By the way, I should mention that the _overwhelming_ majority of folks who turned up at Gerosa
Records in CT for RSD were definitely square in the ARSC likely demographic -- middle-aged dudes
sporting ample guts, some pony tails and generally dressed somewhat sloppy. In other words, fellow
collectors! I overheard some in-depth conversations about specific pressings of specific albums and
the like. The guy ahead of me got to talking about old Quad records and I knew immediately, kindered
spirits. Turns out this guy and I own many of the same SACD and DVD-A multi-channel reissues. He was
waiting in line specifically to get the Metallica album (success) and the Little Richard album (we
both got shut out because Gerosa didn't order any copies of that one). He also took a gamble on the
Refused LP and I wonder if his tastes run hardcore enough to be pleasantly surprised.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Fine" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 7:17 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Record Store Day and - "ARSCers"
> There were some retro items in the RSD selections, reissues of old Vanguard albums plus old
> Stax/Atlantic singles, and a vinyl issue of Dr. John's new album, not to mention a red vinyl
> limited edition RSD exclusive of Little Richard's first LP, newly reissued. For early-middle-aged
> among us, Uncle Tupelo was likely on the radar in college times and now their first 3 albums are
> back out in vinyl. For the younger among us, punk and speed-metal fans, Refused is back together
> and touring, and their superb album, "The Shape of Punk To Come" (which had totally escaped my
> worldview back in 1998) was an RSD exclusive as a 2LP red vinyl reissue. Remember, that was 14
> years ago it was issued, so when it was current, the likely fan base from that time is now in
> their late 20's to mid 30's. An old 40-something like me wasn't following Swedish speed metal in
> the late 90's, although apparently I should have been! Funny thing, what caught my attention was
> the retro-appreciating album cover and title (the title is an adaption of an Ornette Coleman album
> and the graphics are lifted from the style of old Columbia jazz albums including the "stereo 360"
> logo). Liking the music was a bonus, making the $30 well spent.
>
> By the way, one could easily count the Metallica RSD vinyl album as "retro" since they were in
> their heyday when I was in college back in the mid-80's. That's a generation ago now, hence retro
> for sure.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Ramm" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 3:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Record Store Day and - "ARSCers"
>
>
>> Cary wrote:"I have seen nothing in the way of new compilations of material
>> on vinyl or reissues of classic jazz,
>> Broadway, country, or even generic pop. The Record Store Day releases,
>> aside from the occasional
>> "novelty" issue of something on 78 (the Beach Boys' 78 of "Good
>> Vibrations" last year comes to
>> mind), are still of little interest to ARSCers - at least from a West
>> Coast perspective."
>>
>> While I'm sure I know where you are coming from in your comment Cary, I
>> think that if the term "ARSCers" will always be defined as those who collect
>> recordings (including CDs) pressed before 1980 or so (or even before 2000)
>> then ARSC needs to broden its exposure to new collectors. We have folks like
>> Uncle Dave Lewis who give a classical music AND a punk rock paper at an
>> ARSC Conference (great jobs on both!) but not everyone is UDL. Are the folks
>> who really flock RSD ARSC member (and hence ARSCLIst member) possibilities?
>> I understand the 78-L listserve members (many who are here) but it seems
>> to me that we should be as diverse as the MLA listsefe - and, actually, more
>> sore since many of the MLA folks work with sound recordings as part of the
>> JOB and not hobby (and probably could care less about RSD).
>>
>> What I thought was the dumbest RSD move was for Tompkins Square records to
>> press 500 78s and send to the stores. They probably could have produced
>> 2,000 or more and sold them. They'd make a nice profit and collectors would
>> thank them. Instead those "resellers" who grabbed the 500 will put on eBay
>> and Tompkins Square won't see a penny. We only had one (out of of 6
>> independent record stores within blocks of my house) participate in RSD and they had
>> basically no "special product).
>>
>> Steve Ramm
>>
>
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