By K.D. Norris
This Saturday, April 21, is the annual Record Store Day in the Grand Rapids area and, quite literally, around the world. It is a day to celebrate small music stores but also to celebrate records — music on vinyl.
And if you ask those in the vinyl know, record store owners and all-around audiophiles, they say the day has become one of the most anticipated music release dates of the year.
“I understand that Jack White’s label will be having a surprise release on that day,” Steve Williamson, owner of Corner Record Shop in Grandville. “Not sure what it will be, but I am looking forward to that. It is always interesting when you do not know.”
Not that Williamson expects there to be a run on the surprise from Third Man Records, which is based out of Detroit, not like there may be on what he said is likely to be the “hot release” on vinyl on that day: Pink Floyd’s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, a remastered re-release of the band’s 1967 debut release.
“Not sure how many of those (Pink Floyd) we will be getting in,” he said. “But that should sell quickly.”
Herm Baker, store manager of Vertigo Music in Grand Rapids, says his store is expecting a busy day Saturday and points out three releases he expects to sell well: David Bowie’s 1978 Welcome to the Blackout (Live in London ’78), a three-record set; Wilco’s 1990 Live at the Troubadour 11/12/96, a two-record set; and Grateful Dead’s 1969 Fillmore West, San Francisco, Ca. 2/27/69, a four-LP boxed set.
WKTV’s own Bill Jung has his opinion on releases he’s most anticipating — and if you’d ever seen his audio set-up and vinyl collection, you’d know he knows for what he speaks.
“There are a couple Van Morrison things, there is this alternative Moondance (LP) and this 7-inch vinyl (with the songs ‘Close Enough for Jazz’ and ‘Things’,” Jung said, when pushed to do so. “And this U2, ‘The Lights of Home’, a 12-inch vinyl.
“But Tom Waits, Bawlers, that would be the number one,” he said. “He released those a couple years ago. They were sort of like the sweepings of all of his studio stuff. There was a set called Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards. On Bastards, Tom does this thing of screaming into the distorted microphone, but Bawlers is more his reflective piano stuff. … There is some excellent things on that.”
(Don’t tell my wife, but I’m getting her the 7-inch vinyl of Florence + The Machine’s “Sky Full of Song”, a single off her upcoming new full length release, backed by “New York poem (for Polly)”.)
Corner Record Shop is located at 3562 Chicago Dr SW. Other local stores sure to have a rush of vinyl releases and vinyl fans are Schuler Books & Music, on 2660 28th Street SE, and Vertigo Music, 129 South Division. Google their websites for Record Store Day specials.
If you are looking for a new, used or repairs for turntables, check out Wayback Audio, now located at 3980 Chicago Drive, Suite 130. Google the business for contact info.
For more information on Record Store Day and a list of vinyl releases expected, see recordstoreday.com .
