Although Record Store Day has been running for a few years, this is the first time I have actively participated. Sam and I headed to ST Records in Dudley around 10.30 on the Saturday morning. ST records is a great little record shop that mainly specialises in Metal and Rock so wasn't sure what to expect. As we entered there was a sign on the door that stated they were open at 8.00 this morning specially for RSD2012. The shop is quite compact and the RSD releases were in a number of boxes on the counter and there were a couple of people flicking through the boxes and waiting to pay so we had a little wait before we could access. We finally got our turn and quickly flicked through the boxes to see what delights lay in store as there was already a small queue developing behind us. Next year I have decided to go a little bit informed with more possible purchases in mind as the few I had targeting had long since sold out - Public Image Ltd - One Drop / The Clash - London Calling 2012 remix / The Fall - Night Of The Humerons. Sam quickly spotted a handful that he wanted and opted for Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind / The Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom / Marilyn Manson - No Reflection. All 7" singles on assorted vinyl (I do love his eclectic music taste for someone so young!). As I was handing over the cash (£18 for 3 singles is a bit excessive but it is only once a year) I heard one of the people serving say that apparently people were queueing outside at 5.00am! So maybe we need to come a bit earlier next year?
After leaving ST we headed for a shop called That's Entertainment which is based in Merry Hill which is part of a chain offering discounted CDs and DVDs. I was somewhat surprised to hear they were participating in RSD and sure enough they had the posters in the window confirming this but I wasn't overly surprised when we entered and asked the assistant where their RSD releases were to be told they weren't actually sent any - surely a case for false advertising? We quickly left.
So what is my take on RSD? Well first of all it was disappointing to see so many releases offered for sale on eBay so quickly and at vastly inflated prices - I saw several copies of The Beat and Marilyn Manson singles with asking prices approaching £30 a pop. So it's fairly obvious that there is a not insignificant number of people who make these purchases with nothing else in mind but to sell quickly for a profit - probably most of them were outside ST at 5.00am. In making these releases limited, a demand that outstrips supply is often created and in a sellers market the price naturally increases. Can you really blame people for trying to cash in on this, and after all isn't this just what the participating shops are doing anyway, albeit to a much lesser extent?
But I think this cynical approach perhaps takes away from what RSD really stands for. It's a celebration of the independent record sector (remember where the word "indie" originated from?) and a chance for the likes of myself to rekindle the genuine excitement of actually visiting a record store, physically buying a piece of plastic and the resultant sonic aural rush when you get home. And if it also means that someone like Sam can get a taste for vinyl at an early age and help satisfy his desire for listening to the unheard, both old and new. At that can't be a bad thing.
So I'll be visiting ST Records a little more frequently from now on - and remember go out and support your local independent record store day - they are for life, not just RSD.
