Remembering Record Stores

[Mr. Afternoon]

I actually made a visit to a record store for the very first time in Summer. There's only 2 within like a 30 mile radius now, which is pretty disappointing.
Cool experience otherwise! Although, I'm not equipped to play Vinyl, and still don't own any.

 

[Chronic Quadraphonic]

Hey Clement. I lived in Evanston from 2005-2021, and Rogers Park before that. I just moved across the lake to Benton harbor the previous summer.

You do look familiar. I’m sure we’ve crossed paths at SPACE or the pie shop.

 

[artwwweb]

If anybody has any old photos of the inside of record stores I'd love to see them. (Especially UK from the 80s, but I love all records so anything is good!) I love to see what records they had for sale in the past and especially the singles, as they are so much more ephemeral, so photos of the displays I find particularly interesting, rather than the racks at an angle, where it's difficult to see what's for sale.

There used to be a small shop in Norwich (UK) called Backs on which all the walls were covered with the latest releases; I wish I'd taken some photos of that when I used to go there.

 

[Clement]

Hey Clement. I lived in Evanston from 2005-2021, and Rogers Park before that. I just moved across the lake to Benton harbor the previous summer.

You do look familiar. I’m sure we’ve crossed paths at SPACE or the pie shop.

I've definitely been to both of those places! Hit me up if you're ever in town again! Evanston's own Squeezebox also has a Quad section, but only about 6 or so titles last time i checked. I'll let you know what's there next time i head out to the land of vinyl! Keep Spinnin', Comrade!

 

[~dave~~wave~]

For those of us who went to hole-in-the-wall record stores 50 years ago, submitted for your approval:

Neil Young goes record shopping, finds his own bootlegs (1972)​

 

[jefe1]

If you run the clip backwards you can see a teenage Clement walk in and buy a stack of bootlegs.

I feel sorry for the poor employee.......

 

[scpettinga]

In another thread, Clement mentioned that Sunday is the last day for Dave's Records in Chicago.

https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...-the-turntable-now.28188/page-103#post-664850
I spent lots of time and money at Dave's over the years. It was previously a local chain 2nd Hand Tunes. Dave was Manager for them and a great guy. Good selection of quality used, sealed vintage and new vinyl. He'll be missed!!

I still have a sealed SQ Full Sail I bought from Dave.

Ah, the good old days. When I was in High School in 70 to 1973, there were 6 full scale record stores and RCA & Columbia Record Clubs. Two to tree thousand record stores were within 15 minutes of my home. Each of the had a sort of different variety they specialized in; so it was worth your time to visit each one. At that time, from 1970 to 1982, Second Time Around, had gently used records and DJ Promo discs, as some 12" singles were only released as promos. Some, like Karma sold records & tapes, pipes, (and I heard Pot if you knew someone there). Most of these stores were general release US albums, but some carried a nice selection of EU versions. One was really big on 12" singles & general releases. The Mall record stores carried mostly US general releases (English & German) but they would buy expensive things like Keith Jarret's Sun Bear Concerts and the Pink Floyd Prism box. At that fertile time, 2,000 to 3,000 albums were released every year and the number of Important albums was astounding. You could only afford three to four albums a week and still not keep up. For example; 1969 held The Beatles Hey Jude (or Again). Abbey Road, & Let It Be AND Lennon's Life with Lions & The Wedding Album, Live In Toronto & Plastic Ono Band & Yoko's first solo LP, Harrison's Wonder Wall, Electronic Sounds and 6 months later, All Things Must Pass, McCartney's first solo, & Ringos's Beaucoup of Blues. They alone were hard to keep up with and many were esoteric. So much great, significant albums came out every week. To get an idea of how big the wave was, check out Wikipedia's Best Albums & Top Singles from 1968 to 1976. I was so lucky to have come of age and been part time employed at that time: I was able to buy first week releases for $1 off and anything that was included would be there. The pressings were superb. Lind, I have three of Loggin's & Messina's quad Columbia releases & they were good even on stereo, a bit different; but worth buying. If I hadn't bought records, I could have bought a nice car; but records were more important to me.

