Vinyl Lovers Guide #3
It’s always been the secret to discovering great new music: just dig a little deeper. Sydney’s record stores have always been our favourite places to dig for new tunes, and just in time for Record Store Day 2015 – this Saturday April 18 – the Diggin’ Sydney 2015 guide has landed. It’s a comprehensive guide to Sydney’s independent record stores, put together by Sydney’s independent record stores, to show off their wares. We asked the finest shops in town about what’s in store at the moment, and what they’re looking forward to on the local scene. All that’s left is to get amongst it.
255b Crown St, Darlinghurst (entry on Goulburn St). 9380 8223 / recordstore.com.au
Who’s on the team at The Record Store?
This is a tricky question. There are, at last count, 14 sets of keys roaming out there, although only five people are regulars here. At least two sets belong to one of the partners (Rev Dr.) and we’re pretty sure he has lost them both, but that’s OK as he is the not-silent-enough-partner. Zac (JNR) runs the store during the week and herds the Kato and Ben Fester cats. Josh (Setwun) does the Sunday graveyard and Stephan (pH) has been relegated to back office duties because he bites the customers. Then there’s JMez, Dobolina, Morphingaz and probably a few other sets of keys I have forgotten handing out.
Give us an overview of the history of the store.
We’ve been in our current location since 2003, before which most of us shopped or worked at BPM Records, which was also in this location from 1999-2003. BPM started down at 43 Oxford Street in 1996 – we still rock the original JBL 700s from then.
What about your personal involvement in the industry – how did you become involved in records?
An old school friend, Megan Connolly (bless), bought me a Shamen 12-inch in year 12, ‘Hyperreal’, which blew my mind. I’d been into (and discovered) the electronic sound at about age eight when I heard the new Doctor Who theme song they rejigged for the fifth Doctor. I knew there and then that synths were for me.
What inspired your creation of the Diggin’ Sydney guide to record stores in Sydney?
Both myself and Phil from the Vintage Record had little black-and-white numbers and then I saw the Diggin’ Melbourne guide designed all sexy-like and I was like, ‘Boom, I’m gonna do Sydney,’ and Rex (Blisterfinger) and Chris (Northside) in Melbs are way into community so they were all over it and now we do it together.
How tightly knit is the retail community around our city?
I’d say it’s tightly unhinged! We all know each other and see each other around and about and, most importantly, do not see each other as competition. I realised a long time ago the customers were not shopping at one shop. We’re an industry and it’s great to be finally presenting like one with the guide. But yeah, we’re all pretty tight, in a loose kinda way.
Are there any Record Store Day releases you’re especially excited about?
Any of the bastards that actually turn up on time! Seriously, it’s a total shitfight; a stressful, chaotic, awesome shitfight!
What are you selling like crazy at the moment?
Turntables. Audio-Technica are killing it.
If there’s one record everyone should have in their collection, what is it? The Stone Roses – ‘Fools Gold’
413 King St, Newtown. repressedrecords.com
Take a trundle down King Street and past the turnoff to Enmore Road, and you’ll find yourself in a thriving hub of local music. The hottest young Aussie bands are plugging in all week at Newtown Social Club – formerly the beloved Sando – while the next crop are honing their skills across the road at Newtown High School. And where do they get all their inspiration? Just nearby at an indie record store called Repressed Records. The locals know all about its treasures already, but we asked owner Chris Sammut to talk us through some of Repressed’s latest goodies.
Who’s on the team at Repressed Records?
Me, and Nic who owns R.I.P Society.
According to your website, you focus on supporting independent Australian music. What’s great about the local scene?
The diversity and quality of the artists we deal with is always pretty energising for us. People working at a grassroots level keeping a vibrant, relevant music scene.
You aren’t just all about records – tell us about your collection of merch, books and vinyl. Is it an important part of the customer’s experience?
We primarily deal in new and second-hand vinyl, but we also have T-shirts that we like to keep interesting, plus we just got into second-hand books too. We feel it’s all working together really well at the moment.
What are you doing to celebrate Diggin’ Sydney and Record Store Day on Saturday April 18?
