The Cult of the Record Bar
For a number of years during the late 1970s and early 1980s I was a member of the Cult of Record Bar. If you were a member too, you know what I mean. Most people thought of Record Bar as a business engaged in selling records and tapes and a varied assortment of music-related items like Discwasher Record Cleaners, rock star Tees, and even phonograph needles (which came with a nice little incentive for anyone who sold one) but in reality, Record Bar was a cult. Once you were a member, you were a member for life. Right now there are people in their 40s and 50s who are leading seemingly normal lives, but hidden undeneath a (theoretical) mantle of respectability is a Record Bar employee. Many still have the blue jillion albums they collected (stamped "Promotional, Not For Sale) somewhere - unless they joined the eBay Cult later in life.
So why after twenty-five odd years has this come up? Why am I thinking about the Record Bar again? Let me tell you.
In the course of moving to a new house I was forced to sort through the junk that's been sitting undisturbed in my attic for the past two decades and came across a program from the 1981 Record Bar Convention: "Record Bar Goes to Summer Camp." (excerpt at left)There were the faces of my fellow RB managers and the Durham office people including the Bergman clan. 1981 was before Barrie went nutsoid and came under the spell of Ron Cruickshank (who remembers him?) and before the disasterous (as it turned out) merger with Licorice Pizza. This was a time before we all lost our innocence; when all that mattered was the next shipment of new releases and before compact discs changed the face of music forever.
We were just learning how to bend album jackets to create 3 dimensional in-store displays - ah those chain-wide display contests with cool prizes like "London Calling" silk tour jackets. And who could forget the Purple Rain promotion of 1984? (pictured below)
This was also the time when summer meant RB Conventions at Hilton Head (the less said about them in print the better for all involved).
Actually, I still hear from some of my RB cronies but had to miss the Record Bar reunion that Barrie put together a couple of years ago. So for all the RB cult members that read this, ROCK ON! (if your physician still permits it).
BTW, what ever happened to Andy Woody?
posted by onomatopeyote at 6:17 AM
101 Comments:
This is so weird. It's 5:27 AM and I'm up just doing random GOOGLE searches about different things. I was an employee of Record Bar from 1986-1989 in kennesaw, GA and was doing searches to see if i could find out anything about them.
Then I find your post and see it was only few days ago. Somthing in the cosmos, huh?
Yes, you're right about the 'cult of RB". Absolutely the only "chain" that was on par with the nations best indie stores. During my tenure "alternative" rock was not yet viable (i.e. had not been usurped by the majors), 'dirty dancing' was all the rage and CD's had not filled the entire store. By the time I left, though, nearly all the vinyl was gone and promos were coming in only on cassette tape. (!)
My memories of this palce are very, very fond and I think of it often.
Glad to know that there are others who remember Record bar like I do.
Rock on, sir.
For some reason I too did a google search for Record Bar. I was a manager back in the early days of the RB. I opened stores #'s 16,& 20 in Chattanooga and #53 in New Orleans...Wow... such great times...the conventions were so much fun...I can still remember meeting Zappa and Harry Chapin...But the real gems were the folks in the home office...Pete, Linda, Norman...if only I could go back and show my Hi Liama card....and see Ralph Record Bar...just one more time..
Great to hear from both of you. I worked at the Northgate Mall store in Durham and then managed #64 in Greensboro for a long time (I even found my "5 year" plaque during the move.) The last Record Bar store at Friendly Center in Greensboro closed quickly and quitely one dark night but by then it was owned by some soulless chain that never understood or cared about the cult anyway. Not long ago I ran into one of my former employees and wasn't to surprised to learn he made his living as a DJ. You can take the boy out the "Bar" but you can't take the Bar out of the boy - or the girl for that matter. Cheers!
Wow, great entry from a great ex-boss. I remember that one of the few times that the women came out from behind the counter was for that picture.
I'll always be grateful that you gave a shy sixteen-year-old like me a job. Record Bar was a great place to grow up, and I always felt like I was part of family.
You should've talked about the fire walk. THAT was weird.
Nice entry, Bob. In my managing experience, the least enjoyable time was after Ron Cruikshank left. It was the group leading the company then that initiated the SuperClub fiasco. Ron was always very accessible to me, and even came to one of our store meetings and took everyone to Darryl's afterwards. Of course, I also got tapped to go with some the then honchos to go to Tony Robbins' castle in San Diego, so that worked out pretty good for me. The best memories though, are of the Four Seasons days. If we could have just gotten Annel to wear that purple teddy more often.
Hey Buds! I know what you're thinking... who's that great-looking guy with his arms around all the chicks? Well in real life that would've been Speed Bump!
But, for posterity sake I started out in Pensacola in 1981 at Record Bar in University Mall (managed by Chris Schweigert, then Tommy Neblett): hi to Paul Schumaker, Georgeanne, Lisa Moody, Lynn, Siveli, Denise (R.I.P.), Lisa Slensby, Tammy, Glenn, Bill Day and Mean Jean!
