We've compiled information about each of the indie record stores in Ventura County. American Pie Records and Record Outlet insist that 'every day is Record Store Day' and don't get 'officially' involved in the festivities by selling the exclusive releases or throwing parties. Salzer's and Grady's will sell many of the exclusive releases (see a full list at ) and host other activities. Many stores also offer extras such as live music, discounts, contests and giveaways. Hundreds of rare and limited releases and reissues, mainly on vinyl, by artists old and new, are sold on this day. Since 2008, when Record Store Day began, the third Saturday in April has been Christmas/Hanukkah/Valentine's Day/Black Friday for independent music stores and their customers. Yes, you can purchase all this used stuff online, but shopping on eBay just doesn't compare to sifting through a dusty bin of records and finding treasures like an old Doors album, a pristine copy of 'Hooked on Classics' (the 1980s disco version of classical music) or 'The Best of Alfred Apaka with the Hawaiian Village Serenaders' ? all for less than $10 each.

And that's just new vinyl releases, not including the vintage records that most of Ventura County's record stores specialize in.Īmerican Pie carries only vintage vinyl Grady's and Record Outlet sell mostly used and some new vinyl, plus CDs, cassettes and DVDs and Salzer's sells new and used CDs and vinyl along with DVDs. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, sales of vinyl grew 36 percent to $163 million in 2012. Yet even in these days of digital music, when iTunes, Rhapsody, Pandora and Spotify are the sound sources of choice, and CDs are becoming oldies but goodies, analog alternatives are still popular. Many sell merchandise considered obsolete when CDs came along in the 1980s: LPs, 45s, 78s, cassette tapes, turntables.

Add Record Outlet in Thousand Oaks ? holding up the East County all on its own ? and the entire county has four indie music stores, not a measly number.Ĭelebrate their survival on Saturday during Record Store Day, a worldwide effort to give iTunes the day off and honor music in its physical form.Īccording to Almighty Music Marketing in Studio City, about 1,700 independent record stores exist in the U.S., with approximately 280 in California. Buffalo Records closed in December, but still thriving are American Pie Records, Grady's Record Refuge and Salzer's Records. Yet in an odd feat of retail one-upmanship, the town has three of a supposedly waning, nonchain breed: independent record stores. Ventura's got two Trader Joe's, two Targets (a few blocks apart), two Burger Kings, and in the near future, a single Wal-Mart.

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