“We got involved with independent Record Store Day from the outset,” says Bennett. “In the early days I coordinated a handful of stores in Melbourne that were interested in getting involved. So Polyester when they were still in the city, Missing Link, Collectors Corner. I sort of did that for the first couple of years, but that was when it was not the huge thing that it is now. And I did all of the PR and worked hard to try to get a profile for it here locally. And of course now it’s huge right around the world.”
Bennett and co. are once again planning an epic day of celebrations spotlighting local talent. The basement stage will welcome Record Store Day ambassador Ella Hooper, The Models, Raised By Eagles, Tracey McNeil & The Good Life, Russell Morris, Sean McMahon and The MoonMen and Alyce Pratt. Bennett says the lineup reflects the store’s eclectic nature, covering the jazz, blues, roots and pop genres for which the store is renowned.
“It’s very, very busy of course, but to look around the shop and see everyone wearing great big smiles makes my heart sing. It’s what it’s all about, and people saying that they’re going on a record store crawl is fantastic, because if everyone does something special then you know people can pop into each store and really get a feel for what each store is about.”
Every year Record Store Day entails numerous vinyl exclusives, which is indicative of the ongoing vinyl revival. However, Bennett says they still shift plenty of CDs at Basement Discs. “And look, really the CD all of a sudden is being much maligned. We still sell way more CDs than we do vinyl. I think that, you know, it’s like years ago when people were saying vinyl was dead. Well it didn’t ever die, it didn’t ever go away. The record companies weren’t pressing as much, but it was always there. Same with CDs, particularly when you think there’s the re-issues that are deluxe edition, with bonus tracks and bonus DVDs or Bluerays, and beautiful packaging. I mean these are things that real music lovers and real music collectors want. They don’t want to download with no information, and poor sound quality. They want the real deal.”
After 22 years in the record selling business, Bennett still finds being part of the Basement Discs team a thrilling and fulfilling experience. “I was saying to someone yesterday that it’s the wonderful exchange of ideas, and new music. And I can learn just as much from customers as they can from me. I love it when someone comes in and asks for something and perhaps I don’t know them or I haven’t got it and they tell me all about them, and then I go and research and I’ll get it in and can’t wait to have a listen. I think that’s what it’s all about – the excitement of discovery. I hope that’s what people are really enjoying again about going into stores.”
BY CHRIS SCOTT
