| all enjoy the vinyl record revival, there is another | | | | documented was the White Album that sold last |
| aspect to this phenomenon that sometimes gets | | | | week for $30k, which is saying a lot for vinyl |
| overlooked: the forgotten 45 rpm records from | | | | collectibles in this economy. Unfortunately I flubbed |
| years past. Sure, there are some mainstream artists, | | | | that one and it got left off that week's list. The seller |
| punk rockers and indie musicians who have found this | | | | had listed it in "Music Memorabilia" and I keep my |
| audio medium to their liking, it is a marvelous way to | | | | eyes on the "Record" category. I also didn't keep an |
| not only give their fans what they want (the music), | | | | eye on your blog that week, Robert, or I would |
| but also create a collectible as well. | | | | have caught it - the problem of selling records and |
| Another medium from the past has gone through | | | | writing about them during the holiday season. So I did |
| some major changes in recent years. Remember | | | | a mea culpa entry on that one so it makes it on the |
| when AM radio dominated the air waves? And then | | | | Record Store Day year-end list.” |
| another format in the 70’s added even more | | | | I love listening to the station- your format and |
| alternatives for music lovers -FM radio. Now we have | | | | genres of music are very eclectic. Where do you get |
| satellite radio and another inventive medium, the | | | | the music and how do you decide what you want to |
| Internet radio station. | | | | play? |
| One Internet radio station in particular has been able | | | | Jane: “We buy collections from individuals, |
| to combine the aforementioned 45 rpm records and | | | | closed record stores, from eBay as well. Mostly the |
| the Internet to form Counter Clock Radio ( and | | | | 45's speak to me. By that I mean that when I look |
| Counter Clock Records ( The business is the | | | | through a stack of records I sense what's interesting, |
| brainchild of the wife and husband team of Jane and | | | | unusual, weird .. . just enjoyable. Norm has an |
| Norm Geddis of Mission Viejo, California who have | | | | encyclopedia of music history in his head, but if we |
| developed a ‘play what we find’ | | | | just went on that alone we'd sound like tons of |
| programming style that is very unique and allows | | | | other stations. So clairvoyance plays its part.” |
| their listeners an eclectic array of music genres to | | | | Do you have any plans to add DJ’s to the |
| listen to. I had the opportunity to speak with the | | | | mix? |
| developers of this novel concept, let’s learn | | | | Jane: “A podcast is in the works. But it may |
| more about Counter Clock Records and Counter | | | | not happen unless the Earth starts spinning |
| Clock Radio: | | | | slower.” |
| Obviously you have a love for vinyl- what is it about | | | | What are the future plans for the station and |
| records that make them so appealing to you? | | | | Counter Clock Records? |
| Norm: “They're round, like wheels. It's by far | | | | Norm: “Next year is going to be about more |
| the best use of man's first invention. CD's never felt | | | | of everything. We have lots of inventory to love on |
| quite the same. Downloads are radio plus labor. I'm a | | | | and get out there to the world. The backbone of |
| decade past being impressed with myself for getting | | | | vinyl records is the community record store. The |
| software to work after an evening playing around | | | | Internet cannot deliver that. Counter Clock Records is |
| with my computer.” | | | | something to come home to, but not to replace the |
| Jane: “I like the built-in nostalgia value of vinyl | | | | chill up your spine dirty tile smell of your record |
| - whether it’s a 1964 Top 40 one-hit wonder | | | | store.” |
| or a super rare Private Press Psych LP. It felt like a | | | | What do you think of the ‘vinyl |
| part of me died and was buried when CD's became | | | | revival’ and where do you see vinyl in the |
| the standard. With downloads, it’s like the | | | | next ten years? |
| moss has grown over the headstones.” | | | | Jane: “I think the vinyl revival is great! I also |