I then went and joined the coolest bunch of dudes in Greensboro (3/4 of whom are in that picture!). Shout out to Bob, Phil, Brad , Melissa Lee, Annell, Jessie, Kristina, Susan Wells, Patricia, Lynn, and of course Red.
After that I went to Athens, GA as Manager, then to Lenox Square in Atlanta (Leslie, where are you when I need you?!) and finally oblivion!
But the real message here is my new band! It's called The Chrome Drug and you can buy it soon at CDBbaby.com, or go to the website at www.thechromedrug.com
Sorry I couldn't resist a blatant plug. Now if only Annel would call me.
I don't know who that guy is on the right but he has the nicest legs in the picture. HUZZA!
Record Bar / Tracks alum...1984-1990. OKC, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Hurst, Dallas. Ahhh the memories. If you mention the firewalk you have to mention the ice walk (and the SC State Police!) - last day of convention and loading up the goody bags. Such good times and innocence lost. Remember the "Scratch & Win" game?
Oh, my. Someone just sent me this link and here I see something I wrote in 1981. Yeah, I wrote the jokes in that Summer Camp piece.
No one should have to see something they wrote in 1981. For a lot of reasons.
Record Bar. I got out the year Cruikshank came on board. I remember the first time he was introduced to us, he challenged the two biggest guys (Ralph King and Michael Vassen?) to lift him off the floor. Through the strength of his miracle mind, they could not. Gasp!
I am sorry I missed the hot coals, though.
Jesus, what a great little blast from the past this was. Thanks.
I forwarded the link to David T. Small world - two RB vets ended up working for the same company all these years later. I googled Record Bar because I was thinking about the day John Lennon was shot. I opened the store in Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh that morning. Andy Woody was the manager. I'd love to know what happened to him, too.
Hi Viki,
Speaking of dead rock stars, my second day on the job at Record Bar (in Durham)Elvis Presley dropped dead. By closing time every one of the hitherto untouched Elvis Lps were gone. I guess people feared they wouldn't make any more.
PS Last I saw Andy Woody was in Wilmington circa 1990
I too am victim of the Google Search and a minor brain embolism. Alum 79 - 94. Mobile, Ft Myers, Tampa(several), Dothan...more. I missed the firewalk due to preplanned personal tragedy and a willing co-conspirator (hummmmm). I was well aware of the Robbins method, but knew in my heart that many of my friends would NEVER do the "walk". I was wrong. Saying Hi to P. McNutt, Gary "3rd degree" Flisek, G. Thibaut, B.Day.
Anyone remember the name of the adorable 5ft 1in blonde in the Durham office ? Think "big hair".
I owe her big time for keeping me off that computerized "bitch list"
When you are not sure "whodidit", blame Mike Donohue
Dymo Label Makers (it's only funny to those that have been there)
I still have about 5 rolls of Chris Moose stickers! Won't ever forget calling in the 01 and 02 amount nightly. Fond memories!!
I've got a couple of those damn Monkey posters if anybody wants one.
And the Christmas aprons. Geez!
PLU 83 = ?
Dist Codes (correct me if I am wrong)... 50 = A&M, 90 = Arista, 163 = Alligator, 175 = CBS, 425 = MCA, 660 = RCA, 900 = WB, 920 = Electra, 940 = Atlantic
Old timers might remember 010 as ABC Records and don't forget the 500s belong to the various Polygram labels (was 515 Deutsche Gramophone?)
How about a list of what cool music personalities came into your store?
In good ole' #64, we had da Boss one night... during his Born in the USA tour no less! Two employees on duty (me and Speed), thirty minutes till closing, no customers. Snow on the ground. He walked in with trenchcoat and beanie hat and was cool enough to chat with us for fifteen minutes.
--sigh--
In P.Cola we had Charly McClain for an in-store signing session. She was sweet and let me hug her real tight.
Mike Wheeler: no hard feelings, pal! Give me a call sometime if you're still livin' in the A-T-L.
My Brethrean! Stores 24, 57,77,170, 175(?) checking in. My fondest memories growing up were placing singles orders "collect to the order desk" from high school study hall because we were so understaffed. I hope to soon be in possession of a "Rotten Ralph" doll from #24. I participated in the fire walk and later on the Ice walk. Who pushed the trooper into the pool? Whatever happened to Michelle Cacho after she got burnt?
I still have numerous convention yearbooks (pictures of the managers and such) and untold piles of trivia. Above my desk is a 3-4ft long foam core record bar candy logo.
The day my store was sold to Mucusland Barrie and Arlene called crying to say goodbye. Great people, great times.
Record Bar / Tracks Cult Zealot from '86-'90 #130 Ft. Myers. Thanks for making me happy again. Hellos to Marty, King, Ivy, Alison and the infamous Fish!
