Glasgow, UK | Record Shops of Glasgow: 8 of my favourite record shops in Glasgow. These are some of my favourite record shops in Glasgow where I go hunting for vinyl. Glasgow is a music city that takes it tunes very seriously with there being a wide range of great record shops to explore no matter the kind of genre you are searching for. The city has produced several huge acts such as Simple Minds, Franz Ferdinand and Primal Scream, with some setting out on their musical discovery browsing through the racks of records stores in their younger days. I’ve been buying albums in the city’s record shops for over a decade now, with the list below being some of my favourite places to head to for a browse.
Burien, WA | Rewind the memories through music at a Burien shop that’s more than records: Time travel doesn’t appear to be high on the list of innovations being developed by the Seattle area’s many billionaires, but there are places where you can experience flashes of immersive déjà vu. Time Tunnel Records in Burien is one of those places. It’s not because this homey little shop is full of vintage vinyl collected and curated by owner, musician and music aficionado Matthew Alston, or because he also has racks of used CDs. And it’s not because Time Tunnel Records sells tapes, which for those born with smartphones feel just as vintage as vinyl records. It’s the combination of all three, as well as the band T-shirts, movie posters on the walls (not for sale) and DVDs that captures a particular moment in time when all these forms of media fought for primacy at the same time.
Springfield, IL | Springfield’s ‘Dumb’ record store proves vinyl’s staying power: Music has evolved over time from shellac to streaming music online. Vinyl was a prevalent music method, and local music stores in Central Illinois are keeping it alive. “We are at 11 and a half years. Opened at the start of 2014. We’ve been in this location downtown for six and a half years. We also just opened up a store in the mall within the last year. Back in November,” said Brian Galecki, the co-owner of Dumb Records in Springfield. The name of the pair of stores is an inside joke between the owners. If the record store did not go as planned, the pair would laugh it off as a dumb idea. While many think that vinyl has made a “comeback,” Galecki said vinyl has never fallen off the music scene and continues to grow. “Over the past 10 or 15 years since we’ve been doing it, I would say things have increased. Sales are always increasing,” Galecki said.
Pekin, IL | Longtime Pekin record store will close after three decades in business: After nearly 30 years, Co-Op Records of Pekin is bidding the greater Peoria area a fond farewell. “This shop has given me a life,” said Co-Op Records owner Denny Smith. “I didn’t even know it was my dream until I woke up in the middle of it one day. ‘Thank you’ wouldn’t even begin to cover my gratitude for all the people that have kept us going for 27-plus years.” Smith opened the shop in 1998. A musician and songwriter who currently performs with the Nashville-based rock band The Great Affairs, moved to Tennessee in 2003, which made running a record shop in the Peoria area a challenge. …“Keeping up with the shop, my band, and what has slowly become an almost full-time job has gotten to be a little overwhelming,” he said.
Honolulu, HI | Taylor Swift keeps the lights on at this Honolulu record store: Over the last decade, more and more people from Generation Z are moving back to embrace older technology. From flip phones to polaroids, there is so much to explore. So, as National Vinyl Record Day approaches, many are looking for “new” experiences. Jim Williams, buyer and manager at Hungry Ear Records in Honolulu, still remembers the records he played as a child. “I’ve always been into records from the time I was four or five years old,” he said. “Digging through my parents’ collection to growing up as a teenager, spending all my allowance and work money on records.” Williams’s early love for vinyl never left. “It’s always been a passion of mine. The search, the find, the enjoyment of music. It’s just something that I’ve always loved and it’s just part of me,” he explained.
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY | The Hastings Record Riot! 15000 vinyl records for sale, CDs too, Sunday September 7th. The Hastings Record Riot is a COOL outdoor market of vinyl records! Over 40 tables of LPs & CDs. On the Metro North parking lot, 9 AM-5 PM. Great music! A food truck! PUNK FUNK METAL HIP HOP AND MORE! Attention NJ/NY area vinyl fans! Come shop at over 40 tables of LPs, CDs, 45s in downtown Hastings-On-Hudson! Dealers from all over New York area will showcase their wares in the Metro North parking lot. Meet new music friends, find that special LP that you’ve been looking for. All types of music: punk, funk, country, classical, blues rock, hip hop and more. FREE ADMISSION! Meet you in the dollar bins! 9 AM-5 PM. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Newtown, PA | Evening Of ‘High Fidelity’ In Newtown Features Vinyl Happy Hour And A Movie: The fun begins at the Book & Record Exchange with a Vinyl Happy Hour followed by the showing of ‘High Fidelity’ at the Newtown Theatre. The historic Newtown Theatre is teaming up with the Newtown Book & Record Exchange for “Happy Hour & High Fidelity” on Thursday, August 21. The fun begins at the Book & Record Exchange with a Vinyl Happy Hour from 6 to 7 p.m. During this hour, guests will enjoy drinks, light bites, classic tunes on vinyl, and merchandise discounts. At 7 p.m., guests will begin making their way down State Street to the Newtown Theatre for a 7:30 screening of 2000’s “High Fidelity.” Based on the 1995 British novel by the same name, “High Fidelity” stars John Cusack as the owner of a failing Chicago record store that sells music the old-fashioned way—on vinyl.
Houston, TX | HiFi Vinyl Listening Lounge perfectly combines craft cocktails and vinyl records: HiFi Vinyl Listening Lounge is a new and immersive craft cocktail bar and lounge upstairs at The Finn downtown. This new space creates one-of-a-kind experience for its guests, and whether it’s date night, happy hour, or a post-dinner hangout—this is the perfect spot for craft cocktails and vinyl records. The bar program brings culinary techniques into the glass, while the vinyl collection has been handpicked specifically for HiFi with the team refreshing the selection every few months by sourcing records from local shops. And check this out—each week, guests are also invited to bring their own vinyl to spin, adding a unique twist to the mix!
Philadelphia, PA | Explore Vinyl at These Listening Clubs, Lounges & Bars: If you’re looking to expand your music tastes, but you’re tired of letting the algorithm decide for you, step outside and visit a local listening room. Over the years Philly has welcomed lounges similar to jazz kissa, Japanese listening bars and cafes centered around high-quality sound systems playing vinyl records. The concept is attracting old and new audiophiles looking for good music and community. Here’s where to go if you want to listen to vinyl records in Philly.
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