Record Store Day 2018 Sets Vinyl Sales Records

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at the success of this year’s event

The numbers are in and Record Store Day 2018 was major success. Taking place on Saturday, April 21, the event saw its highest numbers in its 11 year history. Not only that, but it also led to one of the most successful sales weeks for the music industry in decades.

According to Nielsen Music, as reported on by Billboard, 733,000 vinyl albums were sold the week ending April 26, which includes Record Store Day 2018 sales. This marks the largest non-Christmas sales week since Nielsen started keeping track in 1991. Including Christmas, it was the third-largest vinyl sales week. Nielsen broke it down even further, saying that of the 733,000 units sold, 580,000 were sold by independent retailers, making it the largest week for retail vinyl sales in the chart’s history.

As an example of Record Store Day’s amazing power to generate sales, album sales would have actually declined that week without the event. Nielsen Music, as reported on by the BBC, said that overall sales would have been down 2.5% that week had Record Store Day not happened. Instead, music sales rose 17%.

Not only was Record Store Day 2018 great for album sales in general, it also saw the largest sales in the event’s history. Compared to 2017, album sales rose 23% this year, meaning another consecutive year of growth for the event. Variety reported last year that from 2016 to 2017 the event saw a 14% increase.

Vinyl Bay 777 felt the effects of Record Store Day as well. Music fans began lining up early outside the shop’s Plainview location Saturday morning to get their hands on this year’s releases. Popular titles from Rage Against the Machine, Pink Floyd and Johnny Cash sold out almost instantly.

Much of this growth is due to the plethora of exclusive and limited edition releases that came out for the event. This year’s most purchased exclusive in the US was the rerelease of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Greatest Hits’ on red vinyl. That was followed by David Bowie’s previously unreleased ‘Welcome to the Blackout’ live album, Neil Young’s ‘Tonight’s the Night Live at the Roxy,’ Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Live at the DNC,’ and the rerelease of Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead’s ‘Dylan & The Dead’ collaboration rounding out the top five. In terms of singles, Led Zeppelin’s “Friends”/”Rock and Roll” 7” led the list with David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” demo, Sufjan Stevens’ “Mystery of Love,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Mannish Boy”/”Trashman” in the top five.

Record Store Day was started in 2007 as a way to unite small, independent record shops with music fans and artists in celebration of the music that brings them together. Every year, the event boasts a broad selection of exclusive and limited-edition vinyl releases in hopes that fans would travel to their local shop instead of order the piece online. Over the years, the event has snowballed, gaining more and more traction, bringing in a whole new generation of music fans discovering vinyl for the first time. Now in its 11^th year, the event saw more than 400 rare and exclusive titles released to independent record shops all over the world.

Record Store Day week was just as successful in the UK. The BBC reports that vinyl sales were up 16% from the same time last year. More than 60,000 and 30,000 units of albums and singles were sold, respectively during the sales week. David Bowie’s ‘Welcome to the Blackout’ was the best selling album of the day, as well as the week. The exclusive sold so many copies that it charted at number 22 on the Top 40 UK sales chart.

Thanks to a host of high-profile exclusive titles, Record Store Day 2018 was a big success. Not only did the event have its largest sales in its 11 year history, but it also helped create one of the biggest sales weeks in music history period. This kind of growth bodes well for the music industry and vinyl sales, as the format continues to find a new audience searching out physical releases.

---

Vinyl is still alive and well as Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop. Find Record Store Day exclusives, as well as thousands more titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Not only do we have a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, we also carry new and used CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. Shop in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com to see what’s new. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Record Store Day 2018 Highlight: Jerry Garcia & the Grateful Dead

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia reissues hitting shelves for Record Store Day

Jerry Garcia has become one of the most recognizable names in rock music. Between fronting the inimitable Grateful Dead and releasing his own solo albums and various other side projects, his reputation precedes him. Even after his death in 1995, the singer’s work continues to find its way into the hands of new listeners, especially through reissues, like the ones coming out this Record Store Day.

For the 2018 edition of Record Store Day this Saturday, ATO and Round Records will be reissuing Garcia’s 1982 final studio album, ‘Run for the Roses.’ Pressed on limited edition black and orange marbled vinyl and individually numbered, only 5000 of these albums will be pressed for Record Store Day. The album features some of Garcia’s most beloved songs, including “Midnight Getaway,” “Valerie” and “Run for the Roses,” as well as covers of Bob Dylan (“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”) and Beatles (“I Saw Her Standing There”) classics.

If one Jerry Garcia album doesn’t cover you, there will be two Grateful Dead releases coming your way for Record Store Day as well. First, the band will be releasing a four LPs set of their February 27, 1969 show at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, CA. Initially released in 2005 as part of their ‘Fillmore West 1969: The Complete Recordings’ CD box set, this show will be getting its own limited vinyl release, which will feature a special etching on its eighth side. Only 9000 copies will be made available worldwide.

Then, the Grateful Dead’s 1987 collaboration with Bob Dylan, ‘Dylan & The Dead,’ will be getting a special vinyl reissue. Featuring Dylan playing frontman to The Dead, the album contains a mix of both artists’ hits. This new edition will be pressed on red and blue tie-dye vinyl and limited to 5000 copies.

