Episode 76:: Record Store Day

In a tradition remarkably reminisce of Hallmark's founding of Valentine's day as a way to boost card sales, in 2007 a group of local music store owners conceived of and launched Record Store Day, an international celebration of local music - and specifically vinyl music - shops. The idea was to raise awareness about local record shops, and also spark the emerging, but not especially lucrative, record store industry. It was a moderate success, and now every year on the 3rd saturday of April, more and more stores, artists and labels are coming up with special ways to drive business on Record Store Day.

Still being a relative newcomer to Washington DC, I elected to participate and become more familiar with my local vinyl scene. Sadly, after visiting 4 of the 5 vinyl stores in DC, I still had yet to find any Jazz records of note (several had the recent Blue Note 80000-series, new-press vinyl, but those can be bought direct online for like $5, so spending $15 on them at a local store is the antithesis of cool). While I commend DC for its vibrant punk/new age/ afrobeat vinyl repertoire, it wasn't until I hit the last spot - Som Records on 14th & U street - that Record Store Day 2011 was even remotely successful.

But what a haul! The following records were obtained with minimal elbows thrown, and almost no haggling, for a total of $21. Worth it? Listen on, and you be the judge.

Audio

Playlist

1. Dave Pike - Why Not? - Pike's Peak
2. Walter Perkins - Big Hands - MJT+3
3. Terry Gibbs Big Band - You Don't Know What Love Is - Live at the Summit
4. " " - Sweet Georgia Brown - Live at the Summit
5. " " - T. and S. - Live at the Summit
6. Vivian Garry - Where You At? - Central Avenue Breakdown, vol. 1
7. " " - Tonsilectomy - Central Avenue Breakdown, vol. 1
8. Dodo Marmarosa - Rain Drops - Central Avenue Breakdown, vol. 1
9. Charles Lloyd - Love Ship - Dream Weaver
10. " " - Bird Flights - Dream Weaver

::WSRP:: Proud Financial Supporter of Used Record Shops Nation-wide.