Record Day sends vinyl lovers into a spin

Simona, 3, gets a kiss from her dad Sasa Kajkut as he holds a Kiss album at Red Eye Records in Sydney. Pictures: John Appleyard
Source: News Corp Australia

Music lovers, collectors and vinyl fanatics were out in force today for Australian Record Day, an international movement to celebrate music in its tangible form.

Often the biggest day of the year for vendors, people queue all day to get their hands on limited editions specially produced each year for the day.

Lindsey Fogg wearing white stripes and Holding a White Stripes album with Jordan Lynn, shopping at The Record Store in Darlinghurst. Picture: John Appleyard
Source: News Corp Australia

Sara Hood, the Record Day campaign manager from the Australian Music Retailing Association, said there was something unique about vinyl.

“It’s not just the sound quality, you can touch vinyl, there is more space for the artwork and they are just so much more engaging,” she said.

The day aims to remind people what a fantastic place record stores are and even though digital music vendors like iTunes and Spotify offer algorithms that suggest music for you nothing can compare to the in-store specialists.

“The store assistants are specialists in music, you can make an algorithm for their expertise. There is something serendipitous about talking about music you like to find new music,” Ms Hood said.

And the day isn’t just for vinyl, it’s for everything music from books, gramophones, cassettes and even CDs.

“There are lots of different things people like about music and there are lots of different ways to enjoy it,” Ms Hood said.

Matthew Myerscough a buyer for Sydney’s Red Eye Records said that for the last few years the crowds have been lined up round the block.

Mr Myerscough expected the White Stripes album Get Behind Me Satan as well as a collection of Bob Dylan’s never released basement tunes to be on high demand.

“Sometimes we can only get five of the one vinyl in so it’s first in best dressed,” he said.

Originally published as Record Day sends vinyl lovers into a spin
www.news.com.au/entertainment/music