The Rek-O-Kut direct-to-disc recorder that cut Elvis Presley's first ever recording is typically on display right here in Nashville at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in their current exhibit re-creation of Sun Studios. For one day only, this historic piece of machinery will be reunited with the original disc of 'My Happiness' for the first time since the record was cut, and will be on display at Third Man Records tomorrow for Record Store Day. These two items are arguably the most important pieces of rock and roll history in the world, and having them back in the same room together is pure magic. Many thanks to the Musicians Hall of Fame for affording us the opportunity to reintroduce this record to its maker.
The Musicians Hall of Fame exhibit also includes Scotty Moore’s Gibson Super 400 guitar that he used on sessions with Carl Perkins, a copy of Elvis's first contract, signed by his mother and father and Scotty Moore, and Marshall Grant’s 1950s Epiphone Upright Bass he played with Johnny Cash.
Third Man Records will be open with "My Happiness" and the Rek-O-Kut on display from 10am until 6pm tomorrow, April 18th. Read more about our Record Store Day plans here, here, and here.
Thanks to getting up really early and driving 50 miles I was luckily first in line at my closest record store. There was a line as far back as I could see and they only received 2(!!?)copies of GBMS. Many disappointed fans.
A RSD chronicle in Mexico City
April 16. Local record store “La Roma Records” Announces that they’ll have 2 copies of GBMS.
April 17. Hate to wake up early but this is one of the few things that are worth it. Put alarm at 6:30 am.
April 18, 6:30am. Wake up, shower, quick breakfast, take the savings of the year (still in college) so far and leave home.
7:50 am. Walk two blocks away from home to get a cab to the subway, two guys come up from behind me and grab me by the arms, one has a gun. They take my money and cellphone.
Walk back home, feeling sick from anger and frustration. Wake my parents up and tell them what happened.
They feel so bad for what happened that they agree to pay for the record and drive me there.
Feel like a loser about the whole thing.
8:10 am. Finally at “La Roma Records”, still shook-up. First in line, alone.
9:00 am. Secon person in line is fellow vaulter Ernesto, never met him before, what a nice surprise. The right people got the records… In theory.
11:30 am. My GF and Ernesto’s friend arrives, he was in another store nearby and told us about how it happened. “The store had the RSD exclusives just laying around and some of the guys in line grabbed the four copies of GBMS, handed them to his friends that were not in line and went up to pay. The other people that were in line started to argue and the thing was about to become a brawl. Either way, they took the records”
La roma records owner was going in and out of the store, i asked him if the exclusives would be sold in the counter, he says yes.
12:00 am. The hours passed by talking with Ernesto and his friend, it’s time for the store to open.
I get to the counter and ask for GBMS, they don’t have it in store it hasn’t arrived (what.) they tell me that i can pay for it and they’ll let me know when to pick it up. They are asking $55 for it. 10 bucks less from what i had originally saved (1000 pesos, economy is pretty bad right now)…
Well, i’m already here and been thru a lot to buy this. Buy it.
Ernesto asks for his copy, they tell him it’s already been sold to a frequent customer who wasn’t even in line. He calls them out for not being fair and leaves.
I leave as well with a ticket that supposedly ensures that i’ll get my record.
In summary, with all of the things that happened up to that point of the day, this became the most expensive record i ever bought.
So, record stores should be more organized about this whole RSD thing and there should be an official suggested retail price tag for all RSD titles. Shame on record stores that sell their titles to their close friends first and not even trying to get the number of records that they actually announce for sale.
My local store was had like 30 copies left of GBMS on sunday!, the price was a bit much, to be honest, I still grabbed a copy because it was the only album I don’t have in my collection, but yeah, the price was surprising.
I think he secretly gave it to his buddies who were back further in line… Either way its messed up. I’m not about to buy it from a third party for more then its original value… So I guess I’m out of luck. Thank god for Under Amazonian Lights…
I’m not sure where that number came from and I don’t really believe it. @Lazy, WTF is wrong with your store allowing that? My store only allowed you to get 1 of each release. I went back at 4pm and grabbed a few more and helped out some people online who missed out selling them for the $40 I paid and not a penny more. It felt awesome helping people out. I wish I could help everyone who missed out.
Some guy reckons 30,000 pressed for RSD, why was it so bloody expensive then?
£48.99 in UK record shops. SHOCKING REALLY.
Disappointing RSD… I woke up early because my record store only had a handful of GBMS copies… A guy in front of me grabbed all the copies!!! I don’t know how this allowed but it really needs to change… I buy music because I truly take the pleasure into listening to it and to support the artist who make it… Not to make a profit off of them by flipping it on ebay…
I also had to downgrade my vault subscription because I couldn’t afford both… Now I’m without both… Oh well not trying to complain… just something needs to change…
it
I feel very grateful to have been able to buy both copies of the Elvis 10" and GBMS here in NYC. Thank you for making the Elvis record available widely. My local record store in NYC also got ONE copy of the Captain Beefheart record. I forgot about that record, paid for my other selections, and went out to run another errand. I decided to swing back by my record store and ask about the Beefheart record. No one in the store knew if they still had it or where it was, just that they remembered seeing a strange blue cover. I searched through every box of records until I came upon the last… and there it was! Everyone at the store cheered! That was a highlight of RSD15. And… many of the customers were helping each other find their wish list items… we would quietly holler a title or artist and if someone had just seen it, s/he’d pluck it and hand it over. I was a wonderful experience.
Sorry. Never mind. Me not smart. Me need sleep.