RECORD STORE DAY
To truly get a handle on what a phenomenon Record Store Day has become around the globe, it helps to look back to the past.
Over the last decade of the event there’s been no shortage of heavy hitters involved, from official ambassadors to artists with special releases designed to get music fans away from the computer and into brick-and-mortar stores. The 2018 edition takes place on Saturday (April 21), with Run the Jewels serving as the ambassadors.
But first, some history. When Record Store Day launched in 2008, those with special limited-edition releases included Vampire Weekend, R.E.M., Death Cab for Cutie, and Jason Mraz. No less than Metallica showed up to sign autographs at Rasputin Music in Mountain View, California.
The goal that initial year? Log on to www.recordstoreday.com/ and you’ll find this mission statement: “Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally.”
And celebrate the world has, with each RSD helping put vinyl, cassettes, and, yes, even CDS back in the spotlight at a time when digital-everything rules. In the following years, ambassadors have included Josh Homme, Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne, St. Vincent, Chuck D, and the infamously technology-averse Jack White. Artists who have released special Record Store Day exclusives range from Little Richard and Phil Collins to Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Joan Jett.
Record Store Day mushroomed into a global event, with thousands of stores participating not only in the U.S., but also countries including Italy, Japan, Spain, the U.K., Mexico, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and, of course, Canada.
In a telling statement on what a phenomenon the day has become, this year will see over 400 limited-edition releases hit record-store shelves around the globe from artists as varied as Car Seat Headrest, Courtney Barnett, Fleetwood Mac, Insane Clown Posse, Led Zeppelin, the Wipers, and Wu-tang Clan. As always, Vancouver will offer no shortage of destinations for those who love the smell of vinyl.
Here’s what you can look forward to around town this Saturday:
SIKORA’S CLASSICAL RECORDS
(432 West Hastings Street; sikoras classical.com/ ) Taking the approach that the best surprises are just that, Sikora’s is promising a general storewide sale on Record Store Day.
RED CAT RECORDS (4332 Main Street and 2447 East Hastings Street; redcat.ca/ ) For being one of the first 150 people through the door you get a free Johnny Cash record, and concert tickets are also up for grabs. Red Cat is also offering 20 percent off new and used CDS and vinyl, as well as turntables and stereo gear. Both stores will feature live music from 4 p.m. onward, including performances by Kellarissa, Kensington Gore, and Frog Eyes.
NEPTOON RECORDS (3561 Main Street; neptoon.com/ ) Free live music is a huge part of every Record Store Day at Neptoon, the lineup this year including performances by Black Wizard, Woolworm, Slow Tide, and Jo Passed. Neptoon will also offer 10 percent off all new vinyl (except Record Store Day releases), 50 percent off used CDS, and 20 percent off used vinyl. RSD releases that have already arrived and will be on sale include Flume’s Flume (on picture disc), Mac Demarco’s Old Dog Demos, and AC/ DC’S Back in Black (on cassette!).
BEATMERCHANT RECORD STORE
(12240 Second Avenue, Richmond; www.beatmerchant.com/ ) The Steveston store specializing in British collectibles will have specials on LPS (three for $20) and CDS and DVDS (three for $10). In addition to special Record Store Day releases, there will also be door prizes.
DURANT SESSIONS (315 West Cordova Street; durantsessions.com/ ) Here’s a great way to get something back for those duplicate copies of Descendents’ Milo Goes to College or Lisa Loeb’s Purple Tape. Durant Sessions isn’t a record store, but the optical boutique (which has locations in both Gastown and the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles) is run by folks who love music; spinning on the in-store turntable at any given time at Durant are staff faves like Miles Davis, Joy Division, and Chris Stapleton. To celebrate Record Store Day, Durant is giving one percent off eyewear for each vinyl record brought into the store, up to a maximum of 20 records. Durant Sessions Record Store Day runs Thursday to Sunday (April 19 to 22).