Yes! I worked at the RMT and Greenville NC Record Bar stores in the 1970s, so all you folks are just little chilluns. Where's Danny Wynne and Jerry Young? Jerry Young should get a Lifetime Achievement Award from Hall & Oates for selling more copies of "Abandoned Luncheonette" than all stores, combined. Anybody remember that stupid Dan Hill promotion, where you had to answer every phone call with some dumb crap about Dan Hill? I still have my Ralph Record Bar employee button! Wherever you are, Danny, bless you for giving a 16-year old music nut a dream job. I've toted my album stash from NC to MS to AL to GA, and the movers curse me every time. Holla!
We live on Calais Drive in Durham and bought our house from a Ron Cruickshank. Got a piece of mail for him, so I was searching the web to see if I could find out where he was, and found your blog. Do you think the Rob Cruickshank you refer to lived here? We heard stories about walking on hot coals -- what is that about? Thanks!
Hi all. Interesting to see the Purple Rain group again. My most vivid memory of that day was actually Bob telling me to "stay behind the register!" :)
I was younger and dumber back then.
Annelle! That photo has launched a million fantasies! Well, maybe a couple dozen but who's counting? And why are you looking at me like that?
I have so much to make up for!
;)
Never worked at the Record Bar but bought many an LP there in the 70s. As a high school kid living in the sticks of western N.C., the Record Bar was a glimmer of paradise for my vinyl lust. The only one I could visit regularly was at Southpark Mall in Charlotte. I had a real fetish for anything from Germany on import vinyl and Record Bar always had enough in stock to drain the meager funds in my wallet.
I was thinking that a Wikipedia entry on Record Bar is due. I'd be happy to create it, but I would need a lot of help on history, background, complete list of stores, etc. Anyone game?
I don't know how old these posts actually are... but thanks to Google I have arrived to this bizarre mixture of my youth and an exercise in memory recollection. I was a Record Barian for what seemed like an eternity… a high school job at the infamous #64 in Greensboro …. Hello Fishes and family... that turned into my career through 1979. My journey for the team sent me to the big city of Raleigh and Cameron Village (#3? - if my memory serves me well), then assistant manager at Crabtree (#21?) and manager at #4 (North Hills… which has since been razed to the ground and rebuilt). Then it was off to Charlotte managing both Southpark and Eastland …a great story there… and my eventual downhill trend from Record Bar to college.
The recent/current xm radio retrospective took me back to Record Bar. The conventions… the new releases… the Saturday morning inventory – do we remember the days before computer tracking… dymo tape… 8-tracks… who the hell will ever buy a cassette?!?! Experimenting with VideoDiscs. The visits to the warehouse between Raleigh and Durham (which still stands today, but is a shell of a building), visits to and from the home office (it was a bitch to be so close)… to the contests… to in-store appearances and convention concerts… Thank you Harry Chapin!
Hi all,
Bob- weren't we all younger and dumber. :) However, I don't regret the Purple Rain dressing one bit. I have tended to regret things I did not do...not the things I did.
Cam- Not sure that I would say you have a lot to make up for...but I do have lots of interesting memories.
Where is everyone these days? Are most still in NC?
Hey Annel, Phil and anybody else out there in the land of Record Bar. Now there is a Facebook Group called "Record Bar Survivors". Tell your friends; alert the media; text message Barrie; contact Ralph King, Fishel and anybody else you can think of.
OK, so I changed my mind and decided to call the Facebook group "Cult of the Record Bar". It's sexier. Anyway, sign up I hate being out here all by myself
Annelle! I too regret things you DIDN'T do!
I live in North Georgia. But I still miss the old Piedmont.
Signed - Anal Biker
Barrie and Arelene are still doing what they love. check it out...
http://barriebergman.com/index.php
Such a weird way that i found this blog....anyway.
I used to work at Tracks in Wilmington. 1993-1995. Andy Woody was my manager. The Tracks became Blockbuster Music and we all had to change our attire to kaki pants and blue shirts. Just before that, Andy took a leave of absence. He was a good guy. He used to tell me about going to conferences and being spit on by Pat Benatar. There is a Rolling Stone article in 1993 that talks about Wilmington. It shows a surfing contest picture and you can see Andy sitting in some life guard chair. He might have been a judge or something. The last i saw him was in 1995. He was still manager but i don't know how long it lasted. I knew he lived in Wrightsville area then. I wish i knew more about the people i worked with at that time...Michelle, John,
Thanks!!
At the time Record Bar was sold to Super Club International and the corporate office moved to Atlanta, I was the employee with the most years of continuous service. I started in Johnson City, TN in August 1972, at old No.12. I was promoted to many different roles through the years, but I never left my self-designed cabin in the woods. Yes, Record Bar was a cult of sorts. There are too many stories to recall, but it was all a labor of love. Robb Houser
Well, I guess I'm one of the old timers on this. I was hired before Christmas at store #12 in Johnson City (the Miracle Mall...lol)shortly after grand opening in 1971. John Ladd was the manager. I stayed on as part time while in school till about 1976 when I made a move away for educational reasons. I worked with Robb Houser during that time and we still maintain an enduring friendship and innumerable humorous memories.
