Why I Buy Music From Record Stores: Tom ‘Mitch’ Mitchener, Spy Catcher

Mitch from Spy Catcher affirms the life, work and value independent record stores give music in this exclusive Rock Sound blog.

Posted Tuesday, 12 April 2011 by Rock Sound in

Blog

After reading the provocatively titled 'Why I Don't Care About Record Store Day' article on the NME website I was keen to write my contrasting views on the subject. The article did contain some blunt truths about the way music is consumed these days. However it missed the point that, symbolically, record shops are (at the very least) the last stand in reaffirming the idea that music is actually worth something. That their existence makes our physical objects of artistic and monitory worth. But then I read Ben Patashnik's blog on this site and he (as well as beating me to it) put down most of my points far more eloquently than I ever could have.

So I'll get back to what I was going to be writing about in the first place and tell you about one of my most memorable experiences inside an independent record shop:

When I was studying for my GCSE's, my family thought it would be a good idea to take me away to our relatives up in Edinburgh. The plan was that they would have a nice little holiday and while they were out exploring the Castle and the Royal Mile, I was to sit at my Auntie's dinner table and work my way through the revision books. On the first day, half an hour after they left, I got on the next bus to the city centre and started what would become my three day tour of all the record shops in Edinburgh (at that time there were many).

I spent hours walking from shop to shop, the main one I remember was 'Avalanche Records' - just off the Royal Mile. It seemed to be stocked with pretty much everything I could have wanted and I would not be surprised if I was their best customer of that week. After three days of walking around Edinburgh I left with no money, bags full of vinyl and CD's as well as a full selection of still unused revision guides. A few of the records I brought were recommended from the people in the shops, some were purely because I liked the artwork and some were fairly hard to come by releases from bands I loved - which felt even more special to have found by surprise while on holiday in a new city.

Without getting too overly romantic about it, I do fondly remember that time and on a recent trip to Edinburgh I was really saddened to find the place where I once purchased many of my favourite 90's indie records was now closed forever. So now, instead of going in and sifting through shelves I would have to find the nearest internet cafe and get my credit card out to buy any of those records. They would then turn up a few days later - probably bent and crumpled in the post. How sad and how boring.

Obviously, how the music gets to our ears does not change the music at all. Be it from iTunes, or Avalanche Records in Edinburgh, it is still the same outcome when we turn up the volume control. However, the investment of time, money and effort to acquire and (from the other side of it) make, transport and shelve the records gives them the worth they are deserving of, which simply does not seem to translate to the internet. We all value the things in life we work for and invest time in much more than the things that we are given, or in the case of illegal internet downloading, steal. I know I learnt and exposed myself to more music in three days than I have ever done via my Amazon Customer Profile. This was because I could talk to the person behind the counter, as apposed to a cleverly devised computer system advising me what to buy based on the previous buying habits of a load of people I don't know.

I remember where I got all my records from, and when, much more so than I remember clicking 'Add to basket' through a faceless online retailers website. I got much more excited finding records I had been after by sifting through racks than I would have bidding for them on eBay. And lastly, where's the fun in sitting in front of a computer screen all day ordering the music we want because we are all too busy to leave our front door, meet someone in a shop and buy a record from them. Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer that. I also think the people making the music would prefer the idea that their music is worth putting in a shop, and then worth someone actually walking in with money and buying it. Music is being cheapened more every day and it's a sad reality for all concerned. If we don't treat it with value now, artists and record companies won't be able to afford the real time required to create incredible records. So, let's support our local record shops (those that are left) and their attempt to give recorded music some worth and respect.

It's not for everyone, and there is nothing wrong with buying your music online. However, it is truly sad when people go out of their way to tell record shops that they are relics of the past selling old fashioned formats that have no place in the modern music industry. They are having a hard enough time already, and more importantly, I don't think it's true.

Saturday April 16 is Record Store Day worldwide, to find out more go to www.recordstoreday.co.uk