[MODAREC]

Glad there are so many Shogun's being pressed, not going to Piccadilly until late afternoon due to the queues. Can finally retire my boot presses.

[Spun out of control]

Help! My original RSD 2015 'maybes' list was 30 records long... currently whittling that down to a more realistic 9 or 10.

Depending on availability if I pick up 6 or 7 of those on the day that will be a victory of sorts

Anyone doing the 'camping outside' thing the night before or are we all too cool / mature here for that sort of nonsense. Toying between an early start a couple of hours before the doors open and out by mid morning... or rocking up in the afternoon after the initial die-hards for a less panicky browse.

[chiefbrody]

@spun,it's a tough choice. 2 years ago I queued up at 7, got served about 10.30,and got 2 or 3 things I wanted, but missed the really limited stuff. Last year I went for the afternoon approach and got a few things, but obv missed anything that was in demand. I managed to pick a couple of them up when online sales started the following week.

This year I'm going to head to the queue for 6ish. I'm too old for anything earlier than that! I actually don't think most of my wants will sell out quickly, but you never know.

Maybe it's just me, but I've tended to find the RSD experience fun, but not really typical of the record buying experience. People (including me) turn up with lists, hand them over and then go out again - there's no leisurely browsing or having a chat with the staff. I prefer the other 364 record store days when you can browse and take time to choose the record(s) you'll be taking home, but I fully support RSD.

[Spun out of control]

@chiefbrody

It's also interesting how different stores bias certain releases, meaning that you can rock up at a different store even a few days later and find what sold out in 5 minutes at your local is still available elsewhere.

My local is what can be roughly described as rockist/indie - there's a big student population locally - which means that I can always be certain of them having whatever the Foo Fighters put out... but more esoteric releases like we discuss on this forum is a question mark.

Last year I must have picked up items over the course of 2 or three months via a combination of in-store browsing and online sales. But I did get most if not all of what I wanted in the end. So all good fun.

See Rough Trade is doing a pop up store in Paris for RSD. Paris + records = something like my idea of heaven.

[DrRhythm]

There was an actual Rough Trade shop in Paris for a while which I visited a few times back when dinosaurs roamed the earth!!

[jgibbs4053]

I just found out my wife has to work Saturday morning so I won't be able to go due to watching my daughter. If anyone knows of any sites that post the White Stripes and GWAR album could you post on here? Thanks

[Spun out of control]

Really, really, really good article on Record Store Day UK from the perspective of shops both big and small:

IS RECORD STORE DAY STILL WORKING?

(features Norman Records)

[chiefbrody]

Two guys in the queue at LoveMusic in Glasgow already. Man, that's dedication. They must REALLY want some of those releases.

@spun, I may be wrong, but I suspect most of the releases that people on here get excited about are niche enough that they will be available either in-store or online for most who want them. I may be wrong, but I think the DW releases last year had 1,000 available for the UK and this year only 500, but last year's are still available in a lot of places, so I hope that no one is disappointed this year. Hopefully they'll sell out short-term though, as I'm sure Spencer doesn't want 200 lying in record stores next April.

@darrell, if they play by the rules, no-one will have it online before next Saturday, though you'll probably find a few rogues. I'll keep an eye out and let you know if I see it. I'm undecided on it myself, as I think charging £43-45 is taking advantage (or the piss) due to the fact that it's a first release, and it's going to be released on black vinyl with a less fancy cover later in the year. I might wait for that - it'll probably end up being half the price. On the RSD UK site it says there are 2,000 pressed - I don't know if that's UK or World, or how that compares with the Elephant reissue a couple of years ago.

As a bit of "fun", what do you think will be the 'gold dust' releases come tomorrow?

[Spun out of control]

@chief

Yes, I don't believe the soundtrack stuff will sell out instantly and we'll be able to mostly grab what we want, especially with helpful heads up from guys on here... in terms of gold dust releases, I don't know... I'm sure it varies by area and someone from a record store could tell us better - last year everybody seemed to want the Bowie picture disks, this year it's Johnny Marr in short(ish) supply... perhaps the high price of items like White Stripes will ensure it doesn't fly off the shelves, but unpredictable. After queueing for 4 hours to get in, don't know how I will feel tomorrow but looking forward to people sharing pics of their 'spoils'

Oh, and as Spencer has noted on Twitter, Andy Votel currently hand delivering the FK Moomins release around the country is really, really cool...

[nick1972]

I've done it every year since 2012 and love it

I'm planning on leaving the house at 2:30am tomorrow/tonight

it's a great experience and good to "work the line" to try and find out if what you want will be there when you finally get in the shop, loads of laughs and conversations with people you'd usually blank in the record shop

highly recommend it but totally understand those who don't like it - each to there own but for those in nottm see you in 12 and half hours time!

[blindguy]

I'm curious what the deal is with the white stripes in the UK if those pries are accurate. Bull Moose has it listed at $36, and while i have no idea how that is reflected for other US releases in the UK, it sounds like this is being listed at nearly double that?

Note: feel free to skip the following ramblings of a stressed out vinyl addict in the long hours before RSD

Personally I both love and hate RSD. This year I'm guaranteed will be a "failure" since one of my current favorite artists (Bonamassa) is putting a non-US release out. Hopefully i can pick it up reasonably after. For as much as I might gripe bout online limited edition record drops, at least them i have a much better shot. As a legally blind person, a mad dash for what may be 1 or 2 copies of an in demand record isn't fun.

