Today (3/12) marks the end of Origami Vinyl: Over the last 7 years we have thoroughly enjoyed all of your patronage, high fives, and support. While this may come as a surprise to many of you, it has been something I’ve been thinking about for the past year. It is time for me to move on to new challenges and adventures and I will cherish every moment, relationship, and experience the shop has given me. Origami Vinyl started as a childhood dream for me and I feel so fortunate to have lived out that dream.
Last days of record store being filmed: The closing of a record store in a small Alabama town usually doesn’t generate much interest outside its base of customers. The closing in April of Pegasus Records, Tapes and CDs in Florence, however, is rippling across the country. A Los Angeles cinematographer and two friends in Florence are putting together a documentary film about the store and its outsized influence on the Muscle Shoals music business.
Police, musicians, store owners working together to solve music-related crimes: Police say music-related thefts are on the rise in Music City. Grimey’s owner Doyle Davis said a unique Rolling Stones album worth $3,000 was stolen right out of his record store. “I always want to get a baseball bat and beat whoever steals from me,” Davis said. “It’s personal. It’s hard not to take personally.”
Return of vinyl a pleasing sound to local record shop: “The challenge with digital music is that for people who love analog music, like us, is we can hear the difference and our ears get tired,” Rafton says. “When I get home at night, the last thing I want to do is play any more digital music. But if we’re spinning vinyl all day, I can go home and listen to vinyl.” Superior sound quality means something, as does unique packaging and liner notes (which all seem to tell a hundred stories), and the ceremonial act of putting a record on.
The worlds best record shops #010: Discolomobia, Barranquilla: Don’t let its unassuming exterior fool you, Discolombia is truly a cave. Through the main room is a warehouse space, split across two floors and accessible only via special request. Be warned, it’s dark and dirty in there (mice and rats dirty) but a treasure chest no less. If you’re prepared to filter through decaying bits, original pressings of salsa, palenque and champeta await.
Cooking Vinyl Group expands US operations: Based in New York City, Cooking Vinyl America will be overseen by newly appointed president Howie Gabriel a respected music industry executive, who joins the company from Warner Bros. Records where he previously held the position of executive vice president of marketing. Prior to joining Warner Bros., Gabriel played a key role at RED Distribution as Senior Vice President of Label Management.
