Tuesday 31 March 2020

50 YEARS - NOSTALGIA 'TRIP' No.4
RAINBOW RECORDS- Victoria Pier,Colwyn Bay.
A regular stop off point on the way home from our family visits to the Llyn Peninsula in the 90's.The shop had a great selection of second hand vinyl and cds for all tastes.From memory there was a Cafe,Arcade,Fishing Tackle shop,Pub and the Record shop.The outside space was restricted and already in disrepair so no chance of walking to the end of Pier.Herein lies a tale...on one stop off we arrived only to find the Record shop had closed (permanently), everything was still in place but all we could do was peer through the windows at well stocked racks. Being sad about the closure and having always harboured the thought that i would love to work in a Record shop,thoughts turned to could it be something i could do? Quickly dispelling this as delusional, but couldnt seem to get it out of my mind...what would i call our shop? Having always liked a good 'pun' in a dream the words VINYL and DECK leapt out. The Pier, the boards..this is VINYLONDECK and this linked with the obvious vinyl on a turntable.
So, the name was born but not used until 2004 when we set up our business, followed by our first Record Fairs in 2006 and shop in 2009. VINYLONDECK was shortened to VOD when we set up our website in 2011. So, who would have thought a trip to the seaside could have such an influence on our life....tried to keep it brief but guess i rambled!
To the album,
KING CRIMSON - THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR (1984)
This 80's album was at the time a filler for my KC/FRIPP collection and i think i purchased BEAT at the same time.Its an album of highs and lows, certainly no match for the early albums where IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING remains in my top 10 of all time.

Now, only a few pillars to the Pier were visible when this photo was taken but i can picture the exact location and
advertising that you could spot from a distance when driving from the Rhos on Sea end of the  promenade.

50 YEARS - NOSTALGIA 'TRIP'..continued


This continuation of our nostalgia trips is only possible during these isolated times due to the fact thatwe already had a few 'in the can' ready to go, so will continue to post out until our 'can' is empty or movement becomes possible again.This was a continued 2020 mission to re-visit 12 locations/shops/stores with the vinyl purchased at the time.Marking 50 years of personal collecting, these are shops that now exist as something else.The trips are random with no particular order or preference and not chronological in terms of vinyl release dates.
Looking back and reflecting, which at the moment seems alot easier than the here and now...
4th 'trip' to follow soon on Facebook and our Website news page.

Wednesday 25 March 2020

New arrivals, Pre orders continue

Despite the closure of our shop for safety reasons during this awful Coronavirus situation, we continue from HOME to list new arrivals and pre orders for future releases. As you may have seen we have put some information up on our new Mail Order page on website, so might be worth a read if of interest. Its also OK to reserve any titles for collection when we re-open (our usual 14 day collection rule will be waived during our closure) .So, despite being invisible for a while we are still actively doing our very best to make sure we can hopefully return at some point in the future. We will keep the updates coming.....

Monday 23 March 2020

We have closed our shop for now...

SHOP CLOSED UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE.
Although we had hoped stepping up safety procedures would help this week, given the gravity of the current situation and with thoughts for all our customers it seems best to close With immediate effect until further notice. There is no knowing when we will be back,but assure you our intention is to return when the time is right.We have plenty of current NEW vinyl stock which can be ordered from our website and we will arrange to get it to you by Mail order or some other way. Also, Pre orders will continue to be listed and hopefully by the time of release we will be closer to re opening. In the meantime all those with Pre orders due in very soon will be contacted and we will make sure you receive your orders in or around date of release.
We have added a link on our Website with Mail Order details but will waive any shipping fees until we are fully back on track.
It will be very sad to be away from our little shop, but much more important we all stay safe.
See you soon from us all at VOD Music.

Saturday 21 March 2020

Social distancing

With the need for us all to step up safety procedures, from next week we ask if we could set a limit of 2 customers in the shop at any one time until further notice.
Thanks so much for your continued support in these tricky times.

Friday 20 March 2020

Shop,Fairs,RSD update

RSD - FAIRS - SHOP
THE SHOP
As for everyone things have been fast moving and changed daily.So,just a quick update relating to our position, we are still open and following government guidlines,we are still unsure of how long this will continue and are making plans (sounds like we know what we are doing!!) for whatever might be next.We will of course keep you informed on any changes to opening times.

FAIRS
We have moved to cancel Our Record Fairs at Wrexham, Ty Pawb May 16th and
Neston,Civic Hall on Saturday June 20th, not the best news but absolutely the right thing to do for everyone.Our event at Denbigh Town Hall late July is the next one under consideration but we will see how it goes over the coming weeks and Months.

RSD
This is proving to be an ever more difficult and complicated position for most Record Shops. Whilst the rearranged date of June 20th for RSD seems now to be at best very optimistic the immediate concerns are that the shops will face their annual biggest outlay for stock at a time when the they have will probably experienced real difficulties with cash flow due
to the Coronavirus issue. Most shops at this point are still open but this could change at any time.The cut off date for ordering RSD titles has been put back early May so any decisions for our shop  will be made at this point.Worth noting that a small number of RSD releases will still come out on 18th April but will no longer be an official RSD title,this is due to some of the smaller labels needing the funds for vinyl pressed.

Will keep updates coming,we are thinking of you all...
speak soon,
Colin

Tuesday 17 March 2020

Day off back in Thursday

We have an extra day off this week so back open Thursday and will update on the situation with shop, fairs and RSD by end of week.

