a local interest in vinyl.

New Haven, CT | East Haven event to attract fans of vinyl records: Those who appreciate tone, quality, and esthetics of vinyl will find lots to browse through when they attend an East Haven area event. The North Haven Record Riot will be making its return this December 5th, meaning it will take place just in time for those who are hoping to find some unique gift ideas. There will be at least 40 vendor tables, and early admission is available to anyone who would like to get first looks at what is on offer. The attendees at the sale will be able to purchase everything from LPs to CDs and 45s, and there may even be some gramophone records in the mix. Dealers will be coming in from a wide area, and the function is scheduled to take place in the Best Western Plus North Haven Hotel. General admission is $2, while early admission is on offer for $10. Collectors often eagerly anticipate a large vendor event, as it will make it easy for them to browse through a large selection of items all under one roof.

US | The 11 coolest record stores in America for the rarest and most beautiful vinyl: Vinyl has been making a steady comeback since 2015 when Billboard magazine reported a 53 percent increase in physical album sales during the first quarter of that year. And, in the first six months of 2021 alone, 17 million vinyl records were sold in the US, showing the trend has no signs of slowing. As fans seek to show their loyalty to their favorite musicians and want something tangible to connect with the artists and their music, the local record store has returned as a place to shop and share music culture. Whether you’re a serious collector or you just like exploring unique spaces, you can’t go wrong with an hour or two at an independent record store . Not only are you likely to find a cool and quirky space with tons of memorabilia and artwork, but there’s also the great music — current favorites, special rarities, and new artists — to fall in love with. Take a look at 11 of the coolest record stores in America.

Syracuse, NY | Vinyl lovers rally behind local record businesses: Music shops in Syracuse are thriving due to a resurgence in the popularity of albums. A group of Syracuse vinyl enthusiasts gather in front of Syracuse Vintage Vinyl on a rainy Sunday to sift through a boxful of dusty 45 rpm records. There’s laughter, a hum of music coming from inside the doors and chatter about old memories, the records scenting the air with nostalgia. The group gathers at the store every Sunday, come rain or shine. “They keep me going; they’re my bread and butter,” said Syracuse Vintage Vinyl owner, Tom Little. The store, located on 205 W. Manlius St. in East Syracuse, collects and trades vintage collectors’ items, including vinyls, cassette tapes, comic books, VHS tapes and more. The Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) is responsible for 85% of all legitimate recorded music consumption in the United States. According to their data, vinyl first reached peak popularity in 1973, when there were 228 million units were sold in the United States.

No, Adele Didn’t Single-Handedly Cause Vinyl Manufacturing Delays: The singer is pressing an estimated 500,000 copies of her new album, ’30,’ to wax — but overall demand for the medium has been slowing production times for over a year. Six years ago, Sterling Sound mastering engineer Ryan Smith was tasked with what he calls a career highlight: cutting the master lacquer for Adele’s blockbuster release 25. Smith cut five sets of the master for 25, which at the time was a historic number of lacquer sets for production of one album at once — and an early indication of the explosive growth vinyl would see over the coming years. Now, as vinyl sales could cross $1 billion this year, cutting five lacquer sets for an album is no longer a shock. It is, however, eye-popping that when it came time for Smith to cut the lacquer for Adele’s upcoming album 30 — which he was tasked with doing several months ago — he cut more than 20 sets of lacquers (each with four sides to account for the double LP).

UK | Opinion: The vinyl issue: Delays, costs, pandemic, booked up pressing plants, and Brexit: Following Brexit and then a pandemic, independent labels and artists were already being crippled by the costs and delays to their vinyl releases, now they have been compounded by major artists block booking pressing plants. Last week Variety reported Sony insiders discussing the vinyl run of Adele‘s new album 30, which includes a 500,000 strong initial pressing in the run-up to release. Demand for vinyl LPs is now far outstripping supply with the UK’s small capacity vinyl pressing plants with just six in this country and one hundred worldwide, unable to turn out records fast enough. Most of the vinyl sold in the UK is shipped from Germany. Vinyl records have also seen their average price spiral. Ed Sheeran‘s smug boasts to Australian radio last week, discussing his own ‘=’ album, back up the news of block booking of scarce pressing plants by major label name acts. “There’s like three vinyl factories in the world… so you have to do it like really upfront — and Adele had basically booked out all the vinyl factories, so we had to get a slot and get our album in there…”

