Vinyl Record Sales Continued to Break Records in 2018

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at the Continued Rise of Vinyl in Nielsen’s end-of-year statistics

The numbers are in and 2018 was another record-breaking year for vinyl music sales.

According to Nielsen Music, sales of vinyl records climbed to new heights last year, moving 16.8 million units, a rise of nearly 15% over 2017, marking a new 13-year high for the format. That is also the largest number of vinyl units sold since Nielsen began keeping track in 1991. Vinyl now makes up 19.1% of all physical albums sold in the United States.

Markedly, it wasn’t new releases that drove US vinyl sales. Of the top 10 best-selling vinyl albums of the year, nine of them were catalog titles that came out more than five years ago. The 2014 ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1’ soundtrack came in at number one with approximately 84,000 units sold, followed by titles from Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles,  Prince, Bob Marley, Queen and Amy Winehouse, respectively. Panic! At The Disco’s ‘Pray for the Wicked,’ which came in at number 10 with approximately 59,000 units sold, was the only album released in the last year to reach the top 10.

Vinyl unit sales were much higher in general than they were over the last year or two. The top 10 vinyl albums of 2018 sold roughly 698,000 units, upwards of 100,000 units more than 2017’s roughly 579,000.  In 2018, 79 titles sold more than 20,000 units compared to 77 in 2017 and 58 in 2016. Similarly, 14 albums sold more than 50,000 units, almost double the eight that achieved that feat in 2017.

The report found that a majority of these sales were made at independent shops. Small retailers made up approximately 41.1% of total vinyl sales in 2018. That number exceeds online and mail order purchases, which accounted for 40.9%, as well as vinyl purchases made at chains and big box stores, which made up 10.5% and 3.9%, respectively. Nielson chalks this up to exclusive releases only available at indie shops, such as the ones released during Record Store Day. In 2018, Record Store Day’s main April event saw its largest turn out yet, coming out as the third largest vinyl sales week since Nielsen started keeping track.

Unfortunately, vinyl’s continued resurgence was one of the only bright spots in music sales this year. As a whole, album sales were down again, this time 17.7% from 2017, moving 141 million units. Of that number, 88 million were sold on a physical format, down 15.8%. And while CDs continue to make up the majority of physical sales, that number dropped 20.9% over the last year. Digital downloads also fared poorly, dropping 20.7%.

This is due in large part to streaming, which grew by 49% in 2018. In fact, streaming is probably the only reason music consumption showed an increase for the year. Drake’s ‘Scorpion’ was the most consumed album of the year as both the album and its tracks set records upon their release.

Despite another year of falling album sales, vinyl records have been able to maintain their impressive comeback. Bolstered by exclusive releases and the desire for classic rock albums, sales of the format continued to rise in 2018. With these trends increasing year over year for more than a decade, it doesn’t look like vinyl is going anywhere any time soon.

---

Vinyl records are alive and well at Vinyl Bay 777! As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose in variety of genres to satisfy most music fans. Drop by our Plainview location or shop online at vinylbay777.com to browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Ten Record Store Day Black Friday 2018 Releases to Watch for this November

Record Store Day Black Friday Logo 2017.

The list of releases for Record Store Day’s 2018 Black Friday event was released last week. Offering a variety of limited edition and first run exclusives, there is a lot to look forward to this holiday season. A full list of releases is available now on the Record Store Day website.

Taking place November 23, Record Store Day Black Friday intends to “spotlight” record shops as great places to purchase gifts. According to the event’s website, by creating limited edition items for independent retailers to sell, they hope to get people to celebrate the art of music instead of mass production.

With Record Store Day Black Friday (RSDBF) just around the corner, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of this season’s most interesting releases. Here are 10 that we’re excited to, hopefully, get our hands on.

1.       Weezer, “Africa”: Earlier this year indie/”emo” band Weezer indulged an internet campaign asking them to cover Toto’s “Africa.” The song ended up becoming their first top ten hit in a decade. For RSDBF, Weezer will be releasing a 10” of the song on a picture disc shaped like the African continent backed with their cover of Toto’s other hit, “Rosanna” (not unlike the one Toto released for the two singles back in 1982).

2.       Frank Zappa, ‘We’re Only In It For The Money’: Frank Zappa’s 1968 album ‘We’re Only In It For The Money’ turned 50 this year. This RSDBF, the album’s original mono mix will be getting its first vinyl pressing since its release, this time on five different picture discs, including four never-before-seen photos from the vault and one that will be exclusive to Europe.

3.       Eric Clapton, ‘Happy Xmas (Bonus Tracks)’: Eric Clapton released a Christmas album, ‘Happy Xmas,’ this past Friday, his first holiday album in his five decade career. But that’s apparently not the end of it. For RSDBF, Clapton is releasing a 7” with two additional original holiday songs not available on the record.

4.       Grateful Dead, “Playing In The Band”: Coming in at 47 minutes long, the Grateful Dead’s 1974 recording of “Playing In The Band at the Edmundson Pavillion in Seattle, WA is the band’s longest uninterrupted song ever recorded. The song is being released in its entirety for RSDBF.

5.       Dead Kennedys, ‘Iguana Studios Rehersal Sessions’: It has been more than a decade since California punk rockers Dead Kennedys released any sort of music. However, the band is giving fans a look at their early days with the release of their demo and rehearsal tapes from 1978. The recordings include early takes on such infamous tracks as “Holiday In Cambodia” and “California Uber Alles.”

