Record Store Day "RSD" April 2018 Releases*

I wish Twist and Shout in Denver did this. It is a madhouse... and not in a cool way.

 

A few jump out..The Kinks, Zappa ,Neil Young, Gene Clark

 

It will be interesting to see what they actually do have, they had a pretty big selection on Black Friday in all their stores, although I know that is a smaller event.

 

So I've been running RSD at my location since it started...Its always been a fun problem free day but this year I think I'm going to try something different. The first 20 people in line I'm going to ask them what's the one record their after and put it aside for them rather than have a mad scramble and those lined up first sometimes out of luck...does that sound reasonable? any possible drawbacks? just looking for opinions.

 

Sounds reasonable to me.

I am curious: Do you not take orders by good customers for RSD items?

 

I think that is a great idea.

 

I thought of holding a raffle drawing on the day, for the items of which there are but one or two copies only. The prize could be priority choice of selection, or an item specifically.

 

No- no holds for even the best customers employees etc. Try to keep it as fair as possible.

 

I think that could be problematic only because someone who shows up late could get a copy instead of the person who camped out overnight

 

I wouldn't necessarily mind some sort of preference given to those early in the line(beyond being a step ahead of the guy behind you) though I could imagine it really sucking if every one bought everything so having stuff out at least allows those further back some chance of getting something if they head to the right spot. so ya maybe you get to pick one most desired item is a good happy medium.

definitely a tough choice.

 

How many people genuinely camp out overnight, though? Especially with the winter we've been having in the northeast this year.

 

One store I went to had maybe 50 people outside at opening time. Just before it opened a store employee went down the line in order and asked us which one item we wanted the most, that was then reserved for us as long as it was still available. When everybody had reserved, we were let up to the counter one by one to get our reserved item and told from a list what else was still available.

 

Haven't been to Record Store Day in a while and, well, crap, I was looking forward to this one and thought I would check the list again only to realize somehow I got mixed up and two of the three records I really wanted (Courteeners and Wolf Alice) are UK releases and not on the US list. A 35 mile drive to stand in line for the chance at the one remaining record probably isn't going to happen. As I said, crap.

 

Well, that's the whole idea of the raffle ~ eliminate the overnight-camping.
It may not be possible for a store owner to know ahead of time what titles they will be getting
( based on their order request ) but if one were to initiate raffle entries for priority selection placement well in advance, the camping and the push&shove could be avoided.

 

You're right. T&S is a madhouse on RSD. I shouldn't complain though. That just means other stores in town are less crowded.

 

I see what you're saying. It's something you would have to implement well in advance I think

 

The Grant Green LP's are seriously well packaged, pressed and presented.

 

Okay, I am not sure that this is fair at all, but it is your business after all.

I preorder all my stuff at my local dealers. I have three that I can ask. And they take orders not only from me, but from many people. I do not understand why US shops are so peculiar about this first come, first serve thing. I certainly would not get in line at 6 in morning for some records. But I'll gladly pay to pick them up at ten.

 

Sounds like the secret Third Man Records release is a new album from Sleep. RSD pressing on weed green vinyl with a regular press later.
I’ll be adding that to my want-list, along with,
Wire - 9 7’s boxset
The Wipers
Pink Floyd
Swans

 

you'd be surprised man...I get there at 6am and there's usually 15 to twenty diehards. It's the sickness we all have to some degree. There's nothing better as a retailer having someone so pumped about their new record. It's what makes me still love my job since I started in music retail in 87. 30 years and I get to talk about music every day.

 

I've found that Wax Trax doesn't order as much for RSD compared to T&S and often doesn't get the non-rock releases that I'm looking for (when they participate). What other stores do you suggest checking out? Angelo's?

 

The Floyd set is also rather nice.

 

And insanely overpriced.

 

I’ll be heading out to join the queue at around 4.30-5am but last year there was a crazy dude who pulled an all nighter for it. Thankfully the weather looks great here as summer seems to have hit with a bang (probably the only good weather we will get all year!)

 

And that’s the biggest reason I’m hitting it early! I really appreciate having a great local independent record shop and I do everything I can to support everything he does. He puts so much in to his business and I know it means a lot to him when his regulars do their bit to share the love. If it means getting up at stupid o’clock on day a year then I’m happy to do it, I get some great records and he gets to see how much his business means to his customers