Shamless trolling for info on your favorite record stores.

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Hey. I am currently working on compiling a list of the best record stores all around the country for the day job, and I was wondering if anyone around here might have an opinion (ha ha ha) on their favorite places to buy music. Please note the phrase "all around the country," which is quite essential to this guide -- it's going to be designed as a city-by-city (and area-by-area, like northern New Jersey and South Jersey and Orange County etc) breakdown. Anyone who posts a suggestion here will be owed a drink by me the next time they are in New York (or I am in your city)! Thank you.

― maura, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll start!

I love Vintage Vinyl in Evanston, IL, even though every friend of mine thinks the dude who runs the shop is totally cranky. I think I endeared myself to him when I told him I was going to the first Terrastock ... ha.

― maura, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Gee, could mentioning Orange County be a bit of a hint? ;-)

Noise Noise Noise in Costa Mesa is the store out here in the land of Sugar Ray and all. A beacon of hope! Run by David James, a wonderfully relaxed individual. You'll always find something interesting in there, no matter who you are -- hey, I've seen it happen!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

al-bums in Worcester, Ma. great place, great deals, and a great staff.

― Chris, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Vintage Vinyl on the other side of the Miss is pretty nice as well. Half the employees are local musicians. I once lived right behind the store. Needless to say, money did not stay long in my pocket.

― bnw, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My favorite record store is Used Kids Records in Columbus, OH. Their in/out flow is huge, so the selection always has some surprises. And it's all priced to move: most CDs are $3 to $9. I've found so many good $3 CDs there, it's insane. Good, cheap vinyl too. They have a small but selective and reasonably priced new CD section also. You can often find Mr. Ron House (Great Plains, TJ Slave Apts) behind the counter there. The staff is friendly and not the surly Jack-Black-in-High-Fidelity type, and they have the best return policy I've ever heard of - if you don't like a *used* cd, return it within in a few days for a full refund. I've rarely exited the store without a stack of music.

― Ernest, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Low Yo Yo Stuff is the best record store in Athens, GA. Whenever I'm in Atlanta and have time I try to hit Wax 'n' Facts and Criminal Records in Little Five Points and there's a fairly good hip-hop record store down near Greenbriar mall I forget the name of (maybe some native Atlantan can provide more details here). ANd being in New York you know whether or not you want to include Other Music, but I'll say that their weekly newsletter is extremely valuable in bringing things to my attention.

― J Blount, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Phonoluxe Records
Grimey's
Both in Nashville, TN. Phonoluxe has the best $2 cd bin I've ever seen. Plenty of used vinyl, but it's kind of pricey. Grimey's, on the other hand, is very affordable, but with a smaller selection. The store owners make up for it, though. Probably some of the nicest guys in the world.

― paul, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Morninglory Music, Santa Barbara CA

Amoeba Records, Berkely, CA, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA

Other Music, NY, NY, Kim's Aboveground, NYC...

― JM, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Rhino on Westwood in West LA has rocketed back up to very decent store status and is worth a visit. Amoeba on Sunset in Hollywood is the best store within five hundred miles and Aron's on Highland in Hollywood is excellent.

― dan, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Neptune Records in Royal Oak, Michigan and Stormy Records in Dearborn (run by Windy and Carl) are both great for new and old obscure vinyl and cds. Schoolkids Records in Exile in Ann Arbor is also cool, especially for Americana/folk music. That's Michigan for you.

― John S., Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Unfortunately, given the advent of music-shopping the internet and the crushing, sweeping onslaught of "the Megastore," many of my favorite NYC Mom'n'Pop record stores have been squeezed out of existence like zits. I used to swear by ROUTE 66 (which went from the West side of Bleeker Street to the comparitively narrow and too-well-travelled path that is MacDougal Street before its untimely demise) which also featured a pair of cantankerous salespeople behind the counter, all to happy to regail interested parties with a myried reasons why Kyuss were inherently superior to Fu Manchu or which Gary Numan bootleg offered the finest rendition of "Down in the Park"). Given slipping sales and high overhead, ROUTE 66 went the way of all flesh (the space having since already chaged hands from a fruit smoothie emporium to a makeshift sushi shack). Simlllarly, Venus Records (orginally located a flight up across the street from Hendrix's Electric Ladyland Studios on West 8th Street, only to move crosstown on St.Mark's Place) gradually petered away into non-existance. The jaw-dropping rock'n'roll museum that was IT'S ONLY ROCK'N'ROLL (also on 8th Street) has been closed since Bush Sr.'s administration. These are but a few of the stolen gems on what remains of NYC's skeletal record store crown.

