Record Store Day 2024?

downloads = Asymptotic about zero $€£¥…

Most RSD shops i’ve been to in 4 states (  so far…. ) have had prior year inventory of some kind…  Dr Freecloud has a decent sized prior RSD 50% off bin… which yielded a nice sealed 2x Jerry Garcia - Ragged but Right…..

@tomic601: Jim, I recently picked up a copy of the Old & In The Way LP. I bought it when it was released in ’75, but didn’t consider it good enough to keep. The recorded sound quality was certainly top notch, however. When I saw it on the wall at one of my favorite local used LP shops at a bargain price I decided to give it another chance, 49 years later. 😁

I know Garcia loves Bluegrass and Hillbilly music, but I just don’t think he’s very good at playing or singing it. Okay, I admit my standards are rather high, but David Grisman alone is worth owing the album for. I have a bunch of David’s albums, some including the playing of upright bass by a guy who was in the same San Jose cover band as I, though at different times.

In ’71 Todd Phillips was exiting the band just as I was entering, to concentrate on learning to play mandolin. He went up to Marin to take lessons from Grisman, who told him that there were plenty of real good mandolin players, but a dearth of upright players. Todd took David’s advice and learned upright, good enough to work with the cream-of-the Bluegrass crop, including Tony Rice (not to mention Grisman himself). Damn!

I jammed with Todd in San Jose in the early-2010’s, so I know what his bass should sound like when reproduced. Demo material!

Here’s a different perspective on RSD. 
1. no question that some record companies use RSD to generate dollars on some possibly questionable releases.

2. That said, no one is required to buy anything. If the record is worth the price to you, buy it; if not, don’t.

3. I appreciate the opportunity to buy/hear unreleased recordings, especially live recordings, of bands during historically important times. A good example from RSD 2024 is the Doors release from Sweden, which shows a very good working band on its first visit to Europe. Numerous similar jazz recordings are released on RSD every year and many are high-quality releases that offer unique insights into their careers.

4. Regarding the “limited edition” discussion, I’m sure some companies use this to create scarcity and justify high prices. However, why would a record company produce only 5,000 (or 2,500 or 1,200) copies of a record if they thought they could sell 50,000 or 100,000 or more? It’s way more likely they know the release will have limited interest and so produce a number in line with their expectations. 
I generally buy 5-6 RSD releases and I appreciate the opportunity to hear rare often extremely good recordings that would likely not be available if it weren’t for RSD. I also pass up releases that I think aren’t likely to add to an artist’s legacy or that I think are unreasonably priced. 
 

Just a bit more food for thought!

I'm not going to complain. Glad to have another option.

@slaw: And a good opinion it is Steve! Thanks @aheydorn, you make excellent points.