About the Virgin Record Store Closing in SF

[RandySF]

As someone who loves my adopted home with all my heart, I am sad to hear that Virgin Records is closing. As a human being, I hate to hear that anyone besides a Republican politician is losing his or her job. But let's face it, who buys a CD anymore? If there is a silver lining to this recession, it is businesses that either provided poor service or had no reason for existence in this day and age are on their way out. Circuit City provided piss poor service and never stood by their agreements. The video store across the street from my building had a bad selection and even worse attitudes. And in the age of file share and iTunes, very few people are going to a CD. Remember the days of buying a CD because you liked a song, and learning that the rest of the music sucked? There are very few albums that are great back-to-back (when is the last time we saw something as great as Led Zeppelin's "CODA"?). At the other end of the spectrum, the Apple store is always busy. The Stinking Rose maintains at least a pretty good Saturday crowd. It was easy, when the economy was good, to sucker people into a place and either sell shit or treat you like shit. After all, there were more suckers to walk in. Not now. Some good businesses may become collateral damage and that's unfortunate. Businesses that step up to the plate in good times and bad will be rewarded. Those that choose to provide an obsolete substandard product or service will suffer. Out of this, I hope, will be a better and stronger San Francisco community.

[nichomachus]

1. Probably because SF ran out of Virgins?n/t

[ixion]

2. I, for one, still buy CDs...

and still long for the days of vinyl records. ;)

[RandySF]

4. I love vinyl for the artwork

And they were the standard in the days when musicians put everything they had into their entire work.

[hlthe2b]

3. Hell, it's been more than two years, but I still sadly miss our Tower

Records store in Denver. I loved to pop in when bored (and DID usually walk out with something). They were open late and 365 days a year. Now, we have a "the Container Store"..... Organization needs aside, it is hardly a fascinating store to spend hours in. Tower let you come in--go to the jazz or classics section and sit in large chairs to listen to a selection or just peruse the main part of the store, listening to the "staff's picks." It was nice.

Of course you are right about CDs, but it always struck me that they could have come up with some business model that would allow you to download AND buy the CD for archiving at some discounted price... I don't know, but I do miss it... They were one of the few stores where you could also purchase DVD documentaries, concert videos and boxed sets--no matter how "arcane."

I miss it, dearly...

[AyanEva]

5. I miss our Tower too

Now there's an FYE there. Tower was pretty much the only way I would actually buy a CD, just because I liked being in the store and wanted to support it. The staff was great, the import selection was awesome, and it was generally just a great, cozy store even though it was two floors. FYE is so cold and corporate with no character at all.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

6. I buy CD's

I refuse to pay to download digital versions when I can go out and buy an actual physical copy of the album with liner notes and lyrics. I miss vinyl too - the packaging was so beautiful. Downloading is a hollow, empty experience and it will never replace the real thing in my heart.

[PlanetBev]

20. Very well put

There's a reason why I still have all my 45's, my 33's, my cassettes and CD's. I started collecting this stuff in 1964 and will never part with them. I keep 'em around to remind me of the good old days of listening booths and album art.

[nachosgrande]

7. That's crap...record stores are dying because of music stealers.

I still buy CD's because the sound quality is better and I support the artists (listen to mostly indie music - I know the major label artists make most of their scratch from touring). Too many people I know in the 30 and under set illegally download and trade music. If the music industry and musicians can't get control of this situation, we will all be the poorer for it.

And you obviously haven't been searching out good music in the last 30 years if you say that there hasn't been anything good since Led Zeppelin. Just as an example, a band like Radiohead alone has released three classic albums in the past 10 years.

[RandySF]

9. I have their CD's

I did not mean to imply there has been nothing good since LZ. But a good front-to-back CD is VERY rare.

[nachosgrande]

14. Sorry. Didn't mean to jump on you.

I think I'm just pissy because I've had pneumonia for the past month. :)

I guess I probably have a skewed sense of the quality of music these days. I don't listen to the radio and I tend to do my due diligence in selecting what I end up purchasing. I just hope we don't ever lose our Amoeba Musics here in California. Then I will be truly depressed.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

8. The one in Orange County has also closed, along with the one in Ontario

pretty pissed off about it,

[marmar]

10. San Francisco still has Amoeba and Rasputin......

..... the Bay Area remains the top CD (used and new, but especially used) shopping mecca in these United States. Toronto isn't bad either if you happen to go north of the border.

[dana_b]

13. so much better than Virgin!!!

I love those stores.

As far as big music stores closing, I was more bummed when Tower closed. Only because I grew up with it but I really don't care that much except that people lose their jobs.

[PlanetBev]

21. We still have Amoeba in Hollywood

Also the used record stores...they're always a hoot to browse in.

[NashVegas]

11. Your Record Store Is Run By 60 Year Old Men With No Love For Today's Music. My Record Store Is Not

And that's why yours is closing.

[Romulox]

12. LOL. I probably spend $50+ a week on CDs and vinyl. nt

[dana_b]

15. I used to. Before money was tight.

I miss it.

[nxylas]

16. That subject deserves a thread of its own

So I started one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5148066

[dana_b]

19. cool!!

:thumbsup:

[Romulox]

17. Hang in there!

Also check out Amazon.com's used CD marketplace. I get lots of top notch stuff for under $5 there.

:hug:

[dana_b]

18. awww...

thanks.

[PlanetBev]

22. Anybody remember Licorice Pizza?

How about Sight and Sound, Wallach's Music City and Melody Records in Los Angeles?

What record stores do you remember in your hometown?