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Hamburg, DE | Smallville Records shuts Hamburg shop but the label continues: Opened in 2005, the popular store existed in two locations. Smallville Records has shut its Hamburg shop but the label will continue. Smallville cofounder Julius Steinhoff confirmed the news via Facebook last week, saying that both of the store’s locations—Hein-Hoyer-Strasse (2005-2017) and Neuer Kamp (2017-2021)—”will remain in my heart forever.” He added that new owners are opening a record shop on the Neuer Kamp site. Steinhoff also said that the label will continue with help from new addition Stefan Marx. The next release, due on December 3rd, is a Move D EP called Inside The Freero Dome. “We are ready to move things forward together and bring you new surprises,” Steinhoff wrote. “Like the first album on [Smallville sub-label] Fuck Reality, another Smallville album, new soft goods and maybe, even, the lost Smallville 50 could be in sight…” Finally, Steinhoff said that Smallpeople, his production project with Just von Ahlefeld, is ending after 12 years. They, he wrote, “are now taking two different paths.”

Phoenixville, PA | Phoenixville’s New Shop Inspired By Iconic Philly Record Store: Shawn Cephas will open Forever Changes later this month. Cephas’ father owned the legendary King James Records for over 30 years. At his new store in Phoenixville, Shawn Cephas plans to sell vinyl records — which have come back into fashion —while also trying to recapture the vibe of a legendary chain of Philadelphia record stores once owned by his father. Forever Changes is scheduled to open on Nov. 27 at 28. S. Main St. The store, named after an album by 1960s psychedelic band Love, will be a 1,200-square-foot shop offering a curated collection of new and used vinyl records, record players and music-inspired local art. There also are plans to hold in-store performances. Two years ago, Cephas began Forever Changes as a pop-up vinyl shop in Phoenixville. The idea was inspired King James Records, the one-time iconic chain of Philly record stores Cephas’ dad James owned for over 30 years.

Teeside, UK | ‘A kick in the teeth’ – Stockton record shop owner speaks of devastating burglary: Tom Butchart has owned Sound It Out in Stockton for 25 years without any issues. The owner of a Teesside record shop has been left saddened after burglars “ransacked” the office and made off with thousands of pounds worth of gear. Tom Butchart has owned Sound It Out in Stockton for 25 years without any issues. But on Sunday, Tom, 49, found out that intruders had broken into the independent Yarm Street shop and raided the office, making off with valuable and sentimental electronic goods. “My landlord phoned me on Sunday morning saying the office had been broken in to”, Tom told Teesside Live. “They stole various computers but the they also stole a Technics 1210 turntable, and that was the thing that really upset me.”

Belfast, IE | Belfast has a new record store, Sound Advice: A vinyl store specialising in dance music recently opened in Northern Ireland’s capital city. Sound Advice, founded by local DJ and producer Marion Hawkes, is located in the east of the city at Banana Block in the Portview Trade Centre. In addition to used and new records of electronic music, a diverse range of reissues spanning soul, nu jazz and indie rock are also available. In an Instagram post, Hawkes explained why she opened the store. “Having a kind of social hub that people can come browse records, hang about for a bit, and meet with like minds has been missing in Belfast and is very needed. (For the electronic scene at least).” Check out photos of Sound Advice.

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Birkenhead, UK | Birkenhead record shop announces Adele boycott over vinyl row: A Birkenhead record shop will boycott the new Adele album over claims the hit singer’s release is affecting the availability of vinyl. Ben Savage, of Skeleton Records on Oxton Road, said the shop will not stock Adele’s 30 which is released on November 19 following reports that over 500,000 vinyl copies of the album have been pressed. Many smaller artists and labels have claimed that by pressing up so much vinyl Adele is causing their own albums to be delayed or released in limited numbers pushing up the sale costs for fans. “I think it’s important to stand up for independent bands,” said Ben. “By pressing up 500,000 copies of her album, Adele has monopolised all of Europe’s pressing plants. “There have been massive vinyl shortages this year meaning there has been a long waiting list for new releases. “I know a couple of artists whose albums are now seven months late because they just can’t get them pressed.”

