(Regardless if a purchase was made).
- 0-7 days
- 8-30 days
- 1-6 months
- 7-12 months
- 1-2 years
- 2-5 years
- 6-10 years
- More than a decade
0
voters
Iām thrilled that a record store recently opened near me. And it seems to be doing well.
in the summer yard sale are fun too
Especially boomer and more boomer wife that going in condo
Typically weekly, but this year my LP purchases have dropped off significantly. as storage space is limited. What could be more helpful is record stores that you prefer and why. Location would be helpful as well.
Record stores I typically frequent in no particular order, as I have no favorite(s)
Dusty Groove - Chicago Wicker Park/Ukranian Village neighborhood Used jazz record stock is fairly priced, in excellent condition, and tends to offer considerable free jazz and the avant-garde opportunities. Highly supportive of local musicians as well.
Reckless Records - Chicago Wicker Park A nice alternative to Dusty Groove offering timely new releases, and a great mix of used jazz LPs. Tuned in to the pulse of Chicago. Something for everyone.
Corbett vs. Dempsey - A very focused offering of new avant-garde music within their Fulton Market neighborhood gallery. Live music offered mid-day on Saturdays, typically announced on Facebook or their email list. The art gallery and live music offerings make this one especially appealing.
606 Records - Chicago Pilsen neighborhood, a fine option for the latest Chicago label(s) new releases, IAI- International Anthem for example, always a surprise or two within the used record offerings. I should mention the fantastic food options within Pilsen (5 Rabinitos), and the exceptional National Museum of Mexican Art.
Strictly Discs - Madison, Wisconsin knowledgeable staff and their used jazz LP offers tend to be fairly broad from bebop on forward. Used records tend to be NM-/VG++. Why bother with lesser quality? Pretty much on top of new releases regardless of genre, no surprise for a university town.
Mad City Records - Madison, Wisconsin - Great new releases offerings typical for a progressive college town. Used records are a mixed bag, so a good eye for spotting a NM record is important. Not unusual to find some fair priced great condition jazz records that some local collector has dumped. Always a nice surprise awaiting at Mad City and worth the effort. Great staff to boot reflecting the Madison aesthetic.
Radio Chaos - Stevens Point, Wisconsin A good one for time travellers as the owner is typically there and is clearly stuck in the early seventies. Large selection of incense and the like associated with a 1969 head shop. New music selection reflects those tastes, so a fair amount of newly reissued 1970s classic rock and progressive rock. The most out there record Iāve ever come across here is Captain Beefheart Trout Mask Replica. While there an older boomer lady stopped in to pick-up an LP for her grand nieceās birthday. She was leaning towards Rumors, and I suggested she expand her nieceās horizon. She left with the Beefheart. The owner tends to try to convince UWSP college students of the merits of '70ās music, always entertaining to watch. He is usually successful. Not tuned into jazz what so ever. No used records, not a bad thing as Central Wisconsin tends to pile on the Lawrence Welk LPs.
Toad Hall - Rockford, Illinois. Rockfordās oldest used record store offering all sorts of ephemera, including books, magazines, comic books, and records. Originally started by a local couple that was big on fantasy before it became a thing. Their collection was kept across three buildings, and they were known hoarders. Known for original classical recordings, show tunes, soundtracks, bebop and post bop jazz. In the early eighties Toad Hall had become a destination for Japanese jazz collectors as their Blue Note catalog offerings were extensive. The Japanese collectors changed the collecting dynamic in Rockford permanently. They travelled to Rockford and Chicago specifically to pick up Blue Notes, RCA Shaded Dogs, and Mercury Living Presence LPs. Prices soared overnight and were not commensurate with the quality offered IMO. Currently used records offered tend to be of poor quality and overpriced. New release jazz records are limited to Blue Note, Contemporary, and MoFi reissues. Used jazz records have been picked over and are no longer worth the effort unless you are seeking an Audio Fidelity Louis Armstrong or possibly wanting to complete your Al Hirt collection. New owners of 15 years or so have cleaned up and consolidated the used LP collection. It still is huge and prices are negotiable with a quantity purchase. Worth a peek if you find yourself in Rockford. Yet another destination worthy of the time traveller.
Culture Shock - Rockford, Illinois Typical of a declining blue collar town leaning hard on dark metal for the tattoo and metal piercings set. Used record condition can be a mixed bag and may be over priced. The owner was offering on OG FUGS LP on the ESP label for $250. I told him that may be pushing it, I do have a VG+ one BTW. It was unplayable with deep scratches on both sides, and all outer sleeve seems split. Did I mention they clean all used records with windex? Used records from Culture Shock require special cleaning attention. An occasional used jazz find is possible here as most customers lean to the dark side and donāt bother digging through jazz.
Thanks
I went into two Twin Cities record stores and asked the same question to their owners. āIs vinyl superior to modern digital?ā
in both cases, they looked around as if to see if anyone was listening, then said no.
Like vinyl if you want, but what you prefer is noise, distortion or different mastering.
Just remembering how I actually chose a place to live based on proximity to record stores. For quite a while I would visit these stores twice a week.
Smart cookie, such profound foresight. If I had followed your example Iād need a storage locker just for LPs. In the day it would have been Jazz Record Mart, Rose Records, Wax Trax and Daveās Records. I still miss conversations with Bob Koester.
I would spend hours at Rose Records. Can still see the bins in my mind.
Hard to beat for their classical offerings.
The Toad Hall guys were at Axpona this year. They had a great selection of vinyl with them as well as some vintage gear.