Library Music soundtrack for my dead malls project

[BlackwatchPlaid]

Hi.

Some of you may have noticed I haven't been quite as active on here as I was several months ago.  This is primarily due to the newest project my wife and I have embarked on.  Right now in America, there is a substantial downturn of businesses in the brick-and-mortar retail space, especially malls.  Various factors, the most obvious being online shopping, but also other things like poor management and bad press have caused many enclosed shopping malls to start to die and some to become dormant and abandoned.  It has been my new hobby to document these places so there can be a record and memory of these once thriving places.  Hopefully, in the future, when a kid asks "what's a mall?", something will survive of these documentary works that can serve as a teaching aid.  There is a small but enthusiastic community based around this hobby that we have latched on to, but as of yet I am the only one to put this particular spin on it.

I decided, rather than a documentary style, to rather have it be pure walkthrough, all set to the lovely tunes from the Library Music catalog.  My youtube channel is starting to grow, with ~30 or so of these tours uploaded so far.  I figured people in this community would appreciate a project like this, this is why I am posting this here. 

My youtube page is called Raw & Real Retail and you can find it here:

https://www.youtube.com/RawRealRetail

I appreciate you checking it out and perhaps becoming a subscriber if you like what I'm doing here.  I appreciate feedback and thoughts on how the format works or doesn't work for you.

Here are a few of my walkthroughs so you can see what I'm talking about.

[Porn Library]

Very cool (but sad at the same time) channel my friend. I can see you're from the same area I was born and raised. I grew up in the Havertown/Drexel Hill area. Left a little over 20 years ago and never had the chance to go back to visit.

That was real shocking and depressing seeing the King Of Prussia fountain and ceiling in the process of getting killed. From what I heard a few years ago from an old pal, Granted Run Mall in Media was about to be dead too. Was told the fountains were already gone there. Would be curious to see the remains if that one's on your list you've yet to hit.

Spent tons of time (and money) at both King Of Prussia and Granted Run malls growing up as a kid and well into my late teens. About half of my non-library vinyl collection was actually bought at both those malls between the late 70's to late 80's. Ahh it's sad. "Progress" as they call it really sucks.

[Jimmy Rich]

I saw some of your videos. They are great.

I can suggest (if you haven't used it yet) "The Waiting Game" by Syd Dale. It would be perfect for older malls (1960s and earlier).

[stackjackson]

Very cool (but sad at the same time) channel my friend.

Yep. I'm bookmarking your youtube link. Thanks, BWP.

[BlackwatchPlaid]

From what I heard a few years ago from an old pal, Granted Run Mall in Media was about to be dead too. Was told the fountains were already gone there. Would be curious to see the remains if that one's on your list you've yet to hit.

I have some bad news for you, my friend...

Granite Run mall doesn't exist any longer.  This is part of the reason I am doing this project...

[Porn Library]

Wow...looks like a warzone aftermath! I find it funny that Sears is all that remains. That had to have happened within the last 2 years, cause an old friend I talked to a few years back was in there and said it was nearly dead. Guess they totally nuked it 

Almost afraid to ask...but what was the fate of Springfield mall? Is that nuked too or on life support?

[BlackwatchPlaid]

There's also a Boscov's at Granite Run. I think the place was demolished last summer.

Springfield Mall is still going okay, it's pretty boring and probably not what it used to be.  There's a Macy's and a Target there now.

I'm from the east suburbs and never got out west of the city much until this hobby took me there this year. 

[Greta]

Really interesting project BWP.
I've never been a mall fan or "user", I never liked those crowded places.
Btw, here in Italy we have many, and they go really good. As they often have a supermarket inside, I have the chance to see some of them sometimes.

[Porn Library]

There's also a Boscov's at Granite Run. I think the place was demolished last summer.

Springfield Mall is still going okay, it's pretty boring and probably not what it used to be.  There's a Macy's and a Target there now.

I'm from the east suburbs and never got out west of the city much until this hobby took me there this year.

Springfield always used to be one of my favorite places to buy records back in the 80's. They had Sam Goody, then Wee Three Records and Record Bar on the 2nd level. Also was Spenser's gift shop that had all kinds of gags and novelty items, Friendly's Ice Cream/Burgers (damn good food in that little joint)....ahh where has the years gone. Glad you're doing this mall project of the area i'm from and beyond. I subscribed to it on YT.

[jackie kennedy]

BlackwatchPlaid: this is a really interesting project. you have a new subscriber (even activated the notice bell). here in los angeles, the only thing i noticed is one of our malls renovated the food court- so now you can only get expensive food and no more things like sbarro or panda express etc. just sushi and steaks.

but if you drive to other areas (like crenshaw) you can find mcdonalds or taco bell inside the mall- but those have made me sick in the past so i no longer eat them.

anyway, thanks for sharing your project. will watch more of the videos i missed when i get home

[BlackwatchPlaid]

Just for fun, here is another very recent work of mine...

This library music experience has been a godsend for me.  A big huge thank you goes out to all the contributors here and elsewhere, this has been a life changing year, I owe it all to Library Music.

[Tommy Wong]

This is really cool, I always liked visiting that website deadmalls.com, feels like almost all of the malls in my area (capital region new york, like Albany) that I frequented growing up have fallen. I really appreciate your usage of library music in a very practical way, shits dope! and thank youuuu for your contributions here as well!

[neowave]

Thank you great music and interiors

[BlackwatchPlaid]

This is really cool, I always liked visiting that website deadmalls.com, feels like almost all of the malls in my area (capital region new york, like Albany) that I frequented growing up have fallen. I really appreciate your usage of library music in a very practical way, shits dope! and thank youuuu for your contributions here as well!

Yep, we're friends with the guy who helps run that site. He has a youtube channel as well, just search for the site name. You'll be seeing much more from your area on our channel in the coming weeks as we just wrapped up filming all the malls in the Albany area and we will be hitting Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo this summer!

[BlackwatchPlaid]

Happy Holidays from Raw & Real Retail

No specifically library music for this one, unless you count the Mannheim Steamroller section on UPM (and Youtube certainly does, as its algo IDs them all as FirstCom releases) and our theme song, done by Steve Gray. Oh, and the little opening number by Alan Hawkshaw.

There's 180+ others chock full of library stuff, continuing at 2x/week.