Does this ring true with the Footlight regulars? Now, I didn’t set foot in the place until about 1991, probably, but I certainly don’t remember a pinball machine, do you? Moreover, Footlight would never have been a shop I’d have expected to be selling Elvis Costello 7”s (see the sleeve for “ Accidents Will Happen” above her right hand?). Among them was the shot below, captioned Playing Pinball at Footlight Records, NY, NY 1980. But, I digress…Ī week or so back, a former colleague of mine sent me a link to an article in Slate that highlighted the vintage NYC photographs of Robert Herman. ![]() ![]() It was a vacant shell for years afterwards, but is now a soulless real estate agency, doubtlessly staffed by dead-eyed replicants with zero appreciation for art and culture. In any case, because people fucking suck and New York City’s rent is obscene, Footlights closed in 2005, much to the consternation of many a Broadway zealot and vinyl collector. The places left to do that are virtually extinct. Even if you weren’t looking for something specific, it was always a fun browse. I remember scoring a few choice finds at Footlight back in the day, notably Gheorge Zamfir’s haunting score to Peter Weir’s “ Picnic at Hanging Rock” on vinyl and the original soundtrack to “Dumbo” on compact disc (which I was after for the surreal “ Pink Elephants”). I liked that it was there when I needed it, though. I mean, I do love a few show tunes, but rarely did I require a whole store full of'em. I mean, given their emphasis on Broadway cast recordings and soundtracks, it just wasn’t on my regular list. This is not to say, however, that I didn’t like the place. If I’m being honest, I can’t say I did a lot of shopping at Footlight Records on 12th Street, just east of Fourth Avenue.
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