Hello, all. Dickey Massey here. Served time from 1969 - 1974 with a brief side trip to Sam Goody (shudder). Managed Northgate, downtown Chapel Hill and Cameron Village stores. Most notorious for Ralph Record Bar and being part of the group of managers threatened by Barry for leaving the Atlanta convention to see Soft Machine instead of Harry Chapin (chuckle).
Record Bar wasn't a cult...it was a sanctuary for social misfits and music lovers that had no idea what the hell they wanted to do with their lives.
From 1984 until 1991 I managed RB stores in Bluefield and Beckley WV and Lynchburg, VA. I hung on (because I didn't know how to do anything else) through all of the companies that followed and wound up as a District Manager in Virginia and then Atlanta for Wherehouse. After I closed 22 of the 27 remaining stores there they kicked me to the curb in 2003...
BTW- Chris Schweigert lives! Listen to his classic rock show, "Stonehenge" on GA Tech radio station, WREK.
Damn, I still don't know what the hell I want to do with my life...guess I'll keep being a corporate shill.
I miss the friends that I made more than the business, I lost my zeal for that a very long time ago.
Hey Gang,
Michael Wheeler here. I was a store manager in ATL and a district manager in CO. and ATL. I miss RB days - waiting for the RMA shipment and the UPS dude with new promos... sigh... I still live in ATL.
Well this may be a post made too late as it's Feb 08, but I'm the guy in the shorts to the right wearing embarrasingly short shorts (thanks Cam!) We all wanted to nail Ms. Shaw - nobody ever did that I recall, however there were others that worked there who's company I enjoyed for a while there (ah the younger days.) I worked at 3 diffent R-Bars (two in Memphis back in 81-84 and at the Greensboro (#64 I think) under the leadership of Mr. Robert Patrick Prout - to this day one of the coolest bosses a guy could ask for. I sincerely wish every one of my former cohorts all the best and hope they're all healthy, happy and equally nostalgic about those days.
-Speed Bump
BTW Cam - I remember when the Boss came in - I ran to the ATM after closing to buy his cc reciept out of the register as additional proof that I'd actually met him... And how can we forget the SRV instore??? Linkage to proof:
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/sbump/?action=view¤t=StevieRay.jpg
Why the hell we didn't have the forethought to get an amp for his impromtu jam I'll nevar know...
Yeah Speed I remember your taking da bosses receipt, I just didn't want to implicate you in public by posting the story here. But since you spilled the beenz, well yah, you did didn't you? And I DIDN'T TRY TO STOP YOU!!!
That night was like a dream. Snowing, no one in the mall, da boss playing the Greensboro coliseum the next 2 nights.. when in he walked. I was gonna throw the bum out (sorry Phil, but hey, it was 8:45!) but Speed recognized him.
Now if only it had been Joey Ramone...
Heh... I still have that LP (and receipt) in a protective sleeve - I'm sure it violated various company policies, but damnation I was never one to thwart temptation very well... As I recall, it was so close to closing time that I was already doing the 01 and 02 totals from the register when he and his bodyguard/friend walked in. It also reminded me of the time when I was working in my first RBar in Memphis and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with The Time walked in (they were on their first tour w/Roger & Zapp opening up, then The Time, then Prince on the Controversy tour. I'm sure we were the only white guys in the audience but damnation it was a good show... Ah memories.... :)
/Jerome! - somebuddy git me a mirror!!
Speed, Cam here. Zapp! I love the Zapp II album: "Do You Really Want An Answer" is a great song!
BTW - does anyone know where Triva ever took off to? Last I'd heard (many moons ago of course) she'd married her bass player... but I've not heard of anything since...
Too bad she was married (at the time) as I always liked seeing her walk in with those spandex(esque) pants - she had a nice a55...
I worked at Record Bar from 1985 to 1989, in Arlington Texas. My favorite person was Mike Proctor, my manager. Great guy. If anyone knows him or has any Record Bar Tshirts or bumper stickers, I would be interested in them. A search only brings up this page. It is like Record Bar has been erased from existance! Andy
andyinstal@aol.com
Wow, what a trip. I worked in the Huntsville, AL and Dallas, Tx stores from the late 80s to the early 90s. Good times indeed! I tried to cover the world with those Chrismoose stickers. I'd kill for some more! And a blue Record Bar t-shirt, my uniform.
HI.
.... My name is Jim Thompson. I worked for Record Bar for about 20 years (about 10 yrs at store level [pt-FT-asst mgr-storemgr] to 10 yrs in the purchasing department with Ron Phillips, Steve Bennett, Mary Barnhill, Paul Fussell, Sue Austin, Randy Morris, Kevin Hawkins, Michelle Cacho, (getting their names in Google!) Advertising- Bev Paul, Vicki Lane, Michael Vassar, Betsy Heady, I made the move to Atlanta during the Super Club move, lasted a year and went to work for Rounder Distribution.