6.       The Jimi Hendrix Experience, ‘Burning of the Midnight Lamp’ Mono EP: To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of ‘Electric Ladyland’ (which happens to be today), the Jimi Hendrix Experience is releasing a 7” EP featuring the original / rare mono mixes of “Crosstown Traffic,” “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” and “Gypsy Eyes.” Copies of the EP will be numbered and pressed on transparent Orange Crush vinyl.

7.       Iggy Pop & The Stooges, ‘Rare Power’: Iggy Pop & The Stooges’ seminal 1973 album ‘Raw Power’ turns 45 this year. For RSDBF, the iconic punk band will be putting out a nine-song album of previously unreleased outtakes and alternative mixes of songs from the album.

8.       Lookout Records, ‘The LookOuting!’: Last year, defunct East Bay, California label Lookout Records held a music festival at 924 Gilman Street featuring up-and-coming punk bands. The event was recorded and is being released as a double LP for Record Store Day Black Friday. Limited to just 1000 copies, all proceeds from the album’s sale will go to 924 Gilman Street. (My guess is that this album will not be coming to stores in New York.)

9.       Various Artists, ‘A Day In The Life: Impressions of Pepper’: The 50^th anniversary celebration for the Beatles’ iconic ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ apparently isn’t over. For ‘A Day In The Life,’ Verve Records gave up-and-coming and established jazz artists the task of reinterpreting songs from the album. The result is described on the Record Store Day website as “impressionistic, original [and] avant-garde.”

10.   Various Artists, ‘Mom+Pop 10 Year Anniversary Compilation’: What’s better than an independent record label releasing a compilation to independent record shops! Mom+Pop Records is celebrating their tenth anniversary this year and they will be doing just that. The 3xLP box set will feature an album of rarities from the label’s most successful artists, as well as an LP of the label’s artists covering other artists (some of which are also Mom+Pop artists). Aside from the music, the set also comes with a 36-page book about the label’s history and a poster.

Record Store Day Black Friday will see the release of some outstanding limited edition titles just in time for the holiday shopping season. Keep an eye out for some of the titles above and let us know what titles you’re excited to pick up this November.

---

Find Record Store Day releases and much more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find next at Vinyl Bay 777.

Six Inventions that Changed Music

August is Inventor’s Month. Started by the United Inventors Association of the United States of America in 1998, the month is meant to celebrate all the inventions and inventors that have revolutionized the way we operate in our daily lives.

As music has been around for many centuries, there have also been many advances in the field that have had an impact on the way we make and consume it. Devices like phonographs and iPods and software like LPs and CDs brought music home for personal and private use. Advanced technologies in instrument design and recording techniques revolutionized new trends in the kinds of music we are able to create.

This Inventor’s Month, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, would like to pay homage to the inventions that have made music what it is today. Here are six that revolutionized the way we make and hear music forever.

1.       Electric Guitar: Before the 1930s, much of guitar music was made on hollow-body, acoustic instruments. According to an article in Gizmodo though, these conventional instruments were often too quiet for large-scale performances. Created by George Beauchomp, an artist who played Hawaiian-style guitar, and Adolph Rickenbacker, a electrical engineer and instrument maker, the first electric guitar aimed to solve this issue. By 1932, their first design , dubbed the “Frying Pan,” was being manufactured. Of course, there have been improvements on the design, including Les Paul’s sold-body electric,  which would become a standard in rock music, but without the idea sparked by Beauchamp and Rickenbacker, none of it would have happened.

2.       Phonographs: It’s hard for most of us to remember a time when recorded music wasn’t necessarily easily available in one’s own home. But in the 1800, if you wanted to listen to a song, you would have to buy the sheet music and play it yourself. Attributed to Thomas Edition in 1877 (though the concept was not new, wasn’t put into physical practice yet), the phonograph was able to both record and play back audio, the first time anyone had been able to do the latter effectively. This meant that someone with a phonograph machine could buy recording and listen to it in the privacy of their home.

3.       Vinyl Records: It’s hard to talk about phonographs without talking about the medium for which the recordings were cast. Before the LP we commonly know today, machines used to play wax cylinders (referred to as 78s for the speed at which they rotated), which were heavy, rough and didn’t hold a lot of music. The first company to use vinyl for music records was RCA Victor in 1930. Columbia then ended up perfecting its use over the next ten years.

4.       Transistor Radio: One thing that listening to music lacked in the early days of personal listening was portability. In the 1950s, transistor radios helped solve this issue. Based around transistor technology, which had been invented in the previous decade, the device replaced bulkier vacuum tube models. Texas Instruments, in conjunction with Regency, was the first to get their portable radio to market. If not for the transistor radio, advances in portability, such as the Sony Walkman or even the iPod, might not have been a thing.

5.       Headphones: According to Smithsonian Magazine, the first headphones were used by telephone operators. Nathanial Baldwin created the first modern-ish headphones, sending his prototype to the military for testing during World War I. In the 1950s, musician John Koss decided to adapt the military-style of headphones for personal use after noticing a lack of headphones that would work on his new phonograph, which had a headphone jack installed in it. Today, earbuds and headphones are everywhere, closing people off to the world in a soundtrack of their own choosing.

