Music fans get ready for 4am start in vinyl hunt

Record shops stock up on rare releases in anticipation of massive queues from small hours

Fans were expected to be queueing from as early as 4am today in the hunt for exclusive vinyls on the 10th annual Record Store Day.

Hundreds of music lovers are expected to flock to their favourite record stores to pick up exclusive releases and rare albums.

Assai Records in Broughty Ferry hosts Dundee band The View, who will be holding a signing session as part of their own 10-year anniversary since debut album Buskers.

Over in Perth, Concorde Music is taking part for the fifth year and owner Gary Smith said it was not unusual for music lovers to start queuing outside his shop from the small hours in anticipation.

Gary added: “Between 20 and 30 people usually arrive in the first hour and then the queue really starts to expand after around 5.30.”

The special day takes place in shops across the world and there are strict rules imposed on retailers taking part.

Special Record Store Day vinyls cannot be sold before 8am on the day itself and shop owners have to let organisers know what records they want in advance.

Artists record or re-release special edition vinyl recordings and this year’s haul sees reissued singles from The Beatles, Pink Floyd and a special picture disk of Fawlty Towers among hundreds of others. Hats Off To The

Assai will be taking part in the event for the second time and store manager Andy McLaren said it was always hard to predict which records will be most popular.

“That makes it very interesting,” he admitted.

Almost 100 people lined up outside the Ferry store before the 8am start last year, with many coming from other parts of Scotland.

Andy said: “We are hoping even more people will attend the event this year.

“The View will be holding a signing event at 10.30am, where fans will have the chance to meet the band and then another Dundee band – Carousel – will be launching their debut album with an in-store performance.

“This year we have David Bowie releases, which I expect to be popular, as well as a 12in Pink Floyd single and a Smiths single.

“It is always difficult to tell just what’s going to sell.”