Record Stores

lou's records in encinitas (near san diego), california to be the finest record store in the world.

all 3 amoebas have their merits, aquarius is great, but lou's beats all of these stores in terms of selection, price, and level of service.

Other Music is my hometown store (in NYC), and it's where I go ALL THE TIME--it's one of those places where if you ask for assistance, you will GET IT. Wonderful.

I should also put in a plug for the twice-annual WFMU record fairs (conflict-of-interest alert: I DJ at WFMU): I never go to one of them without buying a giant pile of vinyl that I know I will never ever see anywhere else.

In East Lansing, Michigan, there's a teeny little place called Flat, Black & Circular that's well-stocked, cheap and friendly--it's been there for at least 25 years (with the same guy behind the counter), which should tell you something.

Brizzy seemed to have lots more used recd stores, and was overall better than Melbourne.

The other week I was back in CT and felt gutted when, pulling into the parking lot, I realised that where it had been is now a bakery or laundry or something.

Some faves in MI: Record Time/Roseville, Neptune/Royal Oak, Encore/Ann Arbor, Wazoo/Ann Arbor, Desirable Discs/Dearborn...

Amboeba, yes. Is there any better music geek experience than walking around inside w/ $100 store credit in your pocket? It does lack something as far as atmosphere (the one on Haight used to be a bowling alley) but makes up for it in ever other way.

The most underrated record store in SF is Open Mind Music on Divisidero; that's definitely the best place to buy used vinyl.

Douglas, you knocked me for a loop with the FBC reference. I grew up in East Lansing & I've been going in there since the 70s (well before I bought records; it was just a cool place to hang out as a kid. They always had rare records arranged thematically in a display case, rotating every month, plus they had that cool entry arch made from 45s.) Are you from Michigan? How did you end up at FBC? The store has only improved w/ time. I always thought of it as a classic rock haven, but dropped in a couple of years ago to see them stocking Force, Inc. 12-inches!

Here in Richmond there's a great shop called Plan 9, again w/ great used vinyl (that's how I measure a good record store these days. I'm cheap.)

Oddest record store I've seen is a place called Remember When on High Point Road in Greensboro. It's this ugly building on a terrible strip- mall-packed road, and inside is the best collection of used vinyl I've seen. This is where I found Bo Hansson’s Lord of the Rings thing. They have everything old -- jazz, soul, folk, odd soundtracks, tons of out-of-print stuff -- but the owner must read Goldmine because it's all super expensive. It's in the middle of nowhere & no one is ever in there & it's still crazy overpriced. Weird.

And if I ever felt the need to go to E. Lansing (though I can pretty much bet the farm that I never will), a trip to FBC would definitely have to figure into the plans.

When in Toronto, do check out the following:
Soundscapes: Not the biggest store in the city, but it has the best-edited selection of CDs in the city. New releases are often less expensive here than they are at the big-box locations.
She Said Boom: Maybe not the broadest selection, but it's still pretty good, and the staff add a pretty good snarky ambience (hi Simon)
Rotate This: Biggest selection of indie stuff in the city, both CD and vinyl, generally at pretty good prices too. As someone else pointed out else-thread, you can sometimes feel like they're looking down their noses at you, but who cares what they think, anyhow, as long as they have what you want?
HMV 333: If you HAVE to hit a big corporate megastore, this is the place, with the deepest selection of anything in the city. If you're looking for those old ELO albums, they're likely here. If you want those old Stranglers, they're here. If you want Firesign Theatre reissues, they're here. So it's faceless and expensive, but you've got a much better chance of finding what you're after. Plus it's got one of the biggest classical and jazz sections in the city now that Sam's has hit the chute.

What about Rasputin's in SF? I didn't have enough time when I was there, but they seemed to have a pretty good selection.

I used to go to Aron's in Los Angeles. I hope they don't go out of business because of Amoeba.

Is Parasol Records in Urbana a real store? They sent me a free compilation and they updated me about five times on shipping.

That's Herm Baker's (???) new shop, isn't it? I've heard good things from co-workers, and the two times I went to VS were very memorable and hard on the wallet. You know the place is unique when you're greeted by a Chameleons section that resembles most stores' Grateful Dead selection. Does Dave F. still have his place in GR?

The rust belt honor roll: Stormy, Neptune, Car City (Detroit), Bent Crayon, My Generation, My Mind's Eye (Cleveland), Used Kids (Columbus), Paul's (Pittsburgh), Everybody's (Cincinnati).

