The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

"Yay" or "Nay" for Record Store Day?

By Kim Bellware in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 15, 2011 4:40PM

2010_09_records.jpg
Photo by mr_martini
With less than a day before Record Store Day 2011 kicks off, this year, the buzz surrounding the annual celebration seems stronger than ever. So does the criticism. Chicago is home to some of the best record stores in the country, and with a music scene that's both vibrant and diverse, the interest in RSD gets particularly intense.

Founded in in 2007 by individuals from several corners of the music industry -- including education, A&R, and promotions -- Record Store Day's original purpose was to "celebrate independently-owned record stores com[ing] together with artists to celebrate the art of music." The day's events are usually marked by in-store performances, artist meet-and-greets, and of course, special musical releases (usually on vinyl, but also on CD or video). Promotion, media attention and a bump in foot traffic (at least for that one day) are a boon for indie record shops, which RSD organizers define as "a retailer whose main primary business focuses on a physical store location, whose product line consists of at least 50% music retail, whose company is not publicly traded and whose ownership is at least 70% located in the state of operation."

Still, the event has also been criticized as a shameless cash-grab. Often merchandise of questionable real "collector-level"--or even consumer-level--value are promoted like must-own items: 7" picture discs of a group's hit single, re-releases on colored vinyl or superfluous box sets are common offenders. Ultimately, it's up to the consumer to decide what value they wish to assign to something like Karen Elson's "Vicious/"In Trouble with the Lord" 7", which comes peach scented with peach colored rose petals inside the record.

Another gray area exists in whether special releases marketed as "rare" are indeed that; sometimes "limited" is all that needs to be said to incite fans to snap up a particular release because of its perceived scarcity. When an item like Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" 12" picture disc is "limited" to 5,000 copies, rarity becomes a bit relative.

We enjoy the occasional gimmick of colored vinyl or quirky covers by a favorite artists as much as we like indulging in the small thrill of owning a record that's considered "collectible." But if RSD devolves into a once a year dumping ground for musical detritus and merchandise over which fans are expected to salivate, supporters of Record Store Day will hopefully demand better. Chicago-based Numero Group will be selling a special "Eccentric Soul" 45" coinciding with RSD (it is not an "official" RSD release), and that has us excited. The release offers fans something truly hard-to-find (since that, after all, is the only kind of music Numero releases), and is special because without this release, the tracks may never be widely heard, instead languishing in some collector's basement box of reel-to-reel masters. On the other hand, we were left a little cold (and disappointed) by this writer's personal favorite, Joan Jett. Jett, through her Blackheart Records label, will have a--we'll say it: totally unnecessary--30th anniversary commemorative release of "I Love Rock N' Roll" on clear vinyl for RSD, in a limited pressing of 1,000. Other than the fact that the record will be see-through and include an mp3 download code (something the 1981 release didn't have), there's no difference between it and the same used copy you can pick up in bargain bins around the city. Though a solid record, the whole "commemorative re-release" and unusual color angle seems less of a way to delight loyal fans and more like a way to shamelessly reach into their pockets.

Whether you side with the lovers or the haters when it comes to Record Store Day, we want to see our local business thrive, and want there to be some collective joy in the city's community of music lovers. Perhaps it's helpful to look at Record Store Day as one would Mother's Day: It's a kind of silly made-up celebration, but it's important that the sentiments behind it are communicated. And just as you should tell your mom you love her every day of the year, you can support your local record shops beyond one Saturday in April.

Check back later for Jon's take on Record Store Day.

And if you'll be out and about, here is a list of Chicago-area stores who will be officially participating in Record Store Day 2011:

  • Permanent Records
  • The Music Experience
  • Reckless Records
  • Laurie's Planet of Sound
  • Gramaphone Records
  • Raffe's Record Riot
  • Shake, Rattle & Read
  • DEADWAX
  • Beverly Records
  • Dusty Groove America
  • dr wax
  • Hard Boiled Records
  • Record Breakers
  • Groovin High, Inc
  • Jazz Record Mart
  • Death or Glory
  • Hyde Park Records
  • Out Of The Past Records
  • Kstarke Records
  • Record Breakers
  • The Exchange
  • The Exchange
  • KSTARKE Records
  • Cafe Mustache
  • Hyde Park Records
  • saki
  • DAVE'S RECORDS
  • Reckless Records
  • Reckless Records - Loop
  • Stony Island Plaza (DTLR)
  • Chicago Digital