One week later, the numbers don’t lie. We compiled a short list of the most valuable releases exclusive to Record Store Day 2014 to track the micro-economy that develops as collectors clamber after coveted titles. Regional or extremely limited releases are not included, such as the Lazaretto 7″ from Jack White. Prices listed are gathered from sold eBay listings on the dates listed. Check back for periodic updates. Continue Reading
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Valuable Wax – Record Store Day 2014
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Bad Opinions on Good Stores
Record stores are just the latest aspect of latent pop-culture to emerge from the backseat of technological progress. The historical importance of what music retailers stand for resonates with societal trends that form around the obsession with vintage, retro and analog gear. Records never really went away, they just disappeared from the viewpoint of popular use as CD players replaced turntables because you needed those to be cool. A turning point is reached when the trend gains enough traction that lousy reporting circulates through local media outlets. There’s no reason for that. Continue Reading
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Kevin Gray on Mastering Records
Catching up with Kevin Gray, we asked for honest opinions on some frequent questions collectors argue over, like actual advantages to 180-gram pressings. The answers given are from a master craftsman, an engineer with a body of work that speaks for itself. Still, Kevin provided WaxTimes with a lot of insight into both his process for mastering and the differing quality of work available today. Continue Reading
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What’s Your Record Worth?
Tough question. Spend enough time with records, you pick up the know-how for pricing. That doesn’t mean you won’t find people who will haggle with you or disagree. Remember that records are collectables, and their value fluctuates in relation to supply and demand. Continue Reading
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Native Speaker: An Intro to Record Terms
Breaking into collecting means picking up a few terms along the way. Collectors have developed a shorthand for many descriptors that provide information about a variety of attributes from condition to label. Mastering these will help better prepare you in evaluating what you already own, what you want to buy, and how much it’s all worth.
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