Record folk will know this sentiment

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR FAVORITE RECORD STORE!

NUFF SAID! STRAIGHT OUTTA RECORD STORE!

"Gotta Give A Shoutout To The Large Professor..."

This iconic line from the '90's Hip-Hop classic, "Freestyle (Yo, That's That S***)" from Diamond D, sums up how we've been feeling since Hip-Hop legend/producer Large Professor walked through our doors.  Checking out his Wikipedia page, and the list of songs and albums credited to him, almost seems incomplete.  Being a force in Hip-Hop since the late 1980's, he's by far one of the most influential Hip-Hop producers of all time.  Kind of a "producer's producer".  Visiting your favorite record store before a gig in the DMV with family, he was gracious, and excited to see a store that catered to rare and hard to find material.  Our specialty.  Mad that he and his family couldn't spend more time in our store before their DJ set, their time was well spent going through all of our bins.  One of the great ironies of his trip to our store was that his seminal Hip-Hop group, Main Source's "Breaking Atoms", and his own "Main Source" cd's were being purchased by a very good customer of our store who he had passed by on his way in.  Xtra P, when you read this, know that your music lives here at Memory Lane and you and yours are welcome anytime.



Keeping Austin Weird @ Breakaway Records

It's been a few weeks since their trip to your favorite record store, but we had to show some love and respect to Breakaway Records and their owners, and good friends of our store, Joshua LaRue and Gabe Vaughn. In town for the MONEYTOWN dance party with our friend Kevin Coombe at Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar on H Street, these former DC transplants are "Keeping Austin Weird"as the saying goes.  Breakaway Records is one of the best places for vinyl and hard to find music in Austin, TX. Kind of like us, only transplanted to Texas. To our followers, if you're in their city anytime soon, or in the near future, please show love and support to Breakaway Records. Your music fix will definately get cured. Thanks again fellas!

LONG LIVE ROC RAIDA!!!

When legends pass away from us, it's always harder when we know them personally.  Grandmaster DJ Roc Raida had only moved to the DC area a few years previous, and was turned onto to your favorite record store from some local heavy hitters on the DJ scene.  He was impressed by our selection, and asked if we catered to big name DJ's by only selling choice vinyl to a select few.  He was assured that we didn't play games, and that we treat all customers the same.  We love to cater to those with deep pockets, but our loyal customers who spend a few dollars faithfully are NEVER put on the back burner.

I believe it was his fifth or sixth visit to our store that I finally broke down and asked him to take a picture for the store.  I look at this picture and I'm so thankful he let me take it.  It's a treasure that I share with you, in this the anniversary of his passing.  I can't believe it's been FOUR years since he left us.   Whenever I look at this picture, I can't stop thinking about how I almost didn't ask him to take it with me, and his friend DJ Book,  and how, at first, he was hesitant, but obliged anyway.  This picture was taken in late January, or first week of Febuary 2009.  He left us September 19, 2009.

Thank you Grandmaster Roc Raida for perfecting the art of beat juggling.  Thank you for forming the X-Men (later the X-Ecutioners).  Thank you for the countless DJ sessions, mixtapes (in particular, the break beat tapes) that inspired countless DJ's around the world to only attempt to do what you did best.  Thank you for creating one of my favorite Hip-Hop songs of all time, O.C.'s "Time's Up".  Last, but not least, thank you for gracing our store with your presence, and being the humble brother didn't pull his celebrity card.  You only wanted to know if we had good records and kept coming back because you felt we did.  THANK YOU.   -Marshall

REST IN PEACE

Check out Roc Raida at his best, winning the DMC World Championship 

Our Friend "The Nitekrawler"

From time to time, we like to show appreciation to some of our great customers and noted personalities from, or currently residing in, the DMV.  On display today is our friend and longtime customer Kevin Coombe, a.k.a. DJ Nitekrawler.  Kevin is a walking resource for DC, Maryland, and Virginia funk and soul. He currently runs the website DC Soul Recordings, which is a one stop shop for information on funk, soul, and R&B from the late '60's, '70's, and early 80's in our area. We're proud to say, some of his rarer pieces have been discovered here at your favorite record store. 

