Local record stores ready for Record Store Day coming 'round again

Apr. 19—Local record stores are gearing up for an influx of vinyl enthusiasts to line up outside their storefronts bright and early on Saturday morning.

Record Store Day, which has been dubbed the "world's largest one-day music event" has been growing right alongside vinyl's new popularity.

"I know the line is going to be way bigger than before," Daredevil Records owner Jessica Berry said.

On Thursday afternoon, Berry was in her Niagara Falls store opening boxes containing the exclusive albums that will be for sale on Saturday.

She was not allowed to sell them ahead of time or stash any away. As an official RSD participating store, she had to sign a pledge to not sell the releases prematurely or at significantly higher prices.

Usually held on the third or fourth Saturday in April, Record Store Day encourages independent record stores to carry exclusive vinyl releases from artists as diverse as The Beatles, Willie Nelson, Olivia Rodrigo and nearly everything in between.

"The great part about Record Store Day is that it has something for everyone," RSD coordinator Rick Johnson said.

That reignited interest in vinyl has led to the ever-growing amount of vinyl enthusiasts who make the trip out to their local record stores every April, as well as its companion event, RSD Black Friday in November.

Numbers for vinyl sales are still going strong, too.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, vinyl continued to outsell CDs in 2023 with a total of 43.2 million units, generating a total of $1.4 billion in revenue, compared to 37 million units and $537.1 million in revenue for CDs.

Berry and Beau Hanania, who owns Record Vault in North Tonawanda, said they both solicited input from their customers on what records to stock up on for Saturday.

"We put a list out for people to mark off what they may want ... I think we hit all the bases," Hanania said.

However, due to the limited quantities of each exclusive release available, there's no guarantee that store owners will get everything they ordered.

"A lot of people ordered from me this year, which is great. But I'm kind of handcuffed and now they'll have to get here early and there's nothing I could do about it," Berry said.

Berry specifically pointed to a series of 3-inch vinyl releases of the four songs The Beatles performed on their first 1964 appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and a companion turntable, limited to 2,300 units, as perhaps the most sought-after item in her store for this year's event.

Johnson concurred that the rare 3-inch records will be a staple item for RSD this year.

"It's a breakthrough for us to do a project with Apple Records ... It's like when Taylor (Swift) decided to give us "Folklore: the Long Pond Studio Sessions" last year. (Record Store Day founder) Michael Kurtz was the one who championed the RSD 3-inch record players," Johnson said.

Johnson and the local record store owners also anticipate a collaborative single release between Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan will be another big seller, especially with RSD's growing audience of younger vinyl enthusiasts.

"You've always got to be thinking about the next generation coming up because in time they will set the trends," Johnson said.

Record Vault's staff said the most anticipated releases from their customers are similarly a very diverse set of releases including a special reissue of Joe Pesci's "Little Joe Can Sure Sing" and The Tragically Hips' "Live at CBGB's."

"Our demographic is awesome. They listen to anything and everything," Hanania said.

This year, Daredevil Records plans to utilize RSD as a way to collaborate with other local businesses and artists including a giveaway of limited edition Niagara Falls posters designed by local artist Danger Benzin with the first 40 people who purchase an RSD title.

Berry said that unlike several record stores, she will stagger the initial wave of customers and spread out the titles throughout her store, similar to what she did last year.

"I like to stagger because I find there can be a lot of anxiety with this event and I don't want them to panic while they're shopping here, so they can enjoy their experience," Berry said.

Daredevil Records will open at 8:30 a.m. and Record Vault will open at 8 a.m. To get the list of stores and exclusive releases, visit https://recordstoreday.com.