Record Store Day officially started in 2007 and has grown bigger each year. In the UK more than 260 independent record shops release limited records from some of the biggest acts which can, initially, only be bought in person. Online sales generally follow the stock that is left over after the weekend. The exclusivity of the releases builds hype and excitement for the day, with some records released in numbers as low as 500 nationwide.
Generally, the sales figures have also increased year on year, although in 2023 there was the Taylor Swift factor, as she also released a record and boosted the overall sales. So when considering the total for this year’s sales, Taylornomics would need to be taken into account.
Vinyl sales generally have been on an upward trajectory for some time, and the upsurge can be loosely correlated with Record Store Day (RSD). But there’s nothing like the promise of rare obscure vinyl to get the collectors out of bed early on a Saturday morning in April.
As a veteran of Record Store Day, I have done my fair share of standing in queues that snake around several street corners, patiently waiting outside for hours. However, The Orpington Cafe & Record Store is taking a more civilised approach. Customers in the queue receive a ticket and can then enter the shop and enjoy a breakfast and drink at their leisure whilst they wait for their number to be called out. The shop opens at 7am but sales cannot commence until 8am. The stereotypical old-fashioned smokey record stores with smug patronising store assistants (see High Fidelity) are thankfully a thing of the past. This is a modern store and caters (literally) to a modern crowd.
However, before entering into the warmth I still had to endure a short queue on a bitterly cold April morning. The mood in the queue was a buzz of anxious excitement mixed with tired yawns. The first in line arrived at 5am, armed with a camping chair. He was only minutes earlier than numbers two and three in the queue who arrived together. Those precious minutes could make all the difference when flicking through for the Fleetwood Mac picture disc! The early birds benefit from being the first to enter the store to eat, and there is a noticeable smugness on their faces, as they opt to take the window seat to observe the queue.
Laurence, who is with his young son, is a first-timer at RSD and is in the market for Daft Punk and Groove Amanda. He was expecting to just quickly pop in and return home and was amazed by the queuing masses. Once he had committed to the queue there was no turning back.
Word drifts down the queue that The 1975 is one of the first acts to sell out, and is met by a combination of groans and cheers, reflecting the varying music tastes. A young lad leaves quickly with a Doctor Who box set hoisted under his arm and a large smile on his face, his early morning mission successfully completed. My cold fingers ached and were turning red as I waited when suddenly the door opened, my moment arrived and I was summoned forward into the warmth. I wasted no time and eagerly ordered a hot pot of tea and an English breakfast.
Linzi and Sasha are a mother and daughter on a neighbouring table. Sasha, is the big vinyl collector and has been nervously watching the shelves whilst eating her breakfast. Her collection started with Queen and Abba records but today she is keen on buying the Olivia Rodrigo 7” and the Blur Parklife album, however, she is worried that they are already sold out. It is slightly tortuous to be so close to the goods, whilst having to wait for your number to be called out and allowed to flick through. This is a dignified affair though, with no brawls or punch-ups like the peak years of Black Friday. Polite and courteous waiting, whilst repeating internally to yourself a mantra that you can always check online later, is the way of the day.
There was some more disappointment when rumours circulated that copies of Noel Gallagher’s 7” were sold out. There is an interesting psychological aspect of customers who are under increasing pressure as their favourite records sell out, throwing all common sense and logic to the wind in order to not leave empty-handed after giving up their morning. As their wishlist quickly evaporates into empty space on the shelves they frantically pick up any record to buy and consider the purchase. That is surely the only way the Steps album is going to sell.
All joking aside, the blend of different ages and musical tastes is what makes RSD so interesting, bringing different people together with one shared interest: the love of music.
Suddenly, in true the Price is Right style my number was read out and up I shot to commence browsing, and boy did I browse, working at pace whilst diligently scanning the records. At the risk of naming every game show that’s ever been in one paragraph, I felt like a Supermarket Sweep contestant, working with speed and agility to win the show and secure the goods. Tiredness can lead to disillusionment, as it turns out.
Today is the biggest event they have held so far at the Orpington. These events are as much about the community as they are about the records. Seeing music fans come together, talking to each other to pass the time when they would normally shop in silence. In the modern age, where so much time is spent online, it’s refreshing that customers are forced to attend in person and interact.
Of course, supporting the small independent record stores is also vitally important, to ensure that there are opportunities to attend in the future. When so many bricks and mortar shops are closing down or turning into barbers or nail bars, it’s great to see a shop buzzing with customers. Across the country, the increased trade must be boosting takings and increasing awareness of the stores. In my opinion, there are not enough record shops, so it’s great to support them, whilst also expanding my record collection.
I leave the store with my haul, which consists mainly of 90s bands B-sides and deep cuts, a fair few pounds lighter in the wallet but filled with a hearty breakfast. The Orpington was very welcoming and friendly and the punters were in great spirits despite the early start. I bump into Laurence again, who is smiling as he successfully secures both albums he desired. I suspect I might see him again, in the same place next year.
Happy Record Store Day to those who celebrate it.
Words by David Holgado
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