Taylor Swift, other artists release limited edition vinyl records for Record Store Day

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Saturday will feel like Black Friday for fans of vinyl records.

It's Record Store Day, an annual event that started nearly two decades ago in the Bay Area and is now a worldwide event.

"It's huge, it's our biggest day of the year. All our customers look forward to it. We usually have a line outside since the night before," said Tony Green, manager at Amoeba Music in San Francisco.

Last year, more than 150 people camped out waiting for the store's doors to open for their chance to buy rare records.

"There's a bunch of limited edition releases put out by record companies," said Green.

This year, Taylor Swift is releasing a 7" vinyl of her song "Elizabeth Taylor."

There will also be remastered and rare recordings from The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Who, Talking Heads, and other artists.

Record Store Day started in 2008 at the Rasputin Music store in Mountain View as a way to draw business to independent record stores.

Every year, a big-name music artist serves as ambassador. This year, it's Bruno Mars.

Record Store Day has faced criticism that it's become too corporate. Stores need to buy a package of records that may include unpopular titles.

Smaller independent shops like Groove Merchant Records in San Francisco can't afford to stock records that it can't sell. So, they celebrate their own way.

"The owner makes a point to stash records aside for that day. We generally specialize in rare records to begin, but on that particular day, we try and bring in records that are especially desirable and rare," said Vinnie Esparza of Groove Merchant Records.

The first Record Store Day coincided with a resurgence of vinyl records. That revival continues.

In 2022, sales of vinyl records surpassed sales of CDs for the first time since 1987.

Audiophiles say analog recordings sound better. But Esparza said younger generations are also attracted to vinyl for other reasons.

"You're able to look at the cover, read the liner notes. It's a very tactile thing where you can hold the record," said Esparza.

San Francisco's Haight Street will be one of the hotspots on Saturday.

At least six independent record stores are on the street, which is known as "Record Alley." Some record stores have been around for 30 years.

"The experience of taking it out of the sleeve, of putting it on the turntable, there's no doubt that it's a complete package for the music aficionado. But, it is responding to an emotional void I think that streaming and downloading just don't fill," said Green.

Around three dozen Bay Area stores are officially participating in Record Store Day and selling limited edition releases.

You can find out which ones by visiting the Record Store Day website.