Anybody who may question is knowledge or want to know how deep his crates run, check out Moneytown, his long running funk & soul night at Little Miss Whiskey's On H Street.  It goes down every first Friday of the month, and is one of the best dance parties in the city.  Many high profile DJ legends have graced his booth on the strength of this night.  DJ Cash Money, and Prince Paul to name a few. 

One thing in particular that we're excited about is that Kevin is FINALLY getting started on his much anticipated book that will honor and chronicle the funk, soul, and R&B music history of the area, mainly focusing on the '60's, '70's, and '80's.  What his beautiful wife is holding in her hands are the original flow charts and first chapter of this soon to be treasure.  We know that alot of time and effort have gone into getting this far into the process of writing a book (interviews, research, travel, etc.)  So when it's available to all of you in the upcoming years, just remember, we let you know about it from the very start.  To our friend Kevin, keep diggin', keep writing, and keep the funk alive.

Thanks Jeff & Gary!

We were happy to see a great customer and good friend of our store, Gary Mitchell(right), back in your favorite record store stocking up on Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Aretha Franklin 45's, just to name a few.  He came with his a good friend, fellow music aficionado, and film documentarian Jeff Krulik. 

Our guy Gary Mitchell has been collecting good grooves for decades and is currently featured on Top Shelf Oldies on the first Tuesday of each month from 8pm-11pm.  Also, check him out on AM 1430 Annapolis from 3pm-7pm.  Gary's always been a reservoir of great music information, especially 50's and 60's pop & soul, and he reflects that knowledge in his vast playlist.  You'll most likely hear rare selections not commonly heard on the radio.  For those of us in the business of buying and selling vinyl, you'll know Gary's face from some of your favorite record shows up and down the East coast. 

It was a pleasure getting to know Jeff Krulik.  Being a Documentary filmaker, he regaled us with stories of old record shows, music venues (some still open, most closed down), famous and not so famous bands coming in and out of the DC area, you name it.  His website, jeffkrulik.com is chock full of great documentaries.  Some films are dedicated to music, but many of his films cover a wide array of subject matter, from a  World War II discovery of a lifetime to Ernest Borgnine.  We take it Jeff's first time in our store was well worth it.  He gained new friends, followers of his site and films, and even snatched up a copy MFSB's "Very Best" on cd.  This was the background music for he and Gary's time in your favorite record store, and he couldn't get past the mellow vibes.  It was a must he take "The Sound of Philadelphia" home with him. 

We thank you guys again for gracing our store with your presence. 

Mr. "Impeach The President" Visits Memory Lane

We recently had the honor of having Southern Soul legend Roy C. grace us with his presence. Roy makes a yearly appearance in the DC area, usually in the spring, and our store always carries a heavy load of his material. After making an appearance on local radio, he shows up with his new studio & live cd's in tow, ready to do business. We were just excited to finally meet him in stead of speaking to him over the phone. It turned out to being an unplanned "In-Store" without all the hassle of setting up one. Some of his biggest fans were in house. Of course the usual hugs, handshakes, and autographs were given.

Roy informed us, in passing conversation, he's been in the music business "OFFICIALLY" 52 years. First starting out with The Genies, then with his own group Mark IV. I personally know the influence he's had on my love of music, and most lovers of hip-hop, by way of the seminal song "Impeach The President" by another group he produced, The Honey Drippers. That's his voice on the famous vocal sample "Ladies and Gentlemen.....". Plus, as we discussed, "Impeach The President" has been samples so many times, due to it's perfect drum break at the beginning of the song, he gave up counting 20 years ago. Although he did mention he liked the way Asher Roth's producers used the song recently on his new release.

After an hour of pictures, autographs, good talk about business & entertainment, it was time for our newest and biggest fan to get some rest for his big show later that night. Since his visit, he's called us letting us know how much he enjoyed his time in our home away from home. I'm mad he didn't inform us of his appearance beforhand. I would have loved for him to sign my copy of "Impeach The President". For those of you who love his music, and want more of it, come in and check out our full catalog of Roy C. music. As stated earlier, he's got a new studio cd (which has been one of our top 3 selling cd's since it release), and a live cd he recorded last year that has all his best material over that past 30 years. Click on the link below to check out the Washington Post write up on his most recent performance in the DC.

http://http//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/24/AR2009052402506.html

HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS!!!

