Join Us For Record Of The Night!

Posted on April 11, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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Hey y’all! We are all stuck at home right now, why haven’t we though of having some fun and bringing the Dumb Records Record of the Night™ back to where it all began – at home. We want to invite YOU, (yes you), to show us what YOU are listening to and participate in our long-running tradition of Record of the Night™.

The rules are real loose. Feel free to send us a photo of you, your family, pets, plants, or whoever you have over there in your homes and the record that you are listening to! Keep it one record to the photo, and preferable a record we have not recently had featured!!

You can email submissions to dumbrecs@gmail.com or get ahold of us on pretty much any social media platform. If you are looking for inspiration, dive into the thousands of Records of the Night taken throughout the many many years right here. If all goes well we will have a different one featured on that link, and facebook, and instagram each night!

“Help Keep Dumb Records Afloat” GoFundMe Page

Posted on April 9, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

Well, we have given in and launched a GoFundMe page again.

As you know, many people and small businesses in our community and around the globe are struggling during the stay-at-home-order and precautions that must be taken to fight COVID-19.

At Dumb Records we have done our best even with our physical doors being shut to continue with online orders and engaging with customers. We do always enjoy coming up with new ideas and new things to try.

However this has only gotten us so far. With our normal operation, we rely on shows and in-store sales to make sure our rent and bills get paid. Last month we were left with no other choice but to cancel a total of 15 shows we had lined up on our calendar, and ever since then we are in a position where we can not have any new shows in the works. We are also faced with the scary uncertainty of not knowing when we will be able to host live shows again, and not knowing when our physical store open back up.

At this point it is likely that even if our physical store can open back up, it will be even longer until we can start having shows again.

So, we are reaching out to the community to help keep our store and all ages show space afloat during this time. All of our efforts to receive other financial aid or grants up until this point have also been unfortunately unsuccessful. Anything you can donate would be much appreciated, and we also encourage you to donate to or support other local businesses who are also in need.

We will likely keep this donation page up the duration of the stay-at-home-order. We also are continuing to push our online Discogs store, and storenvy pages.

Meezy Killafield: “I Don’t Know Freestyle”

Posted on April 8, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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Even though the lock-down continues, hip hop in the 217 does not as we keep having new singles and music videos rolling in! This time once again local rapper Meezy Killafield has teamed up with Twenty One Seven Studios for a new song and video for “I Don’t Know Freestyle.” You can check that one out on the player embedded below.

Meezy Killafield released his album The Killafield Kronicles earlier last year. Check out a long list of other local music videos shot over the years on our vids/pics page.

Sonic Maximizer: “Heavy Surf Sounds”

Posted on April 8, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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Sonic Maximizer, the surf rock punk outfit from Springfield and Taylorville have released their brand new full length album, Heavy Surf Sounds. The album is up for streaming right here on Spotify. From the band’s facebook page:

Our first full length album is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer. You can purchase and download the album on itunes.

Many thanks to Brandon Carnes for recording and mixing, and Miles Parkhill of milestshirtsdotcom for letting us use his facilities. Thanks to all of you who have come to shows and shown support to not only our band, but to this whole music community we have…

It’s weird to release this album during these troubling times. This is not how we envisioned our release would be. But we as musicians need to do are part in trying to keep life as normal as we can. We are eager to get back out there just like rest of you are, and when we do we are going to be coming out stronger than ever!

We will keep all of you up to date when our next shows are scheduled. Enjoy the album, and stay healthy friends. We will see you soon! 🤘🤙

P.S. Be on the look out for our website. It will have all of our info, show dates, merchandise, CDS, Vinyl, and Videos that we have to offer.

Sonic Maximizer had a release show lined up to happen originally this past weekend at Buzz Bomb Brewery but of course was cancelled along with every other show in the world.

New Arrivals This Week At Dumb Records

Posted on April 7, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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Happy Tornado Drill Tuesday, everyone. It’s a beautiful day outside, and it’s a beautiful day inside where we are all are too. We have been constantly adding more and more to our online Discogs page – we are at 5,416 listings currently. Our physical store is still closed and will be at least until the end of this month. If you order something from us online though we will be happy to get it out to you with love and add a special touch. There are no shows lined up of course. Remember to keep checking our facebook page too if you want to join in on some deals-of-the-day fun!