Of the remaining ones, I used to quite dig REBEL REBEl on West Bleeker, but their target demographic seems to have shifte from anglophillic fans of indie and alternative rock to, shall we say, fragrant denizens of rather flamboyant dance music ripe for the sporting of hot pink feather boas and stacked heels. Alas. BLEEKER BOB'S is still there, but perpetually in a state of grotty decline. MONDO KIM's on St.Mark's and KIM's on West Bleeker are both still great. OTHER MUSIC, despite being a bit high and mighty, is a fine hotbed of needlessly esoteric stuff. ROCKS IN YOUR HEAD, buried on a sleepy Soho street remains my all-time favorite, despite having to recently offer video rentals in order to stay financially afloat.

Despite all this bellyaching, I'm happy to report that the HMV on 86th Street & Lexington Avenue was recently forced to close its doors for good. Good fuckin' riddance. Justice served?

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dr. Wax, Chicago. Rock selection for the trendy college kids, hip-hop selection with treasures for the headz, standout jazz selection and all the right ragga. Weak on the techno end, but stocks all the local scene stuff if you want to jack or step. The other half is hipster vinyl for beatdigging and cold-chilling and they're always playing some exclusive mix you can't even buy (and you will want to!) over the in-store.

― Sterling Clover, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tower in The Loop is a nice surprise, actually, with a strong import section and sizeable electronic collection, tho terribly weak on the hip-hop end. But best of all, it is four stories and you can ONLY GO UP. Once you ascend, there is no return to the bottom of the store until you checkout and leave through a dank fire-exit. There is no turning back, but pressed forward ever forward by the winds of history...

― Sterling Clover, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Michigan:

Buy Rite (Detroit)
Car City (St. Clair Shores)
Desirable Discs (Dearborn)
Encore (Ann Arbor)
Neptune (Royal Oak)
Record Collector (Ferndale)
Record Time (Ferndale and Roseville)
Wazoo (Ann Arbor)

― Andy K, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dallas TX, Indie Mecca that it isn't, finally has a good indie record store again. It's Good Records, run by ex- Tripping Daisy guys. I'm gr8ful to the store for the good selection, good prices, and bringing in lots of bands for in-stores who'd have skipped Dallas altogether, otherwise. In Austin I like 33 Degrees on N. Guadalupe and Sound Exchange on the drag. But you know those.

― Aaron, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

best memories from:
Ditch records (victoria, b.c., canada)
Mystery Train (glouchester, massachussettes)
Rotate This (Toronto, Ontario)
Cheap Thrills (montreal, quebec)
Primitive (montreal, quebec)

― ddd, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Not mentioned yet:

Aquarius, SF (everyone knows about this one);
Open Mind Music, SF (underappreciated SF shop - best used vinyl in the city);
Plan 9, Richmond, VA (fantastic used vinyl selection; OK otherwise);
Flat, Black & Circular, East Lansing, MI (more great used vinyl)

― Mark, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

maura, you live near me in Astoria. Would you like to have some hot sex? No? About the record store thingy, I like Bleeker Bob's cuz it looks like a place where God basically shit vinyl diahrea (and a couple of skanky record-store clerks) out of his ass.

― Rog, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Downtown Music Gallery - NYC

They don't cover everything, but the things they do cover they cover better than anyone else in town. Plus they're cheap. And Bruce (the store owner) is a rabid fan who is a permanent fixture at all of the avant-jazz/rock venues in town (usually found sitting behind his DAT recorder in the front row), has heard just about everything, and writes very informative and comprehensive e-mail newsletters about new releases.

― o. nate, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm guessing you've got the princeton record exchange already, which was once-great and is slowly descending into the pits...

vintage vinyl in edison, NJ is good if you've got musical tastes that relate heavily to specialized haircuts (punk, hardcore, metal, prog-rock, and a large quantity of each).

― your null fame, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

When I was in high school I used to hang out at this Turtles record store because this cute college girl worked there, but I never actually spoke to her until I wanted to watch the "Sign O' the Times" concert video and my friend who had a Blockbuster membership agreed to rent it for me if I'd ask the Turtles girl out. So I did and she turned me down (my method was weak - I asked her if she wanted to go to Six Flags. Don't sweat the technique people!), but I got to watch "Sign O' the Times", which was hampered by a muddled storyline (why does a concert film have a storyline?). Six months later Turtles was bought out by Blockbuster. Talk about your Instant Karma!

