The scene during a previous Record Store Day at Hungry Ear Records in Kailua. (Courtesy photo)
BY STEFANIE NAKASONE / snakasone@staradvertiser.com
Feed your vinyl need at Hungry Ear Records and Jelly’s Honolulu on Saturday, when both stores will be brimming with exclusive releases for Record Store Day.
Started in 2007, Record Store Day has become like Christmas for lovers of vinyl. On the third Saturday of April, hundreds of exclusive vinyl and CD titles are made available only through the over 1,000 independently owned record stores participating in RSD in the U.S.
At Hungry Ear in Kailua, co-owner Dennie Chong said the store ordered at least one of the approximately 400 titles on this year’s official RSD list — about 2,000 units in total. He expects to have at least 1,500 pieces in stock, depending on nationwide demand.
Artists featured span genres and generations, from Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and the Grateful Dead to Jay-Z, Katy Perry and One Direction. For the complete list, visit recordstoreday.com.
Not every selection will be available at every store, but those who arrive early are more likely to find what they want — just be prepared for lines and crowds.
“It’s a madhouse,” said Jelly’s owner Norm Winter, who said his store usually sells out of RSD exclusives by 11 a.m.
Prices vary — Winter said exclusive vinyls run anywhere from $25 to over $100 — but people are sure to find something they’ll love, whether it’s one of the RSD specials or another treasure deep in the stores’ stacks. Both Jelly’s and Hungry Ear will have $1 specials on hundreds of used vinyl records and CDs.
Jelly’s Honolulu is located at 670 Auahi St.; Hungry Ear Records is located at 418 Kuulei Rd. Doors open at 8 a.m. Saturday at Jelly’s; Hungry Ear will open at 9 a.m. Call (808) 587-7001 (Jelly’s) or (808) 262-2175 (Hungry Ear) for more information.