Every single year there is a day in April which is celebrated by collectors, general listeners and fans of artists alike. This is Record Store Day, a global event which arks the release of limited pressings of music old and new, live and recorded, off the wall and mainstream, but all of it on vinyl.
Record Store Day this year was like any other, the list was released and then stores ordered in their stock, and enthusiasts salivated at the lengthy list of records which would be available to them worldwide come the day. In Manchester it was no different, the store of many attendees choice, Piccadilly Records. Situated on Oldham Street, the queue for the big day started 24 hours before, with the most dedicated of vinyl lovers setting up shop outside of the store and counting down the hours until the store opened the following morning.
We took a trip down to not only see one of our own members here at CollectiveMCR, but to also speak to a few of the people who had queued up alongside them. During our trip down to Oldham Street at 11pm, one of the first things heard from passersby is the question 'Are you really queuing for vinyl?' some answered back with a simple yes whilst others made joke about an Oasis reunion, but the fact of the matter is - yes - they were all queuing for vinyl.
With so many new limited releases on sale, its important to get there early, as they do sell out and quickly. Visitors to the store taking hundreds of pounds to spend on what are easily described as collectors pieces. Soon after they sell, some reappear online with an inflated price tag, which some snap up and others will leave not wishing to splurge more cash than what its original price.
Piccadilly is a store which also discourages buying resale with them informing the public on what has sold out throughout the day and reminding people that what may have sold out somewhere else may still be in stock with them. This year there were many records from old and new alike as mentioned above with the likes of Green Day, Julien Baker, The Doors and Weezer being among the names available. Alongside that, if you were lucky to find it, even South Park could be found on vinyl this year, with music from the 1999 film being pressed on to brightly colored records.
Record Store Day is an incredible day for music lovers and collectors alike, with them being able to support their local store by venturing down and purchasing what they have indeed been queuing for...vinyl.
Written by: James Leese
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