Before I became interested in buying vinyl (brighter, less skint times) I had always wondered what the hype was around it, and indeed, Record Store Day. Of course the general principles were obvious - actually buying music and supporting independent music and their outlets - but why spend that much time and money? I have become what I once questioned, mes amis.
Queuing for RSD is a bit like... the rush to buy tickets before a show that's bound to sell out, or queuing when you're fourteen hours before gig so you can get to the barrier when the doors open. This time it's a bit more hypothermia-inducing/soul-destroying. You may ask what we're queuing for. Every year for RSD (too many) artists/labels release limited LPs, EPs, singles, soundtracks etc all for which us saddos spend in excess of nine hours queuing. I was after two things for myself - The Muppet Movie OST and Bombay Bicycle Club - "To The Bone", a B-side to So Long, See You Tomorrow. For my friend I also had to pick up the Ghostbusters theme song on glow in the dark vinyl (?) as well as Kodaline's cover of Paul McCartney's "I'm Coming Up". Turning up at 1am best have been worth it.
Soon after we arrived at the queue (just one person in front of us hoping to spend about three million quid), Spillers' staff left for the evening, hoping to dose themselves up on the little sleep they could get before the busiest day of the year. Apparently this was the earliest queue for RSD they'd ever seen. Something to be proud of? Maybe.
For a couple of hours we were kept awake by the buzz of Metros (aka Sweatros) and for myself, a can of Sainsbury's energy drink before being joined in the queue by a few more people. Here's the sentiment at 4am.
And at 5am...
I'm sure as it got later it got colder? I dunno how that works. A little walk to McDonalds and the train station for their toilet facilities took off some of the edge of but blimey. Thank God my friend Nathan had brought me a camping chair. 8am called for another walk to the market for the biggest breakfast bap I have ever shoved in my face. Perfect prep for the "rush" at 9:30am. The first fifty in the queue were handed goody bags but as we were in the first five we were given a more executive goodie bag with more executive goodies i.e. more free vinyl and a cotton tote bag. A Dan Croll coloured single too! Decent freebies, Spillers.
When Spillers Recs' doors eventually opened, it was all systems go. Many staff were present and a brilliantly handled system meant I was out of the shop by 9:45 with all the records I had on my list. I would say I was jammy for getting the only Bombay Bicycle Club single they had ordered in but after queuing for that long with a numb arse I think I was rather entitled. SOZ anyone who was disappointed by its absence afterwards. It's now a shame to see the exact record on eBay now for an extortionate price with an inaccurate description (/100 when it's actually /1000. Naughty people).
Here's what I came away with, displayed rather crudely on my living room floor.
Only yesterday did I manage to play what I'd come away with, and I'm so impressed. For an original recording, The Muppet Movie OST sounds like an absolute dream. I'm a self-confessed Muppetaholic (I made that up) and playing that record in my room last night was something special. The BBC single is also gorgeous. I can see why it wouldn't have suited So Long, See You Tomorrow's more funked up feeling because it's just raw and smooth and more suited to the style of Flaws instead (I'm making it clear that the wait was worth it, fershure).
After the success of this year I'll definitely be joining in next year, hopefully with the others for whom this was their first time too (I'm looking at the One Directioners)! I'm rather glad my student loan hasn't come in yet otherwise I'd have left with armfuls of stuff. Remember - vinyl's for life, not just RSD!
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