Mercedes, TX | Vinyl Spins Back into Style: The aroma of incense is in the air. Posters of rock and roll legends line the walls along with pieces of art created from old vinyl records, such as an image of The Doors’ Jim Morrison. Rows upon rows of bins are filled with vinyl records used and new. “I want this place to look like my bedroom when I was a kid, posters on the wall and all that,” store owner Victor Cantu said. “And lots of great music.” Every year on a Saturday, music fans line up early in the morning waiting for Cantu’s Valley Vinyls to open its doors for Record Store Day, a time to celebrate music and hunt for bargains. [Sadly we need to reiterate, the plural of vinyl is in fact “vinyl.” —Ed.]
Longridge, England | Independent record fair’s rock ‘n’ roll market comes to Preston: Independent record traders from across the North will showcase some of the best vinyl stock in the region when they descend upon Preston later this month. Opening under the historic Fish Market canopy in Earl Street, the vinyl love-in has been organised by Masa Record Fair, a set-up that has been touring Lancashire and the greater north west since late 2016 delivering free-to-enter fairs supporting the cult following behind vinyl’s revival. Organiser of the festival, Mark Edwards, said: “I was sick of going to record fairs where there was extortionate rates for stalls and to even just get in there, so me and some mates decided we would start our own with cheap standing and free entry.”
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England | Illustrator for Iron Maiden and Judas Priest to hold record signing at the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket: The John Peel Centre will be transformed into a vinyl-lovers’ heaven this month, as the home of creative arts hosts a pop-up record shop. Mark Wilkinson, who has designed record sleeves for the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Marillion will be doing a signing at the event in Stowmarket from 4.30pm on June 16. Mr Wilkinson said: “I only met John Peel once, outside a gig for the Mothers of Invention way back in the mists of time. A bunch of us were waiting in the queue to get in the venue and we plucked up the courage to talk to him. He was really friendly and approachable – just as you’d expect. “I was delighted to be invited to display some of my artwork at the The John Peel Centre of Creative Arts in June.”
Revisiting London’s iconic album cover images: The most famous album cover shot in London is undoubtedly The Beatles’ Abbey Road, which is a tourist attraction in its own right. Thousands of Fab Four fans flock each year to upmarket St John’s Wood where the legendary zebra crossing photo was taken – and where Sir Paul McCartney still has a home. The 1969 record is only one of many important albums to have featured a London landmark on the cover. BBC News has returned to the scene of some of the most famous records of the past 50 years to see what has changed – Click and drag the arrows on the interactive images.
African American Music Appreciation Month: A Library Vinyl Record Display at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY: In celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month, City Tech Library is pleased to share recordings from its vinyl record collection. The library’s vinyl holdings include many spoken word, poetry, educational, field and folk music recordings in addition to popular and classical music. The library has record players available for anyone who would like to stop by to have a listen. The display includes highly influential twentieth century artists like Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Odetta and Bessie Smith. It also features field recordings that document everyday life in Nueva York and powerful songs from the Civil Rights Movement. While these albums were released in the 1950s, 60s and early 70s, the stories they share are timeless and their style and sound continue to shape music today.
Store your vinyl in style with these affordable, handcrafted LP racks: Most of Pratherteam’s racks, made by a husband and wife outfit based in Ohio, cost less than $100. I honestly can’t remember how I learned about Pratherteam, but I’m glad I did. I looked around its website and really liked its approach so I requested a review sample of its handsome Walnut Record Rack-Model CFM ($95, or £72 and AU$126 roughly converted) LP storage unit, which holds up to 40 LPs. Brit and husband Jason Prather design, build, finish, pack and ship everything from their home workshop in Sugarcreek, Ohio to customers worldwide. Pratherteam makes a wide assortment of LP racks, with most priced under $100 (that roughly converts to £75 and AU$132), and judging by the one I have here, build quality and wood finishing are first rate.
