17 Coolest Record Stores

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Has this been posted yet?
LMF made the list! Another favorite, Waterloo Records in Austin.
Anyone else have another favorite that should be on the list?
Catus Records in Houston is another good one. They have in store performances with free local beer.

List of "17 Coolest Record Stores in America"
(alphabetical order):
Aquarius Records, San Francisco, CA
Amoeba Records, Los Angeles, CA
Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Clarksdale, MS
Criminal Records, Atlanta, GA
Dusty Grove America, Chicago, IL
Ear X-Tacy, Louisville, KY
Ernest Tubb Record Shop, Nashville, TN
Grimey's New + Pre-Loved Music, Nashville, TN
Jerry's Records, Pittsburgh, PA
Louisiana Music Factory, New Orleans, LA
Music Millennium, Portland, OR
Newbury Comics, Boston, MA
Other Music, New York City
Shangri-La Records, Memphis, TN
The Electric Fetus, Minneapolis, MN
Turntable Lab, New York City
Waterloo Records, Austin, TX

[funkkjunkie]

I think this might be the same list, didn't check it.
http://www.nojazzfest.com/chat/showthread.php?t=4184&highlight=record+stores

[funkkjunkie]

nope, different list because the other list has 2 nola records stores AnD this list has my beloved Cat Head in Clarksdale. :)

[swag]

Fred, where is this list from?

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Fred, where is this list from?

email from Blues Festival Guide
www.bluesfestivaleguide.com

[funkkjunkie]

I also found it here:
http://stereogum.com/archives/pastes-17-coolest-record-stores-in-america_010542.html

[ohio]

We have a good one here, Shake It Records, very much like LMF but with a nod to our regional acts. They also record area acts on their own label.

http://www.shakeitrecords.com/Shakeit-store.html

[ozzie]

This was always my fave on the other side of the country. Guess they don't do too many records these days though.

www.78records.com.au

[sophisticated sissy]

For the *ahem* record, No. 5 on Fred's list should be "Dusty Groove."

[Michelino]

Hey...still no Bop Shop (http://www.bopshop.com/main/)...for shame! If Branford likes it...so should America

[windowman]

I saw this list about a month ago, can't remember what site I was on. I would add Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ to the list. Check them out at http://vvinyl.com/

[charlotte]

That's interesting that Electric Fetus in Minneapolis made it. We have a local Electric Fetus (in Duluth, MN) where I usually buy my cds. There also used to be a great record store here called "Young At Heart Records" - when you bought albums the owner, Richard, gave you a member card with little heart shaped punches - when you got so many punches you were entitled to a free album. There were records stacked everywhere, and of course the heart theme was prominently featured in the cheesy decor all over the walls - heart cutouts with those lace paper doilies behind them. Boy do I miss that record store!

I remember going to many great record stores in Berkeley in the early 70's - came home with a shopping bag full of vinyl.

[charlotte]

And I've purchased a few tunes in the Minneapolis Electric Fetus, too, and frequented it back in the early 70's when I was a college student.

[funkkjunkie]

Makes me think of Been Around Records in Little Rock at University and 12th Street. Still there and still has records stacked everywhere with cds in the middle. Dated a guy who worked there around the millenium. That was the year my cd collection grew by a couple hundred gifted cds. Thanks, big john. :D

[Cleophus]

Aquarius Records in SF: Too damn hip for it's own good. I do love the working "Tron" video game they have in the corner, though.

[Frosty]

For the *ahem* record, No. 5 on Fred's list should be "Dusty Groove."

Actually, it should be Jazz Record Mart which is famous in Chicago. I've never heard of Dusty Groove unless we are talking the former Cubs manager.

[Frosty]

That's interesting that Electric Fetus in Minneapolis made it. We have a local Electric Fetus (in Duluth, MN) where I usually buy my cds.

OK, I did read that sign right as I drove by.

[NeenAtlanta]

Cool - glad to see Criminal Records in Atlanta made it on the list. We actually have three really cool shops all very close to each other - Criminal, Wax & Facts and Wuxtry. It makes for a really fun day of shopping.

[sophisticated sissy]

I've never heard of Dusty Groove unless we are talking the former Cubs manager.

www.dustygroove.com



Click on "Chicago Store."

[Muffaletta Diver]

WTF? How could they leave off Magnolia Thunderpussy here in Cbus??

[duende]

Down Home Music in El Cerrito, CA is a little more essential than Amoeba (also a very cool place I've dropped a wad of cash in), and if you love zydeco, you can partly thank Chris Strachwitz at Arhoolie Records, run out of the store, for helping put Clifton on the map. The following email came from a doo-wop pal of mine who thought it'd be close to my heart (and wallet)... and very coincidentally, Garrett (the author) is a close pal of mine who I apparently owe a long-overdue visit since this got to me second-hand. It's a fate that all small and/or indie records stores face these days - but I take comfort knowing that we're doing our part.



>From: Down Home Music <john@downhomemusic.com>
>Sent: Jul 7, 2008 1:18 PM
>To: john@downhomemusic.com
>Subject: the end of an era
>
>Hello Down Home music fans. As you may have heard, we have been forced
>to close our 4th street Berkeley store (it was a great store and a most
>pleasurable place to work and sell music). We'd like to thank all our
>trusted friends and customers who came by and supported us these last
>10 months, but it just wasn't enough to keep our doors open. With small
>locally owned and operated retail music, books, and video stores
>dropping like flies in the face of increased internet sales, on-line
>downloads, rising transportation costs, and an economy that is not
>favoring small retail, we call on you for your continued support of our
>El Cerrito store. We have had to lay off many people but hope to
>recover from debt and continue to supply you with the quality service
>and product which are hard to get in any cyber world. We have heard
>from many and believe a lot of people aren't ready to give up on local
>small business and direct human interaction. Down Home Music has been
>an institution since 197 6. Chris has been producing recordings of non
>commercial roots music on his Arhoolie label since 1959. We carry a
>range of cultural products that are hard to find in any location. None
>the less, we are currently on the endangered species list and will very
>soon become extinct without your continued customer support. Cody's is
>gone, DeLauer's is gone, too many to recount here. A grass roots
>backlash is needed if you care about community. Thanks for listening to
>(reading) my plea.
>JC Garrett
>"the gray haired guy with the glasses"
>
>PS. Please forward this to any and all who might be interested.
>
>DOWN HOME MUSIC
>10341 San Pablo Ave.
>El Cerrito, Ca, 94530