On April 17th, it was Record Store Day. If you don't know what Record Store Day is, it's held once a year to acknowledge the Record Store, what I believe is to be one of the last American icons that actually exist. Basically it's hard to sell records/CDs these days. MP3 have taken on and I have participated. But there is nothing like going to the record store. It's fills me with joy and yet apprehension since there is so much to find. I try to have a list with me but it rarely gets followed.
When a band puts out a record I feel it's they are telling a story with the songs but I also feel that they are telling a story with the art/packaging as well.
Some of the records companies, that are left, put out special editions for that day or the record store will give out freebies. Some will have local and/or popular bands/artists do in-store appearances.
So I shuttled off to Fingerprints in Long Beach this year. Here are my purchases:
To complete my Beastie Boys collection to CD, I took home Ill Communication (USED). The same for Rancid, I found their second self titled on CD (USED).
I get to see Merle Haggard at the upcoming Ink and Iron show in Long Beach, June 11, 12, and 13th. And I realized that I did not have Merle in my collections, so I got HAG, The Best of Merle Haggard.
I also found a Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions (USED) and realized that I did not have him in my collection so I took him home too!
I got the last (well really not the last) recordings that Johnny Cash did for American Recordings . . . American VI: Ain't No Grave. Which came with a free lithograph!
I did get some other freebies. . . A Select O Hits compilation and Throwing Caution to the Wind compilation! Oh and some free stickers, too.
Leave a comment