‘Record Store Day’ to offer audio delights around the Twin Ports

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - This Saturday is Record Store Day, an event geared toward getting music fans into mom-and-pop record stores around the country.

That’s why small local record shops like River City Records in Duluth are taking part in the event by giving customers special deals.

“Twice a year there’s record store day, which is a nice way to celebrate your local record store and we’re very excited for it,” said Dury Nelson of River City Records.

It was thought 30 years ago that vinyl records were consigned to the scrap heap of history, but many zoot-suited young people off the streets of Superior will tell you vinyl is a superior way to listen to music.

“I didn’t believe them when they said it sounded better but it does and for me buying vinyl is easier than listening on the phone and it’s better,” said Martin Schwanebeck a fan of vinyl.

Globe News and Vinyl Cave Records in Superior are taking part in Record Store Day, too.

Special releases for the event include classic fan favorites.

“This year one of our most requested albums, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumors’ is back on picture disc brand new so that’s going to be pretty exciting and anytime someone comes in and says hey do you have this, 80% of the time they’re looking for that album,” said Randy Ross with Globe News and Vinyl Cave Records.

Not all special Record Store Day releases are mainstream.

An obscure album from a band called Apocolyptica may tickle an adventurous audiophile’s fancy.

“It’s a band from Finland that does a lot of like metal and stuff with cellos,” said Ross.

In 2023, vinyl records outsold CDs by 43 million copies to 37 million.

This marks the second year in a row that vinyl was on top since the vinyl revival began about 17 years ago.

“It’s still going every single day we are surprised by the turnout and we get people from all over coming in and saying I never should have gotten rid of my vinyl,” said Nelson.

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