6.       Personal Computers / Internet: We use our computers for everything nowadays. But back when computers were first becoming a thing in the 1960s, they were far from personal, taking up entire rooms just to function properly. By the 1980s, computers were starting to make their way into homes, thanks in part to Apple and IBM. Once the internet started picking up speed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the personal computer became a virtual necessity. Now, computers run many of our daily lives, including getting us closer to the music we can’t live without. We download music to our computers and stream off the internet using them. Amateur creators can record their own music and distribute it without the assistance of a label.

There have been many inventions that have revolutionized the way we make and consume music. From amped up electronic guitars making it easier to hear the instrument in big concert halls, to phonographs and vinyl records that brought recorded music into households and handheld radios and devices that made music portable, each of these have had a crucial effect on the music industry. This Inventor’s Month, we remember those that have helped make music what it is today and look forward to the future inventors who will continue to innovate technology and improve upon the music industry.

---

Celebrate music innovation at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of revolutionary formats, including vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia, in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Vinyl Bay 777 is Your New Home for Queen Music and Memorabilia

Queen has been inspiring artists and fans for nearly five decades with their bombastic rock sound and theatrical stage presence. Now, the band’s Long Island fans have a new place to stock up on music from their favorite rockers: Your Music Outlet, VinylBay 777.

Vinyl Bay 777 has one of the largest collections of Queen music and memorabilia on Long Island. The independent record shop has acquired a collection of more than 100 new and used copies of the band’s music on CD. The extensive collection encompasses the band’s entire career, from their 15 studio albums to live recordings, greatest hits, solo albums and post-Freddie Mercury reunions. The collection also includes tribute and cover albums that bring new perspective to the band’s legendary catalog from artists inspired by Queen’s career. These albums range from classical takes on the band’s music to multi-genre covers that exemplify the kind of reach the band’s music has had.

CDs aren’t the only Queen items the store has in stock. Vinyl Bay 777 has another 70-plus pieces set to hit shelves over the next few weeks. These include albums, books, memorabilia and more. Check out more of the band’s works on vinyl and cassette. The store has books about the band’s jukebox musical ‘We Will Rock You,’ biographies detailing their storied career with never-before-seen photos, and even guitarist Brian May’s study on the work of T. R. Williams in stock now.

Queen remains one of the most revered bands in rock music today. Led by the inimitable Freddie Mercury, the band has sold hundreds of millions of albums all over the world, making them one of the best-selling artists in music. Even after Mercury’s passing in 1991, Queen’s music and legacy continued to live on. Their 1981 greatest hits album became one of the best selling albums of all time. The band continues to tour behind their massive catalog, most recently with ‘American Idol’ alum Adam Lambert on vocals as Queen + Adam Lambert. And with a successful jukebox musical touring the UK and an upcoming movie about the band’s early career (which hits US theaters on November 2), people’s fascination with the band doesn’t look like it will ever burn out.

Vinyl Bay 777 is Long Island’s top new independent record shop. Operating for nearly two years, the store boasts an inventory that spans thousands of titles in a variety of genres. Browse their wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store or online at vinylbay777.com. Located in Plainview off Sunnyside Boulevard, the store is just minutes away from the Northern State and Long Island Expressway.

Queen fans will be sure to love the extensive collection of the band’s albums Vinyl Bay 777 has added to their inventory. Including albums, books, memorabilia and more, the new collection spans the band’s entire career, as well as their legacy and influence. Keep the music of Queen going and check it out on your next visit to Vinyl Bay 777.

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.

Vinyl Sales, Streaming Rise in 2017

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a brief look at 2017 music sales

Late last week, both Nielsen and Buzzangle released their year-end reports on music sales in 2017. According to these services, music consumption has increased over the last year, benefitting mainly from audio streaming and vinyl sales.

Despite what the music industry might have you think, music consumption is on the rise. Buzzangle reports that total album consumption in 2017 is up 12.8% from 2016. Song consumption was even higher, rising 25.9% over the previous year. Ed Sheeran had the most-consumed album of the year with ‘÷,’ followed closely by Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation,’ which was the best-selling album of the year.

While consumption has increased, album sales were not the main factor for it. Album and song sales both continued to decline in 2017. According to Buzzangle, the decline was 14.6% for albums and 23.2% for song downloads over 2016. That especially goes for CD sales. Though they continue to make up the bulk of physical music sales, CDs were the only physical medium to show a decline over the last year.

There is a silver lining though. While physical album sales did decrease, the drop wasn’t as bad as it was in 2016. While there was an 11% decrease in 2016, 2017 only saw a 7% decrease in physical album sales according to Buzzangle. This could be due in part to the continued increase in vinyl sales. According to Nielsen, vinyl saw its 12^th consecutive year of sales growth, rising 9% over 2016. The medium made up 14% of all physical album sales in 2017, the highest Nielson has recorded it at since they started keeping records in 1991, and 8.5% of album sales in total. Buzzangle was even more generous, reporting that vinyl made a 20% leap over the previous year.

Vinyl wasn’t the only physical medium to grow in 2017. Surprisingly, cassette sales are at a high as well. Though they still make up a negligible part of album sales, only 0.1% according to Buzzangle, Nielsen reported that cassette sales had a 35% increase over 2016, putting them at a nine-year high.

When it came to physical album sales in 2017, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ came out on top. The film franchise’s first soundtrack came in at number one on Buzzangle’s list of top-selling vinyl albums and took the number 3 spot on Nielsen’s, just behind The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ reissue and their ‘Abbey Road’ album. As for cassettes, ‘Guardians’ holds the top three spots with the ‘Stranger Things’ soundtrack and Eminem’s ‘The Eminem Show’ reissue rounding out the top five.

