Crooked Beat Records in Del Ray (2417 Mt. Vernon Ave.) is preparing to join more than 1,400 independent record stores across the United States for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 12.
The annual celebration of vinyl culture will feature special releases, including exclusive offerings from Crooked Beat’s in-house label.
Doors will open at 9 a.m., with staff expecting long lines of eager music fans. The store has implemented a system to manage the crowd, allowing only 25 customers inside at a time.
“Expect a long line at opening so get here early,” the store advises on its website.
To streamline the shopping experience, staff will distribute paper lists, which include more than 250 albums, to customers waiting in line, allowing them to mark desired titles. Employees will then pull the Record Store Day selections while customers browse the rest of the store. Crooked Beat Records notes on its website that due to space limitations in the store, it will not be carrying every title.
Among the special releases available on Record Store Day from Crooked Beat Records’ in-house label is “Ripe for the Trade Off,” a 30th anniversary double LP by Insurgence DC on opaque baby blue colored vinyl. The album includes remixes from Dave Barbe, who produced the original album in 1995.
Crooked Beat is also releasing a non-sanctioned Record Store Day album, “Songs from the Astral Plane: A Tribute to Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Vol. 2.” This follows the success of Volume 1, which charted on the Billboard compilation charts in summer 2021. The tribute album features artists from California, Georgia, and Washington, DC, including Too Much Joy, Tall Ships, The Violets, Geisha Hit Squad, and former drummer of The Connells, Peele Wimberley. The release is limited to 500 numbered copies pressed on red vinyl with artwork by Brian Walsby.
The complete list of available titles is on the store’s website in PDF and Word formats. Customers can print it out and plan their Record Store Day purchases.
Crooked Beat Records, established in 1997, moved to Alexandria and opened in Del Ray in July 2023.
Record Store Day
Record Store Day began in 2007 to celebrate the unique culture surrounding independently owned record stores. The first official event occurred on April 19, 2008, and has since grown into an international celebration.
The day typically features special vinyl and CD releases made exclusively for the event and festivities including performances, meet-and-greets with artists, DJs, and other community activities. The event has gained such recognition that cities across the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, Boise, Charleston, Raleigh, and Las Vegas, have declared Record Store Day an official holiday.
While Record Store Day occurs once a year, the organization works with independent and major labels throughout the year to create contests, special releases, and promotions highlighting the benefits of supporting local, independently owned stores.
Record Store Day continues to celebrate the special role that brick-and-mortar record stores play in their communities. It brings together staff, customers, and artists to appreciate physical music formats and the unique culture of independent record shops.
