CT | 21 Connecticut record stores to visit on Record Store Day: Twice a year, the record collecting community celebrates the holiday of Record Store Day (RSD), a retail event that features limited edition vinyl records that are only available to purchase on that day. The event typically is held in April as well as on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. This year’s first RSD was moved from April to June while the second edition on Black Friday is still set to occur. In Connecticut, there are record stores in almost every corner of the state, specializing in all different genres of music. Many of these shops also participate in RSD, with people lining up for hours trying to get copies of hard-to-find records. However, some shops do not partake in RSD, meaning that you’ll have to call ahead to see if they have the releases that you’re looking for.
Silver Spring, MD | “We’re Bump ‘n Grind, a Specialty Coffee Shop, Record Store and Roaster.” “Hi! We’re Bump ‘n Grind, a Specialty Coffee Shop, Record Store and Roaster dedicated to and inspired by Coffee, Music, and Community. We create significant third spaces inspired by their neighborhoods; micro-roast, top-grade environmentally and ethically sourced coffee from around the world; and support musicians, & artists of all kinds. With our coffee, we aim to create the “perfect cup” and would love for you to join in our journey. “Our specialty beans are top grade (85+) from around the world, Micro-Roasted in Kensington, Md. We’ve been perfecting our craft since 2016, loving every step of the journey. We medium and light roast the beans to pull out the distinct flavors associated with each region. Our roasting objective is to highlight the nuances of each bean so that we can all learn and understand the differences between coffees from around the world.
Edinburgh, UK | Loved Edinburgh record store that was at forefront of city’s punk scene in late 1970s: If you were a young Edinburgh punk fan at a loose end on a Saturday in the late 1970s, there was really only one place to be: Hot Licks on Cockburn Street. We take a look back the legendary lost record store. It was the indie record store that became a magnet for the capital’s disaffected youth at the height of the punk movement in the late ’70s. For a generation of young music fans, Hot Licks records store on Cockburn Street was one of the best places to be and be seen on a Saturday. Renowned for being ahead of the curve the owners of the independent store always seemed to have a knack of spotting what was going to be the next big thing – and they were seldom wrong. Those at Hot Licks had their fingers on the pulse of what was happening, even managing to attract up and coming groups such as The Jam and The Damned to the store for album signings and personal appearances.
Halifax, CA | “Everybody’s loving it” – Record shop on a canal barge opens in Halifax: A record shop with a difference has opened in Halifax. Rubber Ducky Records is based on a canal barge currently located near The Moorings pub in Sowerby Bridge. It is owned by Myles Greenwood, 27, who lives in Halifax and says the inspiration to open a record shop came from running one while living in Switzerland. “‘I came back here for lockdown, I’d bought 5,000 records for a store I was running in Switzerland and I got stuck with them in the UK,” he said. “So I started selling them in the UK and realised that moving back home was a good thing to do because it’s quite a nice place to live and a bit easier running a business here.” Myles opened the business last month and has around 2,000 records, split between the boat and his storage facility. The shop opens for private appointments only at the moment and Myles says he will probably move on to Hebden Bridge and then back towards Brighouse or Salterhebble soon. “Music is my main passion, especially electronic music,” he said.
Barnes & Noble announces fall 2022 Vinyl Weekend: Bi-annual event returns Nov 18-20. Barnes & Noble is amping up for the highly anticipated return of their bi-annual Vinyl Weekend from November 18-20. The company is offering deals on all vinyl items, including records and turntables. In-store, customers will be treated to a free B&N Vinyl Eco-Tote Bag with the purchase of any B&N Exclusive album. The company’s expansive selection of exclusive vinyl dropping that weekend, available only at B&N, includes Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon OST on blue & black vinyl, Don McLean’s Classics on copper color vinyl, Celine Dion’s These Are Special Times on gold color vinyl, Lindsay Stirling’s Snow Waltz on holly red vinyl, Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas as an exclusive picture disc edition and more.
UAE | The UAE’s collectors: a stash of 23,000 vinyl records holds countless memories: Lobito Brigante continues to ‘dig’ for rare music around the world. Value is a relative concept for a dedicated record collector. While Lobito Brigante’s extensive collection — which he estimates features about 23,000 records — boasts a number of lucrative rarities, he measures their worth by the emotions and memories they inspire. “The most valuable records have some personal attachment. There are those that remind me of a time over 20 years ago,” he says. “An example is I’m On My Way by Candido. At that time, I was spinning at a lot of b-boy battles and there was a track I heard that maybe one other DJ played. So I eventually found it when searching and that beat was by Candido. These kinds of records mean a lot to me because they remind me of my musical evolution.”
Reading, UK | Blue Collar turns into a record fair ground for the day: A chance to find some new old vinyl to spin on the decks is coming to Reading later this month. Blue Collar Corner in Hosier Street is opening on Sunday, November 20, for a record collectors fair and meeting. The event will see a range of stalls sell new and second-hand vinyl, CDs, and merchandise from bands and record labels. Organisers say there will be a mixture of rare finds and plentiful bargains. Confirmed stall holders including JIMs, Oxfam Music, Certain Sound Records, Music Box, and Keith Stonell. The fair runs from 11am to 3pm, with DJs playing until 6pm, while the venue is open until 8pm. For more details, log on to: bluecollarreading.co.uk
Durango, CO | ‘Tis the season: Four Corners Vinyl Record Club kicks off holidays with swap: When it comes to holiday shopping for vinyl collectors, it’s pretty easy to find the perfect present – they generally have a running list of albums they’d love to add to their collection. And when it comes to collectors buying gifts for themselves, it’s even easier. The Four Corners Vinyl Record Club is making it even easier for everyone with its latest swap on Tuesday at Ska Brewing Co. (on the second floor). Because we’re quickly rounding the corner to the holidays, the club is getting an early start on spreading the holiday cheer, said Phil Gallacher, the club’s president. There will be 12 vendors at the swap, spanning all genres of music, he said, adding that with every swap, local momentum for vinyl grows. And this growing popularity is reflected across the country; older people are rediscovering the medium and younger people are getting into it.
Before Replacing Your Record Player, Try a New Pair of Speakers: …Record players and turntables contain dozens of components. And, as you might expect, each of these parts contributes to the overall sound quality of your setup. That’s why hardcore audio nerds obsess over cartridges, platters, tone arms, and motors. But here’s the thing; if you’re a novice record collector, your speakers are probably the weakest link in your setup. And until you own a good pair of speakers (plus a decent amplifier), upgrades to your record player won’t deliver a meaningful boost in audio quality. This is especially true if you’re using a record player’s built-in speakers. Turntables are vulnerable to vibrations, so their built-in speakers can’t be very loud or bass-heavy. Built-in speakers also tend to be very cheap and small, of course.
