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7 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,M arch 12,2020 w aterloochronicle.ca @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew oniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew oniclew @WLChr oniclewes @WLChr oniclew @WLChr oniclew oniclew oniclewes @WLChr oniclew @WLChr oniclew oniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChr @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicle wes @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicle wes @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLCh roniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew @WLC hroniclew @WLChronicl ew oniclew @WLChroniclew @WLChroniclew fo llo w u s @WLChroniclew MARCH 12 - 15 4 DAYS ONLY! THUR 9-9 FRI SAT SUN 9-9 9-6 10-5 VINYL BLOWOUT! RIGID CORE CLICK VINYL PAD ATTACHED $249PER SQ FTREG 5.99FROM VINYL CLICK VINYL PLANKS 6MM THICK $100PER SQ FTREG 3.99FROM VINYL CALACATTA VINYL TILES 12" X 24" $277PER SQ FTREG 5.99FROM VINYL LOOSE LAY VINYL 5MM THICK $287PER SQ FTREG 6.99FROM VINYL SPC CLICK VINYL PLANKS 4MM THICK $155PER SQ FTREG 3.99FROM VINYL LUXURY CLICK VINYL 100% WATERPROOF $199PER SQ FTREG 5.99FROM VINYL XL BOARDS 9"WIDE X 5' LONG CLICK VINYL PAD ATTACHED $279PER SQ FTREG 5.99FROM VINYL NEW!! 100% VINYL STAIR TREADS TREAD & RISER $5999EACHFROM VINYL 1362VICTORIA ST N. KITCHENER MON-FRI 9AM-9PM SAT 9AM-6PM SUN 10AM-5PM My favourite record store, Encore Re- cords, is gearing up for Record Store Day on April 18. "Record Store Day was initially started to support independent record stores and get people shopping in real stores again," said Mark Logan, owner of Encore Re- cords, when I recently stopped by to pick up the new Ozzy Osbourne album. The worldwide annual event, now in its 12th year, brings together music fans and thousands of independent record stores like Encore Records, located in downtown Kitchener. Many independent and major music la- bels release new albums on the day, and last year Encore stocked 150 new titles for the occasion. In the '80s, downtown Kitchener was the place to be for big music collectors like me. Along with Encore, which is still in business after 39 years, there was Sam the Record Man, Records on Wheels, Record World, A&As (two locations), Sunrise, Dr. Disc, and Now and Then Comics, who sold tons of hard-to-find records on vinyl. Some of the rumoured exclusives for Record Store Day include limited edition releases from Neil Young, David Bowie, John Lennon, Black Sabbath, My Chemi- cal Romance, Grateful Dead, Prince and Pink Floyd. "On Record Store Day, people line up at both doors and, for the first three hours, every square inch of the store is occupied by a person and the lineup never stops," said Logan. "On our website I have a page for Re- cord Store Day so as things arrive, I post what we're getting in. Last year, there was so much stuff that by 11 p.m. the night be- fore, after I put everything out, I did a walk-through video. I just started at the front of the store and said, 'Here's what we got.' It took about five minutes just to get through everything, and by the morning 800 people had seen it." Logan advises that if there's something specific you're looking for on Record Store Day, you'll will want to arrive early. "Some things are super-limited and we only get one or maybe two of (those re- cords), but the video I posted last year let people know where in the store everything is, so if you only care about that one thing you can try to pole vault to try to get to it," he said with a laugh. "It's a crazy day and we're starting to get people coming from out of town seeking coloured vinyl, alternate versions, and ex- act replicas of classic albums -- even right down to the style of the cardboard cover." Streaming music online lacks the im- mersive, tactile connection you can make with a record, which is a big reason why vinyl has made a roaring comeback. Whether you're an audiophile or re- turning to vinyl after a long digital hiatus, Record Store Day is an occasion to cele- brate places like Encore Records, where you can support both your favourite art- ists and a downtown Kitchener institu- tion. Encore Records is at 301 King St. E. Marshall Ward is a freelance writer and artist. Check out his podcast Bonn Park with Sara Geidlinger on iTunes, Instagram and Twitter @bonnparkpod- cast and Facebook: Bonn Park Podcast. RECORD STORE DAY IS MUSIC TO THE EARS OPINION VINYL CONTINUES TO BE A HIT AS ENCORE RECORDS IN KITCHENER GEARS UP FOR THE BIG DAY, WRITES MARSHALL WARD MARSHALL WARD Column Please keep our community clean!