Author Archives: TVD HQ

Boston, MA | Brother Cleve’s vast vinyl collection has found a new home—and some of it could end up in yours: When Brian Coleman and Dave Belson showed up on a recent Friday to unlock the door at their two-year-old record store, a small crowd was already waiting in the lobby. It’s not a common sight at Want List Records, which occupies space in a quiet little antique mall in Newton Upper Falls. “It was like a new pair of Air Jordans was dropping or something,” says Coleman. The vinyl junkies were gathered for the official unveiling of the record collection amassed by the late Brother Cleve, the exotic music and cocktail connoisseur who made it his job to intoxicate the nightlife scene in Boston and beyond. Cleve, who grew up in Medford as Robert Toomey, died unexpectedly last September at age 67. “He had two branches of his life that overlapped,” said Belson at the store a few days before the unveiling, at an informal gathering of some of Cleve’s closest friends. “I think that’s kind of dope.”

Oliver, CA | Respect Record and Skate Shop aims to be unique part of Oliver community: Respect Record and Skate Shop in Oliver has begun to make its mark as a unique business with an aim to be a contributing part of the community. The shop, owned by local Darren Tokaryk and opened in late 2022, is located at 6222 Main Street in Oliver. It has everything skateboarders and record collectors might want or need. The idea for the business came from Tokaryk’s friend Cliff, who patrons will occasionally see helping out in the store. Cliff used to own a record store, and said that if he were to do it again, he would add another side to the business such as skateboards. Tokaryk kept that in mind when he was in the planning stages for his own business. The store offers a large selection of new and used records that are all meticulously cleaned and placed in new sleeves. They also have everything needed for quality skateboarding, such as boards, trucks, wheels, bearings, grip and more.

Teesside, UK | Acclaimed documentary on beloved Teesside record shop made free to watch in honour of owner’s life: British artist and filmmaker Jeanie Finlay has made Sound It Out – her documentary about the much loved Teesside record shop of the same name – free to watch until 25 June to mark the life of shop owner Tom Butchart, who died earlier this month aged 50. Sound it Out profiled the very last surviving vinyl record shop in Teesside – alongside its customers – and won global acclaim on its release 12 years ago. “Tom’s openness and his ability to always be himself – and to extend that grace to others – is why I chose to make a film with him,” Finlay explained in a Facebook post. “What an adventure we had.” Butchart’s funeral takes place this weekend, and donations to the Tees Music Alliance in his memory can be made here. Watch Sound it Out for free on Jeanie Finlay’s website.

Seattle, WA | Coffee and vinyl reign supreme at Empire Roasters and Records in south Seattle: The Columbia City coffee shop recently expanded adding a vinyl record store. There’s certainly not a lack of coffee shops in the overly caffeinated Pacific Northwest. What is rare, though, is finding a place where you can pick up the latest Taylor Swift album on vinyl along with your latte. If that sounds like the perfect combination, then you need to check out Empire Roasters and Records in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood. The coffee shop has been around since 2009 and has expanded during the last few years – floor by floor. The business now occupies three levels and includes a rooftop deck. The record store was added during the pandemic and owner Ian Peters credits the move with saving the business. Peters encourages customers to bring friends, explore and hang out.

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Montauk, NY | Behind the Counter: No matter where in the country you might be, walking into a beloved local record shop should feel the same. The smell of old vinyl and decaying cardboard in the air, a group of friends talking about a local show in the corner, an employee behind the counter who could have been an extra in High Fidelity. For decades, independent record shops have served as a cultural cornerstone for their respective communities and music scenes. They’re a place where people can come together and find a new song that will consume them or an old favorite they’ve scouted out for years. The truth is, these stores offer something Spotify can’t—a physical music experience. Because let’s face it: Crate-digging just hits differently compared to phone scrolling. The following is a look behind the counter at just a few record shops across the country. We caught up with six shop owners that are making their area’s scenes a little better.

