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Used Record Stores


Charles J. White

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An acquaintance of mine Bob Switzer owned a place called Taz Records, the largest used record store east of Montreal here in the Colony before he killed himself. He had every recording of Jerry Lee Lewis. The whole store was like a scene out of High Fidelity, found another place like it in downtown Phoenix that was near John McCain’s office called either Tracks Wax or Revolver can’t remember now, which has a cool vibe inside as well. I first discovered The Doctors of Madness in the summer of 1987 downtown Ottawa at a place called The Turning Point which is another cool record store - 2 floors in fact! Calgary has a cool place called The Inner Sleave and also Hot Wax. Price Edward Island had a store called Back Ally Discs which I liked. There was a place downtown Moncton which was small but I completed my Dean Martin collection there with a vinyl box set maybe 10 years ago. LA and NY were goldmines at one time. Speaking of goldmines, did anyone ever use Gold Mine to collect stuff? Bedford Nova Scotia has a GREAT place Select Sounds.

What places have spent a ton of dough in?

Charles, just wondering if you ever ventured into the Vinyl Museum in Toronto? I used to go down there once a year when i lived in the city. Not even sure if it is still in existence actually.
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Charles, just wondering if you ever ventured into the Vinyl Museum in Toronto? I used to go down there once a year when i lived in the city. Not even sure if it is still in existence actually.

It's gone. The flagship Sam The Record Man was beside it. I would order a ton of imports back in the day using the Cargo Catalogue that Sam The Record Man had. It was the biggest fattest book of imports around. I miss the old Sam store. The Sam Record Man in Halifax was 4 floors, it was a great place as well. I saw The Tea Party peform an in store at that Sam before they signed a record deal.

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For all the talk of music stores going the way of the dodo, much like bookstores and videostores, there have been two new vinyl shops that have opened recently in my neighborhood. So somebody must still think there's a future in vinyl.

No Charles, I never read Goldmine, let alone used it to buy something. Goldmine always seemed too anorakish for me.

I buy music to listen to and enjoy...not to lock away in a vault and obsess over. I am clean, neat and tidy with my cds and records, sure, but I don't usually buy something that I'm not going to play.

So, in the sense that most people mean when they say 'collector', I would say that I am not. I simply have thousands of records because I have been listening to music all of my life and every year I buy music, new and old. It all adds up over time.

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Was in "Spin It" today with my daughter. Best shop in Moncton for a while now. Had LZ IV in my hands, didn't walk out with it though. So easy to spend a lot of time in there, each time after I leave I think of something else I forgot to look for.

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There are about 50 or so different record sellers to choose from...it takes up two levels.

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Damn, I could spent some serious time browsing there. Been slowly rebuilding my CD collection, new and replacements.

What did you get? Are the prices based on the condition, popularity, etc.?

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Damn, I could spent some serious time browsing there. Been slowly rebuilding my CD collection, new and replacements.

What did you get? Are the prices based on the condition, popularity, etc.?

Sorry jb for not answering this earlier. As I was on a strict budget this particular visit, I limited myself to just getting the Led Zeppelin "Double Shot" cds. But yes, the prices are often according to:

1. Condition of the vinyl. Mint being best.

2. Rarity and/or uniqueness of the album.

3. Genre of music.

4. Collectibility of the artist.

That said, I'm often able to find decent, clean records for $3-$6. The 'dollar bins' are going to be more dodgy, naturally, but every now and then you strike gold.

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There was a copy of LZ4 in the front window of the undernoted vinyl specialist last night (Friday). It is not an original, but a late 80's or early 90's pressing. It costs £7.99. I don't know if they do mail order, but the boss will be back late Saturday afternoon, or phone on Monday.

http://www.vinylvillainsrecords.co.uk/

Edited by kenog
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If you're ever in the New Orleans area, you should definitely stop by Euclid Records on Chartres Street. It has a great selection; lots of Jazz, Rock, and Blues. I picked up these records here:

Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin :thumbsup:

Let it Be - The Beatles

The Firm - The Firm

Blind Faith - Blind Faith

Deja Vu - Crosby, Stiils, Nash, & Young

Disraeli Gears - Cream

Quadrophenia - The Who (with the booklet, which is in great condition!)

Free as a Bird/Christmas Time (Is Here Again) (Single) - The Beatles

I was pleasantly surprised by the prices; I got PG for $15.00, and most of the albums were around $10.00 to $15.00 and under. There were many other albums I wanted to buy, but, unfortunately, budget did not allow me to. I stopped by two other record stores (Peaches and Skully'z) but Euclid was by far the best. I highly recommend it!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have copied this here from Ross Halfin's diary entry for 6 April 2013 because he refers to used record stores in London that he visited with Jimmy.

"Beautiful day, warmish and sunny - perfect. Well I had two choices, travelling to the far north (where people speak a form of English) to see Tesla "Kick some ass", or Soho to meet The Dark Lord (James Patrick Page), who I hadn't seen for at least a day, and go for a wander. Decided on London - I tend to only go south or the far east.

After eating some real food at Balans in Old Compton Street, did what all addicts do and went record shopping. Started off at Reckless, then Sister Ray, and ended up at our favourite, JB's in Hanway Street...."

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Neptoon Records organizes and excellent record/CD swap meet twice a year in Vancouver. The next one is April 14th at the Croatian Cultural Centre.

Spring 2013 Record & CD Convention – April 14th 2013

Sunday April 14th 2013 is our semi-annual Record & CD Convention at The Croatian Cultural Center (3250 Commercial Drive). Admission is $3 11am-5pm (No Early Bird!) For more info call us (604-324

Edited by ally
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  • 4 weeks later...

BIG NEWS in my neck of the woods:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1126182-taz-goes-on-record-about-new-site

Taz Records, downtown Halifax’s iconic hangout for music lovers, is setting up a second location in Bedford.

It’s happening just weeks after the business moved its Halifax digs to 1521 Grafton St.

“I’ve been wanting to get into Bedford for a number of years and the perfect location became available. So I had to jump,” co-owner Jimmy Donnelly said Tuesday.

He said he announced the second location informally on Facebook just last week and has already received lots of resumes from people interested in working at the Bedford store.

“There has also been a huge amount of buzz on social media,” Donnelly said.

“I hope that means we’re making a good move.”

He said the store should open in June in a former skateboard shop at 1270 Bedford Hwy., between Meadowbrook Drive and Rutledge Street.

“Hopefully, we’re bringing something unique to the neighbourhood people will enjoy,” Donnelly said.

“A lot of people in the Bedford area cannot get downtown as often as they like, or do not like coming downtown because of all the parking meters, one-way streets and panhandlers.”

The Bedford location will feature turntables and related production equipment as well as new album releases.

“We will have some used albums, but not the volume available at the Halifax location,” he said.

The Halifax store, which has parking available at the building that houses Maritime Hobbies & Crafts, will continue to operate as usual.

“Taz will always have a downtown Halifax location,” Donnelly said.

“The downtown is going through some changes, but it will always be the ideal place for Taz to be.”

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  • 2 weeks later...

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