Yorkshire, UK | Regeneration boost for Barnsley as artists apply to open craft beer bar, gallery and vinyl record shop: Plans have been submitted to transform a lighting shop in The Arcade in Barnsley town centre into a craft beer bar and vinyl record shop. The former Lily’s Lighting Collection premises, which closed before Christmas, could be turned into a two-storey bar, selling art and records. Planning documents submitted to Barnsley Council state: ‘The ground floor of the premises will primarily be a craft beer bar but we will also have a retail unit for selling vinyl records. The first floor will have extra seating for the bar and a gallery with artwork and prints for sale. ‘Both partners on the application are established (Barnsley based) artists who work internationally and we hope to use the first floor to sell our, and other artists’ artwork, prints, cards etc.’ The applicants state that a room on the first floor would be used for art and craft nights, and music events one Saturday night per month. ‘We fully intend to get involved in all aspects of Barnsley town centre life, the Tour de Yorkshire, Barnsley Bright Nights and Live in Barnsley,’ state the applicants.
Shepherdstown, WV | Admiral Analog’s connects customers with favorite music from all eras: One of the first stores you see as you head down West German Street, just as the heart of downtown nears, Admiral Analog’s is a staple in Shepherdstown that has stood the test of time, just like the music sold inside. Nearing its seventh anniversary in town and having been in the current location at 141 West German St. for a little more than two years, Admiral Analog’s gives that escape during the monotony of COVID-19, allowing those looking to delve into a passion — whether it be in search of the greats from eras past, looking for a new album dropped by current artists or simply browsing in hopes of finding that music that really speaks to the soul. In fact, it was owner Andrew Barton’s own passion for music that drove him into the business, a chance to reach others who find solace and comfort in lyrics and melody. “I’d always wanted to do it since I was around 14 and I started going to record stores myself,” he said. “I got really interested in music at the same time, so I was the kind of person who would hear a fact about music or a name or a song just once and would remember it. It always came easy to me learning all about music. I absorbed everything I could, and the way I wanted to put that back into the world it through a store.”
Glasgow, UK | Nightclubbing 1990s: The record shops that fuelled a brave new dancefloor: Billy Kiltie remembers the Saturday afternoon bustle of his Glasgow record store like the “stockmarket” as DJs clamoured to get their hands on the best new releases being shipped in from around the world. Kiltie ran 23rd Precinct in Bath Street, Glasgow, which sat close to the flame of the dance music explosion in the 1990s. When he took over the shop in 1989, the store had a large stock of classical, country and rock, but the shelves were soon heaving with house and techno records as demand soared. He said: “When we moved into the shop, the scene had really kicked off and the dance explosion took over. “The weekends were certainly busy. We had a proper sound system in the shop, people were coming in from venues looking for tracks they had heard. The guys behind the counter would put a tune on all the hands would go up – it was like the stockmarket.” Big numbers of vinyl releases were being pushed at 23rd Precinct, with other shops including Rub a Dub in Glasgow and Underground Solu’shn in Edinburgh. Aberdeen One Up and Fopp also did brisk trade…
Oxford, UK | Oxford’s Truck Store celebrates 10 years of in-store performances: Truck Store in Cowley Road has been celebrating its 10th anniversary and over the years there have been lots of in store performances to entertain customers who love to visit to buy vinyl and CDs. Some top acts have played on a very small stage to a packed store, including Stornoway, The Staves, Michael Kiwanuka and Dave Gedge of The Wedding Present. Staff are looking forward to reopening once coronavirus restrictions are lifted. They have highlighted some memorable performances on the store’s Facebook page. One post said: “There’s possibly no band who had as big an impact on the early days of Truck Store as the much missed @stornowayband. “Back in 2015 the band released their 3rd album the same week as Record Store Day so obviously it became Record Stornoway Day! We also nearly killed Oli with a falling bicycle, oops!”
UK | Major label catalogue bosses talk streaming growth, chart success and the future of physical: The pandemic may have encouraged us to listen to old favourites in 2020, but it was part of a continuing trend for the growing power of catalogue. While new music was delayed or put on hold until 2021, classic repertoire made an impact across the albums chart and, at Christmas, the singles chart too. Drawing on exclusive Official Charts Company data, Music Week analyses the performance of the three main catalogue labels at the majors – UMC, Sony Music CG and Rhino – and quizzes execs from each company. “…Physical formats now carry so much more emotional capital for fans than just being a means of accessing the music. It’s a totem of one’s fandom, it adds additional sensory value: it’s held, viewed, read and admired. This can apply as much for new music as it does for an artist’s catalogue – the best-selling list of vinyl titles in the UK bears this out. For some artists and fans, there are opportunities in their catalogue to create real once-in-a-lifetime products that allow fans to immerse themselves in a way that goes so far beyond the recordings: Elton’s Jewel Box being a prime example.”
The Tale of Telemachus, the Tapestry Cat: Curiosity got the best of me when I went digging deeper to find out more about Carole King’s kitty companion on the cover of her iconic 1971 solo LP, which turns 50 today. I’ve always been curious about the cat on the cover of the album, joining Carole at the big window she’s seated beside. Then I found an old obituary of famed rock photographer Jim McCrary, who had passed away on April 29, 2012 at age 72, in the Los Angeles Times. Written by Valerie J. Nelson on May 6, 2012, the piece kicks off with the story behind McCrary’s sessions for the Tapestry cover and how her cat, Telemachus, became the unlikely star of the shoot. “Photographer Jim McCrary was on the verge of shooting one of his most famous images when he stopped to ask singer Carole King if the cat sleeping across the room could be part of the tableau,” Nelson wrote. “He remembered the results of a Kodak survey that found ‘after children, the most popular thing people photographed was their own cats,’ he later said. ‘I saw a cat, and I wanted to get something good.’
Fleetwood Mac’s debut live album from 1980 set for 2021 encore: Rhino Records will reissue Fleetwood Mac Live on 3CD and 2LP featuring demos – listen to previously unreleased version of The Chain. Rhino Records have announced they’ll reissue Fleetwood Mac’s debut live album as a super deluxe edition later this year. Fleetwood Mac Live was first released in late 1980, with the new 3CD and 2LP vinyl edition set to arrive on April 9 – and along with a remastered version of the original 18-track record, the new package will also include a 7-inch single featuring previously unreleased demos of Fireflies and One More Night. In addition, Live will also include an hour’s worth of unreleased live music recorded between 1977 and 1982 – and the previously unavailable version of The Chain, recorded at Cleveland’s Richfield Coliseum in May 1980 can be listened to below. The super deluxe edition will also come with a booklet, a full itinerary of the band’s Tusk tour, along with a history of the live album which has been written by author David Wild.