Loads of exclusive limited edition releases for the day. We’ve been planning a show at Vivid Sydney too so we’ve been pretty stretched, but go to our website and we’ll keep y’all informed! Loads and loads of new vinyl titles arriving too.
Are there any RSD releases you’re especially excited about?
Metallica’s No Life ’Til Leather demo tape on cassette again!
What are you selling like crazy at the moment?
Dick Diver, Twerps, Broadcast, Courtney Barnett, Royal Headache, Sunday Painters.
If there’s one record everyone should have in their collection, what is it?
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols! Still.
11/181 Church St, Parramatta. 9891 9330 / beatdisc.com.au
The team:It’s a very small operation here at Beatdisc Records. Employed at the shop it’s just me, Peter, the owner; and Tom, second in command. But we then have what we like to call our Beatdisc family, which includes volunteers, our partners and our most dedicated customers and friends. We couldn’t do it without them.
The history:Beatdisc was opened in the same Parramatta store that we still operate from in August 1995 by original owner Vic. I couldn’t tell you what the first record that sold was, but I’m really happy to say this August we have been selling music for 20 years!
What’s playing in store right now? Father John Misty’s excellent second studio album I Love You, Honeybear.
What is it you dig about the Sydney music scene?
I love that young people are reconnecting to the music scene and buying physical music again, coming along to our all-ages in-store shows and getting behind local bands. I feel like there is growing support for smaller independent artists and there are a lot of passionate and dedicated musicians, promoters, indie label owners, record stores, venue owners and fans out there. This is really exciting to be a part of.
How are you celebrating Record Store Day on April 18?
We’ll have a heap of RSD stock, vinyl imports and we’ve got a lot of unearthed second-hand vinyl going out this week, plus a CD sale! RSD for us is basically an all-day party with some of our favourite people and this year we’ll be doubling the party with the addition of a live in-store show. Kiri (Brisbane), Ted Danson With Wolves (first show in four months) and Blossom McKenzie-King – all-ages show starts from 7pm. It’s going to be awesome.
What’s the first record you ever bought?
I really don’t remember, but it was probably some Southern Californian punk rock… Bad Religion maybe.
3 Wilson St, Newtown. 9550 6056 / eggrecordsonline.com
The team: Baz, lover of power pop. Stephen, who needs more space to hold his collection, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of most genres. Nic D, legend and lover of all types of music and thinks he knows all the B-sides of the Bee Gees’ singles.
The history: My brother-in-law Ric and I started Egg Records in 2000 in a small store in Newtown but moved to a bigger store a few doors up where we are still today. We deal in new and used LPs,CDs, DVDsand memorabilia. Our aim is to offer our customers an experience of sights and sounds that you cannot get anywhere else. I can’t remember the first record we sold but I think we still have the first dollar from that sale in a box somewhere.
What’s playing in store right now? Red House Painters.
What is it you dig about the Sydney music scene? That there is such an eclectic mix of all types of music.
How important is the independent music network to what you do and our city as a whole? It’s very important culturally to keep things fresh and have new ideas coming through.
How are you celebrating Record Store Day on April 18? We will have a couple of young local bands playing, hopefully lots of the stuff we ordered for RSD will turn up in time and we will also be having some fresh stock of all genres arriving from Japan.
If you were stranded on a desert island and could take one record with you, what would it be? Matthew Sweet – Girlfriend
What’s the first record you ever bought? The Beatles – With The Beatles
What’s the best discovery you’ve ever made while digging through record crates? A rare Australian folk psych record called Extradition.
Basement, 73 York St, Sydney. 9262 4999 / mojorecordbar.com
The team:The Mojo team is Frank ‘Dr. Rock’ Cotterell, Jonny Bunt and Dan McManus.
The history:We opened in June 2012 and specialise in new and used vinyl covering local artists, ’60s garage/psych/beat, rock, soul, funk, blues, jazz and lots more. The first record sold was Lightnin’ Strikes by Lightnin’ Hopkins.
