SPARKS

[leslie hanagan]

The long awaited release of the 'Live At The Record Plant 1974' LP will (fingers crossed) finally be released on 25th November as part of 'Record Store Day - Black Friday'.

[Buckeye Randy]

Info about participating stores, titles being released and anything else you want to know.
https://recordstoreday.com/

The website suggests calling ahead of time to see if a certain release will be available at that particular location. The good news for me is there are four locations that are fairly close and the better news is that all of them are on the same road. I don't know how far in advance the store will know what inventory they will be receiving. I have over a month to figure it out.

I've only tried to purchase something once before on Record Day but was unsuccessful. Hopefully this goes better.

I spoke with one of the owners a couple years ago and he said the line started forming about 2AM. Flashback...it will be like when I was waiting in line to buy tickets for Queen or Jethro Tull. Toss 'em back and spark it up!

Direct link to list of releases and number of copies (Sparks - 2000 copies).
https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter

[Noisy Boy]

Not sure why you’re happy that a bootleg is being released?

[Brightonian]

Yeah, can't say I'm enthusiastic. No doubt poor quality audio that's no better than the versions that have been circulating on the internet and among fans for years.

Now, if Sparks obtain the licence and remaster for part of an expanded 50th anniversary reissue of Kimono or Propaganda next year ... then we're talking business!

[Buckeye Randy]

Happy, not ecstatic. Much the same way when Queen released Rainbow and Odeon shows. Same with MTH Santa Monica show and even Ziggy Farewell. All included something I didn’t have on the boot plus the sound much better in some cases.

I’ll venture into an adventure on Black Friday. Maybe I’ll meet some fun people to talk music with.
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter

[Buckeye Randy]

I decided to do as suggested and make a phone call in advance to individual stores for record availability. First store I called, cha-ching...three copies.

Link to details about the release by Sparks.
https://hollowbonerecords.com/UPC/655255094368
$30.99
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter

[Buckeye Randy]

Running a little behind schedule, I pull into the nearly packed parking lot a few minutes after Hollow Bone Records had opened their door (singular, not plural). The line waiting to get into the small shop was about 30 people.

Conversation while waiting in the 34f temps was fun as everybody talked about why they were there and things they bought at previous Record Store Days.

The line shrank by one every time somebody walked out of the store, most exited with a bag of goodies but a few left emptyhanded and disappointed. The owner stood post like a doorman at Studio 54 generously allowing the next person to enter.

One of the people that was a few ahead of me in line was at checkout when it was my turn to enter the store. He gave me the nod, "Halfway down, middle bin". He did not lie, there it was, 'Sparks, Live At The Record Plant'. A short lived but fruitful friendship.

The purchase is on clear vinyl as advertised but the sticker says 3500 copies printed and not 2000 as originally announced. The sticker also says RSD 'Exclusive' and not RSD 'First' as originally advertised. Damn the details!

'Live At The Record Plant '74' has the same tracklisting as previous 'unofficial' releases:
Rox Vox - RVCD2007
Live Wire Productions - LW2024
Does anybody know if there have been any upgrades in sound?

This RSD on Black Friday went much better than my only other foray and I won't shy away from trying it again.

Buying the thing was easy, finding somebody to sit down and listen with me might be tougher.
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter