Saturday Deluxe / 21 March 2015

Asked in the local shop in Switzerland who’s listed as partner ticipiant on the record store day who to get the items I would like to have. Answer: No chance. They dislike the RSD, because in the last years, the rarely got what they ordered and the items are often overpriced. So they are disappointed too.

All you whiners crying about RSD seemingly don’t understand that it is targeted at a different market than yourselves. Similar to the auto market, there are many different consumer profiles to target and there often isn’t intersection between those profiles. You’re sounding like a horsepower addict whining about lane assist and radar cruise control.

There’s a good chance the people that line up to buy an RSD 7″ for $20 are not going to be buying both the mono and stereo Beach Boy vinyl reissues. Get over yourselves and be happy the market is healthy enough to offer selections for different wants.

A-ha is getting back together. Norwegian media reports already. All three members have committed themselves to a two year contract, and they have already recorded new tracks.
Magne said: When Morten and Pål started talking about working together I had three options: I could refuse completely, let them do it without me, or join.
To refuse did not feel right…

Pål wanted to test a couple of songs with Morten, the thought was to create an “Idea-box” for different occasions. One thing leads to another.

I think RSD became just a way for record companies to gain money. Most of the (limited) releases are not musically interesting for the serious music lover. All those reissues, releases with new covers, picture discs, releases with out takes or alternate takes. What is the meaning of RSD?

RSD has put an end to quite a few of my collections (some amassed over decades). I live in the sticks with the nearest outlets being 25 miles away in Leeds so it’s difficult to pick up anything.
I don’t know about other people but the importance of keeping collections up to date has now gone for me (and I won’t/can’t pay silly money on Ebay for items). So well done labels it’s alienated a lot of buyers….just my own thoughts on the matter.

RSD is awesome. Always find cool things at it. and this year won’t be any different. bring it on.

later
-1

Is RSD greedish? Maybe elitist?
For example, I do find some of the super deluxe [style] box sets really greedish. Do people really need a box set that contains a video on both Blu-ray and DVD editions plus LPs and CDs [and probably downloadable MP3s or FLACs].
Look at some of the box sets that have been released. Wouldn’t touch Mark Knopfler’s Tracker box set. Not worth what’s in there is you looked just at the media [CD, DVD, etc.]. The same goes for other recent box sets such as Queen’s Rainbow ’74.

RSD has always been pointless for me. As a dedicated CD buyer who helped keep these shops open until the ‘vinyl revival’ saved them, there seems to be rarely any releases on CD.

RSD is pointless now. My local shop is about a mile away but the owner is classed as small fry and gets very few of the headline releases.

It has become a promotional say for either remastered editions, band relaunches et.

As for Ebay don’t get me started!

RSD gives me pains every time I hear about it. All those wonderful collectibles that won’t be available to me and will be scalped by on eBay and I just won’t go there.

Yes the OLI reply to Debut is just plain rubbish!

Looking at this year’s releases, RSD product seems to be aimed almost exclusively at people who want to pick up collector’s items that will largely remain unplayed. That’s fair enough for those that enjoy that sort of thing. I can’t see that it achieves much in terms of attracting a music fan ( not necessarily the same as a collector) who has got out of the habit of visiting a shop.

For example, I might well be tempted to go if I thought I would be able get one of the Topic albums being re-released. But the shop can’t tell me whether they will have one or whether I would get one. I can’t afford to take the morning off work and spend two hours on public transport on that basis. So I will wait until it gets a general release and/or buy it on ebay. This makes record shops look worse than they did i the 70s.

The way I think RSD should work is that regular record shop customers get a loyalty card that is stamped throughout the year and that gives you priority queue jump and / or can be exchanged for a discount. Surely that’s simple enough to administer and get product to the people who support independent shops throughout the year, not just one day a year?

I’ve been to a couple of stores on RSD and it’s a great buzz. I am not saying it is without flaws, there are plenty, but for at least one day a year the stores get some deserved publicity. No one is forcing you to go and buy if you don’t want to!

May stay home again this RSD and have a bacon sandwich (recipe please, Paul).

Excited years one and two – so many freebies and samplers. Last I went to, the record store manager was shouting to everyone: One copy only!

Last item that I was able to get in the store on RSD that I wanted was the live R.E.M. Green CD EP.

The Elvis single on Jack White’s Third Man looks cool this year.

Have enjoyed chatting up fellow music fans in the line also.

Paul, that answer to your Bjork complaint is just rubbish isn’t it? I’ve seen the rear cover of an original Debut UK pressing and it looks nothing like the mess you describe

I’ve had all sorts of discussions about RSD as in how to make it good for record shops the rest of the year.

One idea was a “loyalty card” that got stamped or swiped whenever you spent more than £10 in a participating shop each calendar month. This allows the holder early access on RSD when shop opens and rest have to wait.

Labels doing exclusive releases just via indie shops or special gig tickets via prize draws via these retailers.

There has to be some more interesting way of promoting record shops than this one day a year cash grab. Plus it might not cripple the world’s vinyl pressing plants

Robert sums up my relationship with RSD…it’s the one day of the year that I actively AVOID going to the small music shops that I frequent.