Los Angeles, CA | A Store Visit with Barry Perlman of L.A.’s Supervinyl: “…I thought, when I open up Supervinyl, it’s going to be friendly and easy. I’m here almost every day, seven days a week. And when I or anyone else who works here, including my son Jesse, see someone come into the store, we always say hello, but not in a canned “how can I help you” way. It’s very relaxed; we have comfortable chairs in the store. We’re here to help people and talk anybody through any of the turntables and the McIntosh stuff; we know them all pretty well now. Let’s say it’s someone’s first time buying something, and they want to step up to a McIntosh. I’ll have somebody go to their house and install the whole thing, show them how to work everything. I get letters and texts and emails from customers who have bought them from us. One lady said she started crying because it sounded so good...”

McKinney, TX | Woman-owned music shop Red Zeppelin Records offers eclectic selection in downtown McKinney: When customers enter Red Zeppelin Records, among the first things they see are posters of musicians like Queen, Dr. Dre and the Lemonheads. That range of musical styles is indicative of the store and its customer base, owner Katie Scott said. “A beautiful thing about it is there isn’t one set demographic for us because everybody loves music,” Scott said. “We pride ourselves on our [selection’s] diversity.” Located just off the downtown McKinney Square, Red Zeppelin opened in July 2020. Scott said she opened the shop after seeing the interest in the vinyl she stocked at her other downtown McKinney business, the vintage boutique The Groovy Coop. Thanks to Red Zeppelin’s success, Scott recently took over the space next door to the shop and expanded its floorplan. That allowed her to add more records, CDs and cassette tapes for now, but Scott said she has further plans for the added space in the future.

Evanston, IL | Vintage Vinyl makes grooves in Evanston for 42 years: The “King of Rock and Roll” launched Steve Kay’s interest in music at the age of five. Several decades later, pink and black — Elvis’s favorite colors — adorn the walls of Kay’s record store, Evanston shop Vintage Vinyl. “I had an aunt who got me my first record player and my first 45s, and that was it,” Kay said. “They were records by Elvis Presley. And that just changed the world.” A New York native and avid music lover, Kay came to Chicago in the 1970s to complete his master’s degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1979, he opened Vintage Vinyl in Evanston because he felt the city lacked a business that served a “specialized” community of record collectors. “…We’ve always specialized in looking for records that are long out of print, but also in top condition,” Kay said. “We’ve never tried to appeal to mainstream taste.”

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Duluth, MN | Round Here Records sells vinyl in Duluth and online: …Vinyl has made a comeback in more recent years, with plenty of artists releasing new material on it, as well as online, and still on compact discs. Some say the sound is better on vinyl, that it can be more full sounding. Others, even some audiophiles that I know, claim it’s trash, but it’s okay to be wrong. I personally appreciate vinyl, though admittedly I’m between record players at the time. My last one wasn’t the best quality and I haven’t sprung for a decent player quite yet, as a place to put it and the speakers to back it up is something I need to make the space for. While I might not have the player currently, I still purchase actual vinyl albums to help further my collection with new music that is released and also classics. If you are in the market for music on vinyl, you might want to check out Round Here Records. Not only can you shop for vinyl with them online, they on the regular have pop-up shop days in the Twin Ports area. They also support local music, which makes them even better.

Lansing, MI | Lansing record store has increased sales amidst nationwide trend: Vinyl record sales are up in 2021 — and one Lansing record shop has been feeling the impact. In its 2021 half-year report, the Media Rating Council said vinyl record sales in the United States are up 108.2% from the half-year total in 2020. The Media Rating Council is a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing media analysis and data. In 2021, 19.2 million vinyl units were sold at the half-year mark, while at the same point in 2020, 9.2 million units were sold. Heather Frarey, who owns The Record Lounge in REO Town, said the overall trend in vinyl record sales is noticeable in her store. “We’re up, big time,” said Frary, who originally opened her story in East Lansing before moving to the REO Town Marketplace, 1027 S Washington Ave., in 2017. “I came back in June of last year after COVID because we were closed for four months. After that, that’s when things blew up a bit. …Fridays and Saturdays are hopping pretty good in here. We are busy all day.”

