A spin down Music Lane – Studio Antiques keeps the vinyl tradition alive
by Don Ruane
The resurgence of vinyl records in the past decade can be attributed to everything from kids going through their parents or older siblings record collection, to scenes in movies such as Jack Black’s hilariously condescending record store clerk in the “High Fidelity,” and last year’s “Licorice Pizza,” which was the name of a Southern California records store chain known for a super friendly, and knowledgeable staff that knew their music, and would talk endlessly about what bands the customers should be listening to.
Interest in vinyl recordings is so high now that there’s a bi-annual celebration, Record Store Day, every April and November to celebrate independent record store.
Studio Antiques in El Segundo is among the stores who participate in the celebration.
Owners Sally and Lawrence Martin are best known to the world as co-hosts on the Travel Channel’s “Baggage Battles.” They are also recurring appraisers on A & E’s Storage Wars
Their collection of used LPs is almost certainly the largest in the South Bay.
Though known for primarily their antiques, collectibles, and furniture, The Martin’s always have had music as part of their store’s offerings.
According to Sally, “One day, we bought a collection from an estate that contained 1,500 jazz albums. And they sold! My MBA brain told me that there’s a market for this, and it can be our niche. Amoeba records in Hollywood used to be the” go to” store for used records, but they’ve since been focused on new releases. I think we have our place in the market.”
Over the past few weekends the store was filled with customers. Some were looking for a specific band or song, and there were others who were dragged into the store against their will by a significant other who wanted to go antiquing.
Redondo Beach resident Christopher Wettermann was at the register with a vinyl copy of Soft Cell’s 1981 release, “Non-Stop Erotic Cabernet. “When asked why he just didn’t download the tune, he said, “The album has my mom’s favorite song on it, ‘Tainted Love,’ and I got a record player for Christmas, so I can listen to the song the same way that she did.”’
The shelves are categorized by genre, and artist. Ones that can’t be classified in those groups are listed alphabetically. There’s a section in the northwest area of the store that has vinyl from Poland, Russia, and South America, and mid-century recordings from Polynesia and Hawaii. Recently, there were original pressings of Hawthorne’s Elliot Rhodes first solo album, which has cult status in LA’s power pop scene, along with an obscure record, a compilation album from Manhattan Beach’s early ‘80s punk band, the Alcoholics, titled “East of Sepulveda,” and a record by South Africa’s The Flame, which was gone on a subsequent visit to the store.
A young customer lost in old vinyl albums at Studio Antiques in El Segundo.
“I live in Korea-town, but work near the store, and this is the only place I can find what I want, because it’s not available to download,” said one young woman. There’s music from the speakers loud enough to notice, but not so loud as too ruin the ambiance. The tunes are usually early to mid 1960s songs from British bands, which upon first listen, and first glance at co-owner Lawrence Martin, would absolutely define his personality. One could easily imagine him as an extra in the 1964 movie “Quadrophenia,” heading to clubs at night on his vespa. (Sally says that song selection is her doing, not his.) The store is unique in that despite the music playing from the speakers, it’s not a distraction, but more of accompaniment. The Kink’s “Lola” plays as your fingers flip through the albums, pulling them out of the sleeves to check out the artwork. El Segundo High graduate and Peninsula resident John Van Hammersveld’s name shows up more that a few times in this category). The liner notes show who played what instrument on each track, and where where it was recorded.
Listening to an album is a physical and emotional experience. The act of picking up the record, carefully removing it from its sleeve, looking for scratches and dust, and placing it on the turntable requires being focused, and mentally ready for whatever journey the notes on the album are going to take you.
Ian Miller, a 26 year old who recently moved to Massachusetts, says he got into buying vinyl in high school after seeing his favorite band, Twenty One Pilots, was releasing their new releases on vinyl. “I love seeing awesome artwork on the cover and it’s super awesome when the record itself has designs on it. I’m 50/50 on reading the notes, but I think it’s super cool when they include them. “I don’t think there’s a difference in sound quality, and unless you get insane equipment it won’t be any different. The apparent difference is probably a placebo effect cause if you love records just seeing them turn, and hearing it play seems like it has a different vibe.“
Lawrence and Sally get it. They are there to chat with music lovers, the customers whom they consider family and friends, and see if they can help locate the records that have essentially become the soul and soundtracks of our lives. Sally remembers exactly where she was when she heard Janis Joplin’s “Pearl,” and is sure everyone knows what stage of life they were in when Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” was dominating the airways.
Stop by the store, and check out some previous Record Day pressings from the Cure, The Jackson 5, and Chicago Live at Carnegie Hall in 1971, and plan on spending a couple of hours there. Your fingertips will take you on a trip, serendipity style, as you flip through the bins and rediscover all the amazing songs. Count on not leaving the shop empty handed.
Studio Antiques is at 337 Richmond St El Segundo. (310) 322-3895