Vinyl Collector of the Day, Dan Forcier

Today, we bring you, Dan Forcier, our Vinyl Collector of the Day. Dan had been thinking about submitting a VC of the Day interview, but he needed a little push. As he puts it, “To urge me into making a submission for this feature (that I would link her to all the time), my lovely and talented girlfriend decided to do a quick post-it note sketch with highlighters of me napping on my bed with beer, my iPhone and of course my records. Even has copies of Jersey’s Best and Hello Bastards hanging on the wall. Pretty fucking accurate.Way better than an actual picture of me with my records!” I have to say that I love the post it portrait. Dan calls Toronto home and as you will read owes a whole deal of gratitude to Dan Yemin for getting his record collection off the ground. Dan answered our questions on the first record he purchased, out of print records he would love to own, his thoughts on colored vinyl, recent purchases, and more.

Dan runs Square Up Records which has released records by Junior Battles, the Kid Dynamite tribute comp, and Brights. From the sounds of it, you will be able to expect more new releases from Square Up soon.

Thanks Dan for taking the time to answer our questions. If you continue to put off answering our questions, just visit this link, and spend a little time to submit your own Vinyl Collector of the Day feature.

Please click the link to read more about Dan Forcier.

VC: Your name and the city you live in.
Dan Forcier. Toronto, ON

VC: Do you catalog your records online? Where are they? Are you on the VC Message board? What is your username?
I catalog on How’s Your Edge (http://www.howsyouredge.com/swap/display.php?page=1566). It needs a serious update; most of my non-punk/hardcore/emo/indie/whatever records aren’t even listed. I am on the VC board as DanSUP. I’m more of a lurker than anything. I may not even have ever posted?

VC: How many records do you own?
I try not to keep count because it bums me out. I should have a lot more considering how long it’s been since I bought my first record and such. Sadly there was a time in my life where I could only maybe buy a couple dozen records a year; I have missed the boat on a lot of presses that I resentfully search the internerd for. If I have to estimate, probably between 450-500.

VC: Why do you collect vinyl?
I just love it! The way it looks, feels and sounds is better than cracking open a CD case or flipping though an iPod. Don’t get my wrong, my iPod (along with iPhone) are two things I can never leave home without…but it’s not that same as popping on a record.

VC: What was the first record you remember purchasing with your own money?
KID DYNAMITE – S/T. I bought it at a Kid Dynamite show when they were touring the 88FL split…before I even had a turntable. The reason I bought it, honestly, was to get me to get my hands on a functioning turntable.

VC: What is your most prized record in your collection?
Most of my Dan Yemin related records, but probably my LIFETIME – BOYS NO GOOD test press. Close second? Sounds cheesy but the JUNIOR BATTLES 7” is very dear to me since it’s the first record I’ve pressed.

VC: What release would you like to see come out on vinyl that hasn’t yet been released?
I’m working on something for my new-ish label (Square Up Records –shameless plug-) that is a 7” of a great E.P. that was only available digitally by a band that I have loved since I was 15. Other than that, there are so many that I don’t even know where to start, honestly.

VC: What is the most you have spent for a record?
I left my eBay account logged in at a buddy’s place while we installed a door for him and a GREAT pal decided to up my bid on a record to $200; ended up “winning” the auction with approximately $178. It was for the aforementioned BOYS NO GOOD test press. Was less than stoked on how it played out, but let’s be real here, so glad to have that as part of my collection.

VC: What has been your greatest vinyl score (least amount of money spent for a valued record)?
I got a 4 Bruce Willis 7”s for $5 and have 3 away as presents? It was probably the only good thing to come out of that trip. A long time a go I did get OG presses of JERSEY’S BEST DANCERS and HELLO BASTARDS on eBay for a combined $18 with shipping. Similarly, on eBay, was able to snag SAVES THE DAY – CAN’T SLOW DOWN on red for like $12. Those records mean a lot to me. Then there is BOTCH – WE ARE THE ROMANS that I bought for $15 from a buddy trying to liquidate his collection due to financial hardship. eBay gold.

VC: What out of print record would you kill to own?
As I mentioned before, I missed the boat on a lot of releases when things were less than stellar. I don’t even know where I would begin to start naming OOP records that I want. I would love to not pay a shit ton of money for a copy of SICK OF IT ALL – BUILT TO LAST though. plznthnx. I’m constantly kicking myself for picking up CDs instead of vinyl in my younger days. What. A. Waste.

VC: What are your thoughts on color variants? Do you collect any artists in particular?
I love them! For records that I just want to own, listen to and love, I couldn’t care less what pressing/color I have. I do, however, collect bands that Dan Yemin was in; LIFETIME, KID DYNAMITE, PAINT IT BLACK, ARMALITE…the only other bands that I find myself picking up multiple copies for are bands that I get really into for a minute and bands I’m friends with.

VC: Do you sell or trade records?
I always act like I do/want to…but I always back out and keep them all like the record hoarder that I am. In my “Wants” section on HYE it even invites people to make offers saying that “I’m not particularly attached to a lot of these records…” which is kinda true but also a total lie. Give me all your vinyl.

VC: Do you have any good record stores in your home town? Which ones do you frequent?
In Toronto, hands down the best punk rock record store hast to be HITS AND MISSES on Bloor St. I do want to give a little love for the now defunct (thanks condo developers!) RECORD RUNNER that was in Ottawa, ON. At RR I would spend a lot of time and whatever little money I had on some of the first pieces of my collection. Probably would not have started buying so much vinyl without them.

VC: Your last 5 records that you purchased?
DESCENDENTS – MILO GETS BOOTLEGGED (PINK)
DAGGERMOUTH – TURF WARS (RED & BLACK)
V/A – MUSIC DOES A BODY GOOD
THE HOLY MESS – DISMOUNT (CLEAR & GOLD)
THE HOLY MESS – BENEFIT SESH (WHITE)