In that small, grimy basement store, I learned the passion, joy, despair and the cold hard realities of buying and selling used vinyl. I discovered Miles Davis, Tom Waits and the cutout bin there.
It was a beautiful way to kill that hour between classes and to watch, in fascination, as the used vinyl was sorted for rejection or acceptance for a quarter or two. The best records were bought for a buck. I sold vinyl there when I needed money. Spent it there when I had it.
For me, Haffa's was a portal. A transmitter linked to a much wider world. A world of musicians playing in smoky clubs and sweaty, downtown bars - and all the excitement, rebellion and freedom it represented to me. I wanted to drink it all in - like it was coming from a fire hose. It made me want to leave my cave and take a look around. I can't thank Haffa's enough for that.
Saturday is Record Store Day and the festivities at Haffa's start at 11 a.m. Record Store Day is a national celebration - and remembrance - of the wonderfully-unique culture that inhabits the independent record store. Most stores feature in-store performances and special album/EP releases.
I will be paying my respects to Top Five Records in Lake Worth - a great, vintage vinyl and CD place. Cash only. Singer-songwriter and Local Hero John Ralston will kick off the full day of in-store performances at 1 p.m.
It is great to hear that you can get all those vinyls. I thought that all of them died long time ago.
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