Back at the height of COVID-19, I began my vinyl collection with some basics but classics that I loved and treasured dearly. My collection quickly grew from just a little hobby, to becoming an obsession. As my desire for more and more colorful records grew, I soon learned of an annual event where musicians, producers, and distributors release limited-edition EPs, LPs, and the likes, solely for small, locally owned businesses. This day, is known as Record Store Day, and for this particular RSD, I visited Atmosphere Records here in Evansville Indiana, and man, it was awesome!
By the time I had got there, it was just an hour and a half after the store had opened and there was a line of people wrapped all the way outside the building! Keep in mind, this place was already open, there were just that many people ready to buy these special releases. There were hundreds on hundreds of these special records, from a huge Grateful Dead 5xLP Boxset, two George Harrison zoetrope records, brand new artist releases, and many, many more colorful pieces of work.
When it came to this RSD’s Alternative releases, Atmosphere delivered. Spectacular grabs from a 2001 Stone Temple Pilots live album, a compilation LP of Third Eye Blind’s demos, and some new Collective Soul! They even had some grabs from 80’s alt bands, an XTC live LP, a Jesus and the Mary Chain EP, The Cure’s Greatest Hits, and a compilation of demos from Talking Heads! (which I snatched up in a heartbeat.)
While I did get there early to look around, I couldn’t stay long and I didn’t have a place in that line, so I had to return later. By the time I came back ready to shop when the seas of customers had parted, the shelves were picked clean! Almost all of those bright and colorful records were gone and sold to passionate customers who dedicated their days to waiting for such cool vinyl. Goes to show just how impactful this day is for those local record stores.
Record Store Day is so incredibly popular, so much so that during COVID, a second RSD within the year began starting up: RSD Black Friday! Be sure to keep your eye out for this November, because you wont wanna miss what drops on that very special day. Just remember, if you see something on that list that you want, be prepared for a long wait outside your local record store. It’ll be a wait that is oh-so worth it!
If you want to learn more about Record Store Day click below!!
