David Bowie’s final recordings No Plan given “made-to-order” vinyl release: David Bowie’s final three recordings are set to be released on vinyl. Recorded during the sessions for the Star Man’s final album Blackstar, the four-track EP includes ‘No Plan,’ ‘Killing A Little Time’ and ‘When I Met You,’ along with Cast Album title track ‘Lazarus’. Previously only released digitally, No Plan will appear as both a standard vinyl edition, due on 21 April, and a deluxe, limited edition made-to-order in a one-time-run. The numbered die-cut package features heavyweight 180g white vinyl, with special laser etching on the B-side and a 12″x12″ artwork lithograph.
The Last of the Mohicans: Kemp Mill Music is Closing its Doors: “To all of you who have supported us here at Kemp Mill Music, it is with a great deal of sadness that we inform you that our last store at 3743 Branch Ave. in Temple Hills will be shutting its doors. We were informed recently that we are losing our lease. After attempts to start or relocate elsewhere, it has become obvious that we will have to shut this business down…”
New vinyl pressing technology looks to produce 24,000 records a day: A new technology is being touted as the upgrade vinyl production desperately needs to keep up with the current demand for records. Record orders have been stacking up for manufacturing plants the world over because of the format’s resurgence, causing long waits between the announcement of a release and customers actually getting it in their hands. But now a company called Viryl Technologies has produced the WarmTone machine that is said to be able to produce 4,000 records a day due to its better trimming/tracking system and sensors that check everything from temperature to pressure. There’s plans to have six WarmTone machines running at once, producing a total of 24,000 records on a daily basis.
Crate Diggers Daylong Record Fair and Concert Will Sate Your Vinyl Obsession: Vinyl heads are a dying breed. (Not true. —Ed.) At a time when music lovers can carry around the entire discography of every artist they love on a keychain, it’s growing tougher for lovers of records to find a place to dive headfirst into a mountain of vinyl to search for something rare or forgotten. Fear not, dusty-black-gold hunters! A special event is coming to Miami next month that should more than scratch your vinyl itch. Crate Diggers, a daylong concert and vinyl fair put together by the crowdsourced vinyl-database site Discogs, comes to Gramps March 18.
Dogfish Head Announces Beer To Drink Music To ’17: In celebration of the upcoming 10th anniversary of Record Store Day, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is releasing Beer To Drink Music To ’17, a tropical blonde ale, and will unite with Crosley Radio, architect of the iconic turntable, to kick off a two-month city tour of independent record stores and beer bars, sharing the love of vinyl, analog music and delicious craft brews. The Dogfish Head x Crosley Cruiser journey begins in Louisville, KY, on Friday, March 3, and ends in the City of Brotherly Love on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 22. A liquid soundtrack for the harmonious occasion and the official beer of Record Store Day, Beer to Drink Music To ’17, begins shipping nationwide on February 1, 2017.
Raoul Benavides: The People’s Record Seller: Raoul Benavides wants to sell you on the idea of community as much as he’d like to sell you some records. The 44-year-old owner of Flashlight Vinyl in northeast Minneapolis opened the store a year ago in search of a self-described “lifestyle change. I kind of wanted to slow my life down, and give it more structure.” He brought a welcome source of new and used LPs to a neighborhood that was in desperate need of an independent record store. But Benavides is also providing a communal gathering place to bond and forge connections over a shared love of music.
Student radio station rocks with vinyl at record show: From punk rock to doo-wop, vinyl has brought the groove to a record show that helps Plymouth-Canton student radio station WSDP-FM (88.1) raise money and stay on the air. Record dealer Rod Branham alone plans to bring about 4,500 vinyl albums to the ninth annual record show, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, inside the Salem High School cafeteria in Canton. Branham, owner of Rerun Records for 37 years, has noticed a steady uptick in vinyl record sales to high school and college students.
5 Record Tables to Put the Perfect Spin on Your Vinyl Collection: With the resurgence of vinyl comes one of those good kinds of problems to have–where to store your turntable and vinyl? The modern living room space doesn’t necessarily have the readymade solution. In the days of yesteryear, televisions and turntables were built into one glorious console that took center stage in the living room, den, or family room. While going back in time isn’t an option, neither is storing your record player on the coffee table. The solution is simple–to source a record table that serves both form and function.
