Joe’s Record Paradise Plans to Reopen Soon, Owner Johnson Lee hopes to open the store’s new location in “two or three weeks.” Joe’s, which has been operating at various locations in Maryland since 1974, has been struggling to comply with permitting and regulatory requirements. Lee told City Paper he was scheduled to meet last week with a sprinkler professional and building management to determine what remaining work needs to done. “We are working on the architectural drawings to be resubmitted for approval,” he says.
Police swoop on record shop after owner puts up sign describing his music as “legal highs”: A village record shop owner put up a sign describing his music as “legal highs” – but was hit by a police swoop who thought he was selling drugs. Haydn Pugh, 60, was visited by officers who tore down his comedy poster because they thought he was psychoactive substances. But his artwork was just a joke – and Haydn meant that music could give listeners a “lift”.
Vinyl always has the best packaging, says DJ Captain Wormhole: Political subversion has often been a theme in record cover art. Meat Is Murder by The Smiths is an obvious example. Many designers and musicians had their ideas tempered by commercially minded label execs, but the boys up at Factory Records had no such issue with Tony Wilson. The label head supposedly came up with the idea, inspired by the French Situationist Guy Debord, to wrap The Return Of The Durutti Column in sandpaper so it scratched up all your other records when you took it out of the crate.
Sainsbury’s: We’re the biggest vinyl record seller. HMV: Er, no you’re not: HMV said in a statement: “For the record HMV sell more Orange Juice, Meatloaf, Cream, and Jam than Sainsbury’s! We also have some Smashing Pumpkins…“When it comes to vinyl sales HMV have over four times the market share of Sainsbury’s from a range of up to 1,500 records in each of our 128 stores. “Not that hmv are blowing their own trumpet, but if you are looking for some Red Hot Chilli Peppers, a Hot Chip, or Black Eyed Peas: the best place to visit is your local record store.”
New Sam’s sign brings back memories: An old neon sign from a now-defunct record store in Toronto was in the news recently. It’s been reported that what is described as the iconic sign from Sam the Record Man’s flagship store on Yonge Street has been restored and will be erected a few blocks away from its original location. No word on the cost of all this (Ryerson University, which purchased and demolished the old Sam’s location, is footing the bill) but it must be in the millions, a lot of money to spend advertising something that doesn’t exist.
Groovy chemistry: The materials science behind records, From wax to vinyl, chemistry shaped the history of recorded sound: At Quality Record Pressings in Salina, Kan., the influx of orders for vinyl records has been so great that the staff has been turning away requests since September. This resurgence in vinyl’s popularity blindsided Gary Salstrom, the company’s general manger. The company is just five years old, but Salstrom has been making records for a living since 1979. “I can’t tell you how surprised I am,” he says. Listeners aren’t just demanding more records; they want to listen to more genres on vinyl.
