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| From | Not Lame <popmusic@notlame.com> |
| Subject | Fave Stores |
| Date | Wed, 02 Jun 2004 09:27:17 -0600 |
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> Here are some of my favorite record shops from throughout my record buying
> history, in chronological rather than ranked order (the chronology often is
> reflected by when I would frequent the shop, not necessarily when it went
> into-or out of-business):
>
> 1. Farfels Records (late '70s): On 4th Street in Manhattan. Great selection
> of out-of-print stuff, probably my best introduction to the world of record
> collecting. The owner, Spence Wooten, was a good guy. Didn't know a lot
> about obscure rock 'n roll or pop, but knew the value of what he had.
Some list you had there, David! man, that's some elelphantine memory w/ 15
on there!
Mine is short 'n sweet.....
#1 and always still champion:
Nuggets - Kenmore Square, Boston, MA - mid 70's-early 80's - pure nostalgia
for me, but any Bostonian cutting his teeth on all the cool music happening
in Boston at the time and elsewhere had to pass thru Nuggets in order to
find any bargains and imports. WBCN dumped their promos there so every
Saturday there was amazing finds to be had for the dishwashing Brodeen punk
and power poppin' dude.
#2: Zounds - Prudential Center, Boston, MA - mid 70's - went out of
business in 1978 but this incredibly small store was filled with great buys
and snobby jazz guys, who by osmosis turned me onto Charlie Parker, Lester
Young, Miles and many more. The first time I went the counter, after a few
years of buying rock stuff, with a small pile of jazz albums(I was 15 at
the time), the owner spoke to me for the first time in earnest. Surprised,
he asked "how did you choose these". I shyly said 'because you played them
in the store the last few times I was here and I have the money now to check
them out some more this time". He had this look I'll never
forget.....swear it was pride and awareness that 'this' is why he owned the
store. He proceeded to give me a few more to check out for free. The
store was gone in six months. But remember the owner's face more than any
tot his day as he always greeted me with a warm hello and questions about my
life from the day on.
THIS is the kind of experience good mom 'n pop stores CAN and STILL DO bring
to the serious music fan. And why they will not die any time soon, folks.
#3 - Aron's - Lost Angeles - mid/late 80's/early 90's - my time in Los
Angeles......when I was either working lousy music biz jobs or doing extra
work in movies and TV shows. Sweet memory, indeed. But I always found a
way to irresponsibly spend mor e money than I had to buy music in LA town
and Aaron's was the best place around. Record Exchange was fun, Moby Disc
has its moments but the staff sucked no mater the location. Despite
Ameoba's dominance now in LA, Aron's is still pretty darn vital, to their
eternal credit.
Peace,
Bruce
@ Not Lame
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