I think the day was a good PR exercise, but some of it feels like token gestures from Record companies who have generally abandoned retail shops that used to be their bread & butter, but then they have enough to worry about.

From posts on here it seems a lot of the Massive like to get a bit misty eyed about record shops of old but aren't really interested in using them now, or to be fair haven't got a good one near home.

I'm interested in how something that is seemingly an anachronism can work today. This is a good start, and I think shops like Rough Trade and Piccadilly have got a really good idea of how to create something interesting out of the good things about record shops. If they start morphing into cafes/meeting places where there is music, djs, bands playing, merchandise/posters and new and second hand records on sale then that can't be a bad thing. Bands will always want to sell 'stuff'.

Of course, surprise surprise here are just some of the 55 copies of 'Fools Day' currently for sale on Ebay and going for up to £150.

I attended Record Store Day at my local independent store in Atlanta GA. I enjoyed the festive atmosphere; the shop is small,so there was a queue snaking down the sidewalk past the beer bong shop, tattoo parlor and mexican restaurant. The weather was beautiful, we were all discussing which singles we were hoping to buy and shouting questions at the proprietor whenever he appeared. My favorite purchases were the Fanfarlo 7", the Telekinesis 7" and Nada Surf's cover CD, "If I Had A Hi-Fi". My music was placed in a lovely Record Store Day bag containing 6 very fine CD samplers. I got more music free than I paid for. There was live music from noon to midnight and free cake and beer. What's not to like?

They would *love* to see record shops thriving and it seems to me that they got behind this particular intiative. *We're* the people to blame if anyone is. If we don't go into record shops regularly because we can access more stock at more competitive prices elsewhere then we shouldn't be surprised if they continue to close. What this event did was temporarily manufacture some of the old scarcity that used to make record shops such attractive places. Then people decided to take advantage of that scarcity by selling the stuff on eBay. It wasn't the record shops or the record companies that did that.

Was the name of the shop in Chester where I spent most Saturdays during the early Seventies.I remember a discussion I had with one of the owners one afternoon about Him not stocking "Dark Side of the Moon".His answer,"It's not worth it because we can't afford to sell it as cheaply as W.H Smiths or Woolworths and everyone will go there to buy it".So the writing was on the wall even then.

to all the so-called 'special releases' ( please....no more bloody Blur ). Instead I bought a PFM re-issue before popping over to the market for some pak choi.

Speaking as one of those who works for the record companies, and helps support Record Store Day, you ask about

"Staggering the release dates so there is a steady flow of records and thus people wanting to buy coming into the shop. "

This is what we try and do week in, week out...

I would have gone to an independent record store on the day if:
a. I knew where my nearest one was!
b. It wasn't on a Saturday.
I didn't even consider finding my nearest store because the last thing I want to do on a Saturday is go anywhere near a town centre. making it a week might solve part of the problem but I still don't know where I'd go (I note that Brighton had 4 stores participating so perhaps I'll visit them on my summer holiday).
The emphasis on 7in releases seemed odd to me too as most people can't play them.
I know I'm part of the problem but given the choice of the old days with lots of shops and now with everything available, I'm afraid I'll choose the modern option.

When I visited my local, the much-loved Taz Records in Halifax, I was surprised to find the limited editions (and would have been tempted by the Blur or Rolling Stones, if they were to be found; instead there were releases from American indies like Sonic Youth, a band more mired in irrelevance than the Stones).

To me, the idea is getting out in the company of other music buffs. Remember the days when you might've worried somebody else in the shop is picking up your intended purchase (even if you didn't know it yet) right now? Or seeing/evaluating LPs held under a buyer's arm? For an day, at least, those feelings are rekindled. Taz had a wealth of performances, too, but Saturday time constraints meant I was in and out early in the day.

My purchases? Bobby Charles Secrets Of The Heart, Gorillaz Plastic Beach, George Harrison Electronic Sound, Pink Floyd Soundtrack From The Film More and Obscured By Clouds, Cliff Richard 40 Golden Greats (don't blame me, Rob Fitzpatrick's Danny Thompson piece made me do it, or at least tipped me in that direction), Saint Etienne Hug My Soul 12", Rufus Wainwright All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu, Various Louisiana Party Collection (for Rufus Jagneaux's "Opelousas Sostan", one of many songs Mark Lamarr played on God's Jukebox in memory of Charlie Gillett). Nothing mind-bogglingly rare, but proof to me that record shops continue to offer an abundance of greatness.