Here's What New Yorkers Were Buying on Record Store Day 2015

While today marks a holiday during which many celebrate the greener things in life, Saturday April 18 marked a different type of occasion, one in which people of all ages, backgrounds, and personal tastes rushed their ass to their local record shop, locked in to a mile-long line, and geared up to empty their bank accounts all in the name of one holy thing—vinyl.

Record Store Day 2015 wasn't without its fair share of controversy, as some have criticized the annual event for jacking up prices of limited releases, sometimes bringing on monetary trouble for local shops. As proved evident at shops throughout New York City, countless people still remain passionate about the occasion, braving hours-long lines to pick up some exclusive wax.

Taking part in the event myself, I made my way to NYC's beloved institution, Turntable Lab, to pick up some of my own scores. Before I made off with a Bee Gees 12", some Buena Vista Social Club, and a David Bowie 7", I decided to pass the time by talking to some New Yorkers (and one New Jerseyan) about why they loved records, and were willing to spend their entire afternoon waiting in line for that perfect purchase.

Neil, Lower East Side

THUMP: What are you here to buy?

Neil: I'm here for The Stooges record Have Some Fun: Live at Ungano's. It's a rare taping that's finally getting released on vinyl and is actually from a show nearby in Lower Manhattan where Jimi Hendrix was supposedly in attendance. I'm really interested in records that have some historical reference.

The Daves, Queens

THUMP: What brought you to Record Store Day today?
Dave Sr.: My son did actually.

What's your name?
Dave Jr.: It's also Dave.

Wow, my name's David too. Daves, why are you on this insanely long line?
Dave Sr: I had records for years and [Dave Jr.] found my collection in the basement and we started puling them out together. When I was a kid like everyone else, music meant everything, now as an adult it doesn't mean as much but it's all started coming back once we started listening together. It's more interesting to look at the records and the artwork and who's on it, versus CDs.

What are you guys looking to score today?
Dave Jr: I want the Frank Zappa, The Residents, and this dance-punk band !!! (chk chk chk).

How long have you guys been in line?
Dave Sr: Two hours I think. My wife wanted me to cut our poodle's hair so we left to come here.

Guy, Brooklyn

THUMP: Why do you love buying vinyl?
Guy: Original sound. If you get the right turntable there's nothing like it.

Agreed. Are you here for a specific record?
Guy: I picked out the Metallica record, and the new WWF Wrestlemania. I had [Wrestlemania] back in the day on CD but now it's getting released on colored vinyl and I want to hear it the way it should be.

Yalda, Astoria

THUMP: Why do you love vinyl?
Yalda: I'm actually pretty new to vinyl but have been getting more into it…

[Store worker: The Foo Fighters 12" is now sold out!]

Did you want that?
Yala: No I'm good. But yeah, I really love Queen and starting getting into their vinyl but now it's bleeding out through more stuff. It's a nice day and I don't got shit to do so I figured why not come and get some limited edition stuff?

What are you going to buy?
Yalda: I really want the Frank soundtrack, from the movie. That's about it, I don't want to spend too much.

Henry, New York

THUMP: So why are you in this line?
Henry: When you buy digital files the courts have actually proven and stated that we don't own the files, you just own the license to play them. When I discovered that a few years ago, it sort of made me reconsider a lot. I've always been a collector and hoarder of stuff so decided to start building a record collection last christmas when I finally got a record player. There's this feeling of actual ownership of the music and not a temporary thing that might disappear if your credit card accidentally gets cancelled.

What's on your list?
Henry: The Wu-Tang Protect Ya Neck, but that's out of stock. So i'll probably get the Run The Jewels Record Store Day release and the badge-shaped J Dilla Fuck The Police. If i'm feeling especially spendy I'll go for the Wrestlemania double LP, it's $35.

Andreas, Yonkers

THUMP: You're almost at the front of the line—what are you going to grab?
Andreas: I'm actually here only for the Kid Cudi Satellite Flight vinyl that just got released today.

You're just here for one record? You must really love Kid Cudi. What do you love about Kid Cudi?
Andreas: He inspires me.

James and Jackie, Flushing

THUMP: Why do you guys love buying vinyl?
James: For me it's about the experience of listening to an album as a full body of art. I like the ceremony; flipping the side, having this package of things that comes with a lyric sheet or book. I grew up with five music-loving brothers and we probably had well over 400 CDs, but I get much more immersed listening on vinyl. It's about curating something that's more of an experience

What are you going to buy?
James: Some punky stuff—Against Me!, The Replacements, David Bowie maybe. Something with an edge.

What about you Jackie?
Jackie: I just felt like CDs were taking up space and I wasn't putting them on. The biggest draw of the records for me is they sound so much better than MP3s. It's nice to have one thing to still be nerds about and collect.

Brian, Brooklyn

THUMP: Why do you love vinyl?
Brian: For me I just love that that old school excitement. An album comes out, you rush to the shop, you get it, you talk to the shop owner and ask what else sounds like it. That's so absent now with music, to have that type of connection to it. Now with every record I buy there's a bit of a memory tied to it, especially in New York which is probably the best place to buy records. This is my third shop today and each one has been so different.

What are you hoping to score?
Brian. There's this trippy Icelandic artist called Kiasmos. Also the Jamie XX-Sofia Mattioli-Koreless-Four Tet collaboration on 7". You can only get that today.

Alan and Ayumi, Sunnyside

THUMP: Why do you love vinyl?
Alan: I started collecting a while back and sort of just kept it up, not for any audiophile reasons or anything, just because I enjoyed it.

What's on your list?
Alan: The Darjeeling Limited soundtrack. I really enjoyed the movie and saw it was on there. Also the Lego Movie soundtrack.

Harrison, New Jersey

THUMP: Why do you love vinyl?
Harrison: The thing with vinyl is there's so much history in what a vinyl is, and what is used to be. For a lot of people like me, they want to look back at the history of what it is and what made it so special. The feeling of vinyl and holding on to something that has music in it is a pretty amazing thing.

What are you looking to score?
Harrison: I'm looking for this Youandewan house remix of "93' Till' Infinity." It's a remix of the classic hip-hop track and kind of brings it into the future. It's a lot like how i search for music in general—taking something that has a strong history and bringing it to the present day..

Is it true you're from New Jersey?
Harrison: Yes.

David, Co-owner, Turntable Lab

THUMP: What does Record Store Day mean to a local shop owner like yourself?
David: It's cool obviously to see people line up for vinyl and get excited about it and it definitely brings in a lot of people who don't usually come to our store, as well as regulars.

It's a big production and we try to make it as community-oriented as possible—we bring in all DJs that are friends and family. It's obviously about selling limited releases but we also want it to be a community building thing—we try to make it a mix.

Turntable Lab is located at 120 E 7th St, New York, New York. Find them on Facebook // Instagram and at Turntablelab.com.

David's a burgeoning vinyl junkie who's never had more fun waiting on a line. He's on Twitter.