Malmö, SE | ‘Time for a new chapter’: Malmö’s Bolero Records forced to relocate: Bolero is mergings its collection with another record shop in the city, Rundgång. Malmö’s Bolero Records is having to relocate from its current premises. The shop broke the news via Instagram last Thursday, June 15th. “After much contemplation and consideration, it’s with a heavy heart that we’ve made the difficult decision to close the doors of our beloved underground space,” the post read. Bolero founder Diego Shim, AKA Dip Shim, told Resident Advisor that “time constraints, overwhelming stress, mistreatment and lack of consideration from one of our neighbours” has made the current setup untenable. “This realisation has led me to the decision that it’s time for a new chapter in the journey of Bolero.” Rather than closing the shop entirely, Bolero has merged its collection with another record shop in the city, Rundgång

Bristol, UK | Glastonbury traders’ marquee rescued by neighbours after heavy rain nearly sends them home: The Keynsham record store owner was rescued by ‘two Glasto-style hippies’ in the end. A trader at this year’s Glastonbury Festival was almost sent back home to Keynsham after a rain storm on Monday night broke his marquee. Iain Aitchison, who runs Longwell Records, had to put messages out on his social media pages to plead for help or else they would have to pack up shop and wouldn’t be able to stay at Glastonbury this weekend. Sharing a photo of the white marquee, which had bowed beyond repair due to heavy rain, Iain asked if anyone out there could help by lending him a replacement for the weekend. The post, which has since been taken down, showed boxes of his stock underneath the broken marquee and comments were quick to flood in, with people locally and heading to the festival offering their help.

A day with the Sound Burger: Ditching the streaming services for a portable record player: Returning for the analogue enjoyers of this generation, the Sound Burger offers the perfect on-the-go option to ditch the digital and head out into the world armed only with a sleek portable record player, headphones and the phrase “it sounds better on vinyl.” In order to get the full experience of what the Sound Burger offers, I turned my life on aeroplane mode one sunny winter Sunday and headed off to enjoy my LPs in the park. No longer confined to playlists curated by algorithms, I spent the day fully embracing an album in its intended order, immersing myself deeply in the artist’s musical journey. Surrounded by chirping birds and lush trees, I felt like a vinyl DJ ready to drop the funkiest beats for Mother Nature herself. As the needle found its groove the passing pedestrians started walking in rhythm, the grass blades swaying along and the trees nodding their leafy heads in the wind.

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Edinburgh, UK | Remembering Edinburgh’s lost record stores that defined the city’s music scene: Edinburgh’s independent record store scene was once buzzing, but has sadly lost its way in recent years. We look back on the lost record stores that once defined the city’s music scene. While certain other Scottish cities have built their reputation on music, Edinburgh has always flown a little bit under the radar. Yes, we might have given the world some classic bangers – and we might give them 500 more – but overall we’re better known for our theatre and literary scenes than music. Which is a shame, because Edinburgh rocks. Not only does Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson hail from here, but we also gave the world The Young Fathers, punk and post punk legends the Exploited, the Scars and the Fire Engines, as well as the Bay City Rollers and The Proclaimers. …But most of all, we had some truly fantastic, much-missed independent record shops.

Miami, FL | Best Record Store: Technique Records. There are few places on this peninsula where discophiles can uncover a rare reissued vinyl in mint condition and a well-worn copy of the 2 Live Crew’s As Nasty as They Wanna Be under the same roof. Praise Technique Records, which has been providing Miami vinyl aficionados with a trove of more than 20,000 new and used records since 2017. While you can peruse all of Technique’s inventory on its website, it’s worth browsing the aisles of the 79th Street headquarters to take in the giant posters for cult-classic movies, the vast selection of DVDs and VHS and cassette tapes, and a staff eager to help you navigate the row upon row of sonic treasures.

