As those who have been following the Record Store Day news know, the 2020 Record Store Day celebration (like most events) was cancelled due to Covid-19.  Still, something had to be done to get titles from the list of limited-edition vinyl and CD releases into the hands of music-lovers.  And with the economic uncertainties that have accompanied Covid, Record Store Day’s goal of supporting independent Record Stores might be more important than ever.  

To do this, while maintaining social distancing standards, the fine folks at Record Store Day divided the list of these releases into 3, and scheduled 3 “Drops” dates on which 1/3 of the releases were scheduled to be released over the course of 3 dates during the months of August, September, and October.  

October’s Record Store Day Drops is Saturday October 24.  Releases for October come from the Allman Brothers, Beck, Blitzen Trapper, Booker T and the MGs, Neal Casal, Johnny Cash, Clutch, Alice Cooper, The Dandy Warhols, Miles Davis, Eminem, Freddie Gibbs with Madlib, Dexter Gordon, The Grateful Dead, Judas Priest, Bob Mould, The Rolling Stones, Tony Joe White, Young Fresh Fellows, Frank Zappa, and a slew of others.  A complete list of these can be found at https://recordstoreday.com/PromotionalEvent/572?view=all#RSD%20Drops%20Oct%2024th.

Cactus Records will be offering limited quantities of most of these while following strict social distancing guidelines.  The number of customers allowed in the store will be limited to 12 at a time, and a 10-minute shopping limit will be enforced when there is a line of customers outside.  Cactus also requests that customers do their best to maintain a 6-foot distance between one another both in the line outside and while inside the store.  Following these social distancing measures worked really well for the August Drops date (September’s Drops hadn’t happened yet as of this writing, but the same is expected), so don’t be too concerned about the line or the opportunity to get the titles you’re looking for, or – most importantly – risking your health.  

KGVM 95.9 FM Radio will be broadcasting live from within the store, and a limited quantity of refreshments from Dean’s Zesty Booch will be available.  Absent from this year’s Record Store Day celebrations are the live music, free beer, and other celebratory aspects typically associated with the day, but the spirit of independent record stores and getting great music to their customers remains.

Cactus Records & Gifts, located at 29 W. Main St. in downtown Bozeman, will open its doors at 9 a.m. (as they do every Saturday). They look forward to seeing everyone. 

Mike "Bueno" Good has owned Cactus Records and Gifts at 29 West Main Street in Bozeman Montana since September 2001.