I miss music stores but today has it's advantages

Once upon a time if you wanted to hear an album or a band, you had to go to a music store. Radio had more freedom in what they played but even then they played hits. Obscure and new songs were played at night.

Want to hear a new album,? A music fan had to get out of the house and go to a store to buy music. Radio May play something but on their schedule not yours. There were chain music stores like Strawberries, Coconuts and The Wall. Some big department stores had good music sections. Two Guys and Bradlees had diverse music sections. Those stores are long gone. Independent stores would carry more diversity and obscure bands. Those stores had to pay rent so they had the big albums out front and easy to find. They didn’t have the space to fit every obscure bands.

There were several bands I heard of but never heard. I saw band tee shirts. Maybe I read about such bands in magazines. Maybe I saw albums in the stores, but I’m not spending my allowance on a band I don’t know.

The advantage of iTunes and Spotify is that I’m able to find those bands of yore and actually listen to their songs. Yes, all bands are now in a big computer superstore so you need to know what you’re looking for. The royalties to those artists from those sites are terrible. It’s a gamble for the artists. I can now find you in those sites, but you won’t get much money for it.

The other day, I looked for Vanderburg. I saw album covers and heard of them. I didn’t know anyone who was a fan even though the tee shirts were everywhere, so I didn’t hear Vanderburg songs. Vanderburg were a typical 1980s power pop rock band. There are good songs and melodies. “Burning Heart” is pretty. “Wait” has its moments.

April Wine was another band that I saw album covers, tee shirts and read about. Never heard them. More typical 1980s power pop. They got on American sales charts, but not Top 40 on the charts. They were bigger in Canada.

UFO

Utopia

Big Star

Testament

The Dead Boys

I’m  able to type a few letters in an app and I can hear these bands. I wish these bands were more accessible way back then because they were good.