MY TURN

Closing Shop—And A Life

My CD store was once a gathering place for neighbors. Now that it's gone, they are, too.

By Sal Nunziato | NEWSWEEK

July 7-14, 2008 issue

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Posted By: cjpfalzgraf @ 07/09/2008 4:30:58 PM

Comment: Sal-

Sixteen years ago I shut down my two record stores. Thirteen years ago I stopped working in record stores all together. Nevertheless, my passion for music has not waned. Certainly I don???t have my finger on the pulse of all ???the need to know bands???, but like yourself once you learn how to do this, the skill never goes away. Also like you I miss being a retail rock star and I miss the connection with my customers. But overtime you???ll run into them and they will enthusiastically thank you for that rare import LP you found for them or that one CD which changed their way of listening to music forever. And they will ask how you are doing, wish you the best, and you???ll feel like a million bucks for your actions in the past.

Despite these intermittent periods of contact with your past the thirst for 15 more minutes never leaves some of us. Sure, I???ve moved on and become a professional in another field (Clinical Neuropsychology???I???m a Psychometrician). But the endless volume of music knowledge that I have is what makes me tick. I???d drop it all for another chance to enter the music arena again.

People like you and me are rare indeed. We are these odd gatekeepers of knowledge to a form of art that is everywhere but often overlooked due to an industry that has turned it into product. At times I wonder what the real difference between a Twinkie and the endless stream of well-built, but flabby talented, pop stars truly is? But I say people like us need to come together and let the industry know that we are very important to their continued existence. We always moved product in high volumes. From those artists who have the PR machine behind them, to the amazing art projects of the truly talented, we moved it all. We need to show the industry that we are more vital than online blurbs and links like ???other customers who bought this CD also bought____.??? We???ve worked endless hours learning about and listening to one of humanities most unique attributes. We???ve learned about the people behind the art, the personal history and culture that influenced the art, and we watched our culture change because this art. With unbridled passion we played song after song of our favorite artists to any customer who asked. Thus, we improved the lives of so many people when we sold a piece of music. Now, it???s our turn. Our return is necessary to the survival of this beautiful art, it doesn???t just sell itself.

Hang in there my friend???the future is unwritten.

p.s. Check out Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons???a rare talent from the hinterlands of the Midwest.
- Posted By: cjpfalzgraf @ 07/09/2008 16:52:01
  
  Comment: Oh well, I guess the software battles rage on. Please fill in the appropriate punctuation where needed. Take care Sal.
- Posted By: cjpfalzgraf @ 07/09/2008 16:47:19
  
  Comment: Let's try that again without all the punctuation glitches.
  
  Sal-
  
  Sixteen years ago I shut down my two record stores. Thirteen years ago I stopped working in record stores all together. Nevertheless, my passion for music has not waned. Certainly I don't have my finger on the pulse of all 'the need to know bands', but like yourself once you learn how to do this, the skill never goes away. Also like you I miss being a retail rock star and I miss the connection with my customers. But overtime you'll run into them and they will enthusiastically thank you for that rare import LP you found for them or that one CD which changed their way of listening to music forever. And they will ask how you are doing, wish you the best, and you'll feel like a million bucks for your actions in the past.
  
  Despite these intermittent periods of contact with your past the thirst for 15 more minutes never leaves some of us. Sure, I've moved on and become a professional in another field (Clinical Neuropsychology???I'm a Psychometrician). But the endless volume of music knowledge that I have is what makes me tick. I'd drop it all for another chance to enter the music arena again.
  
  People like you and me are rare indeed. We are these odd gatekeepers of knowledge to a form of art that is everywhere but often overlooked due to an industry that has turned it into product. At times I wonder what the real difference between a Twinkie and the endless stream of well-built, but flabby talented, pop stars truly is? But I say people like us need to come together and let the industry know that we are very important to their continued existence. We always moved product in high volumes. From those artists who have the PR machine behind them, to the amazing art projects of the truly talented, we moved it all. We need to show the industry that we are more vital than online blurbs and links like "other customers who bought this CD also bought____." We've worked endless hours learning about and listening to one of humanities most unique attributes. We???ve learned about the people behind the art, the personal history and culture that influenced the art, and we watched our culture change because this art. With unbridled passion we played song after song of our favorite artists to any customer who asked. Thus, we improved the lives of so many people when we sold a piece of music. Now, it's our turn. Our return is necessary to the survival of this beautiful art, it doesn't just sell itself.
  
