New record store in Shamrock looks to defy national trend: When Jenny Logan was 6 or 7 years old in Shamrock in the 1970s, she got an album of KC and The Sunshine Band. She played it on her Donny and Marie Osmond record player. And played it and played it and played it…Now, nearly 40 years later, Logan has taken music, and the way it used to be played, to new heights. In doing so, she’s saying hello when others have said goodbye. Vinyl records — the iconic albums and 45s of generations past — have been yet another casualty of the digital world, joining the cemetery of the way it used to be along with photography film, landlines, VCRs, maps and encyclopedias. But not in Shamrock, and not with Jenny Logan.
Female Treble: A unique spin on a record store, Lisa Pereira owns the city’s only fully female-owned record store: “I have a tendency to sell stuff I like,” says Lisa Pereira, owner of Female Treble, one of the city’s only fully female-owned record store. This is why she’s touting vinyl from heavy rock bands from Detroit, queercore and female artists. She plays, but does not currently sell a record by early ’70s Detroit band The Punks (it’s rare but she’ll sell the soon-to-be-released reissue). She’s also proud of a new vinyl release by soul icon Jackie Shane ($39.99). She’s selling her new and used records in her own way too. Female Treble currently exists as a store-within-a-store at Eyesore Cinema on Bloor St. W. near Dufferin St. Soon, she’ll have a second semi-location too.
The Beatles’ Christmas Records Receive Limited Coloured Vinyl Box Set Release: As ably proved by the phenomenon that was Beatlemania, no band inspired such devoted fandom as The Beatles. And, in turn, no band looked after their fans quite like rock’s finest foursome. As special thank yous to all the “Beatle people” around the world – as the group referred to their dedicated fanbase – The Beatles recorded Christmas flexi discs for their fan club members each year from 1963 to 1969. Previously only ever available through The Beatles’ fan club, this year, as a bumper stocking filler, the seven Beatles Christmas records are being reissued on coloured vinyl in one 7” box set.
‘Vinyl kept Fives open’ says record shop boss: A record shop owner in Leigh said that without the resurgence of vinyl, his store would not be celebrating its 40th anniversary. Fives record shop in Broadway celebrated 40 years since it opened its doors, with its most loyal customers and a new young generation of music fans who have helped to bring vinyl back to the market. The shop also hosted legendary David Bowie collaborator and pianist of the band, Yes, Rick Wakeman, ahead of his performance at the Palace Theatre in London Road, Southend…“Vinyl has saved independent record shops around the country, and now there are more then ever before.”
Vinyl listening is getting simpler with The Plus Record Player from Plus Audio: Collecting vinyl is easy — all you really need is some extra cash and a trip to your local record store to really get into the hobby. Listening to vinyl, on the other hand, is a different beast entirely. From finding the right turntable, to wiring up your amps and speakers, going from your first vinyl record to your first spin can be a process. There’s always been an easy mode to this game, however, and that’s all-in-one turntables — but if you’re serious about sound quality, these can be a dodgy choice, at best. However, following a successful over-funded Kickstarter campaign, audio company Plus Audio (stylized as +Audio) is gearing up to launch its own all-in-one hi-fi turntable, The Plus Record Player (stylized as The+Record Player), which aims to bridge the gap between all-in-one simplicity and full-setup fidelity.
