For the music industry, 2021 was definitely a memorable year. With concerts and live entertainment essentially on ice for much of the year, consumers pivoted, directing their expendable income to physical products instead, resulting in a landmark year for record stores. Variety reported in March that 2021 marked the first year since 1996 that both […]
The Record Collector
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Good Morning Midnight’s Charlie Cacciatore knew he ‘made it’ when he snagged a job at Record Collector
“I went to Catholic school in Des Moines, and I guess my way of rebelling was to be a total snob about records,” said Good Morning Midnight frontman Charlie Cacciatore. “Some people are in debate and others play tennis, and me and my friends survived in that ecosystem by taking on that kind of identity. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Record Collector adapts to the new normal, prepares for three Record Store Days
Since 1982 Record Collector has been a hub for Iowa City’s music-loving community. When founder and original owner Kirk Walther passed away back in 2017, many vinyl enthusiasts worried whether Iowa City would lose this sacred place where they could dig through crates of old jazz records, pick up the newest release of their favorite […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
There’s something special about record stores
For those who view music as a vital necessity like food and shelter, being without Iowa City’s longtime institution the Record Collector leaves a gaping hole in the soul. “A record store isn’t really a record store without customers,” said co-owner Alissa Witzke. “It feels empty and sad, like we’re just a warehouse.” The store […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Homogenized Terrestrials — Suspension
Phillip Klampe is a veteran of the dark ambient scene, self-releasing his first cassettes in the mid-1990s. His nom de ambient is Homogenized Terrestrials, which is a nod to his similarly long career as a grocery store dairy department manager.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The record collector: Remembering Kirk Walther
Kirk Walther, owner of the Record Collector, passed away on Sept. 24 after more than 35 years of service to the Iowa City music community. As any small business owner will tell you, an owner’s DNA is woven into the fabric of their business. It is an extension of them, a reflection of their ideas, ideals, goals, vision and integrity, and, conversely, the business becomes a part of the owner. I write this about Kirk Walther, a man I consider to be the best boss I ever had, but an even better friend.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Long live vinyl: ‘Record Store Day’ recommendations from the Staff of the Record Collector
This Saturday marks the seventh annual Record Store Day, an international celebration of independent record stores. Observed on the third…