Charlotte, NC | For 35 years, this Charlotte record shop has been the go-to spot for vinyl lovers: For 35 years, Repo Record has been a go-to spot for vinyl lovers in the Queen City. From classical to country, Repo has records for everyone. For 35 years, Repo Record has been the go-to spot in Charlotte for vinyl lovers of all ages. With only a few breaks to reorganize and move the location and reassess the future of his business, Jimmy Parker’s been there for it all. Parker, the creator and music expert behind Repo, has seen vinyl almost completely go away and has experienced the industry’s amazing comeback over the last decade or so. “In 2012 it came back,” Parker said, explaining that vinyl’s resurgence lined up with his shop’s move to Commonwealth Avenue in Plaza Midwood. …There are literally thousands of albums in the store. Some are extremely valuable with prices into the hundreds of dollars, but most of what you’ll find at Repo is affordable. That huge selection and friendly pricing are what keep music lovers coming back for more.

Minneapolis, MN | Taylor Swift tour opener Gracie Abrams playing acoustic show at Electric Fetus on Friday: The show’s 300 passes sold out instantly last week after fans lined up outside the store to buy Abrams’ record. Bob Fuchs watched that TikTok video over and over again on Friday. “It made me smile all day,” said Fuchs, music retail manager at the Electric Fetus record store in Minneapolis. “This is why we show up in the morning, for this kind of stuff.” The video he played on loop and shared Friday showed just a few of the hundreds of giddy fans lined up outside the store on Friday. They were there to buy a deluxe vinyl copy of singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ 2023 debut “Good Riddance,” but it wasn’t just about owning the album on wax. With each purchase came a ticket to see Abrams in an intimate acoustic performance at Electric Fetus. …”The fans are just absolutely bursting at the seams,” Fuchs said. “They can’t believe that someone they love so much is going to show up at a record store.”

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Grand Rapids, MI | ‘They want things that are real again’: Shops open up as vinyl record popularity grows: Part Time Records and Vinyl Alchemy are seeing success with physical media, despite the prevalence of streaming services. Record stores in West Michigan are seeing strong numbers, despite the vast prevalence of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), there were about 40 million vinyl records sold in the United States in 2021. The next year, in 2022, there was a little over 41 million sold, a year-over-year growth of 3.2%. West Michigan has long been home to Vertigo Records on Division Avenue in Grand Rapids and The Corner Record Shop, now located on 28th Street in Grandville, but there are also some newcomers deserving of some love.

Nottingham, UK | Exclusive new editions of 40 iconic albums launched for vinyl week: Artists include Sam Fender, Bob Dylan, Gary Numan, Avril Lavingne and The Jam. Sam Fender, Bob Dylan, Gary Numan, Avril Lavingne and The Jam are among the artists taking part in hmv’s Vinyl Week 2023, with exclusive new editions of classic albums available for collectors. The entertainment retailer’s Vinyl Week has seen 40 new records drop in stores. This year’s drop includes The National’s GRAMMY award winning Sleep Well Beast on crystal clear vinyl. Fresh from his sold-out hometown shows at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, Sam Fender’s debut, Hypersonic Missiles is available on a green vinyl. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Sufjan Stevens Michigan is available on red and for Paul Weller enthusiasts, The Jam’s In The City is up for grabs on white. A special “Now That’s What I Call hmv Anthemic” compilation of era-defining tracks is also available in this year’s drop featuring The Cure, Oasis, Primal Scream and The Clash amongst others.

Tallahassee, FL | Tallahassee nonprofit gets donation of 10,000 records: This weekend vinyl enthusiasts got the opportunity to sift through thousands of records as part of a sale put on by a local nonprofit. Hundreds of people stopped by, searching through boxes to find timeless treasures. “Records are making a comeback,” said Karen Loewen. Loewen is the executive director of Tallahassee Action Grants, which owns Community Thrift Market. The organization just got a donation of 10,000 records. This weekend, they tried to sell as many as possible. “When they donated it, we were told that it was 1,000. And we’re like, ‘Oh, okay, we can handle that.’ But when we opened the storage facility, we’re like, ‘Oh my god.’” Loewen says organizing these records would’ve taken weeks. So, volunteers left thrifters to sift through them on their own. “It’s a little exhausting because you know, there’s no real organization to them,” one thrifter, Jim Gray, said. But Gray says the work is worth the reward.

