Do you remember the day when it was so easy to drive to your local record store and check out the latest new and used inventory? From state to state and city to city, the metropolitan populations were always stocked with independent stores that were capable of accommodating to its customers even with the most far-fetched genre’s that could not make it to the mainstream market. The day the lofty retail giant Tower Records had to close its doors to its customers was a sad one. Then came COVID-19 and even more so the independent stores are continuing to struggle in a business that had its issue even before this pandemic. So where were we and what next? After moving to Houston, Texas from the isolated yet beautiful Bahamas back in the early 80’s, I was exposed to the dominant retail record store of its day Sound Warehouse. This was only a tease when compared to the network of record stores I was introduced to upon my arrival to Southern California in the late 80’s. Of course, there was that significant retail chain Tower Records also located on Sunset Boulevard with its worldwide recognized yellow and red sign that seemed to be featured in a multitude of pop cultural movies of its time. Who would have thought that someday it would be no more? That day arrived many years ago. The mega-retail store had survived many hurdles such as the growing voracity of the record industry, Napster, the internet retail boom, and now the growing demand to download music for pennies. But early signs of their fate came in 2004 when Tower filed for bankruptcy who were to close their doors by the of 2006 with the exception of some of their mega stores in Japan. How did the retail business in general get here? Though there are a multitude of intertwining aspects, certainly an initial resistance to the technological advancements was one of many stumbling blocks. There was the long hard battle of converting the vintage virgin vinyl consumers to the silver disc however compact discs did finally take a commanding lead in retail sales. While the technological developments understandably resulted in an initial higher price tag, once the research and cost controls were inhaled by the consumer the buying public looked forward to the lowering of the retail prices. It never happened but instead discs were repackaged only years later with bonus tracks and anniversary editions persuading the consumer to buy their product a second and third time. This would only anger consumers even more. Meanwhile, Napster took a further bite out of the music retail sales which resulted in artists and the recording industry litigating over this technology advancement. Then, the internet crushed the local retail outlets resulting in the homogenizing of those that survived for a while such as the Wal-Mart’s, Targets, Best Buy’s and Barnes & Noble only to all of them cave into the online giant Amazon. So, what has happened since? Though many independents stores have perished in the capitalistic “food chain” there are a few independent local outlet and internet stores that continue to survive and thrive, willing to commit to a niche of consumers who cannot find what they are looking for via their mainstream options. And with the resurgence of vinyl there is a younger generation showing a strong interest in the past and actually heading into a physical store. Prior to COVID-19, Amoeba Records was booming, but even this giant is struggle as is so much of mainstream America. Along with their online presence Amoeba is still getting by. But if you don’t live in the greater LA area or San Francisco where can you run to? Though not intended to be exhaustive, here are a few viable alternative resources that may actually be your best buy. 1. Amoeba www.amoeba.com Located in the heart of Hollywood, Amoeba is a mega-store that accommodates to every genre you could possibly think of. Their inventory is equal strengths of used and new cd’s and DVD’s. And yes, their used vinyl collection in recent years is also very impressive. The store is so huge that it will take your breath away. Though currently closed they are in the process of reopening their new store just around the corner from the original Hollywood location. Stay tuned for that. They also have 2 other locations in San Francisco and Berkley. 2. Zia Records www.ziarecords.com Should you ever decided to visit the greater Phoenix AZ area then it is a must that you visit the city’s most dominant independent record store Zia Records. With both an extensive range of CD’s and vinyl at a reasonable price, Zia Records is a priority. With 5 stores in the Greater Phoenix area, one in Tucson, AZ and now also 2 stores in the Las Vegas area there is certainly a physical presence. It should also be reminded that if you purchase over $30 on their website it comes with free shipping and handling and points. 3. Bull Moose www.bullmoose.com Much like Zia the set up is very similar from having a physical presence of 12 stores in the Maine and New Hampshire north east corner of the USA along with a strong internet presence. Like Zia, they use the same search engine and also offer free shipping and handling on any purchase over $30. And considering you have 12 stores of new and used product to pull from this is easily achievable. And even the used product much like Zia are rarely below very good condition. 4. CD Trader http://www.cdtradertarzana.com/ While there is physical record store in the Southern California valley in the suburb of the greater LA Valley that makes for a wonderful visit if you are in the area, their website ordering and presence is very limited. But if you are in the Greater LA area this small but super-efficient local record store when compared to the Amoeba Mega Store might be less overwhelming yet even greater efficiency wise. COVID-19 is still limiting their ability to be open to the public. 5. Waterloo Record www.waterloorecords.com While Waterloo Records is not quite as strong on the website like Zia Records, their physical presence despite only one store is impressive. Nevertheless, this is the strongest pure independent record store that has a super strong new arrival and a multi-genre musical choice in both used and new music as well as a decent internet presence. Much like CD Trader, COVID-19 has limited their ability to serve the general public shy curbside and online. 6. Josey Records www.joseyrecords.com Despite the closure of the dearly missed CD Source in Dallas, the blow of that loss was softened by the opening of Josey Records. With a stronger focus on the vinyl format, the Dallas location has strengthened its cd section over recent years and is beginning to flex its muscle in the Dallas market so much so that it has now extended into the Oklahoma and Kansas marketplace. Add their more recent moves of a stronger online presence also using the same search engine as the Zia and Bull Moose website, yet to be tested, Josey Records are showing to being a major new player in this ever-changing landscape of music stores. 7. Boo Boo Records www.booboorecords.com If you ever decide to make a trip up the world-famous Pacific Coast Highway then pay a visit to the city of San Luis Obispo. It is at about the halfway point between Los Angeles and San Francisco and it is a stone’s throw away from coastal town of Morro Bay. It is the home of Boo Boo Records that has been in existence since the mid 70’s that has grown from a 300 square foot store to its current location of 5000 square feet. The selection is amazing which to this date includes a vinyl room and a significant classical, jazz and new age section. Though meager in size when compared to Amoeba, the store has a heart of a giant and is worth side stepping from your coastal excursion. 8. Forever Young Records www.foreveryoungrecords.com Located in Grand Prairie which is a distant suburb of the Dallas Metroplex the store covers over 11,000 square feet of cd’s (used and new), vinyl, memorabilia and even eight track tapes (does anyone remember them?). From a size aspect the store almost compares to the Hollywood monster Amoeba. The cd inventory, especially new, is impressive, and the prices are reasonable but do not compete with the West Coast mega store. But for those of you now two steps behind on the audio technological advancements, they do have a huge impressive vinyl selection. 9. NEH Records www.nehrecords.com With no physical retail outlet available, the Colorado based NEH Records is purely an internet presence that specializes in Melodic Rock. Yet despite an almost complete emphasis on imports, the prices continue to be very reasonable in the event that a used copy is not attainable. Add their limited Wednesday $5 sale day where titles go really fast, it should be remembered that owner Michael McPherson also released his own solo album back in 1997 titled Don’t Look Back. Produced by Bobby Barth the sound is solid, the lyrics insightful and McPherson’s voice and music somewhat in the vein of James Taylor. 10. Impulse Records www.impulsemusic.com Specializing in metal of all kinds including a strong inventory of Melodic Rock, Impulse Music was located on the west side of Chicago in the suburbs of Roselle, Illinois. The owner moved to the state of CO and continues to stock an impressive inventory of affordable imported priced music. The above is by no means meant to be comprehensive, but is a reminder that giants have fallen and faltered and yet there are still places either on the internet and better yet some in your own backyard. So, what’s in your neighborhood?
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