Your favorite local record store is getting some love from the local papers. The Gazette is a state newspaper that focuses on current events in Prince George's, Montgomery & Frederick counties. Most of our local customers get theirs every other morning laying on their front porch. Seems as though word got back to some staff writers over at the Gazette about Record Store Day. This is an annual event in which independently owned music stores, coast to coast, celebrate and recognize these businesses that are far too often becoming a thing of the past. We guess the Gazette wanted the local perspective of this annual event. Check the official Record Store Day website, http://recordstoreday.com/Home

It's good every once in a while to get some press, good that is. Double click the title "HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS" to view the full article if you haven't picked up April 16th edition of the Gazette. The print article is on the front page of the Lanham/New Carrollton edition. Thanks to all the patrons mentioned in the article for showing alot of love and goodwill to our store. This edition just hit the street and we're already getting great feedback from the article. Also have to thank Mr. Mattison for the mean grip bestowed upon my man Mike in the picture. We know you found what you were looking for when you came in, but we didn't know the photographer got such a candid shot.

Adding The Rarest Soul Label To Our Collection

For those who don't know about DC's own Shrine Label, it's affectionately known as the "Rarest Soul Label".


According to Wikipedia: Shrine Records was founded in 1964 by songwriter Eddie Singleton and his wife, Raynoma Gordy Singleton, also known as Miss Ray, who had previously cofounded the legendary Motown Records with her first husband, Berry Gordy. Its headquarters was a townhouse at 3 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC. There were a total of 19 Shrine Records singles released, and about six more completed recordings that were never issued. Eddie Singleton wrote many of the songs himself, and the musicians were primarily local Washington acts. Notable artists involved with Shrine included Ray Pollard (who later released material on Decca), Linda Tate, Eddie Daye & The Four Bars, and The Cavaliers. However, none of the Shrine singles were significant hits, and the label ceased operations in 1967. Shrine's stock of unsold records was destroyed in a warehouse fire in the 1968 Martin Luther King riots. As a result, very few Shrine records remain today, and they are highly sought-after by collectors.

The most famous, and well known Shrine recording was....

this is how the label usually looks when you're blessed to come across a Shrine 45.

This is only the second time we've been able to acquire Leroy Taylor and the Four Kays "Taking My Time/I'll Understand", and we've never seen it this clean. It's been a hell of a week already for records in our store. Come in and spend some of that tax return moneyon what will truly get you through some hard economic times. Unlike booze, food, shoes, clothing etc., music is forever

Asbury Park's Finest Comes to Memory Lane. Sorry Bruce :(

This weekend we had the pleasure of welcoming two heavy record aficianados into our home away from home. Gracing the storefront was our bretheren DJ Prestige(center), and Larry Grogan(second from right).

My man Larry controls the http://funky16corners.wordpress.com/ website. Anyone who knows funk, and is akin to record diggin', knows Larry has been on the scene for some time sharing his knowledge and blessing us with some of the finest gems in soul music.

DJ Prestige has, by his own accord been diggin' all his life(well at least since he could work a turntable). He's blessed small clubs to big venues coast to coast. Besides being a self imposed facial hair expert, Pres' collection of funk is obscene. Check out both his sites,
http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/ & http://www.djprestige.net/index.html, for just some of what he's been putting down for all us beat heads, soul gurus, and just music lovers alike.

It was a pleasure to finally meet both of these gentlemen whose sites I've mined for some time. They thanked the both Mike and myself for our hospitality and some good 45's for their future gigs. I had to thank them for the amazing dj set I witnessed Friday night. They are by far some of the nicest, most humble guys I've met on the dj scene.

BRETHEREN, KEEP REPPIN' FOR ASBURY PARK!!!

BTW, my main man on the far right is DJ Birdman. He's responsible for getting the guys to come down and bless DC with their presence. He's also my dj partner and would have a fit if I left him out of this conversation. Check his blog (which can also be accessed to the far right of this page): http://jesgrew.blogspot.com/