6 hours Ago
I’m already an early riser, but there will be an extra spring in my step on Saturday morning. Why? Because it’s Record Store Day! Since 2008, Record Store Day has been an annual international celebration of vinyl and independent record stores. Chris Brown, former longtime Bull Moose bigwig, was the brain behind it.
Hundreds of collectible, limited-edition records will be available, and the earlier you get to your favorite participating store, the better chance you’ll have of adding to your collection. Coffee in hand, I’ll be making my way to the Mill Creek Bull Moose to line up with the other vinyl aficionados. It’s the Hunger Games of record collecting, but without all the violence and death.
Fun fact: In 2012, one of the Record Store Day releases was “The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond.” People love vinyl for many reasons. Some think the sound is warmer, while others love to see the full-size cover art and liner notes.
For me, it’s both of these reasons, along with a huge amount of nostalgia. I was raised on vinyl. My earliest memories of music are from the living room of my childhood home.
Hearing my parents play songs Ike & Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and any number of Linda Ronstadt songs on vinyl is surely one of the reasons why music is such a huge part of my life. It’s also why records are still part of my listening experience. Record Store Day offers vinyl lovers the chance to let our freak flags fly.
There are also other reasons why the day is so special. Here are three of my favorites: On Record Store Day in 2009, Ani DiFranco played at the Scarborough Bull Moose, and eventually released the performance as an EP. I was there for it.
In 2014, also on Record Store Day, R.E.M.
’s Mike Mills sat behind a table at that same store. He met with the many fans, including me, who had lined up for a moment with him. Mills was there to promote the Record Store Day release of R.
E.M.’s two “MTV Unplugged” sessions.
I had him sign my vinyl copy of R.E.M’s 1986 album “Life’s Rich Pageant.
” This is the type of magic that happens on Record Store Day. Aimsel Ponti intervieiwing Bonnie Raitt on April 23, 2022 (Record Store Day) at Bull Moose in Scarborough. Photo courtesy of Bull Moose In 2022, I had the honor of a lifetime, thanks to Record Store Day and its founder Chris Brown.
Bonnie Raitt’s Record Store Day contribution was her new album “Just Like That.” She was in town to play a show that night at Merrill Auditorium. But before that, she was interviewed in front of a seated audience at the Scarborough Bull Moose.
You’ll never guess who Brown asked to interview Raitt. Suffice to say, I still get goosebumps when I think about it. But the best thing about Record Store Day is, of course, the records.
I’ll be honest. I don’t need any more records. My collection is plenty big.
Plus, I’m a Generation Xer with too much stuff and too little disposable income. But what started with Bowie and U2 in the mid ’80s, became an obsession. I’ll always be a vinyl addict.
It’s just a matter of how often I indulge. Sure, I could stay home and white knuckle it on Saturday. But where’s the fun in that? Finding things to celebrate lately hasn’t been easy.
At the very least, I’m going to celebrate the heck out of Record Store Day with a visit to two Bull Moose stores. I’ll also hit the Maine Mall to check out what they have at Newbury Comics. In fact, as a gal who grew up just outside Boston, the original Newbury Comics on Newbury Street is the first record store I ever fell in love with.
That needs to be honored. Plus, the Tori Amos, The Cure, Cowboy Junkies, Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Dolores O’Riordan and Talking Heads albums aren’t going to buy themselves, are they? Record Store day is awesome. You can add to your record collection while supporting the local economy and artists you love.
You’ll also run into friends and acquaintances who are all there for the same reason. That’s a mighty fine Saturday. On Record Store Day, get your fill of vinyl at more than 12 stores in Maine We believe it’s important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers.
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