Penguin Records (2 McCaul St)

If you want reggae...go to Eglinton west. There are some of the best stores there and they all have some of the best new stuff on 45.

Montreal in the Plateau Mt. Royal area...:

The best store, in my estimation, is L'Oblique. I wish I could remember the cross streets....This is the only store in Montreal that stocks punk, indie rock, weird random stuff alongside reggae, electro, and other funkiness. The staff are lovely and very helpful-- not condescending at all.

On St. Laurent:

Disquivel: a used LP lovers paradise--but they also have some new stuff. It used to be a good source of simply vinyl stuff, but since sv tanked, they've got less. Lots of weird stuff and used/new cds too.

Inbeat: House, house, and more house.

Noize: Not a bad selection, but heavy on the electro, techno, housey funk, and breaks.

Rotation (just off St. Laurent on Prince Arthur): The folks here are rather nice--they try and cover a few too many genres, but are mostly strong in IDM, techno, house, hip-hop, and other funky chunky stuff.

DNA (just off of St. Laurent a wee bit east on Pine): bunch of assholes who like to pretend that they know tons more than you. I actually had someone in there (the first and last time I went) tell me that the record I asked for was "so two weeks ago"

Mojo: This is such a lovely store. They specialize in funk, reggae, and jazz, but also stock books and comics. It is just a pleasure to go to. I go once a week just to enjoy the atmosphere.

Rayon Laser: They used to rent CDs, now they just sell a great selection of used stuff and new funky shit.

In twenty years, when me knees finally give in, I will be able to blame Car City. I've spent plenty of time on my fucking knees while digging through their discounted used section. Biggest score had to be the reissues of the first six Durutti Column records at $4 a pop (cheaper than any Bloodrock vinyl!). Otherwise not the funnest place to navigate.

Nope, the movie's fictional record store, Championship Vinyl, was located in a space at Honore and Milwaukee, in Wicker Park. The space has remained vacant since the shoot.

Vintage Vinyl in Evanston has some nice stuff occasionally (albeit at sky-high prices), but the older guy who works there is a total jerk.

The Wicker Park continuity was mostly maintained throughout the movie, although there's one bizarre moment where Cusack is riding the Blue Line train, then all of a sudden is on the Red Line, up by Graceland Cemetary.

Continuity or not, it was a lousy film, but that's another thread, probably.

As far as MI goes, Record Time and Wazoo are also great, though I find the quality of the stuff at Desirable Discs has really went downhill in the past couple of years. Dearborn Music has been surprisingly good at having some really great stuff in their used section, lots of brand new releases and really eclectic stuff.

I'm actually glad I don't live in SF, because I would be destitute from spending my paycheck at Amoeba. I'd love to go back there one day.

Dans la mason in Halifax, Sams The Record Man on Barrington is perhaps your best bet as is the Urban Sound Exchange next door. The Sams features past heroes from the pop exlposion and has No Distribution renting out its upstairs office space. Blastoff in Moncton was the coolest store on the east coast but went belly up this year, sigh.

Gaslight??? You've got to be joking. It's an awful, awful store. They never have what I want and when they do it's woefully overpriced.

The best stores of all are Dixons Recycled. Ohhh Second-hand CDs *drool*

Those other stores you mentioned are good though. Also quality: Raoul in St. Kilda for a usually smashing selection of second- hand quite-recent releases; Collector's Corner on Swanston St for likewise and new dedicated dance section (I picked up "Monster Movie" for ten dollars there last week); Greville Records for their general coolness and JB Hifi for the cheapest non- second hand stuff anywhere.

Almost nowhere takes secondhand CD singles anymore. Not surprising really, since whenever I go through the secondhand CD singles I look through about 300 before finding one I'd even consider buying.

I'd also forgotten about Raoul - and it's just round the corner from my house too. I'm off there after work.

And another one: These Records, in London. It is bizarre, and you have to know EXACTLY where it is and when it's open (it's not visible from the street, and keeps weird hours), but they have lots of things I've never seen anywhere else.

((still kicking myself for giving my copy of 'tony fletcher...' to a long-since-ex boyfriend...i got it at the old vinyl sol))

alas, now i am in saginaw mich and must travel for such things.

s.

