We’re Back!… Vinyl Records

Not to long ago I talked about the rise and fall of Tower Records and how the vinyl record industry had their days and then essentially died… well get ready because they’re back!

Many of you vinyl aficionados already knew this was happening. The fact that pressed records remain dynamically pure and essentially a great way to archive recorded material, makes the vinyl application a great consideration for recordings of music.

This article from The RollingStone highlights some of the latest sales numbers as they associate with the CD and Vinyl marketplace.

Jam On!
Ron

(credit given to Steve Knopper for RollingStone)

“When vinyl sales started to climb in 2006, some experts saw it as a fad. No longer: Those sales hit a 25-year high last year, and labels are investing in more sophisticated packaging than ever… many artists have taken note; Bruce Springsteen released his latest box set, The Album Collection Vol. 2, 1987-1996, exclusively on vinyl, with no CD option.”

Tower Records, the history of…

The history of Tower Records goes way back…

Wikipedia mentions that In 1960, Russell Solomon opened the first Tower Records store on Watt Avenue, in Sacramento, California. He named it for his father’s drugstore, which shared a building and name with the Tower Theater, where Solomon first started selling records.

By 1976, Solomon had opened Tower Books, Posters, and Plants at 1600 Broadway, next door to Tower Records. In 1995, Tower.com opened, making the enterprise one of the first retailers to move online.

You probably remember your first encounter with a brick and mortar record store… heck even if it weren’t selling vinyl and only CDs, you no doubt can still flash back to the earliest of days that you experienced the ambiance of music in an actual walk in store…. Russell Solomon and Tower encouraged that experience.

We now see that vinyl is back, but a touch to late to save the iconic Tower Records from moving on into the music history books.

Jam On!
-Ron

All Things Must Pass’ is a documentary that explores the rise and fall of Tower Records, and its legacy forged by its rebellious founder, Russ Solomon…

Guitar Pedals for 2016…

Guitar Pedals for Recording and Live Gigs…

Mix magazine released a January 2016 report of a bunch of guitar pedals… They cover everything from in-home studio effects to some live gig units. If you’re an axe player and want to take a peak at the options, head over to this article to learn more…
Jam On!
-Ron

(credit given: via MixOnline.com by:Kevin Becka)

New Features and Original Effects at Home in the Studio – See more at:

https://www.mixonline.com/news/guides/guitar-pedals-recording/426440#sthash.sz1IobOa.dpuf

Welcome to the Jungle of the Recording Industry…

As this article presents a great insight [and it is] – there are some important variables one might consider before launching an attachment to the record industry (the commercial dudes). One is simply the fact that if you’ve already built a (package) following, why would you want/need to sell-out to the record labels? One the other side… if they are willing to toss-out a good bunch of bucks up-front and not mess with you regarding spending a good portion of your advance $ on studio and post-production on your very next release, then… maybe it’s worth it. And, if they can guarantee that (because of their promotional juice) you’ll get some good exposure in larger venues, then.. maybe. But remember, if you’ve created a decent following the ‘snow-ball’ effect just may take you where your original journeys had already chartered…
– Ron

(by Christopher Patton via:Cleveland Music Examiner)

There was a time when A&R personnel (employees working for record labels) would find musicians with high musical abilities and quickly sign them to a record deal. They would bring these musicians to the labels’ artist development department to enhance the musicians’ music and marketing image. As a result, those musicians became hit stars. This may be a bit oversimplified, but…
More Hear -> https://www.examiner.com/article/why-record-labels-won-t-sign-great-artists