Adelaide, AU | There’s A Huge Music Collector’s Market Spinning Into Wayville This July: The palooza will be abuzz with over 100,000 titles, including new releases, out-of-print gems, rare, and pre-loved treasures. If you like music, you’ll like this market. Dubbed as ‘Australia’s most iconic music collector’s market’, the groovy Music Palooza is heading our way. Come Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July between 10am and 5pm, The Latvian Hall in Wayville will be abuzz with music lovers sifting through over 100,000 titles, including new releases, out-of-print gems, rare, and pre-loved treasures. The musical extravaganza will well and truly be delivering the goods, with vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, memorabilia, and much plenty more up for grabs. Trust, you’re going to need the full two days to rummage through all of it! Whether you’re a purveyor of country, folk, dance, rock, disco, reggae, jazz, drum’n’base, rap, metal, classical, soundtracks, or something in between, the Music Palooza is your wonderland – and a mixture of interstate and local sellers will be upping the ante.

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Birmingham, UK | The 8 best record stores in Birmingham, according to Google reviews: We’ve decided to take a look at the most popular record stores in Birmingham. Despite the advances in technology and the many ways to stream music in 2023, many music lovers still enjoy searching record stores to find classic vinyls. Many great record stores across the UK have closed down in the last decade, but there are still some brilliant ones out there to enjoy, especially in Birmingham. A number of shops also take part in Record Store Day every year – the day when over 260 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. This year’s event was held in April. So, If you are a fan of records, looking to get your hand on releases from major acts, we’ve decided to take a look at the city’s favourite record stores. Here are the 10 record stores rated in Birmingham, according to customers on Google reviews.

Charleston, WV | West Side record store moving to new location: Elk City Records is on the move. At least it will be soon. The 311 West Washington St. used record store, which draws visitors from far and wide, will be relocating over the next few months to a new home at 601 Maryland Ave. That building currently houses C&B Blueprint, which has repaired and sold surveying equipment from that location since 2007. It has maintained other locations in Charleston for years, but decided to consolidate its Charleston location with its Huntington headquarters, says one of the store’s owners, Ron Copley. Elk City Records is so named for its location in what has become known as the Elk City area of Charleston’s West Side. Record store owner Phil Melick spent $225,000 on the C&B building for the space. The blueprint building is divided into halves, which will afford Melick a performance space for artists and a much larger retail space than he currently occupies. The new space is located two blocks west and one block south of the current store.

Alexandria, VA | Crooked Beat Records Reopens In New Del Ray Location: Due to developer plans to demolish the old location for redevelopment, Crooked Beat Records moved out of Old Town North. Crooked Beat Records has reopened in a new location as demolition of its old building in Old Town North is expected. …It is located at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue below Cheesetique. Initial hours are 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Crooked Beat Records specializes in new and used vinyl records. The business cited the “pending demolition” of its former location at Montgomery Center in Old Town North. Developer Carr Companies is planning to redevelop the Montgomery Center, a building with business tenants. The redevelopment would include 327 multifamily units, ground floor retail, a music performance venue, underground parking spaces on two levels and two public plazas. The redevelopment gained approval from Alexandria City Council in April.

Auckland, NZ | ‘Overwhelming’ demand from artists for new vinyl record press: A record pressing machine described as the “best in the business” is about to start manufacturing vinyl records for some of the biggest names in New Zealand music. Auckland’s Stebbing Recording Studios is installing a Swedish-made Pheenix Alpha AD12 – a fully automatic vinyl record press – which will begin operation this month, about four months later than planned due to the Auckland floods. Artists such as The Feelers, Devilskin and Solo Mio’s Moses Mackay will be some of the first to have vinyl manufactured when the press is up and running. “I’m having to dampen down the enthusiasm because everybody wants it yesterday,” said Stebbing sales manager Murray Cullen. He said interest in the press had been “overwhelming” which was almost ready to go at the studio which was founded in 1946.

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