On Saturday, April 18, record stores across the country opened their doors to vinyl junkies and music enthusiasts alike to mark this year's Record Store Day. Now in its eighth year, the annual holiday serves not only as a celebration of music, but as a way to support independent record stores.

TV On the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe shows off some of his work (Nilina Mason-Campbell/Myspace)

Shoppers who attend are rewarded not only with special releases, but often in-store performances and limited-edition goodies. With that in mind, we headed to Amoeba Records in the heart of Hollywood, California where the hours-long line to get in snaked around the block. In between DJ sets from the likes of Health and live caricatures drawn by TV On the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, we checked in with shoppers about their special purchases and own personal history with music. (Words and images by Nilina Mason-Campbell/Myspace)

 

Lauren, 23

Hometown: Inglewood, California

What did you score: The Record Store Day release of the Doors album, I got THE Darjeeling Limited Soundtrack because I'm a Wes Anderson fanatic, a David Bowie 7" and then I actually went back in and bought the new Logic album, which is insane, and Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time." It was $1.99. I couldn't leave it behind, I had to take it. I might listen to it [only] one time, but it's definitely going eat the front of the collection. Definitely one of those days, we waited long enough in line.

First record you ever bought: My dad bought a Crosby Stills and Nash record with me. That was probably the first one I ever got, whichever one had "Judy Blue Eyes" on it. That was my first experience with vinyl.

Favorite format: Vinyl LP. Put it on, turn the lights off and just vibe for an hour.

If your life had a theme song: I used to do a radio show in college and my theme song was "Changes" by Bowie which is actually what I got today. Everything comes full circle.

Most valuable record you own: I bought a Camera Obscura album that was the soundtrack to my adolescence. I actually just bought it recently. I didn't have it back in high school, but now I look back at that. That record to me is like my life in a nutshell. That's the one that probably means the most to me.

Favorite movie soundtrack: The High Fidelity soundtrack. I was looking for it today and couldn't find it. It's just so fun.

Current phone wallpaper: It's succulents because I'm a hipster-fuck. 

 

Lucy, 20

Hometown: Inglewood, California

What did you score: I got Bad Religion, Against Me. I didn't get the Against me 7" today—that's the one I wanted the most and a Front Bottoms split. They'll probably be on eBay in a couple days... way over-priced, but they'll be there.

First record you ever bought: Queen's A Day at the Races

Favorite format: 7" vinyl records

If your life had a theme song: "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen

Most valuable record you own: There's a band called Tsumani Bomb and I have one of their 7"s and I think that's the only vinyl that they ever made. It's really cute and it means a lot to me.

Favorite movie soundtrack: Tarantino's Jackie Brown

Current phone wallpaper: Jay Baruchel

 

Saharish, 35

Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey

What did you score: For my sister, I bought Slow Dive and Tame Impala.

First record you ever bought: Michael Jackson's Bad

If your life had a theme song: Roy Orbison, "Only the Lonely"

Favorite movie soundtrack: Grim Fandango soundtrack. It's a video game.

 

Elijah, 19

Hometown: West Covina, California

What did you score: Beach House's Bloom

First record you ever bought: Smith Westerns, Dye it Blonde

Favorite format: I really like vinyl, but most of the time I just listen to MP3s.

Favorite movie soundtrack: It might sound kind of corny, but I actually really like the Shrek soundtrack.

Current phone wallpaper: Just the standard iPhone wallpaper.

 

Anthony, 25

Hometown: Mansfield, Massachusetts

What did you score: Sun Ra's Calling Planet Earth

First record you ever bought: It was gifted to me from a friend: the Smiths' Meat is Murder.

If your life had a theme song: Frank Sinatra's "That's Life"

Favorite movie soundtrack: The Her soundtrack.

Favorite music documentary: A Band Called Death.

Current phone wallpaper: It's Ansel Adams' Half Dome at Yosemite

 

Jerson, 18

Hometown: Palmdale, California

What did you score: Weekend Nachos' self-titled 7"

First record you ever bought: Joy Division's Closer

Favorite format: Vinyl records. The sound quality's nice. 

If your life had a theme song: Probably Senses Fail, "Angela Baker and My Obsession Fire." My favorite band. My favorite song from my favorite record.

Most valuable record you own: Slipknot's first self-titled.

Current phone wallpaper: My girlfriend and my dog.

 

Joshua, 20

Hometown: Palmdale, California 

What did you score: I got Twista, Little Brother, Murs and 9th Wonder. Black Milk was sold out.

First record you ever bought: End of Doom

Most valuable record you own: I have a Barry White one that's been passed down in my family forever, since probably my great grandma. She just passed it down. That's my prized possession.

Favorite movie soundtrack: Friday

 

Philip Chase, 18

Hometown: Glendale, California

What did you score: Rise Against's The Eco-Terrorist In Me and Social Distortion by Social Distortion

First record you ever bought: It was Rise Against's "Eco Terrorists."

If your life had a theme song: "I Walk Alone" by Saliva

Current phone wallpaper: The cover of Paramore's Brand New Eyes

 

Tiffany Johnson, 27

Hometown: Compton, California

What did you score: Sam Cook, the singles collection on vinyl, Otis Redding, the original Sweet Charity soundtrack because I love Bob Fosse and then I got my dad some movies. I have a lot of Otis on CD, but it's my first vinyl of his.

Favorite format: Vinyl for sure. I have a ton of CDs, CDs for days. I'm just getting into more vinyl. I got a new record player, so I'm trying to pick back up on it.

If your life had a theme song: A girl group. I'm just trying to think of what I'd walk to. The Ronettes' "I Wonder." I also love Lou Reed's song "Walk on the Wild Side" which I think is a dope song in general to have as you move.

Favorite movie soundtrack: All That Jazz, because it's one of my favorite films.

Favorite music documentary: A good one I just watched was Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton. It's about Stones Throw Records, Peanut Butter Wolf, Mayer Hawthorne. It's a really good one.

Current phone wallpaper: Captain America

 

Christopher, 26

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

What did you score: King Krule's self-titled EP; that's what I came for. Then by surprise I found Nilsson Schmilsson. I saw it for $18 I said no, I saw it for $8, I said yes. I got Pink Flag [Wire]. 

First record you ever bought: The first CD I ever owned was Blur's self-titled when I was eight or nine.

Favorite format: Vinyl because it's actually the freshest to me. I've spent years being a CD absorber and online with the internet, but it's only been three years that I've been buying vinyl. It's the newest and most interesting to me.

If your life had a theme song: "Gotta Get Up" off this Nilsson Schmilsson record. I always gotta get going.

Favorite movie soundtrack: Eraserhead by David Lynch. Avant-garde stuff like that.

Favorite music documentary: The Last Waltz

 

Jesse, 20

Hometown: Franklin Park, Illinois

What did you score: I got the Bee Gees' Extended Record Store Day release, Mighty Mighty Bosstones Record Store Day release, Young the Giant RSD single, Daft Punk, a lot of Earth Wind and Fire, picked up some John Mayer because why not? 

First record you ever bought: Foo Fighter's Sonic Highways. Really recent. It's what kicked off my collecting.

Favorite format: That's tough. I've been so used to digital, MP3s and stuff, but now that I've started listening to vinyl, it's a really different sound. it sounds warmer and you get in tot he music more. It might be vinyl, because it's more personal I feel, actually flipping the disc and everything. You can feel it.

If your life had a theme song: "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba

Favorite movie soundtrack: Tron Legacy. Daft Punk really killed that one.

Current phone wallpaper: Red Hot Chili Peppers