Saint Etienne On 45 box set - and why Record Store Day fails

Interesting reading via a mailout from Saint Etienne, pretty much summing up what we've been saying about the problem with Record Store Day.

Basically, the Saint Etienne On 45 boxset was released for Record Store Day. But according to the band, people bought up the affordable stock of it and slapped it straight on eBay. Some stock stayed around though - because retailers bumped up the price on launch day. There's a nice way of getting business. Luckily, the band held back some stock, which is being sold online from 24th April. So all is well there. But it leaves a sour taste.

Captain Beefheart - the death of a genuine one-off

I'll be honest, I feel quite down about the death of Captain Beefheart for a couple of reasons, not least for the impact he's had on me musically since…well, since I was at school to be honest.

Back then, I remember being spellbound by a video for the song Ice Cream For Crow on the Whistle Test, one of his later tracks and probably not one of his finest, but a calling card that had a huge impact on my formative musical taste. Over the years I've dig out older stuff of course and like everyone else, I'll mention the likes of Trout Mask Replica and Safe As Milk as the places to go to first. Wonderfully bizarre and bluesy.

But there's another reason for feeling down about his death. His final years, the good Captain suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that's had a devastating impact on my own family and I can only imagine how difficult those final years must have been.

But let's look to the positives - check out that first video I ever saw below and imagine the impact it had at such a tender age. As I said in the title, the death of a genuine one-off.

 

Saving the 100 Club - good intentions, but ultimately a lost cause

Like a game of oneupmanship, everyone seems to be battling each other for the title of 'most upset about the 100 Club closing'. The clear winner right now being current owner Jeff Horton. After all, it's his livelihood.

But quite rightly, other are angry about the possibly demise too. It's one of the last remaining iconic music venues in London -  in its time, a focal point for modern jazz, British R&B and punk, not to mention northern soul and indie in more recent years. Indeed, once you descend those steps, you really could be descending into another era. Especially if The Pretty Things are playing the club again. They often are, even after all these years. But all of that could come to an end. Just as well there's a Facebook group to save the day.

Record Store Day and why it fails. Massively

On paper, Record Store Day is a vinyl lover's dream - rare records and the chance to meet other music lovers. What's not to like? But check out the smallprint...it might not be the dream being sold by the retailers.

You see, this Saturday, I quite like the idea of strolling into my local record shop (Piccadilly Records is the nearest participating store), but when I get there, I'm likely to be greeted with empty shelves and a slightly frustrated crowd.

4AD offers Best of 2009 sampler album for free

Some labels just know how to do things right. Take 4AD for example, not content with telling you how good their current crop of acts is, it's giving you a free download album to road test them.

Yes, all you have to do is enter your email address and you can download all 12 tracks from the 12 selected acts - or if that seems too much like hard work, you can simply go to the 'album' page and stream them all.

Who knows? You might want to go out and buy the full releases.

4AD sample album page