‘There were people of all ages, genders and haircuts’: Mark Whiteman, 45, Surrey
The alarm went off at 4.45am to allow me time to get to Rough Trade East on Brick Lane in London. I caught the first train in and was the only one on the carriage! I arrived just before 7am to a queue already several hundred people long. Great atmosphere, people of all ages, genders and haircuts. Two hours later and I’m in! I managed to grab everything I was after – The National’s Boxer, Ride’s Weather Diaries remixed, some Cure albums, a Steven Wilson 12” and a rather lovely remix of Yazoo’s Situation. Getting up early and getting involved in RSD is becoming something of a yearly ritual ... but, when the oat latte at Rough Trade East is this good, what else can you do?
‘Nothing beats being part of the hunt for the tunes that are going to change your life’: Jeremy Hurst, 49, Falmouth
It was an early start at the crack of dawn this morning, to be near the front of the queue. With a list as long as your arm and a head full of music, I headed off to Jam Records in Falmouth. This year I was 12th in line – one worse than last year. The atmosphere in line was jovial with everyone discussing music in general but without giving away what was on their lists – a closely guarded secret. This year I met Max, ex-RAF Regiment and an offshore oil rig worker, who bought me a coffee. In between I was texting my son who I don’t see so often now as he moved to Brighton last year. Record Store Day gives us the opportunity to take part in something together, even though we’re miles apart, and we share lists on the basis that I might be able to get a title that isn’t available in Brighton and vice versa.
The doors in Falmouth opened at 10am, and there was a surge to get in, with everyone being careful not to stand on the shop’s resident black labrador, sat casually in the doorway. There’s no system at Jam Records, at least not one I can see – Mandy, the shop owner, displays the records prominently, and lets customers get on with it. This translates into 60 seconds of madness as the queue surges between the wall mounts and the central display tables, effectively funnelling customers into a vinyl-frenzied conga line around the store. Nothing beats Record Store Day for the exhilaration of being in the moment, being part of the hunt for the tunes that are going to change your life.
This year, despite the frenzy, I walked away with a decent haul, made even sweeter by Friels Cider, the 2018 sponsor, who picked me as one of the lucky winners of their competition. They kindly gave me a £50 voucher to help with this year’s bill, which can get a bit pricey if you get carried away. My shortlist ran to about £1,200, so I had to cut it down three times to get it to something I could justify on the basis that vinyl is important but so is food.
That said, Record Store Day is but once a year, and what I ended up with this year was a copy of Grant Green’s Slick! Live at Oil Can Harry’s album; the classic Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On album, together with a red vinyl copy of Sexual Healing: The Remixes; The Doors Live at the Matrix album; the Abbey Road version of the Amorphous Androgynous album The Isness; and the Now album from the inimitable David Bowie. With that, plus the Allman Brothers album that’s winging its way from Brighton courtesy of my son, I think I did pretty well this year. Can’t wait for 2019!
‘The vibe in the queue was amazing’: Declan, 21, Hampshire
I queued for five and a half hours at Banquet Records in Kingston. I managed to pick up everything I wanted (Run the Jewels, Ride, Brian Zeno, Erased Tapes, and Parquet Courts). The vibe in the queue was amazing, everyone was socialising and talking releases. Can’t wait for next year!
‘The store was pretty busy’: Jennifer Vesnaugh, 48, Detroit, US
I went to my local record store in Ogden, Utah, called Lavender Vinyl. I bought a Kendrick Lamar album, Damn, and the double album Criminal Minded by BDP; on the way out of the store, I saw Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On. The store was pretty busy, there was a 10% discount, the salesperson was kind and I was grateful for the support.
‘Here are the first eight hardy souls preparing for the night’s vigil’: John Atkinson, 60, Mold
The queue outside VOD Music, the smallest independent record shop in the UK, began before 8pm on Friday night and here are the first eight hardy souls preparing for the night’s vigil. Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Lovely Eggs – who knows what’s on their want list this year? Whatever it is, the day will be completed with a breakfast and more crate-digging and live music by Sendelica and Kavus Torabi in Mold record fair.
‘The atmosphere was brilliant – and male-dominated’: Chloe, 19, London
I got to Eel Pie Records in Twickenham at 6.45 this morning and joined the queue. I was 15th in line; seven people had camped out overnight! The atmosphere was brilliant, everyone was so friendly and passionate about music. The waiting time flew by thanks to the pleasant conversations. I was surprised at how male-dominated the queue was – apart from me there were only two other women out of over 100 people. When I finally got into the shop it was much calmer than I expected, the 10 person at a time limit definitely eliminated any pushing. I managed to get the three things I really wanted: Hans Zimmer’s Blue Planet II soundtrack, Goldie Presents: 25 Years of Goldie Unreleased and Remastered, and Soul Jazz Records Presents: Studio One Dub Plates Specials. This was my first Record Store Day and my first time shopping at Eel Pie Records – I’ll definitely be returning there again soon!
Tell us about your own Record Store Day hauls by commenting below the line.
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