Keen-eyed residents of Starkville’s Cotton District may have noticed a line forming at the door to Scooter’s Records around midnight on Saturday. That line grew to stretch all the way to University Drive in anticipation of National Record Store day, a yearly celebration of all things vinyl and the people who sell them.
In that line, one could find Adam Smit. Smith waited patiently to get his hands on Taylor Swift’s exclusive Record Store Day release of “folklore: the long pond studio sessions,” as a gift for his wife of 16 years, Jaclyn.
“I actually got there at 5:30 [a.m.]. There were four people ahead of me,” Smith said. 
Smith was also happy to report that “the bag was secured,” much to the pleasure of his wife who says that their music taste over the year’s has blended. This is thanks, in part, to the business they are given from Scooter’s.
“We’ve done a big transition [in our music tastes]. We started at very opposite ends of the spectrum throughout the course of our marriage. He started, like, really heavy metal and I was just over here king of chillin’ in pop,” Jaclyn said. “We’ve kind of converged towards a happy middle where we can both get really excited about stuff.”
Starkville resident Robbie Leach brought his daughter to the shop to try and get their own hands on Swift’s latest release but unfortunately arrived too late. That didn’t stop him and his family from supporting Scooter’s though, as Leach left with a hand full of CD’s from his favorite bands.
“We’re definitely proud of [Scooter’s],” Leach said, donning a hand full of clear-cased tracks. “They had people here at 5:30 this morning. That’s something to be proud of.”
Store owner Scott “Scooter” Thomas has owned the store for five and a half years. Record Store Day has remained one of his favorite parts of his contribution to Starkville’s music scene.
“It was cool. There’s always a line like this, but for this one especially, because the Taylor Swift was a huge deal,” Thomas said. “I’ve literally gotten like ten calls a day for the last month just of people asking about that. I wish I could have gotten more [records].”
Thomas also said the the timing of the nationally recognized holiday could not come at a better point, as days like Saturday help him make it through the slower summer months when students are away. 
One such student is junior elementary education major Kate Marshall, who was picking up some records for herself and her boyfriend. Marshall spoke of her gratitude to be a member of a community that takes pride in rallying around local businesses like Scooter’s.
“[The crowd] is awesome,” Marshall said with a smile. “Seeing everybody come out to support always gives me a great feeling.”
Marshall opened her brown record sack to reveal a pair of Steve Miller Band and The Beach Boys records that she said were due up on her player as soon as she got home. 
When Thomas was asked how good it felt to know that the music he sells has such an impact on the local community, he spoke of his youth, and how that same music influenced him. 
“That’s always the goal, man,” Thomas said with a grin. “Seriously, whenever I was a kid that’s what [music] did for me. I’m just trying to give that kind of love back. I’m just glad that the records are still selling.”

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Heather Harrison | The Reflector

Robbie Leach searched for the new Taylor Swift vinyl release for his daughter, but instead they left with a hand full CDs.