Bismarck, ND | Bismarck record store seeing positive effects of vinyl sales increase: A report from the Recording Industry of America says vinyl record sales are on pace to outsell CDs for the first time since the 80s. Record sales jumped nearly 13 percent in the first half of the year, and is on pace to close out the end of the year surpassing CD sales. Rhythm Record located here in Bismarck is showing the younger generation what the old had to offer. An old sound, being used in the new generation “I have some modern vinyl, I just go the new Lizzo album, but I also have vinyl that was my mom’s. I have my mom’s favorite Diana Ross album,” said Rachel Patrie, a vinyl record owner. Some say it’s the simplicity that draws them to the records. Were in a modern age where things are so instant, but when you listen to music on vinyl you have to actively listen to music…”
Tauranga, NZ | Record Roundabout returns: Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Yep, we’re starting this week with an eminently true bit of French. For those less familiar with Gallic language it translates as: “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. I was struck by that when I popped down to the Historic Village last week. It was like visiting an old friend. There, amongst the art galleries and specialist stores was a familiar-looking logo and a familiar-looking shop front: Record Roundabout is back. It’s a weird world. The music industry has changed beyond all recognition in the past decade, with downloading services, cloud-based music libraries, the decline of CDs, and the rise of streaming platforms. It sometimes seems as if Spotify, YouTube, Pandora and a handful of others are conquering the business. But, counter-intuitively, the other thing that is on the rise, in a world seemingly governed by speed, convenience and lack of physical encumberment, is the sale of vinyl.
Hull, UK | Anger as heartless thieves smash into Warren Records in Hull for second time in a month. ‘Who would steal from people who are struggling?’ A charity providing crucial support services to young people in Hull has been burgled for the second time in a month. The Warren Records shop, next to the Warren Youth Project, was broken into at around 4am on Wednesday. Thieves broke a window and took hundreds of pounds from the till, along with a safe, and smashed up records and music equipment. Just three weeks ago the charity, which provides vital help to marginalised and vulnerable 16 to 25 year olds, was broken into and it has been “demoralising” for them to have been targeted once again. Speaking to Hull Live, manager JJ Tatten said: “Warren Records is a not for profit project that supports local musicians and provides retail work experience to vulnerable young people to help them get into the workplace. “Whoever it is that has broken in and stolen hundreds of pounds from our till, trashed our record decks and PA system after smashing through the window, has stolen from a charity and for it to have happened twice in a month is demoralising.”
Cincinnati, OH | Soul Step Records produces vinyl for up-and-coming artist free of cost: The local label covers the cost to produce each record and then splits the profits evenly with the artist. Melvin Dillon is a 35-year-old self-described “vinyl nerd.” One of his favorite activities—when he’s not hosting his own radio show on INHAILER or running his own business—is browsing shelves of new and used LPs and 45s at local record stores. But, there came a point when flipping through album art for hours on end no longer satisfied Dillon. The selections had become monotonous and he was craving something new. So, in 2011, he launched his own record label called Soul Step Records to curate exactly the kind of music that was missing from record stores. In a world full of streaming services and the latest hits quite literally at our fingertips, Soul Step provides up-and-coming artists with the opportunity to produce their music through the authenticity of vinyl. “There’s something about that physical connection that we have when we hold a record,” Dillon says. “You can feel the weight, read the liner notes, look at the art; it’s something that you really feel the connection with.” Unlike many mainstream record labels, Soul Step works with the artist’s well-being in mind.
Ibiza, SP | Meet The Vinyl Fiend With One Of The Biggest Record Collections In Ibiza: Game Over’s Dave Browning has amassed some 10,000+ records and has the stories to explain how. Long before Game Over boss Dave Browning started promoting legendary techno parties for Carl Cox at Space Ibiza, he was busy making a name for himself as the rave scene’s most obsessive vinyl hustler. In 1977, by the age of 15, Dave was already scouring junk shops looking for rare soul, funk and disco cuts, as well as promoting small dance parties around his local area. When he turned 18, Dave moved to London. Without a settled job, but still hustling records, he started selling the vinyl he found in second-hand record shops at Portobello Road market. Before long he’d built up a circle of regular clients and was starting to purchase stock from US record dealers based in Chicago. When a friend of his suggested they trip across the Atlantic to source those rare vinyl cuts for themselves, Dave replied, ‘Sure, f**** it, why not.’ It was 1983. He was 21 and had nothing to lose.
Pro-Ject promise two second record clean: Audio distributor Interdyn has announced the release of two new Pro-Ject Audio record cleaners to the Australian market, that clean your vinyl and shellac records in just two rotations. The Pro-Ject VC-E and VC-S2 will be made available on 14 December retailing for $749 and $899 respectively from Interdyn. A follow up to the popularity of the original, the VC-S2 is Pro-Ject’s flagship premium record cleaning machine that promises to clean records in just two seconds. Both models can achieve a dry, clean record in just two rotations, spinning at 30 RPM, with the first rotation in one direction, followed by a reverse clean. The Pro-Ject record cleaners spin the record ‘superfast’ within 2 seconds per rotation, which is three times faster than a comparable cleaning machine. Boasting a 2.5L tank reservoir, filled with Wash-IT solution ‘vacuumed’ fluid used to expertly clean your vinyl collection, with any used fluid returning to the spill-proof reservoir.
YouTuber discovers secret computer program hidden on a vinyl record: In news that will likely have us checking our music collections, one YouTuber has found a computer program that was hidden in the runout groove of a Christian rock record. If there’s one thing that music fans love, it’s getting more bang for their buck. Maybe their favourite band brings out a special guest? Maybe a CD has a hidden track at at the end (or at the start)? Or maybe a vinyl record has a kooky message in the runout groove? Well, while the latter has been known as a great way of hiding text in plain site on vinyl records, numerous artists have been trying to push the limits of hiding information in their albums. In fact, back in 1992, the synthpop band Information Society released a record called Peace And Love, Inc. Its final track, ‘300bps N, 8, 1 (Terminal Mode Or Ascii Download)’, was actually a collection of modem tones which, when decoded, tells the bizarre story of the group reportedly being held hostage by the Brazilian government. Interesting, right? Well, it turns out we can go one better than that, with a YouTuber shining a light on a Christian rock record that actually hides a Commodore 64 program in its runout groove.
Cream’s ‘BBC Sessions’ Collection For 2LP Deluxe Vinyl Edition: First issued in 2003, it’s a remarkable record of the BBC sessions recorded between 1966 and 1968 by Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Rock trailblazers Cream will have their BBC Sessions album released in a 2LP deluxe vinyl edition by UMC/Polydor on 22 November. First issued in 2003, it’s a remarkable record of the live sessions performed for the British broadcaster between 1966 and 1968 by Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Cream recorded eight sessions for the BBC between 21 October 1966 and 9 January 1968, and the album contained highlights from seven of them, in the first-ever commercial release of all but two of the tracks. BBC Sessions stood as a fascinating, alternative history of Cream’s all-too-brief reign, and was then also included as the third disc in the 2005 limited edition box set of their I Feel Free – Ultimate Cream compilation… The BBC Music review of the album in 2003, by Chris Jones, enthused: “There’s a lesson to be learned by the likes of Spiritualized, Lambchop and the Polyphonic Spree here. With Cream less really was more. Who needs three bassists and a marimba player when you can make as sophisticated and joyous a noise with just three musicians?”
