Tower Records -- the continuing collapse

yesterday I went to sell about 200 cds at amoeba and there were probably 40 they wouldn't even take, most of them not dogs either. I told the manager I'd suddenly realized that if I were going to ever get rid of my cds I'd better do it now before the value of them vanishes and he said it's already happened; it peaked in april, and since then the onslaught of sold-back cds is overwhelming them. they have warehouses full that they will never see the floor in. Ack! Knowing all this, why do I still wish I'd picked up some MORE stuff at tower? ludicrous!

This is fascinating. There's a massive glut of the objects on the market (plus the Tower liquidation had to hurt all other music retailers) and still prices don't fall. How can music continue to cost money when it can be endlessly replicated for free? The future has to point to music being free.

So why are Amoeba used prices so high then? And why aren't there more things I want when I go in there. :(

islands - return to the sea
neko case - the tigers have spoken
black heart procession - the spell
moodymann - black mahogani
detroit cobras - baby
annie - anniemal
black strobe - the other side: paris
mountain goats - we shall all be healed
architecture in helsinki - in case we die
excepter - sunbomber
echo and the bunnymen - songs to learn and sing
nao wave
jolie holland - springtime can kill you
the hold steady - boys and girls in america (i don't like these dudes, but it'll make a good stocking stuffer for someone)

Not my tastes anyway.

"but i've found amoeba's used prices to be fairly reasonable."

Too much stuff for $11, $12, $13 at the SF one. The Berkeley one is more reasonable, I agree.

haha all my relatives are getting california g-rap in their stockings

You didn't hear it from me, but there's a very good rumor that the Virgin Megastores are going to be the next to go in mid-2007. It won't be a full-on bankruptcy like Tower, but lots of store closures/stock liquidation.

When I was a kid, the Tower Records near the sports arena in San Diego was, for me, the ultimate record store, the coolest place in the universe. It feels a little weird to realize that it won't exist anymore, and it won't even make a good story for my grandkids. I mean, I even worked at a Tower when I was a teenager.

-- Elvis Telecom (quartzcit...), December 19th, 2006. (later)

that's not surprising at all, they're down to something like 13 stores. newbury comics is a larger chain at this point!

-- Mark (mark-...), December 18th, 2006.

So musicians will only make money by performing live? I don't think so. Will all Pitchfork employees work for free?

Will all Pitchfork employees work for free?

-- cornyrocker

I worry about it all the time, believe me.

I went back today and picked up:

Nao Wave (which I had forgotten to look for previously, and was very surprised to find)
Legendary Sound, Vol. 1 (which Alex in SF recommends, I thought on this thread, not that I expect much overlap in our taste but I hardly have any drum & bass and was just thinking I might want to pick up a little tiny bit more)

Dubstep Allstars Vol 2 (3 or 4 copies left, none of Vol 3)
Get Physical comps 1 & 2 (or Anniversary 2 & 4, I can't quite figure it out.) (one copy of each left)
Optimo Presents Psyche Out (nearly 10 copies of this, I suppose I could wait for it to get cheaper, but $5 seems fair enough.)
Science Faction: Grime (last copy)
Dabrye Two/Three (last copy)

I found a second copy of the Yester/Henske album. Let me know if you still need it. The email address is good.

Which reminds me a bit -- you free Friday/Saturday? FAP plans are imminent.

Judy Henske & Jerry Yester Farewell Aldebaran
V/A Fast Product: Rigour Discipline and Disgust (score! I've been looking for this for years.)
Chris Knox Yes!!
The Methadones 21st Century Power Pop Riot
The Minus 5 The Trials Postumous of...
The Duke Spirit Cuts Across the Land
The Dambuilders Geek Lust
Chris Cutler & Fred Frith Live in Moscow, Prague & Washington
Godandtexas Criminal Element
fluf the classic years
Alan Vega New Raceion
Batman: OST
The Knife Silent Shout
Arthur Russell The World of...
Pretty Girls Make Graves The New Romance
These Arms Are Snakes This Is Meant to Hurt You
V/A Wake Up and Listen! A Brand New Generation of Hits (britpop 1995: shitloads of hits)
Young Fresh Fellows Low Beat Time
The Kelly Deal 6000 Go to the Sugar Altar
The Coachwhips Double Death
The Coachwhips Peanut Butter and Jelly: Live at the Ginger Winge
The Coachwhips Bangers vs Fuckers
The Coachwhips Put Yer Body Next to Mine
Trapdoor Fucking Exit Crooked Life/Straight World
The Zodiac Killers Have a Blast
Portastatic Who Loves the Sun
Radio 4 Enemies Like These
Ecstacy Passion & Pain s/t
V/A Optimo Present Psyche Out
Slowdive Souvlaki
The Modern Machines "Take It, Somebody!"
Alternative TV Apollo
Edgar Broughton Band LIVE Hits Harder!
Ditch Croaker Chimpfactor
The Futureheads News and Tributes
Sweep the Leg Johnny Going Down Swingin'
Rahbras Whohm

Total: $60.90

I might have time on Friday

Rock. Will call M. White tomorrow night to plot a bit, I think.

Mr. Crump mentioned it was down to 50 cents a disc towards the end when he hit the Memphis one. Yesterday was 80% plus 'buy four get one for a buck' and by the time I get there I suspect it'll be 90% plus that. I'm honestly not expecting much but there'll be some dusty remnants still! (And there were still a huge amount of copies of the new Dengue Fever album, which is quite good, so I'll get some as gifts.)

That, and I really have heard good things about them.