La Crosse, WI | Audiolust, Abracadabra expand in new locations: Audiolust Records and Abracadabra Refurbished have expanded with recent moves to new, larger La Crosse locations. Meanwhile, Wall Things Co. is about to open in the former Uff-da Shoppe storefront in Westby. Audiolust Records opened Sept. 18 at 127 S. Sixth St., across the street from the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in downtown La Crosse. It will have a grand opening celebration on Saturday. Owner Jeff Buchholtz said the business outgrew its original location at 719 State St., where it opened in November 2019. With the move, it has increased its selection of merchandise, he said. “We’ve already expanded our new vinyl (record selection) tenfold,” he said. Audiolust Records sells new and used vinyl records, compact discs, DVDs, audio and video equipment, vintage arcade games, NASCAR collectibles, tap handles, bar ware, puzzles, signs and even music-themed face masks.
Lethbridge, AB | Record collector turns hobby into a new career: John Brooks has turned a passion he developed while teaching in Japan for 10 years into a business. Lethbridge native Brooks has opened a record and vintage clothing store in a small southside strip mall that is a veritable candy store for serious vinyl lovers. In Osaka, Japan, Brooks got into the vinyl scene in a way he may never imagined when he collected records as a kid growing up in Lethbridge. Now he’s back with a store called Caravan Records & Vintage located adjacent to a popular bakery and a dog grooming business a few blocks south of the hospital. Brooks and his business recently caught the eye of music promoter Ron Sakamoto who contacted The Herald about the operation and spoke glowingly of its operator and the unbelievable variety of music filling shelves and walls. Brooks has recreated in Lethbridge an experience shoppers might have seen in Calgary’s Kensington district in the 1960s and ’70s.
Jackson, MS | B-Side: The End of All Music opens second location in Jackson: David Swider had been working at Square Books in Oxford for about five years when he first considered opening his own record shop. While paperbacks were fine, his real passion was vinyl. On March 1, 2012, Swider opened The End of All Music. Now, nearly a decade later, he’s opened a second location in Jackson. Located in the Fondren neighborhood at 3011 North State Street, the 1,400 sq. ft. store offers the same vast array of genres, new and used, that customers are used to seeing in Oxford, Swider said. One thing unique to the Jackson location is the option to enjoy a “browsing beer” while looking through bins of vinyl records. The store obtained a beer permit and wholesale beer license, taking every necessary step to allow music lovers to buy a beer and flip through records.
Stroud, UK | Sounds of Stroud featured on new vinyl release: Stroud record shop Sound Records released their first record on their new record label on Friday, October 1st. Patched In: Sounds of the Stroud Underground is a compilation of local electronic acts and is a fundraiser for The Prince Albert pub in Rodborough. Amongst artists featured on the vinyl only release are Blancmange singer Neil Arthur, up-and-coming female jazz act Mermaid Chunky and local hauntologists Orbury Common. Other acts include the glitchy hip hop of Fidel Cutstro and neo-disco of Wooolheads. Sleeve notes for the release have been written by music journalist Rupert Howe. All funds raised will go to the Prince Albert pub which, for many years, has supported the Stroud music scene and which was hit hard by the pandemic. Tom Berry of Sound Records said: “For many years Stroud’s exceptional music scene has been a best kept secret. With this record we hope to reframe expectations of what can be achieved in a rural setting.” Sean Roe, co-founder of Sound Records said: “Covid has hit the music industry very hard and this is our opportunity to support the local music scene.”
Ventura, CA | Lights out for Salzer’s Video in Ventura; record store to remain open: Between streaming video services and COVID-19, Salzer’s Video didn’t have much of a chance. Salzer’s Video is set to close in the coming weeks. The Ventura store, which has been around 41 years, began its liquidation on Friday. The store made the announcement Wednesday on Facebook. “I’m seeing a lot of dismay and sadness the store is closing,” said co-owner Brandon Salzer. “People are shocked, but these are the same people that haven’t rented in five or 10 years.” Salzer co-owns Salzer’s Video and Salzer’s Records with his mother Nancy Salzer. The record store, which is across the street, will remain open. Brandon Salzer’s father Jim Salzer, who died in March 2020 at the age of 78, was the original owner of both stores.
UK | First petrol, then pasta … now record labels are running out of vinyl: Demand for records is soaring, and Britain’s supply problems are making it even harder to get albums pressed. Vinyl has been the music industry’s sleeper hit of the last few years. But for record label owners such as Chris Howell, there is a B-side. The founder of Kniteforce Revolution records is unlikely to have any 12-inch records to sell for the next six months. “I’ve gone from eight to nine releases a month to none,” said Howell, better known as Luna-C, whose first success came with the 1992 hit Sesame’s Treet as part of the Smart-E’s. “I have about 60 different vinyl releases that have been cut and are at various stages [of production]. And I have been told by the record press that I’m unlikely to get any more this year.” The reason is that vinyl is popular again – too popular for smaller labels like Howell’s. A flood of fresh releases, such as Abba’s new album Voyage, are being matched by reissues later this month from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, not to mention an 18-LP box set of David Bowie.
Book excerpt: Kelefa Sanneh’s “Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres” In his new book, “Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres” (Penguin), New Yorker writer and “Sunday Morning” contributor Kelefa Sanneh examines the genres that have dominated popular music over the last half-century. You can read an excerpt below, and also listen to Kelefa Sanneh narrate his introduction of “Major Labels,” from the audio book release. You can also watch Sanneh’s report on “CBS Sunday Morning” October 3! Listen to an excerpt from “Major Labels.”