While vinyl and cassettes had an outstanding year, the main reason for 2017’s increase in music consumption was audio streaming. Both Nielsen and Buzzangle recorded more than 50% increases in on-demand streaming between 2016 and 2017. And that’s not just free streams, but paid subscriptions as well. In fact, paid subscriptions eclipse ad-supported streams exponentially, proving that people are still paying to listen to music, just in a different way.

The music industry saw a lot of growth in 2017. Music consumption has been on the rise over the last year, due in large part to audio streaming hitting an all-time high. Even album sales didn’t fare too badly in 2017 especially if you look at the continuing increase in vinyl and cassette sales. Here’s to hoping 2018 is just as successful.

---

Keep physical music mediums aliveby shopping Vinyl Bay 777 in 2018. Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassette, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Why Vinyl Records Make Great Holiday Gifts

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, looks at why you should get the music lover in your life the gift of vinyl

With Christmas less than a week away and Hanukkah almost over, the thought of finding the perfect last minute gift can seem daunting. If you’re still looking for something to get the music lover in your life, why not consider getting them the gift of vinyl records.

It’s no surprise that vinyl has been making a resurgence over the last decade. More and more people have been purchasing the analog medium, making for its highest sales numbers since the 1980s. In 2016 alone, sales went up nearly 26% from the previous year while other physical mediums, like CDs, continued to lag. Even digital sales lagged for the first time last year. Events like Record Store Day bring more awareness to the vinyl format, in turn helping to create a new environment and audience for it.

So despite this newfound popularity, why should you get your music-loving loved ones vinyl records for the holidays? There are a handful of great reasons to do so. These reasons include selection, physicality, the experience, community and self-expression.

Because of the recent popularity, many more artists are putting their music on vinyl than they have in the last 25 years. Young music fans just being introduced to new formats can find the latest album from Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran on vinyl. Bands from the 1990s and early 2000s, Like No Doubt, the Beastie Boys and Pearl Jam are reissuing their albums and releasing them on vinyl for the first time. That makes this a great time to introduce generations that didn’t grow up with vinyl to the medium.

There is also a certain satisfaction in holding an album physically in your hands that you don’t get when you purchase a download. It’s hard to get attached to a digital file, something you cannot hold or see, and completely eliminates the need for album art. With vinyl records, the art is right there, a prominent part of the experience and something you can be proud to own. You can pass down a record from person to person, whereas a digital file you cannot.

Related is the experience you have when you play a vinyl record. Listening to a record is an active form of entertainment. Most people don’t simply put it on in the background and go into another room. You need to put down the tone arm to play it and flip the record when side A is done. It keeps you involved in the playing process. By giving someone a vinyl record, you are just as much giving them an experience as you are a gift.

Music is extension of one’s own individuality and vinyl records are a good way of addressing a loved one’s individual taste. It’s definitely a more personal gift than just getting someone a gift card to download music. If you get something from an artist that they like, it shows that you’ve taken the time to get to know them and put some thought into a gift. Even a gift card for their record shop shows that you at least know where they like to purchase their music.

There are many reasons why vinyl records make great gifts. Between the experience of holding and listening to vinyl, the individuality that it compliments and the growing selection of titles being pressed, it’s no wonder they have grown in popularity so much over the last 25 years.  If you’re still wondering what to get the music lover in your life, why not consider getting them the gift of vinyl this holiday season.

---

Find the perfect gift for the music lover in your life this holiday season at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking to get them something new or one of the classics, we have you covered. And 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 Black Friday 2017: Seven Exclusive Album Reissues to Watch For

For the last 10 years, Record Store Day has been a great avenue for launching album reissues. The event gives artists and labels the opportunity to celebrate these tremendous works while also giving back to the fans who buy the albums and the independent stores that sell them. This Record Store Day Black Friday will be no different as there are many specially-packaged and long-out-of-print reissues being released this Friday, November 24.

In anticipation of Record Store Day Black Friday, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the album reissues we can look forward to this coming Friday. Here are seven titles we can’t wait to get our hands on. (Note: Vinyl Bay 777 may not have all of these titles in stock on RSD. Please drop by the store on Friday to see what we will have.)

1.       Tori Amos, ‘Y Kant Tori Read’: Tori Amos has two releases coming out for Record Store Day Black Friday that bookend her career. The first is the ‘Russian EP,’ which features four songs from her 2017 album ‘Native Invader’ on orange vinyl with labels printed in Russian. The other is a reissue of her synth-pop band Y Kant Tori Read’s 1988 self-titled album, which doubles as Amos’ very first recording for Atlantic Records.  Long out-of-print and usually shunned by Amos herself, the album is being remastered and released in original track list order.

2.       Grateful Dead, ‘Grateful Dead Records Collection’: Between 1973 and 1977, the Grateful Dead were releasing music on their own label, Grateful Dead Records. Come this Friday, fans of the jam band will be able to own all four albums released on the label together in one neat package. The ‘Grateful Dead Records Collection’ features ‘Wake of the Flood,’ ‘From the Mars Hotel,’ ‘Blues for Allah’ and the double LP ‘Steal Your Face,’ all “faithfully replicated, housed in rigid slipcases” and coming with books “containing liner notes and iconic photos of the band.”