It brings out the worst in people and in labels (overpriced tat) alike.

In the first, or maybe second, year of RSD, I got Chronic Town on blue vinyl. Considering I’m in Sydney, this was quite a coup. But I have never since been able to get anything I wanted. There are too many people in the queue and too few copies of the most desired releases get to Australia. It always seems to rain on RSD too, and getting soaked only to find the items you got soaked for are already long gone by the time you get inside the shop is no fun.

How much of the vinyl released for RSD is actually played?
And how much is actually playable? The quality of new vinyl is actually pretty hit and miss in my experience, and ‘new / exciting’ releases have to wait in the interminable RSD clogged up queue while pointless picture discs are pressed up. If the pressing plants laid off thousands of the old staff who new what they were doing, that may explain why they are struggling to produce quality wares now. Cutting vinyl from digital masters is another issue. It seems pointless to me on the face of it (though I’m admittedly no expert in this area). if I’m just getting a CD pressed on vinyl, just give me the CD. I’ve bought a few RSD items over the years, but nothing I wouldn’t have been happy to get on a ‘normal’ release basis, or on an ‘expanded’ CD (that version of ‘Ladytron’ looks like being the latest example). And the prices are ridiculous: often £20 odd for an LP / £10+ for a 7″).

Another point: we don’t owe record stores a living any more than any other retailer. I spent my formative years scouring local record stores (often staffed my rude / ‘superior’ / disinterested ageing hippies) – usually fruitlessly – for the records I wanted. My strike rate / record collection improved exponentially in the post internet era when I was able to contact like-minded fans / labels / suppliers world-wide. When are they gonna have a day for the customers (50% off day?). That might be worth getting out of bed for.

How much of the vinyl released for RSD s actually played?
And how much is actually playable? The quality of new vinyl is actually pretty hit and miss in my experience, and ‘new / exciting’ releases have to wait in the interminable RSD clogged up queue while pointless picture discs are pressed up. If the record industry laid off thousands of the old staff who new what they were doing, that may explain why they are strughling to produce quality wares now. Cutting vinyl from digital masters is another issue. It seems pointless to me on the face of it (though I’m admittedly no expert in this area). if I’m just getting a CD pressed on vinyl, just give me the CD. I’ve bought a few RSD items over the years, but nothing I wouldn’t have been happy to get on a ‘normal’ release basis, or on an ‘expanded’ CD (that version of ‘Ladytron’ looks like being the latest example). And the prices are ruduculous: often £20 odd for an LP / £10+ for a 7″).

Another point: we don’t owe record stores a living any more than any other retailer. I spent my formative years scouring local record stores (often staffed my rude / / ‘superior’ / disinterested ageing hippies) – usually fruitlessly – for the records I wanted. My strike rate / record collection improved exponentially in the post internet era when I was able to contact like-minded fans / labels / suppliers world-wide. When are they gonna have a day for the customers (50% off day?). That might be worth getting out of bed for.

In Ireland RSD has been ruined by chinstrokers and hipsters.

RSD, no matter what people think of it now, was created to bring people and publicity to indie record stores. My local store has a queue of 200 people by the time it opens and i remember it 10 years ago almost on it’s knees trying to sell CD’s and T-shirts with a few vinyl in the corner.

Now it’s thriving again, the t-shirts have all gone and cd’s are in a small corner.

If people try to make some money out of queuing 12 hours and selling stuff then so be it, RSD in my eyes has accomplished what it was meant to do.

Viva RSD

I have never been able to obtain a Record Store Day release that I wanted for the RRP. I expect it will be the same for this years Amon Tobin 12″. Cack.

because we all know how much more in need of promotion is OMD’s deluxe edition of Junk Culture.

I use to enjoy Record Store Day however now that the major labels have realized they can profit, the event is just not the same. Yes things change however since the early days of RSD, there have been some huge changes. Probably won’t be picking up anything this year however hope other collectors are able to get what they are looking for w/o paying inflated prices. If you can’t get out for whatever reason, there are plenty of places online that sell the leftovers for regular price.

Record Store day was ruined years ago.
Thats one of the few days I avoid going to the local shops.
I can dig the support of the local indie shops but its gotten pathetic how its gotten out of hand- most ends up on eBay and the endless ‘colored’ vinyl limited edition releases.
From the indie store perspective its both a blessing and a curse. They are expected to order a ton of stuff and much of it will sit and can’t be returned. Its totally a crapshoot .

I agree with what Mike says. Record Store Day really is a major league disappointment but I always go out to see what they have left after the initial rush.

I disagree, RSD promotes greed both on behalf or record labels and everyone who buys stuff to shove it on ebay seven seconds later. My local record shop actually detests RSD though they make reasonable money.

RSD Day if nothing else gives the general public ” a taste ” for collecting unusual and rare vinyl,whether a local record shop will survive into an online future is debatable,as for rarites ending up on E-bay that’s just part and parcel of 21st century music collecting,but at least it promotes what everybody likes to see,a buoyant vibrant and hopefully healthy music scene.