There's nothing quite Amoeba-sized up here, but the closest store that comes to that is probably Zulu records in Vancouver, BC. Otherwise, most stores in the Northwest are a mish-mash of small stores.. and I kinda like it that way. I'd hate to have to see the same exact store every time I had the urge to shop, even if I wanted to dwell into a different genre.

Seattle has the following:

• Sonic Boom records -- pretty much the 'indie' store
• JAM records -- my favorite... lots of dance vinyl, very interesting rock selection, and other things... kinda like the NoiseNoiseNoise of Seattle
• Wall of Sound records -- for weird world music, electronic, experimental, and other difficult things
• Beats International -- dance vinyl store.. most genres covered
• Zion's Gate records -- also in Portland, too. Very thorough selection of electronic, dancehall, reggae, etc.
• Fallout records -- lots of garage, punk, postpunk, oddities, and undeground comix
• Singles Going Steady -- punk punk punk crust etc.
• Bud's Jazz records -- basement jazz record store. Pretty decent selection, though don't expect it to be into just all that Zornish stuff.
• A shitload of second hand music store chains, almost everywhere you walk

• Rodeo records in Ellensburg, WA. I WANT TO VISIT THIS STORE. Apparently, it's one of the best of the northwest. Owned by Mark Pickerel, who used to play with Pell Mell and Screaming Trees. (Hopefully, it'll open by the time I swing by there on my upcomin road trip!)
• Scratch records in Vancouver. Very thorough selection of most rock genres. Friendly staff, too.
• Beat Street records in Vancouver. Huge vault of old soul, dance, and disco records for cheeeeaaap
• Ditch records in Victoria. Mostly indie and punk, but a great used rock vinyl section.
• Ozone in Portland. I heard rumors this store was closing(?), but pretty much the best store in Portland, last I checked.
• Platinum records in Seattle. For 'serious' DJS. A couple of really nice dudes work there, but otherwise watch out for some DJ attitude there.
• Frequency 8 in Seattle. Mostly trancey type dance vinyl. But the TRON-esque internal decor is amazing

Pooly stocked in some categories (especially electronic/dance). Surprisingly well stocked in contemporary classical, I'll give them that!

As for decent places, Probe in Liverpool is good but not as good as i used to think. Also, Concepts in Durham will always hold a special place in my heart.

(Oops, way off-topic! You can track me down through my ILX "user info" page if you ever want to hear the whole story...)

I'm also fond of Other Music and Mondo Kim's, even though the staff there is probably the least friendly I've ever come across.

I'm not its biggest fan, sadly. But the Brazilian sandwich guy is a riot.

I have also been to Lou's and Off the Record in San Diego. Nice stores.

*bump*

this thread is almost certainly due for an update.

anyplaces in portland, oregon? i know of jackpot and ozone....any others i should look into?

Mississippi and Discourage.

Twisted Village, Cambridge, Mass.!

are you looking for vinyl in Portland? If so you should got to Crossroads (it's on Hawthorne, forgot the cross street, but maybe 3-4 blocks west of the jackpot etc. over there).
It's a building that houses a bunch of different vendors. This means there are like 30 separate sections to check for any genre, and condition and pricing vary. Some vendors have awesome stuff that's cheap, some have awesome stuff that's expensive, and some have regular stuff that's overpriced. Towards the front though there's a section that someone has for prog/psych/new agey stuff that's great. I've always found some cool stuff there, generally for $5-$10 (Steve Hillage, Curved Air, Tangerine Dream kinda stuff).

My favorite store in Portland is Exile Records on like 49th and Hawthorne. Some of the members of Eat Skull work there.

They've got psych, drone, experimental, noise, sublime frequencies type stuff covered.

If it weren't on the expensive side I could truly love Volcanic Tongue.

Off topic-ish, sry... I live in a small town that can't really support record stores, but what's it like in bigger cities that can these days? I mean, with online buying/stealing as big as it is, are they sort of going away / getting more specialized? At one time I thought they'd become more popular than ever, people would discover more music with greater ease and therefore buy more, but I think that's just me / people like me. What's the skinny, yo?

I don't know. A friend of mine just opened a record shop in South London (The Dream Machine in Dulwich - obligatory plug!) which seems like a brave move when so many record shops are closing down. I shall be interested to see how it fares.

A new experimental/avant-garde record store just opened in Seattle (Ballard).