3.       Richard Hell & the Voidoids, ‘Blank Generation’: Richard Hell & the Voidoids’ iconic debut album ‘Blank Generation’ turned 40 in September. In celebration of the anniversary, the band is issuing a 40^th anniversary edition of the album for Record Store Day Black Friday. This new edition was remastered by Greg Calbi, who originally mastered the album at Sterling Sound, and features a bonus disc/LP with unreleased tracks that include alternate studio versions, out-of-print singles, and bootleg live recordings of the band’s first performance at CBGBs in 1976. The package also contains previously unpublished photos of the band from Roberta Bayley, an essay by Richard Hell and an interview conducted by Hell with guitarist Ivan Julian.

4.       Willie Nelson, ‘Yesterday’s Wine’ and ‘Spirit’: Willie Nelson has not one but two reissues coming out for Record Store Day Black Friday. The first is ‘Yesterday’s Wine,’ which hasn’t been pressed on vinyl in more than three decades. Part of Friday Music’s 180g Audiophile Vinyl Series, the album will be released on burgundy vinyl and packaged in a gatefold sleeve with a poster of the album’s cover art. The second reissue is of Nelson’s 1996 album ‘Spirit,’ which is being pressed on vinyl for the first time. Newly remastered and pressed on colored vinyl, the album will come in a “deluxe gatefold, ‘tip-on’ uncoated jacket.”

5.       Iggy Pop, ‘New Values’: Another addition to Friday Music’s 180g Audiophile Vinyl Series, Iggy Pop will be reissuing his 1979 Arista Records debut ‘New Values,’ his third solo release, for Record Store Day Black Friday. This new edition features the album on blue and black swirled vinyl packaged in a gatefold cover with a 24x24 poster included.

6.       Steve Earle, ‘El Corazon’: Released in 1997, ‘El Corazon’ is one of Steve Earle’s most eclectic albums to date. After twenty years, the album will be seeing its first ever vinyl release for Record Store Day Black Friday. The new edition will come with an exclusive lithograph.

7.       Neil Young, ‘Harvest Moon’: Neil Young’s classic album ‘Harvest Moon’ turned 25 this month. To celebrate, the iconic singer-guitarist is releasing a special 25^th anniversary edition of the album, pressed on vinyl for the first time in North America, for Black Friday. The vinyl will feature two LPs, with the album’s artwork etched on the second side of the second LP.

In true Record Store Day fashion, this year’s Black Friday event will feature some outstanding special-edition reissues. These are just some of the reissue titles coming out this Friday that we feel are worth getting excited over. A mix of landmark anniversary releases, vinyl first-presses and long out-of-print titles, these reissues would be a great addition to any music fans’ collection.

---

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop, is excited to be a part of Record Store Day Black Friday this year. Drop by our Plainview location on November 24 between 9 AM and 10 PM to find exclusive Record Store Day releases and to browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. Vinyl Bay 777 has thousands of titles in store and online at vinylbay777.com year-round with new titles being added all the time.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2017: Seven Exclusive Christmas Releases

One of the things that set Record Store Day Black Friday apart from its parent event in April is the holiday releases. As Black Friday marks the beginning of the holiday season, that makes it the perfect time for artists to spread a little holiday cheer.

In preparation for Record Store Day Black Friday, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the exclusive Christmas releases coming out this Friday. Here are seven that will get you in the holiday spirit. (Note: Vinyl Bay 777 might not have all of these titles. Please visit the store on Friday, November 24 to see what we will have.)

1.       Twisted Sister, ‘A Twisted Christmas’: Rock out to classic Christmas songs from one of metal’s most hard-rocking bands. Twisted Sister originally released ‘A Twisted Christmas’ in 2006, turning out to be the final studio album the band would release together. For Black Friday this year, the album is being rereleased on green vinyl. Only 2000 copies are being made.

2.       Paul McCartney, ‘Holidays Rule’:  For Black Friday, former Beatle Paul McCartney will be putting out two 7” releases. Both feature a new take on his 1979 original Christmas classic “Wonderful Christmastime,” accompanied by Jimmy Fallon and The Roots.  The first release, on green vinyl, will feature The Decemberists on the b-side performing “Jesus Christ.” The second release, on red vinyl, will feature Norah Jones on the b-side performing “Peace.”

3.       Greg Lake, “I Believe In Father Christmas”: It’s been almost a year since King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer singer Greg Lake passed away. To honor his legacy, BMG Rights Management is releasing at 10” of “I Believe In Father Christmas,” Lake’s debut solo single and holiday hit. The b-side features an updated 2002 version of the song that has been out-of-print since then. Only 2000 have been pressed.

4.       Cheap Trick, ‘Christmas Christmas’: While many of the Christmas releases coming out on Black Friday are reissues, Cheap Trick have put out an entirely new Christmas album that will make its debut during the event. The album features a mix of classic holiday tunes and covers of rock holiday tunes by The Ramones and The Kinks. The release is limited to only 2000 copies.

5.       The Minus 5, ‘Dear December’: Why even cover other peoples’ music at all? The Minus 5’s Scott McCaughey wrote 12 new holiday tracks for the band’s Record Store Day Black Friday release, ‘Dear December.’ Limited to 1500 copies on white vinyl in an Advent Calendar-style gatefold jacket, the album features guest appearances from Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, M Ward and Chuck Prophet.

