Record Store Days: From Vinyl to Digital and Back Again

Q: How do you cram five decades into 5 minutes? A: Take a stroll from LA's Hollywood and Vine (former home of 60's pioneer record retailer Wallach's Music City) to Sunset and Cahuenga (the location of powerhouse indy record retailer Amoeba Music.) This is exactly what authors Gary Calamar and Phil Gallo have done with their new book, `Record Store Days.' Published in honor of (and cooperation with) the recently created `Record Store Day' - a day designated to bring attention and luster to the remaining stores that specialize in the lost art of recorded music retailing - the duo's volume is a celebration of everything that used to be great about buying music - in its physical form - at retail outlets around the country. Many fret that gone are the days of holding vinyl (or cassettes or even CDs) in one's hands while exploring every photo, detail and liner note that made up the music releases of yore. And while these two address the overhyped resurgence of the vinyl album (from 1% to 2% of the market), their real mission is to capture the essence of just what the record shopping experience was like from the 50's to the late 90's. From stores like Wallach's and the early Sam Goody's, to 70's chains like Tower and Licorice Pizza (where this writer spent several years behind the counter) to regional beacons like Chicago's Wax Trax, Austin's Waterloo Records and New England's Newbury Comics, Calamar and Gallo cover absolutely every aspect of the experience. From in-stores to bootlegs, picture discs to promo merch, `Record Store Days' captures the same exact gena-se-qua that one uniquely felt inside the hallowed walls of these musical emporiums. The book features the many players and locations where acts were discovered either thru fan interaction or in-store play; where a community came together to worship and explore a particular format or niche regardless of mainstream media airplay. Though may failed to realize it at the time, these stores served as the circulatory system of the musical body electric. Testimonials from people like R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and many others only lend to the credibility of the subject at hand. Of course, most of this culture has been decimate by the arrival of digital music and big-box retail (hard to imagine a scene from High Fidelity being played out at the iTunes store.) But for capturing a moment in time - a history that really mattered - it's a pleasure to revisit it through a book that throughly got it right. The fact that we wax nostalgic over these record store days is sad enough. That this book even exists, is probably a miracle. If you still have fond memories of your own `record store days,' get it.

Chose this book because of a newspaper article about the author & because of being aware of his seamless & impactful work as a music supervisor in television among other things. There are so many "industry" books, but this is a rare & especially fun, thought-provoking, relatable one. So glad Gary took the time to write RECORD STORE DAYS. It has enhanced our lives! Keaton Simons, Eric Roberts, Lila Garrett & friends

I've been collecting music for well over 30 years. Whenever, I have gone to the local music store, I feel like I'm on a quest. Sort of like Captain Kirk on his "5 year mission to seek out new life, new civilizations" or Indiana Jones on his endless quest for archaeological treasures. In my case, its to find that special sound. I think for music collectors, there is something special about finding, what I call the X-factor sound. You know, that next great musical recording, thats going to blow your mind and become something important in your life. Sometimes the search for that sound can be almost as satisfying as actually finding it. For many this has lead to spending countless hours in record stores. I think everyone, who is in anyway dedicated to collecting music has tucked into their memory, that special record store that in some way is important to them. Thats' why the small coffee table book, "Record Store Days: From Vinyl to Digital and Back Again" by Garry Calamar and Phil Gallo is such a treat. It is a detailed look at those special places, where music collectors haunt. It gives a detailed, well written history of the record shop industry. This includes both the major chains (Tower Records, Sam Goody's Etc.) as well as some of the more famous Independant shops (Bleeker Bob's, Amoeba). But more important this book emphasizes and talks about the atmosphere and community feeling, that any good record store fosters. This is a relaxed atmosphere, where you can just zone-out, search through the stacks of music for hours or just shoot the breeze and talk music with the owner, store staff or other customers. You can't get that doing a download on your home computer. The book is well laid out and features loads of interesting photos (my favorite is a shot of Elvis Costello & Jerry Garcia giving an in-store concert together). Whats more, throughout the book are all sorts of interesting little sidebars, which feature a variety of interesting topics, anecdotal stories, lists and quotes from musicians and people in the industry. This book is a must for anyone, who has the urge to collect. I loved every minute going through it. Highly recommended!

I'd be surprised if anyone who isn't interested in music would want this book, but what do they want, anyway? more t.v/games/porn? let them have it! Reading this book made me wish I could go to Moby Disc right now, and have the clerks snarl at me as I buy, with trembling hands, something goofy and life-affirming like the last Jam single (from "running in place"-the eps don't count!) or whatever Tosh told me to buy. But now that I'm old, the clerks wouldn't snarl! They might even cut me a deal, if I buy enough, or give me way too much credit for the drek I trade in. This book is almost as good as going to Moby. Instead of making me sad about all that is lost, it's a tribute to everything I was too young to witness, but wish I could've, and a shot in the arm for the future. Saturday April 17th is Record Store Day-please celebrate by buying this book, before heading to your local store for some bad attitude, good advice and great music. (itunes in your underwear just isn't as cool, and it doesn't smell at all, let alone that amazing, dusty, record store smell!)

Great fun for anyone who's spent their life digging through the bins of their local record shop. This beautifully designed book should adorn the coffee tables of record geeks everywhere.