Good morning and a special welcome to all my new subscribers. I love seeing how this community is growing every day and it’s thanks to people like you that keep it going. So a very special thank you to one and all for being here!
The day has finally arrived. Long-awaited by many collectors and music fans around the world, the Black Friday of record stores, the Christmas of the vinyl community, the biggest international celebration of indie record shops around the world… Happy Record Store Day!
What are your plans for today? Any specific releases you want to get your hands on? Any thoughts on Record Store Day you would like to share? Join the discussion!
I’ve never really done the record store day thing in terms of waiting in line or looking closely at the list in advance. I’ve managed to get some interesting releases in prior years by checking out stores soon after (RSD leftovers). I’ve also started to notice that some stores that aren’t participating in the RSD releases are still holding sales and events, which is nice. Every day is record store day for me!
Thank you, Chris! I absolutely agree. I think it’s great that it exists as it brings a lot of benefits (higher levels of engagement, more releases, all the excitement some folks have and, above all, the sense of community it creates/solidifies). But I am with you 100%: we should support record stores all year long, as and when we can.
I struggle a bit with this sense of “obligation” that sometimes comes with it, kind of like Christmas. So much build up to it and then (let’s be honest) it’s a bit of a relief once it’s over. Spontaneity (and lower levels of crowding) will always be a bigger pull for me than “the day we’re all supposed to celebrate” :)
I don't blame you for not camping out. Nor am I to be honest. Hope you can get your record. Good luck! Else there's always the resellers (in a few years, that is) :)
No special plans, to be honest, although I did finally order that Easter record online because I got sick of hunting for it in stores. As I learned, Patti Smith is literally impossible to stumble upon secondhand so I'm really glad I found this private reseller.
Sounds good! On Discogs there tends to be quite a lot of second-hand original releases available but it’s true that what you tend to find in stores is sometimes quite limited, especially when it comes to certain releases/artists.
Too bad, Vanessa, we couldn't have connected re: Patti records around the turn of the century! I was selling all my albums (mostly on eBay), and the first (of several thousand items) thing I sold was my autographed copy of "Babel"! I had met her at some point shortly after it was published. All my Arista promos (45s and LPs) went, too.
Just had to jettison my 2,000 albums...too tiresome lugging them around from home to home, and it was either "they all stay or they all gotta go," and as most had the re-sale premium of being white label promos, so much the better! So, my collection is scattered all around the globe!
Wow, that is too bad! I finally saw her live last year but it does sound like you had an impressive collection of treasures there. Meeting her when she was younger must've been awesome too!
I wish I could remember more about our meeting....I seem to recall her walking out of a door and toward me, like from backstage to outside. I must've seen her show (but, I can't remember that, either!), but maybe I didn't attend, but just tried to time my appearance to coincide with her exit, so I could get the book signed!📘🖊I know.......shameful! She was terribly kind and everything I'd-a hoped. Little did I know that, one day, she and I would "be working for the same company!"
I know! For someone (me) who's building FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE largely on my memories of my past experiences with concerts, records, and the musicians themselves, my Patti reflections are decidedly thin! "Babel" was published in 1978, and I know I had it "right outta the box."
I was in Houston (and knew its venues well), and moved to L.A. in the early '80s. I HAD to have gotten Patti's 'graph by the end of '79 (she would've been around 33), at which point, of course, she was still smack dab in the thick of her recording career!
If you've yet to, Vanessa, please drop the needle on some or all of my far more solid "rememberies" of (among many others) my 1978 night in The Ramones hotel room, interviewing David Cassidy (in his penthouse) in 1975, spending two weekends with the New York Dolls in '73, meeting Iggy Pop (and getting his autograph, well-documented and remembered!), and seeing the Sex Pisols in San Antonio, TX in early '78 (and briefly encountering Sid'n'Johnny in the process)! .....And, thanks!
I'm going to one store today here in Austin (TX)! We've got eight stores in the Austin area participating in RSD! I'm just going to "check out the scene"---not looking to buy anything!
I discovered 55 of my "old" and first business card, touting FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE, my 'Stack offering. For about a year now, my second iteration of the card has more text, plus a QR code on the back for easy scanning for the kids these days!
The front has always been that photo of me with The Ramones from backstage at Liberty Hall in 1977 when I was 22 (you see to your left). But, I took a silver paint pen and a gold one, and autographed each one in one of those Sharpie colors in the upper left-hand corner! I forgot I had any left!
Anyway, I thought it'd be fun to pass those out today at the record store I'm going to, and try to pass myself off as "Brad Ramone," the lost and misshapen Ramone!! I figured (when I started my Substack in early fall '21) that the photo looks like SOMEONE shoulda signed it, and as we've run out of original Ramones still living, I took it upon myself to sign it! Happy RSD, one and all!--Brad
That is so cool, Brad. I sincerely admire the stamina and bravery to get out there, distribute your business cards, pitch your work, etc. It’s not said often enough but it really does take a lot of courage to get out there and promote your work. Kudos to you. That photo of you with the Ramones is iconic and it’s such a cool idea to sign it. I agree it does look like someone should autograph it! Best of luck and report back when you can!
