RECORD STORE TALES #1171: The Best and Worst of 2024

‘Twas another interesting year here at Grab A Stack of Rock HQ!  Remember that old curse?  “May you have interesting times.”  We sure did in 2024.

Jen’s health started the year on a low note, but she bounced back.  With the right help, she’s had her best year in a long while.  There’s a lot of work still to be done, but has been a year of leaps and bounds for her health!

On Grab A Stack of Rock, we had a strong start to the year, but in February, Harrison got sick.  Sometimes you don’t how much you need someone until they’re fighting their own battles.  Fortunately Harrison fought hard and has made a recovery, but the timing for me wasn’t ideal.  I was trying to increase my YouTube presence by doing two shows a week, but without the Mad Metal Man, I found myself despondent.  I tried out a couple new co-hosts to fill in for him while he recovered, but struggled.  I almost cancelled the show.  Twice.

Still, I carried on, until the great shelf disaster of 2024.  That almost broke me.  I told people I was going to sell my collection and quit this hobby for good.  Because, ultimately, that’s what this is:  a hobby.  I don’t get paid enough to motivate me to produce content.  Advertising and T-shirt sales help fund my WordPress and Streamyard fees, but I don’t make a profit.  I don’t break even.  I’m about $10 in the hole every month.  I almost replaced Grab A Stack of Rock with a food show, after a review of a Chef Ramsay microwavable meal got some hits.  Grab A Stack of Eats?

But I didn’t quit.  I kept going.  Why?  The power of friendship.  They kept me going.  They know who they are.

Thanks to fellow music fans like Grant Arthur, Johnny Clauser, Marco D’Auria, Rob Daniels, Tim Durling, Peter Kerr, Harrison Kopp, Jex Russell, John Snow, Aaron Stewart, Metal Roger and many more, I pushed onwards.  I feel like we are now part of a larger, less insulated world.  I owe these folks a debt of gratitude for including me in that world.  All I have ever wanted, for better or for worse, was to be a part of something, with people who wanted me there equally as much.  I feel like I’m in a healthier space again.  We have built a bigger, more metallic and welcoming Community.    Long live the Community!

 

Highlights of my 2024:

• Finally getting a Gene Simmons Vault box set
• Reuniting with Uncle Meat
• Entering into the world of drone videos
• Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of my start at the Beat Goes On with Rob Daniels
• Returning to Toronto with Aaron and making our best video to date
• Grandma’s 100th birthday
• My birthday video that Jex Russell and friends assembled for me, 20 minutes of well-wishes from people I love

I think the thing that brought me the most happiness in 2024 was simply making videos.  I’ve been making videos for 35 years, and there have been peaks and valleys.  In 2024, drones were incorporated into some.  Jex Russell encouraged me to utilise more angles and edits.  In one of the 2024 videos, I used six cameras, a record for me!

Since we already did our Top 5 Albums of 2024 on Grab A Stack of Rock, this year I thought I would pat myself on the back and pick my Top 5 Videos from my own channel!  I called it the 2024 Narcissus Award!

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NARCICCUS AWARDS 2024

FAVOURITE VIDEOS OF THE YEAR

In no particular order.

1. The Battle of ’84:  Defenders of the Faith vs. Powerslave with Pete Jones

To have the Professor himself join me for the this epic battle was quite the honour.  We tore these albums inside and out, and ultimately picked a favourite.  Harrison even joined us at the end, which was a delight.  It was hard to pick just one episode of Grab A Stack of Rock for this list, but I think this was the deepest dive of the year.

2. Our Journey Collections on Six Formats with Tim Durling

From the brief period where I was trying to do two episodes a week.  I woke up one Saturday morning with the idea to do my entire Journey collection, but realized I didn’t have the historic knowledge of the band to do it justice.  Tim Durling happened to be online, and so we did this episode with zero preparation.  I think it turned out pretty cool.

3. Mike and Aaron Return to Toronto 2024.

Long overdue.  Of all our Toronto videos, this one is the best.  I think I just went into it with a clearer idea of the end product, and everything turned out as great as I’d hoped.  Plus, the Toronto trip was a total success as you’ll see with the scores we brought home with us.  A very special video to me personally.  Also, look for the drone shot!

2. An 8-Track Holy Grail discussion with Aaron and Tim Durling

Aaron texted me one day from Harriston, Ontario with photos of 8-track tapes he found.  One of them happened to be a very rare “Holy Grail” that Tim Durling needed for his collection.  Aaron sent it to me with some other cool scores, and then I sent the Grail to Tim.  We made this video in two sessions separated by several weeks, but with the magic of editing, it’s all seamless.  This is a very special video for anyone interested in 8-track tapes.

5. 30 Years After the Beat Goes On with Robert Daniels from Visions In Sound

I think this is my proudest achievement in 2024.  I had an idea.  It had been 30 years since I was hired at The Beat Goes On in Kitchener Ontario.  It would be cool to go back to the mall and see how much it has changed in those three decades.  Rob Daniels was the perfect guy to join me, since we reconnected at the front counter at The Beat Goes On.  We hadn’t seen each other since highschool.  He was an avid soundtrack buyer, and I was the new employee.  Together, with Jen on camera, we toured the mall landmarks and shared memories of the way it used to be.

I would have had better audio if I used external microphones, but never having done this before, I am incredibly proud of the way it turned out.

Bonus:  Mike’s Birthday Video by Jex Russell

I can’t really count this for the Narcissus award, because I didn’t make it.  However, my favourite video of 2024 was this kind gift.  Jex assembled a cavalcade of surprise birthday greetings from many of my friends, family, and a few special rock stars.  Jex put a lot of work into this video, not only with getting the guests, but editing it together with his own theatrics.  Probably the greatest birthday gift I’ve ever been given.  If I ever feel down in the dumps, I just need to watch Martin Popoff call me a “Canadian legend”.

I can’t say how grateful I am for this thoughtful gift.

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I am excited for what 2025 has in store.  Buckle up.  If 2023 and 2024 couldn’t kick me down, then I still have a lot of gas left in the tanks.

 

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List of everyone who has ever joined me on Grab A Stack of Rock to date:

• Harrison Kopp
• Eric “Uncle Meat” Litwiller
• Aaron KMA
• Tim Durling
• Rob Daniels
• John T Snow
• Grant Arthur
• Brian Richards
• MarriedandHeels
• Marco D’Auria
• Kevin Simister
• Dr. Kathryn
• Jen Ladano
• Grace Scheele
• Jex Russell
• Spencer “Spenny” Rice
• Nurse Kat
• Erik Woods
• Jason Drury
• PLA
• Peter Kerr
• John Clauser
• Len Labelle
• Reed Little
• Metal Roger
• John the Music Nut
• Mike Slayen
• Peter “The Professor” Jones
• Todd Evans
• James Kalyn
• Angie Moon
• Ryan Gavalier
• Chris Preston
• Dan Chartrand
• Glen “Archie” Gamble
• bicyclelegs
• Davey Cretin
• Martin Popoff (airing in 2025)
• and (briefly) Max the Axe

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TOP FIVE ALBUMS OF 2024

 

MR BIG – Ten

THE ARKELLS – Disco Loadout Vol 1

BRUCE DICKINSON – The Mandrake Project

JUDAS PRIEST – Invincible Shield

DEEP PURPLE – =1