New York, NY | Still spinning: NYC music-lovers keep coming back to vinyl records, both old and new: “I put something on the vinyl and it’s a totally different relationship to it,” says Kamaal Ibn John Fareed. Fareed, famously known as Q-Tip, is one of the most influential hip-hop figures of all time. From co-founding one of rap’s most progressive groups, A Tribe Called Quest, to sustaining a prosperous solo career, Q-Tip’s success in music has transcended multiple eras. The 52-year-old rap legend, who grew up listening to vinyl, entered A1 Record Shop in the East Village neighborhood of New York City with a kind of jubilant energy that electrified an otherwise rainy Thursday evening. From the looks of it, he seemed at home in a space he knows all too well, among a niche and growing community of record collectors — or “cratediggers” as they’re often referred to. Cratediggers come in a variety of forms including, but not limited to: lifelong collectors, millennials looking to use records as decor, sample-based producers looking for sounds to rip, and flat-out music junkies in love with music in its purest medium.
Landsdowne, PA | Vinyl Revival announces grand reopening and ribbon cutting: Delaware County’s home for new and vintage vinyl records, accessories with rock ‘n’ roll style, and music-themed events — announced that it has relocated to 26 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne. It’s celebrating with a grand reopening and ribbon cutting for the community at the new store on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. Representatives from Lansdowne Borough Council, the Lansdowne Business & Professional Association, Lansdowne Economic Development Corp. and other special guests will attend. Vinyl Revival will be offering sales, promotions, and door prizes all day long to introduce new customers to the store and thank loyal fans already familiar with the unique shopping destination. Shoppers can also enjoy music, light refreshments and drinks in celebration all day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “As we begin our 10th anniversary year, I’m excited about the expansion of our store and that we can continue calling Lansdowne home,” said DiFabio.
CA | Our Lady Peace Named 2023 Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors: The 16th annual celebration of the culture of independent record stores is set to take place on April 22–and Our Lady Peace is officially named as this year’s Record Store Day Canada (RSDC) ambassador with a band-approved career-spanning 2-disc, 20-track vinyl compilation entitled Collected 1994-2022 set for release. Included with the collection are two previously unreleased tracks. Past Canadian ambassadors have included Triumph, The Sheepdogs, and on the global stage Taylor Swift served as last year’s recording artist. RSD was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and market the unique culture surrounding the then nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. This year, roughly 240 stores continue selling vinyl, CDs and collector paraphernalia, and many of these will participate in the marketing campaign that brings with it a great number of unique, one-off vinyl offerings proffered by enthused acts and participating record companies.
Normal, IL | Local record stores Waiting Room and North Street spin differently: In an era where music streaming can be found anywhere, listening to a record may seem old-school. However, Uptown Normal is the home of two record shops: Waiting Room Records and North Street Records. The stores also happen to be on the same block and a few doors apart from each other. Jeff Wilson is the owner of North Street Records. He spoke about his experience managing a record store at a time when there are many streaming services widely available. “Vinyl is really popular again, so streaming is just one avenue to get music,” Wilson said. “I think a lot of people that actually want to own a classic album or one of their favorites is going to buy a vinyl or CD…a lot of people want a hard copy.” Although a vinyl seller, Wilson said that he likes the idea of streaming. “I think streaming is really nice, it’s kind of like radio back in the day,” Wilson said. “You could listen to stuff but you don’t really own it.”
Isle of Wight, UK | Isle of Wight record shop Sounds Great (on vinyl, of course!) With UK sales of vinyl records at their highest since 1990, record shops on the Isle of Wight say they are having a bumper year. Newport’s Sounds Great, located in the High Street, sells vintage music, including a selection of popular records from the past. The nostalgic sentiment of the shop includes a selection of vintage guitars. Paul Smith opened the record store nine months ago after being inspired by his girlfriend’s suggestion that as he enjoys visiting record shops himself, he should open one of his own. Many of the records sold by Paul feature music from past decades, such as the 60s, 70s and 80s. However, nationally, the Official Top 40 best-selling vinyl albums of last year show young people appear to be purchasing contemporary music on this old format. In fact, the Isle of Wight’s very own Wet Leg, who won two Grammys earlier this week, came sixth in the chart. Paul says: “I don’t have a favourite era, I listen to music from pretty much up to the 80s, not much after that, but I like a bit of everything.”
Stanford, CA | Stanford University Acquired $2.3M Vinyl Record Collection Of San Diegan Bram Dijkstra: Stanford University’s Music Library & Archive of Recorded Sound received a special gift donated by Bram Dijkstra, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego, and renowned literary agent Sandra Dijkstra. Stanford now holds a culturally in-depth collection of Black music valued at over $2.3 million. The post Stanford University Acquired $2.3M Vinyl Record Collection Of San Diegan Bram Dijkstra appeared first on Blavity. The Dijkstra Black Music Collection includes a range of genres of over 8,000 jazz, blues, gospel, soul and reggae records. According to Essence, the collection features original and pre-recordings of John Coltrane’s catalog, Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldiers,” and a few Hip Hop LPs. The music collection is nearly 65 years in the making. Bram Dijkstra’s passion for music collecting led him to document the history of music and all its genres. The retired professor recalls in 1955 while listening to a record by the New Miles Davis Quintet, his love of music and its history sparked.
Why Bluetooth Turntables Miss the Point, but Are Great Anyway: It’s about the ritual, not the sound. Bluetooth turns vinyl records into just another streaming source, and that might just be the point. For older folks, one big selling point of vinyl is the nostalgic process and how it slows you down. It’s a break from all the ‘content’ that exists only in your phone. Slowing down with a record is a way to switch off, like an after-work martini, only without the hangover. But a ton of newcomers are into records for different reasons. It’s a collectible, like a poster or t-shirt. In fact, 41% of vinyl buyers don’t play their records. Are Bluetooth turntables gateway drugs, then, or just another fad? “While Bluetooth turntables allow you to stream your vinyl records to other devices, they do not turn vinyl into just another indistinguishable media source. The appeal of vinyl lies in its tactile nature and the slow, artisanal listening experience it provides,” touring musician Arnold aka theRave, told Lifewire via email. …Streaming can be a little soulless, especially if you worry about the tiny cut of streaming revenue your favorite artists actually get.