Loveland, CO | Sad music to the ears: Loveland’s only music store is closing up: Fans of vinyl and vintage audio equipment in the Loveland area are singing sad songs with the news that Downtown Sound is closing its doors. Sitting on the east side of 4th Street in Downtown Loveland, Downtown Sound had a perfect location for what they did. The location, off from the main hustle and bustle of downtown, was kind of an ‘odd’ spot; but then, ‘record stores’ are kind of odd themselves, these days. I’d heard that Downtown Sound is closing from friends, who have frequented the shop hundreds of times, so I reached out to the store via Facebook on Nov 1, 2021: “Hi Dave. Rogan decided not to continue DTS [Downtown Sound.] Since we still own the store we are deciding what to do now. Veronica and Ed Roth.” ‘Rogan’ refers to Rogan Magyar, who has owned Downtown Sound for over two years, after purchasing the existing business in 2019. He had been the owner of Kepstone Music, which was in the Orchard Shopping Center; he moved Kepstone into Downtown Sound, and started providing not just vinyl records, but also giving music lessons.

Wolverhampton, UK | End of an era as Wolverhampton record shop prepares to close after more than 50 years: The end of an era is coming for a city record store as it prepares to close its doors. Oldies Unlimited has been a popular haunt for record buyers in Wolverhampton since the 1960s, having been known as a popular spot for good quality records and having hosted signings with bands such as Magnum. However, it will close the doors of its Darlington Street shop permanently on November 30 and move online. Owner Simon Malpas said the decision to close had been a difficult one, but said a number of factors had made his mind up about closing the shop. He said: “I made the decision a few weeks ago and I’ve been a bit up and down with it, but I’ve found recent circumstances have made the decision easier to make for me. One has been the change of the roads to a one-way system, meaning less buses going past the shop, while Covid has really hit us after being closed for so long.”

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Glasgow, UK | The lost record shops that defined Glasgow’s famous music scene: From Tower Records to 23rd Precinct, Glasgow’s record shops gave a musical education to a pre-Spotify generation. It’s no surprise that a place officially designated by UNESCO as a ‘City of Music’ has had its fare share of iconic record shops over the years. After all, this is the city that saw Oasis get signed, that gave the world Primal Scream, Mogwai, Franz Ferdinand and Chvrches. Edinburgh may like to lay claim to cult tweepop band Camera Obscura, but while they might have taken their name from the so-called capital city, they’re Weegies through and through. A city rife with musicians, wannabe musicians, gig promoters, zinesters and music bloggers was always going to have a healthy – and off-beat – record store industry. Although the internet and music streaming has helped sound the death knell to many shops in what was always a slightly precarious business, they’re never closed in our hearts.

Washburn, WI | If You Love Records Shops—Washburn’s Vinyl Vault is the Perfect Musical Retreat: Throwback hits keep historic bank-turned-cultural center alive. Some people take great pride in their music—meticulously cataloging their collection, insisting only upon the highest quality listening experiences. But few go to the length of housing their beloved records inside a bank vault. Steve Cotherman, the extroverted manager of the Washburn Cultural Center, jams to his own rhythm. That asymmetric style may explain why he decided to open a record shop inside a room only big enough for two occupants at a time. A tall man with a graying beard, Cotherman keeps his shoulder-length hair pulled back in a ponytail under his baseball cap. He spent several boisterous minutes explaining with wild hand gestures that he is “a talker.” When asked why he moved from Wyoming to a small town on the shore of Lake Superior in Wisconsin’s Bayfield County, Cotherman launched into a 10-minute monologue that touched on topics as diverse as profane advice from his mother and a local celebrity famous for dancing.

Montreal, CA | A Montreal music institution celebrates a landmark milestone this month: Cheap Thrill’s location on Mansfield St. is an oddity in a downtown Montreal now dominated by modern chain stores. The rickety stairs to the shop, a flashback to a bygone architectural past. And inside the store, one could be forgiven for thinking they’ve boarded a time machine. “It’s amazing. I think it’s a lot of good luck on our part, we just stood the test of time and we’re the last one standing downtown,” says owner Gary Worsley, who bought the store from its original owner four years ago, after working there for two decades. There was a time, 30 years ago, when people couldn’t give away their record collection because CDs were all the rage. But Cheap Thrills weathered the storm and now celebrates its 50th anniversary. The original store, on Bishop St., closed its doors in the 90s. “We kept vinyl but it was hard to get new ones,” Morsley explains. “People weren’t coming in with them used, they were coming with tons of used CDs.”