 

[Sonik Wiz]

I have thoroughly enjoyed these postings about record stores. It's sharing like this that lifts the forum out of mere tech talk.

And to @Mr. Afternoon, of course you can buy more than vinyl at a "record store". A few of my fave SACD's & DVD-A's have come from record stores.

 

[Clement]

I have thoroughly enjoyed these postings about record stores. It's sharing like this that lifts the forum out of mere tech talk.

And to @Mr. Afternoon, of course you can buy more than vinyl at a "record store". A few of my fave SACD's & DVD-A's have come from record stores.

MAD LOVE to @Quad Linda for starting the thread and encouraging us to post! She is the QUEEN – Long Live the QuadQueen!

 

[J. PUPSTER]

MAD LOVE to @Quad Linda for starting the thread and encouraging us to post! She is the QUEEN – Long Live the QuadQueen!

Speaking about Quad in general Clement

ya know that new AT VM540ML cart you got (ML stands for MicroLine stylus IINM) may be a decent candidate for a QS / SQ etc. cart, we need more folks here that actually give a hoot about the old Quad LPs IMO. You probably don't have enough LPs yet anyways

and yes Mad Love @Quad Linda

 

[Clement]

Speaking about Quad in general Clement

ya know that new AT VM540ML cart you got (ML stands for MicroLine stylus IINM) may be a decent candidate for a QS / SQ etc. cart, we need more folks here that actually give a hoot about the old Quad LPs IMO. You probably don't have enough LPs yet anyways

and yes Mad Love @Quad Linda

Nice! I've almost got a quad room together downstairs! I really don't know what i'm doing, but i do know how to dream! At your urging (many, many moons ago), i scored a SMV2 (still in the damn box!) that i hope to use in the not-too-distant future so that these albums (and a special CD you recommended to me) come alive in glorious surround sound! Thank YOU for ALL you do and your inspiration over the years (and SO many others: @4-earredwonder , @Audiowannabee , @beerking , @chucky3042 , @Clint Eastwood , @DuncanS , @edisonbaggins , @fredblue , @Gmat25 , @GOS , @haikubass , @halbroome @humprof , @jefe1 , @JonUrban , @kap'n krunch , @Quad Linda , @Quadmon , @Simon A , @skherbeck , @Snood , @Sonik Wiz , @steelydave , @The56Kid , @timbre4 @ so many more that my addled mind can't remember! SO SORRY to all whom i've missed--no disrespect . . . i'm just getting old and tired and so damn sad!) Bless all of QQ! Stay Surrounded, Comrades!

 

[kap'n krunch]

Nice! I've almost got a quad room together downstairs! I really don't know what i'm doing, but i do know how to dream! At your urging (many, many moons ago), i scored a SMV2 (still in the damn box!) that i hope to use in the not-too-distant future so that these albums (and a special CD you recommended to me) come alive in glorious surround sound! Thank YOU for ALL you do and your inspiration over the years (and SO many others: @4-earredwonder , @Audiowannabee , @beerking , @chucky3042 , @Clint Eastwood , @DuncanS , @edisonbaggins , @fredblue , @Gmat25 , @GOS , @halbroome @humprof , @JonUrban , @kap'n krunch , @Quad Linda , @Simon A , @skherbeck , @Snood , @Sonik Wiz , @steelydave , @The56Kid , @ so many more that my addled mind can't remember! SO SORRY to all whom i've missed--no disrespect . . . i'm just getting old and tired and so damn sad!) Bless all of QQ! Stay Surrounded, Comrades!

We love you too @Clement !!! have a lovely ENVELOPING Christmas!

 

[Mr. Afternoon]

And to @Mr. Afternoon, of course you can buy more than vinyl at a "record store". A few of my fave SACD's & DVD-A's have come from record stores.