Dissonant Plane.

http://www.dissonantplane.com/

there's abs. nothing here in upstate NY (binghamton). we had a record fair the other day that wass decent but nothing special really.

drive to rochester and go to the bop shop.

i've got family there, so i'll "pop" into the bop shop next time i'm there, thanks!
if anyone's got other suggestions (closer to bing) that'd be cool.

Any good ones (2nd hand too!) in Cambridge, UK? Going to see a friend in March, won't have that much time for recordshopping but would like to scour for a bit if there's a good shop...

So... what advice does ILM have for starting a small record store?

I have the space, which is free (part of my house - and local regulations allow businesses in the home), a Visa Merchant account, Paypal, an eBay account, a Discogs account (which I'm thinking can function as a de facto web site for stock listing), and a fair amount of stock. I know I need a business license, business cards, a land line, and some physical modifications to the space (wall shelves, crates, etc). What I especially need more info on is distributors, and distro contacts. I'm basically going to be working on the small-but-good model of Wall Of Sound in Seattle, TD's in Bloomington Indiana, Exile in Portland, etc. I am interested in how people typically set up accounts with distros, how to contact ones people think are good, and what the usual minimum orders are.

I'm also sure I'm missing other crucial details, which is why I'm asking.

sent an e-mail to your efn account...

http://www.wosound.com/images/specialties.gif

i like how that reads like it's one genre. it would be funny if you went into their store and they only had 5 avant-garde japanese noise industrial art-rock indie alternative free-jazz folk experimental ambient world electronic electro-acoustic neoclassical records and nothing else.

scott you just made me laugh.

thanks ian!

When I first read that I thought it was an ad for scott's new store.

Twisted Village store in Harvard Square is closing tomorrow.
http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/onthedownload/archive/2010/07/15/harvard-square-s-twisted-village-to-close-july-25.aspx

Ear X-Tacy in Louisville is closing

Dear Louisville, and all who have shopped, supported, and loved ear X-tacy over the years,

It has been a dream come true...actually, a dream exceeded, to be part of your musical lives here in Louisville for the last 26 years. My life was changed forever, and guided by the power of music since I can remember. Music has been the soul, the heart, the passion of my life for my entire 56 years. The record store experience has been the only child in my life. Now, it's time for me to let it fly.

Thank YOU...for allowing me to be part of your musical universe. Louisville, you made me feel like I was truly HOME when I moved here in 1976. It's been a great ride, but as George Harrison knowingly said, "All Things Must Pass." It's with sadness, but also with great pride I say to you now...

ear X-tacy is no more

Long live ear X-tacy!

Please keep the music alive. Support the incredible music scene and independent businesses we have here! Until you leave this great city, you cannot realize what a unique treasure we have here. Embrace it, celebrate it, and promote it. Love it.

Thank you all for making my dreams come true. Thank you for making ear X-tacy the wonderful place that it was. I thank all of the staff that made this store THE hub for music in Louisville for the past 26 years. Please take pride in knowing that YOU have been the heart and soul of what this store became. Thank you for sharing my dream and exceeding all of my expectations! To all of the musicians who have graced our store and stage, I cannot tell you what a thrill it's been. From the local newbies to the incredibly huge national artists...THANK YOU for gracing our store and sharing you incredible musical talents with us all...that's what I like to call: "earX-tacy".

Love, peace, music and ear X-tacy to you all,

John D. Timmons
President, ear X-tacy, Inc.

Every record store is closing and it's fucking depressing.

one store that's still chugging along: http://www.prex.com/

This Toronto store has been in the same location since the mid-'70s:

http://www.blogto.com/services/around-again-toronto

I was there all the time during the '80s, but only drop in once every year or two now.

As far as I know, also the same two owners the whole time.

ear x-tacy wasn't really so hot the last few times i went there, much prefer underground sounds.

still sad i guess.

how is cheapos in Minneapolis doing?

I realized lately that I don't go into the city as often because I don't want to find out that another record store has closed. And thus I contribute to the deaths.

This Toronto store has been in the same location since the mid-'70s:

http://www.blogto.com/services/around-again-toronto

I was there all the time during the '80s, but only drop in once every year or two now.

― clemenza, Tuesday, November 1, 2011 4:03 AM (10 hours ago)

I LOVE Around Again--Discovery Records is also great (on the east end, in Leslieville):

http://www.discoveryrecords.com

Newbury Comics just sent out an update from the owner saying they need to "change or die" and are moving to hybrid stores, i.e. places that sell even MORE pop culture crap and clothes. Oy.

it's crazy, the only places I can buy music in my town are target, best buy and walmart.