| How long have you been online/ selling on ebay and | | | | think it was inevitable. Tens of millions of us who love |
| what are your thoughts about the fee changes and | | | | vinyl are either retiring or have more time on our |
| the overall operations of this online giant? | | | | hands, and whether you have a little or a lot of |
| Norm: “We started Counter-Clock Records in | | | | money, there's something for everyone. Plus, it |
| July of '07. Or rather, I started selling on eBay about | | | | seems that even though they're not buying "our |
| that time, just 45's that I was done loving on, and | | | | music,” young adults and teens are |
| then both us created the store and glued these | | | | discovering that there is something more to vinyl |
| other parts (blog and radio station) to it.” | | | | than the downloads. And getting squeezed in the |
| “As far as those changes everyone talks | | | | middle are CD's. It seemed only a matter of time |
| about, I came into the middle of that and, speaking | | | | before these two groups converged and the music |
| just for me, I'm a part of Counter-Clock Records. | | | | market opened up to let us back in.” |
| eBay is just the venue, the shopping center where | | | | Norm: “I'm not a money guru and this isn't |
| our store is located. No matter where one has their | | | | investment advice. However, as my grandmother |
| store, there's not a merchant on this planet, or likely | | | | used to say during tough times, "there'll always be |
| any other, who isn't complaining about the rents. It's | | | | somebody with money." And, like during the |
| not a complaint I'm going to pass along to my | | | | seventies and early nineties, traditional investments |
| customers.” | | | | are not attractive. Comic book values skyrocketed in |
| When did you decide to go ‘online’ | | | | the seventies, as with sports cards in the early |
| with the Live365 radio station? | | | | nineties. I think it’s about to be vinyl's day in |
| Norm: “The station has been running since | | | | the sun.” |
| March of '07 which was several months before we | | | | Do you have a Top Ten list of your favorite |
| opened the store.” | | | | 45’s and or favorite recording artists? |
| What kind of fan base do you have, what kind of | | | | Jane: “I'll do artists-Etta James, Grateful Dead, |
| records/music do you play? | | | | Joni Mitchell, The Band, Bill Monroe, Renaissance, |
| Jane: “Our base is our customers who have | | | | Mazzy Star, Opal, Joan Armatrading, CSNY.” |
| found our station. The station is very close to | | | | Norm: “45's for me- Mixed Feelings "Sha La |
| exactly how we want it to be, with short music | | | | La"/"Love Will Find A Way," Moody Blues "Go Now" |
| news segments and trivia, so now we have | | | | "Lose Your Money," Small Faces "Itchycoo Park"/"I'm |
| something unique and something we're proud of. It's | | | | Only Dreaming," Sandi Sheldon "You're Gonna Make |
| time to let everyone know. We play what we find. I | | | | Me Love You"/"Baby You're Mine," Pink Floyd "Point |
| call the programming style Accidental | | | | Me At The Sky"/"Careful With That Axe Eugene," |
| Nostalgia.” | | | | Olivia Tremor Control "California Demise" EP, |
| My readers love the “Top 5 vinyl record | | | | Hedgehoppers Anonymous "It's Good News Week" |
| sales” feature each week. How long have you | | | | "Afraid Of Love," Barbara Lewis "Baby I'm Yours"/"I |
| been doing this? Have you noticed any specific | | | | Say Love," Denny Laine "It's So Easy”/Listen |
| patterns- what sells the best (and who) and what is | | | | To Me"/"I'm Looking For Someone To Love," The |
| the most expensive record that you have ever | | | | Intruders "Every Day Is A Holiday"/"Old Love" and |
| documented on the list? | | | | probably a hundred others.” |
| Norm: “I began the blog about the same time | | | | So, if you are looking for some great old obscure |
| I started the radio station. The "store" so to speak | | | | rock and roll, one-hit wonders and soulful R&B, |
| began when I put a few records up on my eBay | | | | drop by Counter Clock Radio and Counter Clock |
| account in July of last year.” | | | | Records and give them a spin. Your ears will love |
| “The most expensive record I've | | | | what you hear. |