Miles Davis, The Clash among 2021 Record Store Day releases: The full list of RSD releases is out, here’s the highlights… The full list of Record Store Day 2021 releases has been announced – and it’s packed with rare and exclusive vinyl featuring The Clash, Miles Davis, Elton John, Amy Winehouse and Prince, to name but a few. Taking place over two days – Saturday 12th June and Saturday 17th July – RSD 2021 will offer music fans the chance to get their hands on no fewer than 538 limited edition releases (mainly vinyl but also some CDs and cassettes). Among the artists set for special releases on 12th June are Wolf Alice (limited edition of their forthcoming album Blue Weekend), Fatboy Slim (20th Anniversary edition of Weapon of Choice), Prince (little-known acoustic album The Truth) and The Rolling Stones (two LP coloured vinyl edition of the 1971 album Hot Rocks). There’s also a collection of remixes of Amy Winehouse tracks, including Jay-Z’s take on Rehab, and Elton John’s 1967 album Regimental Sgt Zippo, which was originally slated to be Reg’s debut album. Six of the songs were released last year but this is the first time the complete album has been made available.
Brooklyn, NY | Park Slope Record Store Changes Owners, Bets On Vinyl: In an era where any song is just a few taps away on your preferred streaming app, independent record stores feel like a relic. So when Jason Figel decided to retire after running Music Matters in Park Slope for 22 years, he was prepared to simply shutter the neighborhood mainstay. Then Chris Lentz walked in and changed the tune. In an era where any song is just a few taps away on your preferred streaming app, independent record stores feel like a relic. So when Jason Figel decided to retire after running Music Matters in Park Slope for 22 years, he was prepared to simply shutter the neighborhood mainstay. Then Chris Lentz walked in and changed the tune. Lentz, 45, was a regular customer who was looking for a new project. Originally from Hicksville, Long Island—Billy Joel’s hometown—Lentz moved with his family but returned to New York to attend Columbia University, studying art history. A career in art installation for the fashion industry was abandoned when he became a stay-at-home dad eight years ago. After a brief stint in Los Angeles for his wife’s job in advertising, the family moved back to New York in 2015. “New York always seemed like home,” Lentz said in an interview with Bklyner, shortly after taking over Music Matters on April 1st. “Like a boomerang, I’ve always come back here.”
Middlesbrough, UK | A new vinyl pressing plant in Middlesbrough is aiming to create 30 new jobs: “Not many towns or cities across the world have access to their own local vinyl pressing plant, so it’s a real win for the area.” Start-up company Press On Vinyl Production will open their plant at Middlesbrough’s new Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP). The company’s website is currently hosting a countdown to what appears to be the official launch of the business in 49 days’ time (May 28). The opening of this new vinyl record manufacturing plant is being spearheaded by Press On Vinyl Production’s Teesside-based founding directors Danny Lowe, David Todd and David Hyne. All three have been part of the local music scene for the past 20 years, according to a press release from TeesAMP. It’s hoped that 100,000 records will be produced each month at the plant, with priority being given to smaller independent music labels. The Press On Vinyl Production team currently has a workforce of 10 employees, which is expected to expand to 30 by the end of the year.
Stamford, UK | Rutland business in lockdown – Oakham music agency’s café launch and boom year for Uppingham web business: Diversification has helped many businesses out of a dire scenario the pandemic had thrust them into. For Dave Graham, director of Rutland music agency, DG Music, lockdown persuaded him to add another revenue stream. With festivals and gigs, the lifeblood of his business, cancelled or postponed almost overnight, he brought forward plans to open the Piano Café, in South Street, Oakham. “Everything went south immediately,” he said. “Hundreds, if not thousands of events have been moved numerous times, from summer to autumn, into 2021 and then into 2022. “We wanted to help people so we have done that for free, but obviously we are not getting paid.” Having opened a base in South Street in 2015, he decided to merge his existing record store with his café idea. “I’d never intended to open it here because it’s a fairly small shop, but we rebranded the shop as a café and increased our vinyl stock…”
Anthrax rocks Record Store Day with a 3-inch mini turntable: The US heavy metal band have created 1000 limited edition mini record players. With more than 538 limited edition releases dropping over two days, Record Store Day 2021 is already starting to make our heads’ spin. But just to ramp up the excitement yet further, US heavy metal band Anthrax have announced a Record Store Day bundle, comprising a customised mini turntable and four 3-inch vinyl platters. The tiny turntable – a limited edition of 1000 – is just the right size to spin the shrunken discs, which will include special releases of Madhouse, I Am the Law, Got the Time and Discharge. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, one of the turntables will come with a Willy Wonka-style ‘Golden Ticket’ that grants the recipient a personal Zoom call from Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna and Frank Bello. …The mini turntable will go on sale on 12th June, followed by the four 3-inch discs on the 17th July. Pricing should be announced nearer to the big day.
How To Display Vinyl Records, According To Vinyl Enthusiasts: Whether you’re a veteran collector or a beginning vinyl enthusiast, displaying and storing your favorite records can be just as important as listening to them. Wondering how to display vinyl records? Choose options that can easily fit 12-by-12-inch album covers, and keep your records standing upright to prevent damage. No matter how you plan to display your vinyl, you’ll also want to ensure that your records aren’t squeezed too tightly together, since uneven pressure can warp your records over time. Most album covers measure 12 by 12 inches, so look for a storage solution with slightly larger interior dimensions — that way you can easily remove and replace records as you listen to them. …With all of that in mind, here are nine ways to display your records, regardless of the size and scope of your vinyl collection.
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is your time to support local book shops: The country’s page-peddlers are teaming up to drum up support for independent book culture on April 24. Like so many small businesses, independent bookstores could really use some support right now. With Ontario back in what feels like its 113th lockdown, booksellers back to offering curbside pickup and delivery – space dominated by Amazon, which actually started as an online bookseller before it became the everything store. Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is back to drum up support for the country’s independent page-peddlers. After a few years dormant, the event will return on April 24. “Independent bookstores support cross-generational initiatives and offer inclusive spaces for important dialogue,” says Shelley Macbeth, the board chair of the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (and the owner of Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge, Ontario). “[They make an] integral contribution to the literary ecosystem and Canadian culture as champions of local authors and creators from diverse backgrounds.”
