WATCH: Preston embraces vinyl's revival once again for Record Store Day

It wasn't too long ago that vinyl was meant to be dead in the water and Napster was set to rule the musical roost.
Owner of Action Records, Gordon Gibson. Photos: Neil Cross.Owner of Action Records, Gordon Gibson. Photos: Neil Cross.
Owner of Action Records, Gordon Gibson. Photos: Neil Cross.

And while the likes of Spotify have come to dominate the market, business is booming for one Preston record store as it prepares for today’s Record Store Day (Saturday, April 21).

Action Records is taking part in the national celebration, now in its eleventh year, bringing a range of limited edition vinyl – as well as CD and casette – releases to its Church Street store.

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“It’s the biggest day of the year,” said Action Records’ owner Gordon Gibson.

“There is nothing compared to this. It pulls in various record collectors; everyone from the casual fans to the extremely keen ones.

“We open at 8am but queues will be forming at about five or six in the morning. That’s when the hard-core collectors come out.

“It’s a really social queue and the guys in it meet up every year for the day.”

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Limited editions at Action Records include four David Bowie vinyl releases, two from Madonna, Led Zeppelin, T Rex, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and even a picture disc of two Fawlty Towers episodes.

Owner of Action Records, Gordon Gibson. Photos: Neil Cross.Owner of Action Records, Gordon Gibson. Photos: Neil Cross.
Owner of Action Records, Gordon Gibson. Photos: Neil Cross.

Gordon said: “A lot of the time when we get these in we think they sound like good buys but it’s only when we look at them in person and get our hands on them that we get blown away.”

The special releases are available in around 200 UK record stores with only a few thousand at most of each release up for public sale.

Another release for sale is a special edition red vinyl of The Courteeners’ debut album ‘St Jude’ to mark the 10th anniversary of its release.

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“Lots of customers have been asking about this Courteeners album. It’s right up there as one of the best we have this year.

Action Records employee Ben Fuller among the vinyl.Action Records employee Ben Fuller among the vinyl.
Action Records employee Ben Fuller among the vinyl.

“I think it’s a North West thing. People are crazy for them. When it was released 10 years ago Record Store Day was only just kicking off; this is a welcome reissue for their fans.”

The day marks what has been a positive upturn for vinyl’s revival in an age where streaming music rules the roost.

“I get around 50 new titles a week through the doors; the revival is down to more than just one day a year,” Gordon said. “There are titles available on vinyl now have never been available before.

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“We have to embrace the likes of Spotify. It’s not going away. Customers will use it to listen before they spend £15 to £20 on a record. We have to use it to our advantage and offer quality products in return.”

Your guide to all Record Store Day special releases can be found here.