Record Store Day just seems to be getting bigger and bigger.
Started in April 2007, Record Store Day (RSD) encourages music fans everywhere to support their friendly, local, independent record stores. On the third Saturday of April (that’s tomorrow, April 19!), record stores around the world hold special events like concerts and listening parties, and labels and artists release short-run vinyl and cassettes to commemorate the occasion.
2014 looks to be the biggest RSD yet. The celebration has expanded to cover every continent (except Antarctica), and in the U.S. alone, the special releases have leapt from ten in 2008 to more than 400 this year. While some worry that RSD may be growing too fast (the excellent U.K.-based music blog The Quietus recently posted about these very concerns), the day continues to be a huge success for small retailers worldwide. Not only does the day bring in new and returning customers, it also encourages community involvement by showcasing local talent and driving customers to nearby shops.
Record stores near every Levitt city will be participating in RSD. And if you’re looking for a special release or your new favorite band, here are some tips on places you can visit.
Arlington, TX
North Texas’ record shops from Denton to Arlington are jam-packed with RSD activities and enviable live music lineups. Arlington’s CD Warehouse will be stocking many of the day’s special releases, while Dallas’ Good Records has booked 14 (yes, that’s right, 14!) local acts to play throughout the day.
CD Warehouse: 1213 S Cooper St, Arlington, TX 76010
Good Records: 1808 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Bethlehem, PA
Local vinyl haven Play It Again Records specializes in punk, new wave, hardcore, garage and classic rock—they’ve already stocked their shelves with favorites and new releases for the day. Compact Disc Center will be open from 8 to 8 on RSD and have already planned a celebration complete with ticket giveaways and DJs from local college radio station WLVR.
Compact Disc Center: 1365 Easton Ave, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Play It Again Records: 129 W 4th St, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Los Angeles, CA
LA is rich with excellent record shops that stock hand-picked releases, but a couple places to go out of your way for on RSD are Mount Analog and Touch Vinyl. In addition to a stellar lineup of DJs (including folks from Levitt LA and Levitt Pasadena partner dublab), Highland Park’s Mount Analog will be selling a limited selection of cassette tapes from its own label throughout the day. And on the other side of town, Sawtelle’s Touch Vinyl will have over 180 RSD titles available and DJs spinning tunes for your afternoon shopping.
Mount Analog: 5906 1/2 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Touch Vinyl: 1646 Sawtelle Blvd, West Los Angeles, California, 90025
Memphis, TN
The Memphis Flyer has a great roundup of RSD activities in the city. Goner Records in the Cooper-Young area (just a few blocks south of the Levitt Shell) will have live music by Mark Edgar Stuart, Robby Grant and Tyler Keith, tasty beverages by local brewery Memphis Made and a sale on vinyl.
Goner Records: 2152 Young Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Pasadena, CA
Two Pasadena record stores will be hooking up local residents with RSD treats. Poo-bah Record Shop is even closing early tonight to prepare for the day (they open tomorrow at 10), and Canterbury Records will be seeing people lining up early in the morning for RSD releases by The Ramones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Regina Spektor and more. Check out the video on the right on the RSD 2012 experience at Canterbury.
Canterbury Records: 805 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101
Poo-bah Record Shop: 2636 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
Westport, CT
Johnny’s Records in nearby Darien (just 8 miles from Westport), will be a source for RSD goodies and vinyl treasures from 9 to 6 on Saturday. Owned by Darien resident and audiophile Johnny Konrad, the shop has a nearly 40 year history with the town.
Johnny’s Records: 45 Tokeneke Rd, Darien, CT 06820
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