I’m sure you have heard of Free Comic Book Day, and that is cool. But for me, the greatest day is actually Record Store Day. And this year, because of that crazy Covid-19, we got 3! Now granted, you don’t get a bunch of free albums on Record Store Day, which would be awesome, but I do love to actually pay the musicians I love, so I am not pressed by spending a little extra on a day of special wonders. However, like Free Comic Book Day, this is a day for collectibles. And if you collect vinyl, it is a day you mark on your calendar!
Collecting vinyl is not something I just kind of fell into. It started when I was a kid, pre teen years. My brother, who is 9 years older than me, used to DJ at different clubs in Charlotte, so this meant he was always searching flea markets, yard sales, and my parents old Vinyl, for music he could mix each night. Following him around, and trying to be even as remotely cool as I saw him to be, was what really drew me into records.
Granted, the game is a little different now. When my brother was on the hunt, he had to look through previously published albums, or dance singles, and hope they were in decent condition. Now though, the vinyl business is booming again, with more artists than ever putting out their hits on shiny, brightly colored LP’s. I try to go to Charlotte’s amazing record store, Lunchbox Records, whenever I can, but especially on Record Store Day, because they get EVERYTHING! And Record Store Day is the day you have a shot at finding something rare or truly special.
This year I grabbed a copy of Billie Eilish where she performed a concert and recorded it live at Third Man Records. (That’s the recording company of the White Stripes frontman, Jack White) It’s branded, it’s blue, and it has that sound that can only come from playing a record. So put down the phone, turn off the computer, tell Alexa to take a break, and grab a record.
For more information on Record Store Day, and the releases available this Saturday, October 24th, check here: Record Store Day 2020
