Sometimes buying a CD is just NOT that easy! Plus...JACK BLACK & CAMERON CROWE

I was in Lethbridge recently, & thought i’d pick up the new Emmylou Harris disc, “All I Intended To Be”.

A quick trip to HMV just prior to their 6 o’clock closing was fruitless. The clerk told me that they hadn’t had it yet but had some on order.

I realize that Emmylou is no Shania when it comes to sales, but she’s no forgettable, “flavour-of-the-week” American Idol winner either.

No copies a full week after the release date? Even for a smaller centre like Lethbridge that’s pretty lame don’t you think?

I was duly pointed in the direction of Future Shop who were open ‘til 9:00pm, & off I went.

My husband walked (…& walked… & walked) our dog whilst I spent an overly long time inside the store looking for a new release title.

After looking around for some time, I asked a clerk for help.
He also looked & couldn’t find the disc, & after checking their computer, told me that they evidently had seven copies in but they were probably on a pallet or cart somewhere in the back..."sorry!"

Now, if they were showing seven in stock, the items would have surely been unpacked & received wouldn't they? Maybe the chain just has so much money that they buy inventory just to keep it to themselves in the back room.

My husband & I traded off the pooch & this time he went inside with that gritty & determined look on his face. You know the one ladies...it's why we love 'em so.

After checking all of the obvious new release locations, he hit the "Country" section. As a side bar, it was there that he found out that Steve Earle evidently shares a close musical tie with at least two other country acts, as there were at least three artists untidily bundled under one performer’s divider card – I think in the “B” section.

He thumbed through the “H” area & couldn’t find Emmylou - either similarly bundled or by herself, so he moved over to the Rock aisle. Worth a shot at this point.

Suddenly there appeared a Sarah Harmer disc that he had never seen before. Heck, it was a black & white cover & easily confused with Sarah’s “All Of Our Names” release, but not close enough folks…you guessed it… all seven copies of Emmylou’s “All I Intended To Be” were there.

Call me crazy, but I think that Emmylou would say that being mistaken for & confused with Sarah Harmer was NOT... "All I Intended To Be”!

It's a sad state, but many chain stores seem to care more these days about accessories & placement of gum on the front checkout desk than they do about trying to correctly present, merchandise & sell music. However, they're the ones who continue to cry about declining sales at the stores & blame illegal downloading etc etc. Well BOO Freakin' HOO!!

With time being money, in theory the store surely owes US money back for our time & effort spent finding the disc.

Now normally I would have supported a fine, upstanding INDEPENDENT music retailer, but this was a spur of the moment purchase that I didn't expect to be blogging about.

Remember the movie HIGH FIDELITY? The great scenes with the very true-to-life staffers turning customers on to music? Remember Barry??...Still Jack Black’s best movie role in my opinion, & very REAL! He told you what NOT to buy, just as much as he'd recommend titles & bands too.

Believe me, there are still some "Barry's" out there in the stores. You just have to hunt around & find them. They still just want to turn people on to music!! Where & when did that small but key desire for the most part disappear from the face of the musical retail map?

During a recent conversation with Mike Pleau, who owns the successful & independent Megatunes stores here in Alberta, he lamented that most kids – let’s say 16-20 years of age for the sake of argument – “buying” (downloading) music these days will never have a physical collection to cherish, share with friends, turn on & educate their kids etc.

It’s a very valid point that Mike made, & probably one of the saddest in this whole blog. In one ear, out the other, get bored, throw it away, move on. A sad comment on our “disposable society".

On the drive home we put the disc in the player & listened to Emmylou. I realized as I studied the enclosed booklet, looking at the lyrics & credits, that for many of us it’s part of the whole experience of the music – liner notes & information. We see familiar names crop up over & over again. Session musicians & singers, producers etc that we love & admire.

Sorry, but a downloaded booklet just isn't the same to me.

As long as there’s great music to listen to & believe in, I will be listening. I will also continue to enjoy turning others on to it... & hopefully reading liner notes.

Enjoy the FULL music experience! Browse the aisles, touch, listen, get turned on to something new by a true & passionate “Barry”. Keep those Indies alive & thriving.

Pay at a cash register, & exit the store head held high. Brag to your friends about what you’ve just bought. Take ‘em with you next time.

Mike Pleau also forwarded me the quote below from a writer you may have heard of. Thanks Mike!! It truly hits the nail on the head.