....and a sound I'll never know....😊
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!
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- 56 posts total
I very much miss the record store experience even though I have limited need/desire for physical media. The need is for a place to go, a thing to do, that feeds into my interests, Even a record store doesn’t exactly do that anymore, even though there isn’t a better model right now. So, my thought is, records stores need to find a way to join the 21st century rather than cater to the dinosaurs until we all turn into petroleum. To me, a 21st century equivalent would have physical media available, but would be more about the connections between people that otherwise don’t get to happen. Ideally a 21st century experience would almost be like a cafe - with some food and beverages, some element of a Japanese vinyl bar, some elements of sharing music, possibly even some elements of used/new gear. Friday night and weekend scheduled events as ice-breakers. Make it the destination of the day, not the place to stop on the way somewhere. If I ran it, it would also be the best hash bar (i.e. dispensary) in town. Imagine the music/weed pairings! It would also sell downloads. You can take your music home on a USB stick or be emailed a link to DL later. Or you can just earmark the music you heard that you like for later exploration through your online account or mobile app with the store. It should just integrate with your Spotify or Qobuz account. The challenge is, those of us who would understand this vision are probably in income brackets too high to be the entrepreneur who does it. |
Thanks to all for the input, the post lives! @jji666 yes, a very creative business model seems more necessary today than it did thirty five years ago. By the way way, I picked up a pre-owned Edwin Fischer Piano, Andante Label box set on eBay just a couple of days ago. I got it in the mail yesterday! So I'm still buying physical, digital media and the occasional new, remastered vinyl pressing. So us sixty plus year old dinosaurs, are still searching about town for someone to chat with about bands, records and the good ole days. Employees however seem to get younger and younger and there's a gap that can't be bridged between The Incredible String Band and Drake. Eventually we'll die out but I make the assumption that music will live on in some format or other. |
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