Is a ten-inch with four versions of Ray Parker Jr.’s Ghostbusters theme (original, instrumental, dance remix, dub) supercool or over-the-top ridiculous? And does it help at all to know that the release commemorates the film’s 30th anniversary and glows in the dark? I couldn’t tell you.
But wait, there’s more! For a look at some of the art and science that goes into keeping a record store stocked the other 364 days of the year, see this week’s feature story—Leor Galil writes about tagging along with Permanent Records manager Dave McCune to the Chicagoland Record Collectors Show in Hillside. Buying spiffy records one day a year is all well and good, but it’s nothing compared to waking up at 4:30 AM on a Sunday and trekking to the burbs to do your crate digging. And the vinyl that gets shelved after a trip like that is what really keeps your neighborhood record store humming. —Kevin Warwick
Choose your own Record Store Day adventure
Beverly Records Twenty percent off all used vinyl, plus free drinks, snacks, and karaoke. 8 AM-6 PM, 11612 S. Western, 773-779-0066, beverlyrecords.com.
Gramaphone Records In-store DJ sets by Chicago Skyway, Chicagodeep, Taelue, Dave Cook, and DJ Mar. New local releases are 10 percent off on vinyl, and every $15 purchase gets a free Gramaphone tote bag. 11 AM-8:30 PM, 2843 N. Clark, 773-472-3683, gramaphonerecords.com.
Logan Hardware The shop will offer free Passion House coffee, and Jivan Ivan (aka “the Record Butcher”) will be there at opening time selling LPs, CDs, DVDs, and video tapes by the pound. 10 AM-9 PM, 2532 W. Fullerton, 773-235-5030, logan-hardware.com.
Reckless Records on Milwaukee In-store performances by Circuit des Yeux (3 PM), Dance Mania DJs Parris Mitchell and Jammin’ Gerald (4 PM), and Kim and Kelly Deal with Morgan Nagler (followed by a signing session).10 AM-10 PM, 1532 N. Milwaukee, 773-235-3727, reckless.com.
How do record stores get such great used vinyl?
