Ode to a Record Store

You may not have noticed it or marked its passing but Saturday was World Record Store Day.
A day to celebrate independent record stores. Many limited edition items including vinyl (yes you can still buy it) was for sale. Some artists made instore appearances and much merriment was had.


We spent it quietly - listening to FBI Radio our local independent radio station. The djs spent much time talking about their first albums (some on cassette but mostly on cd) making me feel old.

The other thing it made me think about is that period of my life when buying new music was as essential as breathing.

In my teenage high school years and subsequent university years my part time job bought me a stereo including a turbtable and lots of Vinyl, Cassingles and eventually a rididculous amount CD's. This continued into my early working life and was often augmented with live music at a variety of venues around Sydney. Often well almost weekly.

My favourite record store was Galleon Records in Fairfield. Local to me but still requiring a trip to the shopping centre by bus. Shopping for music was an event mostly on a Thursday night (i got paid Wednesday's for my casual work!). The great thing was they stocked more than just top 40, lots of independent and local bands and musicians were available the range was extensive and supplemented with T-shirts and other merchandising.

Here I fell in love with The Go-Betweens, The Clouds, The Hummingbirds, Paul Kelly, Nick Cave, The Falling Joys and a range of other local and international artists. These initial outings led me to GW McLennan and his collaboration with Steve Kilbey and on through a range of musical adventures. I realise my love of local independent talent stems from these days and my continued live music passion still persists (although not as fervently).

The absolute best thing about Galleon Records was that for every full price CD you bought you got a voucher. Collect 10 and get a new CD free. I think my silly volume of CD's (now combined with T's - yes we did have overlap but not as much as you would expect).

My brother, neighbour and I collected these vouchers and used them regularly as did many of my friends. The staff were like friends greeting you warmly and letting you know what was coming up. Collecting deposits for pre-orders and eventually special editions - can you say picture disc?

Like many local record stores I believe Galleon has closed. I haven't been out that way in years.
But this weekend I remembered it fondly and the influence it has had on me and my perpetual CD collection.

As my university and working life bought me into the city I supplemented Galleon with the wonderful independent stores scattered throughout the city Red Eye (still a major independent today) and the now closed shops of Waterfront (in its many locations), Phantom and Half A Cow who were based in Glebe. The last three also managed independent labels consisting in some format until this day.

Phantom signed artists such as Def fx and The Whitlams and an offshot published the work of Swoop (the band which spawned Professor Groove and The Booty Affair - a funk live experience of mythic proportions)  Waterfront hit it big (huge) with Rat Cat but also released the Happy Hate Me Nots, The Hard Ons (best known for collaborating with Henry Rollins) and The Trilobites. Half a Cow was the offspring of Nic Dalton who  co-opted his parents book store and turned added music and comics. The label's artists were incredibly diverse The wonderful Smudge and Sneeze, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists, the dulcet tones of Bernie Hayes, the fuzzy guitar pop of Sidewinder and Swirl, and the Peter O'Doherty Reg Mombassa project Dog Trumpet. 

Now my music purchases tend to end up coming from JB Hi-Fi not as exciting or passion enducing.
I miss the old record store - but am happy the labels continue.

Do you have a favourite record store?

Baby Clothes

My focus has been knitting heaps of baby clothes. Cardigans stripes and elephants preceded by hats!

Lastly more stripes and elephants for a cotton toy bag!

Progress shots

Big Sis and Lil Bro Matching Socks

It's been quiet on the blogging front while but not so quiet on the home front.

Health scares for the other half and finding out and sharing with family and friends that I am pregnant (due in July) has taken up a lot of time. T is well and recovering and we are slowly adjusting our lives for the impending arrival of the new baby. All the big tests are done and the new addition is healthy, as am I.

O is over the moon and can't wait to have a little brother.

I decided to give in to her requests and make her a pair of stripey socks - she now wears a ladies 9-10 so this was not a small undertaking. They always look fabulous, but she and we are just as excited about the new matching pair for the bub. All set to go.

It made a complete change from knitting squares and bunts. The blanket is still awaiting space for sewing up. The bunts have been delivered and along with about 100 others is destined for the Easter show display. I managed to complete 9 before returning to the striped socks. I have now moved on to a matching striped vest (for the bub).

Bunting

The squares are done all 30 of them. I just have to sew it up after deciding on the layout.

I have swapped squares for triangles. We are knitting Bunting for the Easter show display. I have completed 7 inspired by Lyn (Shades of Grey) and Sue and many others.

I have just started number 8!

Knitting Monogamy

One month and only knitting one thing 21 squares 9 to go.

Apparently the secret is to make no commitments. No resolutions, no KALs, clubs with no commitments just yarn or fibre!

I'm loving it so far!

Projects In Progress

Following a series of family events outside our control my wonderful other half has undertaken to catalogue and re-order our books.

Whilst some of the organisation process has driven me a bit mad with stacks of books and DVDs everywhere the end result is starting to look quite impressive and engaging.

Non-fiction by topic film, music, sport and whimsy.
Fiction by Author.

New Year Colour

My share of the Ton of Wool

1 kg of Cormo Top



And 9 blanket squares

A Year in Knitting and Spinning

2011 was an interesting year for me. A new job in April and some added responsibilities (Knitting related) in the second half of the year. A cancer diagnosis for a family member put things into perspective in late September (he is responding to treatment)!

I managed to complete only 13 knitting projects. Mostly shawls and some socks. I started a few cardigans but only finished one. I did spin up quite a bit of yarn and gave some away as gifts.

For 2012 I am going to be knitting what I want when I want! That's it. No big plans no big commitments just a chance to knit and spun when I can and to enjoy it!

On the needles at the moment
Diamond Fantasy Wollmeise 100% in Madame Souris and some Cotton Squares all in Bendigo 8 ply for a baby blanket.

Silence

The silence since early December has been unintentional.

Work, family, christmas functions and life have kept me busy.

Christmas was a great day spent with the family. Since Christmas I have been lying low taking advantage if endless hours of cricket on the TV, afternoon naps and grazing instead of meals most days.

On the knitting front progress has been slow on the Diamond Fantasy shawl. After Christmas I started knitting cotton squares for a baby blanket - all from
Stash!

Looking forward to a quiet New Years and another week off work filled with more cricket, movies, naps and the odd swim!

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful festive season!

Knitter's High Tea

This is the only photo I managed to take.

Too busy drinking tea and bubbles, eating scones and cake, knitting and admiring the amazing and varied gifts made by my fellow crafters!

Lots of laughs and great fun ad by all!