That being said, I'm fortunate to have friends that, despite not owning a turntable, are willing to take me to the store, help me shop and then enjoy the day spinning. The store i go to doesn't have big events, which probably keeps the crowds away so I can get there close to their reasonable opening time and not be more than 20 or so people away and get most of what i want. And in the end while people somehow look at the lists and think "there's nothing worthwhile on here" I somehow find stuff i really enjoy that might never see the light of day without a RSD to prompt it.

The craziest thing to me as i try to psych myself up for the madness is this time last year I really had no idea this world existed. It was only after trying to explain to a friend why I was buying the soundtrack to a movie i'd never even heard of ("in the wall" and my answer was "because i listened to samples and it was cool") that i started exploring other titles and discovering this whole crazy world. Now I'm a complete addict with more soundtracks on his want list than most people's total list. Here's hoping my store didn't decide to skip them this year.

[Spun out of control]

@blindguy - think most people have a love/hate relationship with RSD, with even the organisers admitting not everything's perfect - but personally it does get me excited and I'm pleased the UK has latched onto this American idea. RSD is pretty much what originally brought me to STBC - surfing the Net for that elusive piece of vinyl that had eluded me in the stores, and hey presto, someone on here was discussing it...

That White Stripes price reads like what a US 2XLP import usually retails for over here, if sold in store. However I guess it will still sell out as this is a cool band that traditionally does well on RSD and is in demand.

Hope you have an enjoyable one over in the US and get what you're after!

[skate]

Thanks Spun, a thoroughly interesting & enlightening article - it seems evident that some serious thought needs to be put into how RSD develops if its to pursue its goal of supporting smaller records shops.

The issue it raises with regards to distribution is certainly pertinent given a conversation I had with the owner of one of my local record shops earlier this evening…

...I called to check on whether they might be stocking an item that some of my other local larger shops haven't received any copies of (Cinevox's 7" Box). However, I didn't get as far as asking this question, as my first question of when his doors would be open led to him informing me that although he'd applied and been accepted to be ‘allowed’ to take part in RSD, he'd still not received any RSD stock whatsoever and wouldn't be opening unless or until he did. Angry, frustrated and wanting to let off steam, he proceeded to tell me he believed the entire concept of RSD was now "bollocks" as far as he was concerned, and that while small stores such as his were unable to obtain any stock whatsoever, the larger stores were experiencing no such issues.

The article finishes by questioning whether RSD is now squeezing some of the smaller shops out, and in this instance it would certainly seem to be the case.

[chiefbrody]

Who's queuing already? I've been outside Monorail in Glasgow since just after 6. About 30 ahead of me, but a cool bunch of people around me. Good luck to all, hope you get what you're looking for.

[Vapormeyer]

I'm in the queue at South Records in Southend-On-Sea supporting the local and making up my mind if I need the Cinevox 5 set. Which I don't.

[deathwaltz]

If you guys that can't get to shops have a wants list ping it over to me and I'll see what I can do for you . Ditto if what your after sells out , don't want to see you guys off to eBay !
I'll reply to spuns post and article link later as I've only just got up!

[Ignatius]

Wasn't a particularly big RSD for me this year, didn't even end up buying anything, but it was still great. Got to pack into a small store with a crowd of people to see a free set by local legend Neil Finn, which was totally worth it. Almost nothing on the list really caught my interest this year, and the couple of smaller titles that did would never make it all the way out here to Wellington, New Zealand. Even when I lived in a much larger city the record stores there would never have any of the titles I was interested in, even if I put in requests in advance. I would always just buy some other stuff on the day to support the store and grab the RSD titles when leftovers went up online.

The few remaining record stores in town are small and precarious enough that they can only afford to get in a reasonably small amount of stock, and mostly the popular titles at that. I'm pretty sure most of the bitching about RSD can be summed up by the Sex Pistols picture disc. I can't imagine anything less punk, or less necessary. It takes the piss so hard you could use it as a catheter.

That said, the stores I went to were so packed there was barely browsing room, and it was a good reminder of the value of buying locally. It's easy to get used to ordering everything online but if you want a copy of the new Laura Marling or Godspeed You! Black Emperor album you should really just pop round to your local. RSD must be doing something right, because after the major independent store in town died off in 2005 with all the chain outlets, a couple of smaller ones have been able to spring up to take its place.

[Vapormeyer]

If anyone picked up a Moomins 7" or can do I'd be eternally grateful. Vapormeyer@hotmail.com

[chiefbrody]

@ignatious, I wish Neil Finn was playing at my RSD.

[Vapormeyer]

Just Moomins for me please Spencer. Vapormeyer@hotmail.com

[Frizzle-Frizzi]

Edit:nevermind found

[scottyboy71]

That's my local shop too. How was it? I might pop in later but cannot be doing with this early morning madness. They didn't seem to be stocking much I want anyway.

[Ignatius]

It was great. He flew down that morning to play a set at noon, and had to fly straight back to be at a family wedding by 4pm. That's a man who is committed to supporting local record stores. I saw him in concert at a massive venue last year the day before the national election. He did a superb job of making cheeky banter while managing to appear completely politically neutral so as not to alienate anyone. At the RSD show he figured anyone willing to cram themselves into an independent record store at 11am would be somewhat left-leaning, and proceeded to make some fairly harsh cracks about our current Prime Minister, much to my delight.

[Charlie13]

Was in the queue in Norwich from 4am. No Death Waltz or Moomins 7" unfortunately. Got a copy of Shogun Assassin though, so not all bad. Would be great if you could help me avoid ebay though Spence.

[nick1972]

I scored BIG
cinevox boxset - probably shouldn't have but did
BBW
Nightsatan
30 Days
Utopia 2
Moomins
Shogun
Spasmo
Psycho

Now to think how I'll pay it off !