This Record Store Doesn't Have Anything (Discuss)
Big_Stacks
"I don't worry about hittin' power, cause I don't give 'em nuttin' to hit." 4,670 Posts
Hey Strutters,
My brother Will and I were having a conversation about the above statement that our record collecting buddies make. Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that this statement doesn't really apply to us. Our collective sentiment was that our variety of tastes allows us to find records of value in any record store we visit. Really, it seems that every record store has a 'strong genre' or so that aligns with our tastes in some way. I liken it to playing b-ball (sort of) such that you take what a given store (or the defense regarding offensive approach) gives you in terms of its offerings. At minimum, sometimes I'll use a not-so-stellar store to replace bad copies of common goodies that I own. Any thoughts (sorry for the ramble)?
Peace,
Big Stacks from Kakalak
My brother Will and I were having a conversation about the above statement that our record collecting buddies make. Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that this statement doesn't really apply to us. Our collective sentiment was that our variety of tastes allows us to find records of value in any record store we visit. Really, it seems that every record store has a 'strong genre' or so that aligns with our tastes in some way. I liken it to playing b-ball (sort of) such that you take what a given store (or the defense regarding offensive approach) gives you in terms of its offerings. At minimum, sometimes I'll use a not-so-stellar store to replace bad copies of common goodies that I own. Any thoughts (sorry for the ramble)?
Peace,
Big Stacks from Kakalak
Comments
Although, I often will use the phrase to describe a store that may "have something" but the pricing is outrageous (commons at $5-10). Which I guess isn't quite accurate, but describes my feelings toward a record store that can't be bothered to set prices properly. This is very common at NYC/DC/Philly stores in the trendier, formerly bohemian parts of town.
But yeah, as a rule most stores usually have something I would walk away with.
Most stores worth their salt find plenty of ill records; chances are, you just didn't get them.
Hey JP,
That's easy for you to say since Good is amazing!!! I just find that I come out of most stores with a pile of stuff that varies depending on the store's stock. This summer, I was in a store in Boston that would be considered 'not-good' in the soul/funk, breakbeat lover's sense, but it had a massive amount of soundtracks. So, that's the lane I played in there, then hit up the 'good' store over in the Commons (name escapes me) for the rest. It's fun trying to figure out what direction to take in a given store.
Peace,
Big Stacks from Kakalak
Mr. Good, I've been in your store now on 4, or possibly 5, occasions I believe.
You sir have a great store and I've always walked out with several gems while
there. As a record lover/collector I think you've found a great niche and what
better city to have that in other than NYC?
Stacks, patience and timing are the key I think. I was in a local haunt just before
xmas and for the first time I decided to dig through the "collectible bin" which I
had never done on any of my previous trips. While nothing earth shattering revealed
itself I did unveil to my surprise a handful of solid pieces that were all NM and priced
great. As a music lover a record store would have to be major weak sauce for myself
not to find something..
Been in great stores and come out with nothing; shit ones with a stack.
Some stores I have been to were just too expensive. Every decent Psych, Kraut (Can Tago Mago in vg+/vg+ for 300 Euros?!), Jazz or Soul record was priced higher than on ebay or even popsike. The other records were just not interesting to me. I'd feel like I would be wasting money buying there...
I guess if you buy just anything and look for upgrades on your common reords' condition, any record store can be heaven.
But I have been to terrible records stores. There's one in my hometown that now sells video games, DVDs and comic books rather than records. I have yet to see someone buy any record there or notice new entries or miss records that have been there for years. I don't think the owner will ever buy new collections. Half his store is full of records but there's really nothing good... I doubt you would buy anything there.
What turns up at any given store waxes and wanes depending on a lot of factors (including the proprietor's willingness to get from behind the counter and go look) and especially nowadays it's just a lot more people fishing, even in the small towns and out of the way spots, there's more competition and the guys who are not tethered to a storefront often have more time to search for and capital to buy nice collections. I don't think it's easy anywhere to consistently turn up killer stock for more discerning collectors. Which is why many stores that seem to never get in anything new/interesting still manage to pay their rent; most record shoppers aren't all that discerning, and you'd be surprised what the average run of the mill record store sells on a regular basis.
