Check out vinyl during Record Store Day
A record at the Long Island Vinyl Exchange in East Northport. (Feb. 13, 2010) Credit: Photo by Wayne Herrschaft
The fourth edition of Record Store Day Saturday brings good news for the more than 700 independent music retailers across the country, including the now-growing number of them on Long Island.
Vinyl album sales were up 33 percent last year, to their highest level since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking them in 1991, thanks in no small part to independent retailers and the campaigning of artists and store owners to remind music fans about the importance of albums and record stores.
"We got involved because we're all avid music collectors - almost evangelists," says Brian Kelly, singer from Seaford's Aeroplane Pageant, which will be performing at Looney Tunes in West Babylon for Record Store Day.
"We support artists and the idea of art, which to us is the most pure form of human expression. It's a haven that breeds imagination and community, nothing more valuable, at least to our minds."
With free concerts, special offers and a slate of limited-edition releases that will only be available at independent retailers, this year's Record Store Day is set to be the biggest yet. Collectibles from the likes of Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Superchunk and Joy Division and newcomers Passion Pit, Fanfarlo and Dum Dum Girls will be for sale.
Here are the local stores participating in Record Store Day and some of their plans:
LOONEY TUNES: 31 Brookvale Ave., West Babylon, 631-587-7722
Concerts: Noon, Aeroplane Pageant; 1 p.m. Hotel of the Laughing Tree; 3 p.m., Sainthood Reps; 4 p.m., Borrowed Eyes; 5 p.m., Jet Black Heart Attack; 6 p.m., The Bloodsugars (Autograph signings to follow all shows)
Autograph signings: Noon, Wretched; 2:30 p.m., Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine
Specials: Vinyl exclusives, Beatles CDs, $9.99
CD ISLAND: 228 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre, 516-678-9445
Concerts: Noon, Red Lights; 12:30 p.m., Dead FM; 1:30 p.m., Testing for Echo; 2 p.m. Cass Dillon; 2:30 p.m. Mike Del Rio
Specials: Vinyl exclusives, 10 percent off everything in the store.
LONG ISLAND VINYL EXCHANGE: 275 Larkfield Rd., East Northport, 631-486-3711
Specials: Bins of free records outside; $10 bundles of vinyl from Billy Joel, Elton John and others; 100 Beatles albums for $19.99 or less
SOUNDTRACKS: 356 New York Ave., Huntington, 631-427-1313
Concerts: Local musicians performing acoustic sets outside the store
Specials: Vinyl exclusives, markdowns on albums
UTOPIA: 3 Newbridge Rd., Hicksville, 516-935-6680; and 2436 Middle Country Rd., Centereach, 631-467-5463
Specials: Early bird sales from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; boxed sets on sale; CD/DVD combos $2-$5; buy one, get one free specials on certain CDs and posters
Also participating:
Infinity Records: 510 Park Blvd., Massapequa Park, 516-221-0634
Specials: 10 percent off all used LPs
Mr. Cheapo CD & Record Exchange: 46 Jericho Tpke., Commack, 631-543-8686; and 134 Jericho Tpke., Mineola, 516-742-7670
Record Stop: 279 Portion Rd., Lake Ronkonkoma, 631-585-3294
Specials: All CDs $9.99 or under
