Boston (Mass, not Lincs - ha) Record Shop Recommendations

Stereo Jack's, just past Harvard Square, specializes in jazz, folk and blues. Gotta love their $1 jazz bins. 1686 Mass Ave., Central Square, 617-497-9447.

In Your Ear has a huge selection of punk, 60s beat, jazz, and an impressive (current and back issues) zine shelf. Conveniently located next to an ATM machine. There's also one in Harvard Square. 957 Comm. Ave., 617-787-9755.

Looney Tunes near the Berklee School of Music, stocks lots of pristine old jazz albums (go figure). Last time I was there, I dove into a box of 99 cent 45s--and found some cool junk. 1106 Boylston St., 617-247-2238.

Diskovery, literally crammed to the ceiling with books and records, could be so much better. I really like the the owner (who is very nice, by the way) but she prices her vinyl WAY too high. Ten dollars for a scratchy Uriah Heep album? Someone needs to throw away their "price guide to records" book. 113 Brighton Ave., Allston, 617-787-2640.

Nuggets, located near Fenway Park, stocks jazz vinyl, used rock CDs, videos and DVDs. Check out the back--used books are usually half price. 486 Comm. Ave., 617-536-0679.

Twisted Village is a tiny lil' place located down steep stairs. It's the best place in town for that rare Albert Ayler album or jazz-improv vinyl you've been looking for. They occasionally have live performances in-store. Great UK psych selection, too. Knowledgeable folks. 12 Eliot St., Harvard Square, 617-354-6898 (http://www.twistedvillage.com/).

Cheapo Records. If old R&B, country, and rockabilly are your thing, check this place out. The owner(s) know their music history, too. 645 Mass. Ave, Central Square, 617-354-4455.

Skippy White's is THE mecca of old soul and R&B, disco, and jazz. Their 45 section is jaw-droppingly amazing. Between this and Cheapo across the street, one can easily blow a paycheck--it's like a mini-Vegas. 538 Mass. Ave, Central Square, 617-491-3345.

Flip Side Records, located next door to a taco shop, has a back room with cheap LPs. Decent jazz section, too. Nothing special, but they do E-Bay selling. 1410 Beacon St. Brookline, 617-739-8622 (http://www.flipsideweb.com/).

Mars Records. A fave. Very healthy selection of punk (both 60s and 70s) reissued on vinyl, current punk, and jazz. Some used vinyl--check out their 45 section. 299 Newbury, 617-266-4270.

Smash City is across from Mars and carries lots of vinyl and CDs. Nice zine section. I usually flip through the new arrivals section for good deals. There's a cool "exotica" section, too. 304 Newbury, 617-536-0216.

Mojo Music recently moved up the street betwix Central and Harvard Squares. Not sure if the new place is bigger, but the merchandise seemed to double. Good used book selection. 403 Mass. Ave, Central Square, 617-547-9976.

Also there is Newbury Comics and Virgin.

I recommend Mars records too. I worked there for a time when I was at school. It was a lot of fun. In Your Ear and Twisted Village are great.

You can start in Harvard Square and walk down to Central Square to check out the Cambridge stores and get some good food and ice cream at the same time.

I'll vouch for In Your Ear, Twisted Village, and Mars. Great shops.

Chris OTM

I'll second Mojo (on Mass Ave between Harvard and Central Squares) -- I buy stuff in there all the time.

Mass Ave between Harvard and Central has something like four or five decent-to-great record stores.

Whoo! Thanks all, especially ChristhevelvetbingoVtheartistformerlyknownaspoopsgcghee. If I mention your name will I get a discount?

What about big chains - like Tower, Borders etc.?

Tower is going out of business, if it isn't gone already; it's been supplanted by a Virgin Megastore on the corner of Newbury and MAss Ave. At any rate, Newbury Comics is the Boston area chain you want to visit (plus they are EVERYWHERE).

Newbury Comics is where I go for all new releases, pretty cheap for new releases. Get a bit expensive for older stuff.

the redline is a waste of time. walk from harvard to central square.

& nuggets has gone downhill. the used bins used to be gold but are filled with rubbish these days. (i've been going there for 15 years)

start at twisted village and you probally won't go anywhere else.

HMV closed shop in harvard square, which is a shame if you listen to classical.

and all the choice reggae shops are in the bad 'hoods , imagine that.

newbury comics is definitely the only decent chain in boston. is planet records still there in harvard square? i got a lot of good stuff there.

Planet Records is still there, as is CD Spins (which also has a location on Newbury).

nb For the purposes of most carless tourists, "in town" = Boston, Brookline, Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, and Somerville.

cd spins is sort of crap. planet records closes early on weekdays something like 9pm and twisted doesnt open til 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

there are (or at least were) some crazy charity shops in somerville, too. there was one that refused to let me pay for some of the cds i bought cos they were too rubbish.

also, geeta to thread:

http://www.theoriginalsoundtrack.com/blog/archives/00000205.htm

um, somerville is a bit of a hike from boston.

Not really; you can get to Davis Square from Park Street in less than 20 minutes.

I was gonna start this exact thread!! Except I do wanna know about Used record stores outside of Boston too. We took a trip last week to Cambridge and I stopped in Mojo, Second Coming & Looney Tunes and found great stuff in each. (We live on Martha's Vineyard so we aren't that far from Boston. But I moved here from Philly so I don't know all the good spots)

most of them have been mentioned and i gotta keep a few secrets! j/k
jamaica plain is the new somerville. somerville has gone the way of starbucks and the gap for the most part. what do you listen to?

KEPHM OTM; I didn't realize how true this was until last weekend.

well if your ever in worcester scott, we have Daddys Junky Music. And thats about it. Besides Newbury Comics.

My beloved Maria said that she used to go to stores in Allston(sp?).

I have to check out New Bedford sometime. Since its right here. It must have something besides heroin.

It was kinda funny, we went to Cambridge specifically for records cuz I get a little cranky if i don't smell large quantities of them every couple months and the coolest finds were at a yard sale in Falmouth 2 seconds after we drove off the ferry.

where the heck can one shop for records on the vineyard. Theres that one store on circuit ave.

I do all my shopping at the two thrift stores and at yard sales. There is one good record store:Aboveground Records in Edgartown. They have new vinyl and some used, but not a lot of used. They have a lot of cool new stuff. I bought Luomo on vinyl there. They just expanded the store too. I bought The World Of Arthur Russell on vinyl recently there. They do their best. I'm actually always pretty surprised that they have what they have. I was scared when I first went in there that it would be dave matthews city. They sell cool bootlegs too. The grey album is right up front with the new releases for 7.99.

i'll have to check it out in september.

I am still in Boston. The meeting has ended and I have a few hours before the flight. I'd like to picture myself flitting down to Harvard Sq and taking in some recd shops, but I can't summon up the will to do anything other than head to the nearest bar and drink myself to death...
I have just been given the worst job in the universe, have endured a week of corporate hell and am totally, utterly dispirited. I am certain to be fired within 3 months - watch this space.

:0 That's terrible! I wish I could come hang out and console.

Mars is closed up, BTW. And never underestimate Newbury's, despite them being a chain.

Also, Disc Diggers in Davis Square (Somerville) is the best place to get recent CD promos that the local press and radio have sold back. NYC has oodles of places like this, but Disc Diggers is the only consistently reliable one in the Boston area.

:-( oh god dr c i'm really sorry to hear that. your bosses sound like the biggest cockfarmers ever.

disc diggers is spotty ... varies from day to day. occasionally i'll check out the cassettes, but it's so picked through that it's hardly worth the effort.