Detroit, MI | Record Store Recs: DJ Carl Craig Selects Some Of His Detroit Faves & Talks Planet E’s 30 Years Of Independence: Detroit legend Carl Craig shares his gems from the Detroit section of Stellar Remnant’s vinyl pop-up at CRSSD Fest 2021, talks the Motor City’s resilience and celebrates 30 years of his label, Planet E. For the first IRL iteration of Record Store Recs since its launch in May 2020 to support record stores and artists during the pandemic, a few of the DJ/producers who played electronic music festival CRSSD Festival(opens in a new tab) 2021 joined us at the Stellar Remnant(opens in a new tab) popup. Detroit techno forefather Carl Craig stopped by to check out the Detroit section, sharing personal stories about the seven fellow Motor City dance greats whose records he chose. The “Forever Free” producer also discusses the DIY magic of his hometown, celebrating 30 years of dancefloor independence with his label, Planet E, and his hope to hear more dance records that cut through the divisiveness of society.

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Cork, UK | Mexican couple buy Cork record store on Facebook after thinking ad was a joke: Claudia didn’t know Cork existed when she grew up in Mexico City and now she’s joined the vibrant community on MacCurtain Street. A Mexican couple have bought a Cork record store after seeing an ad for the place on Facebook marketplace, and initially thinking that it was a joke. When Mexico city natives Claudia Hernandez and her husband Erwin came to Cork to work in tech, they never could have anticipated that they would be opening the Thirty-three Record Shop on MacCurtain Street seven years later, which they soon hope to turn into a gig space as well. “Erwin and I moved over here with our two dogs to work for Bord Gais and Apple, it was a big culture change but we grew to love our home in Blackrock, one of the things that helped us settle in was starting a record collection,” Claudia explained. The couple set up a happy life together in Cork city, and on weekends they would go out on the hunt for new records to play in the house.

Exeter, UK | Exeter hairdresser opens a brand-new record store: The COVID pandemic has seen an Exeter hairdresser branch out in a radical new direction. Hidden away on a cobbled road just off Gandy Street is a brand-new vinyl record shop opened by Exeter stylist James Maclean. When James couldn’t see his clients over lockdown, he bit the bullet and took his lifelong love for music to the next level, starting a small eBay record business. But when the unit next door to the salon made its way onto the market, he jumped at the chance to put his new-found experience to good use, opening JM records at the end of last month with the help of his own clients who put up all the fittings and fixtures. James said: “The lockdown happened, and hairdressers just weren’t able to work, so I wanted to get back into doing something I really enjoy. “And music is something that’s been throughout my life. Working as a hairdresser, we always have music.”

Felixstowe, UK | Well-known Felixstowe bookseller to retire and hand over to vinyl store: A much-loved Felixstowe book shop is closing after 25 years, with a vinyl shop taking on the building. Owner Richard Moffat, of Poor Richard’s Books, has decided to retire from running the second-hand bookshop in Orwell Road, while continuing online sales, as he approaches his 75th birthday. “I have just thoroughly enjoyed doing it,” he said. “The book-buying public are really nice people.” Garry O’Malley, who shares Richard’s passion for serving collectors, has bought the building. He has been running his second-hand business, Grooveyard Records, in the back of the shop for the past two years. He is now planning to move the used vinyl shop into the front of the building after Poor Richard’s closes, and open up in the new year. However, Richard will continue to run an internet bookselling business from the basement. “I’ve kept about 10,000 books to sell online,” he said, adding this would only take a few hours a week.

Kettering, UK | Love vinyl? Love coffee? Here’s the new Kettering shop that offers both: The shop opens fully on October 30. A former cabin crew manager will blend his love of music with a love of good coffee when he opens a new Kettering town centre shop. Located in Market Street, Jason Tagg’s cafe Vinyl Coffee will sell ‘pre-loved’ LP and singles as well as new releases on vinyl. Initially having a ‘soft opening’, Jason and his partner Juliet Raith are fitting out the shop ready for the official ribbon cutting to be performed by Kettering MP Philip Hollobone. Jason, who worked on aeroplanes for ten-and-a-half years, will use his skills to serve hot drinks and customers hungry for top quality music. He said: “Customers can expect great music and great coffee. I have been planning this for a long time. “We’re part record shop, part cafe. We have our own blend of own brand coffee too. Some places do records with beer or with pies, we’re doing it with coffee.