Used to drop by Discovery a lot when I lived in the east end - now it's a bit of a hike so I rarely go, but if I'm looking for something specific on vinyl it's nice to know you can see if he has it on the website. Going into the store itself can be a bit intimidating for the casual music fan, though...if you're not a huge fanatic, especially about vinyl, I get the feeling that the owner might come off as a bit condescending sometimes...just because he's really into what he's doing, I'm guessing. (He's also got a nice stash of 78s in the back room, if you've got a couple hours to go through them.)

I went to this place http://www.plattfon.ch/about/ on Saturday. It's charming, well-stocked and seems to be thriving. Just want to pass on some good news.

sad about ear x-tacy. since my sister moved to louisville, i probably bought 100+ records there, from right at the beginning of my music-buying life (6th or 7th grade); till the last time i made it down that ways a year-plus ago (got a steal on the used Loren Connors 2CD As Roses Bow). though i agree their collection had gone downhill in recent years, my tastes had also gotten more esoteric. always had a pleasant time while i was there though...stacking shitty used CDs and figuring out which combination i could afford.

News like this makes me glad my local stores are still doing OK. There are four of them in a town of 150,000 (we used to have seven). One sells a LOT of games and DVDs to get by. One still focuses on CDs, I can't really imagine how they will continue. They added vinyl a few years back but it is completely picked over now. One is a small specialty store (with tons of decent-to-good vinyl and CDs) that depends heavily on cigarette income. The other is the venerable H0use Of Rec0rds, still going strong after who knows how many years (35?). They are continually reclaiming CD shelf space in order to stock more vinyl, new and used. They say business is fine, so I hope they'll be here for at least another decade before the data cloud takes over our brains.

(xposts) I dropped into Discovery once or twice many years ago--didn't realize it was still around. (I don't venture east much anymore.) I don't know if this is a fair statement or not, but my recollection is that it was a little on the pricy side. Do you guys remember Open City on the Danforth? That was the only store east of Yonge I ever regulary trekked out to; I thought their prices were really good, I almost always came away with a few albums.

I took some photos a few years ago for my site of all the locations where my favourite Toronto record stores once were (or, in a couple of instances, still are--Sam's, of course, has since vacated).

http://phildellio.tripod.com/records-stores.html

My fave record store in Berlin, Dense, closed last week: http://www.dense-shop.de/2011-10-17-dense-is-closing-goodbye-and-thank-you/

Haha, I didn't realize you were Clemenza, Phil - have seen your writing about!

I definitely remember Open City - he always seemed to get a bunch of good recent releases in his CD stacks at the counter, probably castoffs from a reviewer. Also had a great basement of discounted items and I almost always found something good to leave with. It was a sad day when he decided to pack it in because his prices were definitely more reasonable than Discovery and it was a lot closer than the Books Plus at Main or the downtown stores!

Also just learned Monster records on Yonge near Wellesley closed down earlier in the year...guess he went back into artist management. Oh well.

Another one bites the dust, at least in its current location.
http://www.thevillager.com/?p=2018
http://blackfridaymagazine.com/new-york-city-music-scene-loses-another/01627

Not to kick them while they're down, but I kinda thought lots of records at Bleeker Bob's were overpriced back in the '80s...wonder what they are charging now

A bit expensive the last time I was there (~2009) but not insultingly so.

So apparently Rough Trade is opening in Williamsburg...

Rough Trade East (London) was busy selling more coffee than anything else when I was in there Sunday. It's so expensive I'm not surprised.

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2013/11/14/record-shop-owner-accused-of-hiding-cameras-restroom

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25746768/record-store-robbery-suspect-who-held-denver-police

record stores, never more relevant

Two best record stores in Denver are on E. Colfax. What was that guy doing on Colorado?

Stopped at Stinkweeds in Phoenix last week and am happy that it's still going strong: http://www.stinkweeds.com

The store I work in LUNA Music (as weekend guy) just celebrated our 20th birthday. Stop in if yr passing through Indianapolis: http://www.lunamusic.net/

I might be a little biased, but I think it's a pretty sweet spot.

some guy came in and this is what he said:

"do you buy records? or is this it?"

what does that mean?

i found myself explaining what a store was to him. and i felt silly.

http://eil.com/images/main/Peggy-Lee-Is-That-All-There-619526.jpg

i think sometimes people get confused and think that they have stumbled into my living room.

