By: Sara Loft

Vinyl records are the oldest recorded format still existing today! Did you know Record Store Day

exists? It is held on a Saturday in April every year. Mark your calendars, because this year it will be

celebrated on April 15th! Record Store Day was founded in 2008. It was developed to celebrate the iconic culture of independently owned stores across the nation, which makes it perfect for

audiophiles and collectors alike!

Let’s go back to yesteryears, shall we? If it weren’t for Thomas Edison inventing the first phonograph...Alexander Graham Bell adding his touches...or even Emile Berliner developing the gramophone, we wouldn’t be able to play what we know and love today. In the year 1930, RCA Victor launched the first commercial vinyl long-playing record. Vinyl records faced stiff competition in later years ahead. Portability became a huge trend in the media, the arts and the entertainment world. From

cassette tapes to compact discs, you were able to press cool features that latched onto the latest technological devices like stereo systems. As technology rapidly changed the industry, decades of

music has been stored into digital file formats like mp3s and mp4s saved on computer hard drives.

Despite the rise of technology and an adaptive society, vinyls remain very popular on the mainstream. Nearly half a century later, vinyl records are on the rise of popularity! Last year in the United States alone, vinyl sales were over 1000% higher than a decade prior.

In the western New York region, we all know about the farewell of an iconic store: The Record Theatre. It was a bittersweet moment for us all. No need to despair because there are still a few lingering independently owned stores throughout the  Buffalo area!

Come check one or all of them out from the list below.

1. Cool Beat Music and Collectibles 

 2445 William Street Cheektowaga, NY 14206

2. Revolver Records 

1451 Hertel Avenue Buffalo, NY 14216

3. The Record Baron 

 4587 Broadway Suite 1 Depew, NY 14043

4. Hi-Fi Hits Records 

 5221 Main Street Suite 3 Williamsville, NY 14221

Let’s support these incredible stores as they offer an eclectic range for all audiences. Remember, each vinyl is different by rotation per minute and size so if you’re hesitant just ask the salesfloor for any assistance. As the English singer-songwriter from Dead or Alive, Pete Burns sang: “You spin me right ‘round, baby. Right round, baby. Right round like a record, baby!” Go on! Let a vinyl record elevate your ears and soul alive, Western New York!