Edmonds, WA | Record store opening in Edmonds? Yep. Rachel Gardner of The Band Lele plans to open a record store in Edmonds. She told the Beacon that she would have more information soon, but did post of social media that the record shop/music boutique will be located in the yellow building on Fifth Avenue South. Record stores have long been making a comeback—at least, those that sell actual vinyl records—as a new generation has joined older audiophiles in discovering the magic of records. According to The Conversation, consumers purchased $1.2 billion of records in 2022, a 20% jump from 2021. Many claim they have better audio quality than digital audio files and CDs. And many retailers are on board—stores like Target and Fred Meyer sell record players that connect to Bluetooth. There are no record stores in Edmonds, but a small selection is available at Half Price Books in Lynnwood.
Adelaide, AU | Adelaide’s groovy new vinyl store Gordy Boy Records opens in historic CBD arcade: Adelaide, known for its rich cultural heritage and love for the arts, has recently welcomed a new addition to its vibrant music scene with the opening of Gordy Boy Records in the heart of the CBD. Nestled in the historic Adelaide Arcade, this vinyl store pays homage to the timeless allure of records and promises to be a treasure trove for music enthusiasts. Gordy Boy Records Store officially opened its doors in December, bringing a unique blend of nostalgia and contemporary musical to Adelaide’s Arcade. The location was chosen with precision, situated near collectibles and comic book stores, creating a hub of cultural attractions within the arcade. For owner and music aficionado, Ed Rooney, this venture has been a lifelong dream.
Montreal, CA | Well-known Montreal record store is for sale: A popular Montreal record store is up for sale. For the past 25 years, Nick Catalano has been carefully curating music at his store sought out by vinyl enthusiasts in the city. Now, the owner of Beatnick Records is looking to sell his store to someone who can carry on his tradition of providing hard to find records as well as popular classics to clients and collectors. “You need to know music. It’s not like selling chips and popcorn, you know. If somebody asks you how this record is, you’ve got to be able to tell them,” explained Catalano, adding, “you need to love music, you need to love being surrounded by music 24 hours a day and you need to want to own a business.” Catalano suggests the main reason for selling the record store is his age. “It’s mostly to do with I’m 72 years old and I’d like to work less, not more,” said Catalano.
Asheville, NC | Citizen Vinyl offers public tours for behind-the-scenes look at how vinyl records are made: A studio in Asheville gave locals a special behind-the-scenes look at how vinyl records are made over the weekend. Citizen Vinyl—a music vinyl pressing plant, craft cocktail bar, farm to table café and record store—offered public tours of its facility on Sunday, Jan. 7. Tour-goers could find the shop’s record pressing operation and recording studio—and enjoy a coffee while at it. A Citizen Vinyl spokesperson said the hope is that these tours would help people celebrate the history of music manufacturing while connecting with the local community. “It’s such a beautiful spot, and we have a wonderful selection of records and great food and coffee,” said Franco Zanchetta, tour guide. “If you come on the tour you get 10% off on records and merch and coffee and food, and you’ll also be able to understand and know the availability of the space.” Those who weren’t able to partake in the tours can still visit Citizen Vinyl’s café, bar and record store.
Vinyl’s Green Revolution Reshapes Music Industry: In a nod to environmental sustainability, the music industry is innovating greener practices in vinyl record production. …the environmental impact of vinyl records is still a matter of debate. While efforts like the Eco Mix make a difference, there are initiatives to move beyond vinyl altogether. For instance, Green Vinyl, a collective of companies in the Netherlands, aims to streamline record pressing to make it more energy-efficient and replace traditional vinyl with more environmentally friendly materials. Similarly, the British firm Evolution Music is experimenting with plant-based bioplastic for records, which is non-toxic and compostable, according to CBC. Despite these innovations, there’s still skepticism, particularly regarding the sound quality of vinyl substitutes. Music fans, especially younger generations concerned about climate issues, might be willing to compromise on sound quality for environmental benefits. However, the industry is still exploring the balance between sustainability and maintaining the classic vinyl sound.
‘Ziggy Stardust’-era David Bowie LP ‘Waiting In The Sky’ announced for Record Store Day 2024: The new release features four songs not on the seminal 1972 album, including a Chuck Berry cover. A new ‘Ziggy Stardust’-era David Bowie album is set to be released on Record Store Day this year. ‘Waiting In The Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth)’ is a collection of recordings from Trident Studios in 1971, and features the majority of songs that would go on to form the legendary ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars’ album. Included in the new album but not on ‘Ziggy Stardust’ are four songs including a cover of Chuck Berry‘s ‘Round And Round’. The album will be released on April 20, 2024 as part of this year’s Record Store Day, and you can see the artwork and tracklist below.
The BBC is selling off rare Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Beatles and er, Bathory albums from its Gramophone Library if you want to expand your vinyl collection: The BBC are to auction off a staggering 285,000 vinyl records over the next year-and-a-half, starting from January 30. The BBC is to auction off a fraction of its vast vinyl collection over the course of 2024, offering collectors an opportunity to acquire rare and valuable records by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, David Bowie and more ‘specialist’ acts such as Bathory, Budgie and Cirith Ungol. Fear not, these albums will not be deleted from the corporation’s playlists, as the 285,000 records being made available are duplicates of records already in the BBC’s vinyl vaults. The first batch of the collection—over 400 lots—will be up for auction from January 30 from the Omega Auctions website, where details of the records can be viewed.
Neil Young’s Dume to receive first vinyl release on Feb 23: The album collects 16 songs from the Zuma era. Previously released as part of his Archives Vol II box set in 2020, Neil Young’s Dume will receive a standalone vinyl release via Reprise on February 23. In the mid-’70s, Neil Young, Crazy Horse and producer David Briggs were living in the Point Dume area of Malibu. Zuma, named after the beach they lived near, came together in wide-open sessions. In assembling Dume—initially released as Disc 8 of the Archives Vol II box set – Young’s unfolding plan was to weave songs from the album with unreleased tracks and mixes from that period.
Akron, OH | Millennial’s Retirement Plan Contingent on Rare Records Never Being Repressed: Local scene legend and bartender William Lindberg admitted his dreams of retiring in his fifties or sixties depends solely on which of his records get repressed, confirmed multiple sources on Discogs. “I looked at the numbers and having a 401K, Roth IRA, home equity, or even a solid savings account are not as valuable as having an original ‘Chung King Can Suck It.’ It’s all about liquidity. You have to be 59½ to withdraw from a 401K without penalties. Meanwhile my albums are readily accessible, unopened, and inhabit most of my living room,” said a self-assured Lindberg. “My diversified collection of original pressings, picture discs, limited editions, and three copies of ‘Blonde’ by Frank Ocean guarantees an exponential return on investment that could survive any period of economic downturn.” Some, like Lindberg’s roommate Greg Spanos, aren’t so certain.