I do get recent reissues in second-hand, and they tend to sell well.
Hey Grope,
I'm unsure of how old you are, but seriously, condition becomes a huge deal with age. You have to bear in mind, I have LPs in my collection that I have owned since 1974!!! Suffice it to say, they have been played a million times, have traveled 10,000 miles or more (double-digit moves throughout my life), so they get some wear on them (especially the covers). So yes, from time to time, I'll buy a fresh(er) copy of that common record that I love, so the 'so-so' stores allow me to do that on the cheap-cheap. Certainly, I look for the whales in spots like JP's, but those :talib: stores, believe it or not, have their place.
Peace,
Big Stacks from Kakalak
i haven't been collecting for that long and i must admit i don't buy many records at the moment. i don't mind leaving stores empty-handed. i regret selling some of my US records. the ones i miss are really hard to find in europe. it's sad that even common us jazz and soul records got so expensive here. times have been better 10 - 15 years ago. i was a too chaotic buyer back then. i should have bought all the krautrock lps in the late 90s :( the prices have at least doubled! i remember not buying the first motherhood lp for 5 euros because it was only in a vg+ condition. oh well...
i have never been to the US for record shopping. but i guess i would be able to rebuy most of the records i miss
i'm still glad there are so many stores in germany. most got boring but at least they are able to keep their business up. i just got to snobby. i buy expensive records if i really want them. i don't buy common cheap stuff and rather go for the records i think i won't find again in the next few years. common records will always be there? at least that's what i experienced and i still regret that i didn't buy the krautrock rares when i was getting started. that's has been a huge influence on me.
one thing i will never understand is that stores over here rate common US records so highly when you can get them for less than half the price on ebay. i was in london for one day last year and even in the high-end places like intoxica, the meters and oliver sain lps were much cheaper than in germany...
i get the idea about conditions. i'd like to upgrade some of my records!
Honestly, I think when most folks state that a record store doesn't have anything they are really saying "They don't have $100 records for five bucks". This may be because they never turn over their stock or because they price records correctly or even too high. For me any store that turns their stock frequently and will discount large purchases is a good store. As a record dealer I'm looking for records to make a profit on and that means I have to know more than the store owner. This used to be easy, but now in the Popsike era, not so much.
Since I do buy records to sell I'm not a big fan of the "specialty" store that deals in niche genres as they tend to be on top of their game. For collectors of those genres these stores are essential. I love the store that carries everything and anything. Doc's in Fort Worth is a GREAT store even though I don't buy much there. They have a great variety, high turnover and prices that are lower than market but too high for me to grip and flip. To me, that's the perfect combination.
totally agree, a local store started doing that several years ago and i rarely visit now.
totally agree with playing to a store's strengths. I used to hit up this place in Bee Bee, Arkansas...owner was a typical Ozark foothills racist asshole. He hated R&B records, so he would put 'em in a box by the door and give them away for free (refused to sell them)...got the bulk of my James Brown production 45s (Marva, Ballard, etc) out of that box, "Up Above the Rock" 45, Big Maybelle sides (actually this is where my love of Big Maybelle began) all kinds of shit...but hit up the LP racks and 100% pure crap. However, he would always have good rock 45s for a buck or 2. Good shop IMO, would be the worst place in the world to some though.
but i know some stores that only have pop and rock records from the 80s. just not my kind of thing. you must have stores like that in the US? i still check those stores for new entries but some of them only ocassionally have recent reissues.
you must live in heaven! i agree that even if all the big named diggers went to a particular store already, i'd still go. people know different things and like and buy different records
but bad record stores? don't you all know some that have just been absolutely dead for years?
Once, years ago on Soul Strut, some high-rolling collector from NYC or somewhere started a thread bitching about the lack of good record stores in Chicago, as if he was expecting to walk down the street and see collectible rarities in the sidewalk cracks. He didn't specify what he was looking for (IIRC), but dollars to donuts he was looking for some ultra-rare plastic-bag item and was pissed at what he didn't find.
I'm not saying that we should all have diverse tastes (you like what you like). And I would sooner leave a record store empty-handed than buy mountains of dollarbin chud. But these capital-C Collectors who emphasize money values and rarity can be a pain in the ass to talk to.