New LPs
Bottom Bracket – I Don’t Care Enough To Stay

Used LPs
Art Kassell – Dance To The Music of Art Kassel
Barbara Mandrell – The Best Of
Bitter End – Illusions of Dominance
Channel Two – Artful Time Reduction
Chet Atkins – Picks The Best
Claim – Not Drowning, Waving
Coleman Hawkins – Wrapped Tight
Eagles – On The Border
Eagles – The Long Run
Drumming On Glass – Asparagus Tea
Fleetwood Mac – Mirage
Goodyear Tires – Carols & Candlelight
Gordon Lightfoot – Summertime Dream
Gordon Lightfoot – Summer Side of Life
Industrial Teepee – Industrial Teepee
Janitors – Thunderhead
Jessi Colter – I’m Jessi Colter
Jimmie Driftwood – Tall Tales In Song
John Williams – The Accidental Tourist Soundtrack
June Tabor – Airs and Graces
The Life – Alone
Lynn Anderson – Smile For Me
Mick Fleetwood – The Visitor
Mott The Hoople – Mott
Nazareth – Expect No Mercy
Neil Sedaka – Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Neil Sedaka – Circulate
New Model Army – Vengeance / The Independent Story
Night Ranger – Dawn Patrol
Pentangle – Open The Door
Peter Frampton – Where I Should Be
Ramsey Lewis – Solid Ivory: His Greatest Hits
Red Foley – Beyond The Sunset
Red Foley – The Old Master
Robert Goulet – Sings Today’s Greatest Hits
Rod Stewart – Body Wishes
Rosanne Cash – King’s Record Shop
Roy Clark / Gatemouth Brown – Makin’ Music
Roy Drusky – Songs of the Cities
The Seekers – Live!
The Spin – “Lonely Max” And Other…
The Tannahill Weavers – Cullen Bay
Tony Sheridan & The Elvis Presley Band – Worlds Apart
Various – The Sounds of Christmas
Various – Greatest Hits of the Fantastic 50’s

12” Singles
Grafh – I Ain’t Playin’ Ft. Stat Quo
J-Zone – Greater Later Remix
Pumpkin & Friends – Feel The Heartbeat
Sunny Valentine – Shine On ‘Em
T.I. Presents The P$C – Do Ya Thang / Set It Out
TJ Boyce feat. Lil’ Flip – This Is How We Do
Tom Tom Club – Under The Boardwalk

New CDs
Ahmad Jamal – Priceless Jazz Collection
Al Jarreau – Heaven And Earth
Al Jarreau – Look To The Rainbow
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Evita
Asia – Anthology
Bad Religion – No Substance
Big Audio Dynamite – Super Hits
Black Label Society – Alcohol Fueled Brewtality Live!!
The Blenders – Loveland
The Blenders – The Blenders
Blessid Union – Walking Off THe Buzz
Blind Melon – Blind Melon
Bliss 66 – Trip To The 13th
Bob James – Playin’ Hooky
Bob James – Joy Ride
Boney James – Trust
The Bouncing Souls – Hopeless Romantic
Bryan Adams – The Best Of Me
Bryan Adams – Waking Up The Neighbors
Chet Baker – The Best of Chet Baker Plays
Chicago Greatest Hits 1982-1989
The Cure – 3 For One
Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits
The Firm – Mean Business
George Harrison – Brainwashed
George Howard – A Home Far Away
Gloria Estefan – Unwrapped
Heather Myles – Highways & Honky Tonks
Jack De Johnette’s Special Edition – Irresistible Forces
JJ Johnson – Standards: Live At The Village Vanguard
Jo Dee Messina – Burn
Jo Dee Messina – I’m Alright
Joe Henderson – The Definitive Joe Henderson
The Kinks – Face To Face
LeAnn Rimes – Blue
LeAnn Rimes – LeAnn Rimes
Mahavishnu Orchestra – Apocalypse
Marty Robins – All-Time Greatest Hits
Mila Mason – The Strong One
Peter Cetera – Another Perfect World
Quincy Jones – Walking In Space
Quincy Jones – Big Band Bossa Nova
Rainbow – Long Live Rock N’ Roll
Rascal Flatts – Rascal Flatts
Reba McEntire – Greatest Hits Volume III
Special EFX – Global Village
Supertramp – Famous Last Words
Suptertramp – Even In The Quietest Moments
Tim McGraw – Not A Moment Too Soon
Tori Amos – Under The Pink
Various – Footloose Soundtrack
Widespread Panic – Bombs & Butterflies
Widespread Panic – Widespread Panic
X – Ain’t Love Grand
X – Beyond And Back: The Anthology

Deezy Da Paperboy feat. Junior Pasáre: “Brown Baby Bars”

Posted on April 6, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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All of the bars in town are closed (except for some that are doing curbside and delivery services), but today we have some more brand new local music, and a song called “Brown Baby Bars”… that’s right, brought to you by hip hop projects Deezy Da Paperboy and featuring Junior Pasáre.

We couldn’t find this one streaming on any services that we can embed below, but this new track IS streaming on Apple Music right here, and Spotify right here. Go check it out! Oh, it’s even on Google Play right here.

Activator April “Social Distancing” Issue Available Now Online

Posted on April 5, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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It’s April, and another month usually means a new issue of Activator Magazine available for free in our store! This month of course is pretty wild and different with all of us staying at home, and our physical store not even being open! For this month’s issue, Activator has put together a special “Social Distancing” issue and it’s available for free online! Find the link to check that out right here.

This issue includes the usual local music write-ups, and scene reports for both Springfield and Champaign, however no Central Illinois or St. Louis show calendars because all shows are cancelled! The issue is however still packed with a list of recourses for musicians effected by COVID-19, and article about live-streams becoming more popular during this time, and more.

Consider supporting Activator Magazine by also checking out their online Patreon page.

Dumb Records “Vinyl Fan’s Starters Club” Deal

Posted on April 3, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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We are trying new things to be creative with our store now that we are going to have to be closed for the next month (or more). Also most of us are stuck at home for a while now, so what a better time to get into vinyl than now if you don’t already have a turntable set up?!? That is why today we are introducing this new special, probably to go until the end of the stay-at-home-order. It is the Vinyl Fan’s Starters Club Deal. For $120, this is what is all included:

– Your choice of a Studebaker “5 in 1” stereo turntable / CD / cassette player, OR an Audio-Technica AT-LP60X turntable
– Your choice of 1 Dumb Records t-shirt or hat
– Your pickings of $35 of vinyl from our discogs store
– A few extra stickers and guitar picks thrown in.

Wow, amazing! Get in touch with us at dumbrecs@gmail.com or whatever means possible if interested. This offer is available to Springfield residents only. And as far as turntables go, we have a limited amount available in our store right now but can always order more.

May Cancellations: Pride Fest, Old Capitol Art Fair

Posted on April 2, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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Now that April Fools Day is over it is time to return to some sad, sad news regarding COVID-19 and precautions that must be taken to fight it in which will effect on our small local businesses, communities, and events.

In the past week or so there have been some more major cancellations for annual large events that usually take place downtown. These are events we look forward to as a downtown business, and it certainly won’t help us that they are cancelled, even if our store is able to be open at any point in May.

One of the first annual events that happens downtown is the Fat Ass 5k, which was scheduled to take place this year on May 9th. Although we hadn’t announced anything, we were originally planning on bands or hip hop acts performing outside of our space for this event. The event has not officially cancelled just yet, but this is what their facebook page recently stated:

The Fat Ass 5k & Street Party for Charity Committee is in the process of evaluating all our options regarding the 2020 event.

We will make a definitive announcement regarding the 2020 Fat Ass 5k & Street Party for Charity, and refund options (if applicable) by April 15th. We appreciate your Fat Ass patience!

Other than Fat Ass 5k, the biggest weekend for downtown Springfield in May has been Springfield Pride Fest and The Old Capitol Art Fair, which take place on the same weekend and were scheduled for May 16th. You can see the statement from The Phoenix Center regarding Pride Fest above.

The Old Capitol Art Fair released a statement on Monday:

Due to the uncertainty of the COVID 19 (coronavirus) pandemic and President Trump extending social distancing recommendations until April 30th the Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair for 2020 has been cancelled.

The committee thanks our Student Art contest winners for their submissions this year. All winners will be contacted directly, and prizes will still be awarded. Artists will receive their booth refunds within the next 3 weeks.

Thank you to our artists, vendors, sponsors and patrons. We look forward to seeing you next year. Please mark your calendars for May 15th & 16th, 2021

We are dreading to think about what other spring and summer and future events will be effected by precautions that must be made in fighting COVID-19. We’ll continue to try and send out updates on downtown, you can also follow the Downtown Springfield Inc. facebook page.

All shows that we previously had scheduled at Dumb Records are cancelled until we are at a point where we can announce our return.

We Bought The Last Rock-A-Fire Explosion To Go Inside Dumb Records Because They Are The Only Band In The World That Is Immune To COVID-19

Posted on April 1, 2020 by blacksheepspringfield

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Haha! It’s an April Fools day post! Because it’s April Fools Day! Something about The Rock-A-Fire Explosion not being able to catch any diseases or viruses because they are robots! And guess what, we are opening our venue back up to robots only! If you are an animatronic robot you can come to our space and watch the Rock-A-Fire! If not, then you have to still stay at home! Ahahahahahahaha oh boy.

“This is a great thing for our community and local bands because the Rock-A-Fire can be programmed to play different bands songs” said Jeff Black, co-owner of Dumb Records. “For example, tonight I will be doing some programming to make the Rock-A-Fire perform a Timmy’s set, which we are all very excited for.” “They are the only band we will be needing from here on out. We are working on getting a live stream up and running.”

Dumb Records

Record Store And All Ages Show Space In Downtown Springfield

Author Archives: blacksheepspringfield