Record Store Day 2013
Independent record stores in Sydney are gearing up in preparation for the sixth annual Record Store Day to be held internationally this Saturday April 20.
Conceived in 2007, Record Store Day came about after a gathering of independent record storeowners and employees celebrated the unique culture surrounding independently owned record stores.
Nick Kennedy embodies Record Store Day. Not only is he an avid music collector, but he is a 17-year employee of Sydney’s oldest indepently owned record store, Red Eye Records. He is also the drummer for Kneival who just released their new album Emerald City onto vinyl.
Mr Kennedy praised Record Store Day for reigniting awareness that physical store locations do still exist.
“It’s a worldwide thing that has been gaining momentum over the last three to four years. I guess it was just reigniting an awareness of physical shops and vinyl that is away from the digital way of shopping,” he said.
To celebrate the day, record stores must be registered officially and fit the criteria of having of having a physical store location whose product line consists of at least 50 per cent music retail, and whose ownership is mainly independent.
Record Store Day gives an opportunity for real, live, physical, indie record stores – not online stores or corporates – a day to celebrate the art of music by bringing together fans, artists and independent record stores.
Many stores will host special apperances and performances as well as the exclusive issuing of special vinyl and CD releases, along with other promotional products to mark the occasion.
Ric Travaskes from Egg Records said Record Store Day successfully complements the resurgence and strong undercurrent of people collecting vinyl records.
“Look, Record Store Day is fantastic because it marks the day when people actually say now is my duty to go and find a record,” he said.
Egg Records will be hosting Glebe Record Fair at the Peter Forsythe Audiotorium in Broadway to complement the undercurrent of vinyl collectors, where up to 125,000 records will be on sale.
To commemorate Record Store Day and relive a bygone era of record stores past, City Hub has compiled a list of independent record stores that are still operating in Sydney and partaking in Record Store Day celebrations. It is expected to be their buiest day of the year.
The Vintage Record
The Vintage Record specialise in vinyl and supply records from rock to classical to funk to soul and even comedy. Their vinyls can be dated back to the 1950s or even up until the current day. If you want to start a collection or need to fill gaps within an existing one, then Vintage Record is the place to go. They regularly import orders and go on overseas trips to ensure their stock is constantly updated and all at a fair price. Owned by Phil Jamison and Jimi Polar, they are just generally interested in finding original pressings across all genres of music and insist it can never be boring in a record shop. Apart from selling records, they also do specialty mixes for people, DJ parties occasionally, record finding service, LP transfers, restoration and professional cleaning, vintage players, amps and speakers, collectibles, radiograms and gear repair and set-up.
31a Parramatta Rd, Annandale. Ph: (02) 9550 4667
Red Eye Records
Red Eye Records is the flagship independent record store in Sydney. One of the last remaining from the ‘80s, it is a shop that focuses on music rather than the music business and stocks a massive selection of new releases and imports in a wide variety of genres, including a comprehensive Australian section.
143 York St, Sydney. Ph: (02) 9267 7440
Mojo Record Bar:
Mojo Records are one of Sydney’s best-known old time record stores, who were hit hard by the high Australian dollar and the rise of digital downloads. Owner Neville Sergent decided to turn the shop into a record bar and 10 months later they are riding a wave of success. With a record store out front and bar out back they are the mullett of record stores (business out front, party down the back).
73 York St, Sydney. Ph: (02) 9262 4999
Egg Records:
Egg Records deal mainly in collectibles, rarities, film memorability and a constantly changing range of second-hand CDs and vinyl that make it a cornucopia for the discerning music enthusiast in the inner west.They will be hosting the Glebe Record Sale Fair throughout Record Store Day.
3 Wilson St, Newtown. Ph: (02) 9550 6056
The Record Store:
The Record Store are one of the last surviving DJ shops. They have evolved and adapted with the times and stock anything from funk and soul and are now into jazz, blues, rock and indie. They are currently in the process of distributing a comprehensive guide of record stores in Sydney, Diggin’ Sydney, due for release on Saturday.
255b Oxford St, Sydney. Ph: (02) 9380 8223
Lawson’s Records:
Located in a hole-in-the-wall store at the bottom of Pitt St, Lawson’s remains one of the few remaining collectors’ paradises in Sydney. They often stock the best vinyl but there are hundreds of CDs and cult DVDs to trawl through.
380 Pitt St, Sydney. Ph: (02) 9267 3434
Repressed Records:
Repressed Records is the go-to place for local garage-indie DIY releases. They have some of the very best vinyl importants and reissue them at the lowest prices.
413 King St, Newtown. Ph: (02) 9557 6237
Revolve Records & Relics:
Revolve has everything you need to keep your turntable happy. With thousands of records across an extensive range of genres, including new albums, re-releases and importants, Revolve caters to casual collectors to create diggers alike.
3/65 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville. Ph: (02) 9519 9978
TITLE Music Film Books- Surry Hills:
TITLE stocks a deliberately eclectic filing system designed to encourage chance discoveries, where you’re bound to find something enticing amongst the hand picked selection of DVDs, books and music.
499-501 Crown St, Surry Hills. Ph: (02) 9698 8501
Utopia Records:
Utopia is known for all things metal. But don’t let that fool you; they have a wide variety of CDs and LPs to suit anyone’s taste, and also stock books, collectibles and clothing.
Lower Ground Flr, Cnr Kent & Bathurst St, Sydney. Ph: (02) 9571 6662
The Record Crate:
The Record Crate have followed the success of Mojo and are the shiny new vinyl record store-come-small bar. They offer beers, burgers and bands and claim they are putting rock’n’roll back in the heart of Glebe.
34 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Ph: (02) 9660 1075
Phoenix Music:
The small retailer stock an innovative and excellent range of new and used vinyl focusing on rock, pop, jazz and blues plus 180-gram audiophile pressings.
121 Macleay St, Potts Point. Ph: (02) 9331 6088
Hum Records:
Hum stocks a full range of chart and new released CDs as well as a catalogue of vinyl across all genres. They are more than happy to help you track down those hard to get titles.
271 King St, Newtown. Ph: (02) 9550 3553
Pigeon Ground Records:
Pigeon serves not only vinyl junkies since 2004 but also stock vintage clothing. They have an extensive range of vintage and new records that range from classic to the obscure.
102 Salisbury Rd, Camperdown. Ph: (02) 9557 6364
