Here’s To The Losers
A few days ago I received an email from my friend in Tennessee. After working her whole life in record stores, she’s finally out of a job. Please know this link is just for one store but apparently all locations are closing. I feel bad for her and will miss all the promotional samplers she use to give me.
Last week I wrote a post that mentioned how Las Vegas has no decent record stores. Only half true, as we do have two Zia Record Exchanges and although they have a good thing going, it’s still not like what I’m use to back East.
There’s also a record store called Wax Trax within walking distance from where I live. I’ve been there once (a few years ago) and will never go back. Here’s why:
I walked into the store and recognized owner Rich Rosen standing behind the counter. I knew it was Rich because there’s a caricature of him painted on the store’s sign in front of the place. Also, with the benefit of hindsight, it had to be him because no one would ever want to work for the asshole.
“Can I help you?”
“Just looking around, thanks.”
“No, you don’t understand. You need to be looking for something specific to be in my store.”
A little surprised, I gave the name of one of the most obscure crooners from the fifties I could think of.
“Do you have any Rusty Draper?
“Down the stairs and to the right, Vocalist section.”
None of his stuff had prices on it. I took a few Draper albums to the counter and asked the price. Forty bucks each? No thanks. I then asked how much he wanted for a Sinatra (Live in Chicago, bootleg) CD. One hundred bucks? Fuck you. He didn’t know my girlfriend had been in his store the week before. He quoted her sixty bucks for the same CD.
Rich Rosen. Giving record stores a bad name since 1998.
I’m not the only one who has had a bad experience at Wax Trax. Check out these reviews of the place. Seriously, read them all because they just keep getting worse (or is it better?). You’ll see posts with titles such as, “Like walking in a live mine field” and “Dick in the box.” Read them and try to help me understand how this guy can stay in business. Please.
Two weeks later (and out of spite) I bought both Rusty Draper albums from a used record store (online) for a total of twenty bucks. Screw you Rich Rosen.
“Night Life” was written by Willie Nelson and is possibly the most covered country song of all time. I first heard Rusty’s version on the soundtrack to A Perfect World (Eastwood/Costner flick). Rusty was born to sing this song and I highly suggest sipping a martini while listening to it:
Hearing it on vinyl that wasn’t bought at Wax Trax is even better.
Also, John Doe & The Sadies did a nice version of “Night Life” on their recently released Country Club album:
John Doe & The Sadies – Night Life
Did you make that martini I suggested? If so, raise it and propose a toast to the memory of yet another record store chain that succumbed to the times… and to Wax Trax for hopefully following suit in the near future.
Tyge also blogs at The Neon Lounge.
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Yeah, the Wax Trax guy is a serious dick. I only went there once too. When I wanted vinyl in Vegas, I always went to Record City.
Amen, brother. This guy is the king douche. How he can stay in business while great stores like Tower and Virgin go under is beyond me. It people like this that, as you said, give record stores a bad name.
You know, I’ve gone by this place for years and was always kind of interested in checking it out.
Boy, it’s a good thing I ended up searching for info on it and found those reviews. A part of me almost wants to go down and troll him a little bit, but eh. I got better things to do with my time.
Sorry about you’re bad experience.
My wife and I were there maybe about 3 years ago. Worst person I’ve ever dealt with. Low life dirt bag New York Jerk! And I’m being nice!! The kind of person like him will get whats coming someday. Maybe he’ll pop off to the wrong person and he’ll get his neck rung!! It’ll happen. I don’t know how he can stay in business either? Must have enough money just to pay the rent? No sales there!!!
About Wax-Trax.
Rich(ard) Rosen is a New York or Philly Jew. If you look him up on Zabasearch or Preview.ussearch? you’ll see that he has lived in both cities.
I used to dabble in doing the weekend warrior record show thing for a number of years. I consider this source I’m going to anonymously paraphrase from a reliable one with regards to Rich Rosen.
He inherited a bunch of money some years ago, either from his family or his wife Sonia(Sunny? Sonny?); her side of the family.
This is likely how he managed to aquired the impressive inventory he has! It is quite obvious he doesn’t sell that much because of his attitude and prices. Even though some people are foolish enough to buy from him, there’s no way, he does enough business consistently month in month out to make a profit and keep his doors open. Think about this inheritance story! I believe it !! He enjoys showing off his museum of records and I have been in his store ONLY 3 times since first traveling to Las Vegas in 2002 and moving there on Memorial Day Weekend 2003.
I haven’t been in his store for at least 3 years !! I have been tempted to go into his store just to argue with the bastard, just for grins !!
I can’t believe I’m going to give him publicity, but he has( or did have) a 2 hour doo wop/vocal radio show on 1230AM Mondays @ 8pm.
If the show is still on, you’ll notice there’s no sponsors or commercials( I haven’t listened for a couple years)…why? ….again note the inheritance theory…how could he buy the airtime for 2 hours? every Monday for years…because of an inheritance. His radio show is strictly a vanity outlet for his favorite music.
Oh, and another thing, about the CDs he has on those shelves….I’m sure they’re bootlegs !! Most of ‘em anyway. A record store in Albuquerque NM was shut down about 1 1/2 years ago for continually selling CD copies, bottlegs, etc.
Wouldn’t it be great if the RIAA authorities paid a visit to Wax Trax?!
Rich Rosen been banned from almost every major record show in America. He is a master of persuasion and technique. You are little league and he is the “majors”. Don’t mess with him or you’ll leave limping with an empty wallet.