You're right about all of that....it's always hit and miss, on a daily basis, whether my card/my site will resonate with anybody, but the card has been helpful in breaking the ice to begin, many times, a wonderful conversation about music and records, and even a lasting friendship or three (and a couple new readers/subscribers)!
Like today, I figure everyone will at least be eager to have a card (especially if they're a Ramones fan...it's a collector's item...you're not really a Ramones completist without this rare, exclusive pic)! Plus, I expect to have many happily unending conversations today!
This was going to be my first ever crazy-queueing-from-3-am RSD but I overslept and ended up having to pay THREE TIMES the retail price on eBay last night 😭. Next year hopefully I’ll do better! Lol
Oh no! The “scalpers” as they are famously known. Sometimes prices drop after a few weeks, but at the same time, I understand that if you really want a record you don’t necessarily want to risk it. Having said that, three times the retail price is not the worst I’ve seen — it could have been a lot worse! Small consolation, at least.
Yes! To be honest I think I got a bit lucky! Found a 1-day auction and didn’t move from my chair until it ended and won it at a relatively ok price, haha, but anyway! I’ll let you know my RSD purchases next April ☺️
I'm one of those "every day" is record store day, or at least it has the potential to be! I was in Boston for part of the weekend and would have checked out a record store either way, as that is something I love to do when traveling. Fortunately my daughter agrees and my son didn't mind either. We hit Good Taste Records in the North End, a really nice little store. I looked through the RSD exclusives but didn't see anything that grabbed me. I like the little Mike D. curated set of Brazilian singles but $42 is more than I wanted to spend. But I looked through the used LPs and found a well-loved older pressing of Led Zeppelin's debut for $8. Completed my collection! And that's a good Record Store Day to me.
Absolutely agree that every day is RSD (especially on quieter days, when record stores need our business the most). But I’m glad you managed to beat the crowds on Saturday. What a great find -- a true bargain! I love the fact your children shared the experience with you. That’s what I call “proper education” 😊
I’ve never really done the record store day thing in terms of waiting in line or looking closely at the list in advance. I’ve managed to get some interesting releases in prior years by checking out stores soon after (RSD leftovers). I’ve also started to notice that some stores that aren’t participating in the RSD releases are still holding sales and events, which is nice. Every day is record store day for me!
Thank you, Chris! I absolutely agree. I think it’s great that it exists as it brings a lot of benefits (higher levels of engagement, more releases, all the excitement some folks have and, above all, the sense of community it creates/solidifies). But I am with you 100%: we should support record stores all year long, as and when we can.
I struggle a bit with this sense of “obligation” that sometimes comes with it, kind of like Christmas. So much build up to it and then (let’s be honest) it’s a bit of a relief once it’s over. Spontaneity (and lower levels of crowding) will always be a bigger pull for me than “the day we’re all supposed to celebrate” :)
I'm not camping out or anything, but I'd like to get a copy of Pearl Jam's "Give way" record.
I don't blame you for not camping out. Nor am I to be honest. Hope you can get your record. Good luck! Else there's always the resellers (in a few years, that is) :)
Happy Record Store Day!
No special plans, to be honest, although I did finally order that Easter record online because I got sick of hunting for it in stores. As I learned, Patti Smith is literally impossible to stumble upon secondhand so I'm really glad I found this private reseller.
Sounds good! On Discogs there tends to be quite a lot of second-hand original releases available but it’s true that what you tend to find in stores is sometimes quite limited, especially when it comes to certain releases/artists.
Hope you enjoy your purchase!
Exactly, I found it on Discogs :D
Too bad, Vanessa, we couldn't have connected re: Patti records around the turn of the century! I was selling all my albums (mostly on eBay), and the first (of several thousand items) thing I sold was my autographed copy of "Babel"! I had met her at some point shortly after it was published. All my Arista promos (45s and LPs) went, too.
Just had to jettison my 2,000 albums...too tiresome lugging them around from home to home, and it was either "they all stay or they all gotta go," and as most had the re-sale premium of being white label promos, so much the better! So, my collection is scattered all around the globe!
Wow, that is too bad! I finally saw her live last year but it does sound like you had an impressive collection of treasures there. Meeting her when she was younger must've been awesome too!
I wish I could remember more about our meeting....I seem to recall her walking out of a door and toward me, like from backstage to outside. I must've seen her show (but, I can't remember that, either!), but maybe I didn't attend, but just tried to time my appearance to coincide with her exit, so I could get the book signed!📘🖊I know.......shameful! She was terribly kind and everything I'd-a hoped. Little did I know that, one day, she and I would "be working for the same company!"
