I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Tag: Record store day

An annual event in the UK. It’s got a bit too big though now

Escape from New York

Posted by on in Films, MusicLeave a comment

I first saw this movie when I was in my early teens. It made a very big impression on me, as did the soundtrack. Since then I’ve watched it a few times.

Recently I have found myself listening to the main theme track so I decided to buy a copy of the DVD. It is still good, at least it is in my opinion anyway. I remembered most of the movie, so nothing really came as a surprise. I actually think that the original movie is better than the remake in 1996, although I did enjoy that too, albeit to a lesser degree.

After watching the original I kept hearing the theme tune for days, so when it turned up on record store day I knew I had to get it.

It’s a lovely record and a great piece of music, from a great film.

Record Store Day 2019

Posted by on in Events, MusicLeave a comment
Record Store Day 2019

I do realise that this was quite a long time ago now, back in April in fact. But it is an event that I like to celebrate and, when I can, be a part of. This year I was again. However, in terms of how many things I got from my list, I wasn’t very successful at all. In fact, it was a bit of a bust to be honest.

Whilst that was a shame, I did manage to get a few bits and pieces, and I was pleased with that. I plan to go again in 2020, but I won’t be sure until I can see what’s on the list, and that won’t be for a few months yet.

Back in 2018 I decided that the simplest way to do Record Store day was to stay in a hotel around the corner, and I think that might be my best bet in 2020 if there’s enough on the list to actually tempt me.

Record Store Day 2018

Posted by on in MusicLeave a comment

Last year I skipped record store day as I’d been queuing at Sister Ray Records in Soho for about 3 hours and at the end of the process I’d got 1 7″. That was all. I wasn’t terribly happy about that at all, as you can imagine. So I said to myself that I wouldn’t do it any more. I’d give it up. And I did, I didn’t go in 2017. Then I saw the list for this year, and on it was a David Sylvian album that I really wanted to get, and that I knew I would be really annoyed not to own.

So I decided to do it again. However, as I was going to be out late in London the night before I thought that the most civilised way to accomplish the task was to get a hotel room nearby and stay in town. So I did. I stayed at a very nice hotel on Brick Lane which was very reasonably priced too. It meant I could get up really early and walk down to Rough Trade East before 6am.

And my forward thinking paid off. I was probably around the 100 mark in the queue and got inside at about 8:30am. Not bad. I also got everything that I wanted too.

The most important of course being “Dead Bees on a cake” by Sylvian.

So maybe I will go again next year, at least I’ll give it a chance anyway.

So, that was Record Store Day then …

Posted by on in EventsLeave a comment

Mick Karn, The Jump, 7"
Mick Karn, The Jump, 7″

I had high hopes for getting a lot of stuff from this year’s Record Store Day. I decided to go to Sister Ray Records in Soho as I found that their approach to RSD was much better organised that some other stores. I got there just before 8am and got to the shop itself at around 10:30. I guess I had about 10 different records on my list. So how many did I get?

One. Just one. That’s right, after queuing in the cold, and it was really cold, for 2 and a half hours I managed to get just one record from the day. I was a bit disappointed to say the least. I think that it’s the worst I’ve done since starting to go along, and it makes me question what RSD is about.

Is it about celebrating and turning up to support your local independent store, or is it about buying stuff to sell on through eBay or elsewhere? Having just had a quick look on eBay I know what I think, but you make your own mind up.

Not sure I’ll be bothering again.

Record Store Day set for the 16th of April

Posted by on in EventsLeave a comment

I have to admit that I hadn’t really been on the ball on this one this year, and I only just noticed that they were going to announce the exclusives later today! Still, now I know the date (16/4) I can make sure I don’t miss it. Apparently the exclusives list is going to be published at 6:15pm today, so I’ll be looking out for that.

Sylvian / Sakamoto … Bamboo Houses RSD release

Posted by on in MusicLeave a comment

IMG_6156

This is one of the things I really wanted to get this year at RSD. I have the tracks already, in fact, I think I have multiple versions in multiple formats too, but that’s not what this is about.

The two songs are really important to me. They bring back special memories, and any opportunity to have a new version or iteration, even in just the packaging, well, I’ll take it. This edition, for Record Store Day, is rather lovely. I’ve played it once, just once. That’s enough. It’s a thing of beauty, and I’m glad to have it.