Frankly, I adored my time with Record Bar. I thought, in general, my managers/supervisors were trained well (couple of exceptions...), and the quality of the people was 9+. AND it was just a great environment, store to office.
I encourage anyone who considers their experience to have been something they'd like to comment on to make comments, provide details, etc to the wikipedia entry. Apparently Barrie has made some entries there, but it needs some "outside sources" to make it to full fledged "wiki" status.
Anyway, god, I loved working with all "ralphies". You folks were the most professional and best I have ever dealt with.
I wish all of you the best,
jim@pdrrome.com
And....shit........................
I forgot to say "hi" to Robb Houser!
Robb had a love of ENGLISH AUTOS (MGs & Jaguars (sp?)). Problem was, often none were working!.
Is Terry Randolph still managing #12? Is Ed Null still around?
Okay - I added my comment to the wikipedia entry (it was the only one.) Admittedly it's my first Wiki contribution so hopefully I didn't screw anything up...
/neurotic
Like many others, I ended up here from a Google search. I worked at Southlake Mall (Atlanta area) from about 80 to 83. I was there at the twilight of 8 track tapes and the dawn of Digital LP recordings. I was in high school when initially hired as part time Christmas help but I was kept on after the holiday season ended. During summers I worked full time, and sometimes I would stop by on my days off and stay for a few minutes or a few hours. Bruce Fussell was the manager who hired me, and he went on to become a regional manager. I ran into him in the late 80s as manager of a Media Play (as I recall). There are still names and faces that I think about and I wonder where they are now: Gary Cantrell, Bruce Hughey (whom I've lost touch with), Cindy Baughman (who married Bruce Hughey), Trilby Berger, Olympia last-name-unknown, and others.
If I crossed paths with anyone reading this, by all means drop me a line and say hello.
Bill Crane
bcrane at netcentrix dot net
I remember going to RB allll the time as a kid RB swallowed my allowance all the time and does anyone remember a girl that worked there named Michelle in the Mall of Memphis store? I know she went to work for Blockbuster music when it was outparceled in the now defunct Toys R us place but after that I have no knowledge of where she is now!
I don't recall the kid swallowing change but I most definately remember Michelle from teh MofM store. I think she ended up getting married to her longtime boyfriend (forget his name.) I didn't learn about it until my last 6 months working there, but apparently she hated my guts - never could figure that one out...
Speed,
How cool that you've hooked up with no less than TWO past co-RB'ers from two different locations! Wow, what a feeling that must be.
Way to go Bob Prout for setting this page up. For the relative few of us who've found it, it's a way cool thing!
Yeah, Record Bar... very cool place.
I still keep in contact with Steve Walker - my old boss from RBar in Mall of Memphis. He's working with Stax recording studios in Memphis right now (did a bit of time at Cats on Poplar Ave downtown) Also a very cool guy whom I owe a ton or beer/wings/ribs - hopefully I can find my way back there someday and repay the guy...
BTW - anyone hear from Trilby Berger or Debbie Conway? They were two of the coolest DM from back in the day...
/raises mug
I contacted Trilby many years ago (in the early days of searching online for people so you could email them) and she wrote me back. I always liked her very much.
Hey Trilby, where are you? You should put your mark here!
I worked at the Sam Goody in Craptree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC, from 1979-1982. We kicked Record Bar's ass routinely.
Mark Welsh says hi to Tracy Nanney, formerly of Sam Goody's at Craptree Valley Mall in Raleigh, who then defected to the Record Bar in University Mall in Chapel Hill. I bet her name's not Nanney now.
Sam Goody's may very well have kicked Record Bar's ass in sales. Record Bar never did adapt all it's stores to compete very effectively. But Sam Goofy's couldn't even DREAM of being as cool a place as Record Bar. NATCH!
Wow. I worked at the RB in Melbourne, FL in the mall there. I still use a set of RB promo beach towels I got from there. RB is in my house every day! Our only competition was Camelot music. We would go there daily to mock them for having one reggae LP filed under "R" in the rock section. ahahahahahaha!! I was fired for being insubordinate by a guy who was fired for being in downtown Melbourne when he should have been at work leaving only a single "A" clerk there by themselves... ahhh... good times.
googled Record Bar just like everyone else on here, I have been trying to get my over 55 brain to recall some last names to see if anyone is on Facebook, and what a fabulous trip down memory lane this is. My name during the R'Bar days was Bev Gwinn, and after a stint in the management saddle, I was a traveling Regional, did tours of duty in Chicago, Va. Beach Va, and the best Texas, came back to Tn and had a district briefly, they sold it while I was on maternity leave. I did go back at the store level briefly only because I could work for Robb Houser (talk about a fantastic boss) again, and then came the Blockbuster madness. All in all about 10 years of my life and some of the most incredible memories. I am still in touch with just a few people & would love to talk to more. Good times! oh and I walked on fire, and ice.
My people! Record Bar made me the man I am today (for better or for worse!)
I was at Southlake Mall (STORE 86!!!!!!!!)
