High Fidelity store celebrates its independent spirit with Record Store Day
Vinyl enthusiasts across the nation and internationally will celebrate Record Store Day on Saturday at independent record stores, hoping to snag exclusive records that only designated stores will have available.
Ray Wilson, owner of High Fidelity on 6th Avenue, has sold vinyl records for over seven years and relishes being an independent music store culture ambassador. His store’s name is based on the 2000 movie “High Fidelity” starring John Cusack, which takes place in a record store named Championship Vinyl. This is his store’s second year being a part of Record Store Day. Referencing the store's name being High Fidelity, he said that the term "incredible listening pleasure" would be a great name.
“If you are a vinyl enthusiast, this is your Christmas; it’s your mecca,” Wilson said. “We look forward to this day all year round. Even though artists are releasing amazing records on vinyl, this day is so special to us.”
Starting in 2007, the annual event was designed to celebrate the independent record store, with several records pressed exclusively for the event to be distributed by participating stores. Those stores chosen must meet particular criteria, such as 80% of sales being vinyl records.
“Being part of this makes it very unique and special for those of us feeding our families with vinyl records,” Wilson said. "I have always loved vinyl records, from when I was much younger. I got back into collecting vinyl records in 2009, and everyone thought I was crazy, but it was a personal passion that slowly developed into a little booth inside The Nat and now into my own store.”
Wilson said that being among the shops on Route 66 is a wonderful experience that attracts customers from all over. He said that owning a shop where he gets to sell a product that he is truly passionate about is an unbelievable experience.
“Owning a business comes with its own stressors, but it's definitely a labor of love,” Wilson said. “When people come in and ask how your day is, I say any day in a record store is amazing. It is not just a job to me; it's a love for me.”
This year's featured Record Store Day artists, items
Each year, an ambassador artist is chosen to celebrate Record Store Day. This year, fresh off receiving its first Grammy Award for Best Album, Paramore was selected as the 2024 ambassador artist. Special Paramore items will be available to customers at stores.
There will be other special records released, including the new Pearl Jam album “Dark Matter” and an exclusive Beatles mini turntable, which plays three-inch vinyl records.
“There will be some amazing titles and pressing this year,” Wilson said. “This day allows us to shine because we cannot compete price-wise with Walmart and Amazon. It is so easy for people to just order from Amazon, but with these exclusive records that are only available on Record Store Day at independent record stores such as mine, it gives collectors a chance to get their hands on stuff they cannot get anywhere else.”
With vinyl records, Wilson feels that this allows people to unplug from their phones and use modern technology.
“Listening to vinyl records is like time travel; you are consuming a form of music that has been around for almost a century, with generations of people having used this format,” he said. "This brings back a time when people used to stand outside of a record store before they opened, to buy the latest music without having heard it previously. It is such a beautiful way to consume music.”
Wilson spoke enthusiastically about opening a new record and viewing the liner art and notes in person, allowing one to really interact with the music rather than just the sterility of playing digital music.
“I have had so many daddy-daughter dates right here in the store where they listen and collect together,” Wilson said. "It is a cool feeling to see that multigenerational vinyl collector and see the love of it passed down like that. For many of the younger collectors, this is a pretty new experience, with them realizing that it is a way to consume their music that is very intentional and zen. Consuming a record this way is a unique way of experiencing the music. It is like a vinyl record is a five-course meal, and an MP3 is a McDonald's hamburger.”
Why vinyl declined - and had a resurgence
Speculating on why vinyl records almost disappeared, Wilson said that the format was replaced by more convenient formats such as cassettes and CDs due to their size and lack of portability. The sound quality of records, which he says cannot be duplicated by digital music, is what brought them back from the brink of extinction.
“We all want to extract that special sound from a vinyl record, wanting to learn more about how they are made and why they sound so good and what you can do to extract that sound from a record to get the best experience,” he said. “Over seven years ago, I asked people online what started the resurgence of vinyl, and people who responded to me saying that it never really went away. It is not necessarily something that went away; it's just something that is gaining more popularity again.”
He opined that Taylor Swift and independent artists have played a big part in the resurgence with their releases on vinyl. Fleetwood Mac has been a huge seller in his store, and Taylor Swift is extremely popular. He also gets many independent record store releases that may be special editions.
“I cannot find this in many other industries where these independent stores get special editions,” Wilson said. “When you come into a record store, it is a wonderful place to meet other collectors and to listen to something you may have never heard before. Any vintage vinyl record can be listened to before they even buy it. All these vintage records have their own history to tell that tells a different story to each listener.”
Supporting records and small businesses
Having owned a business since he was 15, Wilson said this is the first business where people come in and thank him for owning it.
“One of my favorite things about my job is being asked questions about artists and equipment to play it on,” Wilson said. "I love having that interaction with my customers that they will not get in a box store. This is why people should support small businesses. All along Sixth Avenue, the businesses have people who are excited to tell you about the items in their stores. Supporting small businesses is so important, because these people care about their product, and it makes an enormous impact.”
Within the hobby, Wilson says there must be records that are must-haves, such as Fleetwood Mac's “Rumours,” Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde," and Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon."
Wilson says that many remember vinyl records as problematic because they are easier to damage or scratch.
“Maybe one of the reasons vinyl is so incredibly special is that it is somewhat fragile,” Wilson said. "When you go to the botanical gardens and look at these beautiful flowers and plants, there is a part of the beauty in their fragility.”
For more information about Hi Fidelity, go to https://www.funkylittlerecordstore.com/ .
For more about Record Store Day, visit https://recordstoreday.com/ .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: High Fidelity in Amarillo to celebrate Record Store Day
