Birmingham, UK | What Bankruptcy? HMV Is Opening a Massive, 25,000 Sq. Ft. ‘Entertainment Store’ In the UK: Venerable British music chain HMV certainly has had its ups and downs in recent years. While HMV has filed for bankruptcy multiple times, including last December, this seemingly has not stopped it from expanding its operations. In February of this year, Sunrise Records in Canada bought the chain for £883,000 ($1.4 million), and now HMV is about to open a 25,000-square foot entertainment store in the English city of Birmingham this October that it is calling the ‘HMV Vault.’ While brick-and-mortar retail stores are closing all over the world, HMV is defying this trend by opening what they say will be “a nirvana for music and film fans.” Located near Birmingham’s city center, the Vault will offer an enormous range of music, film, tech products and other types of merchandise. HMV says that they will offer thousands of LPs. The store will also cater to those who love specialty music.
Whitefish, MT | Electric Record Shop moves to Whitefish storefront: After 15 years and nearly as many moves, Spanky Guzman believes she has found her record store’s forever home. Since moving Spanky’s and Gus to a Spokane Avenue location in Whitefish this summer, she said “I’ve never seen my business like this before.” “It’s a really big change,” said the longtime business owner who has operated record shops, toy stores and Western gear outlets in Whitefish, Kalispell and Eureka since the early 2000s. When the Spokane Avenue location became available, she remembered, “I saw a chance and said ‘I have to take it.’” At the time, she was operating out of the alley behind her current location, after previously moving around between Railway Street and U.S. 93 North. “I’m pretty psyched,” she gushed, and it appears local music lovers and visitors share her excitement. “There’s been an immediate response. I didn’t expect this reaction. “People walk in expecting it to be a typical record store,” but Guzman insisted Spanky’s and Gus is carving out its own niche in the local retail music scene.
Miami, FL | The Six Best Free Things to Do in Miami This Week: Sunpress Vinyl. Music fans know that vinyl sounds excellent and record sleeves look great on a shelf. But how are these musical items made? Learn about the vinyl production process from some of the best in the biz during the Wav.Room Workshop. Sweat Records founder Lolo Reskin will moderate a chat with Sunpress Vinyl cofounder Dan Yashiv to discuss South Florida’s only record-pressing plant and some tricks of the trade. 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, September 19, at Sweat Records, 5505 NE Second Ave., Miami. Admission is free.
Penticton, BC | Okanagan Vinyl Fest spins into Penticton: Fundraiser for Peach City Radio features albums from vendors all over the province. Vinyl collectors and music lovers will be picking through a wide selections of albums from vendors all over B.C. at the eighth annual Okanagan Vinyl Fest this weekend. Organizers said there will also be opportunities to find the perfect turntable and other audio equipment at the event held as the primary fundraiser for Peach City Radio, CFUZ, who will be selling audio equipment donated through its recent audio equipment drive. There will also be other venders selling both new and used audio gear. Peach City Radio is a not-for-profit society with an online radio stream at www.CFUZ.ca, and a terrestrial signal at 92.9FM in Penticton. A member of the National Campus and Community Radio Association of Canada, Peach City Radio strives to promote volunteerism, social engagement, independent music, community capacity building, citizen journalism and diversity.
Vinyl box set edition of Miles Davis Quintet sessions out in November: Craft Recordings announced the release of the vinyl box set edition of The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions from The Miles Davis Quintet on November 8. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records, the deluxe six-LP set presents the quintet’s marathon sessions for the iconic jazz label, recorded between 1955–56, which resulted in classic albums such as Cookin’, Relaxin’, Workin’, and Steamin’. Plus, the box set offers a bonus LP with audio from radio and TV appearances by the group. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, the discs are housed in a collectible 20-page hardcover linen-wrapped portfolio-style book, featuring stunning photographs of Davis and the band, plus in-depth liner notes from esteemed jazz historian Bob Blumenthal. The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions was originally released as a CD box set in 2006, garnering wide critical acclaim. Jazz Times wrote that “To sit down with the 32 [tracks], from “Stablemates” to “My Funny Valentine,” is to fall in love all over again with irreplaceable music whose magic is utterly manifest yet elusive of description.”
Oscar-Winning Black Panther Score to Receive Vinyl Release: Months after Mondo released Christophe Beck’s Ant-Man and the Wasp score on gnarly dual-colored vinyl, the Austin-based outfit has announced their second Marvel Cinematic Universe release. Starting this Wednesday, Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar-winning score will be available in a highly-collectible 3XLP set. Pressed with 180 Gram Silver and Black colored vinyl, the set’s jacket features artwork by the amazing Martin Ansin as it showcases Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Shuri (Letitia Wright), and Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) amongst other characters from the film. The score was a break-out hit, winning an award at virtual every major awards show, including the Oscars (Best Original Score) and Grammys (Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media). The latest vinyl set will be available this Wednesday, September 18th starting at 12:00 p.m. Central on the Mondo website. The “limited” offering will be available for $45.
Ben Harper’s ‘Welcome To The Cruel World’ Celebrates 25 Years With 2LP Vinyl Reissue: Since this landmark debut, Harper has since released over 20 studio and live albums, including collaborations with Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama. On 1 November, Virgin/UMe will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ben Harper’s groundbreaking debut album Welcome To The Cruel World on standard-weight black double vinyl, while there will also be a 180g grey/green/black swirl double vinyl edition available. All 25th anniversary vinyl versions will play at 45rpm. This marks the first time Welcome To The Cruel World has been issued on two LPs. Ben Harper recalls the story behind Welcome To The Cruel World: “Claremont, California is a small town hidden in Southern California. Some have it mapped as the last town on the eastern shoulder of Los Angeles County, most know it as the first town in the Inland Empire. “It is in this town that in 1958 my grandparents opened up a small musical instrument shop called the Folk Music Center. From the outside it may be a music store, but from the inside it is where music, culture and political activism converge.
