Happy Record Store Day!

It's that time of year when all the best vinyl makes its way to your favorite record shops

It's that time of year when all the best vinyl makes its way to your favorite record shops around San Diego.

On the third Saturday of April, recording artists and their fans descend on shops like M-Theory Records in Mission Hills, the Cow in Ocean Beach and Lou's Records in Encinitas to pick up vinyl exclusively released to celebrate what will be, this year, the sixth annual Record Store Day.

This year's official ambassador is Jack White of the White Stripes, whose Elephant album will be reissued on its 10th anniversary as part of the day's festivities. Earlier this month, the Record Store Day website posted a complete list of releases, featuring everybody from the Avett Brothers to Chet Atkins to Frank Zappa and ZZ Ward. Click here to see the full list.

"So, please, make your way out to your mom-and-pop record stores and show them your support, and show them you love music," White says at the end of a tongue-in-cheek video about his ambassadors role. "I'll be there."

One of our favorite local musicians, Alfred Howard --who plays with the Heavy Guilt and a couple other dozen bands -- works over at the Cow and reminisced last year what the day means to him.

"We got some of that rare vinyl and we'll be sellin' it," Howard wrote Thursday in an e-mail about the Cow's plans for this year.

M-Theory's manager, Rick Tyner, was looking forward to what what he calls "the most fun day of the year."

"We have [local bands] the Teenage Burrtios and the Plateaus playing at 5 o'clock [they both will have records for sale], sidewalk sale -- biggest one we've ever had -- pizza from Lefty's, bunch of giveaways from [local skateboard company] Sector 9," Tyner said. "Saint Archer Brewery is sponsoring it."

Tyner said that doors would be open at 10 a.m. sharp, but he's flexible on closing time, which is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Contact Us