  Hang in there my friend...the future is unwritten.
  
  p.s. Check out Cory Chisel & The Wandering Son...a rare talent from the hinterlands of the Midwest.
Posted By: tanht @ 07/07/2008 1:48:54 AM

Comment: I hope you eventually find something new to call your own again. I'm sure your former customers miss you as much as you miss them. Human connections don't disappear without some kind of sadness and regret. Best wishes to you, Sal, and may you always carry the music within you.
- Posted By: Nunziato @ 07/09/2008 08:30:09
  
  Comment: Thank you for that.
Posted By: getzel @ 07/05/2008 11:32:13 AM

Comment: Why do you think Newsweek is printing a story like this? Like real out of character. Newsweek is trying to tell us something; obvious if you think about it.
- Posted By: Floridave @ 07/05/2008 21:25:45
  
  Comment: Why wouldn't they print a story like this? A few weeks ago a woman was talking about her mom's dog and a fireman was talking about getting old. It's human interest. Good stuff. Nice to read about something other than politics and going green. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks, Sal.
Posted By: ross.fortini @ 07/03/2008 8:57:00 AM

Comment: Mr. Nunziato, I just wanted you to know that I think you've found your next career: writing; I was particularly moved by your piece. My most prized possession is a pristine original of "Kind of Blue" on vinyl, and when I read that section of your essay...well, I had to pause a moment to compose myself. Best of luck to you--and thanks for sharing your story with the world.
Posted By: CohenJack @ 07/03/2008 7:42:26 AM

Comment: The irony here is palpable. I read Sal's article on a laptop in the Southern Plains,far from the print issue of Newsweek that used to be all that is available. Sal's life disappeared because my sons and their contemporaries get all of their music from the Internet, while dinosaurs like me have bought most of the vinyl and CD collections we're ever going to own. We're all paying the price to the Man Behind the Counter that Henry Drummond spoke of in "Inherit the Wind": the availability of everything, all the time, in exchange for the loss of Sal, Erika and Co. It's a price that is far too high.
Posted By: mike1964 @ 07/01/2008 7:54:54 PM

Comment: I sympathize-I was (and still am, I suppose) a collector of vinyl LPs. I would seek out different shops that would carry or order through a network of other dealers various hard to find or out of print records. I had a wonderful time exchanging ideas with the shopkeepers and the customers too. Those days are over, I guess.
Posted By: Floridave @ 06/29/2008 10:42:18 PM

Comment: Sal, have you set up a website or blog for all of your former customers to keep in touch? You sound like you have a wealth of information still available that people can't access when buying CD's at Walmart. Maybe you can turn this humongous stroke of luck getting a page in Newsweek into something that might substitute your lost store.... maybe something bigger. Any business that pays rent can be undersold by the internet. But there is no substitute for the knowledge that comes from a true aficionado like yourself. Good luck.

Floridave

PS I'm with you.... what was that "Daughters" crap?
- Posted By: Nunziato @ 06/30/2008 20:48:50
  
  Comment: Thanks Floridave, Gotta love a person that doesn't like "Daughters."
Posted By: kickyourace @ 06/29/2008 10:16:25 PM

Comment: Sal, I'm surprised you didn't just go online. Costs are low, traffic would be thousands of times better then at your local store. As times change, you either change to meet your customers needs or you go away.
Best wishes.
Scott Neuman
ForeverVinyl.com
- Posted By: Nunziato @ 06/30/2008 20:52:35
  
  Comment: Scott,
  Went online, Still online. It's not the same thing. Too much competition. Can't buy a used Melissa Etheridge CD for a dollar and sell it for a penny. (that's the going rate) Can't buy the new Al Green wholesale for 12 bucks when most are going for 8 bucks on Amazon. Thanks for the good wishes.
  - Posted By: ktunafish @ 07/17/2008 12:37:27
    
    Comment: Sal,
    Great article, you are obviously a gifted writer as others have already pointed out.
    Seems to me there is still come type of angle were you can exploit with your talents
    and passion for and in music. In the 'if you can't beat 'um, join 'um' category have
    you considered the e-commerce front end to Amazon.. more information here:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-summary-page.html?ie=UTF8&topic=200257920
    and/or possibly writing music reviews?
    
    Again, great article and thanks for sharing it.
    
    - Kyle
Posted By: Nunziato @ 06/29/2008 2:48:16 PM

Comment: Michael,
No need to buy the White Stripes again. The Jack White/Raconteurs deal with WB also included The White Stripes, so they are simply being put out under that moniker. Mayer is not winning me over. He needs to do a lot more than some not bad blues records for me to get over "Daughters." And both Red Garland and Sonny Criss are solid. Thanks for reading,
Sal
Posted By: Michael in New York @ 06/29/2008 12:58:55 PM

Comment: Sal, maybe you can help me. What's the deal with the Jack White reissues out Tuesday (the first Raconteurs and the White Stripes' White Blood Cells). Are they remastered? Any point in getting them? Is John Mayer winning you over slowly but surely the way he is me -- heard the live albums yet? And should I get Red Garland's Groovy reissue or Sonny Criss's This Is Sonny? Michael