Cliffside Park, NJ | N.J.’s oldest record store closes after 90 years. Here’s what we know. The skies have gone dark over Music Country. Since 1934, the New Jersey record store has been selling music under one name or another. But that run has ended, as the shop has shuttered following the recent death of its owner. Music Country, located at 728 Anderson Ave. in Cliffside Park, calls itself “the original mom and pop vinyl record shop,“ owned by the same family and in operation at the same location for the better part of a century. When it was still open, the family believed the shop to be the oldest record store in the state and thus the country. They even put it on the sign. While the store was not the oldest in the United States, it was certainly one of the oldest. The shop sold records—LPs, 45s and 78s—as well as cassettes and CDs, music memorabilia, guitars, harmonicas and sheet music.
Chicago, IL | A Life Selling Music to the West Side: Marie Henderson, owner of Out of the Past Records, has made the West Garfield Park shop a haven for old-school tunes and connection since 1986. Damn right Marie Henderson has got the blues. Henderson, a short, stout 84-year-old, is the grande dame of Out of the Past Records in West Garfield Park, the dustiest vinyl shop in Chicago. Not in the sense of the fine grit that settles on old things—although there is plenty of that in the store—but in the sense of the old-school tunes you’ll hear on WGCI. “I love Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland and Albert King,” says Henderson, who grew up in Mississippi and moved to Chicago when she was 14. “Howlin’ Wolf and Johnnie Taylor, they were my favorite artists. I like the way they sing.” Henderson sits down on an old chest in front of the cash register—she’s about the same height sitting down as she is standing up—and tells the story of her life selling music to the West Side.
Colchester, UK | New record store with ‘fluid’ vinyl stock to open in city centre: A record enthusiast has fulfilled his dream to open his first standalone store in Colchester. Stone Rock Records was started in late 2023 by Jonathan Stoneman, 23, who began opening pop-up shops after beginning his record collection. Since opening at his first permanent residence in Earls Colne Recreation Club in July last year, his record collection has grown in size and popularity. Now, the signs have gone up for Stone Rock Records’ first standalone store in Head Street, a stone’s throw from its very first pop-up shop in Two Brews in December 2023. Collector – Jonathan Stoneman started his business with pop-up shops in late 2023. Mr Stoneman said: “It’s very exciting, I’m so excited to have a large space and more room for my records.”
Levittown, PA | Record Store Added To Longtime Falls Twp. Business: Audiolab Stereo & Video Center has set Saturday to unveil its expanded space called the Vinyl Lab in Falls Township. Audio Lab is introducing its Vinyl Lab. Audiolab Stereo & Video Center has set Saturday for the grand opening of its expanded space dubbed the Vinyl Lab. The Vinyl Lab will feature 15,000+ records, 12,000 CDs, cassette tapes, and sell merchandise from eclectic bands. The new record store will make its splash from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. The event will feature food trucks, raffles, giveaways, childrens’ face painting, and live music. “We’re so much more than records, CDs. cassette tapes and reel-reel tapes,” Vinyl Lab said. “We have everything you need to play and maintain your great media. We have all the hardware and accessories to build the perfect stereo system.” Audiolab is located at 925 Lincoln Highway, Morrisville.
IN | 6 record stores every Indy music fan should know: Expand your music library at these Indianapolis record shops offering vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. Indy’s music scene has always had a strong heartbeat, and its record stores are the ones keeping the rhythm. Whether you’re growing your collection, hunting for hidden gems, or just spending an afternoon flipping through stacks of wax, here are six shops every music fan should have on their radar. Karma Records, two locations: The oldest independent record store in Indy holds a lot of local history. Does anyone remember when Ozzy Osborne visited for a meet-and-greet in 1984? Do tell. Irvington Vinyl & Books, 202 S. Audubon Rd.: Second-hand shoppers will love sifting through this shop’s inventory of pre-loved records, books, cassettes, magazines, and more…
UK | Biffy Clyro announce intimate, acoustic Futique record store shows: Following Futique’s release next month, Biffy Clyro will treat fans to a series of tiny acoustic shows in October. Biffy Clyro have just announced a bunch of special acoustic record store shows. In celebration of their upcoming album Futique – which is due out on September 19 – the band will hit the road in October for some intimate performances, with ticket and album bundles going on sale tomorrow, Friday, August 22 from 11am. …Recently speaking to Kerrang! about what he hopes fans will take away from Futique, frontman Simon Neil said that in “this tough fucking time, there’s so much shit in the world that sometimes you just need to hug everyone near you closer. We need to give people around us more benefit of the doubt, that’s when I think we can be less judge-y of people. All we can rely on is our own personal relationships…”
Starkville, MS | Starkville’s hidden gems help residents old and new find their place: Going to college in USA Today’s Best Small Town in the South means that students have a variety of home-grown options for food and fun. From the bustle of the Cotton District to the peace of Mississippi State University’s North Farm, there is truly something for everyone in Starkville. One popular haunt is Scooter’s Records, located in downtown Starkville. Scooter’s offers a variety of records, from locals to oldies and everything else in between. Students can peruse the stacks of both new and old releases while listening to music selected by Scooter himself. Offering an eclectic feel and affordable prices, Scooter’s just cannot be beat.
Ghost Announce Meliora 10th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue: The band unveiled a whopping seven vinyl variants for the reissue campaign. Ghost have announced a 10th anniversary vinyl reissue of their third album, Meliora, arriving October 17th. The band unveiled seven color variants for the release, each being exclusive to certain or various retail outlets. Spread across two LPs, the 15-song tracklist includes the original album as well as the 2016 Popestar EP, a five-song addendum that includes the hit “Square Hammer.” The discs are housed in a double-wide spine jacket that also includes a commemorative Papa III Mummy Dust buck. As for the variants, the “spirit yellow black smoke” pressing is exclusive to Ghost and Loma Vista Recordings’ online stores, and the “green apple cream” colorway is also exclusive to Ghost.
Domlur, IN | Retro Spin: A visit to the city’s hidden vinyl hub: A Murugan, an avid music enthusiast, speaks with CE on his vinyl, cassette and other musical collections, that include a 105-year-old gramophone record player. Snuggled in a quiet corner of Domlur lies a house filled with nostalgia that beckons music enthusiasts. With a passion for vinyl records, A Murugan, its owner, has curated a treasure trove of old movies, music, and related collections, transporting visitors back to the past, when music was a vibrant force shaping culture and society. …“He owned huge radios and record players. Later, after 1984, I started collecting custom-made cassette players, which were affordable and accessible, and would only cost around `9,” he notes. Over time, the collection grew, and Murugan started looking for secondhand records from various sources, including OLX and antique shops.
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