Viva Record Store Day!

As you can see, I did my part to support Record Store Day. I celebrated by visiting a small record shop on the west side that I've been wanting to check out for sometime but never got around to it. So Record Store Day seemed like the perfect day to come a calling. The place is a true record shop, selling mostly vinyl with some other formats here and there. I came home with a few CDs that would replace the cassette versions I currently own, a few Disney albums which were reminders of childhood for the misuss and me, a Los Lobos album - just because they are my favorite band - and the piece de resistance, a promo copy of the Monterey International Pop Festival Box Set. Although it was a cassette version, the reason I picked it up is because I couldn't pass up on hearing some live Otis Redding blowing away "the Love crowd" as he called the concert goers. Throw in some Janis Joplin doing her thing with Big Brother & The Holding Company, Booker T and the MGs, The Who and Jimi Hendrix, you just couldn't beat the price. Plus - and more importantly - I was doing my part to support Record Store Day.

Can't wait until the next celebration. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything.

This post written while listening to music saved on my iTunes.

Music Lovers Unite!

This Saturday, April 19th, has been designated as RECORD STORE DAY. (Insert cricket sounds here.)

Don't tell me you haven't heard about Record Store Day? Well let me kick down some knowledge to you. On this day, independent record stores (and by independent I mean the opposite of the large, chain stores such as Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart) around the country will come together and celebrate the beauty, culture and uniqueness that is the local record shop. Participating stores will have special promotions, give-aways and in-store performances through out the day. Ask yourself, when was the last time you visited a record store? And as you scratch your head and jog your memory, click here for more information and participating stores.

That was the informative portion of this entry. Here are my thoughts on why I will (and you should too) visit a record shop this Saturday. But before I begin, let me make a few things clear to you young whipper-snappers. Yes, I know that records shops (the local and chain store variety) rarely if ever sell records, they sell CDs. Yes, it is easier to go to the local chain store to get new music and even easier and faster to purchase music on any of the various music sites. And Yes, it is cheaper to purchase music at the chain stores or on music web sites. But where is the fun in that?

Tower Records was my local record shop. Unfortunately, it is closed now (as I have lamented in a few past post.) I'd visit on new music Tuesdays or any day that I had some time to spare. I'd open the doors and be greeted by a blast of music playing from the store's speakers as well as the carnival of employees wandering the store talking to customers. I'd walk the wide aisles, storming through like a heard of turtles. Bouncing from section to section, checking out the new music and the old. Picking up albums one by one and examining them wondering if I would find my next favorite album. By the time I was done, I had a handful of records (or CDs if you will) and then I'd begin the game of putting back items that I could hold off on and only take the necessary. But for me - everything was necessary. My love affair with the record store grew stronger when I moonlighted at a record shop for almost 2 years while I held a regular 9 to 5 job in corporate America. I was on the other side now, helping customers find their new favorite album an spinning what I wanted to listen to on the store speakers. I still dream of owning my own record shop even though it is much harder to do but still, someday.

But for now we have the few remaining records stores. I visit Amoeba when I have a chance but it is not local and is always crowded. Maybe I am getting on in age and acting like a grandpa longing for the good ol' days. But visiting the local record shop were good days. So if you can, visit a local record shop on Saturday, April 19th. Remember the good ol' days or visit for the first time.

This post written while listening to "Kiko" by Los Lobos... one of my favorite albums ever and an album the I happen to discover at my local record store.

No Es Nada Mal...

Maybe I'm over thinking this (as I commonly do) but should I be worried that for the past week, every time any of the two producers that I work with comes to see me or call me, they always* start the conversation by saying "No es nada mal." (Translation - "It's nothing bad.")

That's how they start the conversations. No "Hola," no "How's it going?" Not even a "How about that weather?" Nothing. Just a "No es nada mal." Even when they just want to see what I'm doing for lunch I get a "No es nada mal." I know that we have not had a production go smoothly since September of 2007 but seriously, every conversation starting with "No es nada mal." Hmmm, maybe I should worry.

*Note - I may have exaggerate a bit with the always. When things are bad, they start the conversation with a nervous laugh and then lengthening my name by saying it as "Frrrraankieeee" and then launch into what is wrong and how can I resolve it.

This post written while listening to disc 1 of "The Monterey International Pop Festival."

Dilemma, Dilemma

So as of yesterday, the missus is in Mexico for work leaving me home alone, pretending to be a single guy. So besides working and visiting my family, I have a few hours that I would like to occupy (and since I'm left to my own devises - stay out of trouble.) I've been mulling it over and here are a few ideas I came up with...

Option A - It just so happens that Spike TV is running a Star Wars Marathon this weekend. Although the commercials promoting the event are a bit misleading. Episodes I, II and III are airing this weekend (the sub-par films of the franchise) and Episodes IV, V and VI are airing next weekend (possibly the greatest films ever made.) Because of this, this may be a pass for this weekend but I'm willing to give the films another shot.

Option B - On another basic cable channel, TNT is running a Lord of the Rings Marathon with limited commercials. The limited commercials is important because they keep repeating it in every promo spot. The good thing is that the commercials will allow for snack and bathroom breaks but the bad thing is they are commercials.

Option C - With all the hype surrounding the upcoming film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I'm a bit inclined to visit the local video store and rent the Indiana Jones trilogy. I never really got into them growing up so this may be a good opportunity to see what all the fuss is about.

So those are the options that I came up with. As you can tell, it is a conundrum. I'll let you know how it turns out.

This post written while listening to the album "Let it Be... Naked" by The Beatles and avoiding work.