― J Blount, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I have to second Amoeba records in Berkeley, and also in San Francisco. I actually think the Berkeley one is better, even though it's smaller. I can almost always find what I want used-- no matter how obscure!

― Manny Parsons, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The HMV at 86th & Lex was my local record store. It was very unlovable but I got some nice bargains at the final hour of the final day it was open: Merzbow's Dharma, recent Microstoria and a dancehall sampler.

― Michael Daddino, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

maura: VV has a great selection of used stuff (esp. vinyl), but a bit steep on the prices IMHO. It hasn't changed much in forever, I used to go there all the time in highschool and I still drop in nowadays when I am in chicago and get a couple LPs. It was the best/only place in the Chicago area where you could get 80's UK indie like the early creation records, El records, etc.

― g, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Where I live now, you've got Spaceboy Records and AKA in Philly, both generally decent for new stuff but lacking in quality used sections, and Princeton Record exchange in NJ which used to be amazing for vinyl bargains but I haven't been there in a long time. I was in Japan and Vinyl Japan in Tokyo really was heaven for indiepop & UK indie stuff, great used vinyl, very expensive, etc. But I guess that doesn't fit into your guide if it is only US. Truthfully I get most of the stuff I buy these days online, both new and used. Another brick and mortar place worth mentioning is PDQ records in Tucson Arizona: - Huge used vinyl section, rare stuff, jazz records, decent prices. If I think of more i'll post again...

― g, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was talking about the Evanston IL Vintage Vinyl in my post above, the Edison NJ VV is decent as well as someone mentioned, for punk and prog and stuff. It used to be alright for general alternative and UK imports too, but I haven;t been there in a few years now.

― g, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Another brick and mortar place worth mentioning is PDQ records in Tucson Arizona: - Huge used vinyl section, rare stuff, jazz records, decent prices. g's not lying. this place is massive, relatively cheap, and fun. tons of quirky regional strengths too: it doesn't just have a section dedicated to mexican 60's rock - it has a whole ROOM.

There's also a great place in Detroit, on Michigan Ave., near Dearborne ... also has a 3-letter name like ABC or RFK or something. It had a great used soul section a few years ago.

― Dinah Cancer, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

!! Dinah Cancer from 45 Grave and other such things? Why, welcome. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I second the recommendation for Flat, Black & Circular in East Lansing, Michigan--I went there ALL THE TIME when I was growing up, and when I went back last summer, was surprised to find it even better than I remembered. Where else can you find an ABBA boxed set for $20 AND a WCKR SPGT tape for $2?

― Douglas, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Positively Records, Woerner Avenue, Levittown, Pa

― Lord Custos III, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Cleveland -- Bent Crayon, My Generation (in Westlake), My Mind's Eye (in Lakewood). Pittsburgh -- Paul's. Second Ernest's Used Kids (Columbus) and Andy's Detroit recommendations.

― Jeff Wright, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

B-Side in Madison, WI, on State Street. Sure stuff maybe be a dollar or two more than at Exclusive Co. down the street, but they've got all the cool stuff (and a nice end of year staff picks newsletter).

― Jordan, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Twisted Village in Cambridge, MA- If I only had a selection like this when I was a kid I wouldn't have bought so many shitty records. Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff. The interior is purple and silver,like,psychedelic. Psych/Free Jazz/Modern Classical buyers take note. Terrastockers start saving you $$$ now.

Mystery Train in Amherst,MA- Mostly used but still top notch selection. Sells all the new stuff the other squares in town won't touch. Has a Micheal Hurley mural on the back wall.

Ecstatic Yod in Florence, MA- If your looking for any underground fodder of the last 30 or so years They got it. If not they'll get it for you. Open only by appointment but worth it even if you only get to look at the records you'll never be able to afford to buy.

― brg30, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Morninglory Music, Santa Barbara CA - Yeah, I used to go here in the late 70s and it was godhead, but when I re-visited it in the mid 90s it had shrunk (vinyl to CDs so needs less space, I guess) and the magic was gone.

Pasadena - PooBah's
Glendale - Music Exchange (not as good as it used to be)
Silverlake - Rockaway Records (has rock collectables as well a great used section).

― nickn, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

paul's cds in pittsburgh, located up in bloomfield. great selection, and now that the guy from hurl made scarce a staff free of eltist bs...

