Ticket 2 Ride

This was my first Record Store event, and I only decided the day before to attend. I was in luck, a couple of miles from my home is a small record store that was participating in RSD.

Record Store Day is about vinyl, and the support of independent record stores. This annual event began in 2008, and is celebrated in many festive ways, including the special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products, new release listening parties and artist appearances. Record companies and recording artists have really gotten involved and offer many limited edition vinyl products, which include special colored vinyl albums, EPs and 45s. An EP, which was a popular product in Europe in the 1960s, contains several songs, but less than a full album. With the resurgence of the vinyl format, EPs have found a place offering special song versions, remixes and live tracks.

In the past four decades I’ve purchased only a handful of new vinyl, and all of those were autographed editions. Why was I suddenly interested in attending a RSD event? John Lennon. I heard that an EP of mixes from Mind Games was going to be available. Mind Games is not my favorite Lennon solo album but it has a special place in my heart.

I arrived at this store at 7:30am and already saw a line around the building. Thankfully, I wore my coat because I stood in the cold for an hour and 1/2 before it was my turn to go inside. The owner greeted me and asked what I was looking for. I mentioned the Lennon EP and he responded that he wasn’t aware of it. That told me it wasn’t there. Damn. So, I looked around the store at the other RSD items and found something that interested me. They had one copy of America: Live at the Hollywood Bowl. I grabbed it.

The only live recording of America that I owned was the 1977 America Live produced and arranged by George Martin, engineered by Geoff Emerick, and a full orchestra conducted by the legendary Elmer Bernstein.

America: Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1975 recording, with an orchestra conducted by George Martin, who also produced.

The 1975 concert included Dan Peek, who later left the band and wasn’t on the 1977 album.

Track list
SIDE A:
1. Miniature
2. Tin Man
3. Muskrat Love
4. Baby It’s Up To You
5. Moon Song
6. Old Man Took
SIDE B:
7. Old Virginia
8. I Need You
9. Lonely People
10. Don’t Cross The River
11. Ventura Highway
SIDE C:
12. Glad To See You
13. Woman Tonight
14. Story Of A Teenager
15. Midnight
SIDE D:
16. Company
17. Hollywood
18. Daisy Jane
19. Sister Golden Hair
20. Horse With No Name

Other RSD offerings I heard others talking about included Pearl Jam’s new release, Gene Clark solo albums, a Talking Heads 1977 live concert, very early David Bowie recorded songs, a deluxe edition of the Lost in Translation soundtrack, The Doors: Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, Ringo Starr: Crooked Boy EP, a release of George Harrison’s Wonderwall Music and Electronic Sounds albums, and The Rolling Stones: Live at Racket, NYC EP.

Many of the RSD releases can be exclusive (only released on RSD) or first issued (premiered first on RSD, wider release later), which drives up the excitement for the event.

I’ll be back next year, I just hope the temperature is warmer!