Here’s To The Losers
Posted in fantastic awesomeness, tyge on September 13th, 2009 by TYGE – 6 Comments
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.