― mike bott, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Some unique greats sprinkled across the hinterlands, but if you're within a half-day's drive (unlikely in some cases) . . .

Shangri-La Records (Memphis, Tenn.) - Tiny but action-packed vinyl and CD store, lotsa the sort of weird used stuff you would expect to eventually resurface in Mempho (priced accordingly, sad to say), and various weirdness from other places. Plus Sherman is a really nice guy, and used to put out great records by the Grifters, Strapping Fieldhands, etc. He also sells bricks from the original, now- demolished Stax Studios--you can get 'em mail order too, but the shipping charge more or less equals the cost.

Roy's Records (Maryville, Tenn.) - Roy has been in business for about 35-40 years and Has. Never. Returned. Anything. The store's main thing is country music, but you just never know what you'll find (for instance, I scored several albums from Ornette Coleman's long-defunct Artists House label--sealed--and a copy of the Jam's Sound Affects, with the "Going Underground" promo single sealed inside the shrink- wrap--it was filed in the sound-effects records section--both for their original list prices). The place is such a trove that you can practically spot the out-of-state collectors on Saturdays, and it's still not picked clean.

Music Liberated (Baltimore, Mar.) - Unbelievable, chaotic storehouse of dance, R&B, and hip-hop vinyl and CDs. It's small and usually just about impossible to navigate, but you should bring a sack lunch if you stop in. Possibly the best single source for Baltimore "club music." It seems like about a half-dozen guys are usually working there at any given time, although they're certainly not going to be helping you.

There used to be a bunch of good record stores in the D.C. suburbs, but I think some of the better ones have recently closed. Anyone out there have any fresh info?

― Lee G, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

These are all so great. Keep them coming, if you can! And thank you. Guess I'll be buying lots of drinks for the New York-bound types (I am serious about that offer, so let me know backchannel if you're going to be around -- although any requests for sex, no matter how hot, will be turned down. Sorry!)

― maura, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm glad to hear Alex confirm my suspicions that most of the good record stores in NYC are gone. In high school I used to take the train from suburban CT into the city (this was early 80's), and all the cool little record stores just wowed me. With the exception of Kim's, it looks like there's almost nowhere good left.

Now I live in SF, and it's all about Amoeba.

― Sean, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm still convinced Minneapolis has the best record shopping of any city I've been to, though I didn't get to go to Amoeba in Berkely when I was in the Bay Area in '97--BART strike. still, here's what I love in my hometown:

LET IT BE (10th & Nicollet)--killer imports, Britpop, good books, lotsa vinyl; the owner bought three estates a few years back and there's still some goodies left. basement is all dance vinyl.
CHEAPO--lots of locations, used & new, the best stuff seems to perpetually be at the St. Paul location. since Mpls is both the record distro capital of the U.S., the home of the Sam Goody and Best Buy chains, and the home of lotsa rock critics, there's TONS of good used stuff. (this is across the board--I've been to stores that had every single Coltrane and Miles CD used that weren't Cheapo.) best of all, the prices are extraordinarily reasonable; the name sez it all.
ELECTRIC FETUS (Franklin & I think 18th)--enormous selection of new stuff, great staff, decent prices. next to scenic highway 5, if memory serves. (sorry, been awhile.)

Let me plump for Seattle's Wall of Sound, in Belltown--decent Wire magazine-type selection, good mag rack, and they frequently get good used stuff in.

― M Matos, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

btw, mail me privately Maura for that drink. thanks!

― M Matos, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Best place for cheap vinyl in Los Angeles is Record Surplus in West LA. A huge barnlike space with reasonably priced hard-to-find stuff and a great dollar area that's on the mezzanine. Cheap CDs, too. Also, they feature the happening new thing in retail: really friendly, knowledgeable staff. I wish it was in my neighborhood.

Atomic Records in Burbank is good for 60s stuff--Sunshine Pop, Psychedelia, Space Age Lounge Exotica Junk. Pricey and collector-ish though.

― Arthur, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hogwild Records - San Antonio, TX

Waterloo Records - Austin, TX

All Books and Records - Ft. Lauderdale

― JC, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Stormy Records in Dearborn, MI is also ace...

― Nicole, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm going to Portland, OR this weekend, so a friend recommended that I visit Everyday Music (no sales tax in OR!). Supposedly also worth checking out there: 2nd Ave records, Ozone, and Music Millennium.

― lyra in seattle, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Isn't there a store in Minneapolis called Garage D'Or? Just by the name alone it has to rate.

― nickn, Friday, 12 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.