6.       ‘Christmas on Death Row’: Originally released in 1996, the famed Christmas compilation album is being pressed on vinyl for the first time ever, making its debut for Record Store Day Black Friday. Featuring music from Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and the Dogg Pound, the LP will be pressed on colored vinyl with only 1000 copies being released.

7.       Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, “Baby It’s Cold Outside”/ “Santa Baby”: Rateliff and his band will be putting their Americana spin on two jazzy Christmas classics for their Black Friday release, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Santa Baby.” The 7” will be pressed on black vinyl with only 3000 copies available.

Just in time for the start of the holiday season, these are some of the holiday releases coming out during this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday. Be sure to watch for some of these releases, as well as other exclusive and limited-quantity releases, when the event takes place this Friday, November 24.

---

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop is excited to participate in Record Store Day Black Friday this Friday, November 24. Pick up exclusive and limited edition vinyl releases in store during our extended business hours: 9 AM to 10 PM. While you’re here, check out thousands more titles on new and used vinyl, CD and cassette, as well as music DVDs and memorabilia. More titles are being added to our selection all the time, so it always pays to stop by Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com, to see what’s new.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2017 Coming Soon to Vinyl Bay 777

Record Store Day Black Friday Logo.

It’s almost that time of year again! With Thanksgiving coming up this Thursday, the holiday season is fast approaching.  It also means that Black Friday, largely considered to be the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season, is around the corner. And while you may be hyped on all the big deals at the big retailers, Record Store Day is hoping that you might spread the love to the local shops too.

Now in its seventh year, Record Store Day Black Friday will be bringing limited edition releases to independent record shops, like Vinyl Bay 777, just in time for the holiday season. According to their website, the event is designed to “give record stores exclusive releases as part of the attempt to redirect the focus of the biggest shopping day of the year to the desirable, special things to be found at local stores.”

This Black Friday’s collection of exclusives boasts a wide array of releases, from high-profile reissues and anniversary rereleases to exclusive first-releases. There are even a handful of Christmas albums and singles coming out for the occasion to get you in the holiday spirit. A full list of Black Friday releases can be found on the Record Store Day website (Note that not everything on this list will be available at Vinyl Bay 777).

Past Record Store Day releases.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is excited to be participating in Record Store Day Black Friday once again. The store will be extending its hours for the day, opening from 9 AM until 10 PM. We will be carrying many of the listed items in super limited quantities, so make sure to get here early to have the best chance of finding the album you are looking for.

Record Store Day has been at the forefront of the vinyl revival for more than a decade. Every April, the event has been drawing in more and more fans of the physical medium, including those that may not have grown up with it. This past April, the event drew its highest sales numbers ever, raising vinyl sales for that day 3.4 percent over the previous year and 484 percent for that entire week.

Kick off the holiday shopping season by checking out the exclusive and limited edition Record Store Black Friday items being released this Friday, November 24. Vinyl Bay 777 will be open all day to celebrate the event, so make it a point to drop by and check out what’s new. Help in Record Store Day’s effort to preserve the local, independent record shop and find the perfect gifts for your friends and family at the same time.

---

Find gifts for the music lover in your life at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia to choose from. Browse thousands of titles in an array of genres in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. More titles are being added to our selection all the time, so you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Global Record Shops Per Capita: Looking at the Vinyl Resurgence on a Global Scale

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a brief look at the vinyl revival’s impact through the lens of global record shop saturation

Last week, new statistics on the quantity of record shops around the world were published by online vinyl catalog Discogs and sister site Vinyl Hub. The community-compiled lists featured in the article distribute the information in various ways, including the amount of shops by country, population and city. And while the information is far from complete, it is a good indicator of the extent of the vinyl revival’s reach.

We already know that vinyl records have been making a major comeback over the past decade. In a report from earlier this year, vinyl records were the only physical music format to increase in sales over the previous year in both the United States and the United Kingdom. New pressing plants have been able to open up around the world because of these increased sales. And it’s not only older adults and hipsters that are purchasing music in physical formats. Forbes reported Monday on a survey conducted by eBay UK which found that more than half of all vinyl purchases made this year were by people in the 18 to 24 age bracket with classic artists such as The Beatles, David Bowie and Pink Floyd among the most purchased artists. The survey also found that 83 percent of that demographic purchased an item of physical media in the last year, higher than the average of all sales demographics. Vinyl has gotten so popular that even big chains like Urban Outfitters and  Barnes & Noble have gotten in on the trend, the latter even hosting their own Vinyl Weekends (probably because they can’t participate in Record Store Day).

When talking about the amount of record shops per country, it comes as no surprise that the US comes in at number one. After all, it is one of the largest countries in the world with one of the largest populations in the world. With 1,482 shops, it has nearly double that of the country in the number two spot, the UK, which has 537 shops. There are only 11 countries that have more than 100 shops, 10 of which are in the western hemisphere (the only exception being Japan).

The statistics become more interesting when you look at how many stores a country has based on population. Breaking the list down to how many shops a country has per 100,000 citizens, the small island country of Palau takes the top slot. They have three record shops for a population of 21,186, an average of 14.1603 stores per 100,000 people. Iceland comes in a far second with eight stores for 335, 631 citizens, or 2.3836 stores per 100,000 people. The only two countries from the original top ten are Sweden (1.2687 shops per 100,000 citizens) and the Netherlands (1.0595 shops per 100,000 citizens).

