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| From | Rafael Paulino Neto <rpaulino@bignet.com.br> |
| Subject | Re: NYC record stores |
| Date | Sun, 26 May 2013 13:57:51 -0300 |
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I visited New York last February, my first time in almost 20 years. I've
visited NYC several times during the late 80s and early 90s, and my
routine there was always record stores by the day, then rock shows at
night.
I remember one year (was it 1987?) when I came to Tower Recs. in the
Village in early March, then came back in December. In March vinyl was
like still more than half of the store, it still accounted for the
majority of the stock. Then in December, vinyl was just a little section
at the back. If I remember well, after that, Tower opened a separate
store at the other corner, all dedicated to cutout vinyl. The main store
turned into cd only.
Anyway, now, in 2013, vinyl is alive and well again (can't say the same
about Tower...). I kept buying vinyl during all those years, along with
CDs, and when I got back to NY, I was really 'hungry' for LPs, and used
CDs. Well, I must say my buyings where very much a letdown.
I visited Academy (12th st.), Bleecker Street Records, Village Music
World, Generation, Other Music, Book Off, Best Buy, maybe one or two
more. I expected to buy a lot of used LPs and CDs and a minority of new,
sealed items. But it was almost the opposite. And I bought less, much
less than what I was expecting.
Typical used cd bin experience: 40, 50 minutes browsing, and not a
single cd that could be of marginal interest for me. Keep in mind that
most of what I like is alternative, indie, power pop, smaller labels
stuff, along with older 70s-80s both common and obscure pop/rock. I also
search for 7"s, especially with picture sleeves. At the cd bins, most of
what I saw was big, commercial names, or unsuccessful major label
smaller (and bad!) bands. For example, a long line of 10 copies of the
same Aerosmith, then 3 of the same Alanis cd, then several Alice In
Chains and so on.
Speaking of used vinyl, what I found was mainly bad, ring-weared copies,
with a lot of bad dance, rap, fake country, commercial female singers,
etc. etc. I remember at the old days (early 90s), how it was easy to
see classic rock (Purple, BTO, Lynyrd, Neil Young, Dylan, and so on) in
very good shape for under $10. You can still find part of these on ebay
for cheap. Now, the very few LPs of this type of artists that I saw, was
in very bad shape, and not cheap at all. One store had a once common
Purple 'Burn' copy at the wall, like a collectors item, for something
like $30. Not my kind of music at all, just to give an example.
I ended up buyng more sealed records and CDs instead. New american LPs
for $15-$20 are a fair price for someone who lives in Brazil, like me.
I had the highest recommendations for Princeton too, but unfortunately I
was not able to go there. Most of what I bought was new vinyl. Bought
only 5 CDs, all sealed. For my likings, the best stores where Other
Music, Generation and Bleecker St. Records. Academy was good too, but
moslly for people into jazz, blues, fusion, older funk, r&b, etc.
Finally, I expected coming back with 100-200 items, but actually bought
only around 40. Hope to get to New Jersey stores too the next time.
Rafael.
Em 25/5/2013 14:09, Michael Myers escreveu:
> Hi Gary
>
> Thanks for the note. Yes, Vintage Vinyl added that "top quality bin" stuff but the prices range from $12 to $22 for decent records I can get cheaper on eBay. I did buy 2 things there for Christmas presents. Their real treasures hang on the wall but those rare items typically cost from $25 to $200.
>
> I was speaking with the GM of PRE while there last night and in the last month they've purchased about 25k jazz LPs and also 26k gently used rock CDs from MTV's now-defunct internet radio station so they are bursting at the seams. He says they sell at least 15,000 LPs a month.
>
> That accounts for their amazing turnover. It's funny because I was on the hunt for some Blues or Soul LPs last night and the selection was way down from my trip last month when I hit some home runs.
>
> Mike
>
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