What’s playing in store right now? Dion – ‘Baby, Let’s Stick Together’
What is it you dig about the Sydney music scene? Considering the lack of support, scratch the surface and you can still uncover great bands. Keep on truckin’ people.
How important is the independent music network to what you do and our city as a whole? The support of real music fans is vital to our business and the word-of-mouth recommendations we get from people in the scene are worth their weight in gold.
If you were stranded on a desert island and could take one record with you, what would it be? The Stooges – Fun House
What’s the first record you ever bought? The Beatles – With The Beatles
What’s the best discovery you’ve ever made while digging through record crates? The Missing Links – The Missing Links, and for 50 cents!
Shop 3, 1761 Pittwater Rd, Mona Vale. 8411 2331 / pacificrecords.com.au
The team: It’s a one-man army here but my bestie Grant’s help has been tremendous over the years!
The history: I’ve been wheeling and dealing since the late ’80s but started Pacific Records in 2001. First record I swapped was Iron Maiden’s The Number Of The Beast for S.O.D’s Speak English Or Die LP sometime in 1986. That record blew my head off and it was all go from then on.
What’s playing in store right now? Ty Segall, Thee O Sees, Budos Band, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck, Black Sabbath, Terrorizer, Beowulf, OFF!, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson.
How are you celebrating Record Store Day on April 18? Like I celebrate every other day, sell some records and have a few.
How do you deal with the challenges of running a record store in 2015, and how does Record Store Day help the cause? It can be hard but RSD certainly helps, it’s such a great initiative! Let’s hope the major labels stop pressing unnecessary releases and leave it up to the indies.
What was the first record you bought? Iron Maiden’s ‘The Trooper’ seven-inch – Mum hated it until I came home with Venom’s Black Metal LP a few days later.
What’s the one record you argue over most?
I don’t argue anymore, every record is a good one!
What’s selling like hotcakes at the moment?
That Dave Grohl dude’s band.
Basement, 294 King St, Newtown. 9557 8771 / resistrecords.com
The team:Resist is a small operation, there’s myself (Graham Nixon), Mel Kraljevic and Dani Chalmers.
The history:Resist started in 1996 and has since had three different locations, all within Newtown.
What’s playing in store right now? Pianos Become The Teeth – Keep You
What is it you dig about the Sydney music scene? Sydney’s always had a strong music scene. Like any city it has its ups and downs, but there’s a lot of good young bands coming through so that always keeps things exciting.
How important is the independent music network to what you do and our city as a whole? Without the support of our customers, we wouldn’t be in business or be able to do what it is we do. Unfortunately too many stores close and when they do, everyone talks about how great the store was – however, often it’s too late, so if you want any small business to keep their doors open, get out and show your support.
How are you celebrating Record Store Day on April 18? Other then stocking many of the RSD titles, it’s business as usual for us, nothing fancy going on here.
If you were stranded on a desert island and could take one record with you, what would it be? Gorilla Biscuits – Start Today
What’s the first record you ever bought? INXS/Jimmy Barnes – ‘Good Times’ seven-inch.
What’s the best discovery you’ve ever made while digging through record crates? Face To Face – Don’t Turn Away LP on Dr. Strange (it was later rereleased on Fat).
3/65 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville. 9519 9978 / revolverecords.com.au
The team: The Team at Revolve Records is Jon Ordon, theowner, and working in store is Pete, ex-owner of Creative Vibes, and Gonz, DJ extraordinaire.
The history: Jon started 25 years ago with Discovery and evolved into Revolve Records in Erskineville over ten years ago. The first records Jon ever sold were a pile of rare obscure vinyl (I’d hate to think what they were) at Balmain Markets when just starting out in the late ’80s.
What’s playing in store right now? Tammi Terrell – Irresistible
How are you celebrating Record Store Day on April 18? We’re celebrating Record Store Day! Come in and say hi!
How do you deal with the challenges of running a record store in 2015, and how does Record Store Day help the cause? Jon doesn’t find running a record store a challenge, it’s more a pleasure. Record Store Day brings new record collectors out of the woodwork.