Fans of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead will have ample reason to celebrate this Record Store Day with these three limited edition releases to look forward to. These releases are sure to be highly sought after, so head out early to make sure you get your copy.

---

Celebrate Record Store Day 2018 at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop, this Saturday! The store will be opening at 8 AM with exclusives from Def Leppard and more. Then while you’re here, check out the rest of our newly revamped store! Find thousands of titles on new and used vinyl, CD and cassette, as well as music DVDs and memorabilia. Can't make it to the store? Check us out online at vinylbay777.com! From rare and hard-to-find albums to classics, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Record Store Day 2018 Highlight: Def Leppard

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at Def Leppard’s never-before-heard Record Store Day release

Def Leppard has had an extensive career with 11 studio albums to their name. Having celebrated their 40^th anniversary last year, the band continues to celebrate this year with a new tour and a Record Store Day release that has never been heard before.

In 2008, Def Leppard checked into the famed Abbey Road studios to rerecord some of their biggest hits. These recordings have gone unreleased for the last ten years. That changes this Saturday when the band releases the three-track single ‘Live at Abbey Road’ for Record Store Day. The release features versions of 2008 single, “C’mon C’mon” and 2006 single “Rock On,” as well as the 1989 single “Rocket.” Be quick though, as there are only 4000 copies of these recordings being pressed for the event.

---

Celebrate Record Store Day 2018 at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop, this Saturday! The store will be opening at 8 AM with exclusives from Def Leppard and more. Then while you’re here, check out the rest of our newly revamped store! Find thousands of titles on new and used vinyl, CD and cassette, as well as music DVDs and memorabilia.Can't make it to the store? Check us out online at vinylbay777.com! From rare and hard-to-find albums to classics, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Record Store Day 2018 Highlight: Madonna

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at Madonna’s career defining Record Store Day releases

Madonna has been wowing audiences for nearly 35 years, keeping the music industry on its toes with every successive release. This Record Store Day, the world will be reminded of where the iconic singer came from with two breakout releases that show who she is as an artist.

Released in 1982, Madonna’s self-titled debut album became an instant hit all over the world. Spawning an impressive five hits (“Lucky Star,” “Borderline,” “Holiday,” “Burning Up” and “Everybody”) from the eight-track album, her voice and compositions stood out from all the other pop music of the era. Fans will once again get to experience the wonder of the singer’s first album, as Sire Records will be reissuing a rare Japanese picture disc of it for Record Store Day. According to the event’s website, the album and its packaging will be “faithfully replicated with original lilac card insert, fold-out page Japanese biography / lyric insert & clear PVC outer with the pink heart-shaped obi-sticker featuring the original Japanese text.” This will be a very limited release, as only 5300 copies will be available in the United States out of a run of 14,000 being pressed for Record Store Day.

Never one to shy away from new technology, Madonna became one of the first artists to embrace remix culture. In 1987, the singer released her first remix album, ‘You Can Dance.’ The album featured new mixes of several of her hits, including “Holiday,” “Into the Groove,” “Everybody,” “Spotlight” and more. Out of print for more than three decades, Sire Records will be releasing a limited edition version of the album for Record Store Day. Pressed on red vinyl, the album comes with a poster and will be packaged in with an obi strip, a la the original European release. Only 4350 copies of the album will be available in the United States out of a total 12,000 being pressed for Record Store Day.

---

Celebrate Record Store Day 2018 at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop, this Saturday! The store will be opening at 8 AM with exclusives from Madonna and more. Then while you’re here, check out the rest of our newly revamped store! Find thousands of titles on new and used vinyl, CD and cassette, as well as music DVDs and memorabilia.Can't make it to the store? Check us out online at vinylbay777.com! From rare and hard-to-find albums to classics, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Record Store Day 2018 Highlight: The Cure

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at The Cure’s remix-heavy Record Store Day releases

Having already spent a good part of the late 1980s accruing a series of massive hits, The Cure decided to give fans a new perspective on their work. In 1990, the band released ‘Mixed Up,’ an album featuring remixes of some of their biggest hits from their then decade-long career.

Now nearly 28 years later, the album is getting a new lease on life. ‘Mixed Up’ is being rereleased this spring for Record Store Day. Remastered by Robert Smith himself, the album features updated remixes of hits like “Love Song,” “Pictures of You” and “Lullaby.” This is the first time the album will be available on vinyl in more than two decades.

In addition to the remastered main LP, The Cure is also releasing a second album of remixes, ‘Torn Down (Mixed Up Extra).’ Also mixed by Smith, the new album will feature sixteen more remixes, this time delving even deeper into the band’s classic catalog. This includes tracks that were released post-1990, such as “It’s Over” and “Want,” as well as a new remix of “Never Enough.”

Both ‘Mixed Up’ and ‘Torn Down’ will be available this Saturday for Record Store Day before being released together as a three CD set on June 15. But act fast, only 7750 copies of each album are being released worldwide.

---

Celebrate Record Store Day 2018 at Vinyl Bay 777 Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop, this Saturday! The store will be opening at 8 AM with exclusives from The Cure and more. Then while you’re here, check out the rest of our newly revamped store! Find thousands of titles on new and used vinyl, CD and cassette, as well as music DVDs and memorabilia. Can't make it to the store? Check us out online at vinylbay777.com! From rare and hard-to-find albums to classics, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.