Vinyl destinations - the world's best record shops
Posted Thursday, October 09, 2008, 4:36 PM by Lonely Planet
OK, let's not even enter into the record vs CD vs MP3 debate. Because believe me, amigos, that argument has only one winner - vinyl - and that's final! Besides, it's not really travel-related, so we'd have to take it outside anyway.
But hey, record junkies travel too, and that's just the excuse I need to ask this burning question of you all: What's the best record shop you've ever come across on your travels?
It's a subjective thing, for sure. While a fantastic, soul-stirring and diverse range of vinyl is the obvious pre-requisite, factors such as vibe and decor, staff and location are crucial too. There's nothing worse than a record-shop assistant who's too cool to help you, or a store that prices itself out of the market - much as I love 'em, I draw the line at paying €85 for a Who 7", as witnessed recently in a certain Parisian establishment. Then there was this shop in São Paulo... I'd heard it was great, but gave up looking for it after another shopkeeper in the dark, dingy arcade where it was located tried to pull me into his store and close the door! Ah, the hazards of record-collecting.
Luckily, no such misfortunes befell me the day I came across the record shop of my dreams in Barcelona. It's called Wah Wah Records, and with a name like that, you just know it's going to tick all the boxes. Located on the super-groovy Carrer Riera Baixa in el Raval (a street comprised almost entirely of vintage clothing boutiques), Wah Wah won me over with its heart-stopping selection of 60s garage, beat and psychedelic nuggets (oh, and its lurid green walls). But that's just the beginning - it's packed to the rafters with just about every musical genre you could imagine, except classical and mainstream Top 40. And it has its own record label, specialising in reissues of cool old sounds.
The friendly staff really know their stuff, and there's even a resident cat (he's really old and his name is Marcel). I'd marry the place if I could.
Anyone else care to share their favourite international vinyl haunts?
- Suzy Wah-Wah-Watusi
But hey, record junkies travel too, and that's just the excuse I need to ask this burning question of you all: What's the best record shop you've ever come across on your travels?
It's a subjective thing, for sure. While a fantastic, soul-stirring and diverse range of vinyl is the obvious pre-requisite, factors such as vibe and decor, staff and location are crucial too. There's nothing worse than a record-shop assistant who's too cool to help you, or a store that prices itself out of the market - much as I love 'em, I draw the line at paying €85 for a Who 7", as witnessed recently in a certain Parisian establishment. Then there was this shop in São Paulo... I'd heard it was great, but gave up looking for it after another shopkeeper in the dark, dingy arcade where it was located tried to pull me into his store and close the door! Ah, the hazards of record-collecting.
Luckily, no such misfortunes befell me the day I came across the record shop of my dreams in Barcelona. It's called Wah Wah Records, and with a name like that, you just know it's going to tick all the boxes. Located on the super-groovy Carrer Riera Baixa in el Raval (a street comprised almost entirely of vintage clothing boutiques), Wah Wah won me over with its heart-stopping selection of 60s garage, beat and psychedelic nuggets (oh, and its lurid green walls). But that's just the beginning - it's packed to the rafters with just about every musical genre you could imagine, except classical and mainstream Top 40. And it has its own record label, specialising in reissues of cool old sounds.
The friendly staff really know their stuff, and there's even a resident cat (he's really old and his name is Marcel). I'd marry the place if I could.
Anyone else care to share their favourite international vinyl haunts?
- Suzy Wah-Wah-Watusi
Join the Discussion:
12 Comments:
I'm so with you on Wah Wah although when I went there 10 years ago the street could best be described as "dodgy" rather than "groovy". My favourite record shop in the world is Cob Records in Porthmadog, Wales. It's vinyl heaven. Closer to home you've got to love Hound Dog in West Melbourne and Off the Hip in Flinders Lane.
hey!
was just in Tokyo... and i must say their music scene is pretty cool!
you just have to find the right suburb, as every one has its own scene (avoid Shibuya if vinys is your thing, youll only find fake tan trash there).
im not particularly into vinyl myself, so i wasnt looking for it, but id imagine around harajuku or even ebisu and daikanyama you might be lucky.
I think that Harold Moore in London deserves an honourable mention, if only because it is described accurately in one of my favourite novels ('An Equal Music', by Vikram Seth). Location is spot-on, a few minute's walk from Oxford Circus in London's West End. Staff are helpful, polite, and seem to care about the music. And the selection is extraordinary: within a couple of minutes browsing there you are guaranteed to find something rare and interesting, with a significant place in the history of recorded music. Prices are the downside, because they are too high for me to consider. However, it is pleasant to see records that I possess, and do not think of as being particularly rate, on sale at fifty pounds or more. I only actually buy the stuff they sell on Ebay (for a lot less than their in-store prices) and just go there to pick up my purchases.
I'm not a big traveler but from my favorite US cities, Princeton has a great indie record store for vinyl junkies - Princeton Record Exchange. I go in when I need to stock up on new music. It's got a HUGE selection of new and used CDs, rare movies and vinyl, and great music-related memorabilia. I've bought 10 CDs for $30 and it's easy to spend more than an hour just browsing their selection. You can check them out at www.prex.com
Thanks for that... looks incredible, I LOVE the pink floyd poster up the back. I'm only a 17 year old australian student but now ive put barcelona on the list. Unfortunately i cant give you any names myself, although there's a really cool little joint in cairns, qld called Crackerbox Palace. Its record collection isnt that great, and a bit overpriced, but it has all these wonderful retro pieces of kitchen ware, clothes and furniture. Look forward to hearing of other places from people!
There is a shop in New York City called Other Music (15 E.4th St). Mostly CD's I'm afraid, but it doesn't sell your top 40 rubbish. Instead it's got loads of artists and bands you've never heard of, with reviews of most of them attached to the racks (the reviews are all by staff or customers).
It was so nice to find a shop like this, especially after spending an hour trying to find anything decent in the Virgin Megastore!
surprisingly the Monastiraki area in Athens is a awash with record shops catering to lovers of Psychedelic prog rock and metal heads and in London Brixton is the place for reggae and dancehall 45s and Soho for everything else.
Next stop Shibuya, Tokyo:)
I thought Toronto was teeming with good record shops--particularly Rotate This and Soundscapes. Also Reckless Records in London and Chicago, and I second Phil's vote for Other Music in NYC. I must also give a shout-out to my favorite record store ever in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee--Shangri-La Records. Truly fantastic. Also Goner Records there. --Bonnie
The Diskery in Birmingham, UK.
Aquarius Records in San Francisco, USA.
Volcanic Tongue in Glasgow, Scotland.
Rough Trades in London.
Some wee shops, Tangier.
A Classical Record , NY.
aMOEBA , San Franciso.
I could go on....Aaaarghhhh too many for one lifetime...
:-)
Amoeba records in San Francisco is huge. It's been a while but think a record shop of warehouse sized proportions with lots of rare vinyl in US style thick cardboard sleeves.
I really like Amoeba Music in San Francisco. It's located in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, which is full of second hand stores and head shops. As you walk down the street, all you can smell is that second hand shop smell...which always get me in the mood to dig through records. They have a pretty sweet selection of Rock, Electronica, and Reggae records, but the Blues selection is a little weak. If you are ever in S.F., check out the shop...you won't be sorry.
http://www.recordconnectionpa.com/
the record connection in ephrata pa. small, dingy, great collection at a good price. also, there is a man that works here who calls himself atomic punk. i go there just for him sometimes.
other than this, i live in ithaca, ny right now and i think records are finally re-emgerging, lots of great shops here!
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