Carlisle, UK | Five independent Carlisle shops worth checking out for Christmas shopping: Vinyl Cafe. Perhaps the most unique cafe in town, Vinyl Cafe is both a fantastic record shop and a small cafe in the back. Their stock is constantly changing and they’ll usually have the newest and most popular releases for record collectors and casual spinners alike, as well as a decent selection of second-hand discs. They’re also an ardent participant of Record Store Day which, if you didn’t know, is one of the saving graces for independent music shops that both encourages people to visit their local store and also involves unique and very limited releases distributed to various shops. Make the music head in your family happy, and support a local shop, by shopping here for Christmas this year.
Fort Worth, TX | Made in Tarrant: How this Fort Worth record store became a staple in Foundry District: Jenkins Boyd is the owner of Doc’s Records & Vintage at 2628 Weisenberger St. in Fort Worth’s Foundry District. Founded in 2006, the family-owned business is home to new and used vinyl records, CDs and cassette tapes. Doc’s also sells vintage goods, including clothing, posters, magazines, comics and music memorabilia. The store was founded in Hurst and moved to several spaces before opening the doors to its current location in 2018. “…I sell more records now than I did five or 10 years ago. The kinds of records that I sell have shifted dramatically. Before I moved here, we had maybe 500 new titles—we didn’t have a ton. We sold way more used stock back in the old spot. Now, we sell a lot more new records that we get from a distributor. Clientele shifted a little bit younger as well. I know that buying records has become more hip with the younger crowd, which I’m all for.”
LA | Consider gifting music this year as the Year of Louisiana Music wraps up: With Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the rearview mirror, are you still searching for that perfect present for a special someone? Give the gift of Louisiana music. …When someone gifts music genres born in the state — like zydeco, Cajun, swamp pop and jazz — they’re putting money in the pockets of a neighbor, friend and maybe even a family member. While the music can be streamed, the artists only receive fractions of a penny per stream. Some bands still produce CDs, which are perfect stocking stuffers that make Christmas much more merry. Lagniappe Records in Lafayette, Floyd’s Record Shop in Ville Platte and Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans are just a few stores that stock CDs, even vinyl. Google “record stores near me” and you’ll be surprised at the results. If CDs don’t work, go to live shows. Pay the cover.
Lancashire, UK | Home of iconic Accrington record shop people travel the world to visit is put up for sale: The home of one of Lancashire’s most eye-catching businesses has gone up for sale. Number 39 Blackburn Road has been home to Custard Cube for the past decade, and is crammed, floor to ceiling with records, CDs, books and music memorabilia. The record shop, which calls itself Accrington’s Museum of Pop Culture, is regularly visited by music enthusiasts from far and wide – some travelling from as far as Japan and Russia. While the business isn’t for sale—only the premises—the future of the shop once sold is unclear, with the agent keen to point out it is an ‘excellent investment opportunity.’ Owner Jim Bowes declined to comment when approached by the Post. Portfolio Properties say the property “needs some upgrading, but offers deceptively spacious space in a convenient location close to Accrington town centre with access to the M65”. They are seeking offers in excess of £85,000.
Lincoln, NE | Vintage vinyl vendors gather for holiday record sale at Duffy’s Tavern on O street: Vinyl vendors and thrifting enthusiasts from around Lincoln gathered at Duffy’s Tavern on Friday night, to swap records and offer up their wares to buyers. Aimed at bringing avid local collectors together, Christmas in the Groove was the second time the sellers held the pop up market at the O street bar. Later on, several musical artists also took the stage to round out the night with live performances. Spencer Munson from Spindle Records said with the growth of live music in Lincoln, there’s a lot of crossover between those looking to see a live show and people who collect music on vinyl. For him, the night was all about sharing that music and all the cool things they’ve found over the years. “I think the record community, they can be really nerdy but they can also be really insightful too,” Munson said. “Each record tells a story, and each vendor has a story about where that record may have come from.”
Fairfax, VA | The Fairfax Record Riot! Over 15,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Sun January 19th at the Fairfax Elks. The Fairfax Record RIot RETURNS! It’s a GIANT vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Fairfax Elks! Sun January 19th.. 10,000+ vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. A giant record store lands in Fairfax County! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! LPs and 45s and CDs too. All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
Record players vs. turntables, according to experts—plus, editors share their go-to vinyl records: Put the needle on the record. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, it can often be stressful deciding what to get hard-to-buy-for friends and family. Whether your teenager, best friend or father-in-law is a music aficionado, we’ve got you covered. Record players and turntables make the perfect gifts for everyone on your list, from vinyl rookies to seasoned audiophiles. Before you shop, it’s imperative to know the difference between a record player and a turntable in order to determine which is more suitable for your specific needs. “I think of a turntable as a single piece of equipment that’s part of a larger set up, something that requires additional components such as a receiver, amp, speakers, etc.,” explains Dave Siegel, a New York City-based musician and saxophone player who’s performed at the Friars Club. “A record player is more of an ‘all-in-one’ type of thing,” he continues.
Two David Sylvian Albums Get First-Time Vinyl Release: Remix albums to ‘Blemish’ and ‘Manafon’ are appearing for the first time outside of digital and CD formats. Two of David Sylvian’s works are getting a vinyl release for the very first time. The Good Son Vs The Only Daughter – The Blemish Remixes and Died in the Wool – Manafon Variations will be issued on vinyl in January 2025. Initially released in 2005 and 2011, respectively, the albums previously had only been physically released on CD. Both LPs are available for preorder now. The Good Son Vs The Only Daughter – The Blemish Remixes is a remix album for Sylvian’s 2003 album, Blemish. Burnt Friedman, Sweet Billy, Pilgrim, Ryoji Ikeda, Readymade FC, Yoshihiro Hanno, Tatsuhiko Asano, Akira Rabelais, Jan Bang, and Erik Honoré all contribute remixes to the companion album, which also includes some rerecordings and different instrumentation for the original songs. In an interview with Pitchfork in 2005, Sylvian expressed a desire to create a “global” sound with the remix album…
Seven Creedence Clearwater Revival Albums Get Color Vinyl Release: The albums from the iconic American band will be rereleased in February 2025. Good news for fans of Creedence Clearwater Revival: seven of their albums are getting released on color vinyl for the first time. The albums—Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bayou Country, Green River, Willy and the Poor Boys, Cosmo’s Factory, Mardi Gras, and Pendulum—will all be available in February 2025, and can be preordered now. These seven albums represent Creedence Clearwater Revival’s entire studio discography. Despite only existing as CCR for about five years, the band produced at an impressive clip. Their self-titled debut arrived in July 1968, and they released their seventh and final LP, Mardi Gras in April 1972. But that music defined that era, with CCR becoming the first band signed to perform at Woodstock and producing 13 top-ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