What was the first record you bought? First record Jon bought was a Billy Idol 45, ‘Rebel Yell’ (cringe).
What’s the one record you argue over most? Jon is open-minded about music and doesn’t argue about records.
What’s selling like hotcakes at the moment? Blues, psych, prog and good classic rock.
268 Victoria Rd, Marrickville. 9572 6959 / soundsespresso.com.au
The team: Anthony Skapetis: owner/founder of Sounds Espresso.
The history: Our retro-style cafО and record store opened in 2014 on Record Store Day, wow! There’s been so many records sold – I think the first record was Nana Mouskouri [laughs].
What’s playing in store right now? Sylvester – ‘Do Ya Wanna Funk’
How are you celebrating Record Store Day on April 18?
Lots of music, lots of talking and lots of fun.
How do you deal with the challenges of running a record store in 2015, and how does Record Store Day help the cause? Just loving the challenge of selling records and showing people and teaching them about records and turntables.
What was the first record you bought? I think it was a children’s record.
What’s the one record you argue over most? Salt-N-Pepa – ‘Push It’
What’s selling like hotcakes at the moment? Hip hop, disco, ’80s, funk, R&B.
31a Parramatta Rd, Annandale. 9550 4667 / thevintagerecord.com
The team: Well, there’s Tom who used to own Good Groove Records; Joe, who plays in Machine Machine; Michelle, my wife; and me, Phil.
The history: This is our tenth year owning the Vintage Record and we’re still loving it.
What’s playing in store right now? Axiom – Fool’s Gold
What is it you dig about the Sydney music scene? We are getting back to the indie culture I grew up with in the ’80s and ’90s. People are realising the corporate music model is broken.
How important is the independent music network to what you do and our city as a whole? See previous answer!
If you were stranded on a desert island and could take one record with you, what would it be? Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue. Perfection on wax.
What’s the first record you ever bought? Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon
What’s the best discovery you’ve ever made while digging through record crates? The next one – that’s why I keep doing this.
Lower Ground Floor, 511 Kent St, Sydney. 9571 6662 / utopia.com.au
The team: Well, we have the obligatory young good looking guy, the bloke from the Hard-Ons, the Decoder Ring bloke with the out-of-control beard and an encyclopaedic knowledge of thrash metal, plus a couple of randoms including myself.
The history: We are the sore thumb of the music scene, the red-headed step-child who always did what they weren’t supposed to do. Utopia has been around since 1978, which we always love to ‘brag’ is two years before either Iron Maiden or the Dead Kennedys released their debut albums.
What’s playing in store right now? Archspire – The Lucid Collective. In ten years, everybody will say they were into this.
What is it you dig about the Sydney music scene? Lots of awesome people in lots of awesome bands from old-school metal and crusty punk blokes to Post Whatever You Wanna Call Yourself cool kids doing the skinny jeans thing. Sadly we have far too many moth boys out there attracted to the flashing lights of the [cough, cough] VIP Lounge; get into some music, you dopey muppets!
How important is the independent music network to what you do and our city as a whole? Crucial. I would need the entire mag just to explain the obvious.
How are you celebrating Record Store Day on April 18?
Just us and a thousand of our best friends buying records and talking shit. DJs from No Life ’Til Leather and Frankie’s will be supplying the tunes. As usual Utopia will have the ultimate prizes including the Century Venues Golden Ticket worth approximately $15,000.
If you were stranded on a desert island and could take one record with you, what would it be?
Something I have never heard, fingers crossed I like it…
What’s the first record you ever bought?
With my own money? KISS – ‘Rock And Roll All Nite’, seven-inch Australian pressing in 1975 from Ron Manton’s Ear Gear in Blacktown.
What’s the best discovery you’ve ever made while digging through record crates?
I went to the Glebe Fair several years ago; on my way I called someone who was there and they said, “Don’t bother, there is nothing here.” I went anyway and found a $600 record three records back in the very first crate I looked at, a bargain at $8.
Diggin’ Sydney: Vinyl Record Lovers Guide #3 is out now in time for Record Store Day Australia on Saturday April 18. Check out the map in The Brag #608.
