Rant #2,355: Hit Record

Yes, I am back.

I had to take care of a personal matter, and at this time, that is all I am going to say about it.

Pretty much all good, I do believe.

Anyway, as I told you on Monday, Saturday was quite a busy day for my family and I, as we ventured to Manhattan to participate in the world premiere viewing of a documentary on the classic soap opera "Dark Shadows."

But if that wasn't enough, before going to the world premiere, I was one of those who somehow got through the weather and the early opening times to go to my local record store and support it during the annual Record Store Day celebration.

The local store I went to--about a mile away from my house, or even less--is a favorite haunt of mine. I go there about once a month to see what they have, and add to my collection.

It is a fun place to just relax while spending some money, if the duality of that experience is possible.

Anyway, they were opening at 9 a.m. that day, and early entererers were required to pay a $5 fee for early entrance that went to an animal rescue organization, which is fine with me.

So I rose early, got gas at the gas station--have you seen how prices have risen lately?--mailed a letter at the post office, and went to a local bagel place to pick up a dozen bagels--have you seen how prices have risen lately?--and then went directly to the record store as I was munching on my newly purchased bagels.

Anyway, I got there sometime just after 7:30 a.m., and lo and behold, there were already people on line at the front of the store. I was No. 4 on line.

Record store day features releases specifically made for that day, mostly on vinyl in both 33 1/3 and 45 rpm formats. You can find rarities from everyone that was anyone during this day, and there are only a few copies of each of these recordings at each store.

I was speaking with some of the people on the line and then the doors opened, letting two people in at a time.

Finally it was my turn to enter. For one of the few times of the year, I did not go directly to the singles area, I went directly for the Record Store Day LPs, and I found a few that touched my fancy. Then I meandered over to the singles, saw one that I figured I should have, and I was pretty much done with the day's special releases after that.

I went over to the regular singles area, found a nice one to add to my collection--an original British release, and an extended play recording with four songs on it, not the usual two that most singles contain--and then, that was pretty much it for me.

I looked at the clock, saw that it was getting time to travel by railroad to Manhattan, paid for my purchases, and went straight home.

Record Store Day promotes local record stores, which have become a hot commodity over the past few years after years of barely getting by. Vinyl records are hot again, and everyone from young kids to millennials to older people like me are buying records, not CDs and not streaming, to listen to their music.

I personally end up digitizing my records so I can listen to them in the car, but plenty of people simply buy records to listen to on their home stereos and that is that.

Anyway, people say that Record Store Day has gotten out of hand, that it is a reason for stores to price gouge and for labels to put out product that really isn't that great to begin with, but while those aspects do exist, it is still a day of fun, a day to support your local record stores and local businesses.

This is NOT Target, NOT Macy's, not your big retailers, but generally mom and pop stores that serve their local areas, run by people like you and me who are trying to make a living.

I enjoy the day, and I enjoy the records that I buy during that day.

Record Store Day is an annual event in April, and there will be another such day on Black Friday, where more new releases will come out that will touch record buyers' needs and wants.

I plan to be there, and if you have any interest in the best way to listen to music, you should be there too.