Black Friday: Record Store Day

I don't necessarily suggest you camp out,but I would suggest you get an early start Friday morning to your local record store in order to find these special issues for Black Friday Record Store Day.  Here is a list of  the special releases.

You've seen countless ads on TV about Black Friday shopping at big chain stores,but I expect your record store experience doesn't involve trampling or eye gouging.  No, I bet you'd have a great time looking for cds or vinyl that you've had on yours or someone specials Christmas list...think ahead...if you know you're on the naughty list go ahead and pick up what you think Santa might not leave next to the lump of coal.

At this moment I'm digging Spoon "My Mathematical Mind"as I write this blog...music is a fulfilling part of my everyday experience.  As a side note, we need to be thankful for the Arts...music is as important to our ongoing culture as anything else.

Be sure to read this article 10 Reasons To Visit Your Local Record Store On Black Friday by Clare Flynn on NPR's All Songs Considered Blog.

Tim Boyle/Getty Images

If you're lucky enough to live in Knoxville, for a city this size, there are a bunch of local record stores for you to choose from

Disc Exchange
Raven Records
Wild Honey Records
Lost and Found Records


Mike Smith, The Showbiz Kids

Black Friday: Record Store Day

I don't necessarily suggest you camp out,but I would suggest you get an early start Friday morning to your local record store in order to find these special issues for Black Friday Record Store Day.  Here is a list of  the special releases.

You've seen countless ads on TV about Black Friday shopping at big chain stores,but I expect your record store experience doesn't involve trampling or eye gouging.  No, I bet you'd have a great time looking for cds or vinyl that you've had on yours or someone specials Christmas list...think ahead...if you know you're on the naughty list go ahead and pick up what you think Santa might not leave next to the lump of coal.

At this moment I'm digging Spoon "My Mathematical Mind"as I write this blog...music is a fulfilling part of my everyday experience.  As a side note, we need to be thankful for the Arts...music is as important to our ongoing culture as anything else.

Be sure to read this article 10 Reasons To Visit Your Local Record Store On Black Friday by Clare Flynn on NPR's All Songs Considered Blog.

Tim Boyle/Getty Images

If you're lucky enough to live in Knoxville, for a city this size, there are a bunch of local record stores for you to choose from

Disc Exchange
Raven Records
Wild Honey Records
Lost and Found Records


Mike Smith, The Showbiz Kids

"The Times They Are a-Changin' "



ear X-tacy in Louisville, KY

If you've read any of our blogs you know there's a love affair with vinyl and classic rock & pop music.  You've also had to endure my tour guide reports of my stops at local vinyl retail stores while I'm travelling.  My love for vinyl stores sticking around is not just that I selfishly like to thumb through records but that its one of those tangible,interactive,non electronic experiences that have to elbow for our attention amongst all the modern technological devices that occupy our day.  For instance, Starbucks made buying coffee an "experience" by creating a place to come and hangout and buy expensive coffee that would make our grandparents shake their heads.  So as Starbucks stores has created an "experience" so has the record store.  There is nothing magical about finding a sought after record on itunes or any downloadable site.  Its quick and convenient,but that's not always what life is about.

Here are some articles of good news and bad news.  Unfortunately we're losing an independent record store,ear X-tacy, in Louisville, KY .  Criminal Records in Atlanta is fighting to stay alive,but across the US there seems to be several record stores opening and thriving. 

Here are a few things to read:

statement from Jim James from My Morning Jacket about ear X-tacy closing

Here is an entry Indie Stores Closing-And Opening from Matador Records Matablog.

Below are excellent Knoxville stores that sell vinyl.  In fact Wild Honey Records just opened in September.  Here are their websites.
Wild Honey Records, Disc Exchange, Raven Records

Mike Smith, The Showbiz Kids

"The Times They Are a-Changin' "



ear X-tacy in Louisville, KY

If you've read any of our blogs you know there's a love affair with vinyl and classic rock & pop music.  You've also had to endure my tour guide reports of my stops at local vinyl retail stores while I'm travelling.  My love for vinyl stores sticking around is not just that I selfishly like to thumb through records but that its one of those tangible,interactive,non electronic experiences that have to elbow for our attention amongst all the modern technological devices that occupy our day.  For instance, Starbucks made buying coffee an "experience" by creating a place to come and hangout and buy expensive coffee that would make our grandparents shake their heads.  So as Starbucks stores has created an "experience" so has the record store.  There is nothing magical about finding a sought after record on itunes or any downloadable site.  Its quick and convenient,but that's not always what life is about.

Here are some articles of good news and bad news.  Unfortunately we're losing an independent record store,ear X-tacy, in Louisville, KY .  Criminal Records in Atlanta is fighting to stay alive,but across the US there seems to be several record stores opening and thriving. 

Here are a few things to read:

statement from Jim James from My Morning Jacket about ear X-tacy closing

Here is an entry Indie Stores Closing-And Opening from Matador Records Matablog.

Below are excellent Knoxville stores that sell vinyl.  In fact Wild Honey Records just opened in September.  Here are their websites.
Wild Honey Records, Disc Exchange, Raven Records

Mike Smith, The Showbiz Kids

Pink Floyd Re-Release entire catalog

An inflatable pig flies above the Battersea Power Station to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Pink Floyd's Animals' album

I'll admit as much as I love classic British rock,Radiohead and any band that was influenced by Pink Floyd, I have never really dug Pink Floyd.  However, when I was in our local record store Disc Exchange the other day they were playing The Dark Side of the Moon over the store stereo and it sounded great!  "The Great Gig in the Sky" came on building up to Clare Torry's vocals that filled the store.

The re-release of the albums gave Rolling Stone magazine an opportunity to  interview all the remaining members of Pink Floyd and their making of the 1973 alum and the status of the band.
Rolling Stone article














Mike Smith, The Showbiz Kids

Pink Floyd Re-Release entire catalog

An inflatable pig flies above the Battersea Power Station to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Pink Floyd's Animals' album

I'll admit as much as I love classic British rock,Radiohead and any band that was influenced by Pink Floyd, I have never really dug Pink Floyd.  However, when I was in our local record store Disc Exchange the other day they were playing The Dark Side of the Moon over the store stereo and it sounded great!  "The Great Gig in the Sky" came on building up to Clare Torry's vocals that filled the store.

The re-release of the albums gave Rolling Stone magazine an opportunity to  interview all the remaining members of Pink Floyd and their making of the 1973 alum and the status of the band.
Rolling Stone article














Mike Smith, The Showbiz Kids