'Vinyl's actually better': Manitoba Music and Record Sale returns
Throngs of physical media collectors descended on the Caboto Centre Sunday afternoon for the 2023 Manitoba Music and Record Sale.
Show chairman Vic Gaggini estimated there were more than 50,000 records for sale at the event, "We have 70 vendors and 91 tables. There's been over 500 people already here and the days only started," he said.
Gaggini said the appearance of actual rock stars was a big draw for the music show. "The arrival of Streetheart makes a big difference, there's a lot of people who came just for that."
Members of the Winnipeg-based rock band were signing autographs at the event. "They gave us 350 records to give away and they were scooped up in 15-20 minutes," said Gaggini.
The show ran from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday, attendees paid $5 to get in. Gaggini said vinyl has never been more popular among physical media collectors.
"They’ve discovered that vinyl's actually better. The sound quality is more musical," said Gaggini. "You take an album, and you've got beautiful artwork on it … you’ve got a record inside it, you can feel it, touch it, you can read liner notes, you can read lyrics. You can't do that with a CD."
In 2022, record sales exceeded compact disc sales for the first time ever.
Gaggini said the audio cassette tape is also making a comeback. "The cassette is back! That one I can't explain," he grinned.
He added that 8-tracks are also a popular item at the sale. "If you have an old muscle car, or an old restored car, and it came with an 8-track, you'd like to be able to use it," said Gaggini.
Liam Korchoski was at the sale hunting for Clash and Dead Kennedys albums. He has only been collecting vinyl for two years but has already amassed more than 250 records. "It appeals to my hoarder tendency more than anything, I just like owning things," he said. "I like the cover art, just seeing it. You can really see the music."
For those interested in starting a vinyl collection, Gaggini said to start by buying the music you like. "It's more a matter of getting what you like than looking for the records that are worth all the big money," he said.
There are, however, some rare Manitoba-based albums out there, like one from the early career of Neil Young. "His first band was called the Squires, and they had a '45 back in 1963 and it’s a $4,000 record all day long, mind you it has to be in mint condition," said Gaggini.
The show was a one-day event only but Gaggini said there are plans for it to return to the Caboto Centre on Oct. 15, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.