Record Store Day 2017 promises over 500 vinyl releases: From Adam Franklin to The Zombies, there are loads of great Record Store Day deals in the pipeline this year. With over 500 releases listed on the RSD website (also downloadable as a 69-page PDF), including exclusives from Animal Collective, David Bowie, The Flaming Lips and a re-release of the Space Jam soundtrack, you’re sure to find something you like. The event on Saturday 22nd April marks the tenth anniversary of Record Store Day, spanning a remarkable upturn in vinyl’s fortunes. Organisers are hopeful that this year’s sales will top the previous high.
Merchant Vinyl Company Launches Affordable, Efficient Record Pressing for Everybody: Recently launched, Merchant Vinyl Company aims to be the go-to spot for the independent music community’s vinyl pressing needs. Founded by Garrett Wadford after growing frustrated with the many hassles of pressing vinyl for his burgeoning punk rock label, Wadford’s goal with starting MVC was to make the entire process easier, faster, more efficient and more affordable for everybody. Garrett then brought on co-owners John Meloche and Lenneke Knape to help him carry out his vision.
How Discogs Dragged Record Collecting Into the 21st Century: Discogs is showing no sign of slowing down. In 2016 alone, their database grew by 12%, bringing their total number of listings up to over 8,000,000; it was also a record-breaking year for sales, with 6,691,144 vinyl records sold, and a 26% increase across formats. According to the company, some labels even refer to the company’s annual report to figure out what records from their catalog are worth repressing.
Sun begins to set on Lokananta: Lokananta is the oldest recording studio in Indonesia. The company’s premises are not as good as those of newer recording firms as, from the outside, Lokananta looks dull and dirty. However, 40,000 tapes and vinyl records with historical value from various genres are stored inside. As the country’s first recording studio, built in 1956, Lokananta became a pioneer of Indonesian music recording. It served as a national hero when two Indonesian songs — “Terang Bulan” (Moonlight) and “Rasa Sayange” (Love) — were claimed by other countries. When the Pendet dance was claimed by Malaysia, Lokananta came to the rescue by proving that the dance originated in Bali.
Popular vinyl record and CD fair returns to Bromsgrove this Sunday: The latest Bromsgrove Record and CD Fair returns to the town this Sunday (March 26). The event, which takes place from 10am to 4pm at the Bromsgrove Hotel and Spa – formerly the Holiday Inn – Birmingham Road, is already a sell-out with the dealers so there will be more than 50 tables. There will be everything from classic vinyls (“Vinyls” is not a word. —Ed.) to real obscurities and bargains with some starting at 50p a record. Organiser Ben Frizzell from Midlands Record Fairs said: “Why not treat your mom to a day out on mothering Sunday?”
Vinyl liaison for lost Thelonious Monk LP for Record Store Day release: Thelonious Monk’s only ever soundtrack recording, for the provocative 1959 French feature film Les Liaisons Dangereuses, is set to be released in its entirety on a double LP for the first time, specially for the 10th anniversary of Record Store Day on 22 April. The album, co-produced by Zev Feldman, is being released in partnership with two French companies: Paris-based Sam Records and Saga Music and features rare photographs from the sessions and extensive liner notes. The labels’ respective producers, Fred Thomas and Francois Lê Xuân, contacted Feldman to give the music a full public release, as the music has never been available separately from the film, itself is now out of print.
Interstellar Overdrive: Pink Floyd to release full quarter-hour version, Instrumental track that Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason performed in 1966 will go on sale as one-sided vinyl record: The British rock band Pink Floyd will put out a version of Interstellar Overdrive that has never before been released. Out on 15 April ahead of Record Store Day a week later, the instrumental 14-minute, 57-second version will be released as a one-sided, 12-inch black vinyl record, Legacy Recordings has announced. The track, written and performed by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason, was recorded in November 1966 before the band was signed to EMI. A shorter version of the single – nearly 10 minutes long – featured on the band’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, released in 1967.
