RPM - Records Posters Memorabilia

15/06/2026

Almost a week ago, we shared a meme about Rodriguez, from the documentary perspective, noting that his Australian success, tours and record releases were not mentioned in 'Searching For Sugar Man'.

What followed surprised us.

The post has reached more than 1.2 million people so far, generated many thousands of comments from around the world, and continues to find new audiences every day.

In the process, RPM accidentally found itself hosting a global reunion of Rodriguez fans, with people sharing memories, favourite songs, concert stories and their own connections to one of music's most remarkable figures.

Many of the comments returned to a familiar question:

If Rodriguez was so popular in Australia, why wasn't that part of the film?

Most people around the world know the Rodriguez story through the South African phenomenon that inspired 'Searching For Sugar Man'.

Among those who joined the discussion was Stephen "Sugar" Segerman, the South African music journalist, record store owner and Rodriguez champion whose search for Rodriguez became a central part of the story.

Segerman offered a clarification that we've never seen expressed before:

"When Craig and I decided to find out about Rodriguez, we all believed that like John and Jimi and Jim he was dead... We had NO IDEA that Rodriguez had toured, and was very popular in Australia, because if we had known that, we would have known that he was not dead."

He continued:

"So the Australian story was not a part of our search and Malik Bendjelloul chose correctly to not include that in the film for that reason."

Segerman finished by offering "belated, sincere apologies to all those Australian and New Zealand fans of Rodriguez who felt misrepresented by the film."

Whether you discovered Rodriguez through the film, through his remarkable success in Australia and New Zealand, or through a friend who handed you a copy of Cold Fact, it was fascinating to hear directly from one of the people at the heart of the story.

We've also included this beautiful Rodriguez drawing kindly sent to us by Kevin Pigg after seeing the original post. We thought it perfectly captured the mystery, spirit and enduring appeal of the Sugar Man.

So we'd love to know:

When did you first discover Rodriguez?

15/06/2026

Slade's former frontman Noddy Holder, photographed here on a recent trip to Paris by his wife Suzan, is today celebrating his 80th birthday.

My Oh My... where do the years go?

Happy Birthday, Noddy.

And while we're at it, what's your favourite Slade track?

11/06/2026

Bad news, everyone...
We pitched the Steve & Lizzie RPM Records Deluxe Collector's Edition action figures to a major toy manufacturer.
Unfortunately, they felt the market for middle-aged record dealers, a shop cat, stacks of vinyl, and a "Buy 4, Get The Lowest-Priced Item Free" accessory pack was a little too niche.
Their loss. 😆
The prototype included:
🎵 Steve
🎵 Lizzie
🎵 Suki the Shop Cat
🎵 Vinyl records
🎵 CDs
🎵 Posters
🎵 Memorabilia
🎵 A price gun
🎵 Questionable financial decisions involving record collections
Sadly, the action figures won't be going into production.
The good news is that the special offer is very real:
Buy any 4 records, CDs, cassettes or posters and get the lowest-priced item FREE.
Available now at RPM Records.
And unlike the action figures, these collectibles are actually in stock. 😁
:::

10/06/2026

Most people know the Rodriguez story from Searching for Sugar Man.

Two albums.
No success in America.
A legend in South Africa without even knowing it.

But there's a part of the story that often gets overlooked.

Long before the documentary, Rodriguez had a passionate following right here in Australia. Blue Goose Records released his albums locally, issued the compilation At His Best, and even released the live album Rodriguez Alive. He toured Australia in 1979 and again in 1981, at least, playing to audiences who already knew exactly who he was. 🎶

So while South Africa rightly became central to the Rodriguez story, Australia was also keeping the flame alive and that didn't get covered in Searching For Sugar Man.

Who here was lucky enough to see Rodriguez live before Searching for Sugar Man introduced him to the rest of the world?

10/06/2026

In July 1994, Mark E.Smith told Melody Maker the twelve songs he ‘lugs around in his carrier bag’…

10/06/2026

One of the things we're proudest of at RPM Records is the way our customers treat the vinyl.

Many of these records have survived decades before finding their way onto our shelves. Our job is to get them into the best condition we can, and hopefully pass them on to the next owner in equally good shape.

That's why we ask people to treat the records with a little care and respect while they're browsing.

As Lizzie explains, it's all about respecting the vinyl and the culture that surrounds it.

We've been lucky to build a community where most people already understand and respect what we're trying to do. The rules are really just there to help protect that culture from the occasional person who doesn't.

And yes, before anybody asks, still applies. 😄

08/06/2026

Discuss. And also let's buy more Australian music 🎶

Forty years of Aria chart history shows big changes to our listening habits – and local artists have a huge fight ahead

05/06/2026

🎵 KING'S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND AT RPM RECORDS 🎵

Looking for something to do this long weekend?

We'll be open right through the King's Birthday weekend, including Holiday Monday from 11am–5pm.

🌭 Sausage sizzle on Sunday afternoon (weather permitting)
🎵 Thousands of records, CDs, box sets and music treasures to dig through
🎁 Our Buy 4, Get The Lowest-Priced Item Free EOFY Sale is now underway

Come and spend an hour crate digging, catch up with fellow music lovers, grab a sausage or souvlaki (we haven't decided yet) and see what's been arriving lately.

📍 RPM Records, Marrickville

Who's coming for a dig this weekend?

05/06/2026

🎵 BUY 4, GET THE LOWEST-PRICED ITEM FREE 🎵

Our End of Financial Year Sale has officially begun!

For the rest of June, when you buy any 4 items at RPM Records, we'll give you the lowest-priced item FREE*.

Vinyl records, CDs, box sets, music memorabilia and more.

We've been unpacking incredible collections lately and there are treasures turning up in every corner of the shop.

The sale runs until 30 June.

📍 RPM Records, Marrickville

Tag a record collector who needs to know about this one..

*personal shoppers only