"You've got quite the collection. How long did it take you to amass all this?"

uhhhhhhh....

it would be like going into an antiques store and saying: man, you sure do have a lot of chairs! how long did it take you to find all these chairs?

best description of a VG+ cover ever:

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
LP in good shape, a few faint paper scuffs and fingerprints on each side, no playback issues. W/Takoma Records inner. Sleeve has edgewear, corner wear, light ringwear, light scuffing, woc (rear).

ALSO WE POOPED ON IT.

M - there are no mint records
NM - sealed
VG+ - opened, handled, maybe played once
VG - played, has surface noise and pops etc
G - has a shit load of surface noise and pops etc
F - we pooped on it

uk goldmine grading seems more useful/meaningful to me

i don't even wanna fucking deal with selling VG or lower on discogs, the spectrum of buyer expectations is just too wide

ymmv

obviously it's totally different for a store, where you don't really have time to play-test everything

i do VG covers all the time if the record is REALLY clean and its something that people really want. i mean most old records have VG covers.

you can't have WRITING on a cover and call it VG+. i mean you can't.

yup, that is a VG- cover specifically cuz of the writing imo

i put a record up on discogs today for 60 bucks. the median price is about 60 and there was only one other copy for sale on discogs right now. their price? 400 dollars. i sold my copy in about 2 hours. sometimes i don't get what people are up to...

https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=N2KyxS3XojYIzP_gzTgt_Q

First thing I'd like to say Is that that owner didn't say hello, or even acknowledge my presence the ten minutes I was in his shop. Instantly put a bad taste in my mouth. Not that I needed help, but damn, I'm sure people aren't beating down his door with business. Records in my opinion were quite over priced. Selection was pretty bad too , a few thousand random rock records.. small jazz and classical section... I hit A, B, C & M and was over it by then. Unless you're going to Greenfield anyway, I would save your gas.

https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15578430_10157932861345298_8076768788314792337_n.jpg?oh=dc69c1f96651af5348970b7921be0aa2&oe=58F69830

graphic courtesy of my brother via facebook.

lol

I prefer to be ignored by the shopkeeper unless I need help

i'm fine with a "let me know if i can help you find anything" when i enter

i used to work at a record store, one of the cd/game exchange (formerly called record exchange) stores in the DC area and it was store policy to ask to hold all bags behind the counter. i fucking hated that so much. the cds and games were locked behind cabinets anyways, why the fuck do i need your bag too?

sometimes i don't feel like yelling hello. i'm really far away from the front door. sometimes i will. but usually i wait until people come closer and i make eye contact and say hi.

https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1915662_10153627195753802_5667831438800049308_n.jpg?oh=97556f092942af6786cc897d3ed6315c&oe=58EEFC57

sometimes i just wave.

yea im also fine with being ignored

I usually think "the owner of this store does not need another friend" and decline to engage until I purchases I'd like to make.

*have purchases

scott do people ever ask "what's new? / what's good / what should i buy?"

sometimes people ask me about things that they see. i could definitely, uh, "upsell" more if i wanted to. people love to be told what to buy. people totally buy things where i write on the plastic sleeve "Great!" and "Stoner classic!" and stuff like that. i could do that more too.

the people who buy the most never ask me anything though. i definitely cater to people who enjoy volume shopping. finicky people are not my fave customers. though i try to be nice to everyone.

what do you mean by finicky people?

Yeah I have def been swung by a store-scribbled label. Not to buy sth totally cold but maybe if I was kinda curious or on the fence already. Even stuff like ''beat but plays!'' has had an effect on me.

there are people who are very skittish and afraid of buying the wrong record and they have a very small list of things that they KNOW they absolutely want and everything else is viewed with suspicion and they often want a lot of convincing and reassurance. like. and this is 100% the opposite of what i am like but i try to be supportive. (i have a box of 45s for a buck a piece and recently a couple of people stood and listened to dozens of them on their phone. took them an hour or more. they spent five bucks. but at least they didn't make a horrible mistake and buy the wrong one dollar single. in my opinion, sometimes you need to hear the wrong records. or even bad records. but that's just me.)