Gary Rose, Mark Kay Lunsford, Heathe Bryan & my first great love Doh Peters.
I remember the ATL crew, Max @ Lenox, Geoff @ Northlake, Jeanie @ Town Center (thanks for letting me stay at your place all the time Jeanie!),and good ol' Joey at Shannon.
Mike Wheeler. My man. Made me drink so many kamikazes at a Mick Jagger party I thought I was in the Stones.
Count books on saturdays, classic red sale cover up stickers, dymo guns, & Wil Welborne POS madness in the AM!
Sigh, it kinda makes me sad.
I do still have a TDK/Record Bar LP canvas bag and a foam core Record Bar "Sounds Delicious" candy bar sign.
I love you all. Let's find a bar to meet at.....
--Chris Poteat
Sorry for the above typo --- it was MARY KAY LUNSFORD!
Is everybody ready to call in "The Priorities"?
someone just posted about wheeler makin' em drink kamikazis, man that wheeler he made me drink so much I stole a whole set of glassware from a hotel . . . can I also blame my drunken table dance to the "wildthing" on him as well?
oh and I have 3 of the old christmas tree posters, just green on red that we put up in our office windows every year.
Hears a question . . how many have the little metal Record Bar candy bar pins . . someone told me they only gave you those when you got screwed over . . . I have three!
still some of the bestest of the best memories!
I worked for Record Bar from 1981 to 1995 as a Mgr for stores in Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Winston Salem and Raleigh. I worked with great people like Mike Morgan, Debbie Conway, Trilby Berger, John Stout, and Phil McNutt. I wish I knew where they were now. I loved my time with RB. I walked on the "hot coals" in Hilton Head. I can remember so many good times working for Barrie and Arlene.
I worked for Record Bar from 1981 to 1995 as a Mgr for stores in Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Winston Salem and Raleigh. I worked with great people like Mike Morgan, Debbie Conway, Trilby Berger, John Stout, and Phil McNutt. I wish I knew where they were now. I loved my time with RB. I walked on the "hot coals" in Hilton Head. I can remember so many good times working for Barrie and Arlene.
4:15 PM
I was also searching random things on google. My mom used to tell me stories of the record industry, walking on coals, dudes named barry and rob... her name is Debra Conway... anyone remember her? i see some of you mentioned her name.. which is pretty cool
I remember Debbie Conway, very pretty lady, might have met her twice, though she was a much higher up than me. Was she corporate?
Is this for real? Debbie Conway's kid posting here? Well, why not, most of us have grown children (my own are 23 and 28). Debbie was our district manager for a couple of years (after Fish but before Gene Kraudel and, later, Trilby Alford) Debbie was married to Michael Conway who was our rep from...damn, can't remember now. Everybody loved Debbie. She was possibly the coolest DM of all time.
I never worked for Record Bar, but I do remember going to the one at the Macon Mall in Macon, Ga., quite a bit in the late '80s and early '90s. I think it was rebranded as Tracks in '90 or '91. It was smaller than Camelot Music, which was on the opposite end of the mall.
I've enjoyed reading all these comments. What happened to Record Bar in '87 and '88 that led to its sale in '89?
"Cambo said...
I remember Debbie Conway, very pretty lady, might have met her twice, though she was a much higher up than me. Was she corporate?
7:22 PM
onomatopeyote said...
Is this for real? Debbie Conway's kid posting here? Well, why not, most of us have grown children (my own are 23 and 28). Debbie was our district manager for a couple of years (after Fish but before Gene Kraudel and, later, Trilby Alford) Debbie was married to Michael Conway who was our rep from...damn, can't remember now. Everybody loved Debbie. She was possibly the coolest DM of all time.
6:47 AM"
I loved working for Debbie - watched her toss some drugged out slag in the Whitehaven Mall in west Memphis cause she showed up at inventory still trashed, truely scanked out and almost 3 hours late. Take-charge chicks rule.
I always though she was a very, very pretty woman as well as being fair and easy to talk to. Overall a +100pts, I'd say :) Trilby Berger was a cool DM too as I recall. I've always said the best work involves customer service and a good attitude - but it's got to come from good leadership, and those ladies were great at it.
-Speed Bump
Another voice heard from...
Hey. Vince here. Worked for the Bar 78-85 and was my fav job. Managed Iowa City, Chapel Hill (U Mall) and then went into Ad-Ventures with Ron Philips, Glenn Gatlin, Carole, Vikki, Bev, and the rest. Followed Al Coffeen (wish I could find him..or is he still around? Vikki's gone. So sad. ) to North American Video as Director of Marketing. Worked in non-profits for years, Borders Books and now B&N. Nothing compares. Still have my old RBar Baseball Satin Jacket. (Finally lost a LOT of weight and wear human sized clothes now!) Also, some Savoy Ts and an overnight bag, and still have the old Convention books and such. WE SHOULD HAVE A RB CONVENTION! Except the lame-o year at Durham during the dark days. OK, I'm out. Thanks for posting. SOUNDS DELICIOUS! vrdelap@bellsouth.net
Jim Dieffenbacher here. I worked for RB from 1977 to 1985. Started at #95 in Jacksonville, NC with Jerry Young and his dog behind the counter with his sister Vicky as the assitant mgr. A doberman behind the counter. Yes it's true and it shows what a cool and unique place Record Bar was. Managed Pitt Plaza in Greenville for a while then up to Butler PA and Media PA. Then a Regional Manager in Nashville for a year. Left to make my now ex-wife happy and move back to PA. Guess I didn't make her happy enough. LOL.
