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Domagoj wrote:Hello guys, I need an update on record shops in London. I've been to old Rough Trade shops and in Berwick street during my previous visits.

I am aware that buying records here in UK is bloody expensive compared to USA but I'll try anyway.

I am interested in new or near mint condition:

1970s classic rock titles
soul/funk
reggae/dub
krautrock

Any news?

Thanks,

d.

Hey D,

this is mailorder for you, but you should really check out Dusty Groove in chicago.


they kind of specialize in all the stuff you listed, except for the classic rock.

I'll second Monorail in glasgow, record shop and bar (and restaurant) with organic beer and all sorts of good food plus loads of vinyl/ DVDs/ CDs last time I was there I bought the minutemen DVD, I always try and pick something up there. Haven't been to the new giant rough trade store near brick lane in London yet... but it sounds like it could be good. There used to be a good chain, in the UK, called Fopp that did cheapo books, reasonably priced vinyl (i bought my brother a load of stevie wonder reissues in there) and really cheap CD back catalogue stuff.. but they closed down, and I think HMV are reopening some of the branches.. which will probably suck.

kerble wrote:Hey D,

this is mailorder for you, but you should really check out Dusty Groove in chicago.


they kind of specialize in all the stuff you listed, except for the classic rock.

Kerble, you are right. UK is too expensive for me. I will definitely use mailorder for some vinyl from time to time although with added postage I get only pound or two off per record. So far I've had good experience with Vinyl.com and Forced Exposure mailorder.

On topic:

Right now in my dilapidated Austro-Hungarian hometown there is no record store worth mentioning except maybe the new one specialized mostly for "independent" labels. I wish them good luck.

When I am in London I like to check claustrophobic Sisterray (ex Selecta Disc (?)) and newly opened Rough Trade East.

I bought new copy of Raw Power (original Bowie mix) for 10 pounds in RT. I am glad I will finally get rid of inner ear piercing remastered version. And I even recognized what was playing on the stereo in the store - QandnotU Power. Hah!

I think I spotted James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem in Sisterray. Salute Mr. Murphy, I enjoy three records connected with you.

Sometimes it's fun to spend a day or a free afternoon visiting record stores.

Rog wrote:

instant_zen wrote:

Rog wrote:New/New and Used/Indie: Mad City Music Exchange(Williamson St.)
B-side (State St.)

Used: Mad City, Sugar Shack (Atwood Ave.)

Old LPs: Sugar Shack, Resale Records (Commercial Ave.),
This guy's garage on Baldwin St. just down from The Crystal
Corner; open weekends when it isn't raining, Mad City.

i haven't poked around much on the non-campus side of town yet (for lack of a bicycle, mostly), but i'll second B-sides. for old (jazz) stuff, i've found the basement of the Exclusive Co. has a lot, and though i'm sure a lot of people on this forum would really hate Earwax (it's a kinda trendy place where fashion-core punks seem to hang around), i've actually found the staff there to be pretty helpful, although sometimes they're a little pricey (the records they sell, that is. not the staff members themselves).

that's what i've determined thus far.

Earwax is also a fine store, I just forgot about it, momentarily.
The owner was once in an outfit called Inspector 12.
I'm sure the fashion-cores are just trying suck up some
of his old school juice.

Yeah Earwax is where you wanna go if you are looking for punk and metal. With the exception of Chuck Pig no one at B-Side or Mad City has a clue about the punk, hardcore and metal. My only bitch is frequently Earwax is slow getting new releases in house.

Alas the best store in Wisconsin is 75 miles east on Madison at the corner of Locust and Oakland in Milwaukee. I hardly ever end up SOL at Atomic Records when I am hunting for something.

Village Music - New York, NY - will sadly shut it's doors at the end of the month.
I thought the new yorkers should know...