None of the record stores around me are carrying any discs of any sort. I asked why, it's cause nobody buys. Either vinyl or streaming.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

Nice! I've almost got a quad room together downstairs! I really don't know what i'm doing, but i do know how to dream! At your urging (many, many moons ago), i scored a SMV2 (still in the damn box!) that i hope to use in the not-too-distant future so that these albums (and a special CD you recommended to me) come alive in glorious surround sound! Thank YOU for ALL you do and your inspiration over the years (and SO many others: @4-earredwonder , @Audiowannabee , @beerking , @chucky3042 , @Clint Eastwood , @DuncanS , @edisonbaggins , @fredblue , @Gmat25 , @GOS , @halbroome @humprof , @JonUrban , @kap'n krunch , @Quad Linda , @Simon A , @skherbeck , @Snood , @Sonik Wiz , @steelydave , @The56Kid , @timbre4 @ so many more that my addled mind can't remember! SO SORRY to all whom i've missed--no disrespect . . . i'm just getting old and tired and so damn sad!) Bless all of QQ! Stay Surrounded, Comrades!

Just PM me for any help with that Quad you may need.

 

[fredblue]

Speaking about Quad in general Clement

ya know that new AT VM540ML cart you got (ML stands for MicroLine stylus IINM) may be a decent candidate for a QS / SQ etc. cart, we need more folks here that actually give a hoot about the old Quad LPs IMO. You probably don't have enough LPs yet anyways

and yes Mad Love @Quad Linda

... and.. you can also do CD-4 with it!

 

[Quad Linda]

What a collection, @scpettinga ! Wow!

A Beatlemaniac told me that my Zapple US Harrison's Electronic Sound LP had the label side reversed! When the CD came out, I found he was right. Back then, I queried. "it's instrumental, how can you be sure?"

Thanks for the kudos, @J. PUPSTER & @Clement

Would love to hear more about record stores. Pix, too, if possible. As time permits, I'll post a few more recollections. Spent most of my career in sales/mgt. and visited record stores in many places. Glad I did then, because many are gone.

There are places I remember...

 

[Quadmon]

In the late 60’s I bought several albums from a record store by mail order that was in England. It was the Heanor Record Center, 41 Derby Road, Heanor, Derbyshire. I still have a dollar off coupon. Always wondered if it is still there. Maybe some of our England members have been there.

 

[barfle]

When I lived in SoCal, there was (maybe still is) a place called “Mr. C’s Records” on Glasell in Orange. He had pretty much any single you might want. A couple of the nearby antique stores also had record sections.

There are two fairly good vinyl stores in Boise, so I’m not screaming for a fix just yet. Last year there was a vinyl show and I dropped a couple of Benjamins there.

I should have a working turntable in my room by August, the way things are going.

 

[Quad Linda]

I haven't been inside a record store in two years! I haven't been able to say that since I was three! Sure, I've spent thousands on discs since Covid began.

I hope to change that next week, weather permitting. There are a couple great ones in Milwaukee area, now owned by each one's mgt. team. Formerly, they were part of WI chain Exclusive Co. Most of their stores closed after Jim Giombetti (RIP) passed a year ago. Milwaukee and Greenfield, WI. now operating as independent. They're 70-80 miles away, and Rolling Stones in NW Chicago, 35 miles. Yes, they're cool legally. They have permission from the band to use their name. Last visit to RS two years ago left me 200+ dollars poorer.

2022 was my 65th year of buying adult records. 60th year of owning 2ch gear, 7" reels and 2ch records. 50 years since I bought my first Quad album. I'm only 68!?!

2023 will be 50th anniv. of my first Quad system and my lifetime career in the Hi-Fi and Computer businesses. I'm retired, but like circus performers, still have sawdust in my veins.

 

[Marcsten]

If anybody has any old photos of the inside of record stores I'd love to see them. (Especially UK from the 80s, but I love all records so anything is good!) I love to see what records they had for sale in the past and especially the singles, as they are so much more ephemeral, so photos of the displays I find particularly interesting, rather than the racks at an angle, where it's difficult to see what's for sale.

There used to be a small shop in Norwich (UK) called Backs on which all the walls were covered with the latest releases; I wish I'd taken some photos of that when I used to go there.

I don't own this image - its a Getty - it is Neil Diamond and his wife signing autographs at Tower Records in 1986. Pretty cool!