Great to read some of these memories and recall the people. Debbie Conway was one of the coolest people I ever knew. Jerry Young in Jacksonville -- he is the best. I looked up to him so much in those days. Turned me on to Buffett & parrotheads. Instore's with Mike Cross, Molly Hatchet, The Hooters and numerous other one hit wonder bands. And the conventions! Hilton Head especially...putting a soda machine in front of Chris Schweigert's door (I think it was him) so he couldn't get out. Throwing pool furniture in the pool. Getting a paper weight with the RB logo with a mirror on the back (gee, what was that for?). And NOT walking on coals. You know REM wrote a song about that? I recall the Tony Robbins speaches and just didn't buy in. Then saw people get burned...went in and got another drink.
Great times were had by all. Thanks for the memories RB!
worked N. Hills Mall & Tracks on 6 Forks during the '80s/early /'90s
fun times!
This is to the crew of Record Bar #64 (I think I have that number right) in 4-Season's Mall in Greensboro, circa 84-86.
Kelly Jo Petersen, 41 died this weekend from breast cancer, just months after marrying Ralph Womble.
I'm Steve Bump and am a nostolgic footnote in her life at best - but I loved her and suppose I always will.
41 is too goddamn young. She was too alive to be gone now. I'm writing this for Bob Prout, Cam, Phil, Brad, Melissa, et al.
Bob - I still owe you $100 for hiring her (I remember my promise.)
If you're a religious person, please say a prayer for her, her children and her family - I know I will.
-stevebump@gmail.com
Sorry to hear about that, Speed. Too young. Thanks for passing along the news.
I remember Kelly as very pretty, and remember being jealous of you, Speed. It's cool that you kept in touch with her all these years.
Speaking of remembering, my memory says that you and I were working the night the Boss came into store #64, but I don't doubt that Cam was there, too. I recognized Bruce, and sheepishly followed him back to the cassette wall with a stack of flats under my arm. We chatted a bit, and when he checked out he graciously signed autographs for everyone who wanted one. Phil, our assistant manager who had flown to Norfolk (?) that day for a job interview, stopped by on his way home, and walked in just before Bruce left, which was very fortunate. A great night, which we kind of anticipated because Springsteen had shopped in the mall in Charlotte the day before.
A lot more people have posted here since I originally commented, and it's great to see so much validation that Reccord Bar really was as cool as I remember it. It's great to see the names of people we worked with who haven't yet found this thread, or have left us. :-(
Hi Annel! Hope you're doing well.
I'm very saddened. Kelly was a lot of fun. There's a pic I posted of Kelly and Patricia on the Facebook "Cult of the Record Bar" page.
I have some great memories of times with her that I will never forget. One is a story that I still tell to this day!
God Bless you Kelly. Peace & Love.
I hope it's just the acid story, cause I already know of several other stories I found out about after-the-fact... but all things considered I'll opt for decorum and not restate them here...
I grew up at Record Bar in Hanes Mall- Winston Salem and at the Four Seasons Mall in Greensboro. Back then all I wanted out of life was to be a B-Clerk and get a set of keys. Tommy Neblett (sp), Judy McDonough, And Tim O'Connor- you guys are still though of often!
did you ever manage a record bar in salisbury, nc in the mid 90s? been trying to get back in touch with my boss from that store. he was the coolest guy ever. his name was ben but i cannot friggin remember his last name...
Wasn't aware that there was an RB in Salisbury.
yup, i was fortunate enough to work there for a few months before it was taken over by Blockbuster. working at RB was the only job i ever liked! so is there really a cult of record bar group on facebook???
Yup, the facebook group has 132 members. Join up and maybe you'll see someone you know
can you give me the link please? cause i can't find it. thanks!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7931406799
you're awesome, thank you so much!
To Mike Wheeler I can only say-
..."strawberry cheesecake!"
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/story/1318259.html
Crankshaft is in prison for tax evasion. I wish I didn't find so much glee in this. No I don't! bwaaahahaha
Hi everyone! Yes, I too grew up with Record Bar! Was a store manager at 17 (#55 Granite Run Mall Media PA) then transferred to #16 (Chattanooga TN) then #4 (North Hills Mall Raleigh NC) then #28 (University Mall Chapel Hill NC) #10 (Northgate Mall Durham NC)and finally a 5 year stint in the corporate office... hey to Jim Thompson, Kim Duncan, Mary Barnhill (who now lives in Salem MA marrried to John Meyer), Michelle Cacho & Kevin Hawkins (who are now married and living on the west coast, Michelle graduated from U of Penn and got her VMD!!), Mike Stevenson, Paul Ducey... OMG! so many people!! We had so much fun in the distribution center!! Crazy days! And weirdly enough I live around the corner from what used to be the RB distribution center off of Neal Road in Durham!!!
