I NEED THAT RECORD!
A Prog writer asks: is Record Store Day still serving its purpose?
“Record Store Day is the one day of the year when over 200 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture,” proclaims its website. The annual celebration commemorated its 12th anniversary this year, but there are those that grumble the releases are too expensive, the original idea has been taken over by the majors, releases are merely being bought to flog on and, importantly, that ‘every day should be record store day’.
And are they justified? Perhaps.
Here’s a disclaimer: I’m not a neutral party. I worked in record shops as a young man, prepared records for release, have written about records, participated in Record Store Day and, most importantly of all, I’ve bought records. Lots of them. Especially on RSD. I have an unopened mono version of A Saucerful Of Secrets (£26.99 vs £250 for the original) that’s sitting next to last year’s unopened The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (£24.99 vs £360), and that’s near my pink vinyl See Emily Play from 2013. I’ll never play them. I don’t intend to sell them. These are mine and their very existence gives me pleasure.
I’m blessed with an excellent local indie, Fives, two doors down from the Wimpy. The fact I can walk to both from my front door fills me with utter joy. Over the years, Fives has seen off competition from Woolworths, Our Price, Virgin Megastore, and numerous other indies. Peter Driscoll, the wise old owner of Fives, sold me Frankie Goes To Hollywood rarities in my teens, and unbelievably, he’s still running the shop today with his daughter Sandra. I’ve been very fortunate to host a Dansette Disco with them for the past seven RSDs, full of local DJs and bands. This year we were blessed with a guest appearance from Prog legend, Jo Kendall, who burnt the disco out with a fine selection of 7-inchs.
The thing that gets me each year is the sheer joy of those, who’ve queued since the early hours, really getting what they want. Bags are gleefully opened and contents displayed — and, of course, prog is always well represented, this year with Yes’ first album, ELP’s Live At Pocono Raceway, USA, 1972 and Jethro Tull’s 10-inch of North Sea Oil among others.
No matter the arguments at Fives, Peter takes in one day what he takes in the whole of December, enabling him to continue into his 42nd year of selling records. And with the icy wind blowing down many a high street, I’m happy to join in.
RSD has been responsible for ‘the vinyl revival’ and for prog, that can only be a good thing. Is Record Store Day still serving its purpose? Yes. If for one thing, and one thing alone, RSD offers an opportunity for like-minded souls to blink into the daylight, away from the record fairs and the computer screen. And we never have, and never will, call records ‘vinyls.’
Got an opinion on the matter that you’d like to share? Please email us at: prog@futurenet.com. Opinions expressed in this column aren’t necessarily those of the magazine.