London, UK | Stocking a range of vinyl and CDs, the Deptford store launched over the weekend: South London has a new record shop. Located on Deptford High Street, Upside Down Records opened its doors last Saturday, November 18th. Run by Philippe Giron, who worked at Camberwell’s Rat Records up until its closure last June, the shop stocks a wide range of vinyl and CDs spanning all genres. It’s also open to buying second-hand records and hopes to sell second-hand audio equipment in the near future. “During my time at Rat, I learned to respect and appreciate all music tastes,” said Giron. “Record shops may have a reputation for being intimidating sometimes, but I believe you won’t find that here. I’ve come to realise that there’s no such thing as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ music: there’s only what touches an individual’s heart and soul, and what makes feet move.” He continued: “I go out of my way to find my customers what they want, whether it’s my bag or not, simple as that.”
Columbia, MO | How Kyle Cook keeps records spinning in Columbia: As an owner of an independent record business, Kyle Cook prioritizes collecting music media in hopes to bring music lovers together. Kyle Cook, co-owner of Hitt Records, has been collecting music for decades beginning with records he found in his parents’ basement as a kid. It wasn’t until he was old enough to purchase music for himself that he really started to expand his collection as well as his music taste. Cook’s decades of collecting music media have resulted in him now owning several thousand records and close to 1,000 CDs and cassette tapes. “One of the first records I bought with my own money [was] an album called ‘Buckingham Nicks,” Cook said. “So it’s like Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks three or four years before they joined Fleetwood Mac. It’s just like one of those albums to this day that is really hard to find and on CD is practically non-existent.”
Virginia Beach, VA | Record Store Recon: Vinyl Daze in Virginia Beach, VA: Take a break on your vacation in Virginia Beach, VA, and visit Vinyl Daze. Or listen to this podcast episode first to prepare your visit! Take a break on your vacation in Virginia Beach, VA, and visit Vinyl Daze. Record Store Recon discuss Goldmine’s visit to the Daze. The record store gets close to a perfect score—find out why. Listen in!
Is Pioneer DJ’s PLX-CRSS12 turntable really a “game-changer” for vinyl and digital DJs? How do you settle the DJ’s perennial debate of vinyl versus CDJ? Digital versus analogue? Purists versus practicalists? Well, Pioneer DJ had the wise idea of creating an all-in-one product to cater to the needs of both camps. Enter Pioneer DJ’s PLX-CRSS12: the world’s first hybrid turntable that’s primed for digital DJs, devout vinyl DJs, and everyone in between. Although CDJs and DJ controllers have become the norm for DJ booths in the past two decades, many DJs will know that there’s sometimes an unspoken prestige given to performers who spin vinyl. Could the CRSS12’s ability to connect to a laptop for digital DJing while allowing you to play vinyl natively open up the floodgates for more record spinners? Or is it just a gimmick that comes at a premium price of £1,199? “…They’re really stable decks. They’re everything you want from a physical, traditional turntable,” says UK producer/DJ Jon1st.
BackGroove Records releases their once indie record store exclusive turntables to the public: BackGroove Records is an all-things vinyl record distribution company specializing in record equipment and accessories. Pretty much everything a vinyl collector could need but the records. Already in 90 independent record stores, a handful being some of the biggest record stores in the country, they have become a favorite among shops since they were created. So, what’s the big news? Well… BackGroove has decided to share their once-exclusive product collection, previously only found in indie record shops, with the public on their new website www.backgrooverecords.com! Anyone can now get their turntable and speaker sets, sleeves and cleaning supplies, display and storage solutions, amps and cables, even some exclusive record releases, and more no matter where they are in the country!
Los Angeles, CA | How a beloved L.A. record store unearthed a long-lost Gram Parsons recording: …Here’s how that happened: Dave Prinz, a co-founder of the [Amoeba] record store chain, began collecting Parsons archival material in conjunction with his role in the 2007 release of a Flying Burrito Brothers concert recording, “Live at the Avalon Ballroom 1969.” The Avalon set was dubbed “Gram Parsons Archives, Vol. 1” and put out under Prinz’s new Amoeba Records label, but no subsequent volumes surfaced. It turned out that Prinz did indeed have more but had just gotten sidetracked over the years. And during the recent move of the L.A. Amoeba record store, Prinz rediscovered the “Last Roundup” tapes. He fired them back up and was bowled over. “I’d never heard any Gram and Emmy where you could hear their voices like this together,” Prinz says over the phone from his home in Marin County. “It’s kind of pure, and it’s kind of raw, but it’s just kind of great too.”
The Beach Boys Share Colour Vinyl Editions Of ‘Pet Sounds’ & ‘Christmas Album’ For Holidays: Two iconic albums from the Beach Boys are to be released on colour vinyl for Christmas. The two albums being shared on vinyl, ‘Pet Sounds’, and ‘The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album, will be released for the holidays. Fans of the Beach Boys, will be able to get their hands on this limited edition album, exclusively available from the official store, uDiscover Music, and Sound Of Vinyl. ‘The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album’ was released in 1964, and includes festive hits including ‘The Man With All The Toys’, ‘Little Saint Nick’, and ‘Merry Christmas Baby’. Other tracks including the Beach Boys’ covers of ‘Frosty The Snowman’, and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ will also be released in the colours of Christmas.
More About The Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Vinyl Release: Daniel Pemberton’s standout themes for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse bring musical life to Spider-Man 2099, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man India, and the nearly-cut Spider-Punk as surely as they do to Miles Morales. Now, music fans and vinyl collectors can hear those themes pop off of kaleidoscopic, multiversal orange and purple marbled LPs in this two-LP set. The track list for the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse vinyl release was hand-selected by Pemberton himself, and features highlights from the score such as “Guggenheim Assemble”, “Nueva York Train Chase”, and “Mumbattan Madness.” The vinyl packaging also celebrates the groundbreaking film, with the records themselves housed in printed sleeves with custom art. An 8-page art booklet features liner notes by Pemberton alongside art from the film, and a double-sided collectible poster is included. A soft-touch gatefold jacket protects the package as a whole and catches the eye with stunning artwork.
AFI to release limited $275 vinyl box set for ‘Sing The Sorrow’ Goth punk ensemble AFI, hailing from California, is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their milestone album, the platinum-certified Sing The Sorrow, with an exclusive vinyl box set. Scheduled to commence shipping on December 4th, the collection will showcase the album on two red vinyl LPs. In addition to the album, the set will encompass five 7″ vinyl b-sides and various collectible items. The limited edition of just under 2500 copies is available for pre-order.
