Play De Record, via Facebook
Once a year, your local record store is busier than the coffee shop across the street. There’s no doubt that Record Store Day gives music fans—from casual to obsessive—an excuse to get up early, and get excited about vinyl. For one day a year, the aisles of the local record shop are standing room only. Simply put, Record Store helps keep independent record stores alive.
That said, the event is not without its critics. Some disparage major labels for producing Record Store Day exclusives with artificial scarcity as a conspicuous cash-grab. Indie labels lament the fact that major label-backed Record Store Day exclusives create a backlog at vinyl pressing plants, delaying their regular release schedule.
Sure, Record Store Day is problematic, but it feels counterproductive to malign consumer enthusiasm for buying music. We talked to the owners and managers of four independent record stores in Toronto about their feelings on Record Store Day, and what they’re doing to try to make it a worthwhile experience for their customers. Be sure to visit these stores, and your other favourite locals on April 18th, and every other day of the year.
Play De Record
357A Yonge St, Toronto
“I think I speak on behalf of all of us here when I say it’s great to have people appreciate vinyl records again, even if it is once a year. For us, this is our Christmas.
“This Saturday is the day! We open mad early on April 18th for Record Store Day. Doors open at 9 a.m. We have tons of amazing Record Store Day exclusives, and all non RSD vinyl is 10% off. Meet Toronto band K.I.D. performing live in-store at 2 p.m., and pick up their exclusive new cassette. There are live DJs spinning all day as well. Come celebrate beautiful music on beautiful, beautiful vinyl records.”
(Ellis, Manager of Play De Record)
Tiny Record Shop
804 Queen St E, Toronto
“As a new shop, Record Store Day is an exciting but unknown territory for me. There's a lot of pressure to get all the limited edition releases.I think the best part of the day will be having people who don't frequently go to record stores check out the store and helping them find a rare vintage record or introducing them to a great new release.
“As far as promotions in the store for RSD, we will be opening at 9am (instead of the usual 11), 25% off new vinyl (excluding RSD titles), and PS I Love You will be DJing inside the store!”
(Trevor Larocque, Owner of Tiny Record Shop)
Kops Records
229 Queen St W, Toronto
“As a shop, we're all about positivity, and having the right attitude. As such, our sole frustration with Record Store Day is that not every customer gets a copy of the record store day exclusive they want. Even our employees, who work tirelessly to make Record Store Day a success for us, don't get special treatment, or even the right of first refusal on exclusives, as we try our best to be fair. The same is true for Nick and me, where we both wait until the day after Record Store Day before even thinking about getting any exclusives, even if we really want it. As a small family owned business of 40 years, we love that an idea that was started by a few people in Baltimore has exploded to this magnitude. The thing we always try to keep in mind however, is that Record Store Day is still all about the customer, and so as long as they are having fun and enjoying Record Store Day, then that's good enough for us.
“For Record Store Day we will be having 15% off all vintage products, and 50% off all $1 LPs and $2 45s, as well as a free NuMark turntable for the 156th customer (33 rpm + 45 rpm + 78rpm).”
(Andrew Koppel, son of Kops Records owner Martin Koppel)
Pandemonium Books & Discs
2920 Dundas St W, Toronto
“A lot of my business has to do with selling rare and hard to find items. Still, I’m not a fan of the official version of Record Store Day. The whole artificially created rarities thing is annoying. Pandemonium is primarily a great used record store with some new vinyl thrown in, so it isn't my thing anyways. I suppose that a little hysteria around records is a good thing, but Beach Boys 78s? Limited to 300 editions of stuff there is a market of in the thousands for? Give me a break. I ordered the 6 LP Phish box because a customer expressed an interest in it. Apparently, I’m not allowed to hold it for them. What I would do is make it a major new record release day. The limited edition coloured vinyl releases are fun though.
“Pandemonium loves records and we are having a 20% off our entire stock of used records on Saturday. I have been pricing 45s all week, so the real vinyl heads will have something to freak out about. This year I have some great indie Canadian punk comps to give out to some lucky customers.”
(Neill Cunningham, Owner of Pandemonium Books & Discs)