i think I mostly listen to the wrong records

local store in my area always has something good for between $5-10. I've found enough stuff that I really like that I don't mind whiffing now and again. So I bought the wrong Deuter record, I'm sure I'll see the right one come through soon enough.

xxp it drives me insane when people pull that kinda close inspection shit on some dollar record I''m selling at a show. IT'S A DOLLAR. Stop looking for hairline marks!

yea otm. when most record stores sold used vinyl for $1-$5 i felt a lot better just buying things on whims and feelings.

otoh when the same and other places started selling used vinyl for $10-$40 i basically stopped buying vinyl

(obv there is plenty of used vinyl that is worth that amount, plenty of stuff id pay for, but vinyl markup has gotten pretty gross at many places ime)

it's anecdotal, but i have found that younger people who were not around for records when records were the thing are much more selective and less willing to take a chance on something they haven't heard/aren't sure of. they have very specific wants and they often want ONE gem as opposed to the gluttons of yore who just wanted to load up in order to fill the gaping void that the pizza wouldn't fill. the internet has helped refine their tastes to within an inch of their lives.

which is why i got rid of my listening station. to bug them.

haha!

and it's not really the picky part that bums me out. it's that a lot of these people don't even get any pleasure from looking at records. they just ask if i have the three things that they want that nobody ever has and then they leave. or they wander around looking at the shelves and NOT look at any of the records. sometimes for a while! it can be excruciating to watch sometimes.

the nice people who like to look make up for it though.

like this guy. look how happy!

https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15350683_10154313968713802_6389846961233901928_n.jpg?oh=8d8c0b86ec67d383d519597ab643e2de&oe=58E952B2

right off the wall.

https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15401037_10154313706418802_529202199632177758_n.jpg?oh=0228723b1d38b9e59944d26e199786ec&oe=58E28CB2

(obv there is plenty of used vinyl that is worth that amount, plenty of stuff id pay for, but vinyl markup has gotten pretty gross at many places ime)

― marcos, Monday, December 19, 2016 3:53 PM (thirty-four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Store I used to work at likes to price anything they don't normally get at blanket prices, just because they aren't the everyday 70s rock. It's the result of not being very good at seeking out interesting buys. Especially true when they put out newer indie records that have come in used. I like to point out to them when they are priced higher than the same copies they still have sitting in the new bins.

(Surprised to see that George Gerdes LP on the wall there, because it's currently visible here in my front room: I took a chance on it for £1 recently in an example of excellent record shopping behaviour IMO.)

(Keep meaning to mention its title, "Son of Obituary" on one of the horrible puns threads.)

i just like that record. it's not some rare thing or whatever. best cover!

I like it too - exactly the mix of good + slightly weird + great cover I want from a £1 dice buy

Here's why I was surprised - posted this on Twitter last week:

https://twitter.com/halfpintpress/status/806635754520801280

That looks great Tim – are you taking pre-orders yet?

Thanks - and not yet, I will do so when I find 0out whether I can persuade someone to do a little exhibition of the thing first (and if so coincide "publication" with that. If you want me to drop you a line ahead of publication then mail me on my ilx mail or at halfpintpress at gmail dot com.

Apols everyone else for spamming the thread up, will keep it to ILB if I can.

Thanks, I've followed you on the twitter so hopefully will hear from that in due course.

LP cover, second row down, second album in.

What is that one? I dimly remember having it... Girl on the cover, head shot. Didn't her boyf die in suspicious circ?

It's "Colors" by Claudine. I wouldn't know about her bf I'm afraid.

REDRUM! i found pictures of the old store i had with my pal lance in the 90s in philly. we sold clothes and books and videos and comix and magazines but i sold more records than anything else. that store kinda freaked some people out a little. it was very basement-y. and completely red inside. and we had black trash bags on the ceiling.

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21192945_10156207637772137_4168535241986185944_n.jpg?oh=4e82a4cd1adfa5b6fcabc638344e8b03&oe=5A242613

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21230953_10156207643142137_1012430721860737343_n.jpg?oh=587420ebd8e70067998fbcf08ad790e0&oe=5A53FB30

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21232128_10156207643702137_9196441755436104735_n.jpg?oh=044d0a15fa1648bd286198e4a20a6571&oe=5A21BDFB

now i'm all normal...

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21192451_1851257631854547_2935703198262718714_n.jpg?oh=835b3cd662d1d105282ef86dd51e6753&oe=5A1E6C49

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21271337_1851257685187875_1866175346887371085_n.jpg?oh=742b2644d6f6ca1361b696112cffacb2&oe=5A605F61

both versions are awesome, thanks for sharing.

