Record stores

bnut

bnut

New Member
I figure now is as good a time as any to start a new topic.

Sometimes I am fortunate enough to travel for work. Sometimes I travel to a show in a different metro. Sometimes I'm vacationing with the fam. Whenever I'm in a new place, I look for record stores to visit. I'm sure you do to!

Here in my hometown, Milwaukee, I find a lot of good things at The Exclusive Company. I can be sure to always find an interesting bootleg at Rush-Mor. I was in Austin recently and discovered End of an Ear. I'll be in Ireland later this year and can't wait to go crate-digging.

What are the cool record stores where you live or shop?
 
Chicago has a ton of great stores:
three Reckless locations
Dusty Groove
Laurie's Planet of Sound
Groovin' High (my favorite)
Bric-A-Brac
Bucket of Blood
Dave's

Probably more I'm forgetting, but those are usually my circuit...
 
Singapore reppin' here! For a country 15 hours away from US/Europe, we have an incredibly vibrant and healthy vinyl scene, with competitive prices (although steep at times) and diversity for most sorts of collectors.

The Analog Vault
Hear Records
Mosta Records
Retrocrates
Red Point Record Warehouse
Vinylicious Records
Surface Noise
New Disc Village
Roxy Records
Vinyl Kakis
Curated Records
and more, but these are what I'd recommend to most people.
 
BuyMeVinyl said:
Berwick Street in London has a few great ones:

Sounds of the universe
Sister Ray
Reckless Records


Reckless might be my favourite place on earth.
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Honestly was disappointed by Reckless and Sister Ray there, but SotU has got to be one of my favourite record stores to visit when I'm there! Everything about that store appeals to me, Phonica too. I was pretty surprised by how well-curated Rough Trade is, and Sister Ray in Shoreditch had more for what I was looking for.
 
Washington, DC isn't the best place to be for collecting vinyl, but Crooked Beat Records, which moved a few years ago just across the river in Alexandria, VA, seems like your best bet in the area. Largest selection of new vinyl and one of the few stores in the area to carry used vinyl as well. The owner is there all the time and he and the staff are super friendly - seems like a good amount of regulars coming in there, but they treat everyone the same and won't make you feel stupid for not knowing which sleeves hanging behind the counter are the inners and which are the outers. Just experienced my first RSD ever last month, and I was glad I waited in line there first before checking out 3 other stores that day which all were a little fancier but had much, much smaller inventory - several people waiting in line around me had driven several hours to be there and seemed to have really good history with the staff. A great variety of used records from estate sales around the region end up in that store, too.
 
OMG I have been desperate for a thread like this - I like doing some digging wherever I go. Adds a nice backstory/memory when you pull the vinyl out to play too...
lazylistener said:
Singapore reppin' here! For a country 15 hours away from US/Europe, we have an incredibly vibrant and healthy vinyl scene, with competitive prices (although steep at times) and diversity for most sorts of collectors.

The Analog Vault
Hear Records
Mosta Records
Retrocrates
Red Point Record Warehouse
Vinylicious Records
Surface Noise
New Disc Village
Roxy Records
Vinyl Kakis
Curated Records
and more, but these are what I'd recommend to most people.
Click to expand...

Thanks @lazylistener - planning on going to Singapore later this year so will definitely check some of these out.

Anyone here from NYC/Brooklyn/Seattle who can give me a heads up when I head over for work late June??
 
BuyMeVinyl said:
Berwick Street in London has a few great ones:

Sounds of the universe
Sister Ray
Reckless Records


Reckless might be my favourite place on earth.
Click to expand...
Curious if any of these record shops are still around, or if there might be any new ones people can recommend?

I am going to be in London, Bristol, and Cardiff in a few weeks and we plan on hitting some record shops on a few of our days. Would love to get some feedback on places people would recommend?

For anything genre specific, we love Trip-Hop/Lounge/Downtempo, EDM/IDM/EM, Rock, 80s, Ambient, and some thrash and heavy metal. Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
All of those record shops in your quoted post are still around.

Not been to World of Echo in London but that may cover some of your needs. I also like Atlantis in Hackney, interesting stock when I last went but not bargain stuff.
 
Perrin2025 said:
Curious if any of these record shops are still around, or if there might be any new ones people can recommend?

I am going to be in London, Bristol, and Cardiff in a few weeks and we plan on hitting some record shops on a few of our days. Would love to get some feedback on places people would recommend?

For anything genre specific, we love Trip-Hop/Lounge/Downtempo, EDM/IDM/EM, Rock, 80s, Ambient, and some thrash and heavy metal. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

I got this great write-up when I asked the same question in the UK chat a year ago during my own trip to the UK:

Yeah, there's quite a few in a short walking distance in Soho. Sister Ray and Reckless cover most styles, both new and used. Sounds of the Universe specialises a bit more in Soul, Funk, Jazz, both new and used. Phonica is more of an EDM specialist, mainly new if I remember rightly and IF Music is a quirky one that you have to buzz for entry to and also specialises more towards the jazzy end of thing, pricey but has lots of rare pieces. I haven't been but I think there's still a Third Man shop there now also.

Camden has a few rock/punk specialists I think but not really my scene so I couldn't vouch for them.

If you're more in the City/Shoreditch area, Rough Trade East is pretty varied and I think there are a few other little ones towards Hackney.
I stumbled on this by pure chance last week on Discogs that lists loads I wasn't even aware of too and splits them up by parts of the city you're in. Good luck and have fun in the best city in the world.
 
CroutonBoy said:
I got this great write-up when I asked the same question in the UK chat a year ago during my own trip to the UK:

Yeah, there's quite a few in a short walking distance in Soho. Sister Ray and Reckless cover most styles, both new and used. Sounds of the Universe specialises a bit more in Soul, Funk, Jazz, both new and used. Phonica is more of an EDM specialist, mainly new if I remember rightly and IF Music is a quirky one that you have to buzz for entry to and also specialises more towards the jazzy end of thing, pricey but has lots of rare pieces. I haven't been but I think there's still a Third Man shop there now also.

Camden has a few rock/punk specialists I think but not really my scene so I couldn't vouch for them.

If you're more in the City/Shoreditch area, Rough Trade East is pretty varied and I think there are a few other little ones towards Hackney.
I stumbled on this by pure chance last week on Discogs that lists loads I wasn't even aware of too and splits them up by parts of the city you're in. Good luck and have fun in the best city in the world.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what I needed. Thanks so much. I am starting to take a look and will see what works best. We are staying in Soho and Battersea while in London, so it sounds like we are close to quite a few of these options.
 
Perrin2025 said:
This is cool. I am actually going to be in Vegas right after I come back from the UK, so I will check these out while there.
Click to expand...

The top 4 are relatively close to the north end of the Strip. Record City and Zia are mostly new/used. 11th Street has some new, but mostly used and Moondog is all used. I have been to Vegas Vinyl once and that was many many years ago and I believe they are all used. I have not been to CSRecordZ and you can read the reviews on Wax Trax....
 
Ginormousthumbs said:
The top 4 are relatively close to the north end of the Strip. Record City and Zia are mostly new/used. 11th Street has some new, but mostly used and Moondog is all used. I have been to Vegas Vinyl once and that was many many years ago and I believe they are all used. I have not been to CSRecordZ and you can read the reviews on Wax Trax....
Click to expand...
I will check these out. I'd like some new stuff, but also wouldn't mind getting into some used stuff for older bands. Plus, it's fun just to rummage around and see what comes out of it. Reminds me of the same process of looking as I used to do when collecting comic books. Thanks again!
 
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