UK | Vinyl sales increased 51 per cent thanks to National Album Day: In honour of National Album Day’s ’90s theme, a number of albums from the decade were reissued on vinyl, including Tricky’s ‘Maxinquaye’ and Blur’s ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’ Vinyl sales have reportedly increased by 51 per cent on National Album Day thanks to its 1990s reissues. National Album Day, which took place on October 14 this year, was jointly organised by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA), and presented in association with audio partner Bowers & Wilkins and broadcast partner BBC Sounds. Music Week reported that the Official Charts Company recorded a 51 per cent increase in vinyl sales on National Album Day compared to the previous week. Nearly half of the 40 best-selling vinyl albums over the last weekend were releases exclusive to National Album Day, such as Blur‘s ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’, Jeff Buckley‘s ‘Grace’, and Paul Weller‘s ‘Wild Wood’.
Worthing, UK | New cafe and record shop opens in Stanford Square: A party has been held to celebrate the opening of a “vinyl café.” Vinyl Audio Café first opened in Worthing in July serving coffee and food while also serving as a music venue and record shop. To mark the opening, owners Mark and Emma Picard held the first of their parties in Stanford Square with scores of people gathering to listen to the music and enjoy the afternoon. Speaking about the event on Sunday, October 15, Mark, 48, said: “It’s a real passion project. We were asking ourselves ‘what can we do with our love?’ and for us it gives us a bit of freedom. “The block party was really nice, everyone extended their arms out and got involved. “Going forward we want this to be multi-faceted. We’re still growing and every day we have people coming in and discovering us.”
Orono, ME | Orono’s newest addition to town: Lizard Dog Records: A new sign popped up just off the corner of Pine and Maine Street last week. In big, neon green letters laying on a black backdrop are the words “Lizard Dog Records.” Under the sign and through the front door, which feels much more like a side door, lays a wall of speakers and the store owner, Joe Belisle, spinning a record from his 500-record-tall “to listen” pile. A neon green wall accents the black painted walls, and wooden crates filled with records as well as CD and cassette selves line the perimeter of the store. A large photo portrait of an Australian Shepard named Lizard hangs on the wall across from the towering speakers. Lizard Dog Records is one of the many stores that opened in downtown Orono this fall.
Brighton, UK | Pip Blom play live in Brighton record shop: Before Sunday night, I had only ever had the privilege to encounter two shows at Brighton’s beloved Resident Music record shop, once for electrifying Squid in June, (Review HERE) and once for the enigmatic Penguin Cafe in July; (Review HERE) now, I can add another to what I hope will be a growing roster in my personal gig repertoire, in the form of Netherlands-based indie pop trio Pip Blom! Formed no less than seven years ago, Pip Blom have enjoyed relative success off of a three-album streak (2019’s ‘Boat’, 2021’s ‘Welcome Break’ and the new baby, 2023’s ‘Bobbie’). While the band itself has not been around for too long, lead vocalist and the band’s titular namesake Pip has been blessing Dutch ears with material as far back as 2013.
Longmont, CO | Longmont record store owner struggling to recoup costs after summer flooding incident: Recycled Records in Longmont is still recovering after a flood this summer wiped out an estimated $110,000 in vintage records and other inventory. “This is where it happened,” said owner Gale Taylor as she walked into a back stock room with an attached bathroom. “The main line behind the toilet burst, and this drain was plugged and we didn’t know it.” Nearly the entire store flooded, as well as two neighboring businesses in the same complex. “Our neighbor saw water running out our front door and into her space also,” Taylor said. Since then, Taylor said the fight with her insurance company has been a nightmare. “I had a million dollars in coverage, or so I thought,” the owner said. “I called my agent, and he said, ‘You’re not covered for the floors and stuff. You have the wrong kind of policy.’”
Chiswick, UK | Wish you’d kept your record collection? “If I had a pound for everyone who tells me they regret getting rid of their records” Every day Underground Vinyl has people come in who regret getting rid of their record collection. The record shop which opened in the basement of Bookcase on Chiswick High Road 18 months ago is home to both new and second-hand albums across the whole range of music tastes – rock, psychedelia, jazz and blues, pop and classical. Jazz and Blues is the most sought after, but the people who come in to buy records go right across the board, says Dan Coombes, who runs the shop along with colleague David Szunyog – musicians, a lot of DJs, young people who realise analogue sound is cool, and yes, older people looking to recreate the collections they so thoughtlessly gave away. Dan Coombes talked to The Chiswick Calendar about the success of Underground Vinyl, now a rare find in west London in a high street that once upon a time boasted at least four record shops.
Odessa, TX | Endless Horizons closes after 48 years in Odessa: After 48 years at the corner of University and Andrews Highway, the Endless Horizons record shop is closing. Since announcing the store will close, people have been going to the shop to see it one more time and share cherished memories with the owner. The owner has even been selling memorabilia that has been collected along the walls for almost 5 decades. There is no timeline for when Endless Horizons may come back, but the Facebook page will be posting updates on the shop and any plans that are being made. Logan is grateful that the shop has been open for so long, saying that when his father started it in 1975, he also would not have imagined still open in 2023.
Pilsen, IL | Open Books In Pilsen Hosting Book And Record Fair This Weekend: Record shops and book stores will sell vinyl records, used books and Spanish-language titles Saturday. You can find vintage records, Spanish-language books and more at the first Open Books Book and Record Fair this weekend. Record shops and book stores will sell vinyl records, used books and Spanish-language titles for people of all ages 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Open Books, 905 W. 19th St. Admission is free. Participating stores: Open Books 905 W. 19th St., Paper or Plastic Book Store, Women and Children First 5233 N. Clark St., Libreria Girón, 2141 W. 21st St., Nick DeVine Records, Car Pen Bagger Books, Round Trip Records, 3455 W. Foster Ave., Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North Ave.
Greater Moncton, CA | Record expo keeps growing and growing: ‘Vinyl is the way to go’ Saturday was a great day for vinyl lovers who cherish the thrill of the hunt. Hundreds attended the fall edition of Greater Moncton’s Record Expo which took-place in a community centre in Riverview on Saturday. A total of 65 vendors with hundreds of bins of records were on hand. Organizer Marty Leblanc has been hosting the bi-annual expo for over 20 years, and said there was huge lineup waiting as soon as he opened the door at 10 a.m. He has no plans on giving it up anytime soon. ‘Oh, until I die. This is my hobby, my adrenaline rush,” said Leblanc.