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Vinyl sells so well that it becomes difficult to sell vinyl: Joyful Noise Recordings, Indianapolis, a specialist label catering to vinyl-loving underground rock fans, has a corner that employees call the “Cave of Lathes.” There is a Presto 6N record lathe – a 1940s microwave-oven-sized machine that makes records by carving a groove on a blank vinyl disc. Unlike most standard inserts, which are pressed in the hundreds or thousands, each cut-and-turn wheel must be created individually. “It’s incredibly time consuming,” said Karl Hofstetter, founder of the label. “If a song is three minutes long, it takes three minutes for each song.” This ancient technology – worn and cracked, the lathe looks a bit like a WWII submarine – is a key part of Joyful Noise’s strategy to survive amid the record-fueled vinyl surge in popularity. Left to die with the advent of CDs in the 1980s, vinyl records are now the most popular and most profitable physical format in the music industry, and fans choose it for collectibility, sound quality, or simply tactile music in the digital ephemeral era. … After steadily growing for over a decade, LP sales have skyrocketed during the pandemic.

Dallas, TX | Dallas’ Oldest Record Store, Top Ten, Asking for $40,000 to Reinvent Itself as Music Library: Several local record shops that focus on vinyl, such as Josey, Good Records and Spinster, are managing to thrive in the age of streaming; meanwhile Dallas’ oldest store, which has specialized in CDs for the last two decades, is struggling to keep its doors open. But Top Ten Records on West Jefferson Boulevard in Oak Cliff, made famous by its connection to the Kennedy assassination, may receive a second chance at life thanks to its neighbors at the Texas Theatre. “I’ve been thinking that it was time to move on — to either close the store or sell it,” owner Mike Polk says. Top Ten opened in 1956 but it became infamous seven years later as the place where Dallas Police officer J.R. Tippit was last seen making a phone call before he was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, who had shot and killed President John F. Kennedy earlier that day. But Top Ten Records also has a small but loyal customer base who enjoy its collection of heavy metal, gospel and Tejano, and so will miss the shop if it shutters for completely non-historical reasons.

Denver, CO | Record Store Chain Reaction Opens Today in Lakewood: Somewhere on West Colfax in Lakewood is a strip mall, virtually indistinguishable from all the others on any given stretch of the meandering 26-mile boulevard. The only thing that differentiates this particular strip mall — for music fans, anyhow — is that it is now the home of Chain Reaction Records, Denver’s newest record store. Co-owners Josh Lent and Val Landrum have been nurturing their mutual dream of opening up a record store with a focus on punk and heavy metal for a long time, but it wasn’t until recently that everything seemed to click. “We’d been thinking about it for years, since like 2007,” says Lent, “but it wasn’t the right time. Our bands had been touring to California, and every single town there seemed to have its own punk record store, so why not Denver?” “We actually started because we were just looking for a place for our bands to practice,” adds Landrum. “We kind of just stumbled into the right storefront at the right time.” With rents in Denver proper skyrocketing and seeing no end in sight, a store in suburban Lakewood seemed to make sense to the partners.

Gloucester, UK | New record store to open in Gloucester: Who remembers going into a record shop for a browse, a listen, a free cup of coffee and a chat with like-minded collectors? Vinyl Vital Signs in Eastgate market has always been such a place, and now it’s expanding into a shop. The store, which also sells CDs, cassettes, and other merchandise, is opening in Gloucester’s Eastgate Centre on Saturday, October 23. Owners Darren Franks and Mark Hatten hope to create the same community atmosphere they valued in the market, even creating ‘Malcolm’s Corner’ in homage to Darren’s father who inspired his love of vinyl. The story of Vinyl Vital Signs goes back to Darren Frank’s father Malcolm and his love for vinyl records. Mr Franks said: “I grew up surrounded by, and listening to vinyl records. On joining the forces, I had to give up my own collection, so when I left in 2012, I started to collect records again and found that before long I had too many.”

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