Despite differing opinions, Record Store Day is now a seemingly permanent fixture of the music industry landscape. Symptomatic of the ‘Vinyl Revival’ that seems to be picking up the pace year on year, thousands of record stores see queues of expectant, happy punters winding around the block, just waiting to get their eager mitts on the latest exclusive releases.
Sure, there are critics, as there are with anything. Those who decry the turbulence that the event inflicts upon pressing plants, that can get backed up for months in advance of the big day, affecting small and big bands alike in terms of getting their own non RSD records pressed. Then there’s the fact that some opportunists will spoil it by grabbing records and selling them on at a ridiculous mark up (Biffy Clyro’s ‘Puzzle’ was already up on auction sites for around £100 plus at about midday).
But if you speak to anyone in the queue outside a record store on what is essentially ‘Christmas for Vinyl Lovers’, you’ll get a vastly different set of opinions, and perhaps catch a dose of their infectious excitement. That’s what we decided to do, so we headed down to Kingston’s Banquet Records to try and get a sense of what drives people to spend a beautifully sunny Saturday queuing for vinyl.
Words by Jamie Hampshire
Photos by Graham Berry
Angie
Is this the first record store day you’ve come out to?
It is, yeah.
How are you finding being at the back of the queue?
*laughs* I’ve driven past it already and thought ‘well I’ll come back later and see if the queue goes down’ but I checked on the door first to see if my favourite record was still in stock before queuing.
What was it you were after today?
John Grant and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
Do you have a lot of vinyl at home?
I did have a lot of vinyl, but I got rid of a lot of it, and now I’m trying to get it back up again because I just bought a new record player about a year ago. So I’ve got some of my old stuff out but I’m trying to buy some old stuff back again. And try and get some new stuff too.
What would you say the most embarrassing record that you own is?
Bay City Rollers *laughs*
Milly & Amber
Have you been out for record store day before?
Milly: A couple of times, but only to the Spitalfields market one.
What are you hoping to get your hands on today?
Amber: Brand New – Deja Entendu.
Milly: I don’t know, I’m just going to see what they have. There’s always cool stuff randomly.
Amber: Brand New – Deja Entendu.
Milly: I don’t know, I’m just going to see what they have. There’s always cool stuff randomly.
Do both of you own a lot of records?
Amber: YOU own like hundreds!
Milly: Most of them are my Dad’s. He was sort of like ‘Oh I don’t want them anymore’ and I said ‘I’ll take them! Don’t throw them away!’
What would you say is the worst record that either of you own?
Amber: Simple Minds- Don’t You Forget About Me. *laughs* I’m trashy.
Milly: I’m not sure. There’s loads of really bad house stuff. REALLY bad. It’s kept in one corner, but I can’t bring myself to throw it away. I’m a hoarder.
Adrian
Do you get down to Record Store Day often?
I haven’t been for a couple of years. I’ve done a few, I just can’t remember how many.
Why did you take the break? Nothing grabbing your eye?
It’s just too much of a ball ache to be honest. To queue up for hours and hours and hours. There’s one thing I want and I’ve been here for nearly two hours now. Which is not as long as some people obviously, but y’know.
What is it you’re after?
Shockwave’s discography.
Are you a vinyl collector?
Yeah most of my collection is records.
What’s the most embarrassing one you own?
I’m not embarrassed by anything I listen to. There’s a bit of Lady Gaga in there, a bit of Katy Perry in there. Definitely pleasures, but not guilty.
Emma & Karen
What did you pick up today?
Emma: I got Turbowolf, I got a God Damn and Baby Godzilla split. I got Lonely The Brave and I got the Alcopop! Mix.
Is this your first Record Store Day experience?
Emma: No this is number three.
How long did you queue up for in the end?
Emma: About two hours!
Was that the longest you’ve queued for?
Emma: Yes I think it is. We got here the same time last year but queued longer this year.
Do you own anything really embarrassing?
Emma: I’ve got a lot of Wham. I mean I’m pretty cool, so…
Karen: You did want that Ghostbusters record last year.
Emma: Yes, I did want the Ghostbuster theme tune last year but I didn’t get that. And it was glow in the dark as well!
Karen: I’ll tell you what I am embarrassed about. I did buy a Wings record. And I absolutely hate Paul McCartney, so I don’t know why. I don’t know why I told you that!
Richard
How long have you been queuing now?
Not long now, about 15 minutes?
Is this your first time out for Record Store Day?
No, this is my second. I did it once before a couple of years ago.
Did you get anything good back then?
I remember getting a Frank Turner 7 inch that I really wanted. Beatie Boys 7 inch, that was important.
What is it you want to get today?
I’m hoping to see if they have the Brand New re-release. They’ve got a limited edition one going on. There’s Death Cab for Cutie, they’ve done a cover of Bad Reputation that I want. The 101’ers, Joe Strummers’ first band, I want to get that too.
What would say is the most embarrassing record you’ll admit to owning?
My vinyls aren’t that bad! I like them all, that’s hard question to ask. Probably Taking Back Sunday’s last album. Which wasn’t good, I was quite let down by it, ended up selling it on eBay.
James
What are you looking for today?
The Biffy vinyl – Puzzle. The New Atreyu single. The Sikth vinyl. There was something else I wanted that I can’t remember. Just have a look at the compilation ones as well.
Is this your first time at a Record Store Day event?
It is actually my first time. I didn’t come last year because I overslept!
What would you say is the most embarrassing vinyl that you own?
I don’t own that many, actually. The most embarrassing is probably Baby Godzilla.
Leo & Catherine
What was it you guys picked up today?
Leo: Didn’t actually get anything ‘Record Store Day’ specific but I picked up Modern Baseball and Title Fight.
How long did you wait for in the end?
Leo: Just over an hour.
Is this your first time at Record Store Day?
Leo: No, I’ve been to a couple but I never usually have the money. Wasting my student loan on it all. For the amount of money I have, most of it goes on records.
What’s the one you’re most embarrassed about?
Catherine: Oh that’s an easy one I’ve got ‘Star Trekkin’’ by The Firm! *Laughs*
Leo: My Dads’ copy of Bruce Willis’s album.