Cool stuff, Scott!

scott your place looks awesome. i wanna sit on those lime stripe chairs. old school philly store looks a little like my favorite spot in new brunswick

http://www.spinarecords.com/

my dollar dungeon is almost ready for invited guests. ilxors are allowed. you just have to say: "I'd like to play some D&D."

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22519423_10156313784732137_286891511766496723_n.jpg?oh=9aeedc6df2ae243a205d0ee573f890fb&oe=5A693EA1

looks extremely fun

heaven is a multistory record store with endless floors

Anyone familiar with a record store called Burning Airlines that was somewhere in New Jersey a few decades ago (looks like it might still exists as a band t-shirt dealer)? I somehow got ahold of a thick catalog of theirs in Ohio in the mid-'80s that I was obsessed with. Typewritten and photocopied with thousands of punk/postpunk/new wave records, shirts, posters, buttons, etc. As a student at a school where a tie was part of the dress code I was particularly interested in the "skinny tie" section of the catalog and still regret not getting the Siouxsie and Ultravox ties that I had my eye on. Anyway just wondering if the store was as cool as I imagined it being at the time.

yep I remember Burning Airlines catalogs, I think they advertised in MRR back in the day. I ordered a few things for sure.

I was not aware that it was an actual brick-and-mortar store, though!

You know I guess it's possible that it wasn't -- just assumed it was an actual store at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20pU6MoJSBY

record store lolz

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/every_crate_diggers_nightmare_record_store_has_whipped_cream_and_other

my kid put me on the instagram!

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23435252_10156385962822137_7648578309546049142_n.jpg?oh=faab304cd5eb8cd977b8ba8b9a52707b&oe=5A9CE8D4

https://www.instagram.com/johndoejrrecords/?hl=en

Nice to see King Crimson

Fantastic.

*drools*

scott do you ever sell on discogs/musicstack or anything?

my home away from home.

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/33049905_10215060059806797_7404161032869904384_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=cab7f544faf2f4c6124d8f277fabdcb5&oe=5B87D1E5

beautiful

yeah, that looks lovely

my summer record store look...

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/33621335_10156899364217137_199183746916679680_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeHjWVEHgYYy2sq9YO0THqDyDgymFQmDlt2MvJpT9TO8h1Lh4Rf6kUjE3k1xBeJXD_lSjFIEiqPhMZ3b3kMsI70X7iWPRzVK07S-ViCkQToAig&oh=70f10e9cc208fbd2246626235a3c5681&oe=5B8A3450

https://www.yuppiegadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Gnome-Light-Blue.jpg

https://ktla.com/2019/06/25/amoeba-music-set-to-be-torn-down-replaced-with-complex-after-l-a-council-votes-to-approve-zoning-changes/

i haven't been in years but i spent a lot of hours there .

We only have ourselves to blame

it'll be opening in another spot in Hollywood somewhere but i'm sure they'll be gone for a few months at least while setting up.

Oh I didn’t know that! Have to make a point to get out there and check out the new digs when it’s done.

There will reportedly be weed, if that’s yr bag

no idea where it will be located but i feel like it's gotta be pretty close to that. they just need to find another sizable place with a decent lot.

Was always a bit miffed that Tower and allsuch stores went bust but Amoeba was able to have such prominent real estate. The vinyl heads tend to more trade in than put in.

My guess is Eagle Rock, over on whatever that main drag is. Yorke. Havent lived there for years but remember lots of tenants splitting on the raising rent.

All the (5?) Dimple records locations are closing in Sacramento

They all kinda sucked for music anyway

You may have heard something about the future of Amoeba in LA. Rest assured, we are NOT closing. We are planning to move to a new space in Hollywood in about another year and will let everyone know when we have news to share.

Please read our full update: https://t.co/8GdZmJbUTk pic.twitter.com/gNCxEAda3Z

— Amoeba Music (@amoebamusic) June 26, 2019

Chicago folx — a friend’s brother recently opened this store in the Portage Park neighborhood: https://www.facebook.com/tonedeafrecschicago/

Check it out if you’re so inclined

Warren from Little Ax in Portland OR has moved to the city next door to me in Springfield and opened a store there, supposedly tons of African records but I have yet to make it in.