Of course so many have left us too... my husband Paul Fussell passed away in December 1995 of lung cancer, and then about 6 years ago Brad Martin (my first husband and close friend even after we got divorced) passed away. Viki Lane is also no longer with us. So sad, but the memories of all these folks still make me laugh!
I remember those "fun" days of RB with coal walking & (then) Tony Robbins! And who can forget the "ice walk" ???
Some wild and fantastic memories!!!!
Chris Carter, I'd forgotten about B-clerks! That was my life's goal when I worked at Four Seasons Mall, too. I remember Phil Melton once suggesting that I dress up in a Bee outfit. LOL.
Slow day here in Oregon, yes the Green home of Al Coffeen now. Have lived here since 2000 and often think about the times at Record Bar where I worked from 1973 until 1984, definitly the Glory Days. Shocked to read of the passing of old friends but will always treasure the memories. Still crazy after all these years.
I feel weirdly bad about possibly bumming anyone out by posting this, but I found this page and thought some of you might want to know.
My father was Gene Kraudel. He passed away a couple months ago, in January. It was totally unexpected.
In Googling his name, I came across this entry, which I vaguely remember one of my uncle's mentioning to me.
I don't know nearly as much about Dad's time at Record Bar as I'd like, but I know that he would always smile when talking about it. If any of you have any stories you remember, feel free to send them to me at bpkraudel@yahoo.com.
I hope you are all doing well, I'm sorry if I've brought anyone down at all.
I never worked at Record Bar, but spent enough time and money there over the years.
The first store I remember was at Eastgate Mall in Chattanooga, Tn. It was an interesting place for a 12 year old to browse around in. The people were nice though, and they always had the in-store stereo blasting out something loud. I remember going in there with my dad to try and find a phono stylus sometime around 1985. They didn't have it, but the person who helped us practically turned the store upside down looking for it.
In 1987, Hamilton Place Mall opened in Chattanooga, and with it came another Record Bar store. I still have the REM Eponymous and Led Zeppelin III albums on vinyl that I bought there, and several cassettes with the red Record Bar guarantee sticker on them.
The two malls were too close together, and the Eastgate store closed in the very early 1990s if my memory is right.
Not sure what happened, but around 1995, the Hamilton Place store started getting really shabby and poorly stocked. Seemed a shame cause once again it was staffed with nice people who knew about everything when it came to music. Can't remember when it closed.
Hope some Chattanooga employees will find this. It would be nice to hear their stories from behind the counter.
was a blast from the past bored at work google record bar . the names and events were funny ,sad and ... what some times-- high bias tapes anyone. oh yeah chuck from utah manager # 73 under blake haderlie dm Went to musicland after the buy out and was a corp rebel till dumped in 2000. I still think of the fire walk and what the hell were we doing . my brush with greatness was metallic coming in and going we've made it our music is being plyed in the mall store haha
i just stumbled onto this by googling my name. wow. what a great time in my life working at record bar was. more good times than i can think of and great friends i'll never forget and would love to see again.
anyone know the where abouts of keith lossman? he worked in our store (#86) and was my boyfriend. i would love to find him.
RB/Tracks alum '91-'94 South Square Mall, Durham, NC. Woo I was surprised to get an invite from Wendy Beasly on facebook so I thought I’d take the time to check it out. Takes me back I to still have a lot of the promo vinyl I got while working there, Tommy Keene the Xteens even that GNR's Appetite for Destruction album cover that we couldn't sale.
So where is everyone? Tommy, Wendy, Spike, Alan ….
wow... this is a crazy random late night discovery... i worked at store 84 in cincinnati from 84-88 with charlie miller, paul horton, rick toms, patty miller, rick roberts (?), alex mineff, dan kuller, scott burchett, jill prewitt, and many many more wonderfully insane people... our DM was jim something? anyway - what a fuckin great chapter in my life... great times there! drop a line if you remember record bar in tri-county mall in cincinnati, ohio! loosewreck@hotmail.com
Why am I up at this early hour and why did I google The Record Bar?? I was at #6 in Rocky Mount, NC and to this day still can envision John Stout, Mike Morgan, Gary Lewis,and Ralph King jumping around. (John to Iggy Pop and the Sex Pistols) Ah, such great memories. . .inventories, ordering, creating displays with 4000 album covers. . .Wait! You put WHAT in your nasal spray?? The Hilton Head conventions were memorable and hey! Wonder where Fishel is now? Mr. and Mrs. B were great folks. . .gosh! I'm getting all sentimental, mental, mental. . .AND I still have my promos!
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