So there I was at 8am on the cold, sharp streets of Leeds heading to Crash Record shop, hoping like last year to be first in the queue. But no, I turn the corner to find a swathe of other keen vinyl-ists ahead of the game. 47 others to be precise, as I discover when the owner works his way down the queue to give each of us our ticket and take the name of our number one desired purchase.
The shop opens at 9am but the 47 people in front of me take an hour to be processed and possessed of their vinyl needs. I'd estimate that about the same number of collectors are behind me in the queue at this stage. Is it the combined allure of Beatles, Blur and Pet Shop Boys releases that has swelled the ranks this year, I wonder? Or were they all after the new Neu 12inch single?
I got my first choice, the Pet Shop Boys 7 inch and The Beatles and Fall singles, a Factory 4 track 10inch, and Midlake's Van Occupanther on vinyl, but missed out on my second choice, The Flaming Lips' Dark Side Of The Moon. The latter, I discover, is trading on eBay for up to £100 and rising. Damn those market forces! I also notice that all of my purchases are up for auction. The going rate seems to be around 10 times the purchase value.
Last night I played all of my new acquisitions and thrilled to the rebellious jukebox of Paperback Writer followed by The Fall's Bury and onwards. Great stuff.
Anyone manage to get hold of The FLips album pre-eBay?
The shop opens at 9am but the 47 people in front of me take an hour to be processed and possessed of their vinyl needs. I'd estimate that about the same number of collectors are behind me in the queue at this stage. Is it the combined allure of Beatles, Blur and Pet Shop Boys releases that has swelled the ranks this year, I wonder? Or were they all after the new Neu 12inch single?
I got my first choice, the Pet Shop Boys 7 inch and The Beatles and Fall singles, a Factory 4 track 10inch, and Midlake's Van Occupanther on vinyl, but missed out on my second choice, The Flaming Lips' Dark Side Of The Moon. The latter, I discover, is trading on eBay for up to £100 and rising. Damn those market forces! I also notice that all of my purchases are up for auction. The going rate seems to be around 10 times the purchase value.
Last night I played all of my new acquisitions and thrilled to the rebellious jukebox of Paperback Writer followed by The Fall's Bury and onwards. Great stuff.
Anyone manage to get hold of The FLips album pre-eBay?