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Continuing the tradition...
Music Millennium
retains quality
for 30 years
by Jeff Gage
It seems so long ago that the only place you could find recorded music
in Portland was at department stores.
Even then, the only music to be found would be the most popular artists,
mainly stuff your parents listened to with a few rock hits added. None
carried much in terms of rock albums, but they did offer 45s for the
most popular aired songs of a new generation.
Then, 30 years ago this month, on the Ides of March (March 15th), all
of the above changed when Music Millennium opened on the corner of 32nd
and E. Burnside. Record stores in Portland would never be the same.
Since then, many stores have tried to imitate the Millennium experience,
but none could ever capture the ambient hipness that Music Millennium
achieved. Most of these detractors faded in the '80s to the big national
trade store with their sterile, white plaster environments. Although
becoming bigger over the last 30 years, Millennium has always retained
the same level of cool that it had originally.
Music Millennium began as a natural progression of the counter culture
of the '60s. Going there was like rebelling against the same music stores
"the establishment" patronized. Its funky atmosphere tinged
with the smell of incense was the total antithesis of any other business
that sold records. The amazing element over the last 30 years is that
funkiness still remains today. Millennium has kept step with the evolution
of the music industry which has seen the medium of music drastically
changed.
When this writer began going to Music Millennium as a young teen in
the early '70s, there were three ways recorded music was offered. Eight-tracks,
cassettes and vinyl LPs. Although still stocking a few vinyl pressings,
music is overwhelmingly on CD and cassette. With the advent of the Internet
and downloading digital tracks, it's unclear what will become of music
stores. One thing is fairly certain though: Millennium will adapt to
whatever happens and won't lose any of its integrity or ambiance in
the process.
Music Millennium's operating principles haven't changed since 1969
and it's best defined as it was 30 years ago by Dan Lissy, the store's
first manager. "To us the name Millennium meant a thousand years
of peace and love through music. In the beginning, this was our creed,
intent and philosophy; to be the space that love passes through in the
form of music and to be the people who love music enough to use it as
an aid to enlightenment." That statement reflected original owners
Don and Laureen MacLeod's principles when they opened in 1967 and continues
today with new owner Terry Currier who joined the Music Millennium family
in 1984.
MacLeod and Currier led the store into the '90s with a strong common
philosophy. Currier says, "We've always been really community minded.
We never left this community, never wanted to outgrow this community."
It's a relationship that was MacLeod's philosophy. Though he left in
1993 (and went to rock and roll heaven in January, 1996), the store
has continued to be a national innovator.
Millennium conceived and gave birth to the concept of live in-store
performances and today is known as the premier in-store live venue in
the nation. Over the years, some remarkable talent has graced the stage
at both Music Millennium locations. Notables include Robert Fripp, Sheryl
Crow, blues giant Lonnie Brooks, Everclear, Soundgarden and Little Feat.
Music Millennium has also been the site for some memorable autograph
signings featuring the likes of James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Kim Wilson,
Mel Brown, Joe Louis Walker, Motley Crew and Ozzy Osborne. Millennium's
most nationally notorious event, which was featured in People
magazine, was when they promoted a "barbecue for retail freedom,"
roasting Garth Brooks CDs in protest over a ban against selling used
CDs. (Obviously Garth lost.)
Music Millennium has endured all the transitions in musical taste over
the last 30 years. Psychedelic, punk, disco, new age and rap have all
left their mark on society; and in some cases all but disappeared, while
Millennium carried those eras music in stock. With its progression as
a true community outlet for buying music, it's possible now to shop
for an entire extended family of relatives and friends. The store offers
something, if not everything, for all musical tastes and genders. In
either store you can find anything from Judy Garland or the MC5 to Marilyn
Manson or the Wu Tang Clan.
The East Side location is also the place in town to go for procuring
classical music. In the early days of Music Millennium, before laws
limited them, imports were big at the store and it was usually the only
place in town a person could get exposed to music found throughout the
world. Now, although the issue of vinyl superiority of imports is moot,
the exposure to foreign or world music is just as evident and eccentric.
It is still the only place in town to go when searching for either the
hard-to-find releases, developing new artists, or local band releases.
If for some reason they don't have a particular item in stock, they
can order it for you.
If you've been to Music Millennium in the past or are a loyal customer
as this writer is, you know you can get it all here. If you just moved
here, never heard of, or have simply just never been to Music Millennium
over the last 30 years, give yourself a treat and go. There's the original
location on E. Burnside as well as the second location on N.W. 23rd
and Johnson. It's akin to walking into a music archive where the spectre
of Joplin, Coltrane, Hendrix, Zappa and MacLeod will always be present.
March is a busy month at both Music Millennium locations. The main
event happens on Monday, March 15th when Currier will lead a toast at
exactly 3 p.m. while The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, the first
record ever played in the store, plays again. That should prove to be
déjà vu over again. See ad for coming in-store live appearances.
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