How curiously dreamlike! I hope you do remember roughly when it happened/how old she was though?
I know! For someone (me) who's building FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE largely on my memories of my past experiences with concerts, records, and the musicians themselves, my Patti reflections are decidedly thin! "Babel" was published in 1978, and I know I had it "right outta the box."
I was in Houston (and knew its venues well), and moved to L.A. in the early '80s. I HAD to have gotten Patti's 'graph by the end of '79 (she would've been around 33), at which point, of course, she was still smack dab in the thick of her recording career!
If you've yet to, Vanessa, please drop the needle on some or all of my far more solid "rememberies" of (among many others) my 1978 night in The Ramones hotel room, interviewing David Cassidy (in his penthouse) in 1975, spending two weekends with the New York Dolls in '73, meeting Iggy Pop (and getting his autograph, well-documented and remembered!), and seeing the Sex Pisols in San Antonio, TX in early '78 (and briefly encountering Sid'n'Johnny in the process)! .....And, thanks!
I'm going to one store today here in Austin (TX)! We've got eight stores in the Austin area participating in RSD! I'm just going to "check out the scene"---not looking to buy anything!
I discovered 55 of my "old" and first business card, touting FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE, my 'Stack offering. For about a year now, my second iteration of the card has more text, plus a QR code on the back for easy scanning for the kids these days!
The front has always been that photo of me with The Ramones from backstage at Liberty Hall in 1977 when I was 22 (you see to your left). But, I took a silver paint pen and a gold one, and autographed each one in one of those Sharpie colors in the upper left-hand corner! I forgot I had any left!
Anyway, I thought it'd be fun to pass those out today at the record store I'm going to, and try to pass myself off as "Brad Ramone," the lost and misshapen Ramone!! I figured (when I started my Substack in early fall '21) that the photo looks like SOMEONE shoulda signed it, and as we've run out of original Ramones still living, I took it upon myself to sign it! Happy RSD, one and all!--Brad
That is so cool, Brad. I sincerely admire the stamina and bravery to get out there, distribute your business cards, pitch your work, etc. It’s not said often enough but it really does take a lot of courage to get out there and promote your work. Kudos to you. That photo of you with the Ramones is iconic and it’s such a cool idea to sign it. I agree it does look like someone should autograph it! Best of luck and report back when you can!
You're right about all of that....it's always hit and miss, on a daily basis, whether my card/my site will resonate with anybody, but the card has been helpful in breaking the ice to begin, many times, a wonderful conversation about music and records, and even a lasting friendship or three (and a couple new readers/subscribers)!
Like today, I figure everyone will at least be eager to have a card (especially if they're a Ramones fan...it's a collector's item...you're not really a Ramones completist without this rare, exclusive pic)! Plus, I expect to have many happily unending conversations today!
I'll be e-mailing you a surprise later!
Absolutely. It’s a great ice-breaker. And you’re right about seeing it as a collector’s item. Great marketing!
Yes please; looking forward to that! Thanks a lot once again!
I didn’t know this was a thing! How wonderful!
Yes! It’s grown a lot in recent years. Some people start queuing at 3am! Now that’s a bit much, but I think it’s awesome :)
This was going to be my first ever crazy-queueing-from-3-am RSD but I overslept and ended up having to pay THREE TIMES the retail price on eBay last night 😭. Next year hopefully I’ll do better! Lol
Oh no! The “scalpers” as they are famously known. Sometimes prices drop after a few weeks, but at the same time, I understand that if you really want a record you don’t necessarily want to risk it. Having said that, three times the retail price is not the worst I’ve seen — it could have been a lot worse! Small consolation, at least.
Yes! To be honest I think I got a bit lucky! Found a 1-day auction and didn’t move from my chair until it ended and won it at a relatively ok price, haha, but anyway! I’ll let you know my RSD purchases next April ☺️
Haha glued to the chair! Sometimes it’s the only way! Glad you got it in the end. Enjoy!!
I'm one of those "every day" is record store day, or at least it has the potential to be! I was in Boston for part of the weekend and would have checked out a record store either way, as that is something I love to do when traveling. Fortunately my daughter agrees and my son didn't mind either. We hit Good Taste Records in the North End, a really nice little store. I looked through the RSD exclusives but didn't see anything that grabbed me. I like the little Mike D. curated set of Brazilian singles but $42 is more than I wanted to spend. But I looked through the used LPs and found a well-loved older pressing of Led Zeppelin's debut for $8. Completed my collection! And that's a good Record Store Day to me.
Absolutely agree that every day is RSD (especially on quieter days, when record stores need our business the most). But I’m glad you managed to beat the crowds on Saturday. What a great find -- a true bargain! I love the fact your children shared the experience with you. That’s what I call “proper education” 😊