Discogs has also broken down their statistics to find out which city has the most shops. Tokyo, Japan takes the number one spot on this list with a whopping 93 stores within the confines of the city. Berlin, Germany comes in a close second with 87 shops. The US city with the highest concentration of record shops is New York with a total of 47 stores among the five boroughs, putting it at number six on the list, followed by Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR at numbers 12, 13 and 14 respectively.

Finally, if you wanted to know where the places with the most record stores within a miles’ radius of each other, their statistics give that information too. The top spot here belongs to Berlin with more than half of their stores (46 of 87) in walking distance of each other with Paris, France close behind at 43 shops clustered together.

Discog’s new statistics on record shops around the world prove that the vinyl resurgence is not just a US and UK phenomenon. Collectors and shops can be found almost everywhere in the world now, from populous countries like the US and Japan to small island nations like Palau. The reach of vinyl has become global and will only spread as its resurgence grows.

---

Find vinyl records right here on Long Island at Vinyl Bay 777. As the island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or shop online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what gems you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Five Head-Scratching Recent Vinyl Record Misprints

Vinyl records have made a comeback in a big way. Over the last decade or so, the amount of people who are buying the analog format has grown exponentially. In 2016, vinyl was the only physical music format to increase in sales, rising 26% over the previous year. With this newfound popularity, more vinyl records are starting to be pressed. And with more items being pressed, there is always a chance that something might go wrong.

Misprints are highly uncommon, but they do happen. Usually if the test press doesn’t pass quality control, the album doesn’t get released and the plant starts over. But there have been a few instances where quality control wasn’t enough to catch a big mistake before the album hit shelves. There have been two instances in the past month alone that make you question whether someone was paying attention at all.

Depending on your point of view, misprints can be an interesting surprise or an unwanted nuisance. Either way, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at five vinyl misprints that will leave you asking the question “how did that happen?”

1.       Beyoncé, ‘Lemonade’: Earlier this week, Beyoncé released the vinyl edition of her hit 2016 album ‘Lemonade.’ However, some European fans opened their copies up to find that the A side was not Beyonce’s album, but the A side to Canadian punk band Zex’s new album, ‘Uphill Battle.’ Columbia Records, who released the album, made a statement about the mishap, chalking it up to “human error” at the pressing plant and that neither artist was involved or knew of it. The label is offering to replace the misprint records, but according to an article in Vanity Fair, some fans don’t actually care, some even saying that they want the Zex album too.

2.       Queens of the Stone Age, ‘Villains’ / Gordi, ‘Reservoir’: Fans of Gordi got a surprise in August when their preordered record club copies of her debut album ‘Reservoir’ ended up containing three songs from Queens of the Stone Age’s new album, ‘Villains.’ The two albums had the same release date, so it is possible that the two albums were up for pressing at the same time. Jagjaguwar and Gordi both addressed the mishap, with Gordi joking that either her fans won’t notice it or they will “appreciate the dynamic shift.”

3.       Lana Del Rey, ‘Born to Die’:  Sometimes the problem isn’t necessarily with the pressing, but the labeling and packaging. People who thought they were buying Lana Del Rey’s 2012 album ‘Born to Die’ on vinyl in 2015 didn’t get a record by the artist at all. Instead, they got Wildhoney’s ‘Sleep Through It,’ in its entirety, with a Lana Del Rey label and packaging. The pressing was recalled, but there are some that are still floating around.

4.       N.E.R.D., ‘In Search Of’: When N.E.R.D. reissued ‘In Search Of’ in 2014, some of the copies have side A of Kid Cudi’s ‘Man on the Moon II’ on their A sides. The misprint doesn’t seem to have been officially acknowledged, but there is plenty of documentation of it on reddit and vinyl collective.

5.       U2, ‘Songs of Innocence’:  On Record Store Day 2015, U2 were set to release a physical version of their album ‘Songs of Innocence.’ However some fans in Europe got a reissue of Tool’s 1992 ‘Opiate’ EP inside the U2 packaging instead. Record Store Day UK acknowledged it as a misprint at the record plant, which was blamed on the packages looking too similar.

Vinyl misprints are inevitable. And as vinyl records surge in popularity once again, there is a higher likelihood that misprints will happen at some point. These are some of the most recent examples to hit the news in the last few years. Whether they, like some classic album misprints, become worth a lot of money remains to be seen.

---

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop, is your outlet to find new, used and rare albums. We have thousands of titles in a variety of genres to choose from. Browse our wide selection of vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more. Shop in store at our Plainview location, or check out our selection online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our collection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Vinyl Bay 777

Vinyl Bay 777 is a lot more than a record store. 

Since first opening, we have become an outlet for all things music and art related. We specialize in new and vintage vinyl records of all speeds and sizes, along with CDs, cassettes, memorabilia, and fine art.  Our records are like no other. From sealed albums from the ‘50s to your favorite new current album, Vinyl Bay 777 has it all. If you are a 45 fanatic we are the perfect store for you. Meticulously displayed throughout the store, your eyes will constantly wander.

Vinyl Bay 777 will be opening it's first location in PLAINVIEW, NY !

Get ready Vinyl Lovers! The best has yet to come... We are proud to announce that on April 20th Vinyl Bay 777 will be opening its first storefront location! The out-of-the-ordinary Record Store will be located in Plainview, NY off Sunnyside Boulevard. What should you expect? The best "record store" you have ever seen. With both new and vintage vinyl spanning wall to wall, Vinyl Bay 777 will also specialize in CDs and music memorabilia as well as unspeakably breathtaking artwork and photographs. What makes Vinyl Bay 777 better than any other record store? We will not put an album on our shelf if it is not MINT. No exceptions. Clean vinyl is the only vinyl you will find in your new Music Outlet.

