"There’s nothing as glamorous to me as a record store. This is why I’m more than happy to support Record Store Day and I hope that these kinds of stores will be there for us all for many years to come. Cheers!
Paul McCartney
The Quietus is calling upon all of its readers to make sure they support Record Store Day 2010, which takes place tomorrow, Saturday April 17th.
Every day we’re bombarded with the same message: the record industry is dying and no-one wants to buy albums anymore. Besides, why bother with something as cumbersome as a record player when you could have it all on your computer?
But last year, 14 independent record stores opened in the UK. Call us optimists, but we take that to be a clear sign that for many people, like us, the romance of the record store is not dead – which is exactly why we’re supporting this year’s event.
"The ‘cool’ record store. It is where you can talk to people who are like you. They look like you, think like you and, most tellingly like the same music as you – the only comparable experience these days would probably be an art museum – an actual place where you can stand and simply be surrounded by your heroes."
Wayne Coyne
This year, Record Store Day has a series of exclusive releases for people to grab their hands on.
Our friends at Mute Records, for example, are issuing three special releases: an exclusive white vinyl 12" of the fantastic ‘The Mercy Seat’ by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds; a limited edition 12" version of Yeasayer’s single ‘O.N.E’; and a cassette version of Goldfrapp’s latest album Head First.
Other releases we in The Quietus bunker are excited about include the previously unreleased tracks ‘Crazy/Euphoria’ by Neu! and the 750 copies of ‘Bury/Cowboy Gregorie’ by The Fall. To check out the comprehensive list, featuring releases from Beach House, Deerhoof, Devo, Fela Kuti and more, click here.
"Independent record stores play a vital role in selling music from the fringe as well as the mainstream. We’re delighted to be releasing a one-off vinyl single only available in independent shops as part of Record Store Day."
Neil Tennant, Pet Shop Boys
As well as a load of limited edition vinyl and albums to get your hands on, there’ll be a series of special appearances over the weekend too. At Rough Trade East, for example, Caribou, Ash and Laurie Anderson will all be in attendance.
The Magic Numbers will be joined by a host of other names over at Rough Trade West, while Silver Columns will be appearing at Pure Groove in Farringdon.
Over the pond, meanwhile, artists including Smashing Pumpkins, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Slash will be lending their support to the day. Click here to find out who is appearing in a store near you.
To mark Record Store Day 2010, The Quietus had a chat with Julian Casablancas, lead singer of The Strokes. Here’s what he had to say:
"It [the first record I ever owned] was the Rocky IV soundtrack… I think I used to play it on my Mom’s record player and punch a pillow or something. I think it might have been a Christmas present. I can’t really remember, I have a terrible memory of youth. I just remember it being the first thing that I had and loved and cherished.
"I’m glad that vinyl is still lasting, that it’s like a collector’s thing that people still keep. I think that’s quite cool.
"It’s like baseball cards, it’s like a collection of thing. That feeling of having the physical product – humans will always enjoy that."
Other artists, too, were clamouring to give their opinion about the importance of supporting the independent record store. The Quietus will certainly be heading to its nearest shop on Saturday, and hopes you do too…
"I think it’s high time the mentors, big brothers, big sisters, parents, Guardians, and neighborhood ne’er do wells, start taking younger people That look up to them To a real record store and show them what an important part of life music really is. I trust no one who hasn’t time for music. What a shame to Leave a child, or worse, a generation orphaned from one of life’s great beauties. And to the record stores, artists, labels, dj’s, and journalists; we’re all in this together. Show respect for the tangible music that you’ve dedicated your careers and lives to, and help It from becoming nothing more than disposable digital data." Jack White
"I used to work at an indie record shop so I’ll always have a soft spot for the places where I still go to find the most vital music, whether new or still hidden." Billy Corgan
"I was introduced to lots of great music through my local record store. It was a place where people knew music and they knew me, and could make great suggestions and discoveries. Whether it is in the physical world or on-line, the value of a great and knowledgeable record store has not gone away." Peter Gabriel
"Buy records; they’re fucking top." Quietus editor John Doran
For more information about Record Store Day, visit the official site here.
