I hate it that physical record stores have essentially disappeared. My record store job (Sound Warehouse!) paid for my undergrad degree. I have nothing but fond memories of that job and the years of selling music and talking to customers and employees about new and old bands. Met countless musicians, in store band promotions, free tickets to unknown bands, got in trouble for playing albums with explicit lyrics, watched CDs push vinyl out, and trends ebb and flow. I even met my wife in the store while working an evening shift! I love the convenience of streaming and on-line shopping, but it doesn’t come close to what we used to have in actual physical stores.
So This Really Is The End....
Hi All,
Just thought I'd take a minute to share. Since 1976, I've been a customer of a record store in the University of Cincinnati area called Mole's Records. The store has been in existence for over forty five years. Tonight I've just come home from the party celebrating its final day. I'm sure the party is still happening but I decided to exit, as a flood of memories leaves me with the need to pause and reflect. Whenever I would catch a show at a small venue called Bogarts (Todd Rundgren, Butthole Surfers, Warren Zevon, etc...) I'd first stop in and B.S. with the owner. As a teenager, I never really had any money so I wasn't buying records or CD's until the mid 1980's but that was all -right by the owner and I know I was just one of many who would do the same thing. The store was small but they had a good distributor and I could buy boutique audiophile CD's and vinyl like; Audio Fidelity, MOFI, Analogue Productions, record store day releases, and used originals. If they didn't have it, then I could typically place an order and get it within a couple of weeks. My last purchase was the Analogue Productions Hybrid SACD of Steely Dan's 'Two Against Nature'. Great sounding mix by the way! Of course, we still have record stores in this relatively small mid-western town but Mole's was the oldest store still in existence. And I have to honestly say, I'm not exactly sure how these other record stores can financially make a go of it. I'm now at a place where I'm totally relying on downloads, internet orders and Qobuz. Anyway, just feeling sentimental so thanks!