Get Ready New York... You haven't seen anything yet!

We will keep you posted! Until then, you will have to be patient.

Vinyl Bay 777 is ... Your Music Outlet

From vinyl records that are decades old to pre-orders of your favorite band's new album, Vinyl Bay 777 has it all. We have a great collection of records with lots to choose from. Whether you are looking for Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, R&B, New Wave, or Hip Hop music on Vinyl or CD, we have all of your music necessities.  

 Visit our store for the latest and greatest vinyl records and CDs.

Vinyl Bay 777

Vinyl Bay 777 's Blues History Blurb : Luther Allison

Top Ten Vinyl Record Myths

TOP TEN

Vinyl Record Myths

Brought to you by:

Vinyl Bay 777

Your Music Outlet

MYTH # 10

Only old music sells on vinyl

False. 

In 2009, Radiohead was the #1 selling artist on vinyl.

(Source: Soundscan 2009)

MYTH # 9

Vinyl is dead

Not even close.

Vinyl is the only physical music medium that is increasing in sales. In

2009, more than 2.5 million vinyl records were sold in the United States.

Best Buy, the third largest music retailer, now has 50 stores that carry

vinyl albums. Check out these articles on the rebirth of vinyl:

Vinyl Records and Turntables Are Gaining Sales 

– New York Times

In a digital age, vinyl’s making a comeback 

– Los Angeles Times

Vinyl Gets Its Groove Back 

– Time Magazine

In 2009

MYTH # 8

New vinyl manufacturing equipment is currently being manufactured

False.

There’s no doubt that pressing machinery is in high demand with the

incredible resurgence of vinyl records. However, very little new manufacturing equipment is being made today. For example, the last cutting lathes were manufactured in the 1980s, and can only be found through independent service consultants and cutting room service departments.

MYTH # 7

7″ vinyl cut at 33rpm sounds as good as 12″ vinyl cut at 33rpm

False.

It’s never a good idea to cut a 7″ at 33 rotations per minute, it generally

sounds bad. 7″ records are smaller, so naturally the grooves are more

compressed. As the grooves get closer to the center of a record the groove

width is reduced. Therefore, at the slower speed of 33rpm, distortion can be highly noticeable and cause an unattractive sound. With the circumference of 12″ records, there is more surface area to experiment with. It is more manageable to engrave the outside of the disc where there is better frequency response and minimal tracing distortion. If you have your heart set on putting out a 7″ record, remember that it is highly recommended to record at the speed of 45rpm.

MYTH # 6

7″ vinyl always comes with a big spindle hole

False.

Back in the 1950s, 7″ records were made with large spindle holes for one

main reason: it allows easier handling by jukeboxes. You can still find

them, and Record Pressing can still make them with both large and small

spindle holes.

MYTH # 5

Gold records are made of gold

False.

If this were true, I would have tried getting my hands on one a long time ago. When an artist goes “gold” or “platinum” it refers to the number of albums that were sold. Initially, trimmed and plated metal masters, mothers, or stampers were used to make the awards. Most gold and platinum records are actual vinyl records dipped in metallic paint. Sorry metal detector aficionados.

MYTH # 4

You can NOT play a lacquer master on a record player

False.

Yes you can! If you have a turntable or lathe that accommodates a 14 inch disc, the size of lacquer masters, you can play it. You can even play the mother, a metal version of the record. The only thing you cannot play on a record player is a stamper itself because these are created as the negatives meaning that the grooves are reversed.

MYTH # 3

Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) sounds better than lacquer mastering

False.

There is a difference between the two processes, but there is a consensus that lacquer mastering simply has a better, warmer sound. DMM works well with long LPs – there is better pitch control in the system (for those that have not been back-converted to lacquer as most have), which is better for longer lengths (albums etc.). There is also higher frequency response and, because of this, grooves cannot be cut as deep and there is sometimes a tin-type sound to DMM. For warmer, deeper sound and better base response, lacquer mastering is the way to go. Lacquers can also be significantly louder on EP’s or singles than DMM. Have you ever wondered where dubstep gets that explosive bass that shakes your entire body? That’s lacquer mastering at its finest.

MYTH # 2

Record labels are glued on

False.

In the vinyl manufacturing process, special paper is used and baked to remove all moisture that makes adhesion possible. There is no glue used in the manufacturing process. Instead, special PVC melted into rubber patties, called “biscuits,” are placed between two record labels in a press. A metal stamper is used to apply pressure at a very hot temperature to melt and mold the biscuit and labels together to create the vinyl record. 

Check out this YouTube video to see the process:

MYTH # 1

You can cut deeper grooves in a 180 gram record than in a thinner record

False.

A record press can only produce grooves that are as deep as the cuts in the lacquer master. This depth is far shallower than any record thickness. Consequently, the thickness or thinness of the record has no impact on the depth of the grooves. Considering this, there has yet to be a record made where the two sides of the grooves meet in the middle meaning a thicker record is not necessarily advantageous. However, some artists, producers and consumers prefer the benefits of a thicker record which include reduced warp, less breakage, longer lasting quality, and that the weight of the records make them nicer to hold.