Bob_Ward's Blog

It was one of my favorite places, and now it is gone.

Tom's Tracks, an independent record store on the East Side of Providence, RI is out of business.

Truth be told, I haven't been to Tom's in years, as I sadly don't get to visit Providence very often. Last weekend though, I walked down Thayer Street and it bothered me to see this local landmark erased from its storefront, almost like it never existed.

I can't say I was surprised, as I know how the internet and download services like iTunes have ravaged independent music sellers. I just hoped that somehow Tom's, close to Brown University, and not far from the Rhode Island School of Design, would find a way to stem the powerful economic tides against it.

Tom's Tracks was not a very big store. But I could spend hours browsing through cabinets of vinyl, used and new, domestic and imported. And since I was usually there after work, I stood out in my suits and ties. It's funny isn't it? The people with the multi colored mohawks and tattoos fit right in, but I was the odd ball at Tom's.

Tom's Tracks was a lot like the record store in Nick Hornby's great book (and film) High Fidelity. Tom's had attitude plus. But that's OK, so can I sometimes. Tom himself could be cantankerous and blunt. But you know what? He was also extremely knowledgeable and helpful. And he would chase down anything I might be looking for. It didn't matter how rare or off the wall something might be, Tom would always find it for me. And the people he hired were exactly the same way.

That's why I always enjoyed visiting this record store. It was a colorful and always memorable event. Add a dose of great music, and how could  you go wrong?

I know time marches on, and nothing lasts forever. But I wish time could have left this little slice of life alone. Shopping for music on the internet, or downloading a file, is simply not the same. And when I ask a teenager about the Traveling Wilburys (you should have seen what I went through to get that sold out boxed set), only to be asked. "Who's that?" you know something in our fabric has been lost forever.

I have way too many 45's, 12" singles, and imported CD's at home. But far too few of them still have the "Tom's Tracks" sticker still on them. And I will treasure them always.

For those of you who have lost a favorite shop, I know how you feel. And for those of you too young to know what I'm talking about, all I can say is, you missed something very special.

Bob Ward