(Originally ran April 18)

It took me three visits to make my first purchase at Vinyl Fever.

Mind you, I had disposable income in my pocket and a wealth of choices at my fingertips.

I was simply overwhelmed. It was 1987 and I had just moved to town, and I’d never been in a record store as big and well-stocked as the Fever.

I can’t tell you what my first purchase there was, but I can assure you I’ve been back many times since.

I’ve also patronized Sound Exchange, Bananas, Asylum and a host of other great stores that sadly are no longer with us.

For all the cackling I like to do about the impending demise of the recording industry and the major labels, independent record stores are the good guys who are taking a hit in the digital music wars.

Sure, I like the convenience of downloading. But spending a few hours - and I can spend hours, easily - in a great record store is one of the great pleasures of my life.

Pointing and clicking just isn’t as satisfying as working my way down the aisles, flipping through the CDs or albums or 45s, weighing my options and pondering my choices.

Not to mention that independent record stores usually are staffed by music freaks just like me who can offer suggestions, steer me away from a questionable choice or just argue about bands and albums. You’re not going to get that at the mall or a huge, soulless mega store.

Vinyl Fever used to have a bumper sticker that read “We’re Not Afraid to Say It Sucks!” And they aren’t. Nor are the other stores mentioned above or most any other shop that proudly declares itself to be independent.

Independent record stores are where you find out about the bands the rest of the populace gets hip to in another year or so.

Saturday is Record Store Day, a chance for the music-buying troops to rally in support of our favorite emporiums and hangouts. Grab some cash and help keep this vital artery of the music lovers’ soul intact.