Record Store Day 2018 - Waiting for Tower Records to open its doors
Record Store Day 2019 will be my sixth RSD, and it is one of my own personal highlights of the year, buying a record is a buzz, but buying a plethora of records in a few hours is the only thing that still feels like Christmas as a child for me. Ultra-hipsters and cynics were quick to abandon it shortly after its incarnation in 2007 as they felt it moved towards a commercially geared opportunity to fleece punters with limited edition vinyl, which as time went on, wasn't so limited after all. Some of these 'rare' issue presses by larger artists are re-released en masse within the year. The other negative side is online sellers from platforms like eBay swooping in a buying multiple copies of rarities which end up for sale online within hours for multiples of the retail price, grrr! Many independent record shops, such as Tower Records in Dublin, have proactively deterred this nasty capitalistic practice by limiting buyers to single purchases of each record, a fair policy that benefits genuine vinyl heads.
The Record Spot - Fade Street, RSD 2018, site of Jeff Buckley Sin-É purchase
Personally I couldn't give two hoots about the self-appointed 'purists', I'm half-way through my life (if I'm lucky) and I don't have time to sit at home cleaning my first press of Hank Mobley's Blue Note 1568 from 1957 (I don't actually own it) by the fire-place (don't have a fire-place either) basking in a dark grey cloud of smugness. It is what it is, or has become, all I know is that I enjoy it very much, and it makes me happy. And it's not just the buying, it's the buzz, it's the fretful and paranoid glances from strangers; "I need to watch him, he looks like he wants all the records on my list", and it's the helpful camaraderie. In packed shops, these same untrusting strangers will pass albums, EP's and singles over heads to each other from the shelves to ensure everyone manages to tick off as much of their wanted list as possible.
Tom (bottom of photo) gives the classic "I'm watching you" Record Store Day 'look'
I've managed to get some great additions to my collection of the past few years, from artists such as John Grant, Sam Cooke, Richard Hawley, Rory Gallagher, Sufjan Stevens, Mogwai, and a gorgeous boxset of Jeff Buckley's legendary Live at Sin-É show, extended to over 20 tracks on 4 LP's. The latter of which I only actually opened last month for the first time and had a joyous experience listening to.
My normal routine is to get to Tower Records before they open at 8am, last year the queue was half-way up Dawson Street, the logic being that they will have the bigger volume of releases by virtue of store size, and therefore increased chance of getting what I want. From there I'll make my way to Freebird Records on Wicklow Street (inside The Secret Book & Record Store), then on to Spindizzy Records in George's Arcade, and finally to the amazing peeps at The Record Spot / R.A.G.E. on Fade Street, who go all out every year with bands and DJ's playing all day. Finally home, examine the swag bag(s), and maybe a glass of French red whilst listening to them for that uber-gratifying feeling. I should point out that outside of Dublin, the two best record shops I've been to and will be participating in RSD2019 are Classified Records in Dundalk, a shop that has unflinchingly supported local acts Just Mustard, AE Mak, Trick Mist, Elephant, Third Smoke and more, and if you're down Dingle way, the beautiful Dingle Record Shop at the corner of Green Street.
Photo via @towerrecordsdublin
So, what's on the cards for Record Store Day 2019, and what will be on my own wish-list...well, first of all, the full list of participating stores in Ireland are here, and the list of releases available to us (they vary geographically) are here.
Essential purchases in my humble opinion, absolute gold in bold! 25 of the best from circa 600 releases available in Ireland;
1. The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of... (1966 repress)
2. Aretha Franklin - The Atlantic Singles Collection (1967 repress) a 5 x 7" boxset.
3. Bill Evans - Evans in England: Live at Ronnie Scott's
4. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks: Original New York Test Pressing
5. Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions Plus 3
6. The Charlatans - Us and Us Only (coloured vinyl)
7. Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker With Strings: The Alternate Takes
8. David Bowie - The World of David Bowie
9. Elastica - BBC Sessions
10. Elvis Presley - Live at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, 1969
11. Herbie Hancock - Dedication
12. Irma Thomas - In Between Tears (1973 Repress) - **don't go home without this
13. Janis Joplin - Live at Woodstock 1969
14. John Lennon - Imagine (Raw studio mixes)
15. Manusn - Legacy (single - 12" red vinyl)
16. Pink Floyd - Saucerful of Secrets
17. Prince - The Versace Experience (note: cassette)
18. Roxy Music - Debut Album Remixes
19. Rush - Hemispheres (1978 repress)
20. Sigur Rós - Variations on Darkness (heavyweight LP)
21. Sly & The Family Stone - Live at Woodstock (1969)
22. Soccer Mommy - For Young Hearts
23. Thin Lizzy - Black Rose (double LP)
24. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks (alternative 10")
25. Wes Montgomery - Back on Indiana Avenue (double LP)
Classified Records, Dundalk (2017) with owner Neil Waters and a future Choice Music Prize nominee
