Rare Vinyl Spotlight: Nirvana Love Buzz 7" Sub Pop Records

Love Buzz b/w Big Cheese - Sub Pop SP23, released November 1988

Nirvana's legendary first 7" Vinyl single. Only 1000 hand-numbered copies, 200 additional copies with red marker across the number space on the sleeve were released. All 7" singles are on transparent black vinyl. The value fluctuates on this record. Even if you catch it in a downswing, however, it will cost you some serious cake ($1400-$2500). Checkout this comprehensive list of some lucky owners, I don't got it like that. So for now, I will just think maybe someday...

That kind of money brings MANY bootlegs, which aren't too difficult to spot once you know what to look for. Remarkably, the bootlegs also sell for a considerable amount of money...at one point fakes were going for over $300.

Here are some keys to recognizing a genuine copy:

• The names Alice Wheeler and Susan Sasic on the back of the sleeve are legible. 
• The side A dead wax reads: Why don't you trade those guitars for shovels? L-31540 SP-23-A kdisc;
• side B dead wax reads: L-31540X SP-23-B kdisc.

The Death of the CD: Walmart needs a new loss leader!

More and more big businesses like Walmart and Target are scrambling to find their next big loss leader. In case you're unaware, these corporate mega-stores played a pivotal role in the demise of our beloved local record shop.

In 1982 The Music Industry declared that CD's were the ultimate audio medium and the wave of the future. Remember the hype? CD's will last forever, they're indestructible, convenient and they sound better. You better hurry up and trade-in all your vinyl before its worthless and obsolete. A lot of smaller record shops took it on the chin if they weren't prepared for this dramatic switch to CD. Only the strongest record stores survived and those that did flourished during these early years.

However, this attracted the big corporations who realized they could tap into this huge music market to improve their customer base and bottom line. They decided to price all CD's below cost, knowing most customers will also buy other items at inflated profit margins. It was a huge move and our Record Shops were just collateral damage in their eyes. Stop and think about that for a moment, while we sat and watched the 75% off sales at our favorite local mom and pop record shops. When your local Tower Records, Wherehouses and Music Plus' were filing chapter 7. These mega-stores were enjoying the taste of our fresh meat! Now as CD sales hit an all time low, the music consumer becomes obsolete in the eyes of these corporate giants. They've essentially chewed up the Music consumer and spit 'em out, they've squeezed as much out of us as possible.

So, who will be the corporate favorite at the next loss leader buffet? Me thinks, maybe the gamers and movie lovers will be on the menu, but which will be the delicacy of choice? Only time will tell.

Arctic Monkeys release vinyl-only exlusive single through Oxfam

Arctic Monkeys are ditching CDs to release comeback single 'Crying Lightning' exclusively on vinyl.

The band are issuing two versions of the single, one on 10-inch and one on seven-inch - the latter of which will be exclusively sold through Oxfam charity shops in the UK.

The Oxfam-only version of the single - which is currently only available as a download - will come out on August 17, and features the B-side 'Red Right Hand', a Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds cover.

The seven-inch costs £2.99, though the band and Oxfam are encouraging fans to donate items to their shops - particularly unwanted records or other music-related merchandise - when they come in to buy the new single.

"Oxfam is a Great British institution, and it's a delight to be working together on this project," declared Laurence Bell, founder of Arctic Monkeys's record label, Domino. "There are about 700 Oxfam shops in the UK, many of them in high streets that once housed a record shop, so as well as raising some money for a great cause we are able to get vinyl back onto more of the nation's high streets, which feels good.

"We encourage all customers to bring something of value to donate to the store when they come down to buy the new Arctic Monkeys single."

A 10-inch version of 'Crying Lightning' is also being released via conventional record shops and features an extra B-side, new track 'I Haven’t Got My Strange'.

Both versions of the single come with codes which will allow fans to download the relevant tracks on MP3 for free.

Arctic Monkeys release their third album, 'Humbug', on August 24.

This is one huge Vinyl Swap, The Mega Record Show..

The increasingly successful international Mega Record and CD Fair in Utrecht, Netherlands on November 22nd and 23rd 208 was the place to be in 2008. It is the largest convention of its kind in the world with over five hundred dealers coming from forty different countries. The Mega Record and CD Fair is packed with special exhibitions, music book presentations, live gigs and many other surprises.

Vinyl Record Collecting: The Outer Sleeve

As an avid collector of many things I know condition is important, but this is especially true in the case of Record collecting. The grading of condition is crucial to the value and overall desirability of all LP's and singles.

There are many things to consider when it comes to vinyl record collecting. So rather than trying to tackle it all, I will break it up into sections and post them through the coming months. In this section I will be concentrating on the outer sleeve. There are too numerous outer sleeves involved to cover them all, but most fall under one of these categories.

• Paper sleeves
• 1 pc pocket sleeves
• 2 pc pocket sleeves
• Gatefold sleeves

Some things to consider when grading record covers and sleeves. Regardless of age, a mint cover from the 50's should appear equally mint as a LP cover from the 90s. Wear and tear will diminish the value of your vinyl records in general, so protect them by using plastic outer sleeves. This will prevent ring wear and the accumulation of dust, that may scratch your vinyl. Store your records vertically in a cool dry place off the ground, this will prevent any water damage and bowing of sleeves. Heat will also deteriorate the glue used on most vinyl record sleeves from the 80's up, this will usually result in partial or full separation. Another issue I have come across is the dreaded cover warp, this is usually the result of shrink wrap and heat. So some collectors remove all shrink wrap as soon as possible, others feel if stored well the shrink wrap helps protect the actual sleeve even more.

Vinyl Collectors: The Archive, Record-Rama

The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

Lets go shopping! Paul Mawhinney has amassed the world's largest record collection and due to health issues, he is being forced to sell his collection. He has now sent this invitation to Dealers and Collectors alike. Come for a full tour and buy want you want, your minimum commitment will be $5,000 for a full day. That will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of recordings you need will be:

• 45 RPM's Boxed Surplus Stock (New) $5 each or 3 for $10
• Archive 45 RPM's (New) Half Price
• Albums Your Choice - Half Price

All terms are cash - no credit cards. Orders include shipping cartons. Each booking is for one day only. Who's in with me? anyone??

Vinyl Garage: The New Generation Vinyl Recod Collector

You don't need to be a Baby-Boomer to enjoy buying and collecting vinyl records. Summer 09 marks the beginning of The Vinyl Garage, where we are dedicated to continuing the long love of Vinyl records. A medium that has survived the reel to reel, the 8 track, the cassette, the mini disc, the cd the mp3 and now the download. That's an impressive record....a living legacy that needs to continue.

We will be focusing on music from the mid 70's to the current releases. We stay on top of the incredible bands from the indie labels, who seem to partial to vinyl as a medium. We will offer tips to collectors, where to find specific releases, announcements of new re-issued 180 or 220 gram audiophile LP's. If it has to do with vinyl records for the new gen collector, we will do our best to cover it. Please help keep the Vinyl Garage alive and fresh, please donate via paypal or click an advertisers link if you like the info we provide.