Saturday 14 March 2020

RSD, Record Fairs and Shop

RSD - FAIRS - SHOP
RSD
The postponement of RSD with it moving to Saturday 20th June was inevitable and certainly the right thing to do to move it from April. Then comes the realisation that we dont really know how long this Coronavirus will affect everyday life, so for us at this point there is no
decision on our RSD-are we back IN or OUT or maybe somewhere inbetween? SAFETY has to come first whatever,vinyl will be there for us when all this has hopefully gone away. So, this is not a YES or NO - we will do what we think is right at the time. With the ordering cut off dates for RSD to be altered it gives time and space to stand back and assess on a daily basis.We will keep you updated so you too can plan.We are Independent so any decisions will be ours and ours alone, doing what we think best for us ALL.

FAIRS
The same applies to our Record Fairs and while at this point no Government guidlines restricting these we feel it just makes sense to cancel any event that could put people at risk. With Mold Record Fair on 18th April already pulled we are already considering our Wrexham event mid May. It is far too early to say yet but we will liase with Ty Pawb and let you know nearer the time.

SHOP
Like all shops there will inevitably be a downturn in sales,this is fully understood.We are no different but in our case we are hoping being very small may limit the longterm financial affects.Our usual opening times continue for now, like everything else just see how it goes.
We are in the process of setting up the provision of NEW vinyl by Mail Order, there is now a link on our website main page. We would obviously much rather instore sales and chat but appreciate some people may have concerns at the moment. Hopefully this will just be a temporary measure.

Thats it for now, sure to be back soon with further updates.

Thx Colin

Friday 13 March 2020

RSD date change

RSD has a new rearranged date for 2020, more on this soon.

Thursday 12 March 2020

WITHDRAWAL FROM RSD 2020

CORONAVIRUS-WITHDRAWAL FROM RSD 2020
It is with a heavy heart that we have taken the very difficult decision to NOT participate in this Years RSD.We know this will disappoint many - none more than us, we have had 10 years of wonderful days in April.

WHY NOW
After conversations with the UK organisers and the cut off date for ordering in titles upon us,we have had to make a decision IN or OUT. With so many uncertainties relating to social distancing/contact,events and the way RSD may now be delivered under new rules that may or not apply we think its best all round to make an early call on the situation. Record Store Day for us has always been about interaction ,the queue, friendships,selling in the shop face to face, chat and of course the music. This year if things turn out to be far removed from this it is not  what we would want or i guess any of us would want.This decision has been agonised over for days with lots going on behind the scenes (and very little sleep).It will also mean cancellation of our Record Fair (never have we cancelled anything before) and the Live Music which was looking truly amazing. We can only thank Heartbeat Wunderbar, Alison Cotton and The Fellowship of the Hallucinatory Voyagers for their very kind offers to play on the day.
Disappointed doesnt even begin to cover it...
At this stage RSD is still happening elsewhere but under constant review, a postponement might have helped.

SO WHAT NEXT
Our shop carries on as all shops are at the moment, with the Mold Record Fair cancelled we will review the situation with regard to the Wrexham Fair planned for mid May. We are currently reaching out to contact as many people to inform them about RSD.

IF ANYTHING CHANGES
We will let you know.

So, from all of us its a big sorry, but our hand was forced by things beyond our control,
Thx Colin

Friday 6 March 2020

50 YEARS - NOSTALGIA 'TRIP' No.3



50 YEARS - NOSTALGIA 'TRIP' No.3
DAMAR CARDS- The Precinct, Bromborough Village,Wirral.
Not your typical Record shop (back then this wasnt unusual), in  fact it was a card/gift shop back in the 1970s. As you entered the shop located on the right hand wall it had a long rack with an amazing selection of vinyl which at the time ticked all my boxes. This is where my Hammill collection started, first purchase was:
PETER HAMMILL - CHAMELEON IN THE SHADOW OF THE NIGHT (1973).
This was his 2nd solo album (the first was soon added to the collection).Like many albums
i hadnt heard anything off the LP but there was great hope having already started down the
Van der Graaf Generator path, i wasnt disappointed this is epic stuff with tracks ranging from melancoly to madness....one listen of the last track (In the)Black Room/The Tower will explain the later.The 18 year old me could never have imagined i would still be collecting his music in 2020 and still with the same level of excitement when new material is released.
Looking back i would have loved to have had a chat with the shop owner, his vinyl racks set me down a road that seems to have no end....

50 YEARS - NOSTALGIA 'TRIP'..continued


Quick recap for anyone who missed 'TRIPS' 1 and 2.
A continued 2020 mission to re-visit 12 locations/shops/stores with the vinyl purchased at the time.Marking 50 years of personal collecting, these are shops that now exist as something else.With no particular order or preference and not chronological in terms of vinyl release dates.Reflection can be a good thing, enjoying the step back in time...
Third 'trip' to follow soon on Facebook and our Website news page.

RSD wish list / wants

As per official RSD rules there are NO reservations for Record Store Day, it's first come first served on the day BUT feel free to let us know what you wishes and wants are and we will take note during the ordering process. List of what will be expected in will appear on our website RSD page before the day on Saturday 18th April

Tuesday 3 March 2020

RSD list leak

Due to the unfortunate leak of this years RSD list by subscribers to a monthly magazine we will NOT now stay open late for a launch as planned this Thursday. Very disappointing situation , but what we can say is that it is a very good list this year so all we can do is look forward ....More RSD Info soon..

Sunday 1 March 2020

Record Fair thanks

Many thanks for the great support yesterday at Connahs Quay for our first RECORD FAIR of the year. We love the shop but was great to be back on the road with the Fairs,  this was the first of eight planned for 2020. The next one is on Saturday 18th April in Mold on Record Store Day!