The Local Compilation CD Strikes Back!

One from the Boss…

One of the best things we’ve done at Zia this year was bring back the local Music compilation albums concept that was such an alluring and intriguing aspect of my early shopping experiences. I confess…just like most of our employees, I was in a band. And as a young man in a band of young men in the heyday of the Tempe Music Scene, the things that you strived for were getting a gig at Long Wong’s and landing a track on one of Zia’s local Music comps. Back then they were all produced on cassette and would appear almost randomly (or magically to a Zia junkie like me). I don’t remember exactly how many were done over the years ( 6ish?) but I still have several of those cassette tapes in the bottom drawer of my dresser, right next to our first demo tape (lovingly dubbed by us, the green machine).

So when the first Record Store Day was conceived and actually happened last April, it was with great fun and pleasure we unveiled a very hastily and true to the spirit Zia comp circa 2008. We named this new group of comp Cds “you heard us back when….” The whole concept is rooted in giving local bands a chance to get in front of new people that just might become their fans of tomorrow and to show people what an eclectic playground the local music scene is today. The first cd was sold for just $1.99 (any profits go to charity on these) and had 21 songs from local bands in Vegas (we have 2 stores there now!) Tucson and of course right here in the Phx area. Styles ranged from 70’s style power pop and Rockabilly to Vintage Metal and rootsy Americana singer song writers. Zia even has its own Superhero now as a result of that first comp cd…but that’s another blog.

(side note..they really shouldn't let me do this I’m too long winded)


Several of the bands on the first comp Cd have released full length cds since Record Store Day and we really wanted to show a sampling of these excellent records in our stores, so for the month of August we dedicated an entire listening station in all of our stores with hopes of getting people to sample these talented musicians. So get yourself into your ZIA and check them out!

And finally… here’s where we are today…”you heard us when vol. 2” is being put together now! There are just a couple of weeks left to get submissions in for this version. The new CD should hit stores in October.

And I can’t wait.


---faber