Late-night releases allow fans first crack at favorite music

They are probably already at the music store waiting for you to get your hands on before anyone else does.

Tower Records on South University Avenue is open until just after midnight every Monday night to serve late night music customers.

Chris Youngman, a Tower Records sales clerk on Monday nights, said the number of fans purchasing new releases varies depending on the release. "Normally we're only open 20 minutes after midnight," Youngman said.

He added that when popular bands release albums, it gets exciting. "When the Beastie Boys released 'Hello Nasty' there was a big line," Youngman said, "Everyone was anxious to get the album."

DHANI JONES/Daily Ann Arbor resident Jeff Hayes browses through the many titles at Tower Records. The store is open for CD release parties until just after midnight on Mondays.

The only significant difference between purchasing music at Tower during normal business hours and buying new releases late Monday night is that the sales clerks keep all new releases behind the counter, to make sure everyone gets what they want quickly, Youngman said.

Assistant manager at Discount Records on State Street, Mike Babcock said the store holds late Monday night sales for big releases. He added that although the store holds these events for all types of music, rap releases attract the largest crowds on Monday nights.

Paul Cahlenberg, general manager of Tower Records, said at his store, new rap releases are not the only albums that bring in customers at midnight.

"Hippie bands," Cahlenberg said, also help Tower's midnight sales to flourish, citing the large crowd that went to Tower to purchase the new Dave Matthews Band release in February.

What would possess a person to travel to their favorite record store and purchase a release at midnight instead of waiting until the next day?

Matt Bolles, a student at Eastern Michigan University, went to Tower Records last Monday night to purchase the new Silverchair disc, "Neon Ballroom."

"I want to be the first one to get it," Bolles said.

Latrelle Eldridge, an Engineering senior, went to Tower to buy Black Moon's release "Warzone." He said he decided to make the disk that night, "just to be the first to get it and make sure I have it before it gets sold out," Eldridge said.

It's all about getting the goods before anyone else does and depending on the release it maybe about getting more bang for your buck.

Cahlenberg said the store sometimes offers free memorabilia for music fanatics. "It it's a big release ... we may have free t-shirts or posters."

The late night music sales are "really something for the fans," Cahlenburg said.

Without youthful and avid interest in music, he added, the store wouldn't be as exciting on Monday nights.

Upcoming music releases

3 Morsel, "Wrecked and Remixed"

3 Nas, "I am ... the Autobiography"

3 